New Pix

We made it!
MoMo was so stoked about being home, he instantly began playing air guitar.
Baby on Mommy.
Go Gamecocks!
Baby on Gma.
Chunky baby on chunky Daddy.
Zoom in. Check out that squinched face!

WE ARE HOME!!! Thanks be to God.

Our little family made it home safely. They checked the bilirubin at 6pm and it was down to 12.7. We are grateful for your prayers and glad to be home. Everyone is happy and tired. MoMo is asleep on Norma's lap. David is on another computer. Meghan is eating her 2nd plate of dinner (thanks to the Jarvis family who brought it to the hospital). The Republican convention is on in the background. Enjoy the pictures.
MoMo putting on his 'go home' suit.
(with a little help from grandma)
Hands are high in calories...
I wish I felt as good as I look.
Swaddled in his global blanket.
Meghan's doing great.
El Pastorrrrrrrrrr.
Did you see that? He's so cute!
Snuggle bug.

...

Bad news this morning that the score was back up to 15.5 which means he may have to stay another night. But we may go home tonight if its better. Keep praying! We love y'all!

Croslands depart Blantons arrive.

I just realized I didn't take any pictures of Silas! Man is he cute! So, Tiff left this morning and David and Norma arrived at virtually the same time. Meghan was discharged at lunch. MoMo's bilirubin was still high enough to require him to stay the night. Dr. said they would check it again tomorrow morning and if it was below 15 we could take him home. The good news was that when they moved him, they gave him a room big enough for Meghan to stay with him. Norma will stay tonight also while I get some sleep. I have a blood test in the AM for some new life insurance. (Nothing like being responsible for a new life to make you think about leaving something behind to care for them! Call my dad if you need any insurance!) So the pediatrician over here ordered a test for MoMo tonight and it was a 14!!!!!!!!!!!! So we can totally go home tomorrow! He is still under his light and eating extra mommy milk to continue to lower the number. Looking forward to resting together in our own bed and seeing all the seminary visitors. Enjoy the pictures: [The white patches on MoMo's head hold on his sweet shades in the light box.]
Norma and grandson.
The happy parents.
Gramps and baby.
He IS adorable.
I've been calling him Chubber. Look at those jaws!
Sweet shades. Making Stevie Wonder jealous since 2008!
Looks scarier than it is. He just sleeps in the warmth and soaks up the rays.

Discharged/Not

Meg will be discharged around 1 after her parents get here. MoMo will have to stay one extra night but we are handling it okay now. He'll be in pediatrics and Meg can stay with him. I'm off to take Tiff to the airport and pick up the Blantons at 11am. Computer is going off for now. Much love. Derrick
Bilirubin down to 16.5 this AM. Below 15 and he can go home tomorrow.

Labor Day

Bilirubin level down to 17 last night. Awaiting this mornings number. Doctor says a 'downward' trend may mean he can come with us home. Meghan's parents are on the way up. Tiff is leaving at the same time from Logan, so I am switching out the help. Thanks to Jerrigayle Benson for tonight's lasagna dinner!

Yellow-Bellied Sap Sucker

This is an update from Derrick. Today the pediatrician came and overnight the jaundice indicator number (bilirubin) went from 8 to 18. Nothing major but they decided to put him under the 'lights' today. Meghan has been pumping and feeding extra to try to help flush the extra stuff (red blood cells?) out of him. On an international note the word 'jaundice' comes from the French word for yellow: jaune. The mere thought of him not being able to go home with us tomorrow brought me to tears and Meghan cried when I did. I think it was a good release. I also think that by this time tomorrow Meg's parents will be up here, my big sis will be gone, and he will be all set to come home with us. Let's pray to that end. God has been faithful in everything, so if we haven't given him praise on here yet let me do that this fine Sunday morning:

Conception, pregnancy, and birth are easily 3 of the most miraculous things on earth AND they are the most normal things ever. This 'normal miracle' that has come into our lives is awesome. To God be the glory. How crazy is it that we get to take part in creating a life? And as our pastor prayed with us Thursday, how marvelous to be a part of creating an eternal life, for all human life is eternal. And let us not forget that there was (in Christ) and will be (in us) a bodily resurrection. I'm not saying I understand these mysteries, but it is cool to reflect on them. See 1 Corinthians 15:35ff. I love it.

I will add some more photos here. Keep commenting, we love to read them. Thanks for everything and special thanks to Tiffany for coming up and being wicked helpful ('wicked' is a Bostonian adjective meaning 'very') and to Matt for encouraging her to come (and keeping 75% of their children by himself). Meghan is resting right now and the quiet dark room is nice.

This is Tiff.
Beautiful crying baby.
We've tried to capture some yawns and sneezes but none so far.
Side view. If you look real close you can see the 'wide load' sign...
Father and son.
Mother and child.
Soaking up some sun this morning to help with the jaundice.
Baby 'Chubber' (that's what I've been calling him) comfy between his Daddy's legs.