Meet Stephen Paul

Stephen Paul C.

He will be called ... Paul.

born 8:30ish on March 13
(that's 10 days before his due date)
7 lb 14 oz
20 inches long
13inch head (maybe a fraction in that one)

Steve said he noticed that Karen was "acting strange" around midnight, but she didn't think she was in labor.
At 4am - he decided to time what he as sure was contractions - 3 minutes apart.

Called the midwives.

Somewhere around 8 - 8:15 am, she started pushing.

Somewhere around 8:30 - 8:40, he was born.

But in spite of breathing, he wasn't pinking up like he should, no matter what they did - so they sent him to the ER, where he was sent to the NICU.

They are running tests. A genetics test will be sent off on Monday.
His EKG came back with good results - but he does have a heart murmur.
He is breathing on his own, but the blood vessels are constricted, so he needs oxygen.
He's under a humidfier oxygen bonnet.
They decided that they can care for him here instead of transporting to a big hospital.

While we were up there, they began to ween him off of the oxygen.

He is a precious gift.

Pray for Karen - she wants so badly to hold him and nurse him.
Pray his oxygen levels hold and his lungs begin to work properly.

The tube in his mouth is to keep air from building up in his tummy.

Karen was going home tonight to try to sleep. Pray she can get some good rest.

Pray for Steve while he is taking time off from his job.

Pray for the older 4 children - I don't think the 3 little ones understand.

Only 2 are allowed in the NICU room at a time - and you have to be over 17 - and be on the "approved visitor" list.
So Tim and the kids peered through 2 windows to see him.
Tim was holding up LaRue who was more interested in Uncle Steve's head than the baby she couldn't see.

Steve was trying to get a picture of me with baby Paul.