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Before the epidural...

...after the epidural. :)

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This is the first device Andrew was in, for 8-9 days, where he was heavily monitored and his body heat totally controlled.

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Right after birth; his APGAR score was 5 at 1 minute, and 8 at 5 minutes after birth.

This was way too short a visit, as the NICU doctors waited to wisk him away...

Baby's weight, ~ 20 minutes after birth

The "arm splint" is to protect the IV needle, or his arm, depending on how you think of it...

About 35 hours after birth (5/26/05)

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Ellen's 4th hospital room in as many days... shot of flowers and balloons.

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Dad's tired. So is mom, but she's faking.

Ellen's hand for reference, ~ 46 hours after birth.

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Andrew was never on a ventalator, just oxygen assistance in the nose for a few days.

Andrew needed a feeding tube until he could nurse well. He didn't like it, and had a habbit of pulling it out, thus the excessive taping.

The first "family picture" taken by one of the OPMC NICU nurses when Andrew was two days old.

Proud papa. The "wires" include the feeding tube, oxygen to his nose, monitors for heart-rate, breathing rate, and O2 saturaton, and an IV through which he received nutrients, vitamins and fats (the doctors called them lipids).

Uncle Conrad's hand as a reference!

Tue May 3 05:01:45 2005
Andrew in his "isolet" -- his 2nd NICU home -- where he is more responsible for maintaining his own body temperature.

Sat May 7 11:17:21 2005

Dad snapped this picture of mom and baby in the "bonding room" during a session to practice nursing.

Sat May 7 11:17:55 2005

Sun May 8 17:40:20 2005

Tue May 10 18:28:51 2005
On the 10th of May Andrew was placed in a regular crib, like the "big babies" ...

Thu May 12 21:23:02 2005
2nd night home, Andrew slept on Dad's chest for about 1 1/2 hours while mom rested, showered, etc.