Heart Problem

I want to begin this post by letting you know that this is a highly emotional, highly personal account of the day that Jack was born. It was a difficult day to say the least. I have included many details that I feel are necessary to understand the story and left out the details that I feel are too personal or too difficult to share. For the most part, its all here. Please just remember that as I was writing this post I had to take many breaks to feed, hold, and cuddle my sweet baby boy. I fear that it would be easy to get lost in the emotion of this post and forget that my happy, growing baby boy is sitting right here in my arms six weeks later..and he's doing great. Just know that God is good. He was with us throughout this entire day and he is with us still. He has a big plan for Baby Jack.


All that being said...here it is.




So they put my sweet baby boy into my arms for the first time and wheeled us out of the OR. My eyes were fixed on his precious face. I studied his tiny features as we made our way back to our room. When we turned the corner I could see that the hallway outside of our room was packed with our family, lining the walls with cameras ready... Like a mob of paparazzi.


As soon as we got back into our room, they took the baby from me. They allowed our family into the room for a few minutes while they got him situated across the room from me. Our whole family crowded around him until the room was so packed that I couldn't see him anymore. I watched their faces as they met him for the first time.

Then the nurses asked our family to clear out of the room and reassured them that they could all come back soon. When the room was empty one of the nurses was suctioning fluid out of the babies mouth. He would cry, then cough, then cry again. She explained to me that he had a lot of fluid that still needed to come out and that because of that fluid, his breathing wasn't quite up to par.


"Nothing to worry about," she said. "Happens all the time."


She hooked him up to a little machine that measured his oxygen saturation. She said it was low. I didn't know what that meant. They explained to me that the number on the screen should be around 90 and his was sitting right at 70. She told me that she had to call the NICU and ask the doctor if they wanted him to come down there for a while. I heard her on the phone asking him if the baby couldn't stay in our room. He said no. They were coming to get him.


I started to cry. I didn't understand what was happening. He was just born a few minutes ago. It was all happening really fast. This was not at all how I pictured this day. I was supposed to be trying to nurse for the first time and then my family was supposed to come back so that we could all stare at him in adoration for several hours. Now they were taking him from me and I wouldn't see him for four whole hours?


What were they going to do to him? Why couldn't I go? Was he going to be ok?


Our nurse Erica came over and told me not to worry. She told me that this happens often with c-section babies because they don't have to do any work to get out. She said it causes them to retain fluid in their lungs. She told me that they would keep him in the NICU for a four hour observation then they would bring him back to me.


The NICU people came into the room with one of those awful covered incubators. They asked if I wanted to hold him again for a few minutes before they took him. Of course I said yes. The few minutes passed much too quickly, then they took him from me and put him in that glass box. I cried. They said he was blue and that scared me. Then they took him down to the NICU. Josh kissed me, told me that the baby was going to be fine, then followed them down there.


Then it was just me and Erica in the room. I was really upset. I was overwhelmed and really confused about what was wrong with him.


Was it serious?


"Don't worry," she said. "It's not like he's going to die or anything. He'll be fine."


It seemed like a really harsh thing for her to say but truthfully, it was exactly what I needed to hear. After all, I was a brand new mommy who had just met my baby only minutes ago. Then had him ripped from my arms and hauled off in a glass box surrounded by doctors that were all saying things I didn't understand. It was terrifying.


Once they were gone and I had been pumped full of drugs to prepare me for the feeling to come back which was going to be seriously painful, they allowed our family to come back into the room with me.


For anyone who has ever had major abdominal surgery, you understand that no amount of pain medicine  could ever be enough when the feeling first comes back. It hurt. A lot. The feeling came back as I waited to hear from Josh. It was also a moment of heavy emotion for me. I cried a lot. This made the pain worse. Then I cried more because it hurt so bad. It was a catch-22 cycle of pain and tears.


