Team Hall

Last night was the annual Light the Night walk to support blood born cancers. I don't really know how to express in words how touched Dave and I were by the support we felt from our friends and family. As we talked to each one of you last night, and saw your beautiful families, we couldn't help but think how blessed we feel to be surrounded by such amazing people. At the end of the night after everyone had left, Dave and I sat in our car, in the parking lot, feeding Marshall and talking about the night. We were both very teary eyed as we sat in the dark, just the three of us...realizing the sometimes it takes something as bad a cancer to make you realize how good life really is. So thank you...thank you for being a part of a night that meant more to us than you could possibly ever know!!!

I'm a Slacker...I know!

I know, I know, I had a baby and it's like, "Blog? What Blog?" No worries...today is a day for updates. Let's start with Marshall. Instead of telling you all about him, I'm going to post a few pictures. I think they speak for themselves. :)

A Day to Remember

I don't know how to describe what I'm feeling. It's six a.m. and the perfect cool, fall morning. The house is quiet as I sit here with my cup of coffee, snuggled up in a blanket with Marshall sleeping in my arms. The last eight days have been the happiest moments of my life. Dave and I have to laugh because every night we say, "Today is my favorite day I've lived so far!" It's amazing that this little person we created has brought such tremendous joy into our lives.

For those of you who don't know the story of Marshall's arrival, here is the condensed version. Marshall was running a little late, so Dr. Charles decided to induce me on Sunday, September 21st. Saturday night I finished packing my bag for the hospital and pretended to sleep in preparation of what the next day would be bringing. At four a.m. I decided I was tired of pretending and that it was time to get up. As I stood, it was very evident that my water had broke. I woke Dave up and excitedly explained that indeed Marshall was coming today but apparently on his own terms. Funny, I had no idea how true this would be. I took a shower, my husband slept a little longer (ask him about this next time you see him :), and we headed to the hospital.

Everything was going great until around 2 o'clock. I knew something was wrong when the nurse came in and asked Dave and I how big we were when we were born. It seemed a little strange that she was making smalltalk about our birth weights when I was hyperventilating from the pain of each contraction. Looking back I realize she was worried Marshall was too big to make it out the birth canal. Long story, short...by 5'oclock Dr. Charles was explaining to me that although I was dilated to nine, Marshall's position was going to make it impossible for me to deliver him naturally. So...plan B. Frankly at this point, I didn't care if it was plan L, K, or Z...I just wanted him out!

The csection is a bit of a blur, but I do remember Dave's face being right beside mine telling me how great I was doing. And I remember lying there waiting to hear Marshall cry because I knew it would all be okay once I could hear his voice. It only took about five minutes to get him out and then I heard this little voice screaming as he arrived into our world. Dr. Charles quickly brought Marshall around the sheet so Dave and I could see him and then he was whisked off to be checked out. I will never forget how it felt at that very moment to look at my husband and know that regardless of what our future brings, it was at this very moment that made our lives so worth living. Dave was able to run back and forth from where I was lying to where Marshall was lying and then come back to give me all the details. It takes about an hour to stitch a person up after a csection so Dave had plenty of time to describe to me what Marshall looked like...what he didn't say at the time was that Marshall is actually just a miniature version of him :)

Once they were finished with me, I was moved to recovery for an hour and was finally able to hold my son. There really aren't words to describe a moment like this. Dave and I sat there...holding onto Marshall...looking at each other...and realizing we were now not just Dave and Mandy, but a family of three.

Once our hour was up, we were moved to the postpartum room. I was pretty loopy by this point, but I do know that my entire family was in the room awaiting our arrival and that the smiles and tears were abundant. Like I said...a day to remember!