Tuesday, March 31, 2009

What have we been up to?

Well...
Eating (all the time!), sleeping (would prefer a little more of that to happen at NIGHT), laundry (not just Cason's clothes, his blankets, moms clothes, and pretty much everything we use in a day), and a little bit of playing (we read him our emails, dance with dancing with the stars, make silly faces, and pretty much anything to entertain him during the day), oh, and our personal favorite- styling his hair. As seen below, curly is our favorite, a little mouse goes a long way. Mike isn't a fan of the curly but he's at work so that's too bad! :-)
My mom is here helping out and it is going to be hard when she leaves. When Cason is eating, the dogs always want out, when Cason is sleeping, the dogs hear someone invisible at the door and let us know about it, when I want to take a shower, Cason want's to play. It's always something!
Here are some photos of our few days at home.







































Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Nap Time

Grandma wanted a picture of us at home. He's been fed and now it's nap time. We are catching up in tv until the next feeding!


-- Post From My iPhone

Cason's bath

He liked the head massage but not a huge fan of the bath in general. There are so many styling possibilities to style all that hair!

I'm waiting at the hospital for his last dose of antibotics then we are all headed home. Yea!!!!








-- Post From My iPhone

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Photos

Sorry, I know it's a lot of updates but we are at the hospital all day and there's nothing else to do while he's sleeping. Lights are off and he is peaceful. He had just had a round of antibotics and didn't wake up. The doc is on her way over do preform the boy surgery do I have a feeling he won't be peaceful for long!


-- Post From My iPhone








Thanks

To sixth grade merge girls for decorating Casons hospital space. I told you, this boy will develop an appreciation for fine art at an early age.



-- Post From My iPhone

Cason tanning

Hopefully this will be the last day he will need to be under the lights.

Random thing, the nurses keep referring to him as a "really big boy". I'm thinking "honey, I expected him to be well over 8 lbs. So 7 11 ain't bad". The thing is, in here, he's a plus size. Most of the babies are 3 and 4 lbs. So he looks huge! Pray for all the babies in here. Our journey has been relatively short but many are here for the long haul. One church gave us a goody bag with snacks and water and that little thing was exactly what we needed.

Hopefully I will have a better pic soon!


-- Post From My iPhone

Monday, March 23, 2009

Casons Story

Finally, I have a chance to sit down in front of the computer and tell about how Cason got here. I may have to write this in 3- 10 minute sessions throughout the night but it will get done!

We celebrated Mikes 30th birthday on Tuesday, 17th then went to the hospital to begin the induction process. They started some drugs that night and more the next morning. By 6 I was ready to push and a little before 7 Cason was here (typing that i realize it sounds quite simple, it was not but this story is about Cason's trip to the nicu, not what happens when the epidural wears off before pushing). I hear them mention Cason had a temperature and had swallowed a lot of fluid but they debate calling a nicu nurse in and decide not to, he is fine. They wisk him away to the nursery to be measured and have a bath and get ready to come live in my room. I have to recover for a little over an hour.

Around 9 I head to my room (via wheelchair) and start getting settled in. The room phone rings and it's my peditrition. Wow, how nice of her to be making calls at 9:00 at night, now this is service. She sounded so nice but informed me that Cason was having breathing difficulties and it was possible there was an infection due to the fever I had when he delivered and he had when he was born (for some reason at 3:00 that day i had gotten a fever, it was 1 degree and gone by midnight but they thought it might have been a connection, during labor they had started me on an iv antibotics). Anyways, she said that Cason would have to spend some time in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). As you can imagine, i was heartbroken. I was sitting there waiting for my new baby to be brought into my room so we could see him and I could feed him and I wouldn't be able to do that. On top of the normal emotions anyone would feel, just having a baby makes emotions extra heightened and I was pretty much a basket case. The nurse was amazing and so sweet but it didn't matter, I wanted my baby!

I can't remember the order of how everything happened next but at some point, the dr. from the NICU came to our room and explained a little more about what they were going to do, put him on oxygen because he was having trouble breathing, monitor the fluid on his lungs, test his blood for infection, and start him on antibotics to fight possible infection. Then the nurse was able to take us to see him; me, my iv pole, my wheelchair, my backless hospital gown, and mike. We were introduced to something we would become very familiar with. The NICU is housed behind locked doors which they have to buzz you into. You go to the handwashing station and and wash your hands then can head in to where they keep the babies. The first picture I have posted below is from that visit. Cason was hooked up to oxygen, feeding tube, heartrate monitor, O2 monitor, respiration monitor and an IV. I think i just sat there and cried while the nurses handed me kleenex. He wasn't crying or upset but it was extremely hard to see him like that and not be able to hold him. We headed back to the room, the sweet dr. came and visited again to explain more things i can't remember and somehow I went to sleep around 2:00am.