After a while of waiting, I started to worry. I know my husband and I knew that too much time had passed. I tried calling him. No answer. I tried texting him. No response. Something was wrong. I could feel it. I knew he would have called me by now. He knows how I worry.


Our family had gone back out into the waiting area and it was just my mom and me in my room when Josh came back in. He was out of breath. He had ran back to me. The moment that he came around the corner and I saw his face, I knew something was wrong. He was scared.


He sat down on the bed next to me and took my hands. Tears welled in his eyes. He tried to choke them back. He wanted to be strong for me.


"What is it? Tell me whats wrong. Tell me right now!" I said as my heart thudded in my chest. It seemed like a century before he spoke.


"Somethings wrong with his heart."


He broke down. Tears fell.


I didn't understand. The room was spinning. I was sure he was wrong. This wasn't happening. It wasn't real. It was the most intense out of body experience I have ever experienced. I wanted him to take it back. To say it wasn't true. I just didn't understand how this was possible. Was he going to die? I was in shock.


My mom left the room to give us a moment. The rest of that moment was private and highly emotional. I won't share the details with you but I will say that it was the hardest moment of my life.


In that time Josh shared with me what the nurses and doctors in the NICU had told him. When they brought Jack down to monitor his oxygen saturation, they hooked him up to monitors. While one of the nurses was sitting close by, she heard what sounded like a heart murmer. She called the doctor who then called UAB. They knew there was a problem with his heart but at that point they had no idea what that problem was or how serious. They were going to transfer him to the NICU at UAB to have some tests run. The ambulance would take him there at 8:00pm. We would know more in the morning.


Soon enough our family filled the room. They wanted to be there for us but no one knew what to say.


I decided right then that I was going to him. I wasn't going to lie in that hospital bed not knowing what was going on. Not knowing what they were doing to my baby. He needed me. I didn't care what they said.


My nurse brought me a wheelchair. Getting out of the bed and into that wheelchair only a little over an hour after my surgery was pretty rough to say the least. Once I got situated, they put a blanket in my lap and she wheeled me down to the NICU.


She was a horrible driver. She hit every bump without hesitation and even ran me into the baby's incubator when we got down there. I don't think I'll ever forget that ride.


Once we got down there they situated me in my wheelchair right in front of the baby. He was already hooked up to all kinds of monitors and had tiny IVs in both tiny hands.




The nurse asked if I wanted to hold him. I said yes, of course. She bundled him up and handed him to me. For the next few hours, I sat in that wheelchair, holding my new son, speaking scripture over him and begging God for mercy.


Please God. Let him be ok. Please.


Josh stayed at my side. My dad and my mom took turns holding a wet cloth on the back of my neck and pushing my hair out of my face. The rest of our families took turns standing in the room with us. We said several prayers together.


Looking back now, that evening is a blur. I don't think I saw anything but his tiny face for several hours. Since then we've seen some videos and pictures that were taken in that room during that time and I don't even remember seeing most of the people that were there. It was a time of intense emotion and close connection to God. He was in that room with us. I have no doubt about that.


As 8:00 drew near, I got nervous. They were taking him and Josh was going with him. It was the most devastating feeling to know that I couldn't be there with him. He needed me. Josh needed me. I felt so helpless.


They chose a nurse who would ride in the ambulance with him. She assured me that she would take good care of him. They took him from me and placed him back in the incubator. We prayed one more time and then I said my tearful goodbyes to Jack and to Josh. It was harder that I could ever explain.


We followed them down the hallway as far as they would let us but then they told us that I had to go back to my room. They wouldn't let me go any further. I watched them until they were out of my sight. Then they took me back to my room.


As for the rest of that night, I'll be honest, I don't remember much. I remember some visitors but by the end of the night, it was just me and my mom. She spent the night on the couch in my room. She helped me whenever I needed to make those dreaded trips to the bathroom. Of course, I didn't sleep. The first night was bad. I stayed in constant contact with Josh and he sent me videos and pictures every few minutes. I was in a lot of pain, both physically and emotionally. I spent a lot of time in prayer. The room was dark and silent. I just talked to God.


