23 Seconds of Andrew

Samuel found something surprising last weekend. I was resting on the couch as he was looking at all of our videos. Mind you, we do not have a video camera. Never have. So our videos have been taken in short snip-its on our digital camera. They're nothing extravagant or anything but they are videos.

So Samuel is watching some very poor videos that I didn't know we had saved. And some that were very cute when suddenly he exclaimed, "oh here's one of Andrew!"

Everythign stopped for me.

"What?" I asked in shock.

"There's one of Andrew."

I sat up straight still in disbelief. There was no way. We had not found any video of him yet. I had just settled in my heart and mind that I would hear his tiny voice again or see his mannerisms that were all his.

Samuel pointed to the computer screen and anxiously told him to play it as my mouth hung open. I couldn't believe that it might be true.

In a matter of seconds, Samuel played the video and heard the cry that I knew was Andrew's. Tears immediately filled my eyes and my heart about burst with joy and pain unimaginable. For the first time ever, I was seeing Andrew's first few moments of life. His little cries that the doctor said he would not be doing. He little legs all curled up. His precious eyes closed. His tiny body laid out on the bed. The nurse standing by in case he needed oxygen. And my darling little special showing that he was strong and didn't need any help.

I couldn't believe it. I never got to see that since I was flat on my back being stitched back up. And I never thought I'd hear his cry ever again.

23 Seconds that stopped time for me a second time. And 23 seconds I never thought I would have of my son.

Thank you God for allowing me to have such a treasure as this!