Shmu has arrived!!!!!!

Rudy and I proudly introduce....

Kyle Dakota Martin

Born July 22, 2009 at 7:08am

5 lbs 7 oz and 19 3/4 inches long

I'm so sorry it has taken me soo long to let you know. We were in the hospital from Tuesday evening until Friday evening and it's been so busy here at home trying to take care of everything. I keep trying to sit down and blog but something or someone :) always interrupts me! So, I can hear Shmu stirring and soon he will want to eat, but I'll write as much as I can now.

I think I mentioned the doctors were worried that he might be a little small and not getting enough nutrients or oxygen. We went in for a test and Shmu did well, but had one heart deceleration (that means that the heart rate dropped too low). They sent us to Labor and Delivery to monitor Shmu. We stayed there for 7 hours hooked up to machines. It was a long and tiring night. Shmu passed the test, but had another deceleration. They told me to come in the following day to test Shmu again. So, I went to the hospital thinking that I would just be going in for a simple test, but while we were there, Shmu's heart rate dropped multiple times and for longer periods of time. The doctors told me they would induce me. That means that they gave me medicine to start my labor. I got induced at 8pm. At 7:08am, Shmu came. Rudy got to catch him and announce to me that it was a BOY!!

Shmu apparently had been moving soo much in my belly that he had twisted his cord so much that not enough oxygen was getting to his lungs! He came out just fine though and he is healthy!! He spent a day in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), just like my friend Esther's babies. He had low blood sugar levels due to being so tiny! He's half the size he looks in the pictures. Sooo small and cute! :)

We are home now, and all is fine! We are LOVING this little bundle of joy! We can't believe Shmu is finally here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Some more pictures:

Right now, Shmu's eyes are dark blue.

Daddy had to study for a test while we were in the hospital.

He was a little distracted though! :)

Good to hear from you!!

I love hearing details about your summer break! A lot of you are in school for at least part of the day and I enjoy hearing what you're learning or what classes you're taking. Valerie, it sounds like some tough classes and lots of work! Doris, sounds fun to get to swim every day! Melissa, how cool you found out a friend of yours is also related to you. I wonder if she'll be there again this year? Angel, wow!! I am sooooo glad you enjoyed your D.C. trip! That makes me so happy to hear! I would love to know more. I emailed your parents a letter (all parents got the same letter) at the end of the year and they have my email address so please write me more details,k? Otherwise, email me your phone number and I'd love to call and hear about it. William, I'm glad you're having some fun while in school! Sounds like you're already feeling comfortable with the campus and will feel much better about your first day of school with already having been there a lot. Good for you!

I can't comment about everyone, or I'd be here awhile, but I love ALL your updates!

Shmu is doing great! At first the doctor was concerned that Shmu was too small. Tell that to Stephen Chien!! :) I haven't gained any weight in over a month and my belly is measuring too small. So, we had a bunch of tests for Shmu on Friday, and Shmu passed! I was hooked up to a couple of monitors that measured Shmu's heartbeat and we had to get Shmu moving to see if his/her heart rate would accelerate. The test was designed to see if the baby is getting enough oxygen. Well, Shmu was sleeping at first but then Rudy spoke to it, and the heart rate went up instantly!! It was so cool! Then, Ru picked and poked at it and Shmu started squirming. We can't figure out if Shmu likes daddy "playing" with him/her or if Shmu's annoyed by it and tries to get away. Either way, it got Shmu moving and he/she passed the test! :)

Then we got to see a picture of Shmu on an ultrasound. Shmu was big to us! The picture was pretty funny looking though. They measured how much fluid I had in Shmu's home. You remember how dehydrated I always was? Well, there was enough liquid in there! Yeah!! :)

Now we are home, waiting to find out from the doctor what all the tests say to us. We hope Shmu is growing well and doesn't have any complications. I am 37 weeks pregnant and have only 3 more to go!! :)

Ok, I'd better go now! Take care everyone. I'll post updates on Monday if Shmu is ok or not!

Love,

Mrs. Martin

Hi M-Team!

How are you all? It's been awhile and I'm sorry for my absence! We've had family visiting us from out of town and it's been a busy, busy time. I'm feeling pretty tired and am excited to take it easy now. Hopefully, things will calm down for us and we'll be able to enjoy these last few weeks before Shmu comes. I just had a baby shower with friends and got some pretty fun things! I'm going to be washing Shmu's clothes and getting our hospital bags ready for the big day!

What are you guys up to? Who's had the best summer? Who's had the worst? Anyone still going to summer school or taking any classes? How are they?

How that our guests have gone and I have my time back to myself, I'll be sure to blog more often!

Let me know how you all are!

Love,

Mrs. Martin

Happy month of July!!

Can you believe it's already July? It seems as though once July hits, summer really flies by! I really want July to fly by because then I get to meet Shmu!! :) I'm getting pretty uncomfortable at this point and would love to have Shmu out, instead of in! We're painting, getting new carpet and setting up the crib in the next two days!! I'm so excited to get ready for Shmu. I'll post a picture when it's all done.

What are you doing this week? Do any of you have plans for the 4th of July? My brother and sister in law will be here from Chicago and after the weekend, we're off to Santa Barbara for a week. I'm really looking forward to that as it will be our last vacation with just us and no baby! :)

Miss you all,

Mrs. Martin