Home for a second...

Hello dear friends! It's Sarah - I'm home for a few hours to spend some time with Ford, and then Joseph and I are heading back up to the hospital for the evening. We had a bit of a scare this morning; Luke's CO2 levels were too high, and they were talking about sending him to Montgomery, but we just got the latest test results back and they're no longer going up. Praise the Lord!!! I've been discharged, and because he is not able to breathe on his own, they were unable to keep a room for me. Apparently they can only do that if the baby can actually stay in the room as the patient. So we are taking this day by day - luckily we have lots of help for Ford thanks to my mom and sister! I just talked to our pediatrician and she said that none of what Luke is going through right now will have any long term effects, it's just an annoying hurdle to get through. Coming home without a baby is probably the hardest thing I've ever done, but Joseph and I know this is only temporary and we are extremely blessed that he's doing as well as he is. God is so good!

I thought I'd give you a glimpse at how little Luke is since it's hard to tell from the picture Joseph first posted. Here's one of Luke's diapers (size xxs-preemie) next to one of Ford's diapers (size 4). He's pretty tiny! But great things come in small packages, right? Thanks again for all your prayers; we feel very loved!

Update on Luke

Luke had a good first night! He is still in intensive care but is showing improvement. Every chest x-ray is better than the one before. They did have to raise his oxygen level, but the doctor did say that preemies get worse before they get better. He had a episode of apnea which is where he stopped breathing for a couple of seconds but it has only happened once. Our specific prayers are that he will stay strong enough to remain here and not have to go to Montgomery and that he will be strong enough to suck so that he can have his Mama's milk to fatten him up! He also has a touch of jaundice, so we are praying that those levels don't rise. Thanks again for all of your prayers, we are definitely feeling them!

Luke Armistead Martin

To everyone's surprise Luke's arrival this morning was shocking! Sarah and I are still grasping the fact that he is already here. He was born at 9:30 am weighing in at 4lbs 3ozs at a height of 18.5 inches. As you all know he was not supposed to join us until mid August. Sarah and I arrived at the hospital around 2:30 am due to contractions assuming we would only be there for a couple of hours. That was obviously not the case! As you can see in the picture he is staying in intensive care to remain on the IV and oxygen. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Sarah and I appreciate everyone's cares and concerns. We will keep you updated as things progress.

How can something so cute...

cause so many problems? And I'm not talking about that sweet little boy right there, I'm talking about that little ear on the side of his head!!! What a time we have had dealing with those little ears! Ford got his 379th ear infection two weeks ago, so we started another new antibiotic and set up an appointment with the specialist for this past Monday. I was headed to the beach for my annual girls weekend with my college girlfriends, so Joseph was holding down the fort. Ford finished his 10-day antibiotic Thursday, but wouldn't you know it, he woke up Friday night screaming his head off and burning up with fever! Joseph took him to the doctor Saturday morning and handled the whole weekend like a champ (along with a "few" phone calls to his sister...thanks Jennie!) He wouldn't let me call my mom for reinforcements or anything - he said Ford needed to know that Daddy could take care of him too! So while I was having a blast with these beautiful ladies...

Joseph was in the trenches of mommyhood taking care of a very sick little boy, cleaning our master bathroom, and doing a few loads of laundry for good measure. I think I'm one blessed wife! Thanks honey!!

By the way - we're getting tubes on Monday!!! Please PRAY for Ford that all goes smoothly! I never thought I'd be so excited about surgery, but it can't come soon enough!

The Big Dipper

Ford had a great 2nd day at school! Yesterday was a bit spotty, but one of his sweet teachers said he did much better today and only cried for a minute after I dropped him off! Praise the Lord! My stomach was in knots all morning, thinking I was going to get the dreaded phone call saying they couldn't calm him down and he needed to be picked up (not unusual since I have been pulled out of church a few times now!) But he made it!!!

If you look closely at the picture, you'll notice that my little boy is covered in powdered sugar! Ford will eat (sometimes) if he gets to "dip" his food - ketchup, strawberry jam, BBQ sauce - and last night at dinner, we had strawberries and blue berries for dessert with powdered sugar! He LOVED it! I had to pry the bowl out of his hands once he realized he could just eat the sugar straight. I know it's not the most nutritional thing in the world, but if it gets him to take a few bites, I'm up for it!

Ford's 1st Day of School

Ford started school today! I've been incredibly nervous, because for the past month, he's cried the whole time at church both on Sundays and Wednesday nights...but surely he can't cry for 3 hours straight, right? That's what I've been praying!

We think part of the reason for the tears is an ear infection that just won't go away! We are finally meeting with the specialist on Monday, and hopefully he'll recommend tubes and we can get this taken care of before little brother arrives. He's had 7 ear infections in 6 months, so I'm thinking it's a sure thing! And the antibiotics will clear up the infection but not the fluid, so the poor thing has been walking around with fluid in both ears since his birthday. Not fun for either of us!

Nothing to report on Luke other than he likes to constantly make his presence known! He kicks, punches and rolls way more than Ford did. By this point with Ford, he just stayed curled up in a ball! It'll be interesting to see what this says about their personalities!

The Sweetest Surprise

My wonderful sister-in-law, sister & mom threw an amazing surprise shower for me & Luke Friday night! They got me good! Jennie & Maryn drove all the way after Charlotte (making it 4 weekends in a row that we've spent together) - that was the biggest surprise of all!

Joseph was at the beach for a bachelor party, so Shealy wanted us to have a sisters' night Friday night. She wanted us to get dressed up and go to a nice restaurant, and she'd already arranged for Mama to keep Ford. So I dropped Ford off at my parents', and Shealy and I had a great dinner with great conversation at Hamilton's. Then we went to get Ford, and when I walked in the door, SURPRISE! When I saw Jennie and Maryn, I just lost it. For her to drive all this way by herself at 34 weeks pregnant is just beyond comprehension! She's the best sister-in-law ever! I'd had friends ask if I wanted a shower, but I felt like we just had one for Ford, and since we're having another boy, I just felt guilty having another one. But Jennie felt her nephew needed his own party, so she took matters into her own hands, called up Shealy, and it was on! The best part of the whole thing was Jennie and Maryn stayed until Sunday morning! I had them to myself all weekend!

It was such a special night - thank you to everyone who came! And for all of Luke's precious gifts! He's going to be a well-dressed little munchkin! After everyone left, I realized I forgot to get Holly to take a hostess and a group picture - I think I was still in shock. By the way, Holly, thanks for being the official photographer...you're the best!

Not the most flattering picture of myself, but it shows how surprised and happy I was!

All the yummy desserts!

Look how cute these favors are that Jennie brought - they matched the invitation.