Baby Pictures

Well, a lot is going on in our family right now. Shocker, right? :-) But the good news is that little Lily is growing and the family is adjusting very well.



Here are some grandparent pics.





Lately, Hebrews 11 has really hit my heart (and head) hard. What does it MEAN to live by faith in 21st century America? I think most of the time we take calculated risks. We do this because 1) we really don't believe in God's sovereignty, not in our heart anyway and 2) its easier. But we're finding out that God has ALWAYS asked His people to do what seem like silly things from the human perspective so that then His glory is manifested all the more.

Heb. 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Heb. 11:13 ¶ All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Heb. 11:14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
Heb. 11:15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
Heb. 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

The question is, will we be exiles?

Our Daughter's Last Poke!

Today we're celebrating Lily's bili levels going down on thier own! Yesterday her levels went down low enough that we were able to take her off the lights, but today's levels were the moment of truth: Would they continue to go down on their own, without the lights? Well, sure enough, her levels went down some more, and her weight continues to go up, so our little girl is DONE with doctors until next Thursday! Yeah! Tomorrow will be the first day of our little girl's life that she is not having her blood drawn. Thank you Jesus!

Hilbilirubin, The Saga

Here is a picture of the contraption. Nice, huh?



It's like a projector hooked up to a vacum tube hooked up to a car filter hooked up to our bionic baby.

And here's a picture of "both" babies. Abby is making a fairly good transition, but please continue praying.



One more thing. Lily's bilirubin rate went up again, not abnormal as day four is the typical day it peaks after birth, but also not great. Please be praying.

Megan and I take great comfort in our Lord's sovereignty and His goodness.

Matt. 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.
Matt. 7:8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.
Matt. 7:9 “Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone?
Matt. 7:10 “Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
Matt. 7:11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Bilirubin. Yes, you read that right. And no. This is not one of Megan's cousins from Seven Mile.

Well. Here is a new one for me. An orange baby and I don't mean those nasty little umpa-loompas from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I'll try to get some shots, although the video I have is absolutely priceless.

So...our little baby has gone NASA and currently has a "light" blanket wrapped around her torso. Probably for at least the next two days maybe longer.

Here's a brief definition that will make you fall asleep but is informative. It is taken in it's entirety from www.kellymom.com:

"Jaundice is due to a buildup in the blood of bilirubin, a yellow pigment that comes from the breakdown of old red blood cells. It is normal for old red blood cells to break down, but the bilirubin formed does not usually cause jaundice because the liver metabolizes it and gets rid of it into the gut. The newborn baby, however, often becomes jaundiced during the first few days because the liver enzyme that metabolizes bilirubin is relatively immature. Furthermore, newborn babies have more red blood cells than adults, and thus more are breaking down at any one time. If the baby is premature, or stressed from a difficult birth, or the infant of a diabetic mother, or more than the usual number of red blood cells are breaking down (as can happen in blood incompatibility), the level of bilirubin in the blood may rise higher than usual levels."

Okay. The good news is that the phototherapy blanket is at our house which means we don't have to spend time in a hospital, praise God. Also, a nurse will come by once a day to check the hill-bilirubin level via a blood draw.

All that to say, Lily is doing awesome other than being orange.

More later.

We're Home!

Lily is doing pretty good. We came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon, and have had a very quiet time here since. Lily did very good throughout the night, nursing a lot but not really crying. Yeah! Today she looked pretty yellow, so we had to take her in for a bilirubin level. Her level is right on the line of needing treatment (12 and up requires bili lights; her level is 12) so her pediatrician said we could wait a day and see if she could balance it on her own. We go back in tomorrow morning for another blood draw, and that will determine what we do. PLEASE pray that her levels go down, and also that if they do not go down that we are able to locate the lights from a healthcare company. Apparently there's been a lot of trouble with that, so there is the strong possibility that we'll end up back in the hospital if her levels stay elevated.

So, other than jaundice, things are going great, and we are overwhelmed by God's goodness in blessing us with this little life. Thank you so much for your continued prayers for our family.

Psalm 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Here are some great pictures of Lily and our other little ladies...

Lily Elianah is here!!!

Hi everybody! Bianca posting again!

Lily Elianah Baker arrived at 11:50 this morning, weighing in at 7 pounds 3 ounzes and 20 inches long. She looks a lot like big sister Jaime-a head full of long dark hair! Mommy and baby are both doing well. Lily had some trouble breathing at first-she was born so fast the doctor didn't make it to the delivery!! But after a good rubdown she started crying.
Lily was having some trouble staying warmed up at first, because of low blood sugar, so she got a bottle of formula and sugar water. Now her blood sugar is stabilized and the nurses keep checking to make sure her body temperature isn't dropping. Megan hopes to go home tomorrow (she's tired of plastic hospital beds!!) but that depends on how Lily does overnight. Pray for Lily to be able to stabilize her temperature soon and to start nursing well so that the Bakers can go sleep in their own beds!
Praise be to God for a healthy baby and momma!!
(PS The delivery went well and Megan is feeling good...or is that the adrenalyn, Tylenol and Motrin talking?)

And here comes the good part!!...

The waiting is ALMOST OVER!!!

Hello everyone,
Bianca updating the Blog here, because...

MEGAN IS IN THE HOSPITAL, and she's not leaving without a baby!!
She went to her ultrasound appointment today, and was dialated to a 5 and was more effaced. Her doctor decided that if they sent her home and she went into labor, she would have her baby on the floor or in the car. Bad scenario! So, she was admitted this afternoon, and will be induced at 7 tomorrow morning if Lily has not arrived before then!

Please be praying for an easy delivery, a healthy Lily, a healthy Megan, and no hemmhoraging! Thanks to all the saints for your encouragement and prayers for this family and this baby! SHE IS FINALLY COMING!!!!!!

Will update tomorrow with birth statistics and hopefully a picture.