February 13th, 2010

Our second son has arrived!! Alot earlier than expected, but still here. He still doesn't have a name, but I promise--we are working on it!! His weight was 1 lb 11 oz. And he was 12 3/4 inches long. Jacob was born at 1 lb 2 oz and 12 inches long. So, needless to say, Thing 2 is bigger than his big brother was at birth. The blood flow from the placenta to the baby was not where it should be. And my blood pressure was starting to go up. Rather than letting me lay there have the baby and I suffer, the decision was made to take the baby.
Jacob was allowed to see him for a few minutes. Kids under the age of 13 can not go into the NICU during RSV season. That is going to make things a little difficult for the next few months, but we will manage. Jacob thinks he is the best little brother ever. And he said he loves him very much already!
Today, I was able to see the baby three times. His oxygen is only a little above room air (we breath 21%). His vent setting is only at 20 bpm. Meaning, that the vent is only giving him 20 breathes per minute, and he is doing the rest. He is not "eating" yet. But I have started to pump breast milk. No, I don't have alot of milk yet, but it is starting to come in. At first he will only get 1-5 cc's of milk at a time.
Most of the time this is considered "the honeymoon phase". Everything can seem like its great and grand, BUT things can change quickly!! Greg and I know that from experience!! Our hope is for a short, boring NICU stay. Thing 2 seems stronger that Jacob did. Hopefully he will be home by his due date of May 14th.
I do have pictues, but don't have a way to upload them. I promise to do that soon. I am still in the hospital, and maybe in here a few more days. The doctor has not made his decision yet. My blood pressure has went down ALOT. So much so, that they are thinking of decreasing my medicine.
On a side note, Greg got me the most BEAUTIFUL yellow roses today. I will post pictures of them. This is only the 6th time he has ever gotten me flowers. Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

What to do, What to do

Bedrest is boring. I think they need better cable at the hospital. Did you know there are 6 different Judge shows on during the day? Crazy... I have learned how to take naps. No, I am not a nap taker. But that helps me pass the time. And there is LOTS of time to pass during the day at the hospital. Greg did spend the day with me at the hospital. He worked here from the hospital. It was nice to actually have someone else to talk to in the room.
The doctor told me today that everything looks like it suppose to look at 26 weeks. My blood pressure has gotten under control. We spend 3 hours a day chasing down the baby to put him on the heart monitor. For some reason, thing 2 thinks its fun to run from the monitor. He likes it when the nurses have to "look" for him. My blood work is still normal. And I am allowed to take showers and go to the restroom. I mention this, because with Jacob I was NOT allowed to do this. Tonight I will be getting a differnt type of IV line. I am not on IV fluids, but we have to have the access. It took them 6 tries, Yes I SAID 6, Tries to get an IV port in. Then it blew out. They tired 1 more time, making my total sticks at 7. The doctor then decided we would go in a different direction for IV access.
Thanks for the prayers. We would like for Thing 2 to stay in AT LEAST until March
1st. Any extra days would be extra gifts. Keep sending the prayers up for us!!

In the Hospital

On Tuesday, I was put into the hospital on bedrest. So far, nothing REALLY bad has happened. YES, its going to get boring. But if I can hold the baby in for at least 3 more weeks, it will be best for the baby. I am allowed to get up- which I wasn't allowed to do when I was in here with Jacob. Looks like we are going to have another early miracle. This baby is bigger than Jacob was at birth, and we want to keep it that way. Hopefully in this 3 week stay, the lungs will grow and so will the baby. To us, a 2 pound baby is a fatty.

Snow in TN!!

It doesn't snow often in the south. The last time it really snowed like this was in 2003. Jacob was only small then...Not even 2 yrs old yet. Now he is 8 and it snowed. He has played and played outside in the snow. Greg and Jacob decided to go sledding at our elementary school. The school is built in the a bowl with lots of hills behind it. Here are a few of the pictures of them enjoying the sledding. Thing 2 and I did not trying sledding. We just went along just to take pictures!

Ultrasound Pictures

Here is our New addition at 23 weeks.



Here he is at 19 weeks!


Here he is at 21 weeks!

25 weeks!!

Today I am officially 25 wks pregnant. This is HUGH for me. With Jacob, at 25 weeks I was so sick and I was put in the hospital on complete bedrest and TONS of medicine being pumped into me!! My blood pressure did go up last weekend, and on Monday I had to make a drs visit. He increased my medicine and told me to slow down a bit. I am on my feet alot during the day, so I am no longer doing cafeteria duty. I miss seeing Michelle everyday weekday. I will be a weekly visitor to my doctor from now on. I have now had 3 ultrasounds since week 19. The baby is now at a weight of 1 lb 4 oz. That is bigger than Jacob was at birth. I am hoping for a bigger baby if he has to come early. We still don't have a name for the baby. Jacob is determined that the baby WILL be named Jackson. Greg and I haven't even talked about a name. The baby may be nameless for a few days after birth.

Break is ALMOST over!!

Today is my last day of Christmas Break. I dread going back just as much as Jacob does. He says he is not feeling well. I don't feel good either. I think its more, I don't want to go back rather than an actually sickness! I had TONS of plans for things than needed to be done over the last 2 weeks. I hardly got anything accomplished. I need another week just to do those things. I should be doing something OTHER than playing on this computer.
I have a doctors appt this afternoon. Just a blood pressure check. So far so go, but since Jacob was so early we are being a little more careful this time. I do feel better than I did with Jacob. That should be a good sign. I do meet with the High Risk OB tomorrow. Just in case he is needed!!