13. July 2008 by Julie.

Well we survived the weekend.  It gets harder and harder to leave him.  He is so cute and all the nurses just love him.  Today the 2 nurses were fighting over him.  I’m sore abd its hard to walk to and from rhe parking lot to the NICU.  But he’s worth it.  He’s starting to get better at his feeds.  We have a good couple of feeds and then a not so good feed.  I’m trying pump every 2 hrs so I can keep up with his schedule.  He’s every 4 hrs.  Tomorrow (Monday) he’s upgrading to what the nurses call his “big boy” bed.  He’ll be out of his isolette. Or incubator.  One goal out of the way!!!  We’ve been going to the hospital 2x a day.  One for his morning feeds and one for his dinner feeds.  I wish I could be there all day but its hard with Thomas.  We have to balance it all again.  I don’t want Thomas to feel less important now that a new baby is here.  Anyhoot, thanks for your messges, thanks for the flowers, thanks for the visits in the hospital.  We’ll update as morenews comes in.  And some of you requested our address…just email me and I’ll send it to you.  Thanks again….

Posted in Julie's Status | 10 Comments »

12. July 2008 by Julie.

Well I;m home now.  Feels weird without lil Ryan, though.  He’s absolutely adorable.  Both jessie and Thomas were born bald and Ryan has all this silky black hair.  But he has to be left at the hospital for another week or two. We went back for his feeding this morning and will go back tonight for his 6:00 feeding.  They have certain times that they feed at.  We miss him but in one way after Jessica, it doesn’t phase us. Hopefully we’ll get out of it soon.  They say be patient but those ran out a long time ago.  I just want normalcy.  I never expected to go so early.  Had Braxton Hicks for a few months but then had contractions on Monday that never really went away. I thought I was 10-12 min apart but they were really 2-4 min apart.  So I was told to go over to the hopsital.  I had a c-section which I would do again in a heartbeat over a vaginal birth.  I have so much trouble with them recovering that a c-section isn’t all that bad.  I’m very sore but I’m trying to not take my pain meds.  They are pretty potent and I was on them for 5 days.  Ibuprofen is just going ot have to work for now . I’m giving breastfeeding a try but I have always struggled with it.  I just want to get to my die date at least.  It’ll be good for him.  The nurses have so nice and they all get a kick out of Ryan.  He’s already a social bug.  If someone is talking and he’s up, Ryan looks around to see who it is. Just like his brother.  We laugh when it happens.  Well, thanks for all your comments.  I know Jessie is looking down on us.  I;ve asked her to keep on Ryan and to help make him stronger so we can take him home.  I’m ready for all the chaos.  I hope everyone enjoys their weekend.  Again, thanks for all the encouragement.

Posted in Julie's Status | 8 Comments »

11. July 2008 by Julie.

Well, things are improving slowly with little Ryan.   His heart rate and breathing are stable and he is maintaining his temperature for long periods of time.   The removed his IV but he still has his feeding tube in place.  He is slowly eating more by mouth, but struggles sometimes to do everything at once (breath, suck, swollow, etc).   Things we all take for granted but I guess little ones need to learn.   Julie returns home today without Ryan, that will be quite strange.. but it should only be for a week or so.  We will manage.   Here’s another picture of Thomas holding Ryan..  enjoy

Posted in Message from Tom | 4 Comments »

8. July 2008 by Tom.

Much to our surprise, Julie went into labor yesterday afternoon and delivered a healthy baby boy at 8:01pm.  Ryan Thomas Tucker weighed in at 6lbs 11oz and was 19inches long.  He was 6weeks early, but so far is in good health.   He will spend some time in the NICU until they are sure everything is ok.   Mom is doing well and recovering from a C-Section, so she is in some pain but in great spirits.  Thomas is also very happy to be a big brother and said “this is the best birthday present I could ever get….”   He is 10 today, so their birthday’s will be a day apart.  

Julie should be able to come home on Friday, but Ryan may need to stay a bit longer.

Posted in Message from Tom | 40 Comments »