A few more moments with Mason

“If I could give you one thought, it would be to lift someone up. Lift a stranger up–lift her up. I would ask you, mother and father, brother and sister, lovers, mother and daughter, father and son, lift someone. The very idea of lifting someone up will lift you, as well.” — Maya Angelou

Over the last few days I’ve been overcome by the out pour of love and support and sincere thoughts shared after sharing baby Mason’s first photos in the NICU I had taken. I’ve been in close touch with Mason’s mother and as you all might imagine…she’s quite busy with trips to the NICU to visit her baby boy and hasn’t had an opportunity to share too many updates. She’s been released from the hospital and is staying fairly close so that she can visit her baby boy often. Her two older children are visiting now so I offered to visit them again in the NICU to capture a few more moments now that Mason is just one day shy of being a week old. I arrived and he was sleeping peacefully…yes, aside from the wires that monitor his vital signs he’s wirefree.

As the nurse changed his diaper his big sister helped keep him content.

Since my last visit a few days ago Mary has been permitted to hold her baby boy…yes, a moment that clearly brings them both so much happiness.

There was no denying the “real” moment of my time with Mary and her kids. Her son had a blast acting silly when my camera was pointed towards him.

Mason is now feeding by bottle and doing quite well since coming off of his feeding tube.

This little guy clung to his Momma’s finger.

…and would not let go.

He opened his eyes for brief periods of time for us.

But spent most of his time resting…like the sweet newborn baby boy that he is.

I’ve photographed a few spina bifida babies since Chance was born…and I swear they have got to be the happiest and most sweet spirited little souls I’ve photographed. Mason let out a huge smile. I’ll be counting the days now until I get to take his “official” newborn photos and pray he remains this smiley.

Mary’s son joined me in taking photos before I left. We had so much fun I thought we were both nearly about to get kicked out of the NICU. Thankfully the sweet nurses were willing to put up with our laughter and attempts to get the best photos of Mary and Mason.

I’m afraid to see the photos her son took of me…but thankfully he cooperated with me while we both took some fun photos.

Mason’s back continues to heal. The doctors have checked on him regularly and continue to monitor him to ensure he doesn’t develop hydrocephalus. Thus far he shows no signs of needing a shunt. Mary’s family has their fingers crossed that he’ll continue to heal and possibly be out within the next week. Spina bifida can be pretty unpredictable but the prayers are working…and I suppose for now that’s the most we can all keep doing.