Welcome to the world little Michael Kenneth!

I was so fortunate to be able to fly to San Diego for the birth of my sister's baby (her 7th!). Emily and I arrived on Friday morning at about 10 a.m. My sister wasn't supposed to be induced until today but last Friday, she just wasn't feeling good and the baby's movement had really slowed down. The perinatologist decided to start Pitocin at approximately 7 p.m. They wanted to take the induction really slow... Hadley wasn't fully dilated until about 7 a.m. the next morning. The baby was posterior (facing up) and therefore, took a little longer to enter the world. The doctor had to use the vacuum to get him out - his heart rate kept dropping really low.

Sweet Michael Kenneth Schneemann was born at 8:21 a.m. He weighed 5 lb. 5 oz. and was 19" long. He didn't really cry at all when he was born and had a hard time breathing. His APGAR's were 5 and 9 at 1 and 5 minutes. My mom and I left about an hour after he was born to go home and get cleaned up.

At about 10 a.m., we got a phone call that Michael was retracting while he was breathing so they were taking him to the nursery. Well - long story short, they tested his blood and his hematocrit was 15, hemaglobin was 5. Those numbers are really, really low. Scary low.

They did a partial transfusion exchange. Two nurses sat at his bedside with a unit of packed red blood cells. One nurse injected 10 ml of the new blood while the other nurse took out 10 ml of Michael's blood. A tech constantly monitored his vital signs. This process took over 4 hours for one unit.

After a couple of days of discussion, the doctors have finally decided that Michael had a fetomaternal hemorrhage. Basically, they think that a finger of the placenta broke off and his blood was gushing into Hadley's system. They believe that Michael lost over 2/3 of his blood volume. They think that this happened around Tuesday night/Wednesday morning when Hadley started feeling less movement.

What a miracle it is that Michael survived... Had they waited one more day or until the next Tuesday to induce Hadley, he probably wouldn't have made it. His body somehow coped with the incredible blood loss and protected his vital organs. So far the testing has not shown any damage to any of his organs or systems. They did a CT of his brain, which was normal.

Since the transfusion, they have been working on his eating/feeding. He gets tired really easily so breastfeeding has been a challenge. They did move him to the step-down unit tonight - one step closer to going home. His hematocrit is up to 38 and his body is producing red blood cells.

How grateful we are that Hadley listened to the Spirit and her body and went in on Friday. Everything worked out as best as it could. Heavenly Father truly does perform miracles and has a hand in our lives. Not only did he bless Hadley and Michael but the doctors and nurses as well. The doctors have been amazed at the amazing outcome that he has had. I saw the blood that they took out of Michael... It was thin and watery. Once the blood had a chance to settle, the few red blood cells settled to the bottom and it truly hit home how few red blood cells he had.

Michael's brothers and sisters are SO in love with him and he will be the prince of the house when he comes home. If all goes well, he may come home tomorrow or Thursday.

Emily and I are supposed to fly out tomorrow but I may leave Thursday. This little boy is going to grow up so much by the next time I see him.

Please keep Michael and Hadley in your prayers.

Right after birth - you can tell how pale he is

In the NICU

Same camera after the transfusion.

What a difference!