The Mueller Family: It's a Boy!

Parker Robert Mueller was born Friday, May 20th at 7:48am. He weighed 8lbs 11oz and was 21.6inches long. I had a scheduled C Section (since I had one with Kelson, and they wouldn't let me try for a Vbac). Doug and I woke up bright and early - well...Doug woke up...I didn't sleep at all I was so excited. We got to the hospital at 5:30 and before we knew it, they were wheeling me back to the OR for the surgery. Everyone knew that we didn't know the gender, so it was pretty quiet so that Doug could tell me - "Kelson has a little brother! It's a Boy!". It was precious and beautiful moment. However, it didn't last long. Pretty quickly I knew something was wrong. Parker was not crying and I looked over as the NICU team started pounding on his chest to get him to breathe. He finally took a breath and let out a glorious cry. They quickly swaddled him up, let me give him a quick kiss and then they wisked him away to the NICU. Thus started one of the hardest journeys that Doug and I have had to endure as a family. I didn't get to see Parker again until 5:30 Saturday morning. The only reason why I did was because I told my nurse I was going to put myself in the wheelchair or they could help me. They loaded me up IV/Epidural and all and I finally got to see Parker. They wouldn't let me touch him, but atleast I got to see him.

Why is he in the NICU you might ask - well - one of the common risks of a C Section is that the baby swallows amniotic fluid and because they aren't being squeezed out the birth canal, their lungs retain the fluid. This is what happened with Parker. He was huffing and wheezing to breathe and was having a hard time calming his breathing rate down (respiratory rate or RR). So - the long of the short is that he is still in the NICU. Saturday and Sunday morning were rough as we weren't really encouraged to touch him very much (so as to keep his RR down and keep him calm). He was put on CPAP on Friday which is just a big machine that basically helps him breathe. It pushes oxygen in and helps pull it out of his lungs. The CPAP machine caused one of his lungs to get a small hole and thus some air ended up behind his heart. Luckily the air has diminished and the hole has recovered. Today was a great day for Parker! He has continued to improve and he has been able to keep his RR down. They took him off of all of his IV fluids and removed his IV (which was nice as he is feisty and kept pulling on it - in fact - he pulled it out before they got the chance to remove it). He is also on room air through his CPAP and no oxygen, which is GREAT! They are hoping that if he continues on this path they might remove the CPAP tomorrow and put him on a nasal canula of oxygen.

How is he eating? Well - I have been pumping since Friday and they push my milk through a feeding tube for him. Luckily I am a milk cow, so I've been able to provide more than he needs, which is great. They are now letting me squeeze 3-4 CC's of milk in his mouth so that he knows the taste and smell for when I do get to breastfeed. As many of you know, I have been very concerned about this. I really enjoyed nursing Kelson and want to be able to nurse Parker - as it's better for both him and me.

What has been the hardest part? Honestly - all of this has been awful. It's hard to walk the halls of postpartum and see Mom's holding their babies. It's hard to hear my neighbors baby cry as I'd give anything to just hear Parker cry right now. I have annoyed every nurse, nurse practitioner, and doctor down in the NICU b/c everytime I go down there, I ask "when can I hold my baby?". Well - I finally got my wish today! Parker decided that he wanted to poop on Doug while Doug was changing his diaper (twice!) and then pee all over his sheets, so the nurse needed to change all of his bedding...and...I had asked her everytime when I got to hold him...so...she let me lift him up and hold him for about 30 seconds while she changed his sheets. He immediately calmed down and his RR was the lowest it had been for days. (I've been telling them - just let me hold him! He'll do better! Well...I was RIGHT!). Anywho - tonight, Doug and I finally got our wish. We got to sit down and each of us hold him for 30 minutes. It was the best 30 minutes I've had in months. Parker is so sweet and just wants to snuggle. He kept opening his eyes and looking at me and just holding my finger. It was such a blessing. Doug also got a chance to hold him and I think we are both feeling TONS better. It was a long 84 hours since his birth, but it was well worth the wait to get to snuggle our beautiful son.

OK - sorry - I'm rambling. I know lots of you have been praying for us and I can't begin to tell you how much it means to us. The power of prayer is amazing. The Lord is truly healing Parker and it is thanks to all of your prayers. I'm sorry if I haven't returned your calls/texts. Honestly - I haven't even been ready to write about all of this and I'm just hormonal and emotional. I will be going home tomorrow without Parker. I can't even tell you how much this discourages me. However, I know that he is improving and will be home with us soon. Doug and I will be basically camping out in the NICU waiting room until they discharge him (which is hopefully going to be this weekend). Thank you all that have offered your help with Kelson and meals, etc. Kelson is in good hands with grandma and has enjoyed coming up to visit Doug and I. He calls the hospital "mama's night night" and he likes going for rides in "mama's special ride" aka my wheelchair. The balloons have been a little tricky, but luckily Papa got us a balloon, so today's visit was great.

Below are some pictures from the delivery and the NICU. I have pictures from us holding him and I'll load those tomorrow. I have to get going as Parker is finally getting his first bath and I need to pump and head down to the NICU. Have a great night! We sure are - we are just enjoying seeing our lil guy improve.

It's a boy!