developed Cholestatis, where the liver fails to filter the bile from the blood. It can cause stillborn babies, so they induced her within days of the discovery.
Earlier in her pregnancy when she had said she didn't really want another October birthday in our family, she'd prefer he'd come November first, I was worried. She is very small boned and I knew this little guy was already good-sized, if she went over her due date (10/27) it would be unlikely in my opinion that she would be able to deliver him. In fact as we had a dinner out with them, the day before she would tell me about her suspicions of the Cholecystitis, we had each offered our guesses as to his birth weight. Six days later we discovered I was the closest...it's a Mommy thing. This dinner was so they could tell Clark little Mr Man would carry Clark as his middle name! Clark was thrilled of course. Dani told us it was Paul's idea from the beginning of the pregnancy.
By Friday she got the test results. A normal range is 1-10 she came in at 75! Her physician said "So baby Monday or Tuesday?" Since obviously this little guy would not have his own Birthday month, she said let's have him on my nephew Tayden's birthday...we'll go for Monday! Tayden was off-the-charts excited! If possible- even more excited, than he was at the gender reveal. He was so upset that the majority of us were guessing a girl, he thought that if more of us guessed a girl then it would dictate the gender. When the blue confetti filled the air from my cannon, Taydie went screaming round and round in circles "IT'S A BOY!! IT'S A BOY!!" So now for Dani to deliver this BOY on Tayden's birthday...well it didn't get much better than that! Only a few more sleeps til they meet!
As we reviewed her lists of things we had planned to do leisurely in her last three weeks before the newest little Mr Skinner arrived, suddenly all priorities changed. With laser-like focus we got the nursery ready, installed the car-seat, and bought the remaining items necessary. She chose his coming home outfit and packed her bags. GAME ON.
Simultaneously I packed my bags and made the necessary arrangements to move into her home for the foreseeable future. Her two step-sons at 11 & 13 years old, were not really sure how this littlest brother thing would turn out...
On Sunday night she was being admitted to begin the induction process. When I arrived at her home in Bluffdale the boys were down stairs, unaware I had arrived, Dani & Paul were on their way back to their house after getting another steroid shot for Mr Man's lungs, so I began carrying in my things to my upstairs rooms. Going back for my second load, I descended their stairs, which are broken up by a landing halfway down. As my toes touched the landing, I stopped because I could feel his presence there. He said to me, " I am ready, and I will do my part." Although I didn't know his name at that time, I knew my grandson's spirit. The warmth of the Holy Ghost washed over me, testifying of the truth of this sacred moment. I smiled and thought, I too, am ready and will do my part.
That night I prayed that we would have angels to support us all in this sacred experience.
All our best-laid plans went out the window, as her body responded almost immediately, going into labor before anyone really realized. All she knew was this was a ton of pain, way sooner than anyone had intimated.
After I arrived to be with her during the birth, and she progressed quickly. Then the end was insight, and on more than one occasion I could feel those Angels I had prayed for, including Dani's older sister Sara. A 'sunrise' baby. One of two miscarriages before Cassidy was born.
In reflection I marveled again just how thin the veil is at times, and how eager family is to support family.
They told us at three weeks early our little Mr Man would likely have breathing issues, and the Respiratory Therapist and nurses from Emergency Medicine quietly began preparations in her room. I asked how we would know he was ok ? The answer, "If he cries, he's good"
Not long after that my amazing daughter gave birth to her first little Mr Man at 4:04 pm He weighed in at 7 lbs 8 ozs and screamed with gusto! I quickly moved from delivery helper to photographer, capturing those first moments of Mom & Dad finally meeting him. In that tender moment, I recognized the great blessings, tender mercies, major miracles, and the gentle presence of so many family members from the other side of the veil rejoicing in his arrival. Seeing the pure joy on their faces, I set all other roles aside and quietly had my own tear-filled and tender Mom & Nanny moment. The recently heard remark "Our trials and afflictions can make space for greater joy." came to my mind. Oh what joy I was seeing and feeling there!
Declan Clark Skinner had arrived! He was perfect in every way, with no problems, and never did look like a premature newborn! His chubby cheeks and the ton of golden strawberry-blonde hair drew ooh's and aah's from all who saw him. One nurse told us "When a baby makes other nurses stop in the halls, you know he is cute...we see babies all day every day"
We laughed when his Audiologist asked if she could part his hair over his ear for her equipment! I commented "You probably don't ask that question too often."
Declan was alert, and knew His Mommy immediately, and screamed whenever he was taken away from her. By day two he knew his Dad, and watched him intently. I have never seen anything like it!
And so life began with our darling Declan. I quickly observed that whenever I held him, his eyes would be pulled toward the ceiling. Not uncommon in newborns. I had always quietly felt babies were seeing their family there from this new perspective. However this time with Declan was different. I watched those beautiful blue eyes tracking the movements of others I could not see. It happened every time I held him for the first two weeks. I finally told Dani he was watching his sisters. I think he has twin sisters who are waiting to come down! Towards the end of last week he finally looked into my eyes and I knew the veil, thin as it is, had been closed.
During the weeks and months prior to this blessed event I had felt such a sense of urgency to complete the Book. So I have been working hard on this in & around two hand surgeries, a Stake Girls Camp, and then the other shoulder surgery. I have been greatly blessed physically to accomplish this divine mission. Although the pain has been my constant companion, I have felt sustained and blessed beyond measure. And then this was given to me, and it feels applicable to share here. It's in my chapter "The Power of Joy"
‘Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up the rotten roots, so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place.”
And so it is! Joy fills our lives, even when this old Nanny nearly falls asleep with the fussy Declan in her arms, or I stumble through the dark as Declan screams for his Mom and his next meal, or when I get ridiculously excited to see Lover after a week (or two or three) away from him. Joy! It's everywhere when I look for it! May we each find our Joy, even as we endure hard things, the promise of Joy to come will sustain us!
