Lucy Walks!

Well, at 16 months, Lucy has finally made her walking debut! So without further ado....

Also, since I just can't help myself, I'll throw in a cute pic of my sweet Collin.

That's about all I have energy for in this post. Love to you all!

Parents

My mom and dad got on the road to make their 16-hour drive (no stopping overnight) to come help us when they found out I had gone into labor. They arrived at our home at about 5:45 AM on Friday, July 3rd and were by our side until they left this morning at 7:00 AM. While I stayed in the NICU with Collin, Darin and my mom alternated staying overnight with me- helping with unglamorous aspects of my recovery and supported me while caring for Collin. When my dad and mom weren't at the hospital, they worked with Darin's parents caring for Lucy and helping her through her time away from Mommy. Then when Collin was released from the NICU, my parents continued to help me take care of myself, cooked, cleaned, helped Darin and I take care of Lucy and Collin among MANY other things.

It was so hard to see them leave this morning... I miss them so much already, but it is with a grateful heart that I said goodbye to them. There is nothing my parents wouldn't do for Darin and I and I am blessed to have their example as I now raise my own children.

Tonight, Darin's parents arrive with dinner in tow and their servants' spirit to continue to help for awhile with our adjustment to being a family of four. This will be especially helpful as Darin has just started his new job and I am missing him very much. The blessings just keep overflowing and I am so thankful for how God has provided for us through our parents.

Finally Some Pictures!

Well, Collin and I have been home now for four full days. I am feeling better everyday and I am so thankful to be home with Darin, Lucy and my parents who are here from Texas for one more day and night. (What a blessing to have had them here since Friday of last week!).

I thought you all would appreciate a few pictures!

A rare moment with his eyes open during his week-long hospital stay.

Snuggling with Mommy.

Lucy and Mommy have a short visit in the NICU lobby. Boy did I miss her!

At home! Lucy and Collin meet for the first time.

Some good father-son time.

The one question everyone seems to have these days is how is Lucy doing and what does she think about her baby brother... to answer that question I feel she is doing exceptionally well considering everything that has gone on. Honestly, I think that the week that she and I were separated might have been harder on her than meeting Collin. Regarding him and what she thinks of him, it seems that her main frustration is that she can't have as much access to yank, swat and grab at him as she feels entitled to. : ) The adjustment for all of us will be gradual.

In other news, God has provided a job for Darin as the general manager of the Des Moines branch of a civil engineering firm. (They have several locations throughout the midwest.) Please pray with us as he has his first day tomorrow. Lots of changes happening for our family all at once, but we know we can trust God and rejoice in the roles He wants us to have in His plans.

Don't know when I'll be posting on here again, but hope you enjoyed this. I've appreciated the many phone calls, e-mails and Facebook comments we have received from so many of you since Collin's birth. Most of all we appreciate your prayers and words of encouragement. We feel deeply blessed by the family and friends God has provided in you!

Collin Ezra

For those of you who haven't heard the news yet, my sweet little man was born on Thursday, July 2nd at 5:19 PM. He weighed and measured 8 lbs 80z and 22 1/4 in.

During my delivery stage of labor, I developed a fever of 102 F and little Collin's heartrate shot up. As a result, immediately upon birth he was whisked away to the NICU where he'll stay at least until this coming Thursday to receive 7 days worth of IV antibiotic. He Also had a fever when born so there is a suspicion that he has an infection (the same I had apparently developed in my uterus) and it is too risky to send him home before 7 days worth of tests and medication.

I was discharged last night (Saturday, the 4th) and have moved into Collin's room with him so I can establish nursing with him. Currently my mom is staying with me and Collin here to assist me with my recovery, as not much is available in the way of bathrooms and other amenities that I'd have at home. Please pray for us- I'm getting used to the idea that this is my only way to spend time with my new son in his first few days here.

I can't speak on my cell phone or log onto this computer unless I am outside of the NICU in the lobby, so my communication may be a bit limited. You can leave messages on my phone or e-mail and I will eventually get them. Please call or e-mail or try to get in touch with Darin if you have interest in visiting here. I'm pretty tired right now and trying to sleep when Collin sleeps.

I'm sorry I'm not able to post pictures yet. We'll try to soon.

Girlfriends, Father's Day and Short Hair

The past few days have been pleasant ones when I'm able to get my focus off of the late pregnancy discomforts! Even though the summers here don't compare to the ones I grew up with in South Texas, Iowa does get its fair share of hot muggy weather and these days seem to have suddenly arrived. I'm so grateful for our comfortable air-conditioned home right now!

There are a few other things on my mind lately that I've been grateful for. I consider them all to be blog-worthy, so allow me to share...

