33 weeks... Birth Day!

We didn't post a 33 week belly picture as usual on Wednesday.

Jenn began having regular contractions at 9 AM and they just kept coming and coming! After 16 hours of labor, Baby Olive was born,
Luc Emilio Esperanza Dionne,
at 1:01 AM on June 1, 2006 at UNC Women's Hospital in Chapel Hill.

Luc is premature, at 33 weeks and 1 day gestational age, but nobody bothered to tell him. He weighs 5 lbs., 14 oz., which places him above the 90th% in weight for his gestational age. He's 18 1/4 inches tall. He is currently recovering in the Neonatal ICU (NICU) but is not expected to spend much time there as he was able to breathe unassisted from the moment he was born, and has had consistently reassuring vital signs.

This morning, Jenn and Paul went to see Luc for some kangaroo care and his first feeding. After a few tries, Luc latched on like a champion and had his first meal! The neonatologist is very optimistic about his prognosis. They have recently turned off his heater to see whether he can maintain his body temperature by himself. So far, with breathing going well, self-sufficient feeding, independent temperature regulation, and no signs of infection, Luc is likely to be discharged from the NICU by the end of the day!

Jenn is recovering well and both parents are floating in the clouds with their little baby boy who keeps acting like a full-term baby. We are truly blessed!

Stay tuned for pictures...