January 14, 2010
I can't believe it's 2010, and I can't believe my little Jimmy is already over 8 months old!!!
For anyone who has been watching this blog, I apologize. You all know how busy life is and especially with a company to run, family and church life to deal with....it can be a handful!
To make things a LOT easier, I'm going to post some parts of journal entries because that will give you the best updates for the past few months. For anyone who doesn't have time to read this is the basic recap:
Jimmy came home in May, the smilest baby boy on the planet. He's been sleeping through the night, 12 hours a night for the past 4-5 months. He's amazing. He's rolling, playing, laughing, teething, eating, smiling and making us so happy and proud!! He's below average on his age scale and is measuring closer to 6 to 6 1/2 months in development which for him is normal. His bifud thumb surgery went very well. Elise loves him, and I'm sure his favorite toy since Christmas is a walking roaring dinosaur from his Uncle Brad.
Elise is reading small stories. Her vocabulary is amazing. She can swim, read, tell me different prophets by sight, states by sight, presidents by sight etc. She's incredible to watch. Elise loves to cook, play with her kitchen, watch Mickey Mouse, play musical instruments, paint, count money and read scriptures in the morning with the family. She even brings us pillows to kneel on for family prayers. Right now she is all about calling me Captain Mommy, and daddy Brian. She loves being outside, and loves her grandparents. We're working on potty training and she's doing really well. This year when she turns 3, we'll put her into a ballet class and I will continue to teach her and Jimmy at home. An independant, fiesty, smart and sassy little girl. I am proud of her academic accomplishments, and church accomplishments. She's sitting more reverently in church, can recite the articles of faith and is starting to work on manuscript. She's a funny girl.
As for Brian and I, we're good...working hard in our respective roles in the home and enjoying our kids and the time we can spend with them. They make life entirely worthwhile and we are so grateful for the Lord's hand in our lives. I'm working hard to resolve some medical issues that many of you know I have, and that is looking up as well. I had my screws from my shoulder removed in October and have a LOT of relief from that. I'm so glad we took the hardware out of the equation. Brian's as usual, healthy and the strength I have grown to rely on to get through the hard times. I wouldn't trade our trials for anyone else's. I'm very grateful for the blessings we have been given.
Love you all, and please email me if you need anything terrahctr@hotmail.com or to update me on your life!! .............And now, here are the journal entries:
May 31, 2009
It has been a LONG time since I’ve written. Well, not really so long as it feels…
I haven’t written really, since I was in the hospital getting ready to have Jimmy. It took apx. 4 weeks to get him out of the NICU and home to us. In 2 days we will have had him here for 2 weeks.
Life continues to be crazy. We’ve still not finished moving into the other house. There is so much to do and I have thought more than once how I do not have any time to get the things done I would like to. Now that I’m awake after a feeding, and having a difficult time sleeping b/c of some serious pain I thought I’d take a minute or five and jot some things down. Typing is going to be my entry of choice I think in the future b/c actually writing is so much more time consuming. This is definitely easier and quicker.
Jimmy is a tiny little thing. Skinny like me, and SO different from elise. She loves him to pieces. She loves all babies really, but is so quick to run in to his room when he cries and shove, and I really mean shove a pacifier into his face, or pat him…and when I say pat, it’s really more like hit…but in such an innocent way. She is such a nurturing little girl. She turns 2 this week. Lots of big changes are coming her way. She’s ready to be potty trained, to transition her crib to a bed (she can climb out of her crib now), have a haircut for the first time and also get her ears pierced. Where on earth does the time go???
July 12, 2009
Oh, how lousy I am at keeping my empty promise of writing more. Regardless of my intentions I didn’t write anything last month! Let me tell you it’s been a rough one. Jimmy is doing great and so is Elise…really just growing up so fast. Elise talks all the time now and with such exactness it’s amazing to me for such a young girl. Jimmy can finally wear socks without them falling off, which is great
August 16, 2009
It seems like a waste of time to be awakened and lay in bed with all these thoughts going around and not write them down…especially when jimmy waking us is imminent and I have a horrible headache. I think it’s best to try to remember the wonderful things and that most times, most things are wonderful. Jimmy is really coming into his own. He’s turning into a little man, lots of smiles, sleeping for apx. 10-12 hours nightly, brian helping when he can with those feedings. Elise is such a smart girl. She can do her word cards and I think the running total for my 2 year old is something like 50 words/letters/colors. I am so proud of her. She’s always trying to be such a great help.
Nyla continues to be a wonderful Gramma to them both, visiting as often as 2-3 times a month as long as she’s not camping with Ken. I am grateful for that.
