Hi everyone. It's been awhile since I have been able to update. Kayson now weighs 17 lbs and 12 oz!!!!! Isn't that amazing? Sure can't tell he is a preemie now. We went for our 6 mth checkup and was referred to the ear nose and throat Dr. for a follow up hearing test and about a seal sounding cough that he has had since about 3 months. The pediatrician has been watching it and was thinking it was scarred tissue due to him being tubed for the vent. in the NICU. Unfortunately the ENT jumped on it and said no way!!! So we are scheduled for a scope at Lebonheur to find out what's going on. Please pray that it is something minor. This is hard for me b/c I don't like the idea of him being put to sleep. It just scares me. I know they do it every day but it's still scary. Will update when we find out more.

This picture was taken at my brother David's wedding. Kayson is really losing his baby hair. He had so much pretty black hair when he was born and now it's gone bye bye. He is such a little sweetie. I am so blessed to have two wonderful, healthy children. Thank you Jesus!!

Hi everyone. I know it's been awhile. Kayson is doing absolutely wonderful. He weighs 13 lbs and 11 ounces the last time we were at the Dr.
Lillie Grace is just a little mother and loves him so much. We had a very tough beginning thanks to colic and acid reflux but thank the Good Lord for Zantac and colic drops. We are now doing A ok. I will send new pics soon. Some days he looks like Daddy and some days he favors sister. Lillie Grace couldn't ever make her mind either who she was going to look like until she got about 6 mths old. Guess he's doing the same thing. Stay tuned for new pictures...................

Lesley and Keith

Kayson is HOME!!!

Lesley, Keith and Lillie Grace are welcoming baby Kayson home today! God is GOOD! The hospital released him earlier today and he is to go straight home and stay unless he has a scheduled doctor's appointment. He has several upcoming appointments with a cardioligist, nephrologist, eye and hearing tests etc just to make sure he is on track. I will post pictures at a later time. Les and Keith feel truly blessed to have their baby home. Visitors are limited so please call instead of dropping by -PER DOCTOR'S ORDERS!

Please pray to keep everyone healthy in the household, "no germs allowed!" :)

Update

Just thought I'd update a little on Kayson...He's still in the step down unit at the hospital and is progressing very well. He's actually ready to come home but his blood pressure is keeping him in the hospital. The high blood pressure is such a mystery! They've had heart, brain and kidney specialists in to evaluate and so far they cannot find the cause of the problem. Doctors are trying to regulate his blood pressure so he can indeed come home.
As of today, Les said that they have called in a kidney specialist one more time to rule out any kidney problems. Please pray that the blood pressure will remain back to normal and there are no anomolies with the kidneys.

Step Down!

Kayson has progressed so well that he has been moved down to the "step down" unit. This is for the preemies that are no longer as critical. He is now taking his bottles during the day and the feeding tube at night. If they can get him to drink bottle only, the faster he can come home.

The only problem that has risen is that Kayson apparently has high blood pressure. The Doctors have performed the necessary tests on brain, heart and kidney to rule out any source of the pressure problem. Thankfully all tests came back normal which is such a BLESSING! Kayson will just remain on medication to control his blood pressure as needed.

Improvement!

Lesley has been going to the hospital daily to see baby Kayson. They actually took his pick line out which is proof he's doing great. He now weighs 6 lbs and is taking his bottle but he is also still being fed through his feeding tube. He is taking a total of 50 cc's of milk which is such an improvement. Les just wants to try to get him on the bottle only, but the feeding tube is still necessary at this point for nourishment. Lesley commented to me that he looks more and more like Lillie Grace every day. Lesley has been in good spirits since being with him yesterday and actually getting to see the improvements hour by hour. Just PRAY for him to start taking his bottle on his own for all his feedings.
In Christ,
Susan

February 6th 2009

More Pics!

Check this good looking baby out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In these pictures, he's 6 days old!

