*The Blessings of My Life*: May 2010

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Our Boys-3 Years & 3 Weeks

Landon Aaron- 3 Years & Liam David- 3 Weeks

Hoping they are friends for Life!

Monday, May 24, 2010

At Liam's follow-up appointment from his over-night hospital stay, he was only weighing in at 7 pounds & 3 ounces, so his pediatrician scheduled us to return for a follow-up weight check on Friday, May 21st. Liam weighed in at 8 pounds & 5 ounces, which was a good weight gain in a week.The nurse weighed him on 2 other scales, all of which gave a different weight. So the nurse went & got another nurse & they re-weighed him two other times. They agreed on his weight being 7 pounds & 4 ounces, which meant he had only gained an ounce in a week & was further from his birth weight then they would've liked. So we were sent home with instructions to add a half scoop of formula to his breast milk bottles, continue feeding him every 3 hours (including waking him throughout the day) & to return to the office on Monday, May 24th (his actual due date). Liam weighed in at 9 pounds today!!! The nurse only weighed him on 2 scales today, which gave the same weight. We no longer have to add formula as a supplement, just Mommy's milk. Yay!! Our Little Peanut is finally gaining weight!! We don't have to return to the pediatrician's office until June 7th for his 1-month wellness check.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Our Little Glow Worm

When we left the hosptial on Friday, Liam's bilirubin was 11.6, so on Saturday we returned to the hospital for follow-up bilirubin bloodwork. We received a phone call in the afternoon on Saturday from a nurse with Liam's pediatrician's office, stating that his results were elevated and he would need to return for the bilirubin bloodwork the following day. On Sunday we returned to the hospital for another follow-up bilirubin blood draw. We received a phone call from one of the pediartician's with Franklin County Pediatrics stating that Liam's levels had increased to 16. The pediatrician explained that Liam would need to be placed on a biliblanket and re-tested the following day. We received the biliblanket Sunday afternoon & we've had it wrapped around Liam since then, other than taking it off for diaper changes.

Last night was the most difficult since Liam seems to enjoy and sleeps the best when he is swaddled, but with the blanket wrapped around him & the cord, it's difficult to swaddle him tightly.

We get the morning sun in the front of our house, so Liam has been sitting in his We will take Liam in later this afternoon for the follow-up bilirubin bloodwork-we are praying that his levels have decreased! I think he looks better but it could just be that I want him to be better. Please keep Liam in your prayers, in hopes that his levels will decrease & we can be rid of the biliblanket!!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Arrival of Liam David

Your Arrival Into Our Family-
Daddy & Mommy went to the hospital on Wednesday, May 5th at 7:00pm to begin the induction process. Mommy & Daddy settled into the room, very anxious and excited that we would meet you so soon. Mommy was having contractions and was 2-3 cm dilated. Dr. Glass inserted the cerdivil around 7:45pm and Mommy was given some medicine to help me sleep through the night. Mommy woke around 1:30am with more consistent and stronger contractions. Mommy received an epidural around 2:30am and was finally comfortable and able to rest. Since Mommy was progressing so well on her own, the cerdivil was removed. At 7:30am, on Thursday, May 6th, Dr. Glass broke Mommy's water and began giving Mommy pitocin. Mommy was 4-5 cm dilated and the contractions were one to three minutes apart. Your Pappy and Nana came to visit Daddy & Mommy. They brought Daddy a coffee and donuts, which he was very excited for. For the next few hours we waited and kept everyone up to date as to what was happening. We called Nanny, who was at home watching your older brother, Landon. Mommy talked with Landon for a few minutes, he was busy playing with Nanny in the playroom. Your Pappy & Grammy were on their way from Martinsburg. At 11:15am, Mommy was 5-6 cm dilated. Your Uncle Davey & Hannah came to visit with Daddy & Mommy. At 11:30am, Dr. Rosado came in to examine Mommy, I was 6 cm dilated and she felt it would not be long. At 12:15pm, Mommy was experiencing pressure and pain and was examined and was 9 cm! Yay! Uncle Davey & Hannah quickly made their way out of the room. Daddy began trying to reach Nana on her cell phone since she and Pappy had gone to get their lunch. Daddy & Nana were in the delivery room with Mommy. Once the nurses were ready and Dr. Rosado arrived, Mommy began pushing. Mommy pushed for 10 minutes, through 3 rounds of contractions and at 12:27 pm, you, Liam David, were born!

