I haven't blogged in YEARS and so much - SO MUCH - of our life has changed that there is just no quick way to update everything so I'm just going to jump right in with our sweet Jobe's story.
In the spring of 2015, I saw that faint pink line...after 5 other pregnancies - 3 that produced full term baby boys - I obviously knew what that meant. Britt baby #4 was on his or her way. Already having 3 boys, I desperately wanted a little girl, but that wasn't what God had in store for our family. At 16 weeks, we had our gender reveal ultrasound and confirmed what I was suspicious of all along - baby #4 was another BOY! Jason, of course, was over the moon...the other boys and I, well, let's just say there were some tears. I knew that this would be our last pregnancy and that was my last chance at having the daughter I'd always dreamed of. Don't get me wrong, my boys are the most precious things ever created but I thought I needed a girl. Little did I know how wrong I was.
On December 26th, 2015, at 11:41 pm, our perfect little boy peacefully made his entrance into this world. I had an amazing pregnancy and an even more amazing home water birth, surrounded by my birth team, husband, boys, and mom. It was picture perfect. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful and easy birth.
Jobe Sheppard Britt was here! He was a peanut at 6 lbs 4 oz and 19 1/4 inches but he was perfect, happy, and healthy. BY FAR my easiest baby. He was just immediately so content with life. Loved beyond measure by his big brothers - who were obsessed with him. If I wasn't holding him, you can guarantee that one of the boys was. I don't think that there has ever been a more loved baby brother than Jobe.
This is where our story drastically changes...
"On Monday, March 21st 2016, Jason went to check on our sweet baby Jobe
during his nap and he was found not breathing. Even with the combined
efforts of the immediate action taken by Jason, the Taylor Fire
Department, EMS workers, Beaumont Hospital (Dearborn), along with the
continued care he has received from Children's Hospital (PICU), our
precious, precious baby was not able to survive this horrific ordeal.
BUT!!!!! HE IS HEALED AND IN THE ARMS OF HIS HEAVENLY FATHER, DADDY GOD,
THE GREAT PHYSICIAN, THE ULTIMATE HEALER!!! Praise Jesus that Jobe is
in no pain, for he is in his perfect body. This world is not our home
and I am so jealous that he got to get there first! These tragedies are
never supposed to happen to "you" and I pray that NO ONE ever has to
feel the gut wrenching pain we are experiencing as a family. Jobe's
story isn't over, though - he still has a big job to do, as we have
chosen, through the Gift of Life Michigan, to use our tragedy to help as
many families as we can. As his mommy, I am SO HONORED that God chose
ME to be his mommy for the 12 short weeks we had with him...but my arms
are aching for my baby more that words can say. We have a wide open,
gaping hole in our family that only God can fill and make us feel whole
again. We are begging that you continue to pray for us during the next
few hours, days, weeks, and months as we learn how to live our new
normal. Our beautiful, perfect, precious, HAPPY, easy, laid back, blue
eyed boy ~ Jobe Sheppard ~ will be forever missed, forever loved and
forever in our hearts. Until we meet again, sweet boy....rest soundly in
the arms of Jesus."
That was an excerpt from a post to my personal facebook page. This blog post is just the easiest way I could get Jobe's story written down so it can be easily shared. There will definitely be more to follow, as we continue on this new grief filled journey that we find ourselves on.
Job 33:4
The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
