Happy New Year's Eve!

Thank you to everyone for the overwhelming out poor of love, support and especially the prayers.  They are working!  Ryder continues to do very well, despite a minor set back yesterday and needing to tube feed every other feeding.  The nurses and doctors warned us that he was working at a pace not usually maintainable for someone his age, so he got too tired to continue with all bottle feeding.  He is, however, continuing to increase his intake, so hopefully he will have gained weight since yesterday.  He is at 4 lb 4 oz right now.  All vitals and tests keep coming back with great results.  We are so blessed!  Here are a couple updated pictures.

 Our first family portrait... taken by our great nurse named Lauren!  The NICU nurses have been outstanding.  Each one seems to be an angel that fell from the sky!  I cannot wait to bring him home and come back to do something nice for them.

 Last night after his 9 PM feeding.  You can see the little tube coming from his nose.  It goes directly to his stomach to feed him.  His shirt says, "Great things come in small packages."

Cute picture from 12/29... Auntie Lindsey gave this to him.  It says, "My Auntie is Awesome"... AND SHE IS!  Eric washed it a few weeks ago and asked me if he shrunk it when he was folding it.  Little did we know then that it would swallow our little guy up!

A special thank you to all who came to see Ryder those first few days and everyone who sent wishes via text/calls/flowers.  It brightened his spirits (and ours too).  Currently, we are back and forth between home and the hospital.  We try to only visit with him during eating time, as his sleep is SO important.  We look forward to accepting visitors when we get him home (hopefully by next weekend).  For now, visits are with feedings at 3, 6, 9, 12, if you would like to see him.

We are thankful for the very generous offer some have made to bring us dinner!  We are lucky to live in an amazing neighborhood that organizes support for new moms.  Our mom's club uses a website to coordinate the efforts.  To access our CareCalendar site, please visit http://www.carecalendar.org/logon/60692 and enter the following information in the appropriate spaces:

CALENDAR ID : 60692
SECURITY CODE : 7672

Thank you again to everyone for your love, support, prayers and thoughts.  Eric and I are comforted by it all and thank you from the bottom of our hearts!  Ryder cannot wait to meet you all.  He has proved he is eager, so I mean it when I say that. ;)

Ryder Louis Larson has arrived!

It is with overwhelming joy that Eric and I share with you that our son arrived very unexpectedly in the wee hours of Monday morning.  At 2:58 AM our little 4 lb 11 oz (2168.2 grams), 18.5 inch (47 cm) angel was born.  Ryder came out breathing on his own and never needed a ventilator or incubation.  He did, however, have to go to the special care Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where he stayed until this afternoon (he already graduated to the regular NICU).  Superman, as I affectionately think of him, is "going to eat us out of house and home" as his nurse puts it.  He is eating great and is already up to 25 cc's of formula.  Eric and I must leave tomorrow evening, but we will be at the hospital very often to feed and care for Ryder.  Our prayer is that he comes home very, very soon.  Right now, all signs point to him coming home perhaps as early as this weekend.

You are likely wondering how this all happened... Eric and I are still in shock ourselves.  While I always suspected Ryder would like to make a slightly early entrance into this wonderful world, I did not expect a "33 weeker" as they have called him.  On Christmas Eve I thought I had a stomach bug and was having trouble eating.  I spent much of Christmas Day in bed with many "braxton hicks" or false contractions.  I had the practice contractions for much of my pregnancy, so I did not think much of the increase.  Sunday morning, while sitting at Flying Biscuit (restaurant), I had my first "real" contraction.  It was certainly a different experience.  We came home and tried to manage the random, infrequent pains with a bath, soft music and relaxation.  Unfortunately, the contractions were about 7 minutes apart by 2:00 PM.  We went to the hospital and they were able to stop my labor with fluids and terbutaline (a drug) and we were home by 8 PM.  By 9:30 PM I was already having regular contractions again.  We called the doctor and went back to the hospital with the full expectation that they would again stop the labor.  Unfortuantely, by the time we arrived, I was in a lot of pain and after getting to the labor and delivery room was 6 cm dialated!!  I will never forget Eric asking the nurse, "So, this means you can't stop it?!".  She quickly told us, "You are having this baby tonight."  After I tried to get myself together, completely in shock and terrified about having a baby this early, Eric and I put our labor classes to use.  Ryder came into this world with his grandmothers and greatgrandmother cheering him on and Dad doing everything to help me push.  My family and hospital labor teams, including an on-call doctor I had never met and a nurse who only had 2 months of experience, did an amazing job!  I do not know why we had Ryder early, but I know he is so perfect and we are looking forward to taking extra special care of God's precious gift to us.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.  Here are a few pictures.  Many more to come!

