First the BIG NEWS: I would like to introduce to everyone Sean Westley, born May 10th 2006 @ 5:25pm. His weight at birth was 2lbs 1oz (935/945gm) and his length was 14.5 inches. He is tiny, tiny, but he's the most adorable and cutest baby! He was born 2 1/2 months early @ 29 weeks.

Jenny has been in the hospital almost since I got to Texas . Her blood pressure was going through the roof. The doctors diagnosed her with Preeclampsia and the baby's heart rate kept dropping for no apparent reason at first. So last Tuesday (May 9th) she was transported by ambulance to Baylor Hospital in Dallas. The following day the doctors there were able to diagnose what was wrong with the baby. The umbilical cord was not supplying the baby with enough nutrients and he was getting weaker by the day. So they opted for a c-section the same day. The prognosis was good due to the added stress the baby was exposed to, his heart was stronger than a baby of the same age that hasn't been exposed to the same conditions. The only worry we had was about the lungs. But over the weekend she received 2 shots of steroids to help with the development of the baby's lungs.

Needless to say we were NOT READY for this. May 10th was also my first full day at my new job and I had to leave early. But they were cool about it. I almost didn't make it to Dallas in time though. Originally the c-section was scheduled for 1:30pm. At that time we were on our way to Dallas but not there yet, actually we still had quite a way to go!   But Jenny called me about 2:00pm and she was still in her room, she called me again later about 3:00pm and told me the doctor had postponned the c-section until 5:30pm. I was so glad to hear that!

Well anyways, I did make it there so I was able to go in with Jenny. This was an experience I will NEVER forger!!! Jenny took the epidural very well considering the size of the needle! At one point the anesthesiologist tapped me on the shoulder and pointed over the drape to Jenny's belly, so I steched my head out to look and there he was, Little Sean just out of his mommy's womb and still laying on her. The first thing he did was letting out a little cry, very short and barely audible, but a cry nonetheless. At that very moment I knew he'd be okay. Even though I do not have a PhD, I know enough that if he was able to cry, his lungs are functioning well!

When Jenny was being moved from recovery to her room, the nurse asked me to help. But for what I didn't know,yet! Well what the nurse wanted to do for Jenny, since she wasn't well enough yet, she needed help to wheel her ENTIRE BED in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), there is no room in there for a full size hospital bed, but we managed . The first words out of her mouth were "Can I hold him?" But she would have to wait almost an entire week before she could do that, today was actually the first time she got to hold him. As soon as I know how it went, I'll update. And while I'm on this topic, I will post the few pictures I have of Sean as soon as I'm done posting this. Just go to my home page and go to "Photos"


Back to the topic... Jenny was released from the hospital on Saturday, she needed to be back here for her finals in college, which she took on Monday. Last night her and her mom went back to Dallas and today, actually as I'm typing this, she is moving into the Dallas Ronald McDonald's Foundation House. There she will be able to stay close to Sean and I will go there on weekends. I can't wait to be able to hold him myself! I guess the upside of having a preemie baby is that the father is able to bond even more, thanks to "Kangaroo Care". That is when the baby rest on you, close to your heart. But the immediate future is for Sean to be stable enough to be transported here and not 200 miles away. We already talked with the NICU head nurse here and she explained what we needed to do and believe me we are hard at work on this.

Jack and jenny,
i am very happy for the both of you and will call on the spirits to help little Sean along on his journey to good health. (((HUGS))) to both of you