News on the baby front

He is five months. Craaazzzzzy!!

He is now rolling over on his own. He is super duper smiley. He is teething like a madman. And he has moved from sleeping bundled up in carseat at nighttime to the bassinet next to our bed. He is growing up!

Benedict has a friend

Is there anything cuter than babies together? This is Benedict's new friend, George, at 10 days old. Such a handsome young man. On Thursday night, good friends invited us to a the Pro-Life Across America Banquet. It was a great evening and it is inspiring to see the good work this organization is doing. Friday evening Mike and I went to see October Baby. An excellent movie, in my opinion. They covered all the bases. It was a moving film and very well done. Also, there are a couple families we know that are hoping to adopt a baby. They are in our prayers as well as the pro-life movement. These little babies are so precious, I mean....what more is there to say!?

And this picture just to show Benedict's smiley self!

A new sibling

Mom and Baby Benedict came home Christmas Day evening and it is good to be home! Things are well and Faustina and Jude are adjusting to having Benedict around the house. Faustina is wonderful with him and loves her new brother while Jude is a bit unsure at times, but seems willing to like him. He will hold Benedict and then say, "I'm done with this!" Benedict is a very good eater; since we have been home he has already gained 9oz and is up to 8lbs 15oz!

Welcome, Benedict Joseph!

Merry Christmas!
Benedict Joseph was born at 1:17 a.m. on Christmas Eve.
Specs: 8 lbs. 9 oz. / 21 in. long / 13 in. head circumference
Both mom and baby are well and we hope they'll be home this evening.
Jude and Faustina anxiously await their arrival! Deo gratias!
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Blessings to you and yours on this Christmas day!

A little tease

Well, this baby number three of ours is certainly keeping us (me especially!) on our toes. S/he already is playing psychological games with me. I was sure this little one was going to have a grand debut last Friday night. I had about 3 hours of serious contractions, my bags packed for the hospital. And then - everything stopped.

Now, yes, the 'official' due date is the 25th of this month. Still a few weeks away, right? Yes, well, since both Faustina and Jude were early, I have been ready for this one to follow that same pattern. Faustina was 11 days early and Jude 13 days early which would be either tomorrow or yesterday if this baby would follow suit. I have been laying pretty low around the house with the constant (good) feeling of anticipation. Meanwhile, the baby does not stop kicking, moving around, poking or punching me. This one is by far the most active in utero.

This baby is the family tie breaker - will the males or females be in majority? Although we have thought it likely for this baby to be a little guy, I really am curious to know whether this one is a boy or girl. Either way, we don't have a name, so that will end up being another surprise for us.

Although I continue to have many contractions, who knows the timing of this one. Maybe if I just keep eating a ton of food like I have been, there will literally be no room left in there and s/he will just have to pop out.....?! 'Tis the season for excitement!

Faustina Elaine 5lbs 5 oz

Jude Michael 7lbs 3oz

First bath

Here is our little boy with a big belly and an amazing mohawk.

Extreme close-up!

Hanging out on a rainy day yesterday when Mom and Jude were gone...

Welcome to our newest member: Jude Michael!

First, I would like to thank my beautiful wife for bearing our little children, and honor her for her grace during pregnancy and during the actual births - she is a wonder. I also honor her for putting up with me - I do not show my love and appreciation for her enough.

Jude was born on Tuesday, August 18th at 9:15 am. He weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. at birth and is perfectly healthy, Deo gratias! (Below is a description of how we came up with his name.)

The birth went wonderfully and everyone is doing very well. We are very grateful and thank you for your continued prayers.

About Jude's name:
Jude
Origin: Hebrew, a form of "Judah". Adjective form of Judas and Judith. "Jude" is an English revision to differentiate St. Jude from Judas Iscariot. Meaning: praise, giver of joy, thanks, "praised one," "from Judah." St. Jude - Apostle, cousin of Jesus, and martyr - is in many ways the patron of my (Mike's) side of the family on my mother's Polish/Italian side. St. Jude is known as the patron for lost or difficult cases, and so his intercession was invoked for various needs, especially when keys or other important items were lost (sorry, St. Anthony)! The shortest book of the New Testament is attributed to him, the Epistle of Jude. He evangelized peoples throughout Mesopotamia, particularly in the region now known as Iraq. At Confirmation, I took the name St. Jude as I had heard about him so much during my youth. Later in life, I had a reversion to the faith of my Baptism and consequently St. Jude was a friend to me during that time. To me, St. Jude's intercession, among other things, was what guided me through complicated times during youth and my formation as a Christian. Cynthia and I invoked his intercession when we heard about a possible complication with this baby's kidneys; the common St. Jude prayer promises to promote devotion to his name... well, the baby's kidneys are fine and we are very grateful!

