Eye Test

Parker passed his vision test today! His eyes developed normally and no surgery will be required. The doc said we will know more about how well he will be able to see as he gets older. The eye doctor told us not to be pessimistic.

I also received a copy of the MRI and CT scans done pre and post op. I hope to take a look at those and post some of those images to help better explain what is going on in his head right now.

Moving Along

Parker is making the move from Level 3 down to the Level 2 ICU....one step closer to coming home. They want to keep him a while longer to monitor his progress and run a few more tests.

They are running genetics tests, vision tests and hearing tests. He weighs 6 pounds and 14 ounces now that the fluid has drained. He is wearing his first newborn shirt and it's huge!

He pooped on me while I was changing his diaper today, which was pretty funny. He's getting better with his bottle feeding and we hope to slowly ween him off of the feeding tube before we go home.

Leah is slowly walking more and we haven't used a wheelchair today! The hardest part is leaving the hospital without our boy. Unfortunately, he won't be able to watch the Aggies beat OSU with me at home this weekend, but I'm keeping him posted on the latest news and how the team is doing!

Thanks to all of you for the thoughts and prayers! We've come to realize that there are hundreds if not thousands of folks out there that we've never met that are supporting us! God is good.

PICTURES!!

I haven't been able to post pictures from my iPhone, so here are a few pictures through the first few days!

Parker's Status

Dr. Jay performed the surgery last night and we will catch up with him today. After the surgery he gave us a debreif. Parker's head was so large that his skin is now paper thin. That could cause issues with the sutures healing properly because fluid could leak from the incision area. Other than that, everything went flawlessly.

Now we hope to get a more accurate read on the diagnosis. We will speak to the neurologist today and continue to talk to the neonatologist. At this time, the neurology team isn't too optimistic about the future brain developent, but we're happy that he is doing well, breathing on his own and not showing signs of any other issues.

He is adorable and we can't wait to take him to the house and introduce him to a new, awesome world!

He's doing good.

Parker is out of surgery, everything went well. He's headed back to the NICU in a few!

In surgery

Parker just went into surgery. Should be out in 2 hours.

Finally

Leah met Parker this morning after a good night's rest. He has met a lot of people, but. Haven't seen him that comfortable and happy yet! To this point, this is the best day of my life! Parker has surgery tomorrow afternoon at 1:30. Keep him in your prayers.

Parker and Leah Update!

Leah went into the operating room last night around 5pm. Parker joined us at 6:18pm after couple epidural's and a tough procedure. Parker is doing great and breathing on his own. He weighs 8.7 pounds and measures in at 17 3/4 inches.

Leah is slowly recovering and Parker is getting an MRI right now. The doctors plan to perform the brain surgery on Monday. I'll keep you updated.

Heading to Labor & Delivery for a C-Section this afternoon!

Getting Close

Leah and I went to the doctor on Tuesday and things seem to be progressing quickly.  The fluid build-up continues at the same pace, and his body is measuring very small (about the 8th percentile).  All of his organs seem to be developing as planned, which is good news because the doctors could be performing the C-Section as early as tomorrow (Friday).  They are monitoring Leah for preeclampsia and we will get the results tomorrow morning when we head down to the med center.  Dr. Ivey told us to pack our bags and be prepared to stay for a while if they decide to do the procedure after our appointment.  If they don't take him this week, we will have a firm date by Tuesday of next week.  We have scheduled appointments at Baylor down town every Tuesday and Friday from now until Parker is born.

Leah is on bed rest now, which is a huge relief!  She feels much better now that she is rested and not near as swollen.  I hope to have another update on Friday if they don't do the procedure.

In the mean time, here are before and after pictures of the almost completed nursery (it's done now, but I haven't had time to go take new pictures).

Adapting

Leah and I are enjoying the last night of a long weekend full of relaxing, entertaining, cooking, decorating, packing, shopping, and yes.....College Football!!!  The house looks and smells like fall.  The bags are packed and ready to go to the hospital (whenever the time comes). Parker's room looks like something you'd see in a Magazine Ad.  The Family Room is finished and ready for Aggie Football watching and rocking Parker to sleep.

We had 4 appointments last month without much new news.  In our most recent appointment, all of Parker's vitals look good and they estimate he weighs 4 1/2 pounds.  His head is well over the 40 week mark and we are out of the percentile estimates now.  The fluid in the right side of his head continues to grow and push everything to the left.  There doesn't seem to be much brain matter in the right half, but some development could possibly be happening in the left side.  He is still breached and should stay head up for the remainder of the pregnancy.

Leah is READY!!!  We were joking about the term of pregnancy quite a bit this month.  Why is it that no one knows that pregnancy is really 10 months until they become pregnant?  My theory is if women knew that they had to do this for anymore than 9 months, they wouldn't do it.  Leah is officially 8 3/4 months tomorrow with only a month to go.  Parker's big head is pushed up against her ribs and I think he is sitting on her sciatic nerve.  This along with the record breaking heat makes for a painful combination.  Pretty much anything and iseverything she does  painful, and the heat makes for a lot of swelling.  Even though the little guy causes a lot of discomfort, it is fun to watch him move around when we talk to him.  Leah had a couple of great showers given by family, friends and co-workers which have distracted us from everything except for the excitement in preparation (and for Leah, decoration).

As for me, I try to help when I'm supposed to and stay out of the way when I'm supposed to.  The further along into this pregnancy we get, the more I admire, respect, and love my wife.  I spent some time the past 2 weeks preparing for my last trip, Pre-Parker (P.P.).  My company is putting me through a Personal Leadership program, so I'll be heading to Toronto on Wednesday for 2 nights.  Based on the tests I've taken, my top 2 strengths are Positivity and Adaptability.  Adaptability has really resonated with me over the last couple of weeks.  Not my adaptability, but what it means to women, a young family and a new baby.  To think that I was living with Rob, and Leah was living with Lara as little as 14 months ago is mind boggling.  We've adapted to all of the changes presented to a young, married couple, and we've done so very well.  Now we prepare for the changes that are presented to a young family and it seems natural.  Leah and I adapt naturally because we are changing with someone we love.  This gives me a ton of hope when I think about Parker.  I know we are in for a big change, a new boss is about to take over the house and I know we both love him......that makes for a great combination!