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It is amazing what a year can bring.
I was looking at a video tape that we took last year for the holidays and I watched my grandchildren play with their new toys and enjoyed spending time with my husband, and our son and daughter with their families.
Who would imagine that in one short year, we would be blessed with two additional grandchildren to add to the mix.
We found out our daughter-in-law was expecting right after New Year's and our second grandson was born three weeks early, a day before his big brother's birthday. Thank goodness he was healthy and although he did have to spend a few days in the NICU of the hospital, he was released a few days after our daughter-in-law was discharged.
We received even more exciting news when our daughter announced that she too was having baby number two.
Our third grandchild decided that he did not want to wait until January 2008 and was born at 32 weeks on November 18, 2007.
Our daughter had a very complicated pregnancy due to her Crohns condition and was rushed to the hospital on November 11th with contractions two minutes apart. The hospital did manage to stop the contractions at that time but the medication that was used to stop them, triggered a Crohns flare up. Luckily, our daughter was in a hospital that had a level 3 NICU so we knew if our tiny grandson was to be born within the week, he would be in excellent hands.
My husband and I had our granddaughter staying with us during that time and believe me, as good as she is, I do know now why having children is definitely for the young!
Our daughter was also extremely anemic and due to the pregnancy, they could not do any x-rays or other invasive tests to check out what was causing her anemia.
As luck would have it, her water broke exactly a week after she was discharged and they were forced to perform an emergency C-section. We were told the week before due to her anemia that she would need a blood transfusion so my husband, son and I donated blood since we were all A+.
When the doctor's performed the emergency C-section they found the source of our daughter's problem. It seems her uterus was severed and they were not sure if it was due to the previous C-section or adhesions for a surgery done 11 years ago for her Crohns.
Our grandson literally saved his mother's life. Luckily the doctors were able to save her uterus and sutured it as well as the C-section and immediately following those procedures, she was rushed to her room and given three units of blood.
Our tiny grandson was born weighing 3 pounds 15 ozs and was rushed to the NICU.
Our daughter was discharged a day after Thanksgiving and stayed with us to recuperate. We went to see our grandson twice a day and he seemed to get stronger day by day.
He was finally discharged on the 10th of December and my daughter brought him home. He is doing well and even gained almost a pound since his birth.
We are truly counting our blessings that our daughter is well and our grandson's are healthy and will be joining us this holiday season.
So now we have four grandchildren to spoil and love and our granddaughter remains the princess of the group.
It is human nature to take things for granted and the only time most of us truly count our blessings is when we are put to the test and face some sort of crisis. I too, am guilty for taking my life and my family for granted and after these experiences, I will take the time to reflect on just how lucky and blessed I am. When I talk to my husband, children and grandchildren, I always end the conversation with "I Love You".
Life is precious and we all need to enjoy every moment we have with our loved ones.
Happy Holidays to one and all!
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