Introducing....Samuel T

I know I've added several pictures from my phone but its just not the same as pictures from the camera so here are a few of our new baby, Samuel Tolliver Alley. As you can see my OB left his cord a bit long so that Gary would have the opportunity to do the ceremonial "cutting of the cord". Samuel was 8 pounds even and 19 inches long. He was born at 35 weeks & 5 days, and yes he was big boy but I had gestational diabetes. He was born at 12:39 pm on Wednesday the 30th of September 2009.
My epidural took 4 tries but the 24 hour synthetic morphine they gave me was almost worth it. It made me feel like I could have another baby right then. That was until Thursday around 1:30 I was like, "did anyone get the number of that steam roller that ran me over?!?!" It wasn't that bad but I was definitely feeling it. Samuel on the other hand went to the newborn nursery only to leave later for the Progressive Care Nursery(PCN) then to the NICU. The first time I got to see him was an hour or so after delivery in the NICU for about 8 minutes as they were taking me upstairs to Post Partum and my room. They said he was "grunting" and they could not handle that, so they sent him back. But once he got to the NICU he stopped whatever it was that sent him there. So by Thursday at 3 he got to go back to the PCN because he was doing better. Of course this whole time he was on an IV of Dextrose and they still hadn't fed him yet.


My poor baby all hooked up to the monitors and his IV in his left hand. It was NO fun changing his diapers with all those cords. Gary kept saying I want the "wireless baby".
Look at those cheeks!!
Samuel stayed in the PCN for the rest of his hospital stay. We kept hoping he'd get to come up to the Newborn Nursery but he never did. In the PCN they now allow siblings over the age of 3 to come in, but you have to scrub up. Almost as if going into surgery and wear a clean yellow gown every time you came in.
So here is Gary in his "gown" and our little bundle.
Mommy with her little men, all in their "gowns".
Mason is a little blurry but all decked out in his "gown".

Jacob and Mason the first time they get to touch their brother and see him. Well at least up close rather than through a glass window.
They finally fed him 2 days after he was born and he didn't care for the formula and or he couldn't hold down as much as they wanted. 30ccs for a baby who's stomach is the size of a marble.
Daddy feeding Samuel. So after changing his formula to Enfamil AR(added rice), a blessing , and breast milk he began keeping his food down.
Thanks to Roland McLean and our wonderful home teacher Bishop Pyron for coming over on a Saturday!

And my new weight is...
We finally got to go home with our newest little man and see what it would really be like to have 3 children. He is a wonderful baby, very content. Everyone says that.


Mason loving his little brother. Wow look how jaundiced he is!
The BIG brother Jacob & Samuel.
Gary with his "3 sons". Look at that nervous face!
All my men together, as I prepare for my last night in the hospital before Samuel and I come home. It only took 5 whole nights there! We went home Monday early afternoon.

I am very grateful for a body that allowed me to carry these 3 handsome boys and the blessing that they are in our lives. Each one a unique spirit and personality! I hope that they will always feel like they are loved and a part of a happy family.