Everything about the hospital stay was pretty typical minus the baby in the room. Since i had checked in to the hospital to eventually end up with a baby in my room, I had a hard time looking over and not seeing the crib. We were allowed to visit Cason whenever we wanted but were only aloud to touch/hold him at certain times that were coordinated to his feeding times. It took us awhile to get the routine down because sometimes his feeding times would change and we wouldn't know about it but when we did get to hold him it was great. We would change his diaper, take his temp, then either hold him while the feeding tube was feeding him or give him a bottle. I spent some time pumping the days at the hospital but i didn't have an appetite, was very upset, wasn't sleeping, and wasn't getting enough water- all of the key things they say breastfeeding moms need to do.

Thursday it began to sink in that I would be released on Friday but Cason was not able to go yet and it would be 7-10 days before he could. That was a horrible feeling. I think I cried every time i thought about it and of course, a nurse would walk in aroundthat time as well and get worried that i was depressed and ask if i had a good support system. I know they were just doing their job but I was getting parinoid about being watched so closely.

Friday came, more visiting Cason in the NICU. Then my doctor came by and gave the orders for me to be released. I had the option of "rooming in" and staying at the hospital and it was a very hard decision to figure out what to do. I thought I was making the wrong decision either way. Although it killed us to leave, we thought being at home would allow me some extra rest, decent meals, and some alone time away from everyone at the hospital. His last feeding that day was at 5:00 and after that we said goodbye and promised to be back at 8 in the morning and headed home. My prayer for each one of you is that you never have to leave the hospital without your baby you just gave birth to. I can't even describe what it's like to look at an empty carseat and go home and sit in a perfectly prepared nursery and not have your baby there. It's not fun.

Sorry for the long post and no pictures. It's 6 am now and I have to get redy to go to the hospital so tonight I'll type everything that's happened since we have been home. Thank you so much for your prayers. We think they are going to let him come home Wed afternoon so that is a huge releif. The antibotics finish up by then, he should be done with the light therapy by then and hopefully there will be nothing else they find to keep him. I can't wait!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Update

I'm sorry I haven't had time to post the whole story but I will soon. Here is a brief update: the dr's are thinking pnemonia (sp?) and he needs to be on antibitics for 7 days as well as be monitored. So, that puts him coming home on thurs. I think there are many factors that could change that but that's what we are praying for now. Thanks for all your encouragement and prayers!


-- Post From My iPhone

Friday, March 20, 2009

Cason





-- Post From My iPhone

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Baby cason

This is certainly not how I thought his first picture to look like. There's lots of details I can't type on the phone but he should be fine. Please pray.


-- Post From My iPhone

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Off to the hospital!

We are here, the process has started, I'll keep you posted. This photo is as we are walking out the door to the hospital.


-- Post From My iPhone

Nursery art

I knew Cason would appreciate artwork in his room when he came home so I spent some time today making sure he had some.



A painted Ikea mirror painted and rub on initial.


This is something I did in graphic design in college. The only thing that came out half way decent and it happens to be circles!




My sister did this one in college drawing. Mike painted the frame and I think to looks great!

-- Post From My iPhone

Headed to the hospital!

I got word this morning that we were supposed to report to the hospital at 7 tonight. We still aren't expecting Cason until tomorrow but I'll keep you posted here. Please pray for a quick and easy delivery (as easy as possible!)


-- Post From My iPhone


Monday, March 16, 2009

I got a call....

and I'm scheduled to be induced Wed. morning! I guess they had an opening and unless a bunch of people go into labor on their own, that's the plan. It's so crazy I'm trying not to think about it but it will be here before we know it.
Any last minute advice???

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Baby Update

We had a dr.'s appointment on Friday and here's the scoop.
No progress yet as far as labor goes. We are on the waiting list to be induced on Tues (17th), mainly because that's Mike's birthday and he thought that would be fun. We are second in line on the waiting list so a lot of people need to go into labor today and tomorrow for that to work out, I'm not holding out much hope. If we don't go into labor this week, we will be induced on Tues. 24th at 6:00am. That's only a couple of days after my due date so it could be worse.
I had a sono and the baby measures 6 lbs. 11 oz. Apparently that can be off a pound either way but still, I'm glad he's not too big.
Meanwhile, dr. ordered no more working so I'm home resting until the baby gets here. I think I will spend as much time as possible sleeping because that's what I hear the most often "Sleep Now!". Well, I'm going to try (watch me go into labor tomorrow morning :-)
Maybe I can post some interesting things during my time off!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Can I get a Moomoo please?


