Day 14 - Acting normal

Trayc's mom took the "night hours" so we were able to get another good night sleep, I'm really going to miss these 8 hrs of straight sleep when she leaves. Fortunately the snow is coming down in Tennessee so we've talked her and Grandma into staying at least until Wednesday. Tristan had a good night, except that his apnea monitor went off at 4:19 am which means he stopped breathing for 20 seconds so Trayc's mom quickly unwrapped him and stimulated his feet, as we were told to do. He immediately started breathing again and didn't have any more problems the rest of the night. We originally had a pulse oximeter but on Thursday the geneticist advised that we switch to the apnea monitor because it would be more helpful to us. It monitors his heart rate and his breathing pattern but you don't see any numbers. Honestly, this is better for me because I concentrated on the numbers all day and just as they would start dropping, which happens when they sleep, I would get scared. So, Friday night we received the new apnea monitor. This is the first time we've had an alarm since Tristan was 2 days old, in the hospital, so we are thankful for that. Tristan had a great day today. I cannot say it enough, he has stolen my heart, especially when he turns his little head and looks at me with his dark eyes and smiles. I remember back in August when the "high risk" doctors said that Trisomy 18 babies are severally retarded and have lots of problems as they are considered "incompatible with life" (I'll never forget those words) therefore he would never act like a normal baby! I say "Really?" to that today. So far he is acting just like a normal baby. He eats every 3 hrs., he sleeps, he has dirty diapers, he cries, he sucks on his paci, he smiles and most importantly he loves his mommy to hold him. I also believe he knows the difference between each of us and although he may never be able to speak a word, he says so much with his little eyes. I know he must feel how much we all love him, after all we completely SMOTHER HIM WITH KISSES ALL DAY LONG, so why wouldn't he understand and feel that? I am so thankful the Lord is allowing Tristan to act like a normal baby, it is so comforting to us and it is great for Tanner to feel that normalcy too. I believe that when Tristan is no longer with us we will cling to these precious "normal baby" moments and they will help soothe our hurting hearts. Tonight Tanner went to our church with all of my and Trayc's family because one of his cousins has a part in the Christmas concert so we stayed home and spent time with Tayden and Tristan. After the concert Trayc's grandma came back to our house and is staying with us tonight to spend some time with Tristan. Please pray for Trayc's mom and grandma tonight as they take the "night hours", please pray for Tristan's strength and that he will not stop breathing again and pray for us as we face another new day tomorrow.