Happy Birthday Mackenzie!



Today, Mackenzie turns 8 years old. She has been a wonderful blessing to us. She is developing into a beautiful young girl with a caring, sensitive, and servant heart. I love her compassion and helpfulness towards others. It is hard to believe that she is already 8 years old.

Let me remind (or share) how her life began. Bethany's 2nd pregnancy was going well. I remember getting the call at work when she was 32 weeks pregnant that she did not feel right. She went to the doctor and she was having contractions. They gave her medication to stop the contractions and put her on bedrest. Thanks to our wonderful parents who came and picked up Mitchell and cared for him in KS while I took care of Bethany (and she was able to take it easy without chasing a toddler around). Our church (GracePoint Community Church in Littleton, CO) was a loving and caring church and helped us in many ways through prayers, meals, and activities for Bethany to do while in bed. The doctor was pleased with her progress and so she was allowed to go on modified bedrest. We still had some things to take care of which we had planned to do, but they had been put on hold so we went for a quick shopping trip to Babies R Us. That night, Bethany went into labor and the doctors were unable to stop it so Mackenzie Beth Martin was born at 35 weeks.

This delivery was a C-section and immediately after being born, I carried my beautiful daughter to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Looking back, there were several things that were a little scary, but through God's grace, we seemed to be unaware of them. I know many prayers were being offered on our behalf. Mackenzie seemed to struggle mostly in the evening, but do better during the day (with breathing, jaundice, gaining weight). After 3 days, Bethany was dismissed and then began our daily trips to see Mackenzie for 2 weeks in the NICU. 2 weeks from the day she was born, we were able to bring her home from the hospital. I know both Bethany and I were exhausted from all of the trips to the hospital and life being uncertain. I am so thankful that to this day, Mackenzie has no effects from being born 5 weeks early.

Praise God for this wonderful daughter and for taking care of her during those early days! I look forward to seeing how God will use her in the future. Happy Birthday, Mackenzie!

Comments

  1. DebMarch 28, 2010 at 6:24 PM

    God is so good! Thanks for sharing this story of your beautiful daughter. It makes me so thankful for her life. :)

    ReplyDelete

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