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!

Future Aspirations

Today while driving in the car, the kids were talking about what they wanted to do when they grow up (it seems to be a common topic at our house for some reason). Jackson says, "I am going to be in the army when I grow up". Jocelyn says, "I am going to be a doctor". Kelsey says, "I am going to be a dog". I am glad they are all shooting for something.

Happenings in Hellertown

I thought I better take the time and update my blog with everything that we have been doing lately.

We have both sad and happy news to share. The Philly Blacks will no longer be the Philly Blacks as they will be moving to Winston-Salem, North Carolina in March. They will forever be the Philly Blacks in our minds and we have been so grateful that we have had this short time with them. It was largely because of them that we even applied in Bethlehem and ranked it so high. I guess we needed them to get us here and we don't regret it. Although PA has it's challenges we know this is where we belong for now.

The same week we found out they we were leaving, we welcomed the arrival of John-David's sister Alycia and her family(The Spencer's). They moved here from Canada to a town about 45 minutes away which is the closest John-David has lived to her in 20 years. It will be good to have an opportunity to get to know their family.

The day that the Spencer's moved in, we decided to go down and welcome them. John-David was on call so the kids and I met the Philly Blacks at Giggleberry Fair before the Canadians arrived. I would compare Giggleberry Fair to the old 49Th Street Gallery back in Salt Lake but on a much smaller scale. The attraction we went for was the 3 story indoor playground. It's hard to describe other than it involved a lot of foam balls, slides and small climbing areas. It was a child's paradise, not a paradise for 7 month pregnant mom . I chalk it up as one of those things not to do when very pregnant. I had no problem sending the older two loose but I couldn't send my two year old on her own. I followed her as she climbed in and out of things and at times I had visions of me getting stuck in some of the tunnels but I made it through. It was definitely a hit with the kids and as we were leaving Jackson says, "The was way more fun than that scarecrow thing you took us to here in the fall". I guess an indoor play area is more appealing to a 5 year old than looking at a flannel shirt stuffed with straw.

While we were a waiting for the cousins to arrive, Kelsey sat on a miniature carousel that had three horses on it. Much nicer parents would put their one child on the carousel and pay the ridiculous amount it cost to make it go. She got three free rides off this. Pretty smart cookie if you ask me.

Kelsey climbing through the tunnels.

One of the many slides.

Jocey heading down a net ladder.

Many of you have probably heard on the news about the large storms that have been hitting the East Coast as of late. We have been told that generally the Lehigh Valley gets about two good snow storms a year. The year must be an anomaly because in the last week we have been hit with at least two good snow storms that have dumped enough snow for their normal snowfall inches for the year. We have probably received over 24 inches in that last week and that is mild compared to some areas. The kids are absolutely loving it and I am being reminded of the good old days back in Utah growing up with good snow. We took a picture earlier today of the yard. This was at the beginning of the storm and it's still snowing.

Back yard

Front Yard

This is a picture from the snow storm a few days ago.

The kids hit the hill as soon as they could.

When John-David is on call, I like to have something to work to help occupy my time. He started out the month with a series of call nights close together. I decide that I would use the time to make the kids some Valentine's Day gifts. I made the girls some skirts which I had done before so that was no big deal. I made Jackson some pajama pants which I was very proud of because it was the first time I picked out a pattern, cut it out and followed it all by myself. It was a very easy pattern but you got to start somewhere. I would have made John-David some but he told me they look like pirate pants. He doesn't get any pants now. I had Jackson try them on and he told me that they were beautiful. I will sew for him anytime.

Kelsey over this past year has had about 5 ear infections. She had three last Spring and then started up with one before Christmas and then another right after. With the recommendation of our pediatrician we decided it was time to see an ENT. We wanted to avoid tubes if they weren't necessary and so did the ENT but after further examining her issue they decided that she most likely was going to continue to get them. We decided that it was in her best interest so we scheduled the procedure to be done. Tubes are an outpatient procedure but our insurance only covers it if we did at St. Luke's Hospital. The pictures make it look way more serious than it was. We had to get Kelsey up at 6:20 A.M. to get her to the hospital so she looks a little tired in the photos.

Waiting for her turn in her hospital room.

She is holding her stickers that she received from the nurses.

All she cared about was getting stickers.

We didn't bring the camera down to the surgery holding area. That's where anyone in the hospital who is getting surgery at that time waits for their doctor and their surgery room to be ready. She was jumping on her bed and staring at these really sick people. I think she wondered why she was in there with all those people.

I have to say that Kelsey is probably the friendliest out of all my kids but I didn't realize she could be bought so easily. The anesthesiologist came in to talk to us about what he was going to do and to meet the patient. He talked to Kelsey and told her what was going to happen and mentioned that she would get stickers when she was done. That's all he had to say and she jumped off my lap and went and sat on his. It's a little disturbing that your child will go with a perfect strange if they say the right word. We need to work on this issue.

The procedure lasted about 4 minutes long and she was away from us for about 15 minutes. Every thing went great and they said she was perfectly happy afterwards. I went back to see her and she saw me and went to pieces. Dad said he should have gone. We went back to her room to give her a chance to completely come around and to eat something. After about 30 minutes of fussing she was her old self again.

Dad got her to watch some cartoons and she got to order whatever she wanted for breakfast. Cheerios and toast it was. She carried that bowl of Cheerios around for the rest of the day. She thought it was the coolest thing ever. Everyone thought she was just adorable and had quite a fan club when she left. Everyone knew her name and told her goodbye. She waved at them in between bites of her Cheerios. We just hope this does the trick to get rid of the ear infections.