February 6th 2009

Lesley and Keith visited on Thursday with baby Kayson and got to see more improvements! His jaundice is getting better and they actually took him off of the spotlight. He was lying on a heater in his bed which they have removed also because he is maintaining his own temperature now. The physical therapist came by and told them that he is doing great. He does have a feeding tube in which they are giving him 10cc of milk. The goal is to get him on the bottle and start taking 50-60 cc of milk before he can go home. He does take the bottle at times, but hopefully he will start taking ONLY the bottle. He now weighs 5 pounds and 6 ounces. Please pray for nutrition, weight gain and no infections!

Finally!

Lesley finally got to hold Baby Kayson yesterday...when she got to the hospital the nurse was actually feeding him by a bottle. I haven't spoken to Lesley directly since Kayson took the bottle, but MiMi June said that she believes he took the bottle well and it was digested. Let's just cross our fingers and hope that each feeding will be that successful. Lesley took more pictures so stay tuned...

A Smile...

Baby Kayson got his oxygen tube off of his face and you can really tell more about him now. Lesley says he is just BEAUTIFUL. He even smiled and is opening his eyes up a lot now. They might possibly get to hold him for the first time today. He's had some jaundice and has been under the light but his bilirubin tests revealed it's lower today, therefore, the light is working! They are still giving him milk but it's still not being digested. Please pray for him to beging digesting which will promote nutrition and more weight gain.

Les's home!

Lesley and Keith came home late Sunday evening. Baby Kayson is still in NICU and has lost down to 5 pounds 3 ounces. The nurses plan to give him 5 cc's of milk and they were going to check him later and see if he's digesting it. Please pray that he will succeed in taking in the milk! Please continue to pray for Lesley and Keith because it has been very difficult for them to leave Kayson at the hospital. Lesley's mother in law, Ms. Gail, is taking her today to go for a visit.

I'm the big sister!

Lillie Grace stayed the weekend with them! She sporting her "I'm the Big Sister" t-shirt! She is so happy to have a baby brother!

Sunday, February 1st 2009

Good Morning! Just got off the phone with Keith and Lesley and they are possibly going to get to come home today. They are ready to get home and start scheduling their time to go see Kayson in the hospital. Kayson is not digesting his milk, therefore, he's lost down to 5 lbs and 6 ounces. Lesley of course is concerned but this is very typical for premature babies. He also has a little jaundice and he's under the light. If you go visit him in the hospital, you will be able to see him through the glass! The nurses will hold him up so you can check him out! On a positive note, his breaths are still great. They are gradually taking him off the little oxygen tube in his nose, which is a great sign! Lesley is requesting prayer for Kayson to start digesting his milk!

I almost forgot! They have given him a pacifier and he sucks on it naturally, which is also a good sign. It takes some babies weeks to do this after being born premature.

It's a GREAT Friday!

The nurses are feeding Kayson some with the tube (dropper) not sure what you call it. (of milk) and he's still doing great. Lesley is excited that Lillie Grace is coming to stay for the weekend at the hospital. Lesley will be coming home Sunday and she's ready to get home and get back on schedule with Lillie Grace. She's going to miss the baby but she did find out they can stay overnight at the hospital one day a week and stay with Baby Kayson. Hopefully they can bring him home when he's between 34-36 weeks...he's just got to stay a little longer! Please pray that Kayson's health will progress normal with no setbacks.

I've got more pictures to post...stay tuned!

JANUARY 30th 1:00am

Lesley reports...
It's 1:00 am and I just got back from seeing Kayson. He is doing good. He weighs 5 lbs and 13 oz now which is not bad. Again, he's off the ventilator! Praise God!

JANUARY 29TH 2009 7:19 PM

A message from Lesley...

I just want to thank everyone for the prayers and calls. Praise Jesus Kayson is now off the ventilator. Keep praying that he continues to progress and gets to come home soon.

Lesley and Keith

First Picture!

Baby Kayson Ray Hopkins has made his debut into the world! He is doing well! Look at his hands!!! He is just so amazing. He is taking 20 breaths per minute on the ventilator which is Great! Everything is going as normal as can be!

Lesley has been in some pain from the incision over night but has plans to go and see Kayson this morning. Mimi June and Keith got to go into the nursery last night and see him and give him a touch! Please continue to pray for patience for Lesley and Keith in the upcoming days!

