Ezra's Big Day!!

Hey Everyone.  For just being a day and a half old...our baby boys seem to be doing pretty well...but Gideon isn't improving as quickly as we'd like.

For the good news...Ezra and Caleb were both taken off of the C-PAP machine that was assisting their breathing so they are now on oxygen with just the small tube in their noses. This means we could see their adorable little faces and their heads a little bit.  Thankfully, they already have more hair than their daddy!!

Caleb continues to be a strong, stable "big brother."  He barely cries until you distrub him to take his vitals, change his diaper, or turn him over.  I (Jeff) was able to do a lot of that stuff by himself and I am getting better at the diaper thing!! :-)  I was also able to just hang out with him and Caleb held onto my finger for a good ten minutes before it was time to give Ezra his bath.

Caleb (I think he looks like me)

Which leads me to Ezra.  He had the biggest day of all.  Like Caleb, he came off the C-PAP and just has the oxygen tubes in his nose.  I also helped give him a bath which he hated initially...but clearly put him to sleep right away.  Ezra has already indicated his desire for a bit more attention, but the bath knocked him out cold.  But the biggest part of Ezra's day was when Mommy came to visit.  For the first time, Mommy was able to hold one of her little boys, and it was her youngest baby boy who got the honor (More on that below).  Ezra was doing so well breathing and with all his other vital signs the nurse felt 100% comfortable wrapping him up for Autumn and taking him out of the incubator.  He did great and didn't fuss a bit!

Ezra trying to suck his thumb!

Gideon continues to struggle with breathing.  He is just working so hard to keep his oxygen levels up, the doctors increased his respitory assistance about half way through the day.  By this evening, they took some chest X-Rays and are gonna watch him tonight.  After talking to the doctor, we are comfortable with them doing the same procedure with Gideon that worked so well with Ezra.  Unfortunately, Ezra's amazing turn around is not typical results and there are risks involved with sedating Gideon and putting any type of liquid into his lungs...even if it is to help him.  So please keep Gideon in your prayers.  It's tough watching him work so hard just to breath.  I think once he gets past this hurdle he'll be on the road to recovery like his brothers!!

Mommy with Gideon

Mommy with Gideon

Autumn is doing well.  Today was much tougher for her physically...even though emotionally she got a huge boost by being able to go see the boys twice!!  Most importantly, she got to hold little Ezra.  She's a natural mother...and even though she was a bit nervous (and medicated :-)  )...she did great.  Ezra seemed so content in his Mommys arms, and I'm sure he'll be bragging someday about how his mommy held him before all his older brothers!!  Physically...Autumn is still in a lot of pain, and her blood pressure was the highest it has been so far.  It is more under control now...but definitely something to pray about.

Mommy and Ezra

Mommy and her baby boy!!

Daddy and his little man!!

We had some visitors today too!  Autumn's dad...aka Granddaddy Greg...flew in from Oklahoma.  He isn't able to see the boys because only parents are allowed into the NICU...but he'll take any chance he can get to see HIS baby girl!!  We also had our friends Tammy and Donna bring us a wonderful meal to take a break from hospital food!!  It is so nice seeing smiling faces and sharing this wonderful time with friends!

It is a little early to say when Autumn might be headed home.  We are both perfectly content with her here because she is getting great care..and she's so close to the boys.  So we'll see where we go from here.

That's about it for tonight.  I'm sure I forgot something...  But it is really cool seeing them every time.  Pretty hard to describe....and I think I'll just leave it at that for the night!!

Ezra bundled up nice and snug

God Bless!

J