A day ago, my cousin gave birth to a much-anticipated and longed-for baby boy. Charlie is nine pounds thirteen ounces and absolutely perfect. After he was born, the doctor discovered a true knot in his umbilical cord. So he’s also a very VERY lucky little boy (well, not so little).
Holding him did nothing for my baby fever.
Visiting Kathleen and Charlie held a bunch of mixed emotions. I was so extremely happy and excited to meet my new darling cousin. But the actual act of visiting was hard, because Charlie was born at the same hospital as Madeline. I hadn’t been back there since she passed away.
Things had moved around a bit, so my other cousin Leah and I wandered around looking for Kathleen. We rounded a corner and came upon the NICU. Maddie spent her first four hours in that NICU.
I flashed back to the night she was born. I wanted to see Maddie before she was transferred to UCLA, but it was too soon after my surgery to be in a wheelchair, and things were too frantic in the NICU for my large bed to be wheeled in. So I begged the nurses to leave my bed outside the NICU doors so I could catch a glimpse of Maddie when the transport team took her away. The wait was supposed to only be a few minutes, but it turned into two hours. When she was finally stable enough, the transport team literally ran past me, pushing Maddie in her isolette. I didn’t know if I’d ever see her alive again.
I’d been back to that hospital one other time since, when my friend Leslie had her son Austin. Maddie was about to celebrate her first birthday. I ran into lots of nurses who remembered me, and I delighted in telling them about how Maddie was thriving. They were so thrilled – she was a success story. I was afraid I’d see a nurse who recognized me…I didn’t want to have to say what had happened. Luckily, I never had to.
As we left Kathleen and Charlie, we had to pass the NICU on our way out. I thought about the true knot in Charlie’s cord, and a wave of relief passed over me. I was so happy that Charlie didn’t have to go to the NICU. I was so thankful Kathleen didn’t have to see the inside of that place and know the fear.
Thank goodness for big fat healthy babies.
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
What a cutie!!!!!
Congrats on your newest cousin.
Annie Y´s last [type] ..Addendum to Open Letter 11
He is adorable! And yes, thank goodness for big fat healthy babies… but thank goodness also, for the ones born too soon, too small, and sickly, who touch our hearts and our lives in ways we don’t expect. May they all have a chance to become big fat healthy babies too.
Lots of love and hugs to you – and congrats to your cousin!
Kate @ UpsideBackwards´s last [type] ..Why do we have so many toys
Hopefully one day all babies will be born on time and chubby.
That’s kinda what I intended to say. Thanks for helping me out and being more concise!
Kate @ UpsideBackwards´s last [type] ..Why do we have so many toys
Thank goodness for big fat healthy babies.
Amen sister!!!!!!!!! Although fat has to be taken with a bit of salt… Tiny, thin stretched babies can be healthy too! So let’s just keep it to thank goodness for healthy babies… ;o))))))
I had two of those skinny skinned chicken babies, barely above 2kg500, but healthy as larks!
I know all about the skinny babies, having had a 1.3 kg baby myself!
and what a handsome big fat healthy baby little Charlie is! Such a cutie!
I’ve been so lucky that all of my babies have been big fat healthy babies — my smallest was 8 pounds 1 ounce…and my biggest was 10 pounds 7 ounces. Yes, big is good. Definitely.
Katrina´s last [type] ..Someone new
Hooray! A new friend for Annie!
Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last [type] ..Don’t howl unless you mean it
Awww, what a sweetie! All the new babies being born kinda makes my ovaries ache. I didn’t even know I had baby feva with my 9 month old still waking up 2 – 4 times a night, but it’s true. I want another one. Yay for him in all his 9 lb something-something glory, he is scrumptious for sure. Although my 5.5 lb and 6 lb babies were pretty darn nibbly too.
Congratulations! He’s a beauty!
Congrats to your whole family on the new addition. My youngest daughter, Deliah was a whopping 9lbs 15oz! Big babies indeed! She is now the smallest child in her class at all times.
