HARK! the little baby angels sing

(Plankton and his little cousin celebrating their first Christmas!)

Oh Happy Days!

Look who arrived on Sat! Nana and Poppy from New York. They were so excited to finally see the baby...

On Tuesday our little one (who is NOT named Plankton in real life, just a little FYI for all you blog readers) celebrated two weeks on the outside :-)

Today our little niece was born. Not to be out done by her cousin Plankton (again not his real name), she too arrived at 37 weeks and one day with some drama. She was born via c-section and kept her mom in the hospital all last week with high blood pressure awaiting her early arrival. Mom and baby are doing well. All the grandparents and most importantly the AUNTIE got to snuggle her today!

Jason and I would like to send out a HUGE thank you to all the friends and family who have stopped by to visit and brought food. We feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives. We look forward to the opportunity to return the favor one day in the future.

Next week we'll have another update after our check up.....

We went to our family doctor yesterday and we and we can now say that Plankton is OFFICIALLY perfect! :-) His weight is wonderful, everything is working well and our doctor said he would keep an eye on him and that it's possible we don't need to follow up with the Developmental Pediatrician in two months....that is a HUGE relief. He said the hardest thing for Plankton right now is eating and pooping so as long as he is doing both we know all is well. He is a champion nurser....which is amazing for a NICU baby. And he sure can poop...

We were so excited with the news!

We also found out I can easily stay on Vicodin for two weeks....YIPPEE! I thought I was going to get cut off....and I am still to sore to sleep thru the night without drugs....god bless pain meds.

Auntie Tasha posted an ADORABLE photo of plankton.

We received a WONDERFUL gift from Auntie Michelle and Uncle Marc.....a PHOTOGRAPHER! So we'll have more photos to post soon.

We want to send out a HUGE THANK YOU!!!!!!! to everyone who has brought meals. it is such a relief not to have to cook and just focus on taking care of the baby. Jason and I both greatly appreciate your love, support and delicious meals.

38 Weeks! Well, today my computer tells me I am two weeks from my due date....HA! Plankton had his own time line...


Thanksgiving Day, we were camping at Lake Texoma: here I am showing off the "bump sweater" and socks that I knit to wear during the cooler days of my pregnancy....at least I got to wear them together ONCE :-)


Labor began at 4am... 7 days ago....WOW, I can't believe it's already been a week! Jason never missed a beat or a contraction. We worked as a team for 21 hours to bring Plankton into the world.


Plankton spent nearly a week in the Special Needs Nursery. It was scary and then comforting to know how well he was cared for.

We found out on Sat that the reason for the excruciating pain I had been feeling and ignoring after birth was due to a broken tail bone. My little boy KICKS BUTT, it's just too bad it was mine. By Friday I stopped holding him because in the NICU you have to SIT to hold the baby and I just could no longer do it. I would stand behind Jason while he held Plankton....then I went for an Xray Sat morning once we knew that the Neonatologist was on her way with an update that afternoon....I just couldn't leave until then. So, it's broken, nothing we can do but just have a reason for all of my pain and suffering.....and call and ask for SERIOUS drugs....advil wasn't working anyway. So, I am still in a LOT of pain, there is no sitting for me but at least I can get some relief and sleep a bit here and there.

After 5 days under wonderful watchful eyes in the NICU, Plankton was released to us for 24 hours of OUR care while still in the hospital. It was such a sweet moment. We had our OWN room just the three of us for the first time ever (we didn't take a photo we just enjoyed the moment). We all cuddled and mommy cried....



At 11am on Sunday we were officially RELEASED from the hospital! We packed up, dressed Plankton in a warm outfit (including the father/son mommy-made hats), put him in his carseat for the first time and went HOME. Mommy cried again....

We are home, right where we are supposed to be. The trauma is over, our family life has begun. It's sweeter than I could have ever imagined.

We're HOME! Thank you for all the prayers and good thoughts.

We'll post photos and an update tomorrow.

A little update:

Plankton is off oxygen, IV, most of his monitors and out of his special bed (this photo is from yesterday before the tubes came out). He is being monitored and we get to feed him, change him and hold him. The Neonatologist told us this morning that he MIGHT be able to come home on Sunday. They want to observe him for 24 hours after coming off of his IV, then give us 24 hours of "rooming in" at the hospital where we will have nurse support as needed but we do all his care....then he can come HOME!

We are asking for good thoughts and prayers that the three of us are HOME together this weekend!

We have had several offers of "what can we do to help".....THANK YOU FOR ASKING! Right now we are so overwhelmed with the hospital schedule and trying to see the baby as much as possible and still rest (which is really not happening) that we can hardly think clearly. However, as soon as we are home we are going to need help with meals, short visits to help us celebrate Plankton's arrival, errands etc. Once, we are home if you are available to help....PLEASE just call or email. We would love to take you up on your offer :-)

THANK YOU for all of the love and support! It means so much to us and we can't wait to introduce you to Plankton in PERSON!

This should have been another post with belly photos but it's a photo of PLANKTON!

I went into labor at 4am on Dec. 1st. Baby arrived at 12:45am on Dec. 2nd. It was a LONG labor but went very well. We labored at home and at the birthing center. Jason was with me every second....he was amazing! It was an unbelieveable experience. Hard, long, painful and incredibly beautiful.

Baby popped out BLUE, he just wouldn't breathe....the midwives revived him and then we opened his eyes and passed out again....so he and Daddy took a ride with WONDERFUL EMTs to the hospital (while I rested for a few hours and then went to the hospital). He is being very well taken care of at the NICU. I finally got to hold him today and sounds like he'll be able to eat tomorrow. It is our great hope that he will be home this weekend. I am so ready to have him home and in my arms.

We're still coping and in survival mode around here but can't wait to be ready for visitors and enjoying our new life as a family of three.