November 10, 2009
Well, as always, there is so much to write, and such hectic schedule that I feel bad for not entering sooner.
On the good news: Jimmy’s surgery went well and I go on Thursday this week to have his soft cast removed. I was a wreck during the procedure and for several days afterward, but on the whole…I’m so proud of him and wish I handled surgery as well as he. My surgery went as planned (not pregnant). I have more ROM in my shoulder. More than I’ve had since 2005 . Additionally, it’s been the easiest recovery I’ve had in all the surgeries combined. Mom came down for three days to help, which was SO nice. That, I’m am so grateful for. Elise and Jimmy are so fun. Elise is such a good helper. A menace at times, and disobedient/stubborn…then again, she is two. Her vocabulary, humor and wit is so hilarious, sometimes it’s hard to discipline b/c she can be so stinkin’ funny!!! Jimmy is playful, full of smiles, hitting his milestones and is just exceeding everyone’s expectations of a 2 mo. Preemie. He’s great. Sleeping for 8 hours consistently, sometimes he even sleeps through the entire night. He rolls from side to side, babbles, has great hand/eye coordination, follows people with his eyes, laughs, can eat food and biter biscuits…the whole 9 yards. Elise is great with puzzles. I have to say, other than being outside, or watching Mickey Mouse, that must be her fav. thing. She loves to help with Jimmy. She copies everything we do or say. She likes to help with dishes, laundry, Jimmy, cleaning, cooking…she’ll be a great mommy. She does great with her babies and toys. Today I caught her trying to teach my old playmate, sissy the seal her words. She has well over 50 she knows: alphabet and sight words. I need to get her started on blends. She can count to 20 easy. She loves to color, use her play dough, kitchen set, doctor’s bag, instruments and have ‘game-time’. She’s an absolute doll. As for me, I met my goal of weight loss, at 114 lbs (take away 2 for my implants and really, my clothes are falling off of me. Brian’s happy, I’m happy.
So many cute things elise has done lately. We went trick or treating. She had a fun time. She talks about it a LOT. She is definitely stubborn. She hates tights. Every Sunday, we have issues. This past Sunday, we had a power struggle. I told her, her shoes wouldn’t fit w/o tights. She continued to cry, so I tried to put them on. They went on and she looked at me and said, ‘sorry, mommy’. w/in 10 minutes, she couldn’t walk in her shoes and was begging for relief. So I gave her the tights and she was fine. No complaints. She went pee-pee on the potty and doesn’t take forever. She’s growing up so fast. Her vocabulary is vast and impressive. Her overall knowledge is impressive. In fact, sissy the seal is indeed, NOT a seal, but a sea-lion, and she calls it that. she knows animals better than any kid I know. She knows a heck of a lot more than any kid I know.
Jimmy’s getting his name/blessing this Sunday. I intend to write down as much as possible. I’ll enter it in when I can. I’m very proud of my family and am excited to see them continue to grow/develop/improve. We’ve been doing the articles of faith, and elise can sing the first 5, some of them, without my help. She’s amazing. Love that kid.
November 16, 2009
Have to mention I deleted some ‘too personal to share info, so this is from where some of it ended:
Good news, the blessing was beautiful, short and sweet. Jimmy cried the whole time, but looked so, so, so cute. In the circle? Dad, Brian, Chane, Bro Anderson, Bishop Smith, and Pres. (old temple pres.) Belnap. It was really nice
Also…Kristen Randle sent the music I grew up with. A great C-mas present for the fam. Totally stoked about that.
The house looks good, for the most part. NO big drama there. That’s good news. I suppose that’s it for now. I’s almost 3 am, so I should go use the heating pad and try to get back to bed. Thanks for listening
--terrah
November 18, 2009
I have been going through the kids’ clothes. It’s amazing how fast they grow!! The kids are good. Jimmy though…he’s teething and grumpy/needy. It’s been a struggle b/t him and elise…she’s refusing to nap lately and I’m loosing my mind. I could also use a trip to the store to get some matches and anything else pertinent to the season.
