Meeting our new member

On December 30, 2008 we had a new addition to the family. At 12:05 p.m, Landon Gage Bartenfield entered this world. He was a strong 8 lbs 1 oz and 20 1/2" long. We went in to have an amnio done, to see if his lungs were developed and my blood pressure kept going up. My doctor decided it would be better for me and Landon if he went ahead and took him. I went in the delivery room to have the spinal put in, and I was scared to death. It didn't really hurt, just scared me! After a few minutes of feeling the docs tugging at my belly, I looked up to Ryan and asked if they had started yet, thinking they were still prepping me. His eyes were huge, and he said "yeah". A few seconds later I heard the docs say "what a beautiful, round head". Then I heard my beautiful baby cry for the first time. It was the most amazing sound I have ever heard. He calmed down for a few minutes, until the were doing his prints, then he started screaming again. Everyone in the operating room was laughing, talking about how opioniated he already was.

While in recovery, the nurse came back and told me that Landon was having trouble breathing. They put him on oxygen and antibiotics. He was in the special care nursery. I didn't get to see him for several hours. And it was an entire day before I could hold him in my arms. He was more gorgeous than I could have imagined.

We were released on New Year's Day. Our first few days home were a blur. We had alot of company.

Now it's 6 weeks later. Our little boy is weighing in at a healthy 9 lbs 3 oz. He has more personality than you would think a newborn would have! He's always making noise, grunting, crying, sighing, screaming. He even has one sounds that sounds like the whistle of a bomb. Very alarming at 3 am.

His daddy and I are very in love with him. And his sister is too. She really didn't want a brother, but she wouldn't change it for the world. Seeing her hold him, and try to soothe him brings tears to my eyes. Seeing her lay on the couch with him on her chest, it's just picture perfect. He completes our family.

I am so thankful to God for giving us this gift. I am thankful for all of our family, both here and in heaven. My only regret is that GrandMary wasn't here to hold him, but I know she got to cuddle him before God sent him down to us.