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.
28 August 2007
23 August 2007
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.
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.
20 August 2007
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!
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!
17 August 2007
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.
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.
16 August 2007
He's Here!!
I know, I know...so what good is a blog if I don't update it? Oliver James has arrived, and boy is he CUTE! I went in for the c-section on Monday morning as planned. I woke up in the middle of Sunday night with some crazy contractions, and thought that I might have him a few hours early. But it was like my body knew this was the last good sleep it was going to get for a while, so the contractions died down and I was able to fall back to sleep until it was time to get up at 6:30. The alarm never went off, but luckily I woke up and we got to the hospital on time (barely).
So I think that everyone knows that I was nervous about the section. It turned out to be okay, but I don't think that I would ever choose to go that route. I was monitored for about an hour before-hand -- hooked up so we could hear the baby's heartbeat, given an ultrasound, and discussed basic medical history. I also got an IV line in my hand, which I did not like. Based on my reaction to that, I got even more scared about the spinal.
And then it was time -- I went in to the OR ahead of Tim, where they adminsitered the spinal. I hated that. The procedure is similar to getting an epidural, but I guess last time I was in so much pain that the pain from the epidural didn't bother me. This time, it was all I had to focus on. I jumped when they put the needle in, and really, really, hated the feeling of the medication going through my legs. The whole thing was just uncomfortable and nasty. And of course I thought that I was the one person for whom the medication wasn't really going to work. Of course, it did, and from the time I started to go numb, things got a lot better.
Tim came into the room and sat next to me. Before I knew it they had started the incision. Literally, I didn't know it -- I thought they still had to do a test or two to make sure that I was numb. But Tim told me that they had already started. And a few minutes later the little man was born. Our doctor brought him over hanging upside down, and that was the last we saw of him for a while. They fixed me up and brought me to recovery. I actually felt pretty good. And the best surprise was that they wheeled Oliver in for a quick visit. It was so amazing to finally see him! Just the day before I had been worried that he wasn't moving enought, and there he was in all his baby glory moving around right in front of me! I fell in love all over again :)
A lot of our family had come for the birth, so we had a lot of visitors. Tim took everyone to lunch, and I finally went up to my room and got settled in. The deal was that I couldn't go to CHOP to see Oliver until the doctors were satisfied that I had recovered enough. So I made the quickest recovery possible -- I've had people comment all week that they can't believe I'm up and around, but being able to see him was the best incentive possible. Believe me - I paid for it later!
Oliver has his own adorable little cubby in the NICU. He is just the cutest baby since Mac. they have the same squishy face, but Oliver is a lot smaller! He was 6 lb. 11 oz. when he was born and about 20 inches. I don't have my pictures on the computer yet, but I promise they will come soon. For the first day, we all just looked at him and touched his arms and head in his little isolette.
On Tuesday he had his surgery. I was really nervous but things went well. The scar looks ugly, but they say that he healing well. I will FINALLY get to hold him today at 4 pm -- a full 48 hours after his surgery. I cannot wait.
Have to go see him now. Will update later.
So I think that everyone knows that I was nervous about the section. It turned out to be okay, but I don't think that I would ever choose to go that route. I was monitored for about an hour before-hand -- hooked up so we could hear the baby's heartbeat, given an ultrasound, and discussed basic medical history. I also got an IV line in my hand, which I did not like. Based on my reaction to that, I got even more scared about the spinal.
And then it was time -- I went in to the OR ahead of Tim, where they adminsitered the spinal. I hated that. The procedure is similar to getting an epidural, but I guess last time I was in so much pain that the pain from the epidural didn't bother me. This time, it was all I had to focus on. I jumped when they put the needle in, and really, really, hated the feeling of the medication going through my legs. The whole thing was just uncomfortable and nasty. And of course I thought that I was the one person for whom the medication wasn't really going to work. Of course, it did, and from the time I started to go numb, things got a lot better.
Tim came into the room and sat next to me. Before I knew it they had started the incision. Literally, I didn't know it -- I thought they still had to do a test or two to make sure that I was numb. But Tim told me that they had already started. And a few minutes later the little man was born. Our doctor brought him over hanging upside down, and that was the last we saw of him for a while. They fixed me up and brought me to recovery. I actually felt pretty good. And the best surprise was that they wheeled Oliver in for a quick visit. It was so amazing to finally see him! Just the day before I had been worried that he wasn't moving enought, and there he was in all his baby glory moving around right in front of me! I fell in love all over again :)
A lot of our family had come for the birth, so we had a lot of visitors. Tim took everyone to lunch, and I finally went up to my room and got settled in. The deal was that I couldn't go to CHOP to see Oliver until the doctors were satisfied that I had recovered enough. So I made the quickest recovery possible -- I've had people comment all week that they can't believe I'm up and around, but being able to see him was the best incentive possible. Believe me - I paid for it later!
Oliver has his own adorable little cubby in the NICU. He is just the cutest baby since Mac. they have the same squishy face, but Oliver is a lot smaller! He was 6 lb. 11 oz. when he was born and about 20 inches. I don't have my pictures on the computer yet, but I promise they will come soon. For the first day, we all just looked at him and touched his arms and head in his little isolette.
On Tuesday he had his surgery. I was really nervous but things went well. The scar looks ugly, but they say that he healing well. I will FINALLY get to hold him today at 4 pm -- a full 48 hours after his surgery. I cannot wait.
Have to go see him now. Will update later.
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