Happy Birthday Baby Eli and Welcome Home!

After only 3 1/2 hours of labor and arriving only 12 short minutes after we got to the hospital, Eli Daniel was born on April 15 at 9:12 AM. He weighed 7 lbs, 2.4 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. It was a crazy, whirlwind start to our morning, but the day got even more surreal when we were told that he was born with a birth defect called an imperforate anus. We got to spend only a couple hours with our new baby before he was whisked away to Toledo Children's Hosptial. Chris left Flower Hospital to stay with Eli and thankfully I was discharged a few hours after that so I could join them too. Eli spent the next week in the NICU where he underwent a colostomy and was tested for a variety of other possible defects that are associated with an imperforate anus. We were incredibly relieved when all his tests showed that he was healthy in every other way and he recovered like a champ from his surgery. He's our little trooper. We got to bring him home on April 21 when he finally got to meet his big brother Colin. Colin was so excited to meet his baby bro and immediately wanted to hold him and kiss him. He is absolutely in love with Eli and is incredibly sweet with him. We're still trying to adjust to life as a family of four, but we're so happy to at least have everyone home together.

Happy Birthday Eli!

Enjoying some time together before Eli was transported to Toledo Children's Hospital

Eli with Daddy in the NICU

Our sweet baby all hooked up to monitors, IVs, and a feeding tube

Finally off the monitors!

Ready for discharge :)

Colin *loves* his new baby brother

Eli

Colin

Happy baby

Welcome home!