After having contractions on Tuesday night and continual contractions on Wednesday morning, my daughter-in-law Kate drove herself to the hospital for somewhat of a routine check. Josh was at “two-a-days” practice (he was leading and Kate did not want to distract him.) Josh had brought Peyton to Jeana early that morning to give Kate more rest. Mona was at work, Don was doing some legal work in Indianapolis, and if you read my blog yesterday, you know I was consumed.

There are three important factors to remember:

1. Kate was to have the baby by c-section on August 27, even though the baby was not due until one week later. (Josh’s team has its first game is on August 31)
2. Since Peyton was a c-section baby, Parker Thomas was to be as well. Of course, the doctor’s desire was that nothing “close to labor” would occur and concern occurs when it does.
3. This was three and one-half weeks before the actual due date.

Now that you know these facts, let me tell you what happened.

Within a couple of hours of Kate’s arrival at the hospital, they were preparing her for a c-section. Earlier, Jeana had delivered Peyton to Josh on the football field due to an appointment she needed to keep, so Josh left the football field with Peyton, Mona left work, Jeana left her appointment, I cancelled the rest of my appointments for the day, Don tried to get back from Indianapolis, and Rick (Kate’s brother) came and got Peyton from Josh. Wow! Phone calls and text messages began to fly.

Just after 3:00 p.m. yesterday, Parker Thomas Floyd entered the world. He was 6 lbs. and 14 ounces, and had he been full term he would have been over 8 lbs like his brother Peyton, and perhaps bigger.

Since he was pre-mature, Parker Thomas is struggling with his breathing as he has fluid in his lungs. He has shown some progress, but to this moment none of us can hold him, including Mom and Dad. We are all concerned as you would imagine and praying for him continually. Please join us in this journey of prayer. They are watching him continually, monitoring everything on him.

Thank God for the blessing of new life. Just think, less than two years ago, we had no grandchildren. Now we have three: Peyton Elliott, Reese Caroline, and Parker Thomas. Peyton is just under two, Reese was born in May, and now Parker was born yesterday.

Christmas will be different this year! Thank God for our new gift, Parker Thomas Floyd.