Typed this yesterday and wanted to share it with you but could not get it to post so sharing it today, also added new pictures.
June 10th 2005 at 8:46 a.m. Dominik entered the world at just 28 weeks gestation, weighing 2 lbs 2.8 ounces and 14 inches long.
Oh where does the time go??
I remember this day just like it was yesterday, the most fearful yet blessed day of my entire life- Dominik Christian Ryan Lawson's birth. I reflect back now and can't help but appreciate all I have learned, I believe we are stronger, better, more loving people because of this beautiful boy that was given to us on this date just 4 years ago.
To think back to all that he has gone through and to look at him today is simply amazing. The night before he was born we were given the news that Dominik was not expected to live, the odds were against him. I did not share this information with anyone as I could not come to grips with this heart wrenching information just 12 hours before they were planning on delivering him. I don't know what it was but I refused to believe the Dr.'s, I could not bring myself to the thought of losing him after I prayed so hard to conceive him.
Dominik was a miracle from the word "Go", back in November of 2004 I was yearning to have another child. Donte had just turned 4 and I was now the magic # "35" and I was coming to the understanding that it was probably not going to happen as we had a very difficult time getting pregnant with Donte, it took a lot of time and money to conceive that boy!
In November I was having Gyn. issues and was seeking medical advice as what I should do and the opinion was that I have a hysterectomy. I fought with this thought for quite some time and finally agreed that my baby days were over and scheduled the hysterectomy for some time in Jan. of 05. Well the Lord heard my prayers and plea's and answered them, at the end of December, just weeks before the scheduled surgery, we learned that were going to have another child. I was elated and praised God for this miracle, no fertility treatments or extra effort, I was due to deliver the first week of Sept.
Just a few weeks into the pregnancy it become obvious that this was not going to be a 'normal pregnancy', we were referred to the U of M for level 2 ultrasounds and close prenatal care. If I remember correctly were were going just about every 2 weeks for an ultrasound as there was something abnormal developing in Dom's belly. On June 8th Jim and I were at one of the appts and I can still, ever so vividly, recall the perinatologist coming into the room with the ultrasound tech and blurting out the words that your baby will most likely die. The u/s indicated that there was no amniotic fluid and that baby was in complete kidney failure, his only chance, which was very small, was to deliver him ASAP. We were given the choice of what we wanted to do- go home and "wait" or bring him into the world 3 months early and hope. At that moment it was clear that I HAD to see, touch and love on my boy, no other options!! So into the hospital and on went the fetal monitor, we were going to monitor his movements and heart rate for the next 48 hours so I could receive the betamethasone shots to help mature his lungs. If at any point his heart rate or movement changed into the O.R. we were going. So for the next 48 hours our lives centered around the sound of lub-dub. The sound of his heart beat was so comforting I refused to fall asleep because it was all I wanted and needed to hear. My plan was to get through each minute for the next 48 hours, this was my only focus. I could not bring myself to think of 'what happens' after he is born, then just 12 hours until delivery a neonatal NP walked into our room to discuss some of the things we could expect after the delivery. I was okay with this but then she dropped the bomb, she told Jim and I that Dominik was not going to live for more than a few hours due to his kidney failure and that there really is nothing they can do for premies in the way of dialysis. The raw information was a huge hit to our optimistic mind set, now I didn't know what to believe so I prayed until the early morning light.
At 8:00 I walked into the O.R., at 8:25 Jim joined me, at 8:35 the epidural was in full effect and at 8:46 Dominik entered the world--CRYING and PEEING. The sound of his voice was music to my ears, they carried him to the head of the bed where Jim and I gave him a kiss and off to the NICU he went with a full team of medical personal. By the time I was in recovery I was informed that baby Dom was stable and appeared better than they anticipated, I was now fully convinced that Dominik Christian Ryan Lawson was a fighter and was going to do great things in his life.
Dominik my love- you are the bravest boy I know, you have gone through more than most do in a life time. I promise to continue to be here for you, right by your side as you learn lifes sometimes not so fair lessons. My hope is that your only owies from now on will be scrapped knee's and elbows and your only tears will be when you can't have your way. Last year we celebrated the greatest gift you could have gotten-a life saving gift and came with it an amazing women who has filled our lives with love-we have been blessed beyond words. I am so proud to be your mommy and I love you with all my heart.
Happy 4th Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