I can imagine how hard going back in to the hospital was. Adrenaline from the excitment of the new baby can crash head on in to some physical reminders and create a perfect opportunity for a flashback. I hope you faired well with your support system there!
I also have the ‘babies rabies’ as it’s known in our house (where you are foaming at the mouth for another). We’re hesitant, first because my fiancee and I don’t say the big ‘I Do’ until next September (my children are from my previous marriage, but this man is the man they call Dad)… he also has MS, and during my first pregnancy I had a type of cancer that only comes from being pregnant. Future pregnancies create a much higher risk of it returning, another loss of a child and more chemo. I know riskier pregnancies are scary and it’s tough to weigh out all of the pros and cons without your primal instinct to love another baby kicking it.
Heather´s last [type] ..Surviving…
Congrats on the newest arrival! My son was born with a true knot in his cord which is why he was born at 26 weeks. During an ultrasound his heart rate dropped and never recovered. He was born via emergency c-section 30 minutes later. Today he is a very energentic two year old.
Holy giant baby, Batman! He’s beautiful. Congrats to your family!
Hooray! As hard as it was for you, I bet it meant so much to your cousin that you were there. Congratulations all around!
One of my nephews is a Charley, and when he was named, so many people thought his parents were off their gourd… fast forward to several years later, and it’s caught on big time! Great name for a great little guy; looks like he wears it well
I guess making beautiful babies is a family trait huh?! He is a doll!
My now 5 month old was born with a true knot in his cord. If it had been any tighter, he would have gone into distress. The day before he was born, we could see him playing with his cord on the ultrasound. Already a rebel in the womb.
Thank goodness Charlie’s knot didn’t cause any trouble!
Congratulations on the new arrival! I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to return to the hospital, but I’m so proud of you for doing it!
Deborah´s last [type] ..Huge Photo Sale
You are giving me baby fever ~ but I always have that!
Four Gambel Girls and a Guy – documenting the adventures we call life´s last [type] ..The silver lining to a dark cloud
Oh, he is simply perfect. And I agree – yay for big fat healthy babies! Both my babies were the same weight (under 8 lbs.) and I really do believe that if they had a little bit more baby fat under their skin they would have had a much easier start in life. But I really did try to do everything I could to make them big and fat – I even gained tons of weight JUST FOR THEM. And they still had the nerve to come out skinny. Stinkers.
Agreed….Thank heavens for heathy, chubby baby boys!! I’m so HAPPY he’s OKAY!!!
Congrats on new cousin Charlie. He’s so cute. Babies are truly God sent.
XOXO from GA,
Nikki
I was induced 2 weeks early with my first daughter because of her being under stress from what they thought was due to my preeclampsia. After she was born my midwife found the true knot in her cord.
He truly is a lucky boy and gorgeous! congrats all around!
mel´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday- Grandpa’s “motashycle”
Congrats to your cousin on the arrival of her sweet baby. He is a big one, wow. And, incredibly adorable.
Lisa´s last [type] ..Summer Dresses
congrats on your new family member!
I think you are very strong:)
He’s adorable. And yes, thank heavens for big fat healthy babies.
Congratulations to your family! Healthy babies really are a reason to cleebrate.
And thank goodness for Friends of Maddie for making life in the NICU a little less scary for families.
oops, I meant celebrate, obviously!
Ugh.. I can’t even imagine how hard going back there was. He is a cutie pie though.
Keyona´s last [type] ..Weekend Recap
Congrats to you and your cousin, he is gorgeous!!
You are such a strong person, it really is amazing.
That would be surreal. As someone mentioned in the comments above, I hope your anxiety stayed in check. Your bravery is commendable and it was awesome that you were there to celebrate that new little man coming into the world. Congratulations to your family!
Chubby babies are the best.
I *guess* I’d be ready for you to have another baby – I *guess* my stress level could handle it. Maybe. Because you know it’s all about me, not you. (shout back to another comment…)
Thinking of you today…in Georgia where UGA is….let’s don’t talk about it!
