He's coming home!

soon.

Tomorrow evening was the earliest we've been told. I can't see any reason why they aren't able to release him in the morning. Everything seems perfect. I've got two minutes before I need to leave for the hospital to feed him, but I will go ahead and publish these photos. They are some of my favorite. Check back later if I have time (we'll see) I will edit this post to tell you a little more info. Got to go.

Austin's face without the tubes. He looks like our other boys, but just not sure how...

These two are my favorite nurses up at Abilene Regional NICU.

Thanks Susan and Gloria!!!

First time to open his eyes for me.


Austin stayed on the phototherapy lights for several days. Poor kid.

Psalm 18 is where God led me the morning after Austin was born. I loved these two verses (don't remember which two they were) and wanted to share them with my son.

Almost ready to come home. See how he isn't attached to one of the big "special" beds? This is just a bed like any ol' normal kid would sleep in.

NICU

I got to hold Austin tonight.

It was heaven. Speaking of heaven, I told him about it while I was holding him. I told him how wonderful heaven would be. That there wouldn't be any pain or medical tape and I told him that God would be there, and that would be the best part. My new strategy with this kid is to get him saved before the sin nature kicks in. That way maybe he can just miss the "sinning" stage all together. I'm thinking that would make life with three kids easier.

Back to Austin. He is doing very well. Tonight he looked all funny cause he was lying face down and he had some swelling in the front of his face, plus he has been wearing a mask all day to keep the photo therapy lights from hurting his eyes. The docs will keep coming down off the oxygen and he is getting to where he will do more and more of the breathing on his own. We didn't get to feed him a bottle today. But hopefully that will be tomorrow. He is taking breast milk through a tube to his stomach.

The boys are doing good. Mike and I are also doing good. Lots of my friends have asked how I was emotionally. I've told them I was good. I am. God is good and so I should be good with whatever He sees fit to bring our way. God knew this problem would be present at Austin's birth and God provided EXCELLENT nurses and doctors and equipment to help him. Why should I be afraid? If God hadn't provided what Austin needed to survive, God is still good. The end.

I am not afraid that my son will not live. I wonder if I could still say that I trust God if Austin was not doing well. I hope so. I'd prefer to not be tested in that area.

I was holding Austin tonight; it was wonderful. I cannot wait till I get to take him home and "keep" him.

The nurse told me, "Five more minutes then he needs to go back under the lights." I nodded, then my eyes filling up with tears. "Great, of all the times to cry..." I thought. I convinced my emotions that they needed to wait till a better time to express themselves. So far I haven't felt like I needed to cry, but maybe I do, maybe that would be a good release. I suppose I am a little stressed. It is mostly due to the fatigue of my body, the business of going back and forth to the hospital, and concern for my older boys as they miss their mama.

I know Austin needs to be in that NICU room but I can't help but feel a longing to bring him home with me, to hold him, to take care of him. I just want to kiss him. I want him to know how much his daddy and I love him. I want him to know that the pain he's going through is going to benefit him and that I allow those doctors and nurses to put him through it because it will make him stronger.

I wonder if that's how God feels about His children?

Brothers

My good friend, Ashten, and One cool dude. Ty's biggest concern in life these days is: his outfit.

Notice the flip flops, sun glasses and I'm sure he's wearing khaki shorts underneath his gown.

Ty and Chrissy

Jack, he was actually very interested in seeing his brother. He wasn't concerned because he didn't know there was any problem with Austin. He wanted to know what all the lights and beeping were for. He also hated to leave his brother's side. He went back and saw him three times.

Austin

Austin Carter Ellis

Born May 21, 2010

8 lb. 6 oz.

20 inches

My first thought when I saw my third-born was:

"He's big?

A big baby?

How?

How is a 2 week and 2 day EARLY child this big?

Seriously."

How early do I have to have a child in order to get one under 7 1/2 pounds?