What a day. Hopefully it’ll just get better and I’ll get better, and the kids will get easier to deal with. Here’s hoping
December 25, 2009
Christmas this year was centered more toward the real meaning of Christmas. I am proud of that. We read to Elise the story of the baby Jesus, we read from Luke 2:1-16, we had a very, very simple dinner: ham, sweet and reg. potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, yeast rolls, pumpkin pie….Grandma Nyla brought a mac/cheese dish, and a great pumpkin shortbread dish. Of course I set the table with the china and cutlery, snowflake napkin rings for my red and green napkins, and moved Elise’s booster chair to the big table so she could enjoy Christmas dinner with us. Who came you ask…Ken, Nyla, Brian, Terrah, Brad, Shannon, Devon, and Elise. Jimmy was sleeping. In the morning of Christmas we ate pumpkin bread that I made and hot chocolate. Elise got most of the presents, you know….learning tools like manuscript books, coloring books, leap frog DVD’s and mini Disney characters. Also, like when I was a kid, she got things of necessity, like toothpaste to help take away the cavity causing pez that she got in her stocking. A child after our own hearts, she got a huge box of legos. I remember envying Chane’s lego collection, and she loved them all. Grandma brought an elmo for both babies, and some new pajamas. Brad brought a moving dinosaur and a pink/purple monkey for Elise. She loved them! She loves dinosaurs and things that move. The toys and learning things will be used for Jimmy too, but he’s just so little and had more fun with the tissue/wrapping paper so we didn’t really get him anything. We have been blessed to have so much, and we do! Brian was so thoughtful, and got us tickets to see Mary Poppins. I got him tickets to see Michael Buble, a tomato slicer (cause he eats them what seems like, every day!) and a DVD, and lastly and Advent Calendar. He’s talked about having one since we’ve been married and so I found one.
January 1, 2010
Can’t believe it’s 2010!
I did some shopping today…great sales really. I left a note for brian and took the kids so he could sleep. He’s got what the 3 of us have had, and it’s nasty. I wish he’d just rest and sleep and take it easy, but he’s kind of like me, well…a LOT like me. I know there are things to do/organize and feel horrible for not having the energy to do them. I do surely empathize. I love him so much and want him to get better much faster than I did.
I had my preliminary back injection on Tuesday, next Tuesday I should go back and have the nerves severed lasting anywhere from 6 to 18 months. Wouldn’t that be awesome????
Caroling season is over, and I missed a few biggies b/c of my illness. That was a waste. I am able to sing at the shrine in 10 days I am so happy about that, I miss it so…singing with awesome people and getting paid for it.
Elise is so smart. I’m working baby signs with Jimmy, reading more books myself and also attending the temple once/week unless I’m sick or Brian’s sick.
This has been an interesting year. I’m grateful for my blessings and am faithful that the Lord will continue to provide us sufficient for our needs.
January 9, 2010
Brian told me I had to write this immediately or I would face some kind of consequence, so here it is: I told Elise something putting her to bed you know the phrase, ‘no way jose’ and she looked at me and said, mommy, I not jose, I ‘lise. She is also lately calling me Captain Mommy, which she has picked up from who knows where, but I guess it’s better than Terrah Mommy, which she was calling me for a while, or just regular T rah. Elise likes to do words and read books, color, paint, count, look at the globe, puzzles, money identification, signs etc. I know kids are so different, and it makes me wonder how jimmy will be. How will he be??? Right now, he is the calmest thing in my life other than the temple and elise is what makes my head spin like a stupid toy you get at the dollar store. Potty training is going….she can do it, just is willful, forgetful, stubborn and sometimes all the bribing and prizes in the world wouldn’t make her poop on the potty just for spite. I think she does a lot of things just to get under my skin…she knows she’s making ‘bad’ choices too, because I ask her what kind of choices they are!! She knows. Kids are smarter than parents’ give them credit for, they just need the nudging to move forward. I am convinced that that is the case for most kids.
That's it! I'll add pictures to my facebook account, and you can see them there. I've got a little girl on the potty trying really hard I need to tend to instead of blogging!!!!
Until next time :)
--terrah
Friday, January 15, 2010
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
June 10, 2009
I Didn't Forget!!
It has been a LONG time since I’ve updated the blog. Well, not really so long as it feels… Life continues to be crazy. We’ve still not finished moving unpacking. There is so much to do and I have thought more than once how I do not have any time to get the things done I would like to, like updating the family and friends on the blog…
The beginning of the month was exhausting. The recovery from birthing was difficult, but more difficult was not having a baby to bring home with me when I finally left the hospital. Coming home was a bittersweet experience because of that. I missed Brian and Elise so much, and really felt horrible that I could not bring Jimmy home with me. The next month or so was spent by pumping as much milk as I could for him, and going to feed him at 4 a.m. every day, and having Brian go at 8 p.m., that way, Elise wouldn’t feel so estranged to either of us. The days were long and difficult. I cried a lot and needed a lot of hugs. Thank you to everyone who was there to help me through it!
