Dear sweet Henry James -- Boy have you made an entrance into this world and a huge impact on our hearts. You arrived on Thursday night, September 17th, 2020, at 11:05pm. You weighed 7 pounds 15 ounces and you were 21 inches long. And you were absolutely beautiful. Your birth was NOT without its problems, though. Mom's labor and delivery went perfectly, with Dad's encouragement by her side, and when you were born they put you right in Mom's arms and you looked straight at her. Mom and Dad didn't get to hear the sound of your newborn cry, though. You were quickly whisked away and placed in the care of NICU nurses because you couldn't breathe on your own. You had inhaled and aspirated amniotic fluid into your lungs as your were being born. They made the decision to intubate you and then called a neonatal doctor to come in from Centennial Hospital to examine you. He made the call to transfer you to Nashville.
Before they took you, Dad took Mom over to you so she could spend a few minutes with you. By 2:30am you were on your way to Centennial in downtown Nashville with Dad following close behind. Leaving Mom and following you to Nashville broke his heart. They love you so much, and the thought of them being apart from you and from each other was never in the plan. They called your Lolo and I to let us know, and the worry that swept through your family was dreadful. We immediately enlisted our family and friends to pray for you and your health. You were in the best place possible and you were being watched carefully for brain and organ damage due to lack of oxygen.
We trusted God, and not long after you arrived at Centennial, you were breathing on your own with just an oxygen tube in your nose. You were hiccuping, pooping and peeing, and sucking on your binky like a champ.
Loving your own babies is an unconditional love. The feeling of raising little humans into something you want the world to revere is a little scary. You try to be perfect in every way of raising them, from the right diapers to the right detergent. From the right preschool to the right elementary school, and so on. Then, well, you wing it. Not everything is always going to be perfect, but in our family we welcome not perfect. We are big on love and hugs and loud raucous laughing. You're entrance into this world and into our family was as perfect as God wanted it to be which made it perfect for us.
Welcome to the world Henry James! We love you so much, and we know God has something BIG in store for you!
❤️
Lola
We’re so happy that our little Henry is doing so well. ❤️❤️