Austin came out kicking and screaming --that's how you want to see a newborn baby. It means he is strong (and breathing). He was breathing very well, in fact, too well. His little chest was caving or sinking a little due to the deep breaths he was taking. The observant nurses saw it immediately and said he would need to be checked out to make sure he wasn't having too hard of a time getting air.

Mike and I got to briefly hold little (big) Austin and then they sent him over to NICU for observation.

There he has stayed.

The NICU doc has told us Austin has "Wet Lung Syndrome." Basically this means Austin has left over amniotic fluid in his lungs. He was getting 83% oxygen even with his extremely rapid breathing. The fluid will absorb and be gone. The problem was the rapid breathing would eventually wear Austin out and he'd just give up. His breaths per minute were up to 120 the Doc wants him at 40ish. --Big difference.

At first we were told not to touch him as to not stimulate him any more. They needed him to be calm. Austin is not naturally calm. I could have told you that. We spent 9 months together... we were close.

He was described as "feisty, active, loud, strong." They are keeping him sedated in order to keep him calm (thus controlling the breath rate better).

Now we wait. His lungs will get dry. He is being monitored very closely for any problems that might come up (jaundice, pneumonia, high/low blood sugar) stuff like that.

I'm very pleased with the care he is getting.

The nurses are super good and the doc is outstanding. God is good to provide Austin with not only the care he needs to survive right now, but with EXCELLENT care.

Austin will be fine, there shouldn't be any lasting effects. We are getting lots of help from family and our church family. We are praising God for this sweet boy that we have already fallen in love with and can't wait to bring home. I guess this quote of Mike's could sum up our feelings about having to be apart right now:

"I already miss that little guy."

Jack and Ty as newborns

Jack

Ty

Coming soon!

the baby.

My doc says I'm making progress. He doubts if I will make it to June 4th --which is the day we are planning to induce if Javie doesn't come on his own sooner. If any of you girls are interested in the condition of my cervix, I'll tell you. Didn't seem like something everyone would appreciate knowing...

My due date is June 6. I'm inducing early because I have big babies and big babies are harder to get out than little ones. And frankly, I'm just not up for any hard work these days. If he comes ON his due date based on my two other boys I will be getting an 8 lb. 12 oz. baby.

That's plenty big.

So, two days before that, I'm thinking 8 lb. 9 oz. We should have a contest: See who can guess the baby's birth weight. Leave your guess in the comment box.

But, back to Javie (the baby's womb name), looks like he will be here before two weeks and 2 days. My doc is going on vacation tomorrow. He'll be back Tuesday. He told me to try not to go into labor till then. We'll see. I've been having contractions (all irregular) for two weeks. This is the first time I've had Braxton Hick's contractions. I was excited at first, you know, to have a natural contraction that hasn't been brought on by castor oil or pitocin. Now I've decided that they are overrated. I can do without...

What does it say about me when I think, "Baby is coming soon I need to charge my ipod." Instead of "Baby is coming soon I need to pack my bag, get the car seat out of the attic and set up the baby bed."

No worries. The ipod is now charged!

I'm also going to try to get a load of clothes folded and put away. Mike has been out of the loop for a while and may not know where everything goes. I've been trying to think of other things that he would appreciate me getting done before labor.

I think I'll go dig out the baby book and start packing my bag. I'll try to put pictures on here as soon as the little guy comes out. I'd appreciate your prays for an easy labor and a healthy boy.

Thanks!

Belt of Truth

Mike picked up the kids from MDO today. On the ride home Jack asked his dad if he could go next door and play in Alyssa's garage. Mike told him they would ask mom when they got home.

Jack's response:

"But I already asked Mom. She said, 'Yes.'
Truuuussstt me." (picture Kaa, the snake, from Jungle book as you read this)

So they come into the house and Mike explains the conversation to me. I am saddened by Jack's dishonesty and look over at him as I listen to the regrettable story. I glance down at his waist. He has something on that he didn't have this morning when he left the house.

It is a belt.

In the middle it has this word: TRUTH



Ironic isn't it?



