It's Raining...It's Pouring...

That's about how our April has been....lots of rain, several tornado watches, thunder, lightning...

Michael has been dying to wear his rain boots outside, so we finally took advantage of the warm rain before the thunderstorm hit. He had so much fun!

Sidewalk chalk in the rain... kind of pointless, but so much fun! Why not?!

Say Cheese!!

My mom is quite the photographer. She's recently taken several classes to learn more about her craft and has acquired a lot of props and equipment. She usually uses her family - especially Michael - to practice her skills. Now that Isaac is here, she was able to venture into the world of newborn photography as well.

Here's some of my favorites from our photoshoot this past weekend....

Thanks Mom for the great pictures! Now I just need to print some out to put in frames!

Easter

I love Easter time - I love just meditating on what Christ did for me on the cross. We sang "Amazing Love" on Sunday at church and I found myself teary-eyed trying to get through a song that I've heard so many times before. I love the lyrics - "Amazing Love, how can it be? That you my King would die for me?" - So simple, yet powerful!

We took Isaac to church for the first time on Easter. He did great! He slept in my arms through the entire service. It was our first time at church as a family in a LONG time - because of my bed rest we probably hadn't been in over 10 weeks!

We also had some sweet time with our families this past weekend. My dad came to visit us, we had an egg hunt at my in-law's house, Michael spent time with his cousin Maylin, and we had Easter lunch at our house on Sunday with my mom and brother's family.

This is the only picture I have of Michael and Maylin - I didn't have my camera during the egg hunt. They are so close in age, so they love playing with each other! I love watching them grow into little people that have little conversations - melts my heart!

Michael and his Easter basket - he got his very own watering can (that he can actually carry), some popsicle molds, and some sport eggs filled with his favorite....chocolate! He could hardly focus on anything that day because he was surrounded by so much candy! It was definitely a challenge to keep him from eating it all. Every time I turned around he had something else in his hand. I tried to hide it, but he's a sneaky little fella!

Michael and his cousin Kennedy had an egg hunt in our front yard. It was the first time that Michael really understood what to do. He's become quite the competitor, so he enjoyed every minute of running after the eggs and putting them in his basket. Look at all those eggs!

This picture cracks me up! This is Michael counting his findings. I love how he organizes them! :)

Hope you had a happy Easter and enjoyed celebrating our Savior!

Grandparent love...

Isaac and Michael have the best grandparents! These pictures were taken when Isaac was still in the NICU, but I never published them!

Grandma and Grandpa visiting with Isaac

Isaac and G-Daddy... Never got a picture with Mimi

Grandmama and Papa John loving on our little man.

Isaac and Michael are so fortunate to have Grandparents that love them so much!

We're Home!

I've been a little preoccupied lately with a new little one in the house! That's right...Isaac is home!! We actually brought him home last Friday, so we've had a good 6 days at home.

Michael has adjusted really well. He loves on his little brother every chance he gets. Sometimes we have to tell him that Isaac needs a break because he just wants to touch him and hold his hands all the time. We took these pictures soon after we got home... I love this moment! I'm so thankful for cameras to capture a moment like this - the first time these brothers embraced each other!

Speaking of Michael... We got his big boy room set up the DAY BEFORE Isaac was born (I thought we had another 3 weeks at least). He only had the opportunity to sleep in his big boy bed one night before he was spending the night at his grandparents houses.

I was nervous that he would regress or be defiant once we got home as a family, but he made the transition so smoothly! His old room immediately became Isaac's room and Michael had no problem at all sharing it. I think we talked it up so much before the "baby" got here that he was well prepared. Sometimes I just sit back and watch Michael take things in. I'm so impressed with his attitude and flexibility in situations! He's been a trooper...I'm so proud of him!

Together at last!

One of the many hard parts about Isaac being in the NICU was that Michael wasn't going to be able to meet him for quite a while. We would just show Michael pictures on the computer and try to explain to him that Isaac was a little bit sick. We had a lot of help with Michael and had his grandparents sit with him in the waiting room while Sam and I got to spend time with Isaac.

However, all of that changed the day before yesterday! While we were sitting in the waiting room, one of the nurses told us that there was a restriction for children under 15 due to the RSV virus and they just released it so that children over two were now able to visit their siblings! I almost burst into tears!! Michael was finally able to meet Isaac! It was perfect!

Michael was SO gentle with his baby brother. He was so caring and concerned. I know that he was overjoyed to be in that room as a family! Sam and I just watch the two of them together and talk about all the sweet moments that we are going to see in their lives.

Since my last post, Isaac has given up his IV fluids and is now able to maintain his blood sugar. His only problem now is his eating. He wants to sleep the day away and not eat during his feeding times, which is every 3 hours. He has a bit of jaundice and still has some magnesium sulfate in his system (from my labor). Both of these things make him extremely tired.

The nurses are so great! They obviously love what they do and are so patient with all the babies! We have been blessed with some wonderful nurses that just encourage us and keep us informed on Isaac's progress. Sam and I are at the hospital for most of his feedings during the day. My blood pressure continues to be high, so it's tough to balance being at home to get some rest and being at the hospital with my baby.

