I don't know what the temperature was yesterday, but it was nice enough for us to go outside and play and be comfortable!! Adah got this new scooter for Christmas from Gma and Pa Smith so she was dying to try it out! I love warm weather, but being that it's winter, I wish we would get some snow!! Soon enough, I'm sure!
Same story for Adah...too busy to write/keep track of things this month! I will try to write more next month! Pictures are the best part of these posts anyway!!
I've taken pictures, pictures and more pictures!! Seriously, I have issues...I cannot stop taking pictures of her!
That last picture is Eden and I at what would have been my 39th week pregnant! The rest I have no excuse for taking except that she is irresistable!!! You can plan to be seeing many more pictures of her in the coming posts!!
Adah is loving our car seat since it came back out of storage. These are the first pictures I have taken of her with it though. She even grunts when she is carrying it around! She loves to buckle the buckles and often climbs in it to relax, but mostly she likes to put her babies in it! So much for her using the doll carrier we got her for Christmas! This is way more entertaining anyway!
What a blessing to get to be a part of my family Christmas! I was worried that after missing Brian's family Christmas I would miss mine too. We were a little unsure if we were going to be out of the NICU in time, but it all worked out! I knew that our individual family Christmas could be done anytime after we got home from the hospital, but to reschedule the big family Christmas would be unrealistic. So, we are thankful to be a part of it. We woke up yesterday and celebrated with just our family of SIX and then loaded up the van to make it in time for the 5pm candle light service at Orchard Hill Church. We then headed over to mom and dad's for our traditional appetizer supper and to spend the night. Emily's family didn't stay but Jamie's did. We were all pretty tired so we didn't stay up too late doing our usual game playing. We mostly just sat around eating and talking! We woke up Christmas morning and the kids were so excited of course! Mom made an awesome breakfast and Emily's family came back right away in the morning so we could eat and get started on opening gifts! It always feels so good to give gifts and having had Keziah's help in wrapping this year, I would say she had just as much fun giving away the gifts she helped with as she did opening gifts! One last gift to open was Austin's from my parents...he got a really nice cross bow. He couldn't stop grinning!! The box it came in ended up creating much entertainment for Keziah, Adah and Ethan. I think it was turned into many different things. They used other boxes to tape to it and a whole lot of tape too! Adah just liked to lay in it! The rest of the day we were pretty lazy (except mom preparing our lunch!). We played with toys and picked up and did a lot of eating! Mom made an excellent lunch for us all! We have been so blessed to have each other. What a great way to spend Christmas! Merry Christmas every one!
We had such a wonderful Christmas! I can't imagine anything better then having Eden home and not being away from our family for Christmas! We woke up early Christmas Eve. Eden needed to have her jaundice checked which meant a trip to the hospital for some blood work. Brian took her to do that while I stayed and made homemade donuts with my new donut pan from Mat and Steph. When Brian got back with Eden we opened presents. The kids all got many things they are going to enjoy for days to come. One thing we got for the family was a used Wii. I am super excited to have this around to spend time doing with the kids. We have some fun games to go with it and I got Austin and Brian the wii game Wipe Out (a game show they like to watch). This year I had the pleasure of seeing Austin give his sisters gifts that he bought with his own money and picked out at the store for them. They were so happy and will probably never forget where those gifts came from. Keziah got a hippo webkin and Adah got a doll that talks. I know I have said it many times before, but Austin has such a caring heart! I love that kid! And the girls adore him too!
I feel like this year has been so much more stressful with our pregnancy and then Eden's birth, that I have somewhat forgotten what Christmas is about. I feel like I have just been trying to 'get things done' and have sort of gotten lost in the busyness of life. When Eden was born and I was alone in the NICU I had time to reflect on what a gift she is and what a gift God's son was and still is. The Bible is real. Jesus is real. It's that simple. We all know the story...He was brought here as a little baby born to the virgin Mary. He grew up as a man like all of us and then hung on a cross to die for US so our sins could be forgiven so that we can live. I can never imagine giving my child to die for anybody like Jesus did for us. What an amazing story! God is so good and has such an amazing plan for all of us just like he did his own son. I am grateful Eden got to be a part of it this year and many years to come! God bless everyone! Merry Christmas!
