Homecoming Day!

Today marks a very special day for our family.

It's one of those days that will never get passed by unnoticed on the calendar.

Because a year ago today, February 11th of 2011...we brought our baby boy home from the hospital for the very first time!!  And it was by far one of the most anticipated and joyous moments of my life.

I will never forget the feeling of holding my boy close to my body for the very first time.  No wires, no tubes, no heavy duty machinery.  Just him and I; skin to skin; mama to son.  I had to wait 9 weeks to give my boy a proper hug, to dress him for the first time, to put him in a car seat, and to sleep under the same roof.  But man, was it worth the wait!

Because on this day, February 11th, none of what we had been through with him in the past months mattered.  This was our fresh start, our new beginning as a family of 3.  Because our boy was FINALLY home!  Right where he belonged.

I still have this picture of Hudson on my phone.  It was taken on the drive home from the hospital.  It was so fun to watch him look out the window and experience the world around him.  He didn't cry once.  Just sat there with wide open eyes, taking it all in.  He had never seen the outdoors, never experienced the sun or wind on his face.  Everything was brand new to him.  And it was incredible to watch him experience it.  This moment was so special to me, and always will be.  Which is why I just can't seem to replace this photo on my phone with any other one, even though it's extremely outdated and he now looks a little more like this...

(this was the first time HE dressed himself.  Only he put on daddy's shirt instead of his own)

So on this homecoming day I will share with you all, once again, the video Clint made of Hudson that we showed at his 'Welcome Home' Party.  Because watching this is a constant reminder of the blessings we experienced through a very special little boy.

(If you get squeamish about seeing babies hooked to hospital equipment or seeing some scars from surgery, don't watch the video!  It has become common to us, but I get that it's not for a lot of people.  Consider yourself warned :)

http://www.shamblinfamily.com/Shamblin_Family/Blog/Entries/2011/2/14_NICU_Video.html

We love you Hudson, on this day, and every one after.  Happy Homecoming Day!