Update, finally...

 This is when I got to see Pierson for the first time in NICU right after recovering from c-section.
He had a ventilator in to breathe.

 Within one day, Pierson went from ventilator to oxygen mask, then one day on that then graduated to nasal cannula, by Tuesday afternoon was breathing on his own. Once he was off the ventilator, I could hold him against my chest for skin to skin holding. Here is his nasal cannula.

 There is nothing that makes me happier than to be able to hold this precious little baby. For all the work and sacrifice it took to get him here, it was worth every second. He is very calm, mellow and sweet.

 They had his oxygen mask off for a minute getting things situated. He does have an iv in by his umbilical cord where he is getting a lot of nutrition. His feeding tube in this picture is in his mouth, but now is in his nose, since he is breathing on his own. He is getting "feeds" every 3 hours of my milk and doing really well with it. They are increasing his "feeds" amount to try to get him up to a full "feeds" when his iv needs to come out in a few days, hoping they won't have to put another iv in his arm or leg. We are hoping and praying for that. He started out with 4 cc (5 cc is a teaspoon) of milk for a couple of days. When I left this evening, his feed was 11 cc. He has been doing great with it.

 This is him holding Chris' wedding ring. Just tiny. This is his oxygen mask.

 This was my first time to hold him Sunday night when he was off the ventilator.

 Here he is under the billi light for jaundice. These are his cool shades. His nurses called him Hudini because he can get out of them in a matter of minutes. He also started using a full size binki and loves it.

 He loves kicking out his legs and being free.

 Look at that foot! It is perfect, even though it is so small.

 He looks hungry to me. He has started acting like he is ready for more milk when it is time for a "feeds".

 Yesterday he had his eyes open quite a bit. By the time Chris grabbed the camera, he would start crying.

 The nurse was handing Pierson to me. Again we missed the eyes open. Now that he is off the billi light, I can hold him whenever.

This is one of our favorite pictures of Pierson taken yesterday during a holding. He was also smiling quite a bit in his sleep and here we got an almost smile with the eyes open. He is an angel. Thanks for your patience getting these out.

I am doing well. The c-section went better than I anticipated. I was a little surprised by my swollen legs and feet for the first week. They have gone down a little today. But coming off of bed rest and from surgery, I guess that happens. Now that I am released from the hospital, I am anxious to go back to be with my baby. I know he is well cared for there. Pumping milk has become my life and is constant. He will be one week old tomorrow. One of the nurses called him a rock star. He is doing so well. We are so blessed! Thanks for all your love, thoughts and prayers! Keep them coming for just a little bit longer!