Soo Line: Blessed Beyond Measure: Notebooms Have Much to Be Thankful For

By Soo Greiman 

Jessi and Derek Noteboom will never forget the day their son was born — and as  Thanksgiving approaches, they’re filled with deep gratitude for the many hands and hearts that  helped bring him safely into the world.  

“It was just our normal Sunday routine,” Jessi recalled of that November 17, 2024  morning. “We went to church, had lunch together, and then Derek left for field work.”  Derek farms in the Hudson and Grundy Center area. The only thing that felt “off” that  day, Jessi said, was her back pain. “It was a bit worse than usual, but I figured it was from  being on my feet all day at the baby shower the day before — I even wore cowboy boots.”  By 4:30 p.m., the pain intensified. Jessi texted Derek and told him to come home —  fast.  

Knowing it would take him 20 minutes to drive the tractor back, Jessi called her sister  Jenni, an EMT, and sister-in-law Brittany. “I had no idea what was going on,” she said. “When  Jenni walked in, I told her to call 911.”  

At 6:50 p.m., Derek made it home. Jessi, now in the upstairs bathroom, felt her water  break. Together with the arriving Grundy EMTs, they helped her down the stairs and out to the  waiting ambulance — just in time for a surprise that would change everything.  

“We hadn’t even pulled out of the driveway,” Jessi said, “and our baby boy was here.”  Since they hadn’t found out the gender in advance, the moment was even more powerful.  “Hearing my sister say, ‘It’s a boy!’ was pure excitement.”  

They had already chosen a name: if it was a son, he would be named after Jessi’s late  father. And so, at 7:10 p.m., in the back of an ambulance, Waylon Harold Noteboom was born.  He weighed just 3 pounds, 3 ounces, and measured 15¼ inches long — delivered at just 30  weeks and 4 days.  

“The ride to the hospital took a long 45 minutes,” Jessi said, “but Waylon cried right  away. His color was good, and he was showing strong signs. The EMT team was incredible.  They did everything they could to help.”  

A Long Stay, a Strong Start  

Waylon was admitted to MercyOne in Waterloo, which has a Level IV NICU — a critical  factor in his survival. He spent 50 days in the NICU, facing multiple complications along the  way. 

“As often is the case with preemies, it was a rollercoaster,” Jessi said. “But we were  blessed with amazing nurses and doctors. They gave him the best care — and they made  Derek and I feel like family too.”  

Because the NICU room allowed both parents to stay with their son, the Notebooms  spent all 50 days together at the hospital. Derek was even able to return to the farm during the  day due to MercyOne’s proximity to home.  

Asked what may have caused the early delivery, Jessi laughed. “I had no  complications,” she said. “We like to say Waylon just really wanted to be here by Thanksgiving  and Christmas.”  

On Jan. 5, 2025, the family brought Waylon home to the farm.  

Thankful for a Village  

“As we head into the holiday season, we’re feeling a mix of emotions,” Jessi said. “We  think often of the loved ones Waylon will never meet — my dad Harold, my sister’s fiancé  Isaac, and Derek’s Grandma Noteboom. We believe they were watching over us that night, and  through his whole NICU stay.” 

Jessi and Derek continue to be overwhelmed by the support they’ve received — from  the EMTs and NICU team, to the neighbors, friends, and community who showed up in ways  big and small.  

“Even though we were in the hospital for 50 days, coming home with Waylon was still  scary,” Jessi said. “This past year, we’ve learned a lot — about ourselves and each other. We  know just how lucky we are.”  

Waylon on the Farm  

Today, Waylon is a happy, healthy one-year-old — weighing in at 16 pounds and already  learning the ropes on the farm. He’s helped plant and harvest crops, met baby pigs, and  accompanied cows and calves to pasture.  

His story, born of urgency and wrapped in gratitude, is a reminder of the power of  family, faith, and community — and why this Thanksgiving, the Notebooms say they are  “blessed beyond measure.”