Sunday, January 18, 2009

New Family Blog

I've actually had a little time to sit down and create a new blog for the family. The new blog address is http://lotsalucases.blogspot.com. I've exported this blog to the new one and will eventually delete this blog after I've given folks a chance to get the new address.

I will not be updating Lucas Baby Watch after today.

See you at the new blog!!!

-Pam, Jeff, Jack, Michael and Nathan

Thursday, January 15, 2009

All three together

I thought I'd post this quickie pic of all three of the boys together. Michael is teething and you can't get his hands out of his mouth. So this is as good as it gets.



Here is a pic of Michael sitting up by himself without his hands in font of his face.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Just a few quick pics...

I've been slacking on the blog lately, so I thought I'd take a couple of quick snapshots with the Point and Shoot camera.

Michael is starting to sit up on his own and Nathan is starting to fill out and get a little round face. Jack is his usual smiley self.




Thursday, January 8, 2009

WHAT were we thinking....

Jeff and I decided to try to take the boys with us to our weight loss surgery support group meeting. I managed to get all three of them dressed, in the car and there on time. Jack was behaving and Nathan was doing what babies do. However, about 15 min into the meeting Michael got tired and started melting down. We ended up leaving about 6:30. Well at least now we know it's not a good idea and we'll just have to take turns going to the meetings. Tomorrow we have to go to my 6 week check up with my OB and then we're going to attempt to stop by a play group get together. We'll see how that goes...LOL

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Happy Baby Boy

Michael is such a happy baby. It doesn't take much to make him smile and laugh.


Lost a good friend this weekend...

Donald Wayne Burge Jr. passed away Saturday January 4th @ Tulane Hospital in New Orleans. Donald and I met working at the Cingular Wireless call center, affectionately known to many as the inner most circle of hell. :-)

What can I say about Donald...
He could be a big goof, funny and sweet, but he could also be infuriating. We didn't always get along, but we were always friends. Donald was the kind of person that would always be there when you wanted or needed him to be. He'd be the first in line to help and the last to leave. When he loved, he loved BIG and you knew it. You knew he loved his wife, step daughter and family.
He was around through a lot of my infertility struggles and was so happy for us when we adopted Jack and Michael. He came to see me at the hospital the day Nathan was born. I hate he didn't get to see him, they had already taken him to the NICU at Memorial in Gulfport by the time Donald got off work. I don't think there was anyone any happier for us and our boys than Donald.

Requiescat in pace Donald

Monday, January 5, 2009

Nathan's 1mo checkup

We just got back from Nathan's 1mo checkup. Nathan and Michael also both got their Synagis shot. This is a monthly shot for RSV.

Nathan is doing well and packing on the pounds. YES, I said pounds.

At his last checkup on 12/17 he was 7lbs 1oz, today he was 9lbs 30z. Yes, he has gained over 2lbs in less than 3weeks. The Dr says he looks perfect and we go back in 4 weeks for his 2mo appt and another round of Synagis shots. Fun times for all!

Friday, January 2, 2009

We finally bit the bullet...

We knew we had to do it sooner or later...
We took all three boys out shopping this afternoon. We had to make our monthly Sam's run and this morning we decided that today was the day. I think the hardest part we getting everyone ready to go. Nathan slept 95% of the time. Michael is such an easy going baby, he's happy no matter what. Jack was a little squirrely, but you can't expect much else from a 3yo.
So now we've got that out of the way and the fear is now gone...LOL

Now I have to work to taking all three of them out ALONE... DOH!

Changing the blog

Hi folks,

I'm going to be changing the blog over to a more "family news" blog now that Nathan is home and healthy. The name and link will be changing to reflect this new status. Once I get the change over complete, I'll be posting the new link here and there will be no more updates to this blog.

The Baby Watch is over and the crazy Family life begins. WOOHOO!!!!!

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Looking back...

Well... 2008 is almost and 2009 is coming on fast and furious. I look back on 2008 and I am amazed at how much our life has changed over the last 12 months. We have been so very very blessed over the last year.



In January 2008, we were given the chance to adopt another child. Our son Michael Ian Lucas was born on June 5, 2008. He is such a wonderful, sweet, easy going and happy baby. He has a beautiful smile and a wonderful gleam in his eye that holds such promise and joy. People notice him wherever we go and he smiles at everyone.