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The purpose of sharing this part of our story with you is, by no means, to bum you out. Its actually quite the opposite. I want to remind you that God is good. He wants the very best for us and he wants us to be happy in this life. He never puts us through any trial that we cannot overcome and He never allows us to step into a battle that we cannot win. He was with us throughout this tough day and He is with us still. Jack has defied every odd and has won every battle he has faced so far and I know that he will continue to do so as we proceed into the future. God has a purpose. He has a plan. We have 100% faith in His plan and we will walk through the fire because we know that our victory awaits us on the other side. We WILL watch our little boy grow up into a strong man of God and in 30 years we will look back on this day and we will know exactly what God's plan was all along and we will celebrate any and every opportunity that God allowed each of us to be used for His glory. 

"Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:17

Welcome to the world, Baby Jack!

I don't think either one of us did much sleeping that night. We were SO excited. Our baby was finally going to be here.


We got up that morning and got ready then we finished packing. My mom came over and we had so much luggage that we literally filled up two cars. You would have thought we were moving into the hospital and the funny thing was that we were only planning to be there three nights (although we ended up being there longer and eventually ran out of stuff and had to send our family to get more stuff for us.) We left home at around 9:30 because Josh and I had to go through the bank drive-thru.


We got to the hospital right at 11:00am. We went to the third floor and checked in. A sweet nurse named Erica took us to our room and gave me my gown. I got dressed and got into the bed. She asked me a bunch of questions and then started my IV (My very first one ever/ I was SO nervous/ It didn't hurt that bad.) After then it was just a waiting game. I was scheduled for surgery at 1:00pm and Erica said she would be back to get me at around a quarter til.


Our families started to arrive little by little until our little hospital room was filled to the max. I watched the clock like a hawk commenting every few minutes. ("20 minutes til they cut me open/10 minutes and they're coming to get me") Needless to say I was all nerves. Every time Erica came into the room I panicked. She would say, "Not yet. Try to relax."


Then it was time. 12:45pm. She came into the room.


"Are you ready?" She asked.


"Yes," is what I said. "Aahhh!" is what I felt.


Josh got suited up in his wicked cool surgery gear. I got a lovely hat and then they wrapped me up in a sheet, grabbed my IV fluids, and off we went. Our families lined the hallway to watch us walk down to the OR. I was shaking like a leaf. I had never been so terrified and excited before in my life.

When we got down there, they told me that Josh had to stay outside of the OR while they prepped me for surgery. I seriously hoped they were kidding. They weren't.


I went into that icy cold and ridiculously bright room by myself. Time to put on my brave face. One last look over my shoulder to my sweet husband. I was on my own, at least for a little while.


When we got in there, I met the anesthesiologist and he explained what was going to happen. First they would have me sit on the table and lean forward while they gave me an epidural. Then I would quickly lie down on the table and get situated before I started to lose feeling in the lower half of my body. Then they would begin the process of prepping me which included a lot of things I would rather not share. :)


I loved that Erica was in there with me and she held my hands while I got my epidural. I had been really nervous about that part and she could tell. She told me to try to relax because they needed for me to stop shaking. She asked me questions about the baby. I calmed down. Then a small prick in my back. A LOT of intense burning for a couple of seconds. Then the second prick. A LOT of pressure. Then done. I survived. They said I took it like a champ. I was sad that Josh and my family didn't get to see me being all brave. Mental note, make sure Erica tells Josh how tough I was. ;)


While the doctors prepped me, the anesthesiologist hung all of the draping that would keep me from being able to see what they were doing to me. The anesthesiologist had explained to me that my blood pressure would probably drop and it might make me nauseated or light headed. I had to tell them immediately if that happened. It definitely did. I suddenly got intensely nauseated and dizzy. He pushed something into my IV and I was instantly better. I told him that was a miracle drug and I wanted to take some home. Then my doctor, Dr. Ingram, said that she was ready. "Bring in dad," she said. Then Josh was finally by my side. He sat on a stool on the left side of me up by my head. My arms were under the draping laying out to each side. I wasn't supposed to move them. But Josh reached under to hold my hand.


