Great news! Matthew has done well enough now that he was able to come home yesterday morning. We are so happy to have him home, let alone now having not to spend time away from either of them as we traveled back and forth to the hospital 3-4 times a day.
Additionally, we are trilled that both Thomas and Matthew have surpassed their birth weight sooner than the required 14 days - which is a great sign of their health. Matthew is now 5 lbs!
We have been spending the past 24 hours getting used to Matthew's behavior (he is a night owl, we suppose from all the time in the ICU), but everyone is doing well.
We have been so much appreciative for the help that Sue's parents (Joan and Chanel) and Reed's mother (Sheri) have been offering while staying with us. In addition, our good friends Pete and Amy brought over an entire meal the other night which was so much appreciated.
Thank you again to all who have offered words of support and praise. We hope to respond directly when we have a spare minute (I am assured prior to their 18th birthday!).
Best to all and more shortly.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Two Nonken Boys Arrive
It is our greatest pleasure to introduce:
Matthew Ronald (4 lbs. 13 ounces, born at 10:11 PM on 5/27/08) and Thomas Chanel (7 lbs. 1 ounce, born at 10:19 PM on 5/27/08).
Words can not express our joy and happiness in their birth. After much exhausting efforts, Mommy also showed exceptional strength in performing these births naturally (defying statistics for a “C”) and she is doing very well.
A quick summary: We went to the hospital Monday evening with some complications with Sue’s blood pressure and they decided to keep her overnight to monitor both her and the boys. Around 9 AM Tuesday, the decision was made to induce Sue for an attempt at a natural birth as both boys were head down. Labor was tough for Sue, as she had not dilated at all and contractions were painful until around 4 PM when she received her epidural. From 4-6 Sue was able get a little rest (having only slept about 2-3 hours since Sunday night) and then she went to work for the next 4 hours to bring these most precious children into our world.
Matthew had some complications upon birth and is in the Intensive Care Nursery at the hospital and remains there still. He had some initial breathing issues which were corrected right away but it was clear he still had some issues. His blood sugar levels were very low so he was given some formula and an IV of Glucose to help and continues to be fed formula for now. His blood sugar levels have stabalized and the IV has been removed. He encountered some issues with his oxygen levels dropping when eating which has been corrected. Now the remaining issue is that he is having difficulty eating and has a tube down his nose to administer some food. We try to feed him from a bottle for each feeding and what he does not take is then given through the tube. Until this issue is corrected and he has taken all of his food from a bottle for 24-48 hours he will not be released from the hospital. Reed and I try to make it to the hospital for at least 3 of the 5 daytime feedings to bond and feed Matthew.
Thomas is doing great. He is eating like a horse, and although is showing signs of Jaundice he is doing very well. He is feeding about every four hours and is only waking us up twice during the night. He hardly ever cries and is such a good baby.
So needless to say, we are concerned about Matthw – but have been reassured by everyone here that he will pull through just fine. In the meantime, it has been a challenge to say the least to try and take care of Thomas and then get to Matthew every 3 hours (on top of Mommy recovery, breastfeeding training, etc!). All you parents are just smiling I am sure from your past experiences as well!
Our most sincere thanks for all the support our friends, family and coworkers have (and will) offered. Please see some of the pictures posted below and more will come in the days to follow.
Reed and Sue
Matthew Ronald (4 lbs. 13 ounces, born at 10:11 PM on 5/27/08) and Thomas Chanel (7 lbs. 1 ounce, born at 10:19 PM on 5/27/08).
Words can not express our joy and happiness in their birth. After much exhausting efforts, Mommy also showed exceptional strength in performing these births naturally (defying statistics for a “C”) and she is doing very well.
A quick summary: We went to the hospital Monday evening with some complications with Sue’s blood pressure and they decided to keep her overnight to monitor both her and the boys. Around 9 AM Tuesday, the decision was made to induce Sue for an attempt at a natural birth as both boys were head down. Labor was tough for Sue, as she had not dilated at all and contractions were painful until around 4 PM when she received her epidural. From 4-6 Sue was able get a little rest (having only slept about 2-3 hours since Sunday night) and then she went to work for the next 4 hours to bring these most precious children into our world.
Matthew had some complications upon birth and is in the Intensive Care Nursery at the hospital and remains there still. He had some initial breathing issues which were corrected right away but it was clear he still had some issues. His blood sugar levels were very low so he was given some formula and an IV of Glucose to help and continues to be fed formula for now. His blood sugar levels have stabalized and the IV has been removed. He encountered some issues with his oxygen levels dropping when eating which has been corrected. Now the remaining issue is that he is having difficulty eating and has a tube down his nose to administer some food. We try to feed him from a bottle for each feeding and what he does not take is then given through the tube. Until this issue is corrected and he has taken all of his food from a bottle for 24-48 hours he will not be released from the hospital. Reed and I try to make it to the hospital for at least 3 of the 5 daytime feedings to bond and feed Matthew.