My Girlfriends

All last week, I knew that Darin's sister was coming by to pick up Miss Lucy on Thursday evening for a fun aunt/niece outing! Lucy loves to spend time with and be spoiled by Aunt Dawn who likes to take her to the mall and get her dinner at Chick-Filet and play on the soft-play area! Darin suggested that we use the opportunity for a date-night, and this soon-to-be mama of two didn't need much convincing to agree to the idea.

You can imagine my surprise when we arrived at the restaraunt Darin picked and the hostess escorted us to a table where four close girlfriends were waiting to surprise me with a fun girls night out to celebrate the soon arrival of Baby Boy. After I adjusted to my shock, Darin kissed me on my cheek, set the camera next to me on the table and made his exit! After a fun time of great conversation and a delicious meal, the girls and I headed to the nearest mall to go to The Gap and pick out a cute new shirt for me that is NOT maternity! How fun! I felt so blessed and supported by my friends. It's these gals (and many others who were not able to be present) that have offered so much encouragement and prayer as we hoped for a child and then witnessed the Stevensons grow from a family of two to four!

Thank you, Ladies!

Lucy's Daddy

Father's Day was pretty low-key this year and Darin was such a good sport "going with the flow" on a day that is set aside to honor him as a father. I approached the day and its activities with a "let's just see what I'm up for" kind of mentality. After a relaxed breakfast, church, a trip to Lowe's, going through the Wendy's drive-thru and a nap for all of us, we made a spontaneous trip to the closest public swimming pool and had a great time splashing in the cool water. I loved watching Lucy play with her daddy and have so much fun with him. Darin has taken to be a daddy more naturally than I think he ever expected! It is such a joy to be his wife and parent with him!

My Hair Grows Fast

I went on Saturday to get my hair trimmed. It needed it and I figured it be easeir to do it now than wait a few weeks when I have a newborn. Somehow my hair ended up much shorter than I intended it. I think I'd really love this short bob if Ihad my pre-pregnancy figure. But I'm feeling rather "pear-shaped" at the moment and the short hair is only adding to narrow on top pear-look. Oh well. My hair grows exceptionally fast and it is easier to do in the mornings (much less time spent with the hair-dryer). After lamenting my short do on facebook I had many demands for pictures, so I'll share one here. I'm making peace with it, and since the initial disgruntled-phase, I've even had a few moments where I've thought it was cute.

Well, I hope you have a great day and find many things to be grateful for!

Getting Prepared

So I'm definitely having compulsions to clean and organize my home and life that I don't normally have. This is partially hormonal, but I know it is also mental to an extent because I was the same way as I was waiting for Lucy to join our family. It's a different ball game to simply prepare the house for one new baby versus now, preparing ourselves AND Lucy for the new addition. It is requiring me to attempt to organize in ways that are challenging to me. Organizing just doesn't come naturally to me. But little by little plans are coming together. Aside from enlisting friends and family to be "on-call" to come care for Lucy whenever we must head to the hospital, I'm also just trying to spend as much quality time with Lucy as possible since her little life is about to be turned upside down! She is such a delight and is trying new things all the time:

I recently ordered this adorable wooden push-walker from Amazon (a really great source for quality educational toys... I've discovered this through my mom!). We've had it for awhile and she was really reluctant to use it at first, but now she can't get enough of it! After she takes several strides we'll cheer for her and she'll let go and balance herself long enough to clap for her accomplishment. It's fun seeing her gain more courage with her gross motor skills and to be so pleased with herself when she has success.

Lucy has also taken a greater interest in her baby dolls which is fun. As you can see above, mainly her interest is in biting them, but she also enjoys giggling and doing the sign language for "baby" when I hand her one.

Well, I think I'll go and spend time with my sweet girl now rather than continue to blog about her. But before I do, I thought that in light of my last post, I'd share the most recent belly pic (at least for my mom and sister!). We're getting closer!! : )

Eating My Words

If you've talked much with me about the pregnancy, you have heard me confidently predict that I am expecting to go at least ten days past my due date, and no, it doesn't matter what YOU may think, there's no way I'll be giving birth prior to my due date (July 7th). I've been predicting a July 17th birth.

Hmmm. I may be singing a different tune now. Yesterday my doctor estimated the baby's current weight at 6 lbs 8 oz and said he wouldn't be surprised if I gave birth two weeks from now. What?! He also predicts that if I make it to the due date to expect him to be in the 9 lb range. I have many friends who have given birth to babies this big and they have survived, but you know, I had the privilege of witnessing 6 lb 14oz Lucy's birth and that didn't look like a picnic! Since neither me nor my siblings were even in the 8 lb range at birth, I've been assuming I'd be in line with my genetics when it came to my baby's birth weight. Now it's looking like I'm inheriting Darin's genes when it comes to birth weight.

So, for all of those who have listened to me tout my over-confident predictions that I won't be giving birth to this baby until mid to late July, I am officially eating my words. I am now rooting for late June.