We are thoroughly enjoying being home and being parents of four kids! Everyone is adjusting well. I am sure if you asked each kid individually how they were doing they would each tell you they were feeling a little neglected (maybe that's just how I feel), but we are figuring things out more and more every day! The girls adore Eden and ask constantly if they can hold her. Adah is always giving her kisses on the head and hugs on the belly! If she cries Adah always wants to make it better and says, 'it's ok baby, it's ok.' Baby Eden gets a lot of mom's attention as I am trying to eat all this babyness up as much as possible since she is our last...yep, you heard that right (I'd take another, but...I'm only half of the equation!). Eden is growing so fast, I don't want to miss a minute of it! I got a book series from a friend and have learned a lot from it. One of the things in there is a schedule of how to divide your time and teach your kids how to play alone, together and with a parent. This has allowed each of the older girls (and Austin when he wants it) undivided attention at some point during the day. It has been a tremendous tool in making me feel better about cuddling Eden in the chair sometimes from one feeding to the next!!
Here is Eden having her first bath here at home (12/22/11). She loves it!
This whole experience was so hard, scary, exciting, fun, blessed, etc. It was so great to be able to have those four days with Eden without any of the other kids around but the circumstances didn't allow for it to be relaxing. I wish I could have just enjoyed it! I got released to go home on Friday since I had Eden on Wed. The room Eden was in originally was really small and had only a curtain for privacy, but that is where I planned to stay on a cot. And then that evening she just happened to get moved to a different bay in the NICU where a family was just leaving. The room was very large, had a TV, a window to the outdoors and a bed. What a blessing! Every morning we got to see at least a doctor with his residents. They always asked questions and told us a plan. It was nice to know that even if we didn't see any doctors all day we could rely on at least seeing one on rounds in the morning. At one point, after doing a scan on Eden's eyes they thought she might have a viral infection so they sent out bloodwork for something called the TORCH tests. This caused Eden to be on isolation which required everyone that came in contact with her to wear a gown and gloves. After being examined by infectious disease doctors, it was completely ruled out but since the tests hadn't come back negative, the isolation order couldn't be removed per hospital policy. The reason they ordered these tests was because of a finding on the back of her eye that looked like scars. Now that they don't think it's infection, they are thinking the 'scars' (raised images) look more like lesions (indents). They think this fits well with the fluid in her ventricles and that she may have Aicardi Syndrome. We are just praying that whatever the outcome that Eden is happy and that God's will be done. He has a plan for her life and who are we to get in the way of it! She is going to be precious and wonderful no matter what! Just look at her...she's a doll! God made her just the way he wants her!
