Update

I wanted to take the time to give an update on Ethan. Last time I posted he had been moved to an open air crib. When we arrived at the hospital the next day they had moved him back into his isolette. It was hard to see him back in his "box", but we know it is what is best for him. The neonatologist that is taking care of him tells us that it is completely normal for a baby of his size and gestation to struggle maintaining body temperature. He is doing great otherwise. He is still off of oxygen and does pretty good taking each bottle. He sleeps pretty much all of the time except right before a feeding. Please pray for Ethan to continue to do well and develop and grow just as he should.

Carter and Seth are back at home and we have settled into a new routine. We are all anxious to have Ethan home with us soon, but want him to be healthy and strong when he comes home. The boys love seeing him and already have a picture of him in their rooms. Here are some new pictures:

Finally...all of my boys together (even if it was just for an hour)!

Sweet Ethan!

The boys posing with their cookie bouquet that their Preschool sent to them. They loved the treat!

My baby!

What a week! I really want to take the time soon to write everything down so I will never forget it. It has been such an emotional roller coaster and I still can't put into words everything I am feeling. For now, I will give you some updated pictures, as our little guy is doing so good in the nicu. He is off of oxygen and all of his other tubes. He is in an open air crib so that he can learn to regulate his own body temperature. For the last few days, Zach and I have fed him and changed his clothes each visit. Zach has also given him a bath. It is fun to see him in his little clothes. He can barely wear a newborn and most of those are too big. It is hard to leave him there in the nicu, but we are able to visit twice a day. There is a possibility he will come home this weekend, but that can change quickly too.

I don't know why blogger rotated this picture, but I can't get it to flip. It is such a cute picture of him in his first onesie, I had to include it!

Hanging out with Mommy before his feeding.

After his feeding, diaper change, and outfit change, he is completely worn out!

Last night in his open air crib. The box that he was in regulated the temperature for him, but now he has to stay bundled up. It is hard work for his little body.

More Pictures of Ethan

This is Zach for (hopefully) the last time. Mandy should be back to blogging soon because she's coming home from the hospital tomorrow.

The last 24 hours have been big: Mandy got to hold Ethan for the first time, we both got to feed him, and I got to give him a sponge bath tonight. It's going to be hard to leave here tomorrow without him but we know we'll just be going home to finish getting everything ready for his arrival.

Mandy holding Ethan after feeding him: He's VERY tired after taking a bottle.


Giving Ethan a sponge bath.

The Weigh-In: 4 lbs 12.5 ounces.

Zach feeding Ethan a bottle.

Pictures of Ethan

Ok, this is Zach again. We're finally to the point where we can start posting photos of Ethan. He's doing great and Mandy continues to be on the mend. I got to hold Ethan for the first time last night and got to feed him a bottle (about 8 CCs--less than two teaspoons) this afternoon. Mandy is supposed to get to hold him for the first time later tonight. Here you go:

Carter & Seth meet Ethan for the first time

Ethan LOVES sleeping on his tummy

Zach feeding Ethan a bottle

Zach unable to get Ethan to burp

Ethan Jensen Evans - Thursday's Baby

This is Zach...I'll be filling in for Mandy as our blogger for the time being. For those of you not from the Nashville-area, Ethan was the first baby born at Baptist Hospital on Thursday, which makes him Thursday's Baby for this week. This video played during the 10-o'clock news on Channel 4 last night.

Both Mandy and Ethan are doing well. We're hoping that Mandy will go home on Monday but Ethan will probably have to stay in the NICU for 2 - 3 weeks. Please pray for continued healing for Mandy and that Ethan will continue to develop well.

Vacation!!!

About a month ago I decided that our family needed to take a vacation before our sweet baby boy arrives this summer. The boys are at such a fun age and we really wanted to enjoy a vacation with them before we go back into "baby mode." We left for Destin on Thursday afternoon and stopped and spent the night in Birmingham. The boys were extremely excited to spend the night in a hotel room and it took us forever to get them to sleep. They were up bright and early on Friday morning ready to go to the beach. They were great in the car and we were on the beach by 2:00 on Friday. Seth had talked about building sandcastles for weeks and sat right down in the sand and started playing. The waves were pretty rough so Carter wasn't crazy about getting in the water but he searched for shells and crabs along the water line. The weather was beautiful the entire time and we didn't have any rain until we left Florida on Monday morning.

Here is a short list of our favorite things from this vacation:

• Seeing the boys' faces light up when we drove over the big bridge into Destin. They were so excited by the water (even though they won't get in it).
• The big hole Zach built them on the beach.
• Getting balloon animals and seeing the alligators at Fuddpuckers (it doesn't take much to make them happy)!
• Playing putt putt on Saturday night (and it was free)!
• Eating dinner outside (and enjoying ice cream afterwards).

It was a great vacation! Click HERE to see pictures of our trip.