Pictures

We celebrated Chad's b-day a little early by opening a few presents yesterday. He was SO excited. I will put video of it on later.

Kaylee & Chad both ask to hold Cole several times a day. They both do very well. Kaylee likes to pat Cole while Chad wants to hold his hand.

Family Update

Cole continues to be a joy. I have enjoyed holding him and holding him and holding him!! Although we only had one night of 6 hours sleep, he continues to do really well. He is a little alarm clock waking up every three hours throughout the night. After eating he goes right back to sleep. We learned that he was 21 1/2" long at nine days old. Of course he didn't grow 1 1/2" in nine days so the pediatrician said that he was much longer at birth than the 20" they measured. This probably explains why he looks so skinny!

Kaylee is keeping Gramps and Grams busy. I think Grams used the words "little pistol". We think it fits. She has kept everyone in line. While playing the piano, Grams came over to show her "Chop Sticks". Using only her index fingers to play, Kaylee showed her that this was poor piano technique. Taking Grams' hands off of the piano, she pulled her fingers out and showed how fingers are to be curved and rounded while using both hands on the piano. We are thinking that Kaylee listens a lot more than we thought, especially to my piano lessons!!

Chad has enjoyed all of the cousins and friends that he has been able to play with. He received his first birthday gift and has played with it by the hour. Of course Heath and Jen know what to get him!!! He has also kept Gramps and Grams in line. He has chosen to make sure that Papa prays correctly. "Dear Heavenly Father" - used by Papa to start prayers - isn't quite as effective as Chad's "Dear God", at least according to Chad.

Michael has been busy getting little jobs finished around the house before the kiddos come back home. We have enjoyed watching some movies and sleeping in.

I am getting stronger every day, thankfully. Michael told me this weekend that I am now able to do five things a day. I told him that that is better than four!! Hopefully today, I can cross over to the big six!!! The antibiotic definitely helped and we are on the mends.

We thank you for the prayers, meals, cards, visits, and emails. God reminds us over and over how blessed we are to have such wonderful friends and family.

Cole meets our Neighbors

We were finally able to make it up to our neighbor's home for Cole to meet Donnie and Shirley. Those of you who spend time with us know that our conversations don't last very long before we begin talking about our neighbors. God truly placed us in this home knowing that we would need Donnie and Shirley to be parents to us and grandparents to our children. Donnie and Shirley are great soundboards for us. We praise God for their godly influence in our lives.

Cole's 1st Ped Appointment

Today Cole had his 1st pediatrician appointment. Although he is not yet 2 weeks old, we took him in today (10 days) because we wanted to definitley see our Pediatrician.

8 lbs - back to birth weight - 50th percentile
21 1/2" long - 75th percentile
14" head - 25th percentile

We were excited to see him back to birth weight especially since he isn't 2 weeks old yet. The percentiles aren't really accurate since they grow so much right now and we took him in early but they are a general idea. We will have a better idea at his next appointment at 2 months.

1st Week

Cole is 1 week old today. It sure doesn't take long to get attached to this little man! Not as good of night but we still had one 4 hour spand. Can't complain!!

We are enjoying our one-on-one time with Cole but excited to have Chad & Kaylee back. They are having a wonderful time with Gramps and Grams. Uncle Heath and Aunt Jennifer took them to the fire barn last evening. Chad got to wear the fire gear. Pretty exciting!!

Good Night

Cole may win "Baby of the Year" contest. He went 6 hours and the almost 4 hours last night. You wake up and wonder if the clock is wrong :)

Chad and Kaylee are doing well. They got to see the tractor last night and meet T-Bone (Heath and Jen's new calf). Guess it is good that they spend so much time with Gramps and Grams!!

Videos

Waiting for Doctor - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1247903375908819707
Chad's 1st Hold of Cole - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6803242577046399166
Kaylee's 1st Hold - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4594495690039429912
Kaylee Talks about the Baby - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4917381664387664246

Sunday

Grams and Gramps are returning home with our two big ones in tote. Although Mommy and Daddy hated to see them leave, we know that it is for the best to allow Mommy to recover. They will be in good hands but it is still hard to give them up for a few days!!

We had a wonderful weekend with Gramps, Grams, Uncle Heath, and Aunt Jennifer. Gramps and Uncle Heath helped to get the outside vegetation back in order and Grams worked hard to keep the house in order and laundry caught up. Aunt Jennifer made delicious pizza for us last night.

Both Michael and I are extremely thankful for all that they did. What a blessing it is to have them just step in and do things!!!

Cole had a wonderful night last night. He had a 3 hour stretch followed by a 4 hour stretch!! We are starting to learn his needs and wants which is helping. Chad loves to sit beside him and hold his hand. Kaylee stops whatever she is doing when she hears him and says "Baby".

Yesterday Chad went swimming with everyone. He was standing on the ladder, ready to jump in when he turned and said "It's just like Cole's." We asked him what he meant. Chad said "my lip is just like Cole's." Then he showed us how his lip quivers just like Cole's does. Then Chad jumped in the pool.

Praise

We finally heard about Cole's bilirubin level and it was down to 14.2!!! Praise the Lord. The nurse said we could stop using the light as well as return to feeding every 2-3 hours instead of every 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

Here We Go Again...

We just heard from the nurse that Cole's jaundice level went up to 15.8. Means we have to go back to the doctor tomorrow to have it tested. We will continue to feed as often as possible and keep him in the light but don't think that the light is helping much. This is almost exactly what Kaylee did - hers was 15.1 the next day - without the light. Not what we were hoping for.

