Way to go!

After 2 1/2 days in the NICU, Carter and mommy went home from the hospital today! Yesterday we got a report in the early morning that he had been weaned to 25% oxygen and by lunch I got calls that he was off of the oxygen and that his parents and grandparents had been able to hold him. It sure was a proud Nana and Grandpa when they called! He continued to do well through the day and night. After showing his true colors and eating like a champ, he was able to go home at the same time as his mom! We are very thankful that everything turned out like it did and hope he continues to do well.

We probably will not go to Greenville this weekend unless we go just for the day on Sunday. Caleb has encountered his first stomach virus we think. Last night he started vomiting and he easily could have had the staring role in the next Exorcist movie! It was absolutely horrible. After sleeping in the pack and play in our room, we thought he was in the clear but decided to resume the same this morning. It has been a tiresome day with lots of clothes to wash. We are trying to make sure no one else gets sick. Here's hoping you and your family stay well. (They are saying that the peak of flu season may still be a week or so away!)

Welcome Baby Carter!

Austin and Caleb would like to announce the arrival of their new cousin Carter! After only 4 1/2 hours of labor my sister Amy gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Weston "Carter" Phelps. He weighs 6 pounds 14 ounces and is 19 3/4 inches long. Mom is doing well but Carter has decided to buck the system from the beginning. He is in the NICU at the hospital in Greenville due to some breathing difficulties. At last report tonight, he is doing well. He is on oxygen and is slightly sedated due to wanting to fight a little too much. They believe that he may have had some meconium aspiration (inhaled some of his own poop) and they are watching him closely. We have not been able to see him just yet (Austin, Caleb and I made a quick trip to Greenville this afternoon), but from the pictures we have seen, he has a head full of black hair and is quite the little screamer in the video. Please keep baby Carter and his mom and dad in your prayers. We will get pictures as soon as we can visit again and will post again with any changes.

It's been a while!

So things have gotten somewhat crazy around our house and the blog has been on the back burner. Having 2 rugrats just seems to consume every hour of the day (and night to be exact)! Once we get home at night it seems the time flies by. Since last time, there was another snow. That's right! 2 times in one year! This time things went a little more smoothly around the area and daycare wasn't even closed. Austin enjoyed seeing the snow again even though he did not get much playtime. Things with mom and dad still consist of all work and very little play unless of course one of the boys does something fun and we tag along!

Austin is continuing to be a blossoming 4 year old. Take that as you want to! He is learning to talk back and thinks he knows everything. We had our teacher conference at school and he is doing well. He has mastered all of the skills for the young 4 year old and is ready for Pre-K next year. His teacher claims that he is an angel on most days. I think we need her or some of these other people to come live with us and rub off on his behavior at home. He is very over protective of Caleb and does not want to leave him anywhere by himself. Usually he is good at helping to look out for the baby but has his moments there as well. We have signed him up for T-ball and that will start next month. Maybe that will release some pent up energy. He has enjoyed practicing with dad in the yard. Last weekend, he and dad went to a hockey game with some of our neighbors. He had a blast. It does not matter what sport it is, he will generally pay attention. It has become slightly annoying to dad though since Austin is constantly wanting to know the score, who is winning, who is losing, why the guy is falling down, etc. It is constant questioning the entire time he is watching. This has also caused him to become somewhat of a sports geek! He knows the names and numbers of all of the Carolina basketball players and knows the other teams by their mascot or school logo. He also gets a kick out of upsetting dad by claiming he is pulling for a team that he knows he is not supposed to like!!!

Caleb is growing right before our eyes. He is stilling giving us challenges with eating. He has days when he does not want to eat for daycare but definitely makes up for it when he gets home and has mommy time. He will take a bottle great for me but still does not really like cereal from a spoon. He has taken some peas and carrots but is temperamental. He also is not sleeping through the night yet. We have our fingers crossed and just know that one night he will surprise us! We are in the process of introducing formula and already have had to change due to what we perceive as fussiness possibly from the formula or its effects on his reflux. He had to go to the doctor last week due to not eating and questionable wheezing and weighed in at a whopping 16 pounds 10 ounces. I guess he is nutritionally sound despite the issues! He will now roll over if he is not feeling too lazy, likes being on his tummy, and tries to sit by himself. He will also give a good belly laugh every once in awhile. We got a new infant swing for the swingset and he enjoyed that on Sunday. He was actually content for more than 10 minutes in one place!

Well, I guess that is all that has been going on really. The frantic pace of daily life is enough to keep us occupied. We are looking forward to the summer and warmer days ahead.