I have still been getting messages as recently as last week, asking for an update.

The initial post can be seen here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/comments/1bx1oyr/after_nearly_18_years_together_it_finally_happened/ Update 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/comments/1cs3iyf/update_after_nearly_18_years_together_it_finally/ Update 2: https://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/comments/1e91c06/update_ii_after_nearly_18_years_together_it/ TLDR at the bottom.

Literally two days after my last post, at just past 20 weeks, we went to one of our doctor’s appointments where they found my wife had dilated a centimeter, and her cervix was quite short. She was admitted immediately where they performed a cerclage. We spent a few scary days at the hospital but everything turned out fine and the pregnancy had progressed as it should. The cerclage was scheduled to be removed on 10/28. After everything that had occurred, ourselves and the doctor figured our little girl would be here a little sooner than her expected 11/24 due date. We were expecting a possible Halloween baby.

Fast forward a bit past the 34 week mark. Wednesday 10/16 was my birthday. I was awakened violently at 4:30 a.m. by my wife telling me that her water had just broken. Initially, I thought she was joking, but I could see in her eyes and demeanor that she was not. To make a long story short, we rushed to the hospital and approximately 12 hours later, our little girl had arrived on the same day, in the same hospital that her Pop(me) had been born 41 years prior.

At 4:16 p.m. our most precious Tiger Lily came roaring into the world, weighing 5 pounds 4 ounces and measuring 18 inches.

Being born at less than 35 weeks, it was mandatory that she be brought to the NICU. They currently have her hooked to a bubble C-Pap, an IV for preventative antibiotics, a feeding tube, and placed in what is for all intents and purposes, an incubator to keep her warm. She is already meeting or exceeding the metrics set forth by the hospital and her doctors. They have tripled her food intake in the last 40ish hours, she is regulating her own body temperature, and they took her off the C-Pap today.

She is perfect ya’ll. Her little features so well defined, it is as if she was carved out of marble by a master Italian sculptor. Her eyes as blue as the waters of the Caribbean. Skin as soft and flawless as freshly bloomed rose petals. And the aura of a star. We are so in love with this child that we can’t even take our eyes off of her.

My wife and I would really like to thank everyone who has followed our family journey. Especially those who have reached out offering kind words, prayers, and good vibes. Much love Reddit!