Such a Miracle

Pictures, in no particular order:

Receiving the Gift of Victor Albert Katterson

Composed mostly by Ben:

Victor Albert Katterson was born at 1:29am on Friday the 6th of January. He was 6 pounds 11 ounces and 20 and 3/8 inches long.

A fairly routine ultra sound appointment on Wednesday afternoon (4th) turned into an excited trip home for bags to take to the hospital. We learned that our little boys growth was fine, but his amniotic fluid was low (5cm is low and he had 3cm). It was time to induce. We spent that night in the hospital with medication to prepare Amy for the inducing medication in the morning. At 8:30am on Thursday they broke her water. There was miconium in the amniotic fluid. The doctor said we would need to have the NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit) present at birth to suction the baby’s air ways immediately. The doctor said most babies come out crying in which case the NICU team can’t suction which puts the baby at greater risk of pneumonia. We started praying for the Lord to protect our (his) baby.

We started the pitocin and the contractions intensified throughout the day. Amy was terrific. WHAT A TROOPER!!! At the beginning of the day on Thursday Amy was dilated to about 1cm. After a full morning and afternoon of quit intense labor she was barely at 2cm. (Before this 2cm check, Mom and Dad Anderson arrived and supported us through the long hours with Subway sandwiches, root-beer, and prayer.) Amy’s energy was wearing thin. At about 6pm we decided to try an epidural. The doctor said if Amy’s dilation was not significantly increased in two hours we would need to proceed to a c-section. Both Amy and I wanted to avoid a c-section, but were trusting in the Lord and His good providence (and praying HARD). The epidural took the pain away and helped her to relax. However, it also made her vomit, feel light-headed, and it made her blood pressure drop. She received four doses of blood pressure medication through the IV. At the same time she began to run a low grade fever. While Amy had a fever, the baby’s heart rate was rising. The nurses quickly diagnosed an infection and began to run antibiotics through the IV as well. The diagnosis meant that the baby would immediately go to NICU after birth for his own antibiotic treatment for 48 hours.

At 8pm the nurse checked Amy’s status and found she had dilated to 4cm. There was nearly whooping and hollering. By 10:45pm she was 7.5, 11:45 was full dilation. We began pushing at 12:30. Progress was coming so quickly that we slowed down to wait for the doctor to arrive. At 1:29am baby Victor arrived before (before the NICU team could get there). He was not crying so the doctor was able to suction his airways herself (Hallelulah!). He cried soon after and the NICU team descended on the scene like the U.S. Marines. Before they whisked him away Amy got to hold him, and Ben got to cut the cord. Ben accompanied the NICU team and Victor down to the first floor for his first bedtime. Meanwhile, Amy threw up a glass of water. When she tried to get out of the bed and use the bathroom she nearly fainted and her blood pressure dropped again. She was wheeled on a gurney to Victor’s bedside for a quick visit. At about 5am Ben and Amy crashed for a LONG night of 2 hours sleep.

Friday was filled with wheelchair rides from the 4th floor (Labor and Delivery) to the 1st floor (NICU) for feeding and visits with naps squeezed in where possible.

We know so many people have been praying for us and our new son. Both mom and son (and sometimes dad) are doing well and recovering by the grace of the Lord.

A Note from Amy:
This experience of God’s giving us a son has been so full of challenge and joy and answered prayer. I wish that I were able to talk with so many of you in person to share the story, thank you for your care, and rejoice together with you—but I have been much more depleted and slow to bounce back than I expected… I know that we will have many days ahead to introduce Victor to you all, and until then, just know how much we love you and thank the Lord for your support! I also want to publicly thank the Lord for my husband who has been an awesome, God-sent gift and minister of grace to me and to our son already. I love you, Benjamin, and God’s help to me through you has been a rock to me already.

Waiting

This Friday is my due date. I remember at the very beginning of the pregnancy, when I attended an informational class at my ob/gyn office, the instructor told us all that we should add a week and a half to our anticipated due date, and just start telling people that is when the baby is coming.

So, very realistically, it still may be 2 weeks before this child arrives.

We feel mostly ready.

The list of supplies has come together:

• Crib- check
• Changing table- check
• Car seat- check
• Diaper bag- check
• Bags for the hospital- check
• Little, tiny onesies that look too small even to be doll clothes- check

My mom and grandma sewed a beautiful quilt for the baby room. So many people have given gifts: diapers, lotion, noise machine, lamp, fuzzy sweatshirts, socks, toys, books, blankets, wipes…

It’s remarkable that after 9 months of waiting, puking, shopping, reading, taking classes, praying, and making preparations we feel just about ready to launch fully into the adventure of parenting.

But when will we? Like the return of the Lord, only God knows the day and the hour. And as prepared as we may feel, there is a definite reason for each additional day that He gives us before this little boy comes.

Perhaps we need another verse to hang onto, to bolster our strength and renew our hope.

Perhaps another conversation about how we’re going to face this new season together.

Perhaps a chance to file the huge pile of papers on the dresser (but then again, it’s waited this long!)

Perhaps another person to intercede for the birth of this baby.

Perhaps a few more projects at work.

Perhaps another nap and lovely, long night of sleep.

I don’t want the waiting to turn to chaffing, to doubting, to frustration.

As a friend wrote in an email yesterday, we’re trusting the Lord to choose the perfect birthday for our son.

Wait for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, and wait for the LORD (Psalm 27:4).

With Child at Christmas: Thoughts on the Incarnation

I'm 36 weeks today. It was a particular blessing to be able to write some thoughts about expecting at Christmas-time for our Star newsletter this week.

With Child at Christmas: Thoughts on the Incarnation

The Bigger Story of Christmas

Happy December 1st! (Always the official start of Christmas growing up, since my mom made a wonderful Advent chain to count down the days with Christmas activities.)

To commemorate, here is a good look at what Christmas is all about.



What a reason to celebrate!

HT: Justin Taylor

Family Portrait

Yesterday, thanks to the marvels of modern technology, Ben and I were given a delightful preview of Baby Boy Katterson, 15 oz and a very active youngster already.

We think he has daddy's nose, and he had one arm draped over his head for most of the ultrasound, which is how I generally sleep.

It's a staggering thing, to realize that all the while I've been puking and feeling worn out, God has been weaving together this marvelous little person... complete with a nose bone, little perfect fingers and toes, four chambers in his heart, a little diaphragm, brain development, and little femur bones.

Our prayer:

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!
May He remember all your offerings and
regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!
Selah.
May he grant you your heart's desires and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation
and in the name of our God set up our banners!

-Psalm 20: 1-4

A first family photo:

Almost 3 Years Ago...

October 18, 2008 was a very lovely day for Ben and me. Memories of the day were stirred again in my mind, reading a friend's blog post about his reflections following our ceremony.

HT: IBeSmart