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Friday, January 9, 2009

Happy Happy Birthday Mulli Dear...

(I started this post yesterday, that is why the date is the 9th, but I'm actually posting it on the 10th.)


HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mulligan!



Two years ago today, our little baby boy was born. Whew, the nine months before he was born were probably some of the hardest in my life. The best thing about them though was that my faith in Heavenly Father grew so much.

For those of you unfamiliar with the whole ordeal, let me give you the nutshell explanation. On September 11, 2006 Ace and I went in for a routine ultrasound. To our joy and innermost desire, we discovered we were expecting a boy. Our excitement however was doused a bit when we were told that our little guy had some problems. It was then we were told that he had a cleft lip and a cleft palate. There were also concerns about the measurements of some of the ventricles in his brain, and another ultrasound was scheduled with the doctors from St. Mark's Hospital. The future for our little one looked as though it would be full of surgeries and hospital stays.

And so the pregnancy went. I had to have an ultrasound every 3-4 weeks, and each time something new was discovered, or an existing problem grew worse. My mom and dad were on a mission in Washington D.C. and every time after those appointments, I would call them in tears expressing my worries and concern.

As the time drew nearer for me to deliver, I had to add "non stress tests" to the list of appointments for the week. I would have to go up to the hospital and sit there until the nurses got the results they wanted. One time, I was there for 3 long hours.

At the last ultrasound we had, Mulligan weighed nearly 5 pounds...no weight gain from 4 weeks before, and considerably small for 35 weeks along.

On Sunday, the 7th of January, our great bishop gave me a wonderful blessing--it was a very spiritual experience and my testimony of the priesthood grew. Three days later, I was induced and Mulligan was born. I will never forget the feeling I had as the doctor looked in Mulligan's mouth and with excitement proclaimed, "It's there!! The palate is all there!!" I was overcome with emotion because I knew that Heavenly Father had heard the prayers that we had been offering so fervently.

I was only able to see our 7 POUND 11 OUNCE baby for a few moments before he was whisked away to the NICU for testing. After a few hours, I was able to visit him and hold him for the first time.

He was given a foreign bottle to feed from while in the hospital, but when we got home, he was eating from a regular bottle, just as any other baby. At the hospital we were advised to do some CT scans and other tests while we were in Salt Lake having his lip repaired, but after talking to our sweet pediatrician, we decided not to worry about it at that time, unless there was a significant problem.

Today Mulligan turns 2. He loves sports, (even watching them on t.v. Those Baby Einstein videos can go out the window as far as he's concerned), his ABC's, and he loves to color. He has such a sweet spirit and cute personality. We know Heavenly Father has blessed this little boy so much and we are so thankful. We know that miracles have not ceased.

7 comments:

lindsey said...

He is utterly adorable! I love the picture of him swinging the club!!

What an ordeal...makes me petrified to have children. BUT, I'm so glad that everything worked out okay, even if the entire pregnancy was so hard.

Justin and Kristin said...

Wow! Those golfing pic.s are way too GREAT! He is SO HANDSOME!! Prayer is an amazing gift and I am happy that things have turned out so well.

Clint, Mel & Kids said...

Wow! Time flies when you're having fun doesn't it? Happy birthday Spencer!

Cher said...

Happy Birthday Spencer!! BTW I love the new background you need to teach me how to blog like you!

Hales Family said...

Happy Birthday Spence. We love the golf pictures. Thanks for your sweet testimony too Rachelle. You are an amazing lady, we love you.

Noelle and Corey said...

We love you Spencer!! You are a sweet angel.

Gallant Family said...

I think he's just the cutest kid and I LOVE the golfing pictures. He will be a pro someday and I'll be able to say that I remember when he was in nursery (or maybe just with mom in RS :0) ) He and Jonas were having a great time together. We'll have to get them together for playdates and stuff while we girls sit and chat. My friend's little boy had both cleft palate and lip. It is crazy all the surgeries he's had. See you on Sunday!