Tested

If you remember, Bennett's newborn screening came back not only for hypothyroidism but also his hemoglobin test came back with a few unspecified cells. We were told to retest between 3-6 months.

A few weeks ago, Blake and I were tested to see if we were carriers of a hemoglobin disease. If we were carriers and Ben still had these funky cells in his blood, it could mean a combination of things or really not much at all. Try telling that to a mom a little over a month post partum without freaking her out. Then, tell her you'll have to wait a while to even find out if anything is wrong.

 One of them, thalassemia occurs in those of Mediterranean decent and being that we are both Italian, it concerned me a bit more than others. I tried to put it in the back of my mind but it was always there. I wasn't sure what exactly to be worried about, which I think helped in preventing me worry more by consulting Dr. Google more than I needed to because there was such an unknown other than possible hemoglobin disease.  

The test sucked more so because we had to do his thyroid levels at the same time and filling two vials.....sigh. It took a while and not to mention it was awful timing and he was hungry/tired and there was lots of screaming. Ugh. 2 years and 7 more months of blood work minimum for this kid. Blah.

I figured it would be a while before we heard but low and behold, it came back. 

Neither Blake and I are carriers!!

 Bennett's still has some fetal hemoglobin cells or something or another but she said that those usually go away before he is a year old. We'll retest around then just to be sure but, praise the lord!

Last night, I nursed him to sleep and laid him down in the pack n play right beside my bed and he woke up, which he rarely does at bedtime. I was preparing for him to start crying and ready to pick him back up but he didn't. He looked up at me, smiled, closed his eyes and then drifted peacefully back to sleep. A little moment that made a huge impact on this momma's heart. A special one indeed.

Then, he started sleeping like this. Little hands clasped together.

I find it so perfect as I've done so much praying about this little boy,which started before he was even born and he continues to show me on a daily basis, how truly blessed I am.