They did a lot of poking to make sure I couldn't feel anything and then the anesthesiologist explained how the pressure was going to feel like my doctor was standing on my stomach, then my chest. I wondered what that would feel like. Then they said it was time. "Are you ready?" They asked me.


I wasn't scared anymore. I had survived my first IV and my epidural. I had been in this cold creepy room with all of these strangers for long enough to feel like we were all old pals. I was more ready than I'd ever been. I was dying to see my baby's face. "So ready," I answered.


So then they began. The anesthesiologist explained everything they were doing step by step. Once they got in there, the baby was stuck. He didn't want to come out. Dr. Ingram explained that she was going to have to cut me wider to be able to reach him. He was much farther up than they had anticipated. Then she explained that they were going to have to use the vacuum to try to get him out. We heard it pop three times. That was the sound of the suction cup popping off of my stubborn boy's little head as he remained comfortably situated just high enough to be unreachable. Then the doctor said it was time for that pressure they had talked about, and it might be worse than they had originally let on.


Sure enough, the doctor definitely placed a rather large elephant on my chest. I couldn't see it, but I'm definitely sure that it was there. I couldn't breathe. Josh squeezed my hand and told me that it would be over soon. "You can do this. It's ok. You're doing great. I'm so proud of you." Seemed like that moment lasted forever. It was intense to say the least. Suddenly a spray of blood hit the drape that was hanging in front of my face. It sprayed onto the anesthesiologist and the wall behind him. Not cool.


"More pressure," the doctor said.


"They're kidding, right?" I thought to myself but couldn't speak because suddenly the elephant decided to invite his buddy to hop on. I felt like my chest was caving in. That definitely has to be what it feels like to be squished between two walls like in horror movies when the walls start to close in and the people that are trapped get their guts squished out. Yuck. Not fun.


Then the doctor asked Josh if he wanted to watch. She was about to pull the baby out. It was finally time. Josh stood up. More pressure. Then he was out.


I watched Josh's face as I waited to hear the first cry of my newborn son. He was definitely amazed. Then, there it was. The most beautiful, amazing sound I've ever heard. I couldn't see him. But I could hear him. My tears began to fall rapidly, but considering that I wasn't allowed to move my arms, Josh did his best to wipe my face.


The nurse said that they had to do a few things and then they would bring him over. Dr. Ingram said that she was going to start closing me back up. The anesthesiologist said that he was a big healthy boy. He asked if we wanted to guess a weight. I said 9 pounds 2 ounces. Josh said 9.4. The anesthesiologist guessed 9.14. We were all wrong.


"Eight pounds, eight ounces," the nurse said.


"I was way off," the anesthesiologist said.


Then it was finally time. The moment I had waited for. The nurse brought him over. He was bundled up in a St. Vincent's blanket. She held him out for me to see.

*LOTS of tears* "He's perfect," was all I could say.


The first thing I noticed were his sweet little lips. His little mouth was all puckered out. And he had hair! We totally thought he would be bald. A sweet little round head of blonde hair. He was screaming bloody murder.

Then she took him back. They still had lots to do. He screamed the whole time. The doctors commented on his strong lungs.


Josh and I cried together and talked about how amazingly perfect he was. He was so much better than I could have possibly imagined. It was the most amazing and beautiful moment of my life. I wish it could have lasted forever.


Then finally the nurse brought him back and handed him to his proud daddy. Josh took him into his arms and we both stared at him in amazement. He was the most beautiful thing we had ever seen. The anesthesiologist took our camera and took some pictures. Then finally, after what felt like a century, Dr. Ingram said she was done. They took down all of the draping and moved me onto a hospital bed. They got me situated and then Erica took the baby from Josh and placed him in my arms.

