The Latest and Greatest

We are long over due for a post but we have been very busy so I will try to get everyone up to speed. Last Sunday when I went to visit Bryce, this is what I saw when I looked in his isolette.

Notice that there is not a feeding tube!!! He had ripped it out himself (that wasn't the first time) but the nurse said it was time to. He had been bottle feeding exclusively for over 24 hours. He had a little rebound and they had it back in but after a day or so of that he ripped it out again and has had it out since. He is eating great (as shown below) and is gaining weight nicely. He is around 5 lb.s 6 oz.s at the last weigh in and seems to be keeping a steady speed in that area. I have also been nursing him and he has been doing excellent with that as well.

The nurses have been trying to get Bryce into an open crib like other newborns are put in but he has to keep a temperature of 98 degrees or higher. He has struggled with that and the nurses have been trying all week long to get his isolette down to the lowest temperature but his body has not responded well. His nurse yesterday decided to try it anyway and lo and behold he has keep at temperature above 98 degrees for the past 24 hours. We hope this continues because this is one of the last hoops he has to jump through to get home. We have been so happy with is progress and hope our next post is to tell you he is coming home.

It's a fact: Our children have big heads.

And some of our children are blessed

with scrumptious big cheeks!

Look at those fat rolls!

It's very interesting observing my children and their different personalities when we go to the hospital. All Jackson wants to do his hold or feed Bryce and if he isn't holding him, he wants to hold his hand. He really is taking this big brother job seriously.

This is picture is a little creepy for me.

Jackson looks like my older brother Robbie as a kid.

Jocelyn is the most inquisitive 4 year old, especially when she is in the NICU.

She wants to know what every sign says, what all the stuff on the monitor says,

what does Bryce charts say, what does the blinking lights mean and so on. She loves

her Bryce but she is very interested in what is going on around her. She told me she was studying Bryce's book in the picture above.

We don't have a picture with Kelsey because if she can't hold Bryce or feed him she is throwing herself on the floor and mopping it with her hair while yelling. If she isn't throwing herself on the ground it usually means that she has befriend a nurse and they are now carrying her around the NICU. We have had several offers from some of the staff to take her home.

We may be taking them up on their offers.

Our little Peanut's Growth

I was just thinking the other day how fortunate we have been that our kids have been so healthy this past winter. There has been a lot of illnesses like H1N1 and a myriad of other bugs floating around but my kids have for the most part have dodged them. So much for that. These past two days we have had pink and throwing up! Of all times to get sick they had to choose now. What were they thinking? So we haven't been to the hospital for the past two days other than a little trip for me last night. Good thing dad works at the hospital so he has checked in on him a bunch today to let me know how he is doing.

On Thursday, before we realized we had a pink eye carrier, we stopped by the hospital to say hi. Now I have always loved coordinating my kid's outfits but now that I have two of each it's that much more fun. I have been waiting for the weather to warm up so they could wear the outfits they have on below. I suggested to John-David that we start coordinating as entire family like my friend Kaicie's friend does but he was down with that. Guess I'll just keep it to the kids.

At the beginning of the week I believe Bryce was 4 lbs 4 oz. He was just staying around that so the doctor decided to fortify the breast milk they were giving him to give him more calories. (Apparently I need to eat more ice cream or something to help him out). They also changed the nipple on the bottle he is using to a faster flow. Well all these little changes seemed to have done the trick because today he weighed in at 4 lbs 11 oz.s. At this rate by next week he will be bigger than Kelsey who was 5 lbs 1 oz and 17 1/2 inches when born at 36 weeks and 2 days. Bryce just turned 34 weeks on Thursday. I think he is going to be a sturdy kid. We also had to take home the preemie clothes and bring the newborn size because length wise he was getting too big for them. He is just making really good progress and we couldn't be happier.

Jackson decide to try his hand at photography.

Look at those cheeks.

Mom and Bryce. Mom looks like

she could use some more sleep.