Thomas is doing great. He is eating like a horse, and although is showing signs of Jaundice he is doing very well. He is feeding about every four hours and is only waking us up twice during the night. He hardly ever cries and is such a good baby.
So needless to say, we are concerned about Matthw – but have been reassured by everyone here that he will pull through just fine. In the meantime, it has been a challenge to say the least to try and take care of Thomas and then get to Matthew every 3 hours (on top of Mommy recovery, breastfeeding training, etc!). All you parents are just smiling I am sure from your past experiences as well!
Our most sincere thanks for all the support our friends, family and coworkers have (and will) offered. Please see some of the pictures posted below and more will come in the days to follow.
Reed and Sue
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
May 6th OB Appointment
Hi everyone,
I had an OB appointment today and I am borderline preeclampsia. Due to my blood pressure being up, the doctor has taken me out of work for the remainder of the pregnancy. I am at the end of week 35 and we are hoping to get another 2-3 weeks but it could be anytime now. I will now be seeing the OB twice per week so I will see him again on Friday. Otherwise things are going well. I will keep everyone posted as we go through these remaining few weeks.
Love,
Sue
I had an OB appointment today and I am borderline preeclampsia. Due to my blood pressure being up, the doctor has taken me out of work for the remainder of the pregnancy. I am at the end of week 35 and we are hoping to get another 2-3 weeks but it could be anytime now. I will now be seeing the OB twice per week so I will see him again on Friday. Otherwise things are going well. I will keep everyone posted as we go through these remaining few weeks.
Love,
Sue
Sunday, May 4, 2008
How to post a comment to the blog
To Post a comment to a blog entry follow these steps:
• Scroll to the bottom of the blog posting
• Click on the Comment count after the “Posted by rnonken at”
• This will bring up the page with the comments that have already been posted.
• On the right hand side of the screen there will be a box to enter your comment. In the Lave your comment box, type whatever comment you would like to.
• Scroll down and there will be some letters in italics. Enter these letters in the word verification box.
• Scroll down and choose your Identity. If you have a Google/Blogger account click on that option. If you simply want to just leave your name, click on the Name/URL button and this will open a box that allows you to enter your name.
• Then click publish your comment.
• This will post your comment. You will still be on the comment page. To get back to the blog page itself, scroll to the top and click on the Reed and Sue’s Blog page.
• Scroll to the bottom of the blog posting
• Click on the Comment count after the “Posted by rnonken at”
• This will bring up the page with the comments that have already been posted.
• On the right hand side of the screen there will be a box to enter your comment. In the Lave your comment box, type whatever comment you would like to.
• Scroll down and there will be some letters in italics. Enter these letters in the word verification box.
• Scroll down and choose your Identity. If you have a Google/Blogger account click on that option. If you simply want to just leave your name, click on the Name/URL button and this will open a box that allows you to enter your name.
• Then click publish your comment.
• This will post your comment. You will still be on the comment page. To get back to the blog page itself, scroll to the top and click on the Reed and Sue’s Blog page.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Hi everyone,
Reed and I are going to try and use this blog spot as a place to keep everyone up on the babies, as they arrive and as they grow. I am almost through week 33 and things are going very well. I have the normal swelling and gestational diabetes that is currently being managed by diet. I feel really good and the doctors say that I am doing really well. We are hoping that I make it to week 38 at which time they will re-evaluate everything and if all looks good (babies are both head down and no medical issues) they will probably induce me and let me have a natural birth which is what I am hoping for. We have the nursery all set up and I am posting some pictures of that below. For now that is about all and as events occur, I will update the blog and when the babies are born there will be a lot of postings with many pictures. Love to hear from all of you when you have the chance.
Love,
Reed and Sue
Reed and I are going to try and use this blog spot as a place to keep everyone up on the babies, as they arrive and as they grow. I am almost through week 33 and things are going very well. I have the normal swelling and gestational diabetes that is currently being managed by diet. I feel really good and the doctors say that I am doing really well. We are hoping that I make it to week 38 at which time they will re-evaluate everything and if all looks good (babies are both head down and no medical issues) they will probably induce me and let me have a natural birth which is what I am hoping for. We have the nursery all set up and I am posting some pictures of that below. For now that is about all and as events occur, I will update the blog and when the babies are born there will be a lot of postings with many pictures. Love to hear from all of you when you have the chance.
Love,
Reed and Sue
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