It took apx. 4 weeks to get him out of the NICU and home to us. In a few days we will have had him here for apx. 3 weeks. I took him to the pediatrician, and he is putting on weight well, and growing like a weed. One pound and one inch since we’ve had him so far! He is a sweet and sleepy baby. We are so blessed to have him home with us. Jimmy is a tiny little thing; skinny like me, and SO different from Elise.
Elise is adjusting. It was hard for her to have me gone for so long. She has become much more disagreeable since I went into the hospital. She goes around practically singing ‘no mama, no! no mama, no!’ She has started pushing boundaries as much as she is able, throwing fits that never seem to end. She is so adorable most of the time. Her vocabulary is expansive now, asking questions like where’d daddy go, or what’s that? If you answer her, and tell her the right answer, she’ll say ‘yeah’. If you ask her back, she’ll either tell you the right answer or she’ll say ‘I don’t know’. When she makes mistakes or something doesn’t go her way, she will say ‘oh my goodness’, or ‘oh my’. She’s so much fun to talk to.
One of the biggest questions I get is how is she taking to Jimmy. Elise, well she loves him to pieces. She loves all babies really, but is so quick to run in to his room when he cries and shove, and I really mean shove a pacifier into his face, or pat him…and when I say pat, it’s really more like hit…but in such an innocent way. If he still is crying she’ll come tell me ‘mama, baby sad’. She always wants to hug him and kiss him. She is such a nurturing little girl. You just can’t leave her alone with him, for fear she’ll pick him up and drag him on the floor like a doll. She tries so hard to help with him…she even tries to pick up the car seat to help bring him to the car. She’s great at finding pacifiers, or diapers and wipes for him if I ask her. She’s a great big sister, and will be a great momma someday. She turns 2 this week. Lots of big changes are coming her way. She’s ready to be potty trained, to transition her crib to a bed (she can climb out of her crib now), have a haircut for the first time and also get her ears pierced.
Where on earth does the time go???
It has been a LONG time since I’ve updated the blog. Well, not really so long as it feels… Life continues to be crazy. We’ve still not finished moving unpacking. There is so much to do and I have thought more than once how I do not have any time to get the things done I would like to, like updating the family and friends on the blog…
The beginning of the month was exhausting. The recovery from birthing was difficult, but more difficult was not having a baby to bring home with me when I finally left the hospital. Coming home was a bittersweet experience because of that. I missed Brian and Elise so much, and really felt horrible that I could not bring Jimmy home with me. The next month or so was spent by pumping as much milk as I could for him, and going to feed him at 4 a.m. every day, and having Brian go at 8 p.m., that way, Elise wouldn’t feel so estranged to either of us. The days were long and difficult. I cried a lot and needed a lot of hugs. Thank you to everyone who was there to help me through it!
It took apx. 4 weeks to get him out of the NICU and home to us. In a few days we will have had him here for apx. 3 weeks. I took him to the pediatrician, and he is putting on weight well, and growing like a weed. One pound and one inch since we’ve had him so far! He is a sweet and sleepy baby. We are so blessed to have him home with us. Jimmy is a tiny little thing; skinny like me, and SO different from Elise.
Elise is adjusting. It was hard for her to have me gone for so long. She has become much more disagreeable since I went into the hospital. She goes around practically singing ‘no mama, no! no mama, no!’ She has started pushing boundaries as much as she is able, throwing fits that never seem to end. She is so adorable most of the time. Her vocabulary is expansive now, asking questions like where’d daddy go, or what’s that? If you answer her, and tell her the right answer, she’ll say ‘yeah’. If you ask her back, she’ll either tell you the right answer or she’ll say ‘I don’t know’. When she makes mistakes or something doesn’t go her way, she will say ‘oh my goodness’, or ‘oh my’. She’s so much fun to talk to.
One of the biggest questions I get is how is she taking to Jimmy. Elise, well she loves him to pieces. She loves all babies really, but is so quick to run in to his room when he cries and shove, and I really mean shove a pacifier into his face, or pat him…and when I say pat, it’s really more like hit…but in such an innocent way. If he still is crying she’ll come tell me ‘mama, baby sad’. She always wants to hug him and kiss him. She is such a nurturing little girl. You just can’t leave her alone with him, for fear she’ll pick him up and drag him on the floor like a doll. She tries so hard to help with him…she even tries to pick up the car seat to help bring him to the car. She’s great at finding pacifiers, or diapers and wipes for him if I ask her. She’s a great big sister, and will be a great momma someday. She turns 2 this week. Lots of big changes are coming her way. She’s ready to be potty trained, to transition her crib to a bed (she can climb out of her crib now), have a haircut for the first time and also get her ears pierced.
