Ready or Not...

Here he is! 

Luke August

OR

August Luke

Born 2-22-12

3:15 AM

7 lbs 10 ounces

19.5 inches

Very Sweet!

Well hello. It is Danny blogging and this is actually a historic moment as it is my first blog ever! So Mary called me on Tuesday and told me that she had either just wet her pants or her water had broken in Target. When I got home she met me at the door and showed me her pants... either a very big accident or broken water. Water continued to gush each time she coughed and so we headed for the hospital. No contractions -- even though she was on pitocin -- allowed for naps and a movie during "labor". Finally, hard contractions came and we were on the races. The nurse came in, checked Mary, and gave these instructions, "don't cough and keep your legs together -- I am calling the doctor now!" Seven minutes after Dr. Savage arrived the baby had been delivered. I got to help again... he was very very slippery... and the gloves seem to make the slipperyness worse. My secret to success is as soon as the head is out -- grab on tight to the neck and then grab a leg! 

Macie came out grumpy. Reid came out starving hungry. Davis came out sleepy. And Danny was just chillin. I would call this little guy "the snuggler."

Here are some pictures of the little guy minutes after birth:

Call me "Dr" Danny!

Happy family!

Mom holds him right after he came out - still goopy and slippery!

We love our doctor, Shelly Savage!

Hooray, he's here!

Sweet little guy, snuggling right away

Unfortunately, this little fella was breathing too fast (according to our nurses), and when they went to "take him for a few tests" to figure out why his resps were so high, they sneakily admitted him to the NICU without telling us. Where he has gotten an IV, been put on antibiotics, was getting positive air flow with a nasal cannula, is hooked up to a million monitors, and been away from us. It has not been the best situation. That being said, he is improving and hopefully he will be able to come home on Saturday. His lungs are clearing up. Although all of his cultures and bloodwork came back negative for bacterial infection, and his RSV tests were also negative, this morning we did get a positive Coombs test. This basically means that he is super high risk for jaundice. So far all of his bilirubin tests have been great, but his numbers have really been helped out by the IV fluids. So we are weaning him from the fluids and seeing how he tolerates breastfeeding -- and hopefully he will transition with flying colors. This afternoon we took him off the air flow, and he has been breathing wonderfully -- so that is the first good news. Now we are just watching and waiting and weaning him from the IV. The kids have been with "Grams" (Mary's mom) and are so excited for their newest little brother. They were able to see him from the window for the first time this afternoon, and they can't wait until they are able to really hold him and love him and kiss him.

We appreciate all of your well wishes and support and prayers. Mary is exhausted and not up for visits or giving updates right now. If you want to find out how the little guy is doing, please call me instead - 787-7868. We love you all and are excited for when sweet baby #5 is well enough to meet you!

Love,

Danny (and Mary)

In the NICU today

Look at all those mean tubes he has!