Pictures

Understanding the deadly combo

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN): Babies with PPHN cannot breathe properly because they have high blood pressure in their lungs. At birth, in response to the first minutes of breathing air, the blood vessels in the lungs normally relax and allow blood to flow through them. This is how the blood picks up oxygen. In babies with PPHN, this response does not occur. This leads to a lack of oxygen in the blood, and sometimes to other complications including brain damage. Babies with PPHN often have birth defects (such as heart defects) or have suffered from birth complications.Babies with PPHN often need a ventilator to help them breathe. They may be given a gas called nitric oxide through a tube in the windpipe. This treatment may help the blood vessels in the lungs to relax and improve breathing.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS): Babies with RDS lack a chemical mixture called surfactant, which keeps the small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing. Treatment with surfactant helps affected babies breathe more easily. Babies with RDS also may receive a treatment called C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure). The air may be delivered through small tubes in the baby's nose, or through a tube that has been inserted into his windpipe. As with surfactant treatment, C-PAP helps keep small air sacs from collapsing. C-PAP helps your baby breathe, but does not breathe for him. The sickest babies may temporarily need the help of a ventilator to breathe for them while their lungs recover.

My Sweet Son

I gave birth to you, my sweet son;
but I have not cuddled you in my arms.

I gave birth to you, my sweet son;
but you have not suckled my breast.

I gave birth to you, my sweet son;
but you have not clung to my finger.

I gave birth to you, my sweet son;
but we have not held eachothers gaze.

I gave birth to you, my sweet son;
but I have not heard you cry.

I gave birth to you, my sweet son;
but you are not mine, you're HIS.

Happy 3rd Birthday Jacob!

Jacob is now a hearty 3 year old (although if you ask him he will tell you he is 5.) He should feel very loved because his party was Sunday afternoon during an impressive downpour, yet all that were invited trekked out to the city park anyways. Praise the Lord we got the shelter, this many people wouldn't fit just anywhere (14 children, 4 teens and 16 adults from 6 families)
I had all these "Secret Missions" planned on various park equipment, all organized and ready to go; but obviously we had to settle for games that could be done under the covering i.e. duck, duck, goose, and Simon says. I don't think the kiddos cared, they were just as excited to get together! As for me I was happy to go, sitting cozy in a comfy chair.

Happy Birthday our little heal grabber, we love you and are blessed to be trusted by the Almighty to raise you up!

For the Birds

Well, midwife said I'm still the same, 3 cm and effaced, which is the good news I was hoping for. Also, good news for now (bad for later) is that Jamin is nestled down there sunny-side up. Good because it is less pressure, helpful for when you trying not to have a baby, bad because if he doesn't turn I'll get to enjoy the same fabulous back labor I had with Josh. We are praying he will move into position in a few weeks when he can safely arrive. I was really dehydrated again from all the vomiting so I was given two new types of anti-nausea to try. 3 strikes and I'm out. Not only do they not relive the nausea they gave me the biggest headaches thus I've been like a skitzophrenic muttering "this is for the birds."

Moving on, Jacob turned 3 yesterday and I was able to spend a couple hours with him, watch him open the cards that have come for him in the mail and thoroughly enjoy his cupcake. He is very excited to have his "army guy" birthday party in the park on Sunday, I'm still working on getting John to let me go.

Also wanted to share a recent conversation I had with my husband as we climbed into bed:
K: "So if we have the baby all of a sudden, we aren't even close to being ready. I don't even know where the newborn clothes are that all need to be washed, not to mention need to find a place for. And what about the bassinet and car seat..."
J: "I know exactly where the car seat is in the garage."
K: "O.k. and what about everything else?"
J: "When it comes down to it the car seat is all we need so we can take him home."
So as I lay there quiet and the heat rises into my face, I realize; my dear husband is a very diligent, hard working employee, so when he comes home he likes to do things his way and on his terms after being told how and what to do all day. So I decide not fight him on such the subject but you know what, he's right, one really doesn't need anything to have a baby. Now if only I can change my thinking...

Friends, Food & Movies

We may as well live in an Amish community the way word spreads around here like wildfire =) My fridge and pantry are well stocked with food as so many lovely people have come to help us out! Plus many people sending movies my way to help with the boredom. I feel so loved, undeserving and humbled. I am going into the midwife's office tomorrow morning to get checked out to make sure I'm not progressing, I'm looking forward to hearing that everything looks good. I'll have to do a post about all the good movies I'll have to recommend =)

Bed Rest

I have been feeling really yucky this past week and Thursday night and all day Friday I had several contractions an hour. Exhausted, John took me in Friday night to the birth center to get checked out. I hooked up and my contractions were monitored showing there was no stress to baby or to me, but that the contractions were "real." I was given an IV with some Magnesium Sulfate to help slow down and lessen the intensity of the contractions. Mind you these were painful, but not cross your eyes and squeeze your husbands hand until it turns blue pain. I could either camp out there under hospitalized bed rest until 36 weeks (July 23) or go home and be on strict bed rest. Our insurance covers 80% putting hospitalized bed rest at about $300/day. No thank you! So after they slowed to once every 10 minutes I was sent home and told see you soon, but hopefully not too soon. They are still pretty consistent ranging from 2-10 minutes apart and sometimes enough to bring me to tears, knowing that I get to be in pre-labor for a total of 3 weeks minimum kinda freaks me out. I'm finding myself chanting "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me..." It's the end of my second day and I already feel like I'm going to lose my mind, the last thing a woman in pain wants to do is sit and do nothing but feel it, right! If baby were to be born now he'd probably be o.k. after a week or two in NICU. But it is sooooo much safer to be born at 36 weeks or later. Please pray for Baby Jamin to develop as much as possible before he busts out, and if you volunteer to help watch my kids, please mean it because I'll be calling :)

FREE Lunch

I forgot to share something I've been taking advantage of this summer: the free lunch program. Meet up with us at LaCreole middle school every week day at 12 noon for free lunch for kiddos 1-18! Come right on time or 5 minutes early or else you risk getting in line behind the campers, which means adding another 20 minutes to your stay. They always offer hot and cold main course items and they get milk, fruit and veggies, all to be eaten in the cafeteria, no items can leave the room, but hey, it's free!

Busy Bees

You know we are experiencing nice weather when I don't post very often! The outside just sucks this family out and it hurts to come in :)

Recent going on's:

-Getting asked 5 times in one day if my older two are twins, I'll have to post a recent photo and get your opinion on the matter.
-Having the P.A. and our Pediatrician gang up on me to try to talk me into putting Josh and Jake on Ritalin. So they have 2,000 times more energy than "regular" children, just think of how productive they are going to be some day! Economic stimulus...
-Pretty much lifting a finger brings on braxon-hicks contractions (I cannot believe my pregnancy book has the nerve to say they aren't painful!), so my house is disgusting as I conserve my energy to keeping my son's alive, priorities, priorities! Also, I have been having long bouts of nausea that Zofran won't help, yikes! My biggest pregnancy fear coming true, ahhhh!
-Had a yard sale and while more organizing is needed, you can now walk inside of my garage!
-After much force we got Josiah to walk pretty consistently, he has been able to for a while but preferred crawling or being carried. If you ask me I think it was that his knees got really sore it being shorts weather and all.

I'm sure there is a bunch more things, but I'll probably get to blogging more since it looks like it's going to be getting too hot to go outside for a while...