Baby's Birth Date: April 11, 2009
Baby's Weight: 4 pounds, 14 ounces
Baby's Height: 17 inches

So, after a sleepless night, we went to a maternal fetal medicine specialist and were elated to find out that there were no heart defects or any other major defect. The doctors diagnosed Carter with growth restriction, or Inter Uterine Growth Restriction. Which meant weekly ultrasounds and non-stress tests to closely monitor the lil’ guys growth, heart rate and blood flow. This also meant that I would need to be induced early at 38 wks."

"Induction day rolled around and we went to the hospital to get things rolling. Well, within 30 minutes of being induced, Carter started to show signs of not tolerating the stress of labor with heart decelerations, which gave his wonderful nurse gray hair (as she told him later). He continued to have heart decelerations and the doctor made the decision to have an immediate c-section. The decision for the c-section was made at 1:30 and Carter was born at 1:56. 4lbs 14oz. 17 inches."

"Great doctors, Great Nurses, Great Outcome!!"

"Well, the stress from labor caused Carter’s blood sugars to drop and the nurses, try as they might, could not get them to where they belonged, which meant that instead of rooming in with Tom and myself, he needed to go to the NICU (the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)."

"Once in the NICU, our lil’ guy was hooked up to IV to get his sugar level up. He also receive IV antibiotics (just incase that was the cause of his low sugar). Carter had a difficult time eating, so this meant that he needed to get a feeding tube. So on Easter afternoon, I watched the nurse gently place the little green tube down Carter’s nose and into his belly."

"After being weaned off of the IV sugars, his levels increased. He began to eat more and he learned how to breast feed. Things were awesome. The nurses told us that he has orders to be discharged on Wednesday, the same day as me. As long as he could maintain a body temp of 36.5 and eat his required amount. The eating was fine, but in true Carter style (and a cool vent of air above him!) his temp was not. On Tuesday, there were two times when his temp was 36.4. The one time the nurse was okay with b/c it was taken right after he was circumcised. So after some tears, prayers, blankets, dedicated NICU staff and a doctor who said, “well he’s in a drafty spot, just monitor him” we got the good news that he was cleared for discharge!! I think that if I could have been able to run and jump and hop down the hospital hallway, I would have done it!"

"We all left the hospital as a family and are enjoying our first day at home as a family. Carter is thriving at home, he has eaten more for me today at home than he has at the hospital, Tom and I are so proud. We would like to thank all of our friends and families for their support, encouragement and kind words. Thank you and God Bless"