Luke looked at me!

Luke looking at me...so special!

Luke receiving 6cc feed of breastmilk.

Big Sis Alex being a big helper and transporting pumped milk to the freezer :) 

She is very interested in mama being a moo cow - ha!

Thank you so much for your prayers. Our family feels them for sure. I did get to come home on Wednesday. All tests run on me came back normal so the doctors are definitely thinking I had eclampsia out of the blue.

Luke is doing well overall in the NICU. His nasal CPAP was removed yesterday which made us so happy as it looked so uncomfortable and he fussed a lot with it. He receives minimal oxygen help with a nasal cannula right now. I am pumping milk for him every 3 hours during the day and every 4 hrs at night. He is tolerating his tube feeds of breast milk well. As hard as it is to see Luke in the incubator, I love visiting him, talking to him, touching him, etc. I long to hold him and hopefully will get to this weekend. Only parents and grandparents are allowed in to see him so we do a live feed with our iphones for the kids to see and talk to him. It is so sweet. I think Luke knows their voice, too, as he squirms when they talk to him. We are bringing him a small ipod/speaker today to hear music...thanks to Kim and James Davis!

Being home has been an adjustment as the kids have gone from pure sweetness to crazy meltdowns all in one minute. They have felt the chaos of the week and obviously need routine, security restored and normalcy again. I think we are going to have a hard several months with everyone's adjustment. The kids are mostly cooperating with mommy only holding them while I am sitting, but it is still hard for us all for me to have limitations with them. For the first time, I broke and cried with Alex last night...we both balled. I have been very emotional and Alex is just too smart to hide it from her. Thankfully, my visit with Luke last night at the hospital was so sweet and peaceful that it ended my day well. Luke opened his eyes at me over and over while visiting him. It was so special as I think he knew it was mommy :) (see above pic)

We are still in awe of how God is taking care of us through everything. Not only did we know several of the medical staff from the ER to the floor in the hospital that brought us comfort, but we were so comforted to know that a special family friend would be the NICU physician in charge of little Luke last night as well as many more days to come. Also, thank you to all who have signed up to bring us meals. I cried when I saw that email and sign up list. It is such a huge help as basically we have needed help with the kids and me (I can't drive or be alone for 3 weeks). Our moms are helping with the kids and me the first 2 weeks. Lots of planning and right timing come into play juggling Alex and David's mommy needs as well as me being away to visit Luke at the hospital. Many of you have offered to help as well. Know we will be taking you up on it :) As hard as it is to ask for help, we will need it.

Thanks again for all your prayers. It means the world to us as we know God hears. None of this surprised Him. He is in control and we trust in His sovereignty. May He receive all the glory for any report we have. He gives life and takes away. I know God would have taken care of my hubby and babies, but I'm so thankful God has allowed me more time on earth to care for them.

Love Always,
~rebecca~

Preemie Luke is Here

Well, this past weekend did not go according to our plans. Within 30 minutes of when my mom was supposed to be leaving my house on Saturday and when Chris had planned to go to his department cookout, I began having a seizure (1st time ever) in the kitchen. Mom was in there and screamed for Chris. Chris ran in from the next room and caught me. Mom scooped kids out and called 911. Chris got me breathing again after being out for several minutes. I do not remember anything except waking to paramedics around me and then being transported to the hospital by ambulance.

I apparently had eclampsia which is when your pregnancy causes you to have a seizure basically. Usually, people have high blood pressure and other symptoms during pregnancy but I didn't have any. This happens occassionally with eclampsia. The only treatment is to deliver the baby even if early because it is progressive putting mom and baby at risk of dying. So, I received 2 steroid shots after being admitted to the hospital to help develop the baby's lungs. Then, I received a 12 hr medication last night to help prepare my cervix/uterus to be induced for delivery today. Soon after it ended today, I was given an epidural and then pitocin to induce labor. The baby came within 45 minutes of starting pitocin. 

