Welcome Baby Brother!!!

Despite the anticipated excitement of our son's birthday...I was an emotional mess the night before and morning of the big day. The whole pregnancy was (to say the least) very stressful and it took a whole crew of family and friends to get me through it.  Starting with IVF, dreaded hyperemesis,  pre-term labor scare, and bed rest.  Not to mention the unresolved breech presentation which made me concerned that something was wrong. 

...But we did it, and what ever it took - it was worth it for Retta to have a sibling!

...And for this baby to experience the joy of having Retta as a sister!

A very nervous, forced smile before heading out to the hospital for the repeat C-section.

(Szymon later informed me on the car ride to the hospital that he wore blue on purpose).

Buzi wanted to be in the picture too. 

(Retta had already left with Grandma for physical therapy at 9:00. Grandpa took the picture for us).

And at 1327....Mr. Henry Edward entered the world!!!

(Dr. Kuhl my OB in the background)

This was my first glimpse of Henry over the surgical curtain! One of Szymon's friend's from high school happened to be the assisting nurse in the OR for our delivery. She took my phone and captured this pic...along with many graphic pictures I'll spare from the blog!

All of the nurses immediately said, "He looks just like his Daddy!"

Henry came out rump first with his legs up over his head...in true breech style...just like his sister.

They had a difficult time weighing and measuring Henry as he wanted to fold his legs up over his head!

He practically flipped himself off of the scale!

I watched from the OR table...trying to focus on Henry and not what was happening on the other side of the curtain. Szymon kept saying, "Hi sweetie, hi sweet heart!" to Henry. I kept thinking...Henry's is a boy Szymon, not a girl! (We'll have to work on some more masculine phrases around the house).

...Even though he is a sweetie!

And finally...

I got to hold him!

Grandma and Retta joined us in the recovery room! 

First family of four pic!

***

Grandma and Grandpa stayed at our house while I was at the hospital to care for Retta. They brought her back up to the hospital to visit during the day.

Here, Retta is taking a more up close look at her new little brother!

"Can we keep him?"

Retta was SO EXCITED! She continuously signed "Baby!"

Mr. Henry!

Retta thought it was fun to lay in my hospital bed. 

...Well, it did have her quilt from Aunt Kathy on it!

Proud sister!

Henry, Grandpa, Grandma and Retta admiring Henry!

***

On day two we were asked by our nurse if we would be interested in going home a day early! I did not think this was possible following a C-section, but my OB and our pedi agreed...we were good to go!

So we jumped at the opportunity and took off that evening around 6:00!

 And much to our surprise...Jaja and Bapcia were waiting at our house with Retta, Grandma and Grandpa for a "Welcome Home Henry" celebration! Complete with balloons, flowers and a crock-pot creation by Jaja! 

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

~ Lamentations 3:22-23