In April of 2008, after over 9 years of fertility treaments, I finally received a positive pregnancy test. It was a rocky road. But after being hospitalized at 26w3d pregnant and spending 8 weeks at USA Children's and Women's hospital in Mobile, AL, Nathaniel Blake Lucas was born via C-section at 37w1d on December 1, 2008. After having some issues with fluid on his lungs, he was transferred to the NICU at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport. He was released on December 10th and has been going strong every since. Thankfully, he is also a very easy going baby. The one benefit to spending 10 days in the NICU is the boy can sleep through anything. He's so used to the NICU being active 24/7, a little noise doesn't phase him at all. He eats, he sleeps and he rarely cries. He is a true joy in our lives.



Jack is becoming such a little man these days. It's amazing how tender he can be with his little brothers. He loves to come up and stroke their heads and give them sweet kisses. He loves to play with Michael and make him laugh. He tries to make Nathan laugh. He doesn't quite understand that Nathan doesn't laugh yet...LOL Like any 3yo boy, he has his moments. But for the most part, he is a sweet, loving, sensitive boy and a complete blessing in our lives.

Have a wonderful 2009 everyone!

Pam, Jeff, Jack, Michael and Nathan

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Christmas 2008

We had the rare pleasure of celebrating both Michael and Nathan's 1st Christmas at our house. Here are a few pics to document our day.



This wasn't Christmas Day, but we have a gentleman in the neighborhood who sits in his front yard as Santa for two hours a night starting the week after Thanksgiving. It's great to not have to go to THE MALL for Santa pics.





Jack got a Kid Tough Digital Camera for Christmas. He loved it!



Michael is not real sure about the camera...



But sometimes he'll crack a big 'ol smile for ya.



WOOHOO! It's Christmas!



Such a sweet baby...




Saturday, December 20, 2008

Oh My HE**!!!!

Thank God for good health insurance. We just got a copy of the bill the hospital submitted for Nathan's NICU stay in Gulfport. Only 33K and some change.... :::THUD:::

Growing growing growing

We had Nathan's 1st pediatrician's appt and he has managed to gain back all of the weight he lost in the NICU, plus surpassed his birthweight. YEAH!!! My little man went from a birth weight of 6lbs 9oz, to a low of 6lbs 30z in the NICU. He was 6lbs 6oz when he was discharged on 12/10 and was 7lbs 1oz when he was weighed at the Dr's office on 12/17. We go back on 1/5 for a 1mo recheck. We confirmed that the insurance company will pay for him to have the RSV vaccine Synagious. It's $1500/shot, once a month through May. Thankfully we have good insurance because we'd never be able to afford it otherwise. Michael will also be getting the vaccine. The Dr said that RSV in a child Jack's age is just a head cold. In a child Michael or Nathan's age, it's a week in the PICU under an oxygen tent. With Nathan already spending 9 days in the NICU, the last thing we all need is a week in the PICU.

Tomorrow is Nathan's actual due date. It's seems a little strange. With everything that has been happening with this pregnacy and subsequent delivery. It doesn't even feel like I was pregnant. If I didn't have the scar to prove it, I wouldn't seem like he got here any differently than my other two beautiful boys.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Just a coupe of quickie pics...

What a face!!!


Sleeping angel



Just a quick update...

Nathan is such a mellow baby. It's hard to believe with all the trouble we have had since 26 weeks, that he would be as mellow as he is now. We always said that THIS would be the one to give us all the trouble. But he seems to be a good sleeper and a very content baby. The only issue we are having is he doesn't seem to like the idea of breastfeeding. After 9 days being either tube or bottle fed in the NICU, he's just not adjusting to change in "mode of delivery". We'll work it out eventually, just not sure which of us will give in first.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

We are home!

We are home and sorta settled. I will update more with pictures in the next couple of days.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

It's official...

Nathan is coming home tomorrow!!!! We completed most of our discharge paperwork tonight and all we have to do is wait on the Dr to complete his rounds tomorrow. WOOHOO!!!!!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Another day, another trip to Gulfport...

Now that Nathan is doing so much better, these trips to Gulfport are getting old. It is also getting much harder to leave him there. I just want to bring him home where I can look at him, nuzzle him and stroke his hair anytime I feel the urge. It's amazing how it all just still doesn't seem real. Was I REALLY pregnant? Did I REALLY have a baby just a little over a week ago? It's all been such a whirlwind, it's hard to believe any of it really happened.

We had a good visit today. He is really starting to get strong and you are starting to see some personality come out. Our little guy seems to be very laid back and he actually seems to smile a lot for such a little guy. Michael was smiley like this as a newborn and he is such a happy baby. I'm hoping this an indicator of the happy baby that Nathan will be also. This boy also seems to really like his sleep. The nurses in the NICU really like to feed him, because afterwards he is a social little bug and will sit with them while they do their charts.

