Saturday, November 20, 2010

A baby changes everything....

Yes, I'm taking this title from a song.....but truly, doesn't a baby always change everything?  A baby takes you from being a selfish, all about me girl to being a responsible, gotta take care of a little person girl.  I'm pretty sure the week before Paul was born was the last full night's sleep I have had.


This is the baby that changed everything for me....my baby.  My first born.  

Paul weighed 3lbs 11 ozs when he was born 40 years ago....that is very hard for me to say...how can I have had a baby 40 years ago???

Things were very different then....no holding or touching your baby.  They stayed in an incubator in the nursery (no such thing as NICU).  Right before I left the hospital, they let me gown up, including mask, and hold him for about 25 seconds.  During that time, I remember gazing at him and saying your life will be so great because I love you so much!  And love him I did!

After leaving the hospital, I got to come twice a day and stand outside the glass window and look at him.    I'm serious.....just look.  I didn't know he had two birthmarks until the day I got to bring him home.  It seems incredible now, but like I said things were way different.  He stayed in that incubator 28 days.  When I brought him home he weighed 5 lbs.  That was the magic number at that time.  A baby couldn't leave the hospital until they weighed 5 lbs.

I remember the day the dr. called and said Today's the day!  You can come get your baby!  I rushed to tell my mil and fil and we all jumped in the car and away to the hospital we went.  I worried his outfit would be too big because it was for a newborn and he was almost a month old.  :)  I was so silly and young.  Of course it swallowed him!

I was 18 when Paul was born and his daddy was 20 and in the Army.  We were anything but prepared to raise a child.  Unfortunately, love is not enough and I forgot his manual at the hospital!   There are so many disciplines a child needs to learn, and we hadn't grown up enough to have learned them all ourselves!

I've written about this many times, here ,  here, and here  and there are more but that's enough!

My joy bubbles over today because Paul is becoming a different man!  He was in a program called Drug Court because of drug charges, he took it seriously and turned his life in a different direction.  He and his wife started attending church in addition to AA and NA.  I no longer hear anger in my son's voice when I talk to him.  I no longer hear him blame everyone but himself for his problems.  Those two things are huge for Paul.

Paul called me yesterday to tell me he has been released from Drug Court and his charges have been dropped.

I'm proud of him for so many reasons, but this is a special gift to himself!  To me, certainly, and to all who love him, but more to himself and I think over the coming months and years he will see more and more what a gift his life is and how productive he can be with God's help!  It might be a slow process, doing things step by step, but oh, so worth the effort!

I am so grateful and thankful to my dear Lord for starting him down this new road and doing a new work in his life.  I pray 1 Corinthians 10:13 for him......when you are tempted, God will provide a way to escape temptation.

I love you, son!

And I love this smile!


This Thanksgiving is extra special!  And as I've often promised the Lord, I give HIM all the glory!  

9 comments:

Justabeachkat said...

Praise God for the changes he has made in your son's heart. With Him all things are possible.

BTW...our daughter is a NICU nurse and loves all of her patients. They are in good hands until they can go home with their Mom and Dad.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Hugs,
Kat

Mimi said...

HI NANCY,
what a great story, and one so familiar to so many families. God will indeed take him and lead him to a much better and so much more happier and fulfilled life if he is ready to walk that walk. I Pray that he finds the strength he needs everyday.
Moms LOVE their Children so much through the Good years, the Great years and also through those darkest days and hours NO mother wants to imagine. BUT WE DO.
I pray that he will MAKE IT ONCE and for all a FULL CLEAN LIFE serving God.
What a great thanksgiving story.
Love you for sharing that,
jamie

The Life of Carol said...

Nancy, that was so sweet and I know it came from your heart. I pray that he will walk with God from now on, and I believe he will. Paul is a handsome young man and I pray all the best for him.
Carol

Needled Mom said...

What a beautiful post and what a beautiful rebirth for him (and you).

Happy birthday to him and happy BIRTHday to you, Mom!!! I know that I took my son turning 40 a lot harder than my turning 40. We can't have kids that old, can we????

Tonja said...

Nancy, what wonderful news! I know firsthand the heartbreak of seeing your son going away from all that is right.
I believe that God is patient. I think He allows some of His children to go through dark valleys, because He knows that's what it will take to get them ready for His love to come in.
I believe when we 'train up' a child...He will see to it that 'when they are old' they will return!
I know the joy in your heart is so special. Thank God...I am so happy for you.

thouartloosed said...

Oh Nancy, I am so happy for you and for the answer to so many, many prayers you have said for your baby boy. Your story gives me hope and I thank you for sharing it!
Many blessings to you and your family,
Kathy

debi said...

Nancy what a heart warming story...I will be Praying the Paul continues on this new path...
As a Mom I can't imagine your happiness and relief!

Calling it all Joy :-)
Hugs

Katie and Beau said...

I love, love, love that song! Makes me cry every time I hear it.

What a sweet tribute to your first born. I imagine that your first born holds a special place in your heart. Congrats to Paul and we will continue to pray for a successful journey.

Pauly said...

I sometimes get wrapped up in myself and forget to read your blog. Mother, you are a wise woman and I love you. As a matter of fact, I have been very upset about something today, and you just allowed me to release that anger by reading this. Thank you, once again!