"Cause even grown men need understanding." -Marshall J.D. Cahill

September 17^th: Today I was in the hospital recovering from the C-section and Duke was in Children’s. The doctors said the most critical hours for a preemie are the first 24 hours. This is the time when a baby has a lot going on with their breathing, heartbeat and in general how they are adapting to life outside. I was adapting to my first ever surgery, which was a bit challenging. Standing the first time made me feel like a turtle, but after a couple to instances of standing I was able to get the handle of it.

            Mom and Candice went to the hospital because I couldn’t. I checked in with the doctors and nurses through the day to check on him. He was on the ventilator and had to have several tubes placed in his stomach, bellybutton and other areas to ensure he was getting nutrition and was able to function. The doctors told me the main things for preemies are they need heat, nourishment and air. From what the doctors told me all were covered. They let me know he was on a ventilator and how his progress was. They sent me pictures through the day, which I tried to send out as much as possible, but it’s hard to keep track of who you send them to.

            The people calling in and visiting today was overwhelming but wonderful. I spoke with Duke’s Grandma Anna for the first time today and was so appreciative of her words of encouragement and her reaching out to me about him. I also heard from family, friends, co-workers and people I hadn’t heard from in a long time and forgot how lovely they were and felt the love they were sending to Duke and myself. This is the day and I was inspired to start this blog because a lot of people love this little guy already and wanted to know how he was doing. I didn’t want anyone to miss out on the amazing things that would be going on in his life and thought this was the best way to document them without leaving out telling anyone.

            Visitors came later in the day, it is a work day after all. I was so grateful of all the little gifts and things people brought in and the hugs shared….yes I hugged multiple people mutltiple times! I was defiantly not prepared for this little guy and was thankful for the little things brought. The last thing I did before bed was check on Duke over the phone. The nurse said he was content sleeping in his little bed, he survived day one, now we move on to the next day.