JANUARY 28TH 7:00 PM

Baby Kayson is here! Apparently this afternoon, Lesley went into LABOR with SEVERE contractions that moved so fast that an emergency c-section was required. Baby Kayson arrived between 4-5:00 this afternoon. Lesley was so far along in labor that a spinal block had to be done instead of an epidural. Sounds like everything went quickly.

I was told by Keith that Kayson weighed 6 lbs,6oz but MiMi June revealed to me this afternoon that the nurse said 6lbs...I'm sure Keith was a little nervous and was just a SMILING DADDY when he heard the number 6!! I still can't believe the little fellow has turned into a big fellow!!! In addition to his weight, he measured 20 inches long. He is now in the NICU on a ventilator, which is very standard of any premature baby. Keith asked the nurse if Kayson is having to be administed a large amount of oxygen and she said "very little." GOD IS GOOD!

Lesley is still in recovery trying to overcome the shakiness from the spinal block but she is just thankful Kayson is here and in good hands. Mimi June is hoping they will be able to see Kayson through the window tonight! I can't wait to post some pictures!

Emergency C-Section Wednesday 3:47 pm

Lesley is being taken to have emergency C-Section. Do not know any details...Will post as soon as I get more information...PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JANUARY 28TH 2009

Good news once again! The ultrasound went great again today. Lesley got to see Baby Kayson take breaths for an entire 30 minutes which revealed no distress at all. Her fluid level is even better today and they seem to think it's because Baby Kayson's head is down. Lesley seems to be in good spirits. She enjoys seeing everyones comments on all the prayers that are being said for them. She says THANK YOU!

JANUARY 27TH 2009

Just spoke to Lesley, and her daily ultrasound revealed that her fluid levels are a little up today. YAH!!! The ultrasound was a score of "8" again today which is the highest you can get. Again, the doctors have told her that this news is encouraging, but things can drastically change and still prepare yourself for the baby to come any day. Again, it's all in God's hands.

Lesley is in room #220 if anyone wants to drop by...she CAN have visitors!

Happy Day for Lesley!

Lesley had a great day because Lillie Grace got to stay with her for awhile. But it was SO SO SO sad to see her leave. Lille Grace started to cry. She misses her Mommy so much. The nurses actually told Lesley today that Lillie Grace can stay all night on the weekends so Lesley is excited about the upcoming weekend with Lillie Grace.

As for Lesley and baby Kayson...the ultrasound this morning showed everything the same except for the fluid level. It's below normal, but still within limits for baby Kayson's safety. Lesley has to drink several pitchers of water all day long in addition to her IV fluids to keep her fluid levels up! Lesley appreciates all the visits and phone calls from everyone. Her and Keith both know how many prayers are being said for them!

JANUARY 26TH 2009

Good Morning! As of this morning Lesley is still doing the same. They are giving her IV fluids to keep her fluid levels up which will provide more amniotic fluid for the baby. Her contractions have been very few overnight which is also a PLUS! She will have another ultrasound this morning to verify everything they are doing for the baby is in good standing. Please continue to keep them in your prayers!

JANUARY 25TH

Still no baby-which is good! Lesley is still having pretty rough contractions so they put her back on the iv fluids. The doctors are still just observing her and keeping her lying on her left side...I think she is getting tired of that position. Will update if I hear any more before bedtime.

January 24th 2009

As of this morning Lesley seems to be in good spirits. Ultrasound tests have confirmed that baby Kayson is still doing well and contractions have stopped. Her fluid level is still good which is a great sign and continuation of antibiotics are still being administered due to risk of infection. The doctor plans to take her off the meds that stop contractions tonight to see how well Lesley can tolerate it. If contractions persist, then baby Kayson will be here very soon. If they subside, Lesley will remain in the hospital for up to 4 weeks before delivery. Please pray for strength for their family.

January 22nd and 23rd 2009

Lesley's water broke today at 31 weeks. She is at the Baptist Women's Hospital in Memphis, TN. Her doctor has performed several ultrasounds and it appears that baby Kayson is doing fine. The doctor has administed magnesium sulfate to stop the contractions along with steroids to increase lung development on the baby. Please keep them in prayer.