Pictures from Cooper's Birthday

Cooper had a "Very Hungry Caterpillar" (it is a children's book, for those who do not know) party... here are some pictures...

 

The Birthday Prince!

 

Playing with his custom sippy cup from Aunt Heather

 

 Time for cupcakes!

Happy Holiday Party!

We enjoyed a weekend of parties after a very hectic week at work.  Our sweet nephew, Cooper, turned 1 on Saturday.  We celebrated at Britt and Lindsey's home-- pictures to be posted soon!  We also celebrated the holiday season with many friends at two different holiday gatherings. 

We are busy this week with childbirth class (our last one) and two pediatrician interviews.  Last Thursday's doctor appointment went well... Ryder (aka my stomach) is measuring about 1 cm ahead of schedule.  We go back on Dec 30 for our 34 week appointment.  The only bodily change getting bad (if we put weight gain in the positive category) are the veins in my legs.  A big thank you to Granny and Mom for that genetic treat!

I am almost finished Christmas shopping.  Eric helped a lot this year by coming along to keep me on task.  It is amazing how efficient a man can shop!  Shirt, book, toy... check, check, check- let's go.  He is in and out of a store before I would have even had two items picked out.  My feet thank him!

Lastly, our neighbors are having a baby girl today!  Please keep Katie and baby Addie in your prayers.

Getting ready to be a dad!

Last Tuesday we started our childbirth preparation classes, which are on Tuesday evenings for 3 weeks.  Last week we learned about signs of preterm labor and the stages of labor.  I'm not sure what tomorrow is about.  Our class has 5 other couples all about the same stage as us.  I think it was very eye opening to hear all of the details for the men in the room. 

We continue to prepare the house and reorganize our small space.  Here's a picture of Eric wearing his new "Dad" tshirt... see the baby in the carrier on the front.  The shirt is from the movie "Hangover"; however, it seems to fit our situation well.  Notice Eric is in fully in character, complete with the stroller!

Two Healthy Kidneys!!

Today's appointment went GREAT!  Ryder has two healthy kidneys.  He was showing off for the doctor... he stuck out his tongue, showed us his practice breathing (his chest was moving up and down- so cool), and he played with his feet.  Super cute! We go back to the specialist at 36 weeks for one last check before delivery.

My Fabulous Family Shower

On Sunday, Mom, Michelle, Ashlee, Courtney, Kellie and Lindsey (super house hostess), all hosted me and Ryder a shower.  It was so wonderful to have everyone together.  The food was very yummy (shrimp and grits were superb)... kudos to the chefs.  A very big THANK YOU to everyone for the overwhelming amount of love and gifts.  Our son is spoiled and he has not even been born yet... what a lucky child to have such an amazing family.  Thank you all for your love and support.  We appreciate all of the great gifts... bedding, car seat, high chair, bath tub, exercise frog, bath toys, clothes, books (oh- I just LOVE all of the books), blankets, golf bag (perfect for the golf themed room, Linda!), diapers, etc, etc (there was so many wonderful things).  Here are some pictures from the shower...

 

Adorable decor... Ryder is all set with monogrammed gear thanks to his Aunt Lindsey!

Britt & Lindsey's dining room

So many lovely gifts!

Those who know Eric after a football game (or just after a fun night out) will laugh at this picture.

 Fun Aunt Sandy got Eric a shirt... I'll have to shrink it a little, but he LOVED it!!!!  We have our first day of childbirth classes tomorrow, and I think he is going to wear it. :)

 The blanket that Granny (aka "Gigi") knit/crocheted for Ryder... super soft and oh so special!!

Lindsey, Courtney, Ashlee, Heather, Becky

 The Grandmas!!  

Gigi Ala, Nonnie Upchurch and Grandma Larson

30 Week Profile shot!

Our next doctor appointment with the specialist is tomorrow.  Please send prayers up for Ryder's kidneys (think shrink!).  Hopefully my body also continues to hold strong for him.