What's New Pussycat?

Nothing much.


We had our first set of outpatient appointments this week. Orthopedics took 3 1/2 hours. I was insane by the time the doctor came in. Tim is much more patient than I am. Oliver got new casts and we found out that he will go back in two weeks for another new set. This pattern will keep up for about 3 months, at which time they will decide if he needs surgery on his legs. The doctor told us that he likely won't do anything about Oliver's dislocated hips, which is kind of freaky. It bothers me that they are dislocated, but according to the doctor, if they put them back in place, they will probably pop out again anyway.


After the grueling ordeal of orthopedics, we went to see a lactation consultant. Breastfeeding is now the bane of my existence. For something that is supposed to be so natural I am on medication to improve my supply, weighing him before and after every feeding, and then pumping milk on top of that. How unnatural. Wanting to do the natural thing is so very unlike me -- I'm a big believer in modern technology, medication, and convenience. I should know better than to go against my instincts and try the natural route. I'm giving it another week or so before I throw in the towl. At least I can tell him mommy tried.


Our other big news is that Mac starts school this week. I thought it was such a good idea when I signed her up, but now my heart is breaking. I can't imagine sending her into the care of someone I don't really know for 2 days a week. But she seems excited, and I stand by the fact that it will be great for her to make friends and have some structured learning activities. Plus, they make her take a nap. It's actually state law that she has to "rest" for a certain amount of time in school/daycare. If only that was a law for everyone -- I think that every adult could benefit from naptime during the day.


Here are some new pictures as a bonus if you've made it this far down the blog:

On Our Own

So tonight was Tim's first full night back at work. Here is a rundown of what happened on my first night alone with both kids (in no particular order):

Oliver ate the entire time and cried whenever I tried to stop him.

I nearly mangled him trying to get him into a baby sling.

Mackensie peed on the floor.

Sniper stole a poop diaper out of the diaper pail and ran around the house with it while I chased her trying to get it back.

Sniper stole Oliver's pacifiers.

Mackensie bit me in the butt HARD. She wasn't trying to be mean - -she was just "biting my bummy meat," but she doesn't know the difference between pretend biting and really chomping down. I was talking on the phone doing dishes when she did it and she scared the crap out of me.

Mac tried to feed Oliver a bottle of milk leftover from this morning (she had the right idea, but I had to explain to her that she has to ask me before she puts anything in his mouth)

Mac has modified her voice to two volumes: loud and really, really loud.

They are finally both in bed asleep. Not bad at 9:20 I guess. Of course the house looks like a tornado tore through it, but I don't really care. I'm going to bed.

Guess who is home!

Sorry about the delay -- this site was down when I tried to update yesterday. But in the meantime, we got some great news! Oliver came home yesterday. His MRI came back showing that he doesn't need a shunt right now. They told us that 95% of babies with spina bifida do need a shunt eventually, but as of right now, Oliver is good to go. He also doesn't need to be catheterized anymore, which is great. That takes a lot of pressure off of his home care. So with all of that good news, he was ready to come home. This came as a complete surprise to us yesterday -- we were lucky we even brought the car seat. They told us soon after we got there, and after a 5-hour discharge process, home we came :)

I think that Oliver likes it here. He slept for 3-hour stretches last night, whcih wasn't too bad. Of course, he was awake for an hour and a half in between each 3 hour stretch. Mac is a great big sister -- I mean the best. She has already given him a bottle and helped to change his diaper. I think that it will still be an adjustment for her, but so far, so good. I think that Sniper is just pissed off that we brought home yet another person.

In true Lisa and Tim style, we didn't have everything ready for him to come home. Even with all of our time to prep. But we're catching up. Hopefully by the time the weekend comes we will be all set up and ready to move into our new routine.

Yay -- pictures!

Okay -- so here they are! I finally have a little photo tour of Oliver's first few days. Just a quick update -- today is a big day - -he has his MRI, as well as appointments with orthopedics and physical therapy. What we learn today should give us more insight into when he comes home. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers!


Photo: about an hour after delivery, Oliver came to visit us in recovery.


His first close-up.

Asleep in his little cubby in the NICU at two days old.

On Thursday, the first time Mommy got to hold him!

His first kisses from his big sister Mac!

All of us together -- finally!

One Down, One to Go

So right now I am ABD (all but discharged, that is). My official discharge from the hospital is about 3, so I'm going to head over and visit with the little man before I pack all of my stuff and officially "move out." On one hand, I'm so glad to be going home. More time with Mac, all of my own stuff, etc. But I hate the thought of leaving here without Oliver. I also like the 24/7 care and pain meds available to me. I'll definitely miss being able to go over to see him anytime, as well as having people bring food and medicine to me at the press of a button.

They have said the soonest he will be discharged is the end of next week. He has an MRI scheduled for next Monday and I think that will be very telling in so far as whether or not he will need a shunt, which would delay his homecoming. So far he has had 2 head ultrasounds, which revealed that not much has changed fluid-wise since he was born and since he had the surgery to close up his back. I think that if nothing new develops, they will not shunt him for now. However, neurosurgery is never around when Tim and I are, so we get a lot of our information second-hand from the nurses and general physician assistants. I'm sure that at some point, probably after the MRI on Monday, we will get to consult with neuro directly. They say his kidneys look good -- kidney damage is often a side-effect of spina bifida because of the child's inability to fully empty his bladder. Oliver does make wet diapers on his own, but also needs to be cathed every two hours. I'm really hoping that is resolved before we leave the hospital. I can't even take temperatures using a rectal thermometer, let alone catheterize someone a few times a day. He also starts with his leg wrappings on monday to correct his club feet and to slowly ease his legs into a "regular" position. They are now kind of stuck in a "V" shape with his feet up by his head. It looks painful, but since that is all he has ever known, he is actually pretty comfortable.

So the end result of all this is that things look good for now. I got to hold and feed him yesterday and it was the BEST feeling ever (or I should say since I held Mac for the first time). I have to go get my Oliver fix and then Mac and Tim are coming up so we can all hang out together. I can't wait to hold both of my little ones at the same time! I'm so glad for today's homecoming, but it won't be real until Oliver can join us, too.