The Miracle of Max

We found out Mr Max was on his way on January 2nd.  I was in utter shock,  totally nervous, and beyond excited.  We had started trying for #2 when Avery was not even 1 yet and then not long after she turned 2 I was told I had poly-cystic ovarian syndrome (which I don't believe).  I had come to point where I thought it was not a good time for a second child and BOOM, I'm pregnant.  The first trimester was so easy really even as we moved across the country.  Then the second trimester came with its own set of challenges including lots of personal drama I am not ready to share yet which caused so much stress. And then the issues developed at my 18 week ultrasound.  They found he was missing an artery from his umbilical cord, an issue with his kidneys, and a thickness on the back of his neck.  All together they are considered soft signs of Down's.  Needless to say, I was a little overwhelmed with that on top of personal issues.  I was never really worried about the Down's Syndrome, but more about the kidneys and him missing an artery.  Well, at around 24 weeks I went to Ohio to visit my bestie.  We went to her church and there was a word given during a time of healing about making a new artery being formed.  I knew without a doubt that word was for my little boy.  And that week I had a level 2 ultrasound in which his umbilical cord had both arteries just as it should and his kidneys were fine and there was nothing on his neck.  My baby was not even born and had been protected during one of the most stressful times in my life and physical issues.  My God is so good to me!!!! 

The rest of the pregnancy went well and pretty uneventfully except for the poor care I received once we moved to VA and was in transition.  Another reason to be thankful my boy is here.  Then Avery's birthday came (Aug 22) and I didn't feel well and I thought my waters were leaking.  So I let Avery take a nap and I rested, took a shower, and packed my bags for the hospital.  By that point they had broke for sure and I was running around the house doing all that I could before I went to the hospital.  We get there and they don't have room to admit me, but once seeing my soaking pants, now know without a doubt I am not leaving without a baby.  Brian was out to sea and we had just moved down here so really didn't know anyone except one of the other wives.  We had had them over for a cookout before the guys left.  Brittany and her daughter Abbey came to our rescue and came to watch Avery for me.  Well, waiting for a room a doctor came into to talk to me about me trying to "trial of labor" after a previous c-section.  I had planned to the entire pregnancy and now without my husband was totally confused on what to do.  So we had decided to do a c-section.  They did an ultrasound and found out the baby was breech anyway.  During that the baby started having heart decelerations.  I got quite scary at one point when the dr screamed into the hall and screamed for help when the baby's heart rate dropped down to 50.  Immediately things got crazy and Avery, Brittany, and Abbey were ushered out and I was put on oxygen and was checked to see if the cord was coming first.  It wasn't but a c-section was in my very near future.  When we got to to OR I had to tell the anesthesiologist he didn't have to go get anyone and I was on my own.  It was so hard to sit there and not know if everything was ok with my baby and noone to really talk to me.  Then I heard this cry and I couldn't believe he was here!  I was overcome with joy and couldn't stop crying.  :)  He was born Sunday Aug 22nd (his sister's birthday) with twenty minutes to spare making him born at 36 weeks and 6 days.  He was 6lbs 13oz and 19in long.  I was sent to recovery and then to my own room where I had to wait until 4 in the morning to see my little man.  And even though I had gone through one of the most terrifying time in my life all alone when Max came into the room I was so glad it was just me and my little man.  It was so wonderful even though I was stuck in the bed.  Brian and his dad both made it by Monday night.  I was told that day by the nurse Max was bruised up.  He had beat himself up in utero.  His back and little nose where purple.  Then Tuesday came and one of the labor and delivery nurses who helped take care of Avery before Brittany took her home came to visit us.  It was then she told me that Max had had a true knot in his cord and I was lucky he was alive.  She said they call them their little angels when that happens.  I couldn't believe it.  My little boy had been taken care of again when the odds didn't look good.  I couldn't help but cry with joy and feeling more blessed than I deserve.  The fact that my boy had been through so much already just makes me realize that God must have amazing plans for my little man's life and I am so blessed to be his mother.  This is the story of my second little miracle, Maxwell Francis Bennett.