You were placed on Mommy's tummy and I was able to hold you while they dried you off. You began crying once Daddy helped to cut your umbilical cord-it was so wonderful and relieving to hear your cry.

You weighed 7 pounds & 10.8 ounces & were 19 inches long.

Daddy & Mommy were so excited to finally meet you! You were cleaned up, dressed in a diaper and shirt and swaddled in a few blankets and Mommy was finally able to hold you. No words can describe what it felt like to hold you and look into your eyes for the first time. You were perfect! Nana ran out into the waiting room and told everyone-Pappy, Grammy, Pappy, Uncle Davey and Hannah-the wonderful news. For the rest of the day, your family and friends came to meet you. You had so many visitors throughout your hospital stay. Landon came to meet you Thursday afternoon.

Everyone that was visiting at the time wanted to see Landon meeting you, so Landon seemed a bit overwhelmed walking into the room.

He gave you a gift-a lion rattle/stuffed animal. Landon sat with Daddy and held you, kissed you and touched your tiny, little fingers. He also sat with Mommy on the hospital bed and held you. Landon asked a few questions about you, my favorite was "Mommy, he popped out already?"

Your pediatrician came to examine you for the first time. He said that you looked perfect, asked if we had questions and discussed the possibility of jaundice with us.

Once all of the visitors had left for the evening, we were moved to an over-flow wing of the maternity floor since they were incredibly busy. We settled into our new room and tried to get some rest. Our first went well for the first night. Daddy really helped Mommy since she was exhausted from the day and in some pain.

You had a big day on Friday with many tests and an immunization. Your pediatrician came to examine you and released you to go home, after completing a test of your billirubin. The results of the billirubin showed a score of 11.6. The pediatrician informed Daddy & Mommy that we would need to have your billirubin re-tested the following day. You passed your newborn hearing screening. You had your hospital photos taken. The nurse went through all of the discharge paperwork with Mommy while Daddy put you in your car seat. The nurse checked you in the car seat to make sure that we had you in there tight enough and correctly. Then we finally went home!

You had so many visitors in the hospital and once we arrived home. You had many, many people thinking of you and praying for you. You are a very blessed baby boy. We are so incredibly happy that you are finally here! Welcome to Our Family!

Love you-Mommy

Monday, May 3, 2010

Last Week of Our Pregnancy!

Baby Liam-

Mommy is 37 weeks today & this is the last week of my pregnancy with you-yay!! We were fortunate enough to have one final sonogram & the chance to see your little face again. The tech tried at least ten times to get a good picture of your face for us, but you either had your hands in front of your face or would turn your head. From the pictures we were given, it looks like you will have the Crider nose & chubby cheeks! She was able to give us an estimate of your current weight.....7 pounds & 15 ounces!! Looks like you are going to be even bigger than your older brother Landon. Apparently Mommy & Daddy produce BIG babies. It is a good thing for Mommy that I am not delivering you full-term, you would be at least 9 pounds or more!

You are still moving around all throughout the day and night. Mommy can tell that you have dropped even more now because your 'happy' feet are not in my ribs as much as they had been, even a week ago. Mommy is not sleeping very well anymore, I suppose my body is preparing for all of the nightly feedings and diaper changes. Mommy has been really thirsty, especially for sweet tea, luckily Mommy can make her own tea & use splenda. Mommy has been craving ice cream, strawberries and watermelon. With the gestational diabetes, I cannot have ice cream, so I've been eating frozen yogurt. I can eat strawberries but not watermelon-hopefully once you arrive though!

Only a few more days and we'll be able to look into your eyes & hold you. If we ask Landon what Thursday is, he'll say "Liam's coming!". Daddy & Mommy are very anxious & excited to see both of our boys together!