When the kids arrived on Sunday we were just going to do a trial run to see how everyone did, but it worked out so well we decided to keep them until it was time to go home (which ended up being Tuesday the 20th). Originally I thought I would be able to stay at the RMH with the kids and Brian but then realized it would be a little drive for me to come over in the night to feed Eden. So I just stayed with her. On Sunday night Brian just took the kids over when it was time for bed. Adah slept on a cot at the foot of Keziah's bed and Austin slept on the pull out couch. There were two queen sized beds so Brian slept on the other. Adah apparently got woken up by Keziah coming in for bed so that was rough, Brian said. Otherwise the night went smooth. On Monday there was a craft hour for the girls but only Keziah wanted to stay. She made a cute reindeer! After some lunch in the hospital cafeteria which consisted of several trips to the bathroom with various children, Brian took the girls back to the RMH for naps and then came back over to the hospital when they got up. We tried to go to the hospital library but it was closed when we got there. There was a book rack outside the door with free VHS movies on it for kids. We picked one out and took it back to our room to watch. We hung out a little while and then after I fed Eden I took the kids back to the RMH to eat supper and put them to bed. I was so overwhelmed by how that place operates. There was a calendar completely filled out with names of families that were coming in to cook meals for the people staying. I was able to feed my kids and not have the burden of finding unhealthy fast food to feed them or the cost! The meal was healthy and there was a ton of it. There was even dessert! Then the kids played in one of the huge play rooms where the kids played with a little boy about 6 years old. I gathered that his mom was in the hospital and he was there staying with his dad. The little boy cried when we told him we had to go to our room to go to bed. We gave him a big hug. I took the kids up to the room and got them ready for bed. There was a library there and I had them pick out several books. I got a few things in place for Brian in the morning and then left Austin with the girls sleeping and went back to the hospital to trade places with Brian. I guess Adah woke up in the night and thought I should still be there since I was when she went to bed. It took a while to get her back to sleep, but otherwise another good night. We were told we were going to get to go home by Wed. so we planned to stick it out one more night but then we got the great news that we were being released on Tuesday (yesterday) instead! Austin and I went to work loading the van and rearranging car seats so we could bring our precious Eden home finally! I think we were out in the parking ramp for almost an hour while Brian stayed with the three girls in the hospital room. He survived it though! We got released but still had to go back to the RMH to clean. The weather was less than favorable as it was raining and then turned to snow by the time we were headed home. We arrived home just in time for supper. To our surprise, Brian's mom was there and had supper prepared for us. What a treat! We are so blessed by so many people. Thank-you everyone for all that you did. Even if you didn't physically do anything but just prayed for us daily...you are amazing and I am so thankful for you!
We had a few visitors (it helps that we used to live in Marion and work in Cedar Rapids)...on Wed. Kristin Linnell and Jami Modracek came in the evening. On Friday afternoon Angie Harkin and her daughter Abbi came to visit (right as Brian was leaving). On Friday evening (right as we were about to switch rooms) Emily, Adam and my mom came. So they got to help us move into our new room! By saturday I was feeling lonely and really looking forward to Sunday when Brian and the kids arrived!
Here is a video of the girls meeting Eden for the first time:
Brian went home last night to be with the kids while I stayed behind in the NICU with Eden :( I really felt like the kids could use some time with their dad being home in their own beds for a couple nights. Today Brian's family celebrated Christmas. His sister and her family were home from Minnesota so the kids were really looking forward to some time with their cousins too. Adah is smitten for her Uncle Mat and this funny talking Gopher (it sings that one song: I'm alright, nobody worry about me, etc.). I think at one point the gopher went missing though because the button got pushed a few too many times! And the girls always have a good time cuddling with their Auntie Steph. Earlier this morning I talked to Riley (Brian's dad) and asked him how hard it would be to set up Skype. He and Mat said they would work together to get it going. It was the best gift ever to be able to see my little family. It was so neat to talk to each of them and see what they got as gifts. Kezzie didn't know what to think at first. I could tell she was a little weirded out to see me on the screen...in live motion! I miss them so very much and can't wait to see them when they get here tomorrow! We have a suite reserved at the Ronald McDonald House. How nice is that? What a blessing it will be to share little Eden with her big brother and sisters. It was a great day today...God is so good!
I am as shocked as anybody!! She's 3 weeks early!!
Me at 37 weeks!! The day before she was born!!
