As Promised.... Cuteness

For some reason we amassed a very large collection of hats for Zander. Here are just a few that I've managed to get good pictures of.
1. Hospital Classic In Blue

2. The Football Hat

3. The Ewok

4. The Polar Bear

5. The Holly Jolly Christmas (Also Zander's 1 Week Old Picture)

Might have missed an update or two

As many of you are aware, Zander decided to come into our lives a little earlier than expected. After experiencing sporadic pains last weekend we were rest assured that Devin was just experiencing warm up contractions and had nothing more than that on our mind as we went in for her 34-35 week checkup. Much to everyone's surprise, the doctor's most of all, it seemed that Devin was dilated and there may not be much time to stop labor. No breaking of the water, no increasing contractions, no feeling that this was really happening at all. Just boom ! This is happening today.

They hurried us along downstairs to labor and delivery where we were placed in triage to get some fluids and medicine to stave off the delivery. After feeling fine during most of those 2 hours we were hopeful that we would be going home and Devin would just be on bed rest until it was time to really have the baby. But Zander had other plans. After 2 hours and recheck it was evident Zander's birthday would be Monday.

More than a million things raced through my mind as we made the short trip down the hall to a delivery room. Knowing the potential complications associated with pre-term delivery I was very close to falling apart. Would he be big enough, strong enough, far enough along to make it on his own? Would he be whisked away to the NICU for treatment I couldn't begin to imagine. It was too soon. When we were alone for the first time all we could do is cry, and pray, and pray some more. For his protection, for our guidance and serenity.

Visitors helped to pass the time between rechecks. I think if we had been left alone to worry we would have drove ourselves crazy. After just a few short hours, an epidural that only seemed to work in her right leg, and visits from the NICU staff to explain what would be happening once he came out it seemed it was "Go Time" as our friend Drew put it.

I won't trouble you with the graphic details of the next part of this story. I will just say that it went very well. And for being able to feel 95% of the pain because of a misplaced epidural Devin was amazing.

My heart raced as the doctors got their first look at our son. The words that followed were the most wonderful words I had ever heard. "This is a much bigger baby than we thought." As the doctor from the NICU examined him he told me that he looked fantastic and for being early they couldn't find a reason to send him to the NICU. I could feel my heart beating in my chest. I couldn't hide the fact that I was crying tears of joy for our miracle. Of course, being premature has it's complications. Feeding a baby thats just learning how to suck was the hardest part of the next 36 hours. (And the next few days at home for that matter) They had already informed us that our amazing Humana would force Devin to leave Wednesday morning because he had been born before midnight. We would be leaving with or without Zander. After an incredible team of nurses at Suburban spent hours with us and with him he hit all the milestones to come home at the same time that we did. It's amazing how things developed. So many things could have gone wrong at each different stage and he was here, healthy, and heading home... truly miraculous.

As I sit here now, in a sleepless night stupor, it's hard to believe we've already had him for an entire week. I guess when you fill your days with visitors, feedings, diaper changes, and an occasional insomnia induced coma time seems to fly by. Today we are taking him to the pediatrician for his 1 week check up. I'm just praying they don't want us to go back to the hospital. Praying that whatever we're doing for him seems to be the right thing. Wish us luck.

Warning! Blogs from this point on will have a cuteness factor of 10+. You've been warned.