Happy 2nd Birthday, Atticus!

Atticus,

Two years ago on this day, me and your dad were in St. Louis waiting to see whether your lungs were fully developed to determine whether to go ahead with the EXIT procedure.  An amniocentesis was performed and about an hour later we learned that May 7th would be your birthday.  That day was crazy and things moved quickly after that.  I don’t remember what time I woke up from surgery, but I do remember that you were born at 1:29 pm Central Time and that the first time I saw you was in a photograph placed near my pillow.  Mommy was under general anesthesia for your birth, and so were you.

May 7th will always be an incredibly special day for us, not only because it is your birthday, but because it is the day that you were SAFELY brought into this world.  I will forever be grateful to the 28 doctors that took part in your delivery.  I wish I had the full list of names, as I only can remember a few.

The care that we all received at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and the Ronald McDonald House is care that I will never forget and that I will always be grateful for.  Even though the days after your birth were so confusing and scary, I will always look back on your time in the NICU with fond memories.

I love you, Atticus, and I am so thankful for everything you’ve taught me in the last two years.  I truly don’t know where I would be without you.  You fill my world with meaning and purpose.  You are an inspiration and your smile lights up the world.

Happy Birthday!