We were not as successful breastfeeding today as we were last night. He would latch on ok, but did not want to stay at the breast. I guess it's too much work for him compared to the ease of drinking out of a bottle. We'll just keep trying and hopefully we'll eventually get the hang of it. I'm going to see if the lactation consultant is available to help us out some tomorrow. There are a couple of things I need to get from her also. They have quite the breastfeeding center at Memorial. OS Hospital needs to take a few pointers from them. :-)

We'll go back again tomorrow and then hopefully we'll make our last trip to Gulfport on Wednesday.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Not coming home until Wednesday...

Evidently Nathan had an Apnea episode when they first took him off the oxygen. Tonight was the first we have heard of this... :( Anyway, it was a 1x incident but they wait 5 days after something like this before they let them go home. :::sigh:::

On an up note, we were able to attempt breastfeeding tonight and he latched on like a champ. I was really concerned since he had been either tube fed or bottle fed for the last week. He didn't nurse long, too much work for him I guess...LOL But we'll try again tomorrow. Nathan is proof that I don't give up easily. ;)

We are on room air!!!

They pulled Nathan off the nasal canula yesterday and he has been on room ever since. His sats are good at 97-100% and his respirations are normal. We are getting conflicting information from the nurses about when he might go home. The Dr said that if he did well on room air for 24 hours, he could go home. Last night the NICU nurse told us that the normal timeframe is 48 hours after removing oxygen support. Of course the Dr has the last word, but we all know how that goes. So... he may go home today... he may go home tomorrow.

For those of you itching for some more pictures... here are a few to sure to satisfy. :)




Mommy's first chance to hold him.

Daddy kisses!!!


He's such a content baby... let's hope this continues!!!



BIG YAWN!!!!



My!!! What big EYES YOU HAVE!!!!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Even more improvement...

Today we got to the hospital and Nathan had been moved to the Transition Nursery and was in a regular bassinet. He still had his oxygen strapped on, but the setting was somewhere about halfway between 21 and 30%. 21% is considered the same as room air. We spoke the the dr and he will be taking him off the oxygen tomorrow and if he is able to hold his sats on room air for 24 hours, we can take him HOME. That means, if all goes well, we will be taking him home on Sunday.

WOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a pic or two... or SIX

Jeff hasn't had a chance to go through the pics from last night yet. But here are a few from the last couple of days.

One of Nathan's caregivers... Nurse Ashleigh




Mommy's first diaper change




For the first couple of days, this was all the touching we could do.




One MAD BABY!




1st night in the NICU... gotta love the space helmet oxygen bubble.


Such tiny little fingers...

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Nathan is improving every day

He is now off his IV fluids and has moved from a High Flow nasal canula to a regular canula. We were able to hold and feed him today. He slept in my arms for a good two hours and is so much more content and comfortable. His breathing is still fast, but he is not struggling as much to breath now. He is not eating as much as they would like for him to eat. So if he does not start eating more tomorrow, they will have to put his IV back in until he starts eating more. We do not know when he will be going home. He has to eat consistantly and be able to hold his O2 sats on room air. He seems to have turned a corner today, so hopefully it won't be long before he meets this criteria.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Just got home a little while ago...

Nathan is holding his own and is about the same as he was yesterday. It's amazing to sit and watch him sleep. He looks so peaceful from the neck up and his littls chest is working so hard to breath. We weren't able to hold him today, but I did get a chance to change his diaper. :-)Jeff took more pictures today, so hopefully I'll get a chance to post a few tonight. Thanks for all of the great emails and comments!!!

Pam, Jeff, Jack, Michael and Nathan

A quickie pic from last night

Here is a picture of me feeding Nathan a "lemon pop". It's a lemon/glycerin swab used to clean in and around his mouth. He has a stong sucking reflex, so hopefully he'll be able to eat soon.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Just got home from the hospital...

Nathan looks much better than he did when he left Ocean Springs Hospital yesterday. His respirations are averaging down in the 60's so that definitely an improvement. We're hoping to be able to hold him tomorrow. I've been doing my best to pump regularly so I can feed him when he's ready. I saw a little bit of "progress" today, but not enough to collect for him. I don't want to start him out of formula if I can help it. We'll be heading back to the hospital tomorrow morning and I will update when we get home.

Just a quick update...

I was discharged at 2:30 and I am heading to Memorial Hospital in Gulfport to be with Nathan. He has been removed from the tent and is on a nasal canula with Oxygen at 40%. When he was in the tent he was on 50%. He is not working as hard to breath and is retracting and grunting intermittantly now. Room air saturates at 21% so we are heading in the right direction. We will update when we can!!!!

