New Baby Pictures

Here's an update on our littlest cousin, Mark Samuel.


Mark is 10 weeks old and 7lb, 4oz. He needs to learn eating is good for a growing boy but so far he seems to be doing well for his adjusted age. After all those weeks in his bed at the NICU unit, he does not like to be put down- To be held and cuddled is much better! :)




Grandmom and big brother James try holding a coversation with Baby Mark. (John is trying to be a mouse in the background!)

Home At Last

Yesterday at about four o' clock Mark was coming out of the van!


Mark slept through all the happy greetings and kisses of his six siblings and three of his cousins. He came home with his heart monitor but without his feeding tube- for which we were all very grateful for!


Touching their brother for the first time


Macey was delighted with "baby"


The sister line up- Nellie, Cloe, Macey and Jaime with their mom passing Mark from person to person. Macey held him the most because she would cry if anyone else held "her baby". :)


Amy spending time with Mark under the watchful eyes of his big sister :)


James holding his brother for the very first time.


The finished banner hung down from the 2nd floor

God is good.

High Anticipation

This past week we have been babysitting the children at home while both Uncle James and Aunt Penel have been at the hospital working to get Mark home. From Monday until today they have been at the Ronald McDonald room at the hospital with Baby Mark feeding him around the clock, getting ready to care for him on their own and learning how his heart monitor works.


Back at home the kids worked on a huge poster saying "Welcome Home Mark!"


Even two year old Macey wanted to help color.

Mark's bed is all ready for him and the house is clean.

We're more then ready for you Mark!! :)

Baby Mark is on his way home!!!!

It has been a long journey of prayers and hope for little Mark since his birth 46 days ago.

These are some our favorite pictures.

Mark and his Mommy

Sleeping

Growing ...

and eating.

Today Mark is expected to be released from the hospital!

Baby Mark

Today Mark is five weeks and 3 days old and still in the hospital. Last night mom was able to get these new pictures of him. Here he is responding to his mommy.


Mark still needs prayer. He may have some heart problems and for now he is on total tube feedings until all his testing comes back. The doctor doesn't want Mark to over exert when trying to suck all his feedings if there really is something wrong with his heart.


Mark welcomes his daddy's visit


Until he can come home Mark keeps his six siblings and parents near by with a picture.

Mark Hits 5lb!!

Mark now weighs 5lb, 1 oz and 3 grams! He had to have his oxygen put back in after we left on the 20th. Today he sucked 12 ml of his bottle and then took the rest in the feeding tube. As soon as he masters eating and breathing totally on his own he can go home to his six eager siblings- most of whom haven't seen Mark in person yet!

Getting Bigger!

Here is another photo update on Baby Mark from today. Aunt Penel isn't allowed to drive for four weeks after her Cesarean so Susan took her to see Mark. He is off his oxygen right now and is doing his breathing all on his own. The nurses have taken him off his oxygen twice already but then he needed it again. Hopefully this time he can be off for keeps!


He is wearing his new preemie clothes!


"Mmm...should I really let Mommy change my diaper or not?!"


Susan holding Mark for the first time

Practicing sucking

Looking at Mommy

2 Week Old Birthday

At midnight last night Baby Mark turned two weeks old! (Today is also his big sister, Cloe's 7th birthday!)

This afternoon Susan caught Mark sleeping with her camera. He is learning to suck his bottle and meanwhile still depends on his feeding tube. He weighs 4lb, 11 oz now- almost back up to his birth weight.

He is just like a baby doll! Isn't he so cute?!

A head full of dark hair

tiny little feet

Mark Samuel Markow

Minutes before midnight on March 4th 2007 God brought a beautiful baby boy into the world. Born six weeks early, our little cousin weighed 4 lbs. 13 oz. and was 17 inches long. Later that night he was flown out to a more intensive care hospital that specializes in premature babies. He has received blood transfusions and is on oxygen and is doing much better now. Though this emotional time God has shown us how precious life is to us. Today, four days later his mom held him for the first time. The nurses have been wonderful helping him in every way possible.


"For this child I prayed for and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him." 1 Samuel 1:27