Good morning to all. This email is, regrettably, coming as a surprise to some and as a long-awaited delivery to others. For that I'm truly sorry. This week has been a whirlwind already!
So what's the story you say? Well, at 5:40 a.m. on 1/16 (a day that will, in all likelihood be referred to as "Icy Tuesday" due to the weather that plagued Austin for 3 days) Julie alerted me that "we need to go to the hospital". SURPISE! Off we went - 31 weeks along, icy roads, birthing class scheduled for this coming Saturday and Sunday.
After the pain subsided for Jules (yeah anesthesiologists & edipurals!) & the shock wore off we... settled-in to the idea that our children were going to be born THAT DAY! Giving great dis-service to Jules hard work (and the fact that we'd never been in a single class about "breathing" or "pushing"), let me fast-forward and say that we went into the operating room for delivery at 3:15 p.m..
Cooper was first to enter the world at 4:32 pm. Lucy followed at 4:50. We'd like to believe that Cooper was being chivalrous and looking out for his sister by checking things out first (hopefully the first of many "big brother moments"). Both Cooper and Lucy were delivered natually and doing great (more to come on that later)! For the "numbers folks" on copy here are the stats - Cooper Durham Zavodny - 4:32 p.m.; 3 lb, 2.5 oz; 16.25 inches long. Lucy Katherine Zavodny - 4:50 p.m.; 3 lb, 7.5 oz; 16.5 inches long.
So - here I am - now one of those dads that I swore I wouldn't be - sending lengthy emails about my children with considerably more information than most folks probably care to read - sorry... I guess it's my prerogative as a dad. I will promise to not fill your inboxes everytime we change their outfits but wanted to email to share our great joy in their God-ordained birth and to request your prayers for both of them as they will be spending 4-8 weeks in the NICU getting big and strong.
So, here's "the rest of the story" (as Paul Harvey would say). 31 weeks is preemie (as 40 is full term). Considering that they were early they're doing great - they are both breathing room air (indicating their newly-formed lungs are doing pretty well). Lucy actually has a "puffer" to remind her to breathe every now and again...
Despite their relatively good condition both are tiny and are unable to do a few things that would bring us (and the medical staff) great comfort). Specifically, we are praying that they would begin, over the course of the next couple of weeks, to efficiently regulate their own body temperatures, to eat (other than through a feeding tube), to gain weight, and to breathe completely unassisted (both Cooper and Lucy have had minor fits of apnea every now and again).
There you have it - God at work! We don't know for sure why He chose to bring them in the world NOW but we're overjoyed they're here! Please join us in prayer if you can (for thanksgiving and for strength). Attached are a few pictures.
Thanks and many blessings to all.
D & J (proud dad & mom)
So what's the story you say? Well, at 5:40 a.m. on 1/16 (a day that will, in all likelihood be referred to as "Icy Tuesday" due to the weather that plagued Austin for 3 days) Julie alerted me that "we need to go to the hospital". SURPISE! Off we went - 31 weeks along, icy roads, birthing class scheduled for this coming Saturday and Sunday.
After the pain subsided for Jules (yeah anesthesiologists & edipurals!) & the shock wore off we... settled-in to the idea that our children were going to be born THAT DAY! Giving great dis-service to Jules hard work (and the fact that we'd never been in a single class about "breathing" or "pushing"), let me fast-forward and say that we went into the operating room for delivery at 3:15 p.m..
Cooper was first to enter the world at 4:32 pm. Lucy followed at 4:50. We'd like to believe that Cooper was being chivalrous and looking out for his sister by checking things out first (hopefully the first of many "big brother moments"). Both Cooper and Lucy were delivered natually and doing great (more to come on that later)! For the "numbers folks" on copy here are the stats - Cooper Durham Zavodny - 4:32 p.m.; 3 lb, 2.5 oz; 16.25 inches long. Lucy Katherine Zavodny - 4:50 p.m.; 3 lb, 7.5 oz; 16.5 inches long.
So - here I am - now one of those dads that I swore I wouldn't be - sending lengthy emails about my children with considerably more information than most folks probably care to read - sorry... I guess it's my prerogative as a dad. I will promise to not fill your inboxes everytime we change their outfits but wanted to email to share our great joy in their God-ordained birth and to request your prayers for both of them as they will be spending 4-8 weeks in the NICU getting big and strong.
So, here's "the rest of the story" (as Paul Harvey would say). 31 weeks is preemie (as 40 is full term). Considering that they were early they're doing great - they are both breathing room air (indicating their newly-formed lungs are doing pretty well). Lucy actually has a "puffer" to remind her to breathe every now and again...
Despite their relatively good condition both are tiny and are unable to do a few things that would bring us (and the medical staff) great comfort). Specifically, we are praying that they would begin, over the course of the next couple of weeks, to efficiently regulate their own body temperatures, to eat (other than through a feeding tube), to gain weight, and to breathe completely unassisted (both Cooper and Lucy have had minor fits of apnea every now and again).
There you have it - God at work! We don't know for sure why He chose to bring them in the world NOW but we're overjoyed they're here! Please join us in prayer if you can (for thanksgiving and for strength). Attached are a few pictures.
Thanks and many blessings to all.
D & J (proud dad & mom)
1 comment:
For the record...Granny Suz and Aunt Janet risked their lives sliding down icy I-35 (practically the only cars on the road) to arrive 45 min. before the birth.
We listened outside the birthing room and heard their first cries with tears of joy in our eyes!
Grateful to be on the scene, Granny
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