Pam, Jeff, Jack, Michael and Nathan

Monday, December 1, 2008

Nathan is here!

Nathan arrived at 9:29 am at Ocean Springs Hospital. He weighed 6lbs., 9 oz. at 20 1/4" long. He started out strong and fighting; what a set of lungs. Unfortunately, he developed trouble breathing and was transported to Memorial in Gulfport. Pam is doing well and hopes to join Nathan tomorrow as early as possible. Here's some quick photos...








WE'RE HAVING A BABY

Woke up to a trickle of water, wasn't sure it was my water breaking or what... Took a shower, coughed and YEAH it was my water breaking. Getting boys up and dressed and headind to drop them off at a friends house.

Will up date when we can!!!!!!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Thursday, November 27, 2008

What are you Thankful For???

Here is my short list... share yours!!!!!

1. I am so thankful this baby is stil where he is supposed to be and that he is healthy and active.
2. I am thankful that God has blessed me with a wonderful husband and two other beautiful boys that have been such a blessing in my life.
3. I am thankful for an OB that is understands my need to be home and as recovered as possible for Xmas and that we have a baby no later than date of Dec 12.
4. I'm thankful that I have a mother and sister that were willing to give up their daily lives to come help with my boys while I was in the hospital. Many women had to leave AMA because there was no one at home to care for their children.

The sick house...

Well, we officially all have the crud at my house. I started getting a scratchy throat last night, so I knew it was coming. We had company scheduled, but I called them last night and let them know that we were all germie over here. Oh well... we have plenty to be thankful for, being sick on Thanksgiving is just a small thing. :-)

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The Plague has hit my house...

Jeff woke up Sunday morning with a sore thoat from post nasal drip and has been battling a bad cold ever since. Jack came down with it yesterday. Although his nose isn't running, Michael is not wanting to eat, so we can only assume he is coming down with it too. I'm the only one right now that does not have it. Keep your fingers crossed that I am able to fight this one off. I DO NOT need a bad cold right now. UGH!!!!!!!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Pregnant lady cravings...

I just made Hummus in my VitaMix blender. YUM!!!!!

The Belly Explosion

Sorry I missed the last two weeks of pics. Here is my 36 week belly pic and boy has it really POPPED...LOL




Friday, November 21, 2008

Today's OB Appt

Went to the Dr today and everything is still status quo. No changes what so ever, except for my SIZE...LOL I am now offically off bedrest!!!!! I can do anything I feel like doing. Dr even said, "You don't have to tell your husband I said this, but you can even have sex if you want too." BWAHAHAHAHAHA

I am Group B Strep positive, which is no real big deal. They'll just have to give me IV antibiotics when I go into labor so I don't pass it on to Nathan. Evidently about 20% of women test positive for GBS and never know they have it until they get pregnant.

We talked about how if this boy doesn't show any signs of turning soon, we'll schedule a C-Section, especially since he has his feet up over his head also. I don't want to ever try a Version to turn him. It's only about 30% successful and PAINFUL to do. After all we've been through, I'd rather go the path of least resistance. ;) I go back on Monday Dec 1st and we'll do another US.

I was joking around with my Dr about how, after all we did to keep him in, we'll have to evict him to get him out. My Dr laughed and said it was a real possibility. He promised me that I would not be in the hospital over Christmas, so if I am still showing no signs of labor, they'll induce me around Dec 11 or 12. If he is still breech, we'll schedule a C-Section for one of those dates. So I guess we have a "baby no later than" date of Dec 12.

It's getting so close!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!! Now that I know he's safe, I'm getting so excited.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Finally! US Pics...

Here ya go folks!

He's already playing with his toes....



Big YAWN!


Here is where you can see his foot up next to his face.
Plus, proof he has Jeff's chin!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Thursday's OB appt @ 34w4d

Still no contractions and still only 1-2 cent dilated. YEAH!!!! Nathan is now 5lb 4oz and measuring right on schedule at 34w4d when the Dr did the ultrasound on Thursday. I have a few 3d pics to share, I just have to get them scanned. I'm a little far along for them to be very good, but I think he has Jeff's chin. :) He also still has his feet up over his head and is not just breech but butt down breech. I promise to get the US pics up sometime this weekend.

Monday, November 10, 2008

What’s in a Name?