Did you know maternity clothes are not made for all 9 months? Really, they are made from about 4-8 moths. In the beginning, the maternity clothes are too big, they never look right. I have recently discovered that in the 9th month, maternity clothes don't fit either. Those long tops that looked like dresses at the beginning don't cover your entire belly. There was an episode of Friends where Rachael was pregnant and she was headed to the dr. in a tank top that looked similar to the one above. Ross looked at her and said "don't you want to change first". She said "No" and at the time, I remember thinking, "that's funny but i would never leave the house like that". Well I'm telling you I'm not far from it. Nothing fits, I'm not going to buy new clothes for 2 weeks and I just really don't care anymore. On top of that, my precious dog just chewed the 1 pair of flip flops that actually fits. I know it's hard to believe because most of you think that flip flops will always fit but I'm telling you, enough swelling and not even flip flops fit. So, if you see me in Target barefoot in a much too small tank top, please don't laugh or point, just nod sympathetically and say a little prayer that Cason will come soon!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Just Try It

I was directed to this by a friend. I normally don't sign up for things like this but I did some research and you really do get prizes when you earn points.
It's called Swagbucks. You earn points for several things but mainly for using their search enginge. It's powered by google and ask.com so you get the same responses as you do from google, just can earn points doing it. Since I like to google, I just downloaded their toolbar and google from there instead. You don't get points for every search but you do for some and it's very exicting. You can also use their links to shop at a bunch of stores online and you get points for having friends join. So, use this link SWAGBUCKS and sign up. Even if you don't think you will use it, give it a try and give me the points :-) I know that sounds selfish but I want to earn gift cards too! If you figure out the best way to get points- leave some tips in the comments!

No Progress...

That is not what you want to hear when you are at the Dr.'s office and 38 weeks pregnant. I think I had gotten my hopes up that there would be at least some progress so I could feel like there will actually be an end to this but now I feel like it's possible it could go on forever. So as of now, it's just a waiting game. I'm pretty sure I will make it through the week and then after that who knows. It's probably going to be my last week at work because it's getting so uncomfortable. It's like overnight I can't even stand up straight becuase the baby is pressing on my hips and he's so low.
When I do go into labor, the best way to get updates is to check Mikes facebook (or maybe mine), he's good about changing his status and I know he will keep everyone updated. I'll try and post here before we go to the hospital and try and text updates to as many people as possible.
Bring on the guesses for date, weight, and length. I think I should have a prize for the winner. Don't know what it will be but post your guess in the comments and whoever is closest could be a big (or little) winner!

Monday, March 2, 2009

New Blog

My mom has started a new blog about getting good deals on food at the grocery store and menus to use that food. Check it out, especially if you like to cook easy food and you like to save at the grocery store! Food For Less

Rough Weekend

It's not often that you say to yourself "I'm so glad that weekeend is over!" I live for weekends, sleeping in, hanging out with friends, not working. Well, driving to work this morning I was actually thankful that I was done with the weekend.

For starters, I have developed some sort of cold/allergies. It has made breathing difficult and there's not a lot of medicine i can take to help. So, very little sleep was had all weekend. That's probably the biggest reason why everything else was so frustrating. We took my car to the shop in McKinney on Sat for a repair they needed to do that was supposed to cost $0 (I should have known that's not possible). Well, needless to say, it didn't cost $0, much more in fact and wasn't ready until this morning. Thankfully my parents let us borrow one of their cars for the weekend but when we turned the car into the shop I left things like the garage door, dog bed, sunglasses in it becuase i didn't know we would have to leave it overnight. Mike was able to go get it this morning and we are back with the car, it's just the inconvienance of it all. Lastly, our sweet Charger was sick all weekend. I mean very sick and it wasn't pretty. We spent the whole weekend cleaning up his mess, trying to keep him away from anything fabric in the house, trying to be sweet to him becuase we knew he was hurting, and trying to keep my other dog from getting in the way. Charger is going to the vet this afternoon and hopefully it's a quick fix becuase I really can't take much more. It's really hard to see him so sick!

So, thankfully, it's a new week and i'm thinking things will start looking up!

By the way, does anyone have any suggestions on what to do for dinners when eating out is too expensive, I don't feel like cooking, and my trips to the grocery store need to be short and cheap? If you're thinking grilled cheese, good suggestion but it was done 2 or 3 times last week so I'm not sure I can get away with it again!
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