Luke Richard Lee came out screaming at 30.5 wks weighing 3 lbs 2 oz. He was breathing well on his own for a while, but eventually needed the ventilator and a medicine called surfactant to help his lungs. He was weaned off the ventilator on the morning after he was born. He will most likely be in the NICU at UMC for 4-8 wks :( This makes me sad, but I just have to be thankful we are both alive.

I'm still being monitored and was treated to prevent any more seizures after delivery. My CT scan and MRI of my head was normal. While on a magnesium sulfate drip I felt miserable, dizzy, and had some vision issues but once it was turned off I have felt much better.

Amidst this unexpected seizure and delivery, we are thankful to God for many things.
Thankfully, Chris and mom had not left the house before I had the seizure or I may not be writing this. Thankfully, Chris knew how to care for me while seizing and being non responsive. Thankfully, mom was there to keep kids initially. Thankfully, we had a babysitter lined up that night who we had canceled just an hour before because our plans changed (and she was still available). Thankful for Chris's aunt Tammy and cousin Kelly for spending the night with Alex and David and taking care of them that night and the next day. Thankful to have a God comforting us throughout this experience.

It is surreal that we have a new baby already. The last few days have been a whirlwind. It has not sunk in that the baby is here because the baby is in the NICU and not with us :(  Please pray for us as we have several uncertain weeks ahead of us. Trying to figure out logistics of visiting him without kids as they cannot come to the NICU. Also, I will have driving restrictions for a few weeks because of the seizure. Thank you for all the prayers. Please continue. We are sorry we have not been able to reply to everyone individually and thank everyone for their support.
We love ya'll!

Update 6/28/11:

Rebecca may go home tomorrow but possibly Thursday.  Waiting to get echocardiogram for further testing. She is feeling much better since getting off the magnesium drip.

Luke has been off the ventilator since Monday morning. He is on nasal SiPAP (rate controlled CPAP/ machine that blows air in his nose to help him breath on his own easier) with minimal O2 25%. He got his first feed today through a tube. He is getting some nutrition through his IV. We got to put family pictures on his incubator today as well as a stuffed animal. His doctors and nurses have been taking good care of our new little man. They have all been very helpful and informative to us. By the way, Luke has a head full of dark wavy hair :)

Back to Blogging :)

Ok, I totally freed myself the last few months from the blog as life was SOOOO full. I've also freed myself from taking lots of pics of things so my posts might look a bit different. I did pick some random highlights from the last few months and created several posts below to cover them. Some highlights of the last few months I do not even have a pic of...i.e. visits with family, visitors here, trip to Little Rock to visit and farewell Ramsey family to Ohio, etc... :(  However, the highlight of my life, my kiddos, is the reason I have not had time to post nor the energy to blog lately :)

Hopefully, I can keep the blog more current. Enjoy!

David Turned 2!

Can someone please slow down time???

 This precious bundle of joy has turned 2. David is so sweet, compassionate, mostly compliant, active, can be a bully to all ages, loves trains, trucks, race cars and balls along with his sissy, mama, and daddy :) We love you, Day Day!!!

At 2, he is still in the 25% for height and weight, but 75th for head circumference. Smart little cookie! He has had a language explosion in the last couple of months saying any and everything, sentences, etc. He is a picky eater (i.e. boycotts most veggies) which we are not used to as Alex has always been a great eater. Thankfully, they take Juice Plus Chewables :) David is super coordinated and tries anything Alex/big kiddos do...that can be scary. David (and Alex) are so fun to watch. We are so thankful!

 David LOVES his "new bike" as he calls it.

 On David's birthday, the four of us split an oversized cupcake.

 ...Then we enjoyed train cupcakes at his party :) 

And yes, he blew out the candle all by himself!

Priceless faces in this pic...ha!

 This was our first time to have a family only party since we now live closer to family.

 Cousins, Anna Cate and Hunter, came to celebrate with us

Cuz Hunter helping Day Day open presents

 Mimi and Grandaddy celebrated with us, too. David and Grandaddy have a special bond. David prefers being with him over the kiddos!