It was one of those moments that defines your life. The moment you accepted the Lord as your savior. The moment you said, "I do" and became a Mrs. And now this. The moment you make eye contact with the small person who had instantly become the love of your life. The moment you became a mother. The moment you realized that you didn't even know what love was until now.

The Delivery Dilemma

We made each of our weekly visits to the doctor's office during the last few weeks of my pregnancy with our fingers crossed, hoping for good news. Each week, we were told that nothing had changed. I wasn't dilating at all. We made our last visit on January 10th. I was 40 weeks and 1 day pregnant and was scheduled for an ultrasound. My doctor wanted to check and make sure everything looked good with the baby before scheduling an induction for later that week.


During the ultrasound we were told that our baby was likely going to weigh 9 pounds and 9 ounces. We were shocked! That's a big baby! After the ultrasound we went for a non-stress test. We sat in a tiny room for 30 minutes, just me and Josh. I was hooked up to some monitors and I had to push a button every time I felt the baby move. We sat there and talked and laughed about the possibility of having such a big baby. I was nervous about delivering already but now it was just amplified! We texted and told our families. We wondered what Dr. Ingram was going to say.


After the non-stress test we saw the doctor. She told us that she was positive, judging by the size and shape of my belly that this baby was not going to be that large, but she also added that she had been wrong before. She gave us the option. We could either try to have a regular delivery or go ahead and schedule a c-section. If we chose a regular delivery the plan was going to be to come in on Thursday night and they would give me some medicine that would prepare me to be induced the next morning. Then they would induce Friday morning. However, because I hadn't dilated at all, there was a chance that I could labor for hours and still not be able to push out such a large baby. This actually happened to my mom when my older sister was born. She labored for a very long time and ended up being too small to have such a large baby. She had to have an emergency c-section anyway and had been through many hours of torturous pain for nothing. I guess thats the literal meaning of the phrase "laboring in vein." I was really scared the same thing would happen to me.


The worst part was that she told us that we had to decide right then. The longer we waited to make the decision, the longer we would have to wait to have our baby. Josh held my hand as I told her I wanted to have a c-section. As soon as she left the room I fell to pieces. I was terrified of having surgery. I had been into the operating room. It was really bright, cold, and scary. Josh hugged me and reassured me that everything was going to be fine.


Later that day, after we had made it home and just sat down to have lunch, my phone rang. It was the scheduling office calling to tell me when my c-section was going to be...when we were going to become parents. He told us that he had scheduled my surgery for 1:00 the next afternoon. We were so excited that we couldn't even finish our lunch. We started calling our families to let them know. Tomorrow was the big day.


That night we packed and got everything ready. We couldn't wrap our minds around the fact that this time tomorrow our baby would be here. After all these months, it was finally time. The day I had waited my whole life for. The day that would change my life forever. We were so ready.


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This day to us was just another doctor's visit. It was both exciting and scary. Exciting because we found out that our baby boy was going to come into the world the next day. Scary because we found out that he was going to get here via gaping hole in mommy's belly.


We were just getting ready for what was to come. We thought we were making the decision about the delivery based on what would be the least painful and dangerous route for me. Little did we know that God was there the whole time. And that I didn't really make that decision about the c-section. God did.

God's Plan

From the very first moment that I found out I was pregnant, I felt certain of two things. 


1. This baby was a boy.
2. God was going to use him in a big way. 


To put a name on this feeling that God had placed in my heart, I told people that I thought that maybe he was going to grow up to be a preacher or a missionary. I wasn't sure exactly how he would be used, I just new that God had big plans for him. 


Josh and I began to pray for this baby immediately. Actually we began praying before we knew for sure that we were pregnant. We just wanted to make sure that we were in God's will. We prayed for him in every way. We prayed he would be healthy, happy, and most importantly, that he would grow up to be a true man of God. We prayed for God's will in his little life and in our family. 


