PARKER ERIC HICKS is here....and safely thank the good heavens!

Suzy's baby shower on March 22nd, 2008.
(not a moment too soon!!!)

Parker Eric Hicks born 4.14.08
4:00a.m. 5lbs. 12oz. 18.5 in.

Somebody likes the chupie!!!!!
(He'll be in good company in this fam!)

Here is the picture of the most perfect little man, my nephew Parker! He is a special boy this one. There is no doubt he is meant to be here in this world right now. It is such a long story but in a nutshell, a week ago, my sister Suzy went into the hospital with complaints of a sore back. They hooked her up to monitor the baby's heartbeat just as a precaution only to find out that it was at a 60 (should be between 110-180) They rushed her to the operating room. Suzy said it was like the movies. Luckily his heart rate recovered before they cut her open. This happened a few more times before he was born. Suzy continued to be in major pain with her back. Fevers and chills set in. The Dr. said he couldn't figure out what was wrong. All her blood work and other tests came back negative. Finally, even though they didn't think it would help, they took an ultrasound of her back to find out that both her kidneys were infected and FULL of fluid. When I went in and saw her, I was shocked. Her face was swollen and red. All she kept asking for was something to drink. She couldn't get enough. I said I wouldn't make this long.....so Scott and Nate gave her a blessing that reassured she'd be ok. She got a tube inserted into her kidneys that allowed the fluid to drain. They also put her on major heavy duty antibiotics. By Monday morning, they decided to induce her labor. Basically her first major contraction the baby's heartrate took a major dive. Nate said the room looked like a hornet's nest with nurses and the doc racing around. They finally did a c-section and were shocked when they cut her open. Their doctor said in all of his years being an OB (and head of the OB dept. at Good Samaritan...for all those of you who aren't familiar with the hospital...people come from far and wide with every concievable problem, so he's seen it all) this is only the 3rd time he's ever seen this situation. Suzy had what's called "vaso previa" From what I understand its where the umbelical cord is attached to the amniotic sac instead of the placenta. Usually this condition is detected well before the baby is born and the mother is on bed rest and close watch. Because if her water would have broken, the baby would have surely died.

Our whole family has felt so humbled as we have watched the hand of the Lord in this whole affair. It is times like this that you really stop to reflect on your life, the lives of those you love and how important it is to cherish literally every moment you spend together. This particular situation reminded me again of how much I love my sister. On Sunday night before he was born, I just bawled begging the Lord to make sure that if someone needed to die to spare her life if possible. Such a desperate prayer! I realized that he was in charge and that there are people all over the world who lose loved ones everyday. I just knew I was not ready to lose her. The Lord was merciful, heard my prayers and the prayers of everyone and not only were their lives spared, they are both doing wonderfully well. To say I was grateful would be the biggest understatement ever. These are pics from tonight of little Parker going home. Notice there aren't any pics of Suzy. She refused to let me post her pics. To put it in her words, she looks like a crack addict with her roots being so long. She was going to get her hair done this week.

But when I walked into the room after her fever had broken, and she'd had the baby, she looked like an angel to me...far from a crack addict. She'd been through so much and she was doing well and that was all that mattered. I took a thousand pics of her.

This is my longest post ever. I guess it should be since I haven't posted for 2 months and SO MUCH has happened. Hopefully I'll get caught up. But this was so post worthy and a time in all our family's life we'll never forget.

Welcome home baby Parker and Boo...there just aren't words to express how much we love you and are so relieved and happy you are both healthy and well. But oh no....here comes breastfeeding...can she survive that???????? Keep the prayers comin'!!!!!