Michael
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: "Who is like God?", "Godliness", "one who is as God"
His middle name is in honor of St. Michael the Archangel, also one of my patron saints and invoked by Cynthia and I during our prayer times for the past year or so. St. Michael is known for his battling with evil, and "cast[ing] into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls" (from the St. Michael prayer). Jude Michael is also named after me, his father, in hopes that the honoring of his father's patrons will inspire him to be a better man than me, and that he will remember these namesakes as powerful intercessors before our Lord in Heaven during difficult times.






Look at how beautiful Cynthia looks in this photo with our babes!

Prayer Request for Baby Adkins [updated]

On Thursday I had an ultrasound at 21 weeks for our little one. There was nothing unusual about it and ultrasounds are always fun to see the baby moving all over the place.

This afternoon I received a call from our clinic; my doctor called instead of the nurse who usually calls just to say, "Everything looks fine. We'll see you at your next appointment.". Of course, immediately alarms went on in my mind.

She told me that the baby's weight looks good and s/he is on track for the original due date. There are, however, some abnormalities in the baby's kidneys. It looks like the baby has double kidneys on its left side. Since I am only halfway through the pregnancy it is difficult to tell exactly what is going on, but the possibilities are that there are 2 kidneys on the left side or there is a cyst on the one left kidney. I'll be going to a more advanced ultrasound lab in 4-6 weeks to find out more and will probably have an ultrasound every 4 weeks.

Dr. Mary said we won't have a complete diagnosis until the baby is born. She said it is very likely that it is a benign case - what that means I don't know. She didn't offer many details and my mind wasn't quick enough to formulate questions that I thought of later. I asked her if this is pretty unusual and she said yes it is. There was little information online about 'double kidneys'. We will try to assume the best and pray for little Adkins in the coming weeks.

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We'd ask that you pray the Divine Mercy Prayer (on right side-bar) for the little one and/or also the St. Jude prayer (below). St. Jude was Mike's Confirmation name and he's the saint of lost causes; that's why Mike chose him! Anyway, we'd appreciate any prayers. Also, we believe not only in the intercession of our friends and family in life, but those who have gone before us in faith - the saints. We encourage you to also ask for the intercession from these holy men and women who have yet to be canonized as saints:

-Pope John Paul II (+2005)
-Fr. Richard John Neuhaus (+2009)
-Blessed Mother Theresa (+1997)
-John Henry Cardinal Newman (+1890)
-Pope Pius XII (+1958)

Prayer for the intercession of St. Jude

Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Make use I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly - (here make your request) that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever.

I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.

Amen.

A sibling for Faustina on the way!

Cynthia is pregnant!

Based on the information, baby #2 will arrive on August 31st or September 1st! The little one is about 1 inch at the moment and everything looks good. The ultrasound picture (below) on the left shows a nice view with all his/her little limb 'buds' and on the right is a funky 3D picture.

Big sister, Faustina! We'll have to re-name the blog soon!

Bad habits to be rid of at an early age...

For the past few weeks Faustina has taken to the habit of rigorously sucking her thumb to console herself. I left her for a moment on her changing table this morning and I returned to see her voraciously sucking her....big toe! Yuck. Her flexibility is impressive, but Mom and Dad will not allow this to become a habit.

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UPDATED...

Dad chimes in:

"I don't know. It's pretty darn cute when she eats her feet. Besides, she's not walking anywhere to get them dirty anyway!"

chowin' down

Faustina has discovered putting things in her mouth. She incessantly chows on anything, and has discovered that her arms are attached to her body! I wonder if she'll start teething early... hope not!

Whatever Works [UPDATED]

Currently, Faustina's favorite place is.....her changing table! We get the most smiles out of her here and at times can even strap here in here to buy a few minutes to get something done. Sometimes a few minutes is all you need!

--------------UPDATED BY DAD---------------

For immediate press release:

I just want to officially state that we do not run an insane asylum! Looking at the picture of Faustina above, with the yellow wall, her in stripes, and strapped down... no, we don't torture her! The look on her face is priceless too! Also, we don't leave her on the changing table locked down for more than a few moments! I just wanted to calm all your fears!
Maybe we should have a caption contest for this photo!
-Dad

Mama & baby sleeping