Okay - so not technically the first time since I have nieces on my husband's side of the family and my sister has a two year old girl, but on Thursday my sister gave birth to her second child - a little boy.

It was a whirlwind of events because the baby was 5 weeks early. My sister's husband had just left the day before with their 2 year old for a family reunion in Virginia. A lot of his family had never seen the little girl, and this was also going to allow my sister some "down" time from her 2 year old (who wanted "up" a lot!) and start getting things ready for the baby.

Thank goodness my work had issued me a Blackberry and my sister had the number. My sister is deaf so she cannot just "call." And fortunately I checked my phone for e-mail and messages just before leaving for work as she had just text-ed "My water broke!" I don't live that far from her so I drove over to her house and got there as she was putting things in an overnight bag for the hospital.

As I drove her over, her contractions started and they were very close together. I was afraid she was going to deliver in the car! We made it to the hospital and got her in the Delivery room about 90 minutes before she gave birth to a 5 pound baby boy.

I was using her phone to text her husband (he is also deaf) to give him updates during delivery. My Mom got to the hospital about 30 minutes before the baby was born and I was able to get a couple of photos with her phone (my phone and my sister's phone do not have a camera) so I could send my sister's husband a photo of the newborn!

My sister was so-o-o not ready yet that they hadn't even decided on a name. The name is still being debated (her husband's family is weighing since he's in the middle of the family reunion), so I don't even know what to call the little guy.

He's in the neo-natal intensive care as a precaution since he was 5 weeks early, but so far everything looks good. Bummer is I am not allowed in the nursery to see him since I am not "immediate" family.

But I broke about 10 traffic laws to get her here!!!!

Also fortunately, my client was understanding when I had to postpone the meetings I had scheduled that day.

Congratulations! :-)

Congratulations and what a wonderful story to tell this young man when he gets older.

Congratulations. I'm glad everyone is doing well.

You mean his name isn't already designated as Earl(y)?

Congratulations! Such excitement - it will be a story that will last a generations in your family

BTW, my daughter was born 5+ weeks early, they also had her in NICU for observation for 48 hours and everything was perfectly fine. It sounds like your nephew is doing great!

Let us know when you find out the name.

I was an uncle for the first time back in '68....

congrats Princess

Congrats on the new little member of the family.

I get to be an Aunt again in the next few days - looking forward to seeing my first nephew.

Thank you everyone. We have a name - Bryan Quinn Phillips! He is still in NICU for a couple more days. They put him under the blue light special for jaundice as his blood count was up just a bit. He should be going home in just a couple of days.

It's so weird for me because it seems like only yesterday that my mom was bringing my sister home from the hospital. My sister was kind of a "mid-life" surprise - she's 14 years younger than I am, so I was kind of like her "second" mom when she grew up. So I'm an aunt but I also kind of feel like a grandmother!

Well my sister is running into the medical profession's prejudice against deaf people. They won't let her take the baby home unless she can have a hearing adult in the house 24/7.

Because Bryan was premature, there is a statistical increase for SIDS, so he has to be hooked up to a monitor for heart rate and breathing. The problem is, the machine sounds an alarm and the doctor is afraid my sister and her husband won't be able to hear it. There is no monitoring machine that emits a strobe light for the alarm which is what they have for the doorbell and what they used for the regular baby room monitor for their first baby.

My sister is having a very emotionally difficult time with this because she feels she is being told that she's not a good enough mother to take her baby home.

Mind you, the baby has not had any health issues in the NICU and WOULD have been released already if my sister wasn't deaf. However, since both parents are deaf, the doctor is now saying the baby may have to stay in NICU for another 4 to 6 weeks! Basically, the doctor doesn't seem to trust that 2 deaf parents can be capable of caring for an infant - even though they already have a happy and healthy 2 year old! (Both the 2 year old and the baby have normal hearing.)

Any deaf advocates out there who can give any advice? Or know of a SIDS monitor that flashes an alarm?

National SIDS support: 800-221-SIDS

Angel care makes movement monitors for babies. You might try calling them to see if any of their products works with lights when the alarm goes off

Angelcare Monitors Inc.
Head office
3980 St-Ambroise street,
Montreal (Qc) Canada
H4C 2C7
Phone : +1 514 761-0511
Fax : +1 514 761-4618

Customer Service Canada & USA: 1-877-281-8827


I hope your sister can find something that works for her. It's horrible that the doctor isn't trying to help them research this.

And tell her to call an attorney who specializes in children's issues. I understand the doctor is looking out for the baby but I don't think he has any right to be holding the baby hostage. Maybe the threat of taking it before a judge will shake the baby loose from his clutches.

How old is their first child? Even a toddler could easily learn to tell mommy if the machine went off.

Lastly, if Angelcare can't help you with the monitor, call an electrician and explain the delimma. I'd be willing to bet they could wire something up that would flash all over the house in nothing flat.

Sorry. I'm a 'git 'er done!' kind of girl. When faced with a problem of this sort, I grab my phone and fire up my computer and don't let up until I have the situation resolved. Help is out there for your sister and her son. You just have to find it.

Thanks! A different doctor was on duty yesterday and they are going to see what they can work out. Fingers crossed and Bryan can come home soon!

Their daughter is 2 years old and has not yet seen her baby brother!

Time for Auntie to go fetch the daughter and take her to meet her brother in the hospital, even if it's through a window. Hospitals allow sibling visits these days.

Keep us posted. I'm praying for all of you.

Thanks - my sister knows I am available if she needs me, so I am waiting to hear from her on what's next.

Thankfully the baby is doing well.

Another suggestion from my audiologist better half: "Check the Alexander Graham Institute for the Deaf. Ignorant doctors! This has PR legs written all over it!"

Sounds like little Bryan is doing well!! That, of course, is the most important thing. My little man was born 7 weeks early and was in the NICU for 3 1/2 weeks, so I understand the anticipation to get the heck out of there! Also, our bill for this time (tests included) was about $120k.....thank you, insurance!!

Things will work out. Pass on a hearty congratulations to your sister and brother-in-law from the father of a fellow-preemie!

I'd suggest contacting this organization for advice and assistance. I'm outraged that the doctor is so insensitive!

National Association of the Deaf
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 820
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3819
TTY: 301.587.1789
Voice: 301.587.1788
Fax: 301.587.1791
http://www.nad.org

And congratulations on your new nephew, Bryan! Babies are a miracle and a gift. I just became an aunt again a week ago, too! Nothing in the world like it. Enjoy!

I have one of these at home and love it. I don't know if they make any that have flashing lights, but the handset DOES vibrate when the alarm goes off, so maybe there is a way they cuold set it up to feel the vibration?

Thank you everyone - I am passing these suggestions along to my sister. I let you know any updates!

Congratulations on the new baby! I am thrilled that he is healthy and that your sister is as well.

This seemed interesting: http://www.harriscomm.com/index.php/hc-imonitor-vid.html

Update - my sister's strobe light monitor lights up when the Apnea alarm sounds, so now she will spend a night in the hospital while they test to see if she wakes up from the strobe.

If all goes well, Bryan could go home this week!

Just wanted to let everyone know that Bryan is now home! He is doing well and now my sister has her hands full with a 2 year old and a newborn!

::LIKE:: button!