Travis Lee Callahan Jr.

It's only taken me 11 weeks to post this, BUT...our baby BOY is here! Yes, we have a boy! A sweet baby boy.

We woke up bright and early on the morning of Monday, April 27th and headed to the hospital for my scheduled c-section. This picture was taken just minutes before we left our house. 

My parents met us at the hospital and MK went with them while we headed back to prepare for surgery. Morgan Kate was beyond excited, but also a little nervous about mommy having surgery.

I had a c-section with Morgan Kate, but I was completely asleep and obviously don't remember anything about it. This time I was awake and much more aware and I was a nervous wreck. It didn't help that my BP was off the charts and my head felt like it might explode. 

They also had a very hard time getting to Lee because of lots and lots of scar tissue from MK's emergency birth. At one point during the section, there were nurses on either side of me pulling every which way,  my doctor pulling and tugging, and the anesthesiologist basically standing on Travis' head to push down on my stomach. It was a lot. But, I was so thankful for awesome nurses and doctors, and of course my main squeeze who helped keep me calm.

Travis Lee Callahan Jr. was born at 9:28am. He weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and was 21 inches long. Hearing his first cry was the best sound ever. I think I finally exhaled after 38 weeks. I just lost it the minute I saw his precious face. He was perfect and healthy and full term!

We found out at 20 weeks that Morgan Kate was going to be a girl, but we decided to let this time be a surprise. We've now done it both ways now, and both ways are exciting, just in different ways. I'm glad that we got to experience both.

Lee had a little trauma to his head at birth. The doctor had to use a vacuum to get him out because of all the scar tissue and that resulted in a hematoma on the top of his head that didn't go away until he was about a month old, but other than that, he was as healthy as could be. So, so thankful! The hematoma didn't pop up until our third day in the hospital. I was taking Lee's hat off to "examine" him and noticed this huge bump on his head - it looked a lot like a giant goose egg. Of course I freaked out because I had no idea what it was and for a brief minute I assumed it must be a brain tumor. Crazy momma!

I love looking at this picture and seeing all of the different expressions of our family and friends.

MK got to "skip" school that day and wear her BIG SISTER outfit. She was THE cutest thing!

My mom had these BIG SISTER cookies made and MK got to pass them out at the hospital.

This picture of my mom and Travis is one of my favorites.

The birth of any baby is emotional, but for my family this birth was SO emotional. It's been a LONG road getting here and just knowing that he was here and healthy and that we were both okay was almost more than we could take.

These pictures of Travis with my brothers are also favorites of mine.

And this picture just brings tears to my eyes. I'll save our transition from three to four for another post, but Morgan Kate has just made having another baby SO easy and has been THE best big sister. She has such a heart of gold and she just blows me away.

One of our dear, dear friends was working the day Lee was born and she was able to take care of him that first day. Knowing that he was with her made this momma's heart so happy!

Our NICU family was SO good to us during my pregnancy and on the day Lee was born. Several of them stopped by to see me before my c-section, they checked on Travis and of course they stopped by to see Miss Morgan Kate. She felt like a star! 

They continued to check on us during our hospital stay and showered us with goodies. They are the best!

Both of my "sisters" were there that day and it meant so much to have them there.

It was so special seeing my parents with their newest grandbaby. I couldn't wait for my momma to be able to hold one of my babies on their actual birthday. It was weeks before my mom had the chance to hold Morgan Kate. 

My daddy didn't hold MK until she was 6 months old. He didn't want to break any "rules" about keeping her healthy and she was so, so tiny for so long. It made me so happy to see him holding Lee just hours after his birth.

Our first picture as a family of four. 

This is a pretty special picture, too.

This one just makes me melt. She is still just as smitten with him. 

We were able to go home Thursday morning. I was completely fine with staying that long. Several people mentioned that they had asked to go home earlier that the normal c-section stay. I was hurting, a lot, and was in no rush to go anywhere.

I can't even begin to describe the feelings I felt on the day we got to take Lee home. I remember the day I was discharged after Morgan Kate. It was hard. Gut wrenching. Leaving the hospital without your baby does not feel good. At all.

Knowing that we were taking him home was THE best feeling! His birth has healed my heart in so many ways.

We are completely and totally head over heels in love with him. He is just the sweetest thing and has made our family feel complete.

I can't wait to share more about him and his big sister!