Home and Yellow

We were dismissed from the hospital about 11:30 today. How excited it was for the "new family of five" to travel the few miles together to our home.

You will see in pictures above and from the title that Cole is yellow or jaundice. The pediatrician really thought that we were going to bypass all of this with Cole since his count was only 4 yesterday. But we were up to 12 today. Because of our siblings' history, Dr. B went ahead and ordered a phototherapy light blanket for Cole. It is SO much better than the "suitcase" that we had to keep Kaylee in. We can actually hold him and we don't have to worry about his eyes. We will go back to the ped clinic in the morning to have Cole's level checked. We are hopefully that since we are getting him under the light this early that we can ward off any increase in his level.

12 Praises

As I spend some time thinking back through this pregnancy, I am filled with praise to our God for the answered prayers. I want Cole and others to know that God has truly watched over his formation and the safe arrival into our arms.

#1 - Finding out that we were pregnant. Without details, this truly was a miracle!
#2 - 1st Trimester - Although we had some complications at the beginning, the ultrasound showed that God had a new baby for our family. There were only a few weeks of really feeling bad with "morning sickness". I was so thankful to God as I didn't want to stop being a "Mommy" to Kaylee and Chad during this time.
#3 - 2nd Trimester - Although we have been told numerous times by both cardiologists and my OB that Chad's condition was a "fluke" and nothing hereditary, to see Cole's healthy heart on the ultrasound was nothing short of praise to God.
#4 - 3rd Trimester - When bad back and hip pains started, my OB suggested a chiropractor. After 3 weeks of standing to give piano lessons, I finally went. The chiropractor was sent by God. I spent the last month of my pregnancy almost pain free!!!
#5 - Pregnancy - For the first time, I didn't hate being pregnant. Sure there were the uncomfortable nights and everything else that comes in the "pregnancy package" but over all I enjoyed each little kick and movement of baby Cole. I praise God that I got to enjoy the time and not just wish it away.
#6 - OB - I have had the same OB for all three pregnancies for a reason - we like him and trust his judgment. Because I have been induced all three time, I really wanted my OB to deliver me for the 3rd time as well. Cole was the third baby in our family to be delivered by Dr. A.
#7 - Pediatrician - God led us to Dr. B after Chad was born. Unknown to us at the time, she has a son who also has heart issues. Our sons had the same cardiologist for a while. Besides that, we (parents and children) love Dr. B. Of course, she was chosen as Cole's ped. Take it a step further - she was the hospital ped this week.
#8 - Induction - Because of the "half grown" children that we seem to birth and the aftermath that that causes, I have asked to be induced early with both Kaylee & Cole's pregnancies. God took care of the details and Cole was only 8 lbs!!
#9 - Labor & Delivery - Sounds weird, but we prayed for a normal delivery. Even with a couple of hitches, it couldn't have gone better.
#10 - Labor & Delivery Nurse - For some reason, Dr. A asked to change my induction date. I don't know if this is the reason but we had the same labor and delivery nurse that we had with Kaylee. She was incredible with Kaylee and when I saw her on Monday, I specifically asked if I could have her again. I didn't run into her by accident on Monday.
#11 - Grandparents - Being induced makes it a little easier to plan. Grandparents were on hand to take care of Chad & Kaylee on Tuesday.
#12 - Papa & Grams - Grams is staying with the "big brother & big sister" while Mommy and Daddy stay at the hospital. Of course Grams is an ongoing praise but what a blessing it is to have her this week. Due to the "couple of hitches", Papa and Grams will take both Chad & Kaylee back home with them this weekend while I recover and rest.

If you are still reading this, I think you will see that the God we serve is into details. Each one of these 12 praises were specifically prayed for by numerous people. These didn't all just happen by chance. It means that God has big plans for Little Cole's life. Praise God!!

Cole Jacob

Cole is named after his Uncle Heath - who's middle name is Jacob. We can only pray that Cole will grow up to be the kind of man that his Uncle Heath is with his tender heart, love for others, wonderful work ethic, and desire to serve. Cole has big shoes to fill but he has an incredible example to follow. We love you, Uncle Heath.

Cole Jacob

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord. Psalms 127:3

Cole Jacob

born


June 10, 2008 at 1:11 p.m.

8 lbs. 0 oz., 20 inches

God has blessed us with a gift from above. --Michael, Heidi, Chad, & Kaylee

Pictures & Videos

I wanted to get some pictures today in front of some of Uncle Don's flowers that I transplanted last summer. The holy-hocks are just one of the beautiful flowers that are blooming right now.

We have had crazy wind the past few days. Chad and Michael got the kite out. Kaylee even enjoyed flying it.

The rest of the pictures are walking down our lane. I am guessing some of these are going to be enlarged for the wall frames!!

Here are videos of each of the kids flying the kite:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7425615363515965659&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1929432560179727634&hl=en

Change in Plans

We had our final doctor's appointment today. Our doctor's schedule has gotten changed a little so he asked us to consider changing my induction date to Tuesday, June 10th. It was totally our choice but we feel like it is a better decision for several reasons. So, unless this baby decides to come on its own, which history has proven not to be an option, Tuesday is our big day!! We appreciate all of your prayers.

Videos

Here is two new videos of our kiddos!!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7752468259203861357&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=247491099469390051&hl=en