Such a cute baby. I love when they are little fatties. My Mack was 9lbs 4oz, and had fat rolls on her when she was born.
CONGRATS on Baby Charlie’s Birth, he is handsome. And Thank God he didn’t have to visit the NICU. I can’t even imagine what you had to deal with going back. Huge to you.
Kristin´s last [type] ..Itsy Bitsy Spider
My 2nd grandson was born with a true knot in his umbilical cord. Good thing it didn’t cause any problems – he was full term, weighed over 7 pounds and was delivered at home by a lay midwife. Now he is an ever-moving, bubbly, intelligent 10 year old!
Charlie is a beautiful baby! Congratulations to your cousin!
Congratulations! He is such a cutie. Thankfully he was born healthy after having the knot in his cord.
My third daughter had an extremely long cord, about 8-9 ft. When she came out, it was wrapped around her neck a few times, and there was a knot in it as well. I don’t know how she made it to us so healthy, but she did. Now she calls herself my miracle child.
He’s adorable! Welcome to the world, Charlie!
Congrats to your cousin. I can imagine the relief. I recently had my third child, my second preemie. I also understand that fear of one being inthe NICU and truly am happy for those who never have to know it. You and your family are often in my thoughts. Its great to see you doing well, and enjoying your adorable baby girl. God Bless.
Congrats to your family!! I love his name.
6 years ago, we lost a little girl at 20 weeks due to a knot in her cord. Charlie really is a miracle.
I am partial to those big, fat baby boys. My son was 10lb9oz. He was never a newborn. He was a little man with an old soul from the very start.
The hospital trip sounds bittersweet.
Congratulations to your family on the new addition. He is beautiful.
I am the mother of 3. All three of my babies were born over 9 lbs.
I am so blessed to have my 3 big fat healthy babies. SO SO SO blessed.
Congrats on the new addition to your family.
You have strength that I cannot even begin to comprehend.
Hugs to you from the East Coast.
1. ouch
He’s DARLING
2. {hugs}
3. Congrats on the new darlin’ bouncin’ baby cousin
Oh, so glad little Charlie is okay. My son was born after several days of things just seeming “not right”, with a true know in his huge, long cord. It was also wrapped around his neck TWICE, and then twisted all around his body. He seemed okay, so the nurses were laughing about how they had never seen such a long cord.
While in the hospital he never really had an alert period. We were told not to worry. He had seizures when we went home, we rushed him back to the hospital – he was having hypoglycemic seizures because his cord had been pinched, didn’t have enough in him to get him awake. They never checked his blood sugar, because he was under nine pounds. Ladies, ALWAYS make them check the blood sugar – he ended up in the NICU after a grand mal seizure in the ER – had to be life flighted to a Children’s hospital where they spent 5 days trying to figure out what went wrong. If they had just listened to me when I told them something was off, this would not have happened. Ah – well, my guy has some problems stemming, but he is healthy and active thank God.
Heather – I am the wrong one for advice (perpetual baby fever), but if your heart is calling, I say listen to it as soon as it is safe and healthy to do so. Blessings, megan
Megan@True Daughter of Mary´s last [type] ..A Strange Kind of Sense
I love the name Charlie, it doesn’t hurt that it’s also my dad’s name.
He is a beautiful little boy and you’re such an inspiration. Congratulations to you and your family on the new, precious addition.
Elle´s last [type] ..All That Matters…
You are an amazing, woman, friend and cousin to work through the painful emotions in order to be there for your cousin, and to celebrate the birth of your nephew. I am glad that you are also able to experience joy in those moments. You have a great spirit.
I too have been experiencing some baby fever. I am too old, my eldest daughter is 6 and my son is 4.5 years so it feels too late to have a 3rd besides my being old and tired. But I have never complete let go of the notion and when I hold a baby (like tonight) I can’t help but want that whole experience again.
You are so incredibly strong Heather. And so brave to write about how you feel each and every time. Thank you for taking us with you. Through the good and the bad. Congratulations to you and your family on baby Charlie. He’s beautiful. <3 <3 <3