Grandma Kay and Grandpa John visit

And of course, Grandma Kay and Grandpa John had to make a trip up from Georgia to see our little Kennedy. We enjoyed nearly a week with them before they had to head back. We got some time in at the river where Abraham went fishing with Daddy and caught a few fish!










We are really blessed that our parents all get along and enjoy doing similar things. The 2 couples spent the day at Green Dragon Flea Market in PA and got to share in the finding of lots of neat things.

Dad, Mom, Kay and John

Going Home!

Well, after 17 days in the NICU, Kennedy was finally ready to come home! And we were ready to be a family of 4 again. We are blessed to be taking home a healthy 5 lb 10 oz baby boy. It was great to see all the NICU doctors and nurses that we grew to love when Abraham and Moses were there but we do hope to not have to see them ever again :)

Praying...

Kennedy still isn't home yet after nearly 16 days in the NICU. He is doing GREAT when it comes to eating - he is up to 5 lbs. 9 oz!! He has had some dips in his heart rate that the doctor is keeping an eye on. After talking to the doctor today, we are hopeful that tomorrow (16th) will be his homecoming day. We are praying that if Kennedy is ready, that the doctor will know that and will send him home.

ps. As of today - between bedrest with the boys, NICU time 4 years ago and NICU time now - we have spent 103 days at GBMC. I know that isn't anything compared to other families but it's been MORE than enough for us... and I've truly had ENOUGH of this place!

Abraham was very excited to hold his baby brother for the first time.

Kennedy had to pass the car seat test - 90 minutes in the car seat without his stats going haywire. He passed with flying colors! He looks so stinking tiny in that carseat!

Abraham was really sweet, rubbing Kennedy's head and singing to him to get him to stop crying.

Me and my 2 favorite boys!

Kennedy Jay Ragan

Sleeping peacefully

Out like a light - already he fits in with my sleep loving' boys!

A VERY proud Aunt KK - She wasn't here for the boys birth so it was only fitting that she was not only here but able to be in the OR when Kennedy was born. My boys are so blessed to have her as their aunt!

No longer the Ragan 3 - now proudly the Ragan 4

Kennedy either thinks Daddy is funny... or he has gas :)

My boys

Abraham was being a big helper with feeding Kennedy his bottle.

A VERY proud Mimi - again!

Kennedy Jay Ragan

Well, it's been a little bit since I have put anything on my blog but it's for a good reason.
We got a surprise package - arriving nearly 5 1/2 weeks early

Kennedy Jay Ragan
5 lbs 3 oz
18 inches long
April 29, 2010
11:30 pm

I had gone to the OB on Wednesday and he said everything looked good and that we were right on schedule. I joked with him about not doing a preemie again this time and he said just make it to 36 weeks and we'll be good! Wasn't feeling good all Thursday, lots of what I THOUGHT were braxton hicks (fake contractions) but what I figure now was the beginning of labor. By dinner I was REALLY uncomfortable and my belly was getting tight every 5 minutes. After dinner I was doubled over and knew that something wasn't right. Called my sister and she said call the Dr. He told me to come in and get checked out - good thing I did!

Got to GBMC by 8:20pm and had to answer a ridiculous amount of questions to be registered. I could barely talk the contractions were so bad. They checked me out and confirmed I indeed was in labor and was about 3 cm dilated!!

They took me to a delivery room where I had to wait for about 30 minutes to get an epidural. Meanwhile, I'm texting my co-workers to tell them what was going on. Got a text out to my sister - PLEASE COME NOW! to which she responded I'M HALFWAY THERE! My next thought was "Oh crap! Mom is going to have a heart attack. She's in PA!"

Got my epidural and was in heaven! Man those things are the best! Dr. Naumann had me push for about 20 minutes but Kennedy's heart rate dropped with each push. He didn't like that so we opted to do a C-Section, which I was fine with.

They allowed both Michael AND Kari in the OR which I was really grateful for. Not only was she there for moral support but she was our photographer. That let Michael be with me and Kennedy. He was born at 11:30 on the dot. As the NICU team worked on him he let us all know that his lungs were working just fine. As soon as I heard him cry, the water works started for me! They did all their stuff with him and then I got to see him before recovery. It all happened so fast. I was glad that the anesthesiologist didn't have to give me any more drugs to calm me this time. I was able to hear Kennedy cry and savor the moment.

You can only imagine the surprise in the GA grandparents voices when Michael called to let them know Kennedy was here! They were flabbergasted along with us!

As of now, Kennedy has been in the NICU for 8 days. We expect him to be home in the next 4-5 days, a much shorter stay this time than our last. It is neat to see all the same nurses and staff in the NICU and for them to remember Abraham and Moses as well. We are much more at peace and are more calm this time around. Kennedy is at a totally different place than the boys ever were. We are still taking it one day at a time and I am making use of the time to recouperate from surgery.

We are ALL excited to have our little Kennedy HOME with us!

I had gotten the epidural and all was well in the world!

Daddy checking Kennedy out, making sure there were 10 fingers and 10 toes.

Our sweet boy - Kennedy

Don't you just love the feet? :)

A proud momma

Would you be my Neighbor?

On the weekends, everybody comes out to play in the lot next to our house and they often bring their dogs. There are quite a few BIG dogs in the neighborhood but that doesn't seem to phase Clancy. I think he thinks he is one of them! He gets right in the mix and plays. Miles (black lab) doesn't care much for Clancy but Chester doesn't mind him in the least! It's fun to watch them play.

Clancy and the stick that is 3 times his size!

Clancy and Miles - Clancy is CONSIDERING taking the stick from Miles.. changed his mind shortly after!

Clancy and Chester

Eleanor is one of the twins from next door that Abraham enjoys playing with.

Ruthie is the big sister from next door - only a month older than Abraham. They get along well.

Do you REALLY have to take more pictures mom? Yes son, I do!

Day in Havre de Grace

Abraham and I got to go to one of Alex's lacrosse games in Havre de Grace today. It was a beautiful day, although a bit windy. It is for certain that Alex has found his athletic niche in lacrosse. He isn't afraid to get hit AND to hit and get right in the middle of the pile fighting for the ball! Guess fighting with Chloe served him well! We were so proud of him and can't wait to go and see him play again.

A proud momma and her boy

We hit the playground down by the marina for some play time after lunch. It's a great playground, nice and big for LOTS of kids! My monkey liked climbing on everything he possibly could!

Chloe girl

Smiles all around!

We walked on the promenade down by the water where the kids found a wealth of cool stuff to look at. Alex found a shell with the animal still in it and did his big brother duty to make sure they other 2 got to see it.

This kid LOVES being outside!

Now where is my pocket...?

We stopped at Bomboy's for ice cream after walking on the promenade.. unfortunately it was farther down the road then ReRe thought. Oh well, the ice cream was worth it! :)
Me and Alex

Abraham and his chocolate cone

Kari and Chloe

Easter Egg hunt at Mimi's with the cousins

Alex and Chloe were dying to do an Easter egg hunt too, so we brought our eggs over and hid them. Alex's neighbor friend Chris joined them too.

Easter 2010

Daddy and Elliott help Abraham find all 30 eggs!

Ready to hunt!!

The Easter bunny put money in some of his eggs, so he made sure he got every last penny and put them in his piggy bank!

Dying Easter Eggs with G'ma Kay and Elliott

My mother in law is a former art teacher and is SO great with the hands on artistry stuff. She and Abraham sat down on Sunday to paint eggs and did a great job! Uncle Elliott got in on the action as well. This occupied Abraham so I could hide the eggs outside for him to find!