Our First Family Picture

First Night Home

We're finally home--we came home Sunday afternoon. Our first night home was exciting! We were all so tired. Gray is just precious...he's looking all around...we thought him staying awake a bit would help him sleep longer. Ha!....and he slept so well in the hospital !....Everything is good right now, as he sleeps on my shoulder and chest ... Thank you for all your prayers, thoughts, and congratulations !! Leigh and Travis

Baby Gray is here. 8 Pounds 1 oz. and 21 inches long

Diaphragm seems to be intact

On Monday, Dr. Gonzalez (the specialist) was kind enough to put my mind at ease about Gray being born with a Diaphragmatic Hernia. He explained the diaphragm is actually a tent keeping the lungs and heart above and bowel, intestines, liver, etc. below and when a baby inhales or gasps for room air the first time, if there is a hole or incomplete diaphragm (as in Grayton's case) or tear, organs can get pulled into the lung area. There's no guarantee this won't happen. However, he certainly looked Gray over and nothing he saw gave him any indication that the diaphram is not completely intact.

Answered Prayers, for sure! Thank you all who've prayed for Gray, Travis, me as well as our families. We've certainly felt each and every one of them.

At home, I'm starting that nesting phase and a very nice added energy burst - neither of which I ever experienced with Grayton. Unless Gray and God decide something different :), two weeks from tomorrow, he'll be here! Please continue to pray for him as well as the most "normal", uneventful C-Section and birth that Brookwood Hospital ever experienced! HA!

Meanwhile, I continue to go twice a week (Monday and Thursday) for non-stress tests at my OB's office. So far, he's been very responsive but no contractions to record.

Thanks again,
Leigh

Everything is on track

Starting this past Monday (the 24th) I go for non-stress tests twice a week, as well as seeing the Ultrasound Tech once a week for updates on my amniotic fluid and sometimes his growth. As of Monday, his estimated weight is 6lbs 10oz. and everything else seems to be fine. My fluid was down from 12.43 to 8.18 but Dr. Stradtman said it wasn't anything to be worried about and it changes daily. However, they'll keep a watch on it.

While I'm anxiously awaiting Gray's arrival, I can't say it doesn't come without anxiety. Yesterday, I read about a family in Selma who has a CDH (diagnosed in utero) baby who was born, like Grayton, with little to no diaphragm. He lived only 10 days at Children's Hospital in Bham. The family was blessed to have a second son, Chambers (don't you just love the name?!), who is a perfect and healthy baby. Their 3rd child, Celie, was monitored by a specialist like Gray and because of an ultrasound at 28 weeks that clearly showed her diaphragm in place, the parents didn't have any further testing. However, Celie was born with CDH, too. While she's now a healthy and thriving 3 year old girl, it severely scares me. The nurses and physicians at Children's told the family they were only the 2nd repeat case for the hospital in 19 years. While I know its a sin to worry, I definitely struggle with it.

Please pray for Gray to be a complete and whole baby boy who will grow, without any problems, to hunt and fish with his daddy (and mom, too) and one day join The Creekbaum Group at UBS :) Sounds like I'm trying to plan his future, doesn't it? :) Hope you know I'm only kidding about his interests and career path......well, only half kidding anyway.

September 17th just may be the day!

Brookwood Hospital just called....they've scheduled me for Thursday, September 17th. 39 weeks is the earliest Dr. S could schedule the C-Section so if he decides to come earlier or she sees something during my weekly appointments that leads her to believe he should come earlier....I'll let y'all know.

I have to admit, to hear the date somewhat scared me and when I shared it with Travis, his face kind of went pale, too. Then he said, "September 17th..That's a good day." HA! It was so cute. I think he just felt I was looking for some kind of response.

My mind's racing with all of the things I need to get finished at work and with the lose end for Gray's arrival.

Gray's shower was this past Saturday and we all just had a blast!!! It was so nice and he received so, so many wonderful things. I was just overwhelmed (in a good way). I saw friends I hadn't seen in a while and it was just great to visit with everyone. Thanks to all who came!

Please keep the prayers coming for his upcoming arrival. Although it feels and looks like (he hasn't dropped at all and therefore, I'm carrying him very "long") he's stretching his arms and legs out all the time, I'd prefer for him to stay in my tummy as long as he needs to develop. In general, white males are the weakest babies so he needs all the developmental time as possible.

Love to you all!
Leigh

An Estimated Weight of 5lbs.15ozs!!!

Yesterday, Travis and I went to see Dr. Gonzalez (the specialist), as well as my OB Dr. Stradtman. Dr. G performed growth and doppler tests on Baby Gray and his nurse gave Gray an A+ on doppler! Everybody say, "yeahhh"!! His growth was great, too. He's estimated to weight 5lbs 15ozs and I'm currently 34 weeks. His legs, like his mom's, are in the 90th percentile, stomach is in the 80+ percentile (we won't attribute that to anyone :) ), and his head is in the average 40-50%. If he continues to gain a pound a week, he's going to be one big baby! However, we all realize the ultrasound measurements are just an estimate so I'm not holding them to it.

Because I had a C-Section with Grayton, there will be one scheduled for Gray's arrival, too. Brookwood Labor and Delivery won't allow us to schedule the date until we are exactly a month out. Therefore, I'm hoping to have a firm date next week.....but at the same time it's so scary I just want to stick my head in the sand and have him in my safe tummy forever!

Keep the prayers coming!!

God Bless,
Leigh

By the way, I want to share something. There is a website that's completely dedicated to infant loss and it's hosted by a wonderful photographer from West Australia. Another CDH mom turned me onto the site and submitted Grayton's name and a quote from me for a picture to be taken at sunset with Grayton's name written in the sand (thanks Ash!). Here's the link http://namesinthesand.blogspot.com/2009/08/grayton-karleigh-creekbaum.html
I think it's breath-taking!!!