It has been a crazy month since I last updated our blog. I don't even know where to start. After spending 6 months in the states, we were about 3 days away from leaving for Kenya. We got a call from one of our supporting pastors in Wisconsin and he told us there was a young lady in his church who was pregnant and wanted to know if we wanted to adopt her baby. We were so excited and planned to come back at the end of October when the baby was due. We headed back to Kenya on the 4th of July. It took a couple of weeks to get adjusted and unpack everything in our house. We also had a group coming from the church in Wisconsin where our birth mother goes. They sponsor one of our feeding centers so we were gearing up for all that.
Then, one day about a week before their trip, we got a call from the pastor's wife saying that Heidi, our birth mom had went into labor. Her placenta had developed a small puncture and was leaking amniotic fluid slowly. She managed to carry the baby for one more week, while the doctors gave steroids to develop the lungs quickly. On Wednesday July 25, 2007 at 7:05 a.m. our little boy was born. He was only 26 weeks along and weighed 1 lb. 10 oz. and was 14 1/4 inches long. His name is Conner Joseph Bechtel and is one amazing little guy. After only about 14 hours of life, he was off the ventilator and breathing on his own. He still has the tube in his nose to stimulate his lungs and help him remember to breathe, but he is doing the work all by himself.
Needless to say, we were shocked at all that was happening. By this time, the group from Wisconsin was in Kenya, and we had to tell them that we would be going back early to be with our son. We stayed through Sunday, July 29th and left on Monday July 30th. We arrived in Des Moines on the 31st and were in Wisconsin by the 1st. Ethan really enjoyed staying with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Jody and it was amazing to see Conner first hand.
Until we saw him for the first time, we couldn't imagine how small he really is. We have taken a few pictures with a small doll and with our hands on his to try to show the difference, but it wasn't till today that we finally got a picture that puts things in perspective. We took Bobby's wedding ring and put it on his hand and it went all the way up to his shoulder. It is still big even there. That is amazing!
Conner has progressed every day and is improving everyday. The doctors and nurses are amazed at his progress and we are praying that he just keeps fighting his way to being a healthy happy baby.
Please pray for us all as we adjust to our new blessing and our expanded family. We are so excited and can't thank God enough for providing another son for us.
Then, one day about a week before their trip, we got a call from the pastor's wife saying that Heidi, our birth mom had went into labor. Her placenta had developed a small puncture and was leaking amniotic fluid slowly. She managed to carry the baby for one more week, while the doctors gave steroids to develop the lungs quickly. On Wednesday July 25, 2007 at 7:05 a.m. our little boy was born. He was only 26 weeks along and weighed 1 lb. 10 oz. and was 14 1/4 inches long. His name is Conner Joseph Bechtel and is one amazing little guy. After only about 14 hours of life, he was off the ventilator and breathing on his own. He still has the tube in his nose to stimulate his lungs and help him remember to breathe, but he is doing the work all by himself.
Needless to say, we were shocked at all that was happening. By this time, the group from Wisconsin was in Kenya, and we had to tell them that we would be going back early to be with our son. We stayed through Sunday, July 29th and left on Monday July 30th. We arrived in Des Moines on the 31st and were in Wisconsin by the 1st. Ethan really enjoyed staying with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Jody and it was amazing to see Conner first hand.
Until we saw him for the first time, we couldn't imagine how small he really is. We have taken a few pictures with a small doll and with our hands on his to try to show the difference, but it wasn't till today that we finally got a picture that puts things in perspective. We took Bobby's wedding ring and put it on his hand and it went all the way up to his shoulder. It is still big even there. That is amazing!
Conner has progressed every day and is improving everyday. The doctors and nurses are amazed at his progress and we are praying that he just keeps fighting his way to being a healthy happy baby.
Please pray for us all as we adjust to our new blessing and our expanded family. We are so excited and can't thank God enough for providing another son for us.
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