Emerson hanging out around the house

Our Future Aggie

Bath time

Visitors

The nursery

This is the crib McLain handmade out of solid oak.

My mom sewed all the bedding.

Coming Home

We got to bring Emerson home from the NICU exactly one week after he was born- we were elated to finally bring home our little boy! However, for me at least, this elation came with large amounts of doubt and worry... what if he's not okay without the oxygen? ...what if I can't tell something is wrong without the monitors? ...the "what ifs" went on and on. It was so wonderful to hold him without all the wires, tubes, and monitors, but I had become dependent on them to reassure me that he was okay. All my fears and worries were eased when we were able to participate in a rooming in program for NICU patient parents. The night before we brought Emerson home, the hospital put us up in a mock bedroom (basically like a hotel room). This room was right down the hall from the NICU, nurses, and doctors. For the most part, we were left alone, but a nurse would check in with us every 4 hours or so. It was great to be able to spend our first night with him "alone", but still have the nurses and doctors close by for reassurance. They did a great job answering our questions and making us feel at ease about taking Emerson home. The next day we took an in depth infant CPR class and car seat safety class before bringing Emerson home. It was a great day!

Rooming in the night before bringing Emerson home.

Home sweet home

Emerson Joseph Pool, 6:55PM, 6/18/09, 5lbs and 11 oz

Well, if you haven't heard, Emerson has made his debut... 4 weeks early- he just couldn't wait! Things got stressful for a little while, but we're all happy and healthy and doing good now. I had pre eclampsia that manifested itself with edema, high blood pressure, and adverse kidney effects. Apparently, the only cure is delivery. I tried to make it a little longer for Emerson, but the doctors said we had to take him when we did. Emerson came out kicking and screaming, but had to be put on oxygen because his little lungs weren't quite mature enough when he was born. He's still in the NICU, but is making huge improvements each and every day! He is able to breathe with less and less oxygen assistance as time goes on. In fact, we have been able to bottle feed him some of his feedings recently (up until now he has been fed half high cal formula/half breastmilk through a feeding tube). He is really good at it, and I'm already so proud of him- we'll have him nice and chunky in no time! As for me, I'm doing well- just healing from the whole c-section thing, and they have me on medication trying to keep my blood pressure down. Here are a few pictures of the last few crazy days- the beginning of many more crazy days to come I'm sure...

Waiting... trying to get my swelling and blood pressure to go down and kidneys to work properly.

After waiting 48 hours, we were rushed into c-section prep within minutes of receiving some not so good test results.

Man was I nauseous at first!

Giving him his first kiss!

Our new family!

Proud papa!

Proud grandmas!

Right after delivery, in the nursery

This is about 26 hours after delivery- this is the first time they had let me see him other than the several minutes immediately after delivery. Needless to say, I was a little emotional.

Mom put together a little birthday party for Jay and Emerson in the hospital.

Mom and Jay on Jay's b-day.

I love him so much!

Finally getting to spend some quality family time outside the oxygen tent.

He loves his pacifier!

Just chillin

Emerson made McLain two Father's Day "presents"!

The loves of my life! Emerson and McLain on a very memorable Father's Day.

Baby Bump

Here's a progression of the baby bump. I sure thought I was big at 24 weeks... boy was I wrong! I am proof positive that all those stretch-mark-preventative creams/lotions DO NOT work! People try to make you feel better by calling them a mother's battle scars... that's a bunch of b.s.!

31 Week 4D Sonogram

We had Emerson's 31 week sonogram this week. It was so neat! His face was smushed up against the placenta the whole time, but we still got some pretty decent pics. They estimate that he weighs about 3 pounds, 14 ounces already! That puts him in the 51st percentile. He's still moving and kicking away. He definitely doesn't let me forget he's there!

He already has cute little chubby cheeks!

Foot... big just like McLain's!