Welcome, cousin Michael!

Well, Aly's twin cousin Michael wasn't supposed to say hello to the world until June 3, which is when Aly is due to make her appearance. But, well, nature had other plans. Amniotic banding caused his right arm to stop growing after his elbow, and lately it was cutting off his nourishment from the placenta. If he'd stayed inside his mommie even one more week, he would have died. Thank goodness for modern medicine. The little miracle baby was born six weeks early and is obviously a fighter!


Michael Allyn Dimock joined this world on April 22, 2009, weighing in at a whopping 3lb 11oz, and measuring 16 inches in length. He was breathing on his own, but it was labored, so he is getting a little supplemental oxygen. He started getting jaundice today, so he's under powerful heating lamps with his little baby goggles on (it's like he's in a tanning bed). He's feeding through a tube, but his intake has already doubled per feeding since yesterday. He's a good sucker and loves his pacifier. His mama, my sister Rachel, will be leaving the hospital tomorrow, but Michael must stay in his current accommodations until he holds his body temperature on his own, feeds without a tube, and breathes without oxygen. It'll probably be a few weeks yet, but I'm positive he'll be just fine. He's such a strong little guy. I can't wait to meet him!