Getting Bigger

I know some might be tired of baby news but that is basically what our lives revolve around right now. Luke is doing fabulously. He is around 8 lbs now and 20 inches long. He is a very strong boy and has been rolling over from his stomach to his back now for about 4 weeks. He even did for the doctor at his two month checkup. She was amazed and said that term babies don't usually do that until 4 months. He just seems in a hurry to catch up. But for those who don't believe me (Suzzie), I finally got him on video tape.

The girls are loving having a little brother. In fact, they love him so much we sometimes have to just make them leave him alone. He can't hardly be on the floor unless it is after the girls go to bed. The almost literally smother him with love.

This was Halloween. They are all so cute. Grace was Snow White. Kaitlyn was a China girl (she says Kai Lan if you watch Nick), and Luke was the cutest giraffe you've ever seen. My children love Halloween.

So anyway things are going well. I could use some sleep, but most new mothers do. Wouldn't change having Luke for anything!

Home Sweet Home

Luke got to come home on Monday, September 21, 2009 after 24 days in the hospital. We are so glad to have him home. Life can get back to a more normal routine, and we feel like are family is whole now.

The girls love him. Grace can't leave him alone and wants to hold him all the time. Kaitlyn searches the house for him every morning and then tells me that, "Luke is so cute!" He will be very well loved.

In this picture, Luke is telling the paparazi, no more pictures. So glad to have him home!!

Doing Well

Luke is doing really well. In a week, he has improved immensely. He no longer has the CPAP (oxygen in the nose), they took out his IV because he is on full feeding through a feeding tube, he is no longer in the NICU but the NSCU (Neonatal Special Care Unit), and he has been removed from the isolette or incubator. He is doing really well for his age. He is regulating his temperature and respiration on his own. He just needs to get bigger and most importantly learn to eat on his own. Hopefully, when he can eat without the feeding tube he will be able to come home. We all miss him so much. The girls have been able to see him a couple of times, but they really want him to come home, as do Sam and I. A couple of hours a day with him just isn't enough. We sure do love him. He is already a definite member of our family.

It's a Boy!!!

For those of you who don't know, our family was expecting a new arrival this fall. We were due October 20, 2009. In June, we received news that we had placenta previa. For those who don't know what that is, it means the placenta was covering the cervix or as Sam likes to tell guys: the baby had no exit. Our doctor informed us first that as the baby grows the placenta could lift off the cervix, but he wanted us to be aware of the dangers. For some reason, this condition can cause heavy bleeding. If that occured we were to go directly to the hospital. Well we went on business as usual. For about a month, we had no problems. Then July 21st about 10:30 I twisted my body to move and I began to bleed heavily. To the hospital, we went. We were only at 27 weeks and I was really freaked out. The bleeding stopped eventually and after beinging monitored for a few days, I was released to go home. However, I was given the restrictions of no exercise, no heavy lifting and rest. Also, our doctor, Dr. Bammel, informed us that now he sure that a C-section would be the eventual outcome. About three weeks later(August 13th now 30 weeks), (I'm thinking no problem we are doing great) I roll over in bed about 3 a.m. and think that I peed my pants. No such luck! Another episode of heavy bleeding. This time we scared the resident bad enough he was about to send us for an emergency c-section. Thankfully our doctor came and the bleeding stopped and we were bound for a few more days of monitoring then home with more restrictions: bed rest with bathroom privileges. I made it through the weekend and things were looking up. I was trying to figure out how to take care of my girls and be on bed rest. We did well Monday. Then Tuesday morning as I am eating breakfast with Grace and Kaitlyn I feel my stomach tighten and I have a little contraction. No big deal right, I am at 31 weeks. Braxton-Hicks happen. Well, contractions are not good for placenta previa. I start bleeding again. Not near as bad as the other two times. Well, back to the hospital we go. This time I have contractions off and on and the bleeding starts and stops. We moved from the labor and delivery floor to recovery about four times. My doctor tells me after three days without incident that he doesn't feel safe letting me go home. He had told us earlier that we would not go past 37 weeks. So I prepare myself for the long haul. I was doing really well. I only got out of bed to use the bathroom or shower. Then Thursday night (August 27th) I have another contraction and pass two very large blood clots. They send us down to labor and delivery and I start bleeding heavily. Once again the bleeding stops after awhile. Sam and I figure we are in for a few more days being monitored. I get up and use the bathroom that morning and the spotting is almost gone. Then as I get back in bed I start feeling more contractions and I think the bleeding is starting again. The nurse checks me and doesn't think it looks quite right. They check out the blood and find that it has amniotic fluid in it. So I am now on their super monitor mode. They start antibiotics and want to watch and see. Of course, Dr. Bammel has gone out of town for a week. So one of his partners, Dr. Brantley, is watching out for me. My contractions start to get harder and closer together. Soon, Dr. Brantley comes in and tells that everything has finally presented itself and we need to have the c-section now. So they prep me and in a very short time (about an hour) Lucas Bair Zogg was born. He was born at 9:27 a.m. August 28, 2009. He weighed 4 pounds 3 1/2 ounces and was 17 inches long. He was born at 32 weeks 3 days and had to go to the NICU.

Luke is a fighter and they had to sedate him to get him on the respirator, but he wasn't on it for long. He is doing well and trying to get stronger. We can't wait for him to come home. His sisters can't wait to see him. He is adorable and we know he will fit right into the family. We don't know how long he will have to be in the NICU. We just hope it isn't too long.

I'll Try to do Better

We are having computer problems again. Our home computer is just not working. It truly limits my time online and working on projects. We have Sam's laptop, but it is also his work computer. So I can only get on when he is home, which lately is not a lot. He is very busy with his job. There are so many extracuricular activities going on at this time of year that he has to be there for that he is gone practically every night. (Yes, I miss him more than the computer!!)

Well, we are doing well. The girls both had birthdays recently. Grace is four and talking about going to school everyday. She is a wonderful helper and loves to help clean the house (wishe she would rub off on me). Kaitlyn just turned two and her tantrums prove it. She is starting to talk like crazy. They are both so wonderful. I love them and love being with them most of the time (except for the tantrums).

Well I have to go now. Sam needs his computer and is off to school. I will try to post some pictures next time.

Halloween

Grace and Kaitlyn had a great time for Halloween. They went to a trunk or treat on Thursday and then got to go trick or treating with Daddy on Friday. Princess Grace and Little Gypsy Kaitlyn. Halloween is fun at these ages.

Long Time No Post

So I finally found my battery charger, but our computer is down so my online time is limited to whenever Sam is home with his laptop. Hopefully or home computer will be repaired soon and my post will not be so few and far between.

This is our new house a week before we closed on it so the final grading had not been done yet.

The back of our house also before the final grade.

So we are loving our new home after being here for two months. The girls love all the extra room, as do I. It is still hard to believe that it is ours. Of course, Sam always tells me it's the banks. Well, at least they let us live here.

We have had a busy fall, but it has been very enjoyable except for maybe the 10 inches of rain we got in one day. Gramma and Grampa Bair came to visit us in early September. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed every minute until it was time for them to go home. The girls were really sad. They love playing with Grampa and Gramma. Grace keeps telling us we are going to Idaho to see them next week.

Grampa Bair and Grace being silly on our visit to Cowtown.

Grace giving Gramma a push on the swing at Cowtown.

I'll try harder to post more but life sometimes takes me in directions I can't forsee. I am truly grateful for the many happy blessings we have received lately.