David's Prayer Angel Bear

Since we left so suddenly for the hospital, we didn't have a chance to grab a bear for David. When Grandma Robbins went to the store to get some snacks for us (and a few cute preemie outfits for our little guy!), she came back with a bear for David. When we pushed the bear's tummy, he said this prayer:

Now I lay me down the sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

May Angels watch me through the night,

And keep me in their blessed sight. AMEN.

When Bill and I first heard this, we had uncontrollable tears falling down our cheeks. At that time, our little David was in the isollete where we couldn't hold him except for feeding times. We felt so helpless and knew we could only turn to our God for strength and peace. Before we left David each night, we let him listen to the bear's prayer and then prayed as a family for David's little body to get stronger and for mom and dad to continue to rely on Jesus to heal him and give us peace; with the understanding that God loves him more than we do. We have continued this since we brought David home. We put him in his craddle, listen to the bear and then pray over our David and for our new family. Although we understand that the bear doesn't keep him safe, it is a reminder to us to fully rely on God to watch over the son He has entrused to us.

Just two nights ago, David was awake when we put him in his bed. He listened to the bear, then closed his eyes and fell asleep!

Here are some pictures of his bear in all the different 'beds' he has been in, including our arms!

Bath Time!

David's first bath was the day he was born while he was in the NICU. Daddy got to help out and learn how to wash him carefully. I was still not feeling great, so I sat and watched! He didn't like being washed, but LOVED having the water pour over his head and belly! He's definately his daddy's (and DanDad's) boy!

After visiting with Chuck and Nicole, we gave him his first bath at home! I didn't want to make the water too hot, but I think I didn't make it hot enough. It got cold too fast and he wasn't as pleased this time with the water on him!


Here he is in daddy's arms after his bath!


Sweet little boy!


Daddy drying David off!


Playing with our little guy after his bath!


After that tough work, it was time for a nap!

Uncle Chuck and Aunt Nicole came to visit with a friend!

Our friends Chuck and Nicole came to visit on Saturday with the latest member of their family: A Siberian Huskey named Keena. She is so cute and David woke up briefly to look at her!

Our first day at HOME with David!

It is a JOY to have our little man home with us! When people ask how we are doing, Bill puts it perfectly:

"We are wonderfully exhausted!"

David's bed for the time is a beautiful craddle made by Great Granddad (Donna's mom's dad). We have our room set up with the craddle and changing table. David will be in our room for a little while as we all adjust to our new, amazing life!


Thank you again for all of your prayers and words of encouragement through this. Little David is doing great! He's eating just fine and all the other bodily functions are doing their job!

DAVID CONRAD ROBBINS COMES HOME!

David came home with us on Friday, May 23 - His one week birthday!

Wednesday and Thursday

A lot has happened since we last posted. David progressed very well Wednesday and Thursday. He is eating completely on his own and is enjoying life in his own crib, unassisted by heat or light therapy! He's getting ready to come home!

Here are some of our favorite pictures of the end of the week!

The picture above in Wednesday night and the one below is Thursday night. Although he lost an ounce, the nurses have said that he should still be able to go home Friday!

Pictures of David, Mom and Dad

Thank you so much for your emails and comments about our little bear! We are so thankful for your prayers as David is doing better and better every hour. The latest as of Tuesday evening:

*David is off the IV for glucose and is maintaining his own blood sugar levels. He is only tested every other feeding (every 6 hours) now instead of every feeding. If he keeps his levels up through midnight tonight, he will only be tested once a day as he has shown that he has passed this hurdle.

*David's temperature has remained consistent even though he is receiving less heat from his isolette. Another hurdle jumped!

*David has been eating every other feeding through the tube and the other ones from a bottle. If he continues to keep his blood sugar up eating this way through tonight and tomorrow, the nurses have said that we can start feeding with a bottle every time and see how he does.

*Right now David has a photo light shining on him (this is why he is wearing the cool sun glasses!) to help with jaudice. He will be finished with the light tonight at 8!

*As of Sunday night, he had lost weight and was back to his birth weight (although it is normal for newborns to loose weight, premies can't afford to). Monday night, he had gained 4 ounces. He'll be weighed again tonight.

Keep puttin' on the ounces!

Here are some more pictures of our bear cub!

About 12 hours old.


I'm 24 hours old!

I LOVE holding my dad's big fingers

Uncle Casey, Auntie Bess, and cousin Bailey came to visit on Sunday morning. Casey got to hold David because they visited when Bill was feeding him.

Bailey brought some very special presents for baby David: A soft blanket just like hers, a baseball outfit with a baseball on the butt!!, and an outfit with frogs on it!! THANKS COUSIN BAILEY!

On Sunday evening, David was placed back into his isolette. While it was getting warmed up for him, he needed to increase his body temperature. So Daddy HAPPILY cuddled with David chest to chest. Check out the video...Daddy just soaked it all in.


Bill decided to go back to work on Tuesday, so his mom brought me over to the hospital to be with David during the day (thank you, grandma!). This is Bill holding him after being at work all day and REALLY missing his little boy!


Thank you again for your prayers and words of encouragement! Keep checking back for more pictures and updates. We are hopeful that David will be coming home with us in a week or so. We are anxious to have him home, but only when he is ready. As hard as it is to wait, we know that he is right where he needs to be now.