Happy 3rd Birthday Gage!

Since it would be Gage's 3rd birthday, I wanted to tell you about the day he was born. October 13, 2008. I was 37 weeks along and I woke up feeling terrible. I went to our doctor and my blood pressure was through the roof. So she told me to go home and get my bags and my husband and come back in 2 hours for my C-section. I had to have a C-Section because Emily damaged my bladder during delivery and I did not want to risk that again. So we got to the hospital. There was some drama because I am highly allergic to DEHP, a chemical in most hospital plastics like IV tubing and IV bags. After a while, my mother in law came to our rescue with the tubing she had at her oncology office. So at 2:41 in the afternoon, Mr. Gage Warren Pruitt was born. He was 7 pounds 3 ounces and 19 inches long. When he was first born, he sounded like a baby kitten. It was a tiny little cry. They showed him to me for a brief second. I told him not to cry and he stopped. Then they whisked him away to the NICU to help him a bit. After I was in my room, I wondered where everyone was. Charlie wasn't there, Gage wasn't there, my parents weren't there. Where did they go? Well, Charlie was sitting in the waiting room wondering where I was. The nurses never told him that I was in a room. So I finally got in touch with him. Then my parents brought Emily. But where was my new baby? I kept asking, but the nurses just kept saying "he will be in soon". Apparently, everyone in my family saw him in the nursery. Finally, at 8 pm my dad went down to the nurses desk and demanded to have Gage so he could bring him to me. So he did. That was one of the most tender moments my dad and I have shared. I will never forget how proud my dad looked wheeling him in the room in his little bassinet. I finally got to hold my first son! It was wonderful. Emily was head over heels in love! I didn't sleep at all either night we were in the hospital. I just stared at Gage. We went home two days later and enjoyed our new baby. The first thing that Charlie did was show Gage World of War.Craft. A few weeks later was Halloween so we dressed him up and took him trick or treating with Emily. Gage was a great sleeper and loved to cuddle and he was a great breastfeeder. The first restaurant we took him to was Rosie's. Of course he slept the whole time. We were starting to get used to having two little ones to take care of and to love. Life was great. I wont' write about what happened next, because today is Gage's birthday and I am celebrating his life. So I want to share some pictures from those first few days and weeks.

Gage, Happy Birthday Sweetpea. Mommy sure does miss you. Look for the lanterns tonight. I am sending three to Heaven for you. I love you.