Wait until she brings Bryce home

and she really will have some big dark

circles under those eyes.

The proud big brother. The little brother

shirt doesn't quite fit Bryce yet.

Look at those cute kids.

I am not sure why Kelsey's mouth

is open in every photo.

Sibling Photos

The older Bryce gets and the longer he can hold his body temperature over 97 degrees, the longer he can come out of his cage. On Sunday night we decided to take advantage of the daylight saving time change and let our kids stay up late so they could go to Bryce's bath night. After he was bathed and fed, we let each kid have a turn holding baby Bryce.

We appreciate all of the e-mails, blog messages, phone calls and prayers that have been said on our behalf. We are very grateful for the support. We have been blessed by so many friends/ward members and family members who have helped or who want to help. It has made this difficult time on our family a lot easier. Last weekend the Philly Blacks came to help out and not only did they bring physical help but also some comic relief. The kids had fun dressing up and we couldn't resist taking a few photos of it.

The four kids together.

Bryce in his "cage".

Jackson with his future wrestling buddy.

Mama Joce giving Bryce some love.

I love this picture because Kelsey and Bryce

both have their mouths hanging open.

They were bonding.

Kelsey couldn't seem to keep her tongue in her mouth.

Superman, an Opera singer, Red Power Ranger,

Flash (with the mask upside down), a witch,

and a cabaret dancer.

A dancer showin' some skin, a go-go dancer,

a witch, Cinderella, bat woman and ninja turtle.

Great Progress

Bryce has made a lot of progress over the last few days. The NICU is divided into two parts, the left side is for the babies that need more care. The right is for all the babies who don't need as much care and the nurse to baby ratio is greater. Bryce got moved to the right side on Thursday. His umbilical iv was also removed meaning he could have a real bath. His billirubin count was high meaning that he had to be on the photo therapy lights. He was on that for 24 hours and it did go down but they may put him back on the lights if he can't work it out on his own. He is completely off oxygen as he managed to remember to breath for the most part. They have turned his isolet to room temperature and they are dressing him now to help him learn to regulate his body temperature. The real challenge now is the eating. This is the part that is going to take a couple of weeks to master. When you are only 4 lbs and some change it's takes a lot of energy to eat and remain awake. He usually can stay completely awake for about 2-3 feedings a day but not much more than that. He usually falls asleep half way through and needs to have the rest put down the feeding tube. I have tried nursing him a few times but it's a lot of work for him and he only lasts for a couple minutes before he is out. This is all going to take some time and a lot of patience but we are just taking it a day at a time.

To keep the babies warm, they wrap them in a

blanket before putting them in the water.

Bryce rather enjoyed his bath. The nurse was

surprised that he wasn't crying. Our kids

are like fish when it comes to water.

I can't get enough of those little cheeks.

Bryce getting a little phototherapy.

It looks like he is tanning but I assure you he is not.

Bryce saying "hey". Doesn't he look cute in clothes?

Jocey being Bossy

We just had to share the Jocelyn wasted little time before invoking her rights as the oldest sister to be Mother #2 for Bryce. Yesterday, after getting to hold him for the first time, Jocelyn looked at Bryce through the glass of the isolette and said, in the sweetest yet most stern voice she could muster,"Bryce, why did you have to come out in March? You weren't supposed to come until April."

We just love our little Bossy Bear!

Bryce Update

I am grateful that John-David has done a great job keeping everyone updated on what has been happening in our life this past week. It's hard to put into words what this past week has been for us but I think he has done it wonderfully. In case you missed the last blog update, John-David announced our baby's name as Bryce Robert. I know I had talked to a few of you about some name options and you'll probably recall that Bryce was never one of the candidates. The day I was admitted to the hospital, I started thinking of some names. Randomly the name Bryce came to me and I wrote is down. Over the next few days we added to the list and came up with about 13 various names. I had John-David go to his office and look up the meanings of the different names just to see what they meant. The website John-David used said that the name Bryce meant strength. That stuck out to both of us and in the end I think that was one the main reasons we chose it. This boy is going to need some strength and hopefully with a names that means will help. We like to give our kids middle names with family ties so his middle name, Robert, is after my father. We felt that this was a solid combination.

