Miracle #2

I promise, soon will come silly stories of my daily life as a mommy to two funny boys and a wife to a full-time Medical student. Oh yes, that story will come later too. How can you really appreciate all that is my miracle #2 without his story? So here it goes...

After I had Judah, I was told by Dr. M that we would have to wait a full year to give my body time to heal before trying for baby #2. I knew my heart would be ready any time, but I wanted to have a healthy baby, so I was willing to wait. God's timing is perfect, and 5 months later, I found out I was pregnant. Baby #2 was due September 7, 2005. Just a couple of months after Judah's first anniversary. Hubby and I were ecstatic and I won't lie..a little scared. It was difficult being pregnant again so quickly, and keeping your mind focused every day. Not letting fear overrun my thoughts was a job in itself. I was considered a high-risk patient and found myself practically living in my NEW Doctors office. Yes, I decided to go with another practice after I had Judah. I wanted a new experience and I found the perfect Doctor. Dr.J knew my history and my faith. She wouldn't ask me to do any extra tests, because she knew it didn't matter to me. 20 weeks finally came and that brings the sonogram we were all waiting for. Baby #2 was a healthy boy!!! You can imagine our emotions on that day.

Hubby and I decided his name would be Israel Ranen. We are all about meanings in this house and his name means: Promised/Joy. What could be more perfect? His pregnancy was not easy, I was very sick and in and out of the hospital. At the 6 month mark, I could barely eat and felt like the baby was going to come out of my throat. There was literally no room. One day after church, I was at my Pastors house eating when after one bite, I couldn't swallow it. I looked over at a friend and said "I think I am having this baby today. I don't even have room for one bite of food." Everyone laughed it off, but I couldn't possibly fathom how I could make it to September. That night, they started. The contractions...

Now, I had been having contractions for a while, but then they started coming so quickly I vomited. That is when the panic set in. I was only 31 weeks, I can't have a baby now. Hubby, calls Dr. J and my family and we rush to the hospital. Contractions are coming within 2 minutes of each other and I started to feel a little overwhelmed emotionally. This isn't how I planned it, I can't lose another baby. The staff started quickly taking control and I was put on Magnesium to stop the contractions...except they didn't really stop, but just slow down. Dr. J told me we had to get to the 32 week mark. Israels chances were much higher and just 3 days would mean a world of difference to his lung maturity. 3 days of Magnesium...not fun. Your mind is dull and time seems to stand still. Not to mention, your body is literally on fire. For 3 days, they were able to give the baby steroids to help his lungs and each day they encouraged me to hold on as long as I could. On July 13, 2005 (Yes, just 2 days before Judahs 1 year anniversary), Israel Ranen was born. 4.4 lbs, 17 inches long, and completely beautiful. I waited for the cry, I had so desperately wanted to hear from Judah...and then it came. A loud cry that made my heart leap for joy! They wrapped him quickly and gave me just a glance and a kiss and rushed him away to the NICU. Then it hit me....OH MY WORD, I just had 2 babies in one year! I am exhausted.

What came next you ask? An Arby's Roast Beef sandwich. It isn't a pretty detail, but it is truth. I hadn't eaten it what seemed like months and really 4 days. After eating the most delicious sandwich ever made, I got out of bed to the amazement of the nursing staff and walked my happy self over to see my brand new miracle! He was tiny, and I was in love. He was doing so well. He needed a little help with his breathing, but tested well. We visited the NICU often and friends and family came to meet our little early gift.

July 15th, came and I wasn't sure how I would handle that day emotionally. A new premature baby, an anniversary of my first son and my hormones...a lot to deal with. Literally minutes into the day at about 12:05 a.m., hubby and I were awaken by two specialists. Israel was not well and being rushed to another hospital by ambulance. My mind couldn't keep up with all of their medical explanations and realizing what day it was, made it all that much more difficult. Israel suffered a pneumothorax or a collapsed lung. Israel was the only baby in the NICU and they were giving him LOTS of attention, but mainly doing lots of tests and I guess male preemies tend to have a short temper...hold their breath when angry which can cause a pneumothorax. Instead of a quiet day, relishing in a new life, we were rushing around like mad trying to figure out what our son needed and desperate for him to be ok. I had to be released early from one hospital so that I could go with Israel to the higher level NICU. Hubby and I weren't able to stay at the new hospital, so we crashed with some super good friends for an entire month while our son worked on growing and healing. It was another blessing, staying with our friends. There was so much laughter and that was exactly what we needed. After losing one son, it is very difficult leaving another at a hospital without any control of the situation. I visited 3 times a day for 3 weeks. I held Israel on my chest for more than an hour each time and talked to him and fed him. Then one day, when we weren't expecting it, they said he could go home. He was 5 lbs and could sit in a car seat. He could swallow well enough to drink from a bottle without assistance and needed no oxygen. We took Israel home at the 35 week mark. God blessed us with 8 extra weeks with our little miracle and just when we needed it. I had a baby to hold and comfort me during a time I wasn't sure how I would cope otherwise.

Israel is now 4 years old and started Preschool last week. He is and has been completely healthy since they released him from the NICU. If you saw him now, you would never know he came into the world as such a tiny little guy. I might be biased because I am his Mommy, but his talents seem endless and I haven't met a soul so sweet. He is my Miracle #2 and he healed my heart.