A Growing Peanut

Our little Peanut is now a little over two weeks old. He now weighs 5 lbs 7 oz and is 18 1/2 inches long. He is starting to eat for longer periods of time and he has already outgrown one of his preemie outfits. Eric and I are staying busy with his feedings. The hospital did fill up and we had to give up our room but we have found that is nice to be in our own bed again. The funny thing about the hospital is how fast the turn around is there. We have now seen 3-4 sets of babies being born and leave the hospital as we come and go to the nursery. One day it can be a ghost town and the next they can be packed. We do plan on going back up there to stay when they want to increase his feedings through the night. Right now my morning starts with an early trip up there for his 5:30 AM feeding. I am trying to nap in between the times he eats but I am still staying pretty tired.

The question that we are all wondering: When does he get to come home?

It all depends on Drew. They want to see him eating on his own for 20 minutes each time, waking up before his feedings hungry and ready to go and eating more than 60 mL each session. We are making small steps that way but we are not quite there yet. He is 35 weeks 2 days today so he is still young. We hope to have him home either by this weekend or by next weekend.

Please pray for these steps of progress.

Here are a few pictures for his second week at the hospital.

Drew sleeping through his bath time!

This weekend Grandmother, Aunt Susan, Jon, Laura, Uncle Ken, Bryan and Lauren all came in town. I took Grandmother back to hold her new little great grandson. She enjoyed feeding him and trying to make him smile!

Many excited onlookers though the window. From left to right: Mom, Eric, Bryan, Laura and Lauren.

The Best Father's Day Present Ever

Father's Day 2009

So today is the first Father's Day for me and it is absolutely amazing. Having a son is one of the most precious things that has ever happened to me in my life. I love this little guy so much and hope that I can be as good of a Dad to him as my Dad is to me.

My parents Danny and Susan were able to fly in from North Carolina the morning after little Drew Grayson Dollyhigh came into the world. We had an incredible week with them here - they helped out so much with everything - from cleaning our house, to mowing the yard, to painting the nursery (with the help of Bruce and Sara), and many other things. But most importantly, we got to spend time with them and watch them bond with their new grandson. That was truly priceless. It was a great Father's Day week!

Smiles all Around

Dad and Drew

I am excited to watch Drew grow and to be the best possible father I can be to him with God's help.

One Full Week

Drew is one week old today and doing well. Eric and I have pretty much taken up residence here at the hospital until Drew is sent home. We feel blessed that this is such a "baby friendly" hospital and allows parents of babies in the special care nursery to stay at the hospital on what they call border status. This means that we have a room and I have 3 meals day as long as they are not filled up here in Labor and Delivery and Drew is here. Starting Wednesday I have ventured home from the hospital and made a few trips here and there. I am trying to take it easy as I recover from the C-section.



Drew is progressing well. He spent one day under the Bili-lights. This is common in preemies and treats levels that effect Jaundice. He is gaining weight and up to 4 lbs. 11 oz. now. We are still unsure of how long he will be here but are hopeful it will be sooner than later.

Drew under the Bili light


Proud Daddy!


Sweet baby!

Please pray for Drew to continue to grow well and to learn to eat on his own soon. Also please be in prayer that a room stays available so that we do not have to leave little Drew and drive back and forth from home to see and feed him. God is good!

Sweet Baby Boy

What a whirl wind these last few days have been! I am not sure quite how many days I have been in the hospital since everything starts to blend together in my mind but this has been the most wonderful time of my life. Drew is doing great. He is still in the intensive care nursery where they monitor him around the clock. They were able to take out his little IV this morning and he is still breathing on his own. In order for him to come home he has to do 4 things. He has to be off of all medication, breathing on his own, eating on his own and able to keep his body temperature up. The only thing that we are waiting on is the eating. Right now he eats out of a feeding tube. Babies this young often do not have the suck-swallow-breath coordination figured out yet. That is what we are waiting on to develop. Eric and I can still go in and hold him during feedings but he is getting his food from a tube right now. They are guessing that he may be able to come home in about 4 weeks or so.

I already love him so much. He is so precious! God is so good and even though he was so early, we know that none of this takes God by surprise! We have so much to be thankful for!

Happy Birthday, Drew!

Hi, everyone! This is Kristin (Amy's sister) filling in as resident blogger for the day to let you know that Drew Grayson Dollyhigh was born today, 7 weeks early!

Amy went into labor yesterday morning, and even the best efforts from the wonderful staff at the hospital couldn't convince Drew to wait any longer. He was born via c-section at 5:35pm, weighing 4lbs 15.7oz, and 17in long. We were all concerned about how he would do once he got here, but he's breathing great on his own and didn't even require a stay in the NICU. The doctors are hopeful that Drew will be able to go home in about 2 weeks, provided that he is eating well and no other complications arise.

Amy was very brave, and did a great job these last couple of days. She's obviously tired, but is otherwise happy and healthy.

I know Eric and Amy really appreciate all of the prayers that were said on their behalf today. God is GREAT and has brought us a new, perfect, beautiful life into the family.

Happy Birthday, Drew!

The Highlights: Graduation, Showers and a Growing Belly

Here are the highlights of our last couple of months.

Eric has finally come to the end of his time at DTS. After 5 years, he has a masters and is smarter than ever! :) Some family flew in to join the graduation ceremony and party. We had a weekend of chapels, Bar B Qs , petting zoos, rehearsals, and parties! It was a fast couple of days. Here are a few pictures of the fun!

Eric as he entered Graduation

Just three weeks later we were off to NC for a quick visit and our first baby shower! It was fun opening little baby things and baby outfits.

cute punch!

KK helping Amy

Amy and Aunt Kim comparing baby bumps!

Aunt Terry, Erin and little Sam

Aunt Dena and Afro Cook

Emily and Amy

A diaper cake! What a cute centerpiece! Thanks Gina, Mary Alice and Big Benny!

One of the many cute outfits

All of the guys

He now has quite a good start in his closet. He will be a well dressed little thing. Thanks to everyone who threw the NC shower for us! Susan, Emily, Terry, Kathy, Dena, Gina, Joan, Al, Michele, Kim, & Pam - thank you all so much!!!

We flew back to Texas for me to finish my last week of school and have a second shower with my school. I have a great team of teachers that I work with! They put all of this together!

Cindy, Michele, Me and Kim...I love these girls!


Many fun and creative gifts from teachers! Teachers really know how to put together cute buckets, baskets and tubs! So many cute ribbons and polka dots!


Any finally, here is an updated Drew picture. This was taken at 31 weeks. He is growing everyday. I feel great and am not having problems sleeping or feeling uncomfortable. Now that summer is here and I am out of school I plan on relaxing by the pool and and finishing things up in Drew's room. Leaving school is hard and very bitter sweet. It is hard to think that I will not be returning any time soon. I think Eric said it best as we were walking out of my school room yesterday - he said "God has really blessed your socks off here". God has done great things over the last 2 years and although I am sad about leaving teaching for this period, I know that many new and fun things are approaching very soon.