Yesterday we came to Iowa City for our initial consultation. At first, when we got there, I was examined by a resident. She said I was about 1-2cm dilated and my belly was only measuring at 35 weeks (she thought that was strange being that just days before I measured at 37 weeks). She also told us right off the bat that she would not schedule me a c-section before 39 weeks. I was really upset about this because I knew the risk of me going into labor before that (Adah was born at 38.5 weeks) and I also knew my history of delivering quickly (Keziah was born 3.5 hours after my first contraction). With the weather unpredictable too, we were feeling really frustrated. I was told that if I went into labor that my hometown doctor would have to do a c-section and then the baby would be airlifted to Iowa City and I would catch up to her later. I really didn't like this idea of us being in separate places so this resident was not my favorite person! After the resident discussed this with a doctor, the doctor came in and basically said the opposite of what the resident was saying. Knowing all that about my labor history and with the weather unpredictable this time of year, she said we would probably be scheduling the c-section soon. I was relieved! After that apt. and after talking with a couple other areas (genetics, etc.) we went in for our ultrasound. They right away measured the fluid and said both ventricles were just above 32mm. We didn't know if we should be happy that the one ventricle hadn't grown much or if we should be sad that the other ventricle had grown a lot! The sonographer told us not to think about the numbers and that it could just be a difference in the way they were measured. The sonographer left the room and told us the doctors would be in shortly to look themselves and to talk to us. I was able to take a nap it took so long. I think it ended up being close to 40 minutes. Finally a group of 5 or 6 people came in and one of the doctors was the doctor that Emily (my sister) loved so much when she delivered Bennett in Iowa City. I knew her right away and felt such a relief to know she was going to be a part of the decision making process. She took over the ultrasound wand and started looking all over. She first of all told us we were definitely going to be delivering naturally and that her head was the size of a normal baby her age. I started clapping like a little girl! Then she showed me how squished the baby's face was...She said this was not good and that the amniotic fluid was below the lowest that they like to see (hence the reason I was measuring at 35 weeks). They asked me if I thought I had been leaking fluid and I said I wasn't sure but didn't think so. Then she proceeded to ask if we wanted to have a baby today! We were shocked. The night before this appointment I was packing my hospital bag to bring with me and I could just tell Brian was laughing inside because he thought I was ridiculous. I was the one laughing now because I could relax and know I had what I needed! They told us to go get my bag and head to labor and delivery when we were ready. We didn't rush to labor and delivery because we were really just trying to process everything. Brian seemed a little hesitant. I had to remind him that just because they stated it as a question, it wasn't like we really had a choice with the amnio fluid so low! Sooo off we went!
We got checked into our room around 5:15. Around 5:30pm a nurse came in and started me on an IV of pitocin. They didn't up it very quickly and I feel like that made it take longer. My cervix didn't progress for a long time. I got my epidural (yes, I gave in...Brian really wanted me to have one this time) around 1:30AM because they wanted to break my water and they claimed that if they did that that things were going to start going really fast. They were wrong!! Around 5:45 they checked me and I was only at 3cm...not good. The whole night is a blur, but I will never forget how I felt that night. I was so alone. I cried. A LOT! I couldn't sleep. Brian could. He even managed to snore. I kept yelling his name in between snores but he wasn't hearing me. I thought about throwing my pillow at him but then again, I didn't want that to fail too and then be without a pillow! I was scared and frustrated that in the end she could end up being delivered by c-section. I rarely saw a doctor. Everyone was a stranger to me. I was freaking out about the days following her birth. And yet had nobody to talk to. Periodically I would manage to wake Brian up to ask for a hug! He would oblige and then go back to sleep. One thing I did that comforted me was I prayed. I would lay there with my eyes closed and try to fall asleep and I would just talk to God. I won't lie, I never felt full peace amongst my anxious mind, but I kept feeling like everything was going to be ok. I didn't feel so alone. About every half hour the nurse would come in to 'up' my pitocin but they rarely had much to say. One nurse was comfortable with upping it 2 points at a time, another would only do one. It seemed like it was taking forever! Through it all the baby was doing so great so they said we'd just keep going with it! Around 8 AM this morning I was in a lot of pain and feeling so upset that I hadn't been examined in a while. The nurse came in and I was certain the position I was in was putting a crick in my back. I was sitting up with my legs buddha style and the nurse thought it might help if I lay down. Well, I knew that sitting up was better to help get the baby out then laying down so I declined. Finally I realized it was actually contractions and that my epidural had wore off on my left side. I quickly remembered what it felt like to not have an epidural! Around 9:30 the anesthesiologist came in to put in a bodice to try and get it working on the left side again. He finished, walked out and I right away said, "I think I am actually ready to push". The doctor came in and checked me and said I was fully dilated. I gave a couple pushes while the docs and nurses got everything ready and then they told me to stop. The epidural still wasn't working. It was time to push again and after a long hard push I stopped to gain my strength. All the sudden I opened my eyes and said, "Oh, the epidural just started working!" I gave a couple more pushes...and voila! Eden Elizabeth was born! I got to hold her right away! She was breathing on her own, pink like she should be and screaming like a baby! She is perfect! God has blessed us once again!
