Eating cereal...

At four months our pediatrician told us to start feeding Benjamin rice cereal. I was so excited, our little boy was so going to enjoy his first bites of real food. In my mind I thought he's going to love this...I was wrong, so very wrong. I've attached a few photos of how it's going, poor little peanut. And I have to say, I agree with him, I did taste the rice and it's not good. But I keep promising him, it will get better...this is just a prelude. Enjoy!

Another birthday has come and gone...

In the past, I faced every birthday with shear dread. But this year was different. I embraced it. I owned it and loved every minute of it! I'm 42. I'm a wife to a wonderful man. I'm a mother to the light of my life. My situation in life is different, I'm just happy and my cup runneth over.  


To think this time last year I was preparing for my 3rd and final IVF (egg retrieval March 22 and transfer March 25). This time last year, Benjamin was still just a hope and a wish I thought would never come true. It makes me cry to just think about it...I'm forever grateful to so many people for helping us along the way. 


On another note. Tomorrow will be the 4th anniversary of my fathers death. A day doesn't pass where I don't think about him. I know my father would have enjoy spending time with Benjamin (loving all his first) and how proud he would have been of this brave little boy. Benjamin has dad's blue eyes...and this warms my heart everyday. 


Benjamin is 4 months, 1 week and 1 day old. Here are a few recent photos.

So it's March, it's in the 80's outside, the trees are blooming, birds are chirping and IU has made it to the sweet 16! I'm 42. And life is so good.

Benjamin is 2 months!

Ok everyone I've been away for awhile...we have had a so much going on these past few weeks with the holidays the Benjamin's surgery. 


I don't think that I mentioned it earlier, but Benjamin was born with a Clubfoot. This meant that Benjamin's (right) foot was twisted out of position. The term "clubfoot" refers to the way the foot is positioned at a sharp angle to the ankle, like the head of a golf club. It's a relatively common and in our case was easily treated (Ben's foot was a mild case). Our doctor at Riley Hospital for Children, treated Benjamin by casting his foot for 4 weeks, then did surgery on Ben's Achilles tendon. In the surgery, the tendon was snipped and then his leg was casted for another 3 weeks. By the time the cast was removed, the tendon had regenerated to the proper length. Now our little Benjamin has to wear a brace on his feet for the next couple months, but after all this, his foot looks good as new!


So 2 months have passed since our little Benjamin was born. Where did the time go? Honestly, I don't ever think about those long days in the hospital...they all have been forgotten. They were just the road I had to take to meet my son. Everyday, I count my blessings that this road gave me a healthy, happy little boy, who I treasure with all my heart. We have our happy ending and for that, I'm forever thankful.


Benjamin Robert Goguen at 2 months weighs in at 11 lbs 14 oz and 24 inches long! That's right he grew 6 inches in length in 2 months and he's almost doubled his birth weight. Benjamin is thriving!

Blessing of 35 weeks...

I would like to introduce you to the biggest blessing I have every been given. Benjamin Robert Goguen, my beautiful son. He was born 11.11.11 at 2:44pm, weighing 6lbs 4oz and 18 1/4 inches long.  


I know I should have posted this info earlier, but Claude and I have been enjoying every minute with our precious son. Here are a few photos from his first week. 

I want to thank everyone for their prayers and kindness. We are so very thankful and blessed.

Blessing of Family...

Today I am thankful for my wonderful family. I so appreciate the visits, phone calls, meals, messages on FaceBook and the long distance traveled to meet a new family member. Your kindness will never be forgotten. You all mean the world to me! 


As I sit here and wait for our scheduled surgery time, I'm still in shock that our little family of two is growing by one. A year ago I would have never imagined that having our own child would have been possible. It's been a long difficult journey for Claude and I, but today we are truly blessed. 


We have each other. And we will have a son.

Todays Blessings... My Nurses

Today I am thankful for my wonderful nurses here at IU North. All of them have been so amazing. Here is just one example: 


After day one of my stay here at IU North my husband started marking my days of incarceration on the dry erase board in my room. It's been our way of keeping track of how many days I had been here. On day 15, a nurse named Cynthia, stopped by to do my 2 hour blood sugar test, she noticed our marked incarceration days and asked me about them. Little did she know, that that day was a real breaking point for me. I was a mess. I truly felt like I was being punished for wanting this baby so much. I mean after all the failed fertility treatments, the ectopic, the scare of this high risk pregnancy and then 15 days of hospital bed rest, I was at a breaking point. I was mourning the easy pregnancy that I always wanted. A few minutes after she had left my room, Cynthia came back with a blue paper chain with 11 links, one for each day left until my c-section. She didn't like that I didn't have something to look forward to. So she taped the chain on my door and said that I needed to tear a link off each day I remained here. I don't think she realized just how much that little bit of thoughtfulness changed my outlook. I now have 3 links left, 3 days until we meet our son.


So after 26 days of being on lock down, I wish I could thank every nurse that has cared for me, taken the time to listen to me, held my hand and encouraged me to keep thinking positive. Everyone of them has been a small blessing. And anyone who gets their care, will be very lucky. 

The Blessing of Great Friends...

Todays’ blessing is that of friendship.

When I was put in the hospital 23 days ago, I never imagined how alone and scary it could be. And trust me when I say, there is NOTHING relaxing or enjoyable about being in a hospital, for any reason at all! The one thing that has made my incarceration easier is the kindness I’ve found in my friends. I can’t begin to thank all of you enough for visits and joy you have brought me! But I can tell you how grateful I am that you took the time out of your busy lives to come visit. It has meant the world to me. I know our son, as well as Claude and I, are very lucky to have so many wonderful people looking forward to his arrival. So I leave you today with this...

Friendship isn’t about whom you have known the longest... It’s about who came, and never left your side...         - Unknown

Thanks again everyone!