THE EDWARDS: April 2012

LANDON VICK EDWARDS

Landon was due to arrive on February 29 (Leap Day) with a planned induction to allow both of our parents to be present for the birth since we weren't sure how long, if at all, he'd survive. On January 13, my water broke in the middle of the night. I didn't realize at the time it was my water breaking but after being advised to go to Labor and Delivery, we learned it was indeed that my water broke. I just thought I wet my pants - such a strange feeling, to think I couldn't control my bladder.

When they told us at the hospital that Landon was coming that day, I kept thinking how I wasn't ready. But looking back, we were as ready as we could have ever been.

We had just taken the boys to Build-A-Bear the week before, you can view that post here. We had also made a trip to the temple to pray about some things concerning Landon. After our visit to the temple we felt strongly that our miracle would be that we would get some time with Landon. We felt good about all of the decisions we'd made up to this point and felt like we were on the right track. We felt comfort after attending the temple. We'd also fit in a date the night before which was helpful. We had met with all of our doctors that week before as well. We finished our birth plan with the neonatologist, Danielle Smith, we met with my OB, Dr Tozer and we met with the high risk specialist, Dr. Galan. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. My friend even came and took maternity pictures for us the day before Landon came. With all that, we really had prepared ourselves more than we thought. To read about how we found out about Landon's diagnosis, go here.

A couple of weeks before Landon came, I hadn't been feeling Landon move. He's been so active that I felt constant movement from him throughout the day. Here's what I had written about that: "Catherine is feeling more and more bonded and connected to Landon. He's always been so active, but obviously as he gets bigger his activity has slowed down a bit. Catherine loves and cherishes every kick and movement she feels. Last Friday she hadn't felt him move for a while and started to get stressed and unsettled not feeling him. She felt so nervous that she'd lost him. She realized even though she may have to say goodbye soon, she was not ready to lose him just then. She didn't want him to go and she just wanted more time with him. She was so grateful when she felt him move later that day. It was the best feeling in the world!" After that day, I felt like I needed to prepare myself to let him go. That one experience helped prepare me for what was to come.

On the day of delivery, my friend Tracy watched the boys. We had them bring their bears to give to Landon. We had prepared for NILMDTS (Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep) to come take pictures of Landon. They are an organization that has professional photographers come and take pictures of your loved one and family free. Because Landon was breech, we were told that we'd have to do a c-section. NILMDTS would probably not be able to get there in time but thankfully, my friend Tracy brought her really good camera and was able to capture some photos. I will post NILMDTS pictures on a future post. They are too precious not to.

Here are my two cute boys with their bears waiting for their Landon to be born.

Delivery went well. They did the c-section. My doctor wasn't working that day and came in to deliver, I was very grateful for that. I love Dr. Tozer and am so glad she was recommended to me. Our neonatologist, Danielle Smith was also not working that day but came in to help with delivery. That put us at ease as well. We had amazing support through this whole process. Here are Wes and Danielle Smith dressing Landon in the recovery room.

Here we are getting ready to deliver. So much unknown yet we were able to stay happy and positive. We called our parents and told them we were getting ready to have Landon so my parents took the next flight to Denver but it still wouldn't get them in until 3 in the afternoon and Landon was due to come by 11 am. Wesley's parents were going to drive out the next morning to be with us.

My cute husband in his scrubs.

Right after Landon was born, Wes was by his side the entire time. They checked him immediately to see if he was breathing. One of the concerns with Landon was that because my fluid was so low, it would be hard for his lungs to develop since they need the amniotic fluid to develop. He was also showing signs of kidney failure (common in Trisomy 13). She checked him and I heard a short cry! It was great to hear that because that meant he was ably to breathe. That was the only cry he made. For a few minutes in the operating room he let out little noises but just a few of those and he was quiet and peaceful the rest of the time. He never opened his eyes. He had 6 fingers on each hand and a cleft palate. He was still so beautiful, our little Landon.

Me seeing Landon for the first time as they stitched me up

Happy parents

After a few minutes while holding him I was feeling nauseous so I gave him back to Wes. C-sections are no picnic, it feels so strange, you feel sick and then you feel like someone is standing on you, it's all strange. I was happy I was alert enough to meet and hold him. After a few minutes, Wes and Danielle Smith took Landon to the recovery room to wait for me and get cleaned up a little and dressed.

Happy daddy. They say a mom becomes a mom when they are pregnant and a dad becomes a dad when the baby is born. I have never seen a dad so proud. Wes was beaming, he was so happy to meet Landon

This is in the recovery room. I had just been wheeled in and they let Jake and Cooper come meet their brother. This is them coming to give me love when they walked in