We've only had to deal with this for 6 days and I'm already feeling so discouraged and sad. It was extremely hard to leave the hospital without my baby boy in his car seat. It's sad to come home to an empty cradle by my bed. I know that being in the NICU is the best thing for Isaac right now, so I'm trying to stay positive. I know that God is in control of all of this and I have to constantly remind myself of that. I will continue to worship the God that gave this child life and have faith that he will grow and nourish Isaac in His time. I'm definitely learning to be patient. I always thought I was a pretty patient person, but that has definitely been put to the test!

Isaac is here!

Well, surprise! We are now a family of four!

Isaac Scott was born on Wednesday, April 6th at 1:09 am. He weighed a miraculous 5 lbs, 5 ounces and was 19.5 inches long!

The day that I wrote my last blog, we were headed to see the specialist. At that appointment, I was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and was sent immediately to the hospital to deliver. Isaac was not growing enough and the best thing for him at that time was to be here!

Sam and I went across the street to the hospital and had his parents come pick up Michael. We had nothing with us. I hadn't even finished packing my hospital bag!

I was induced and had a great labor and delivery, but I had to be on an IV of magnesium sulfate for my high blood pressure during labor and after birth for 24 hours.

When Isaac was first born, he was immediately rushed to the side to be checked out by the nurses - a respiratory specialist and the NICU nurse. I was able to hold him for a short while after they checked him out, but he had to spend the night with the nurses so they could keep an eye on him. After determining that he struggled maintaining his temperature and blood sugar levels, he was sent to the NICU later that next morning. I was able to hold him for a little while, but then he was whisked away. Since I was hooked up to my IV, I couldn't see him in the NICU for almost 24 hours. I was getting so discouraged, but I was so thankful that Sam was able to be there for most of his feedings and keep and eye on how he was progressing. He has been such a great Daddy during this time. He is so focused on Isaac's improvements and is super involved in what the nurses do and say.

Last night, I was finally released from my tubes and cords and was able to go to the NICU to see my little boy. It was heartbreaking to see him all connected to wires and tubes. I just wanted to hold him and love on him and feed him! He is just precious though! I have since been able to spend some good time with him. He had his eyes open for a while yesterday. He's got Michael's eyes. So precious....

I am so thankful that we made it to 36 weeks. Because of this, Isaac is only relying on very little assistance. He was in a heated bed, being tube fed, hooked up to a glucose IV, and having a little oxygen support. As of this morning, he is in a bassinet without heat, no oxygen support, and his glucose IV has been decreased. He is getting stronger every day and we pray that we can take our boy home soon!

Sam and I are so thankful for a healing God who has his hand on Isaac and will continue to give him strength in the upcoming days!

Baby Update

I am 36 weeks today! Praise God! This officially makes it 7 weeks that I've been on bed-rest. It hasn't been NEARLY as bad as I expected. I do actually move around the house and don't stay in the bed all day. I don't think that's possible when you have a toddler and you're nesting! :)

I have been hesitant to give an update on Baby Isaac. I guess I don't want to seem like I'm complaining or make my situation sound extreme when I know that other mothers suffer with so many pregnancy complications. However, I would LOVE for you to bring Isaac before the Lord and cover him with prayer.

I have had high blood pressure for 7 weeks now, but never entered the "preeclampsia" stage. However, it looks like that has happened. Last week, Isaac was measuring small and my protein levels were elevated. I have been seeing the perinatal specialist once a week for the past several weeks. He has super high-tech ultrasound machines that can measure blood flow and other important developmental things!

We are going to the specialist today to check on Isaac's growth and hopefully his lung development. If he's not growing the way he should be, they may deliver him early (as in this week or the next). Of course I want what's best for Isaac, but I also want him to be able to grow and develop IN my belly! I am almost "full term", but he's measuring at not even 5 pounds yet. Please pray that he would miraculously grow and mature! I also pray for wisdom and discernment for the doctors. I trust what they say, so I pray it's the right thing to do!

These have been some verses of comfort for me. I have full faith and confidence in my Lord and I KNOW he has Isaac in his hands! Thank you, Jesus, for LIFE!!

"He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak."

- Isaiah 40:29

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;

He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

- Deuteronomy 31:8

"For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

- Psalm 139:13-14

Big Brother

A lot of people ask me what Michael thinks about being a big brother....

I truly think he understands that there is a baby in Mommy's belly. We talk about Isaac all the time and he kisses my belly and talks to him. I know it'll be a shock to see a little person in Mommy and Daddy's arms instead of in a belly, but I think he'll LOVE being a big brother!

I don't anticipate any jealousy, but only time will tell.... I'm sure all mothers say that, right?

I know that I will have to make a conscious effort to spend special one-on-one time with Michael once the new baby gets here. I want to include him on a lot of baby things. I think he's going to be such a good helper! He's at such a great age. I can just ask him to go get things for me - which I'm taking full advantage of already!

I'm so excited about the bond that Michael and Isaac will share. I pray that they will always look out for each other and be the best of friends!