Whether you’re adopting or pregnant, what is one of most the pressing issues at hand? Some might say getting the nursery ready. Others would say baby-proofing the house. For every person insisting on giving you their two cents, you’ll find a different and higher priority. In our experience, what most people want to know after the due date and sex is what we are going to name the baby. From the day we announced to the World that we had finally succeeded in conceiving a child, the pressure was on. Ten long years of assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures pale in comparison to the perils that await the parents who don’t have a name chosen for the child at least four months before the due date. After all, no one wants a child to go into the World without a name. With this horrible thought in mind, we are happy to announce that we have chosen a name for our third son.


I have come to the realization that naming a child becomes more difficult with each successive birth. Once we decided to start a family, we began the search for a name for our future boy or girl. We threw a few random names in the hat, but it quickly became apparent that neither of us wanted to pick some random moniker out of thin air, or some other place. We were not going to choose a name that would condemn our little charmer to the spinning barf-fest that is the inside of a garbage can for most of his high school years. We weren’t going to fall into the temptation of making up some unique name; as is the fad these days. The thought of our child going through life with a name that sounds like the latest female oriented pharmaceutical sends shivers up our spines. We wanted our child to have a strong name; one from which he could be proud and draw character. Giving a child a name of substance definitely ups the level of difficulty.


By the time our first son was given to us, we had already chosen a girl’s and a boy’s name. We had a lot of time in between rounds of clomid, IUI, IVF, EIEIO and all the rest to think about such things. We had chosen the girl’s name with our grandmothers in mind. We chose to name our son after my father. On that wonderful day in Mobile when we were handed our most wonderful gift, we declared our first son to be named William John Lucas, II. Being as I go by my middle name, we thought we would do the same with our boy. John is a popular name on both sides of our family, but the name Jack (a nickname for John) seemed to be inspired.


Naming our second son proved to a bit more difficult. With the aforementioned strategy firmly in place, we forged on to search for a noble name. Our biggest hurdle was the many names we couldn’t use. The names that came to mind were either too popular, too recurrent in our families or were those belonging to an unsavory character one of us knew personally. With the delivery date of our second son looming just seven days in front of us, we were finally struck with an epiphany. On June 5th at 2:47 pm, Michael Ian Lucas was brought into the World and placed in our arms. The name Michael is that of the patron saint of warriors, law enforcement officers and fire fighters. Ian is a name that Pam had always liked.


For a third time, we are facing the paralyzing fear of a nameless child. With our next son possibly arriving at any moment, we scrambled to find a name. And like his older brothers, we wanted his name to mean something; not just some name pulled out of a book. This time we went through all the names we couldn’t use in hopes of narrowing down the possibilities. We started running names together to see which combination struck our fancy. We even held a blog poll. Thanks for all your input folks! In an act of desperation I sent out a plea for suggestions from just about everyone in my email address book. I received many replies all with various suggestions; some good, some bad. One suggestion struck a chord with me on a very deep level. A friend of mine, whose son had served in Iraq and lost three dear friends, suggested that we use the name of one of the three young Marines who had died in the line of duty. After careful consideration, we have chosen two of those three names to memorialize the sacrifices that the defenders of our nation offer every day, all over the World.


L/Cpl Nathan Windsor

(http://www.iraqwarheroes.com/windsor.htm) was shot during combat operations while acting as a sniper in Al Anbar province, Iraq on March, 10, 2007. He was stabilized in Iraq and transported to a hospital in Germany where he later died.

Here is a picture of Nathan's final journey home.


L/Cpl Blake H. Howey

(http://www.iraqwarheroes.org/howey.htm) was killed during combat operations while driving his HMMWV, in convoy, across an explosive laden bridge in Fallujah, Al Anbar, Iraq.


Both of these men are described as intelligent, loving and dedicated friends, sons and Marines. They made the ultimate sacrifice to help a nation, and her people, change from one of oppression to one where each person has the freedom to choose his or her own destiny.



We know that our baby will have a character and personality that is all his own. We hope that his name will memorialize two men who honorably represent all who serve, have served or will serve or died in defense of freedom all over the World. It is our humble pleasure and reverent privilege to name our third son Nathaniel Blake Lucas.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

WE ARE HOME!!!!

YEAH!!! I was discharged today at 1:00pm. We had to stop and fill a prescription and had lunch. Once we got home, I spent the rest of the day with my boys. WOOHOO!!!!

I'll post more later!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting....

They are going to check me in the morning and if I have not dilated, I will be going home. They stopped my Procardia tonight to make sure I don't start contracting. I have not had contractions since this whole thing started almost 8 weeks ago. They had me on the smallest dose as a prophylactic measure, so here's hoping I don't start contracting out of the blue. They last two or three days have just been an eternity. It's hard to believe I might actually be able to go home tomorrow. I've already made an appt with my OB for Thursday. WOOHOO!!!!!