Destiny

So, I know anyone who happens to actually look at this site really only gets on here to see if there are any new pictures or videos of my sweet kids and probably the last thing you want to read is my sports soapbox, but, as a break from my studies today I find it hard to concentrate, given that my Nuggs are in the conference finals and a crucial Game 5 is on tonight. I went to ESPN to check it out and found this great little piece by Rick Reilly, whose articles in Sports Illustrated I really love. If you're a Nuggets fan, check it out. It will make you laugh or get you pumped for the victory tonight. If you're not a Nuggets fan, there's still time to get the train before we dominate the rest of the world and hoist our trophy,...better get on it. And for any Lakers fans, I don't think I can say much to you on here..after all, it's a family website, other than it's gonna be so sweet when your little golden boy crybaby has to go home and watch us play in the finals....GO NUGGS!

Rick Reilly's ESPN Story Link

Don't Cry

I just thought it was cute watching Harper in her first moments as a big sister, saying "don't cry." We'll have some interesting moments, no doubt, when she wants to take him and carry him around the house by herself, but we're confident that her obsession with babies will come out in a constructive way in the future. If nothing else, I guess she can teach him how to give knucks. For those of you wanting more pictures, we'll try to upload some photos on Snapfish that you can download and print if you want later tonight. Also, a photographer came by in the hospital here and took some pretty awesome pictures that we were obligated to get because they were so good. To see or download those, here's the snapfish link: http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=843158013/a=126516533_126516533/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

Luke Hudson Van Eps

So for those of you out there without a Facebook account, I wanted to put a few videos up here for you to see and to give you a rundown of our time here in the hospital. Everything with the birth went well, we arrived here at St. Luke's around 8 a.m. for induction and Steph was dilated to 3 initially, and was hooked up and started on her Pitocin induction around 8:45. Her doctor came in to check her around 12:30, found she was dilated to at least 4, broke her water right there, and she got an epidural within 20 minutes. Steph was feelin good at that point, so we threw in a movie and both took a nap. We woke up to her being dilated to 7, nearly totally effaced, and the nurse said we should have a baby within the next few hours. For us, this time flew by given that Harper's induction took over 24 hours and extending through the night. He cried right away after they suctioned him and pinked up really quick, easing his dad's anxiety. Although we were initially just glad to see all ten fingers and toes and all parts in the right places, we were struck how much he looked like his sister initially, with those same bright red lips. He was fine that first day, mostly sleeping, but yesterday as we suspected might happen, he went from a 0.0 bilirubin to over 9.0 in less than a day. So he's been getting his baby bronzing ever since yesterday evening with the UV bili bed, to help clear the bilirubin that his immature liver can't clear yet. He's been under the high intensity lights all day, hoping to drive down the numbers so we don't have to take a bili bed home with us like we had to with Harper, and we're trying to push the fluids on him but he's been so-so with the feeding so far. All in all, though, with today's technology jaundice like his is not a big deal, just more of an annoyance. We're still kind of shell shocked that we are now the American family with 2 kids and a dog, but also incredibly thankful for our new healthy boy. We have been so fortunate and thankful to my parents for their tremendous help with our crazy 1 and a half year old during this whole ordeal. We might have been clinically insane by now without them. Thanks to everyone for your excitement and support.

Mama and Harper

These were a few of our last moments as just "Mama and Harper" before brother Luke made his first appearance.

Off to induction

Induction 101

So, if there were a class on induction we may be able to teach it after today. Here we are again, sitting at St. Luke's waiting on biophysiology to take place at the forced hand of a Pitocin IV, trying to do the last minute mental prep that we in fact have another kid that will enter our world in T - minus 12 hours or less. It was difficult again for me to comprehend our situation for the last 9 months and what it really means to have 2 kids. I've been able to see Steph's body change, but without any other outward daily evidence for me, it has seemed to sneak up on me again. But the excitement is setting in too, imaging what he'll look like, how similar or different his personality will be to Harper, and how different it will be to parent a boy. Everything is fine so far, Steph is hooked up and we're watching Juno. Praise God for family, as Grandpa and Grandma Van Eps are enjoying taking care of their granddaughter today. Pray for health for Steph and Luke.