Yesterday I was 36 weeks pregnant. I am feeling really good except for sleeping at night. I am taking extra strength tylenol before bed and in the middle of the night to try to battle the pain. My hips throb with pain and rolling over is the death of me. It's temporary, I hope! I'm sure when the baby is out I will be back to myself again!
We went to Mason City today for a check up with Dr. Hwang. My belly measured at 37 weeks. The baby's heart rate was in it's normal range of 140/150. The fluid in the ventricles has increased quite a bit. In the right ventricle there is 32mm of fluid, in the left one there is 20mm. Dr. Hwang definitely feels like we need to have a c-section based on this information because he thinks her head is too big to deliver naturally. He also feels like if we did try to deliver naturally the birth canal would put too much pressure on her already increased pressure brain. I don't want to do more harm to her than what's already done so I agreed that would be best. I am so upset with this delivery plan, but God knows what is best and is working it out according to his will. So based on this we have to be seen in Iowa City. This can't be done in New Hampton because the baby will need to be seen immediately by a neurosurgeon to determine if a shunt is needed (Dr. Hwang thinks this will definitely need to be done with the amount of fluid she has). We were sent home to wait on a call for an appointment in Iowa City. We will start with a baseline appointment where they do an exam and ultrasound to start their own file and we will also set up the date of the c-section. I feel really anxious about this because Adah was 1.5 weeks early and Keziah was born in no time flat so for us to have 2.5 hours to drive to the hospital if I were to go into labor before the scheduled c-section makes me feel nervous. I am praying they will get our appointment in Iowa City in a timely manor and then also that our c-section will be scheduled in a timely manor too. God is in control, right? I have to remind myself of that!!
Tomorrow I see Dr. Shea for my 36 week check (she was sick on Tuesday and rescheduled me to Thursday) and discuss with her what I am supposed to do if I go into labor before I even get to Iowa City!
UPDATE: They called this afternoon and we have an appointment scheduled in Iowa City next Tuesday (Dec. 13th). I am thrilled. We don't have to wait too long then!!
I think this bathroom will be a huge blessing in later years! It's huge with double sinks and a very large mirror! The girls love owls and hopefully will for years to come.
My two little owls. Each girl received an owl towel for their birthday and baby will get hers for Christmas if she's here! There are three hooks for my three girls!!
We are thoroughly enjoying being home and being parents of four kids! Everyone is adjusting well. I am sure if you asked each kid individually how they were doing they would each tell you they were feeling a little neglected (maybe that's just how I feel), but we are figuring things out more and more every day! The girls adore Eden and ask constantly if they can hold her. Adah is always giving her kisses on the head and hugs on the belly! If she cries Adah always wants to make it better and says, 'it's ok baby, it's ok.' Baby Eden gets a lot of mom's attention as I am trying to eat all this babyness up as much as possible since she is our last...yep, you heard that right (I'd take another, but...I'm only half of the equation!). Eden is growing so fast, I don't want to miss a minute of it! I got a book series from a friend and have learned a lot from it. One of the things in there is a schedule of how to divide your time and teach your kids how to play alone, together and with a parent. This has allowed each of the older girls (and Austin when he wants it) undivided attention at some point during the day. It has been a tremendous tool in making me feel better about cuddling Eden in the chair sometimes from one feeding to the next!!