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Around Christmas time, when we started studying Jesus' birth at church and at home, something jumped out at me. John the Baptist was anointed from birth.

"For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb."     Luke 1:15


After I read about John the Baptist and the amazing purpose that God had for his life, even before he was born, I began to pray a new prayer for Jack. I prayed that he would be anointed from birth. That God would use him in a big way for his entire life. That he would find salvation in Jesus Christ at an early age and never turn from it. Never fall away. 


I prayed that he would grow up to be an amazing man of God who would do great things for His kingdom. Wether he becomes a preacher or not, I prayed that God would complete His will in Jack's life. 


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I don't believe that God makes bad things happen to His people. I believe that our God is good and wants only good things for His children. I do believe, however, that God will sometimes allow something that we consider to be bad to happen to us as a part of His greater plan. 


Usually when these things happen, we tend to ask God why He would allow this to happen to us. We are so focused on what we thought we deserved, should have had, or wanted that we can't see the bigger picture of God's plan...and He ALWAYS has a plan. 


But usually when we gain some perspective and are able to look back at something we've been though, especially a time when we questioned God like that, we find that God's plan is clear. And that He was working for our good...even though we couldn't see it at the time.


"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."   Romans 8:28


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When Jack was born with a heart condition, I immediately questioned God. After all, I had prayed for a healthy baby. I had done everything right. I felt so overwhelmed in that moment when Josh explained to me that our precious son was sick, that I couldn't even make myself believe that this was real. God wouldn't allow this, would He? This doctor had to be mistaken. 


But the doctor wasn't wrong. Jack was born with a condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, or more commonly called Left Ventricle. 


God did allow this to happen and now that I have had some time to reflect and pray, I have realized that God is simply working out the plan that I prayed so diligently for during my pregnancy. He gave me and Josh a baby who was born with a purpose. He has already worked miracles for and through Jack and He has only just begun. 


We have experienced every emotion you can possibly imagine from raging with anger to trembling in fear. But, from day one we decided that no matter what, we wouldn't allow Satan to steal our faith in God. We have seen what God can do. We decided to cling to the faith that we have in our sweet savior and in His plan for Jack's life. It is through this faith that we are able to rest assured that Jack will have a long happy life. Just as we prayed. Plus he is already being used by God in such a big way. So many people have been praying with us and we have already seen God change hearts through Baby Jack. 


If God can do that with the first week of Jack's life, imagine what He is planning to do with the rest of his life. I can't wait to see what amazing things God has in store for Jack. One thing I know for sure, he is going to grow up to be an amazing man of God. 

Oh yea, this is really happening.

May 11, 2011


I had been having some weird feeling stomach cramps. I just thought I was going to start my period soon. 

After a couple of weeks with no change, I got curious. I stopped at Dollar General on the way to work and picked up a generic pregnancy test. I didn't even give it much thought. I knew it would be negative and I didn't want to get my hopes up. I had taken so many pregnancy tests since we decided to start trying to get pregnant and I was always disappointed when they were negative.
I threw the test in my purse and went to work. 

That night when I got home from work at around 10:30, I told Josh how I had been feeling. I assured him that I was sure I wasn't pregnant. Then I told him I knew how we could know for sure. I told him about the test in my purse and he told me to take it right then. I could tell he got excited but I was just sure it would be negative. I had done this a thousand times before. 

I took the test and left it laying on the bathroom counter. I went back a few minutes later to look at the test and it was a very faded plus sign. I was more confused than anything. I mean, after all, it did come from Dollar General. I told Josh to come look. We just looked at each other for a while. He asked me if it had ever looked like that before. I said nope. 

We jumped up right then and ran to Walmart. Full of potential excitement. We were trying not to get our hopes up. We were really nervous. Josh drove like a maniac. We talked the entire way there... "What if?"

