Sutton Update 1/4/18

Hi Family! 

I know it’s late (or early depending on who you ask) but we wanted to update everyone on how great Sutton is doing. 

We’ve received the most humbling amount of messages, phone calls and offers of help the last few days and we want you all to know how thankful we are! I’ll keep this as short and sweet as possible (haha!) , but so many of you have reached out and have asked how Sutton is doing, his prognoses and the “plan” for him to be joining us at home soon, a group email seemed like the best way to share the details with everyone.

As to all know by now, on 1/2/18 @ 9:48pm we welcomed Sutton Hayes Bench into the world, at 35 weeks, weighting 4lbs 4.6oz, 17.25 inches long and despite being tiny, is happy and relatively healthy. For those that didn’t know, due to my early delivery and other factors of delivery with Dayton, Sutton’s arrival was already scheduled for 4 weeks ahead of his true due date. So we were “somewhat” prepared. That said, little man had other plans and decided to arrive 5 weeks early via c-section. Sutton is currently in the NICU @ TMH but, oh my gosh, doing so, so well over all. Just growing!! He has a few things to learn before he can come home, but he has no current complications other than his size! He is just receiving light support (oxygen, fluids etc) to make his growing a little easier on him. We don’t know how long he will be in the NICU but we don’t believe it will be as long as his big brother. Who, speaking of, is dying to meet his baby brother and has been such a trooper these last few days! We are blessed with with two amazing little boys! Thankfully, Dayton has been with his grandma (my mom) & his aunt lindsay (my sister) the last week and is now at our home with Bonnie (Jason’s mom). Keeping up with his busyness, and never ending inquiring mind can be daunting so we appreciate all the attention he’s revived. He goes back to his normal school routine today and his teachers are excited to give him some extra TLC and celebrate him becoming a big brother! I will say he has done remarkably well despite so much time away from Mommy and Daddy. He even got to play in the snow with grandma on Tuesday (See the attached picture!) 

As for me, my c-section was quite rough in comparison to my experience with Dayton so recovery is going pretty slow for me, but we are managing and I’m starting to feel a little better. It’s becoming a little easier to make it back and forth to the NICU when needed which right now, is my priority. I hope to be discharged on Friday or Saturday.

Jason is doing well too! It’s not easy juggling Dayton’s schedule, my care taking needs, staying on top of work and everything else at home but he is taking it all in stride and being wonderfully helpful and supportive. I know he’ll be happy to be back in a real bed vs a hospital chair when they kick us out of here.

Overall we are all doing awesome! Baby is awesome, Big brother is awesome and mom and dad are...well, surviving...lol! I know we are biased but Sutton is so, so cute. Little patches of what most are saying is red hair, which Is getting blamed for the feistiness the nurses speak about! I’m not sure if I should be nervous or proud about that. Stay tuned.

Really, Jason and I want to thank you all for your support. We know that without you all, these wonderful (and challenging) days would be far less easy to navigate. We are so sorry if your calls or messages have gone unreturned. We did receive them and appreciate them! Love to all of you!

K, J & D Bench