Where on earth does the time go???
Thursday, May 14, 2009
May 14, 2009
Jimmy's Story
Thank you to everyone who has called or emailed or posted on facebook etc. your comments of love and support though the past three weeks. It is so heartening feel your compassion for me and for Jimmy. Love you guys!
I'm sorry it's been so long since a post. I know those of you who actually read this thing have been waiting for me to write something. The truth is, I haven't been able to sit down long enough it seems, to get everything out on paper like I wanted to. So now, if you have the time, here is the story of Jimmy...
Okay, so Sunday April 26 we had our C-section. I would have loved to have an epidural before they actually took me down to the OR...but because of how the epidural was when I had Elise, we had to use a Spinal instead.
What happened with Elise?? The epidural was spotty because of the scar tissue from my back surgery in 2000 so in the middle of the procedure I began to feel the pain of being cut open etc. That led to more and more medication to try to get me to not feel the operation, which led to me not remembering the first moments of my daughter's birth. I didn’t want that to happen again, so we went for the spinal, which doesn’t last as long as an epidural, but has a heavier hit.
After I received the spinal, they began the procedure and in a matter of seconds, there was Jimmy! 3lbs. 1 oz., and 17 inches long! His lungs were fine too!! The problems we foresaw were really taken care of by the blessings and prayers from everyone…and of course, the steroids.
He was taken, and Brian went with him immediately to the NICU for his recovery. I later learned he would stay there until certain criteria were met:
At least 4lbs.
Regulated consistent temperature
Able to breast or bottle feed exclusively
Brian came back and stayed with me in my recovery. The recovery started off WAY better than my previous pregnancy. There was no internal uterine bleeding, and instead of being in the recovery room for 8 hours, we were there for a couple of hours, almost 3. They only had to do compressions twice, instead of twenty times. The bad part of the recovery was when the spinal wore off and I was left to the IV medication.
I should say, for those of you who do not know…in the past ten years, I’ve been put under for various medical procedures over 10 times, and have built up a very maddening and exceptional tolerance to medication.
The pitocin or however you spell it, was administered and without the spinal’s effects, I was beginning to feel the contractions that happen to shrink everything back into place. I like to think I can handle pain pretty well. I do. Visceral pain though is a different animal than what I’ve dealt with the majority of my life…so I’m not sure whether I am really a big baby or what. Anyway, they gave me dilutdad (again, not sure of the spelling) the strongest medication they were permitted to give me. By the end of my couple of hours with the nurse, she said to Brian and I that she had never given so much of this medication to someone and was able to have a conversation…that one more injection should put me into a coma! We were talking and interacting without any problems except the pain I continued to have. After my few hours there, they brought me up to my permanent recovery room.
The next 3 days were really difficult for me pain-wise. More so, I think emotionally it was difficult because Jimmy wasn’t in a bassinet next to my bed. I was having all this pain and not sleeping, and not seeing the fruit of my labor. That was hard. That continues to be hard, because he’s still not home, and it’s May 14.
I finally got to see Jimmy and hold him for a minute and try to feed him. He didn’t know how to suck-swallow-breathe, and that meant he had to have a tube inserted through his nose to his stomach so milk could be given to him. I was really upset that his first meal was formula, not breast milk. He was in an incubator and stayed there until he could regulate his temperature. That took a few days. They took him out, and the next day had to put him back in because he couldn’t maintain his temperature. It was really frustrating to think you were moving forward and really weren’t.
I wasn’t allowed to breast feed him, only nuzzle. Nuzzling meant, as he received his milk through his tube, he could be at my breast, but not get his meal from me.
On Mother’s Day, they finally let me feed him without the tube. He’s been having regular sessions with me in the morning and with Brian in the evening. He was regulating his temp, he met his 4 lb. requirement and things were looking good until yesterday. They told me he caught a virus from the twins beside him. He’s currently in isolation, and will stay there until he gets well, which they said could be up to a week. I’m not sure anymore how long he’ll be there. No one thought he’d be there this long. His nurse Bernie, keeps telling me she jinxed him by telling me how long she thought he’d stay. She says she never tells anyone anything like that because she doesn’t want to say it and it not be accurate…
So, I’ll continue to go every morning at 4 a.m. to breast feed him. Brian will go at night at 8 p.m. to bottle feed him…and hopefully they’ll be able to use their discretion to move him completely to what they call nippling, or completely bottle/breast fed.
I’ll try to be better at posting for you all. Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers!!
--terrah
Thank you to everyone who has called or emailed or posted on facebook etc. your comments of love and support though the past three weeks. It is so heartening feel your compassion for me and for Jimmy. Love you guys!