Anna Cate and Alex chilling with popsicles the next day

Sister Helping Brother

I couldn't resist posting this sweet video of Alex helping David up some huge steps at a recent visit to the Children's Museum. Alex loves to be needed while David loves her help. Precious! I can tell already that Alex is going to be such a big helper this go around with the new baby and David will be my compassionate one who will want to rush to the baby first with any peep of a cry.

Sleeping Pics

Gotta capture the rare sweet and/or awkward sleep moments :)

So exhausted she fell asleep watching a show. That's rare!

Notice she is parallel to her pillows :)

I think this was one of the days following David's surgery...so sweet

Dance Recital 2011

 My "baby" girl completed her second year of dance and did so good in her dance recital. 

 Ballet

 Tap

Posing....oops skirt is falling down

MMO, Swim, Grad Party

 The last day of MMO was filled with Field Day Fun!

Alex had a great MMO class with Mrs. Laura and Mrs. Kristina. Her sweet friend, Reece, jumped in the pic.

A peek into swim lessons with Lu Lee (precious amazing lady!)

Alex did great! David did well, too, but I'll spare you his video footage as he cries when Lu Lee works with him even though he does so well. Some may think it looks torturous.

Celebrating cousin Amy's high school graduation with a special family graduation luncheon!

Congrats to Amy for graduating and making the MSU cheerleading squad!

 

 Sweet cousins and babysitters, Amy and Kelly

April was a BIG month!

 April started with David getting his adenoids out. This pic was before surgery...notice all smiles initially. Overall, the surgery went great. It took a full 3 weeks for me to notice him back to normal especially in his eating. Maybe his age coincided with the surgery, but he is much pickier with food now :(  However, no more constant runny nose and no more struggling to breath while sleeping!!! Yea!!!

 Got bored and started pushing cart around for entertainment and dashed for the door a few times, too.

Needing some love from mommy as he was getting tired and impatient before surgery.

THE NEXT BIG EVENT IN APRIL WAS FINDING OUT THE GENDER OF BABY LEE #3.

HE'S A BOY!!!

We are very excited to know even though it didn't matter what the gender was. Alex was a little disappointed as she wanted a baby sister, but she said she'll keep him :) She is precious about it now and talks about how there will be 3 boys and only us 2 girls now.
We're about 95% sure of his official name and will post when we are 100% sure :)
(Sorry I don't have a great ultrasound pic to post)

 Thanks to my sister, Robin, for the Easter pics as I forgot to take any pics.
Cousin Amber and Alex dying eggs at Grandmother's house.

 Playing hide and seek with Grandmother

 Alex and Amber playing at Children's Museum

 Amber and Alex at the annual family Easter egg hunt

 Me, Mom and Robin

 Papaw, Mom and Mary

 When we returned home from Vicksburg on Easter, I remembered to take pics. ha!
No glam, just getting filthy in the dirt and sand with Easter outfits on...ha!

 Chris had put sand on top of some grassless areas in the front yard. The kids thought it was the best thing ever. So recently, daddy made them a sandbox in the backyard that they LOVE and play in forever!

 All done and ready for his hands to be cleaned! David likes his hands clean after eating, playing in dirt, etc. He'll come to us and say "hands, hands" or "wipe hands."

 The last big event of April was flying to Chicago with both kiddos. Mimi came along to help out, but of course, I have no pics of us all. After the airport/airplane pics, I forgot to take any pics while there except for the train ride below. Daddy got Rainforest pic.

The kids did GREAT overall flying and even endured the delays we experienced in route to Chicago causing us to arrive about 6 hours later than planned. Along with running around and playing with all toys and books we brought, the kiddos (and daddy) passed the time by watching a movie.

Some random train ride at the Navy Pier. The good pic of them was deleted from my phone :( This is the problem when your children know how to operate an iphone, but just enough to cause some problems, too!

 Rainforest Cafe in Chicago

Alex and cuz, Anna Cate, at zoo while visiting Mimi and Grandaddy in Hattiesburg