Me in my "going home outfit"...
with Aunt Meg

First Day/Night on Erwin Ave.

Boston adjusted well to his new home. I am sure it might be a little chilly for him, but we have multiple blankets:) Thank you everyone for my abundance of blankets, throws, etc... We only had two visitors on our first day home-Pops and Isabel. They came over right away and held Boston while we tried to get situated. It was nice to have them there to help out for a couple of hours.

Night has arrived. BOSTON DID GREAT!! No crying unless being changed. OH, do I have a good baby! It was a little trying getting up every three hours, but with a wonderful husband like Ryan it was fine. He really is the best Dad ever.

Welcome Home Boston!

WOW! What can a mom say about the day she gets to bring her bundle of joy!?! As we were in the elevator i was already crying and trying to compose myself before we hit the lobby. I was somewhat sad that Rapheal was not there to say goodbye. He is the valet man who asks how Boston is everytime we visit:( We buckled him in and we were off. Boston did well. He looked around and took it all in as we drove the 25 minutes home. I was a little terrified. Worried about other drivers, worried about Ryan's driving, and most of all worried about us crying! Both of us were boo-hooing while going home. It was finally here. We are taking our son home, he is ours!

No feeding tube!

"I am so strong that I pulled out my feeding tube, tape and all."

Update!

Just a couple of minutes ago I called the NICU for my nightly update on Boston. He now weighs 4 lbs 11.3 oz. He is drinking 5 bottles a day and the biggest news...he should be coming home either this weekend or early next week!!! I was ecstatic once the nurse said those words. Waiting is not one of my specialties. But luckily, we might have our precious son home this weekend. I seriously can't believe it. Please pray for him. He needs to continue drinking the right amount of milk and at the right pace. Tonight he drank his bottle in 10 minutes!!!

Photos of the first two weeks.

June 16

June 12

June 9

June 5

Not much has gone on other than counting feedings from bottles. The ultimate goal is to reach 8! Each day we drive 25 minutes to spend a couple of hours or so with our son. It is extremely trying on Mom. I am having a hard time not having him home with me. BUT we are making it. Slowly but Surely! They say that Boston has Wimpy White Boy Syndrome! I know it kind of sounds racist, but they say that white boys have a harder time catching on at such a young age. Keep your fingers crossed that he will be home soon. Mom and Dad are soooo ready for Boston to come home.

First Family Photos!

Mom, Dad, and Son

Mommy and Son

Daddy and Son

Day 2 and 3

Here are a couple of photos since Boston's arrival. Monitored, fed through a feeding tube, and is under a heater. Lungs are healthy and fully developed.

Early Arrival

Boston Phillip Stephens made his debut on June 3, 2009 at 3:55a.m-only 5 weeks early!

My pregnancy seemed perfectly fine up until the middle of May. I began having extremely swollen ankles and feet! On Thursday,May 28 I had my routine checkup. When the doctor began the sonogram it was extremely sensitive and somewhat painful. She told me that I needed to go to the hospital to be monitored. I had no idea what I was in for... Ryan drove me to Baylor Frisco were I was admitted to check on the baby and to see if I was having contractions. Low and behold my bp was 160/120! These are stroke numbers. Also, I began to have stronger contractions. They stopped them with two stinging shots in my arm.

My stay only lasted until Saturday. Doctors orders were to stay off my feet and do NOTHING! I was diagnosed with Preeclampsia, gall stones, and an inflamed gall bladder. Gall Bladder surgery to come after the baby!

Once home Ryan was at my every beck and call. He is amazing! Every meal was brought to me, he took my blood pressure three times a day, and he made sure that I didn't need a thing. What a great husband. Sunday was successful, Monday seemed just fine, then came TUESDAY! Oh, what a day. I stayed the night at my mom's house Monday night, so she could take me to my three doctors appointments while Ryan was at work.

Tuesday, June 2
8:45am-sonogram
Felt fine. Mom went with me. I was pumped for her to see for the first time. He would look like a real baby! We go in and my blood pressure was again off the charts! He then started the sono. Put the magic wand on my belly and began looking. I thought everything was just fine. Wrong. According to his next words-your baby has not grown and you have low amniotic fluid-"YOU NEED TO HAVE THE BABY TODAY!" My thought- Are you kidding me? I was in complete shock...My mom held my hand as I called Ryan to meet us at the hospital. So much for my other appointments. Ha Ha

10:30 am. Admitted and started induction
Day went by...IV, drugs, CONTRACTIONS IN LOWER BACK
I never really dilated as normal and began to get a little anxious by the evening. Finally able to rest until around 3:00am Wednesday morning. My doctor came in to share some interesting news. I was about to have an emergency C-section due to the baby's heartbeat dropping each time I had a contraction. I closed my eyes and said a short prayer before being wheeled into the operating room. Ryan held my hand as they began. At 3:55 my sweet boy was born. He weighed in at a whopping 3 lbs. 13.76 oz. and was 17 3/4 inches long. They tried to show him to me, but I soon passed out from medication. Ryan went to the NICU with him while they checked all of his vitals. Later that evening they wheeled my bed into the NICU so that I could see my precious bundle of joy! I just cried. He had tubes and wires all over him. It was not at all how I thought my delivery would be...but he was here and healthy (Apgar score-9).