I'm sorry it's been so long since a post. I know those of you who actually read this thing have been waiting for me to write something. The truth is, I haven't been able to sit down long enough it seems, to get everything out on paper like I wanted to. So now, if you have the time, here is the story of Jimmy...
Okay, so Sunday April 26 we had our C-section. I would have loved to have an epidural before they actually took me down to the OR...but because of how the epidural was when I had Elise, we had to use a Spinal instead.
What happened with Elise?? The epidural was spotty because of the scar tissue from my back surgery in 2000 so in the middle of the procedure I began to feel the pain of being cut open etc. That led to more and more medication to try to get me to not feel the operation, which led to me not remembering the first moments of my daughter's birth. I didn’t want that to happen again, so we went for the spinal, which doesn’t last as long as an epidural, but has a heavier hit.
After I received the spinal, they began the procedure and in a matter of seconds, there was Jimmy! 3lbs. 1 oz., and 17 inches long! His lungs were fine too!! The problems we foresaw were really taken care of by the blessings and prayers from everyone…and of course, the steroids.
He was taken, and Brian went with him immediately to the NICU for his recovery. I later learned he would stay there until certain criteria were met:
At least 4lbs.
Regulated consistent temperature
Able to breast or bottle feed exclusively
Brian came back and stayed with me in my recovery. The recovery started off WAY better than my previous pregnancy. There was no internal uterine bleeding, and instead of being in the recovery room for 8 hours, we were there for a couple of hours, almost 3. They only had to do compressions twice, instead of twenty times. The bad part of the recovery was when the spinal wore off and I was left to the IV medication.
I should say, for those of you who do not know…in the past ten years, I’ve been put under for various medical procedures over 10 times, and have built up a very maddening and exceptional tolerance to medication.
The pitocin or however you spell it, was administered and without the spinal’s effects, I was beginning to feel the contractions that happen to shrink everything back into place. I like to think I can handle pain pretty well. I do. Visceral pain though is a different animal than what I’ve dealt with the majority of my life…so I’m not sure whether I am really a big baby or what. Anyway, they gave me dilutdad (again, not sure of the spelling) the strongest medication they were permitted to give me. By the end of my couple of hours with the nurse, she said to Brian and I that she had never given so much of this medication to someone and was able to have a conversation…that one more injection should put me into a coma! We were talking and interacting without any problems except the pain I continued to have. After my few hours there, they brought me up to my permanent recovery room.
The next 3 days were really difficult for me pain-wise. More so, I think emotionally it was difficult because Jimmy wasn’t in a bassinet next to my bed. I was having all this pain and not sleeping, and not seeing the fruit of my labor. That was hard. That continues to be hard, because he’s still not home, and it’s May 14.
I finally got to see Jimmy and hold him for a minute and try to feed him. He didn’t know how to suck-swallow-breathe, and that meant he had to have a tube inserted through his nose to his stomach so milk could be given to him. I was really upset that his first meal was formula, not breast milk. He was in an incubator and stayed there until he could regulate his temperature. That took a few days. They took him out, and the next day had to put him back in because he couldn’t maintain his temperature. It was really frustrating to think you were moving forward and really weren’t.
I wasn’t allowed to breast feed him, only nuzzle. Nuzzling meant, as he received his milk through his tube, he could be at my breast, but not get his meal from me.
On Mother’s Day, they finally let me feed him without the tube. He’s been having regular sessions with me in the morning and with Brian in the evening. He was regulating his temp, he met his 4 lb. requirement and things were looking good until yesterday. They told me he caught a virus from the twins beside him. He’s currently in isolation, and will stay there until he gets well, which they said could be up to a week. I’m not sure anymore how long he’ll be there. No one thought he’d be there this long. His nurse Bernie, keeps telling me she jinxed him by telling me how long she thought he’d stay. She says she never tells anyone anything like that because she doesn’t want to say it and it not be accurate…
So, I’ll continue to go every morning at 4 a.m. to breast feed him. Brian will go at night at 8 p.m. to bottle feed him…and hopefully they’ll be able to use their discretion to move him completely to what they call nippling, or completely bottle/breast fed.
I’ll try to be better at posting for you all. Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers!!
--terrah
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Why Am I Awake??? Oh, Contractions!
The Big C
April 26, 2009
So, today's the day! I've been awake for a few hours because my contractions have been coming around every 10 minutes, making it nearly impossible to sleep. I watched my screen saver for a while, just crying because seeing all of the pictures of my family reminded me how much I've missed them, how long I've been here, and how much love I have for them.
