Tuesday, December 12, 2017

SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

September 1, 2017. The day everything in our world changed. We woke up as a family of 6 but went to bed as a family of 7. September 1, 2017 is the day our son, Henry Maxwell was born.

Only a few people knew Hazel and I were trying to adopt. We only told our closest friends and our work. We didn't want to have to explain to everyone if the adoption didn't go through. We didn't even tell our families. It was the decision we made as a couple and we were doing our best to guard our hearts and the hearts of our loved ones.

We made contact with Henry's birthmother through family friends. The birthmother was local and she was unable to care for Henry. We met her and her mother and grandmother about a month before Henry was born. We talked and got to know each other some. At the end of our meeting, the birthmother and her family were in agreement that Hazel and I would adopt her baby. The birthmother told us her due date was September 4.

I was initially concerned of learning the baby's due date because the birthmother was small and didn't look to be 35 weeks. She is a poly-substance user and we took that into account but I was mentally preparing myself and Hazel that the baby was going to be very small. We knew the baby would probably go through drug withdrawals and we spent countless hours on the internet researching, trying to glean knowledge about what we were facing.

We learned a few weeks later that the birthmother went to the doctor and learned her due date was October 3 and she was carrying a baby boy. I felt better knowing the due date was off and that could account for the birthmother's small size. We prayed for the best and kept the faith that all would be well.

On the morning of September 1, I was getting ready for work and Hazel called and said the birthmother was in labor. She was at the hospital. Hazel left work and I called my work to let them know I wouldn't be in. The grandmother kept Hazel updated with texts and phone calls. Her labor progressed rapidly and she delivered Henry at 0859. She was in labor less than an hour. The grandmother could only tell us that he was alive and had cried at delivery. They immediately took Henry to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Unfortunately, her cell phone chose that time to die so we were left with no information for awhile.

Hazel and I got to the hospital and went to the labor and delivery floor. We sat with the birthmother until she was transferred to the post partum unit. The birthmother and grandmother wanted to see the baby and we all went to the NICU together. They went in and saw Henry. Nothing can prepare you for all of the emotions you will feel. We were so excited and couldn't wait to see our little boy but then you see the birthmother and grandmother grieving. It was hard not to be emotional when you see two other people realizing they are saying hello and good bye to their child/grandchild. After they left to go to their room, Hazel and I got to meet our son. Our first day together was a whirlwind. So much happened quickly and our lives would never be the same.







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