Is that a face that you would trust?

He's so funny

Thank goodness the war didn't take his sense of humor.


Today he looks at my belly and says:

"You were pretty big with Jack, but that thing (my belly) definitely has it's own gravitational pull.

I mean, you'd think things would come to you easier, but we keep having to pick up things for you."

Everyone Order this free book!

I nearly jumped out of my seat when I saw the Title and Author of the book that was being given away.

"The Radical Question" by David Platt

This is a guy who has been causing me to do some serious look taking at my own life. His sermon series, Radical, is the reason I no longer have an iphone. It has caused me to look beyond my own desires and to refocus my thoughts on God's plan. It has assisted in showing me some sin in my life that I didn't even know was sin. I've got a better attitude about the Air Force now. I am a more supportive wife to my husband. And I'm not done being changed by it. I'm not even done listening to the whole sermon series. It is one of those things that I have to take two or three weeks or even a month to process before going on to the next one.

I can not WAIT to get this book in the mail.

Go to this site to request your copy.

Go now.

Yeah, they miss her

Pictures from Mike's return '10

This was the first "return from deployment" that we have been able to go out on the flight line and greet the guys as they literally step off the plane. What fun!

The wonderful people in our squadron provided snacks and drinks for us while we waited. Ty and Jack in the background sipping on their juice:

Waiting outside in the 92 degree temp. It got kind of warm after 20 minutes or so.

Jack secured himself a good view

The plane!

Jack, helping out the kid next to him

Ty couldn't get close enough. He was (as you will see in the following pictures) always in front.



Ty wanting to head right toward the plane. The rest of us are taking the sidewalk to his right (not pictured).

A distorted picture of Jack and Ty running to the planes.

Ty watching for his daddy from the shade under the wing

Mike is never one of the first ones off. In fact, he is usually one of the very last. Come on Dad!

Turns out, they told us wrong and we were waiting at the wrong plane for Mike to get off. No problem though, cause he still hadn't come off his plane. We made it over there in plenty of time.

Ty ran up to Mike. Jack followed right behind Ty.

Mike and his boys. All happy to see each other.

Ty talking to Mike. Ty asked him if he would take him up inside the plane. Mike did.

Ty just hugged and hugged his dad. It was really sweet. I wasn't sure how Ty would react to Mike getting back. I've been prepping him for the return, but you never know with two-year-olds how their little mind is processing things. He did great!

Jack's turn to be held.

After we got back we did almost all the things we had told the boys would happen when dad got home: ate a cheeseburger, climbed on the dome in the backyard, played soccer, went on a bike ride (not me of course), read books and wrestled.

Mike is running an errand right this second and when he gets back we are heading to the park before it gets too hot.

The kids are in hog heaven.

Oh, one more thing. Last night after getting home from the squadron, Mike went in and changed out of his flight suit. He put on an A&M t-shirt, his ball cap and flip flops. What did Jack and Ty do? Insist on wearing A&M shirts, looked around for ball caps (Ty couldn't find his) and put on flip flops.

This morning I wake up to Jack standing beside my bed holding a long-sleeve maroon shirt.

"Mommy, is this an Aggie shirt?" He asks.

I'm so blessed to have little guys who love their dad and who want to be just like him. I'm even more blessed to have a husband worth emulating.

Got to go, it's going to be a busy day!

The Last Day

This is it.

The last night of deployment #4.

How do I feel?

Tired!

Hannah and I have accomplished so much over the last 3 1/2 months. We finished our last project at noon today. Hannah then packed up and left later this afternoon. What a huge blessing it was for Mike and me to have her here over the last 3 months. She helped in all sorts of ways, from cleaning the kitchen to running errands. wow. What a servant. She was never tired when I needed something. Many nights she read the boys their books before bed, often I was wiped out by that time.

I'm so thankful for the ways God provides for us.

As a result of her serving our family, we have been able to continue to serve others.

So here's to the ones who serve military families.

Thank you.