I was really hoping to avoid labor all together, but it's just not happening. To all you women who do this the 'natural' way, I applaud you. It's no easy task. It's about 5:30 in the morning right now, and I figured I'd write one last entry before they put me under. Stake Conference was yesterday and today, so I'm missing Jeffery R. Holland's talk, which kinda bums me out...but this is an excellent reason, don't you think?
I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family. I love Brian so much, and am so grateful to be able to share the responsibility of raising these children with him. What a wonderful example he is to them, and to me. I am so glad he will be here with me today for the birth of his new boy. I've been looking at pictures of the past 3 years and have realized how things have progressed and changed and grown. In the grand scheme of it all, this is an exciting ride I wouldn't want to share with anyone else.
They're moving the surgery up from 1pm to around 9:30-10:00. If all goes well I should be able to call you guys by the end of the day. There is a chance Jimmy will have met the requirement of 4 lbs., that his lungs are excellent and that he could even come to the post-pardum room with me. What a blessing that would be, that probably is taken for granted, nearly too much.
Everyone has been a wonderful help and support to me and I am filled with gratitude and love for you all.
hugs!
terrah
April 26, 2009
So, today's the day! I've been awake for a few hours because my contractions have been coming around every 10 minutes, making it nearly impossible to sleep. I watched my screen saver for a while, just crying because seeing all of the pictures of my family reminded me how much I've missed them, how long I've been here, and how much love I have for them.
I was really hoping to avoid labor all together, but it's just not happening. To all you women who do this the 'natural' way, I applaud you. It's no easy task. It's about 5:30 in the morning right now, and I figured I'd write one last entry before they put me under. Stake Conference was yesterday and today, so I'm missing Jeffery R. Holland's talk, which kinda bums me out...but this is an excellent reason, don't you think?
I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family. I love Brian so much, and am so grateful to be able to share the responsibility of raising these children with him. What a wonderful example he is to them, and to me. I am so glad he will be here with me today for the birth of his new boy. I've been looking at pictures of the past 3 years and have realized how things have progressed and changed and grown. In the grand scheme of it all, this is an exciting ride I wouldn't want to share with anyone else.
They're moving the surgery up from 1pm to around 9:30-10:00. If all goes well I should be able to call you guys by the end of the day. There is a chance Jimmy will have met the requirement of 4 lbs., that his lungs are excellent and that he could even come to the post-pardum room with me. What a blessing that would be, that probably is taken for granted, nearly too much.
Everyone has been a wonderful help and support to me and I am filled with gratitude and love for you all.
hugs!
terrah
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Tomorrow's The Day
Here We Go!!
April 25, 2009
Today has been an interesting day. My body seems to be cleaning itself out in preparation for tomorrow. I've been sick most of the day, and really apprehensive about the surgery tomorrow.
It is scheduled for 1pm, however, the charge nurse has just informed me they aren't too busy tomorrow and so the surgery may be earlier.
I am grateful for the really great nurses here at Winnie, and even more grateful that Dr. Kim will be able to perform the C-section tomorrow.
I got some visitors today, and boy was that a nice change. The time here has passed faster than expected. I came on a Monday, and here it is, Saturday...the day before Jimmy comes. Hopefully I will be here only for the standard 3 days post-op, and with even more luck, Jimmy will come home with us!!
He's not been moving a TON today, but there has been an increase in contractions, so I know he's getting ready. After the day I had today, I wouldn't be surprised if I go into pre-labor tonight....watch, just because I said that, he'll make me into a liar :)
I've been passing the time making hair bows for Elise, lots of them. Between that and resting because of feeling so sick, the day has flown by.
I miss Brian and Elise. It's been hard to be away from them for so long. This is the longest I've ever been away from them both...and it's more difficult than I imagined. They are my world, and I realize being in the hospital how easy it is to take for granted the people you love with your whole heart. I've learned from this experience to make the most of the time you have with the ones you love. It is hard to be without them, and it is easy to forget how much you really depend on their love to make it through the day.
I am continually grateful for those friends and family who have helped us during this time...either watching Elise, visiting, calling or just praying for Jimmy and me. I love you all, and can't wait to bring Jimmy to you!
love
terrah
April 25, 2009
Today has been an interesting day. My body seems to be cleaning itself out in preparation for tomorrow. I've been sick most of the day, and really apprehensive about the surgery tomorrow.
It is scheduled for 1pm, however, the charge nurse has just informed me they aren't too busy tomorrow and so the surgery may be earlier.
