While Nonna and Papa were hanging out with us later that evening, our wonderful nurse Kristen came into our room to check on Holt. While she was in there, she noticed that Holt was making a grunting noise and wanted to take him to the nursery to have him checked out. They ran tests on Holt most of the evening and made the decision to admit him to the
NICU because they found fluid in and around his lungs. Chad and I were finally able to go back to the
NICU around 11 and see Holt for the first time. I don't think anything could have prepared us for seeing our new baby boy in an
isolette in the
NICU connected to so many machines. It was so difficult to be in there with him and not be able to hold him or feed him. The doctors put an IV in to keep him nourished and to start giving him anti-
biotics. He was also connected to a machine to monitor his breathing and oxygen levels. We were able to meet with the
neonatologist late that evening who gave us the grim news that the fluid in his lungs could be caused by three things- fluid from birth,
pneumonia, or a heart defect. Our hearts hurt so badly for our baby boy! It was so difficult for us to leave him alone in his room that night. The nurses did tell me that I could come back at 4 to see him and that they might let me feed him.
Chad and I left Holt's room and went back to our room to pray and cry. We sent out a few emails, texts and made a few phone calls asking everyone we knew to pray for our little boy. Chad and I will never forget that night. I have truly never felt the power of prayer like I did that night. I knew that I was being surrounded by prayer and was given an amazing peace from God. Chad and I were laying in our beds that night and both of our phones were beeping every minute for about an hour from people who loved us sending us texts telling us that they were praying for us and for Holt. It was a silly thing, but for us, each time we heard our phone beep, it was another prayer for him. We both just
layed there in bed and cried. Amazingly, I was finally able to fall asleep- I had been up for over 36 hours.
I got to go to the
NICU at 4 and hold and feed Holt. I just sat there with him in my arms for over an hour and cried. It felt so good to hold my little boy in my arms. Just holding him gave me such a peace.
Holt William Evenhouse was born today at 8:23 am. He weighed 9lbs. 5ozs. ( a big boy!) and was 20 1/2" long. We were so excited to finally meet our sweet boy!
