Reach for the Sky

During my pregnancy, Tanner was known as "Baby A". At our very first ultrasound, where we found out we were having twins, "Baby A" was in constant motion. The ultrasound technician, Mike, guessed that it was a boy because it was so active. It wasn't until January that we found out that Mike's prediction was correct.

Although there were some concerns with “Baby A” towards the end of my pregnancy, Tanner Frederick Kopishke was born at 11:23 a.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2010. He weighed 4 pounds 3 ounces and was 17 inches long.

The first time I saw Tanner in the NICU he had both of his arms up by his head. One of his tiny hands was holding on to the pacifier that covered most of his face. Little did I know that this “hands-up” position was going to be one that I saw frequently. For the next six months, it seemed that Tanner constantly had his hands up by his head, whether we was in his car seat, being held, lying on the bed, or asleep in his bassinet. We would move them down by his side but the second you let go; they would immediately go back up by his head. I wondered why. Was this his position in the womb?

I started to worry that they would be there permanently, that his muscles would stay that way due to lack of movement. They didn’t, of course.

I can’t remember exactly when it stopped being an issue. Looking back at photos now I can see that it wasn’t until the fall. I find it ironic that now we ask, “How big is Tanner?” so that he will put his hands up in the air. Go figure!