When we got there, it was around midnight and there was another couple standing in front of the section. We were looking at pregnancy tests and they were buying preventative products. We found that to be funny. We chose the tests that were in a plastic box that would have to be removed at the register. They were the most expensive but we wanted to be sure. 

When we got to the register there was only one aisle open and a couple of people behind us. As the checkout lady tried to open the plastic box, she got frustrated and then called over the loudspeaker for someone to help her with the pregnancy tests. We laughed as the older ladies behind us looked us up and down. We joked that it didn't help that we both look like we're about 17. Josh even joked that he should pretend to call his mom and tell her we were ready to be picked up from Walmart. 

We rushed home and I went straight to the bathroom. I had bought a bottle of water at Walmart and Josh forced me to drink some of it so that I would have to pee when I got home. I took both tests at one time and was really pretty sure that I didn't pee enough on either for them to work. 

I left the tests on the counter in the bathroom and sat on the edge of our bed with Josh. We closed our eyes, bowed our heads, held hands, and prayed for God's will. If it was time for us to have a baby, we wanted it to be positive. We wanted whatever He had in store for us. We both prayed so hard for His will. Nothing more. Nothing less. 

When a few minutes had passed and we were done praying, I asked Josh to let me look. He waited on the bed. I stood at the bathroom counter in total shock when I walked in and saw TWO words. PREGNANT. PREGNANT. 

I didn't say anything. I didn't move. I always knew it would happen someday but I had dreamed of that moment for years. How we would react. How we would celebrate. It was so surreal. 

I stepped out of the bathroom and just looked at Josh. I didn't say anything. He asked, "Well?" I didn't say anything. 

I shook my head. He was shocked too. Had to see it for himself. He came into the bathroom. We both just stared at the tests like we were expecting them to change. 

After a few moments, we started to laugh together. Then cry together. Josh took me in his arms. We hugged for the longest time. He held onto me so tight. He was crying. I was overwhelmed with emotion. We laughed and cried together in the bathroom. It was the most glorious moment. 

We instantly started to celebrate, talk, and plan together. We couldn't believe it was real. We couldn't wait to tell our families. 

The next day, we both went to work. We couldn't wait to tell someone. I told a girl from work who I didn't even know. Josh told a few people from work that day too. We were most excited to tell our parents and Tiffany and Jake. 

We left that evening as soon as Josh got home and went to Target. We got a set of onezies made for a boy. Sports themed. They were so tiny. We put them in plain colored gift bags and started with Tiffany on our way out of town. She opened her little bag and pulled out that baby outfit. She couldn't believe it. She cried and we hugged. She was so happy. Then we went to Jasper and stopped at my mom's house first. We gave the bag to her and Olivia helped her open it. She was so happy she couldn't stand it. She cried and laughed and screamed. We explained it to Olivia and she was really happy too. Billy didn't say much. He never does. As we left their house and closed the door behind us, we could hear mom and Olivia screaming from inside. It was an awesome moment. My mom was going to be a grandma for the first time ever. Next we stopped at Jack and Wendy's. It was almost Jack's birthday so we gave the gift to him. As he was opening it, he just knew what it was going to be. He whispered something to Wendy and they both laughed. When he pulled out that green baby onezie, they were so happy. They hugged and Wendy cried. Jackson was thrilled too. He was going to be an Uncle. We celebrated with them for a few minutes and then we moved onto my Aunt Tina's house. She opened her bag and was also in shock. She said "No way!" After we told them, they called Jaxon and Gracie downstairs and we told them too. They were excited too. Gracie said she couldn't wait to hold the baby but only after they clean all the gook off of it. I laughed and agreed. Next we went to my dad's house. He was nervous but excited. We stopped last at Mallory's house. We told her and her mom and laughed and celebrated with them. It was the most amazing day. We talked the whole way home. Everyone was so thrilled. It was amazing. It was really happening.