Cam is BORN!

On October 21, my sweet little angel from heaven was born. It happened quickly and with great intensity. He was delivered in about an hour from start to finish. His father was there as well as his Grandma Amy. I remember when he was fully delivered and teh doctor put him on my abdomen the first thing I did was grab his hands and look for the Simean Crease that is so classic for children with Down Syndrome. Sure enough, he was all the genetic counselor told me he would be. A beautiful blonde baby boy with Down Syndrome. I could not have asked for anything better. He was perfect. He was sweet and he was pure and suddenly all the reasons and all the fears were gone. He eats like a baby, sleeps like a baby and even poops like a baby. I realized that he is a baby first before he is a baby with Downs Syndrome.

My husband......not so much. He sat on the couch in the delivery room numb to what had just happened. Grandma Amy took my beautiful baby boy Cam in her arms and held him. She loved him and then handed him to his father. Jeff protested a firm "no" he was good. Amy, being the mother she is, told him he was going to sit and hold his son. The things mother's make you do. I had heard before Cam was born that something transforms in a person when they hold a baby with Down Syndrome. I would not have believed it if I did not see it for myself. I watched as Jeff was uncertain of how to react, go from hard and unmoving to melting all over that boy. His face softened and he began to bond. He held him and rocked him and held him and rocked him until the nurses had to rip Cam from his arms. Jeff kissed me and said he loved me. Good news.

The nurses took Cam and began to get him settled. I was taken to my room to recover and Cam was headed to the newborn ICU unit. His adventure was not over yet.

Cam had many complications coming into this world. He struggled to get stable and to eat. He was on a feeding tube and remained in the hospital for 14 days. I remember leaving the hospital without him the first night I went home and I cried. I wanted to take my baby home.

Cam finally did come home. He came home on oxygen and remained on oxygen until he was about 2 1/2 months old. I have been blessed as Cam has, that he escaped any physical complications that typically comes with Down Syndrome. His heart was perfect and we were glad.

Now Cam is 6 months old and the love of our family. We so enjoy every minute with him. I believe every family should have the experience of a child with Down Syndrome. My kids are better people because of it. They are more tolerant, loving, giving and willing to serve. A lot less judgmental and a whole lot of patient.

So love my angel......so love my Cam.