I am grateful for the really great nurses here at Winnie, and even more grateful that Dr. Kim will be able to perform the C-section tomorrow.
I got some visitors today, and boy was that a nice change. The time here has passed faster than expected. I came on a Monday, and here it is, Saturday...the day before Jimmy comes. Hopefully I will be here only for the standard 3 days post-op, and with even more luck, Jimmy will come home with us!!
He's not been moving a TON today, but there has been an increase in contractions, so I know he's getting ready. After the day I had today, I wouldn't be surprised if I go into pre-labor tonight....watch, just because I said that, he'll make me into a liar :)
I've been passing the time making hair bows for Elise, lots of them. Between that and resting because of feeling so sick, the day has flown by.
I miss Brian and Elise. It's been hard to be away from them for so long. This is the longest I've ever been away from them both...and it's more difficult than I imagined. They are my world, and I realize being in the hospital how easy it is to take for granted the people you love with your whole heart. I've learned from this experience to make the most of the time you have with the ones you love. It is hard to be without them, and it is easy to forget how much you really depend on their love to make it through the day.
I am continually grateful for those friends and family who have helped us during this time...either watching Elise, visiting, calling or just praying for Jimmy and me. I love you all, and can't wait to bring Jimmy to you!
love
terrah
Just Over a Day!
April 25, 2009
I feel like I'm being s broken record here!!
I'm still in the hospital with the surgery scheduled for Sunday at 1pm. The nurses have been great and the care has been exceptional.
It has been wonderful to see family or hear from and friends too...it is s blessing beyond words. Thanks to everyone who have come by or called. or made sacrifices to let people come to help: To Kea, Nyla my playgroup girls Mom/Dad, Home teachers, Patti, Karla etc. and of course my husband, thank you, thank you!!! That doesn't even top the list, but I know you know who you are :)
My body seems to be trying to clear itself out for the big day. I've been a bit sick and exceptionally tired. I am nervous and tired...hoping for the best. I've met a lot of wonderful doctors and nurses who are taking wonderful care of me. I'm back on the monitor because the contractions have begun again, so it could be anytime, or it will be tomorrow. We will see!
I feel like I'm being s broken record here!!
I'm still in the hospital with the surgery scheduled for Sunday at 1pm. The nurses have been great and the care has been exceptional.
It has been wonderful to see family or hear from and friends too...it is s blessing beyond words. Thanks to everyone who have come by or called. or made sacrifices to let people come to help: To Kea, Nyla my playgroup girls Mom/Dad, Home teachers, Patti, Karla etc. and of course my husband, thank you, thank you!!! That doesn't even top the list, but I know you know who you are :)
My body seems to be trying to clear itself out for the big day. I've been a bit sick and exceptionally tired. I am nervous and tired...hoping for the best. I've met a lot of wonderful doctors and nurses who are taking wonderful care of me. I'm back on the monitor because the contractions have begun again, so it could be anytime, or it will be tomorrow. We will see!
Keeeping it positive and posted!!!
love
terrah
Friday, April 24, 2009
Things Are Picking Up
April 23, 2009
Of course, if there are any more developments, I will blog it out :)
love
terrah
It is hard to believe I've been in here since Monday. There has been so much to do, and so many people to talk to, I couldn't ask for a better stay...honestly.
For those of you who have taken time out of your hectic/busy day, I THANK you so much for showing your concern for Jimmy and me. It is so uplifting to hear the voices of friends and families...and the knowledge that they care so much is definitely a spirit booster.
Everything still looks fine with Jimmy. I'm not sure if it's the nurses or what, but they are able to find him and keep him monitored better now than on Monday, and that is a HUGE blessing. Like I said before, we just need him to be at least 4 lbs. and breathing on his own.
My cousin Becky called today to relay a similar story. She had her baby earlier than me and was able to take him home within 2 days! That made me smile, knowing there is a chance, even if it is small, that we'll be able to bring our little guy back with us when I'm recovered from the C-section.
I'm passing the time making hair bows for Elise, catching up on scripture study and other readings...as well as making sure this is as documented as possible. Jimmy will have one heck of a history surrounding his delivery!!!
Other than the obvious being stuck in bed/bed rest, or not having a baby to take home is how restless I have become. You see, with the Restless Leg Syndrome, and not being able to get up and walk around, it makes sleeping and relaxing sometimes, VERY difficult. However, the doctors here are very sympathetic and compassionate. The nurses are friendly and accommodating, and of course, Brian is here as much as he can be...which makes the time fly and helps to shoo away fears and doubts. I love him so much!
Of course, if there are any more developments, I will blog it out :)
love
terrah
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