My recovery from the surgery has gone really well and I feel like I have been able to move around a lot better than after my first c-section with Jocelyn. I have decided after this past pregnancy my dreams of being a bikini model are official a thing of the past. The varicose veins I acquired and now the new railroad looking c-section incision just aren't going to look that great in a bikini. Oh well, I'll find a new dream.

I was able to come home today which was bitter-sweet. Wonderful because I don't like staying in the hospital but hard because I had to leave my little buddy there. Even though he is doing really well, I know that this is where he needs to be right now. The common question we get these days is "When does Bryce get to come home?" Good question that we would all like to know the answer to. What we do know is that the NICU at St. Luke's doesn't let babies go home before 35 weeks which that is at least 2 more weeks for him in that aspect. He has to be breathing on his own, eating on his own and regulating his own temperature in order for him to get released. Although the nurses won't really give you an estimate, one did say that she thought that 3 weeks was probably a safe guesstimate. I am saying 3-4 weeks just so I won't get my hopes up but I don't want him to come any sooner than when he is ready to because I don't want to have to bring him back. Here are some pictures of him over the past few days. I know there is a lot but this is what I get to look at for now and when you can only hold your son once a day you would take 900 picture as well.

Bryce has been a mover from the first time I felt him.

He never stayed still. This is what he is suppose

to look like all bundles but he is always

pulling things off or moving down.

Kelsey saying hi to baby Bryce.

Jocelyn looking in on her baby brother.

Mom holding hands (or fingers) with Bryce.

Holding the little guy off while we get ready

to feed him.He does generally take the

bottle but sometimes he gets worn

out and we have to give it through the feeding tube.

Bet you didn't think that a 4 lb baby could have a

double chin and some meat on the cheeks? Guess again.

Feeding Bryce during his time out of his "cage".

That's what Jackson refers to it as.

I just love these pictures of him sleeping on his belly.

Notice the leg out of the blankets?

This is how the wild man likes to sleep.

Another sleeping picture.

He doesn't do a whole lot of anything else.

And the winner is...

After much debate, the ballots are in, have been tallied, and verified. This is how the process went:

Sunday in the hospital, sitting in complete shock and awe everyone kept asking us if we had selected a name. I'm sure the stuporous expression was reassuring to the staff at the hospital, making them think, "Who gave these folks license for #4?" Fortunately they were tactful enough to keep those thoughts to themselves, as many of our readership has, too!

Monday- I woke up wondering why the other half of my bed was empty and why Kelsey was staring me in the face at 6:30 AM. Then it hit me, Kathryn was stuck at the hospital with... what's his name? Oh yeah, we better start thinking about giving this kid an identity before he gets a complex. That night debate was flowing thicker than molasses between Kathryn and myself. Some of the deals being struck would have made the Democratic Party and Dr. Obama proud, as if we were the key to the healthcare debate.

Tuesday morning- we had whittled it down to the final four. It was time to bring it before the family council. Name #1 was submitted. Immediately, 6 tiny hands shot into the air in approval. The presiding leadership looked at each other, then submitted name #2. Again, 30 little fingers were waving their approbation. Name #3 followed suit, as did name #4. So finally, we cut the debate short, since we had confused representatives, and simply agreed on one final name:

Bryce Robert Black

The End.

Baby Boy Black

Mama Dreamboat ready for the OR

Little squirt just a few minutes old, already practicing his spread eagle

Mothers, cover your daughter's eyes. I didn't realize he was flashing everyone until after I'd already waited 10 minutes for the picture to post. Anyway, here he is just a few minutes after he got to the NICU. They originally had him on C-pap to help keep his airways open. He was frothing at the mouth with surfactant and so they transitioned him to nasal cannula and ultimately to room air- all in the first 12 hours of life!

