Lucas Jeffrey

Last Friday morning, Echo and I got to drive together to Sheridan to await the arrival of our new nephew. We knew we were having a nephew and that he was going to be big, but we didn't know how long we would have to wait for him!

Daunee' started the induction process at 5 p.m. on Thursday and was pretty heartbroken about having to do it. She so wanted to go naturally, but the due date came and went and her midwife was pretty nervous about the size of the baby. By the time we got to town Friday morning, nothing much was happening; and that was the case for the entire day!

I wish I had taken a picture of our family in the middle of the night Friday. Mom was stretched out on a loveseat and Echo and Dad were curled up in small chairs. Daunee' was only supposed to have 3 passes for guests, but in light of the fact that she is a nurse at the hospital and it was so late, no one cared that we were around. We took turns going to check in on her. She had an epidural so she was in pretty good spirits. At 3:40 a.m. Mom came to wake us up and told us Daunee' had been pushing for about 30 minutes. So we ventured off to finally meet our precious new package!

Mom, still smiling despite having little sleep!

Echo, on the other hand, could have killed me for taking a pic!

After three hours of pushing, we finally had a baby! Lucas Jeffrey was born at 6:14 a.m. He weighed 9 lbs. 4 oz. and was 21 3/4" long! Everyone was right about him being big, but all the nurses who bet Daunee' would have a c-section were wrong! Great work, Daunee'!

Lucas Jeffrey getting his first loves from Mema Wilson.

The nurses were so great-they held up Lucas for all of the flashing camera lights.

I'm not sure if you can tell, but Damion is thrilled to be a Father for the first time.

Damion's kind of a poop, though. He never wants to cuddle and kiss his nieces and nephews, but he announced how much fun it was to have a son to smooch!

I love this pic...Dad didn't leave Daunee's side until he knew she was all clear and the doctor had finished with her. But he is clearly staring intently at what is going on with Lucas across the room.

'Nae Rabbit was totally exhausted, but thrilled to meet her baby boy. She's going to be a fantastic mom!

Dad getting a peek at Lucas up close.

Once all the excitement died down, we left Daunee' and Damion alone and went for breakfast, then back to their place to take naps. I was thrilled that I got to sneak back in before I left town that afternoon to see and hold Baby Lucas for the first time. He is so heavy already! I'm pretty positive he'll be twice Rylan's size by the time he's a month old.

Already sporting a Harley hat and totally content!

It was a blessing to be together as a family for the arrival of our new miracle. Lucas' arrival came at a time when we have all been on edge with Aiden and his seizures. It was a diversion we all needed. Would you please keep praying for my favorite oldest nephew, though?? He continues to have small seizures (sometimes as many as 15 in 25 minutes), and so far the doctors just want to keep increasing his meds. Along with that, Echo and Paul got a letter from the insurance company stating that Aiden's stay at St. Luke's in Denver was not necessary and thus they wouldn't be paying. That is a battle they really don't need to fight right now. We know and understand that God is sovereign and that He will work all together for His glory. It's hard in the midst of the pain, though, to know how or when it will be all worked out.

Family is precious to me right now. I pray that in this season of giving thanks it is meaningful for you, too. Shaun goes back on days tomorrow so we won't get to spend Thanksgiving with him. That breaks my heart. We had a small dinner last night to make up for it but we'll still miss him! I hope that yours is full of fabulous food and great company!

Oh, and congratulations to my best friend Elizabeth, who welcomed her own Baby Lucas today! Now to figure out how Rylan will keep the new babies straight...