The proud mother hold her son for the first time. The burrito wrap actually makes him look twice the size he actually is.

How do 2 people with heads as big as ours (literally, not figuratively) produce such small babies? We don't know, but we're just happy to know that they are all healthy.

According to Jackson this kid is on the clock. He told us one day that this kid was safe for the first 2 years, but after that he was going to wrestle with him! I'm looking forward to WWF Black Family edition in March of 2012. Who knows, maybe it'll be a new olympic event!

"Do you believe in miracles?"

Aside from the famous 1980 US Hockey Team, do you believe in miracles? How about tender mercies? Well, I don't think I ever doubted that such things happen, I just have been too ungrateful to recognize a significant number of them in my life... until this morning. To provide you with some background, my brother, Richard, was supposed to be blessing his new baby girl this morning in Philadelphia. This is the same brother that we have enjoyed living near for the past year, and now they are leaving. However, just before they move, my oldest sister, Alycia, and her family move to Doylestown (45 min. from us). How is it that a family from Holladay, UT ends up with 3 kids within 45 minutes of each other on the East Coast? Oh, and by the way, another brother, Douglass, lives 8 hours down the coast in North Carolina; and my younger sister, Bonnijane just happens to be doing an externship at Doug's institution.

To make a long story short, all but 2 of my siblings were gathered for this baby blessing. Making it even better, my parents were able to come out, too! It was going to be a wonderful time with all of us, letting all the cousins run wild. Then the call came.

"I think they're going to admit me."

"What?"

"Yep, they just talked to the perinatal specialist and given my history he wants them to observe me overnight and give me steroids- just in case."

Those are never the words you want to have finish a phrase- Just in case. However, Kathryn and I both felt at peace that we were in good hands and that all would be well. Besides, she was 32 wks pregnant and had already put the crib together and the newborn clothes washed- what was there to worry about?

Once the news of Kathryn's incarceration (OK, admission, but for theatrical purposes please indulge me a little) hit the Black family cell phones, the planned Saturday evening gathering was moved to Hellertown. Our home is best described as quaint, so cram 25 related people into it and call it chaotic. We loved every minute of it. We would have loved it even more if Kathryn could have been with us. But "just in case" had come calling.

When the party started to subside and families were returning to their various locales for sleep, I asked my father to accompany me to give Kathryn a blessing. It was a very calm experience to be the voice of a blessing from our Heavenly Father, reassuring His daughter that all would be well, that the child was ready, and she would have the strength and faith she would need to get through it. Upon finishing the blessing and heading back home I thought I'd give "Just in case" a run for its money. I asked my parents to spend the night with us- you know, "just in case" something progressed and Kathryn would end up in labor.

It's a good thing I did because I got a call from Kathryn @ 3:30 AM saying they'd be taking her for a C-section. The darn kid was standing in the exit route- he apparently isn't a head-first type of thrill seeker. I hurried and got ready (don't worry, I brushed my teeth just like Kathryn taught me) and hurried off to the hospital. My parents would be at home with my kids- just in case- like we planned!

It really pays off to have security clearance with my ID badge at times like that. It saved me 10 minutes at least. I was able to get right back into Kathryn's pre-op room just before they took her to the OR. Since she had been on aspirin during this pregnancy they had to give her general anesthesia, which can be dangerous for the baby. However, we continued to feel that all was well, and that our family was in good hands. Within 20-30 minutes, our beautiful little miracle was delivered. Why we bake them fast, I'm not sure! But one thing I do know is that God orchestrates his family to be where they need to be, when they need to be there. Not only were we blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby, but our children were cared for by family members for the entire day. Although I'm sad I didn't get to participate in Richard's baby blessing of Adrienne, I'm grateful that we had all been able to spend some time together. Making it even more special was that my parents got to see grandkid #22 ( and Black grandson #2 behind Jackson) before they had to leave to go back to Utah. This tender mercy will forever be remembered in our family. Do you believe in miracles? I do!