Liam is 8 months old!

6 months old today!

3 months old today!

Meeting new friends

This is an easy post, since Mrs. Darling did all the writing and took the pictures. Go here to read all about it.

It was great to meet you both, my new, blogging friends! My children have been asking since the door closed behind you Friday "when are they coming back to play?" and are very disappointed we don't have something already scheduled! lol.

In other news, I've been busy getting back into the school day routine here. It is finally feeling like life is getting back to something resembling "normal". Liam is doing well, eating, sleeping, eating, sleeping... etc.

I would love to get back to blogging more regularly... but after so much time blogging only about things related to my pregnancy last year, I'm kind of brain dead about where to go from here. Can you help me out? What would you like me to write about? Do you have any questions for this mom of thirteen? Please leave your suggestions and questions in the comments area.

Have a great weekend!

2 months old

Liam turned 2 months on Christmas day. Cute "first Christmas" outfit was a gift from oldest brother Chris and his wife, Jessica. Don't you just love the double chin and the cute hat?

Pic taken today in his Christmas gift... another bear cub outfit!

He had his 2 month well child visit and weighed 10 lbs 12 oz and 23 inches long. Woo hoo!

I'm not really here...

Just a few pics to hold you over.... till like, I have time to blog something intelligent again...

Liam is 7 weeks old today and weighs 10 lbs. He is still not the best nurser, so we spend a lot of time doing feedings. He is getting better. Now, if my milk supply would increase too.

**note: no need to send in comments about how to increase milk supply. I have tried everything and am now on domperidone to see if it will work (only been a few days so far on it).

Liam, 3.5 weeks old

Baby bear cub - 4 weeks old
(I have owed this pic to a very special blogging friend... you know who you are!)

Isn't he an adorable, happy little bear cub?

Oldest sister and "her baby" ~ 6 weeks old

Manna and Grace

Life goes on. Baby Liam is doing better and is gaining weight (up to 8 lbs 3 oz), has finally passed his "due date" and is learning to nurse, though not great at it yet. My wonderful hubby went back to work today. Yikes! Which means, I am trying to figure out how to do all that we have been doing together, on my own. Like the middle of the night feedings: try to nurse him, give him a supplemental bottle and then pump. And, yesterday I woke up with a plugged milk duct. (yes I know what to do about these, have been doing it all, and started some lecithin last night, which seems to be helping the most) I tend to get more plugged ducts when I am doing "too much". This is hard on a mom with 13 kids, because there is so much to do... or could be getting done.

Advice to myself today:

1. Manna and grace- there is enough for today, stop looking at tomorrow, the more I look at tomorrow and get uptight, discouraged and overwhelmed by all the tomorrows, the more of what I have today turns wormy, just like the manna did when the Israelites tried to keep some manna for the next day. Yuck. God gives us enough manna/grace for what we need TODAY.

2. To-do list - I love lists. List help me feel like I have my thoughts organized and I can keep "score" of all I have accomplished. I was feeling discouraged about the lack of being able to even write a to-do list, let alone get "anything" done. God spoke to me this morning about re-thinking this. So, I am going to focus on what I have done today, instead of what I have not done. I got a shower today! Woo hoo! I am keeping the baby fed! Go team! I have a plan for dinner and got the chicken out to defrost. Yippee! Yes, there are so many things I want to also get done, but just can't. Doesn't mean I ( or anyone else out there going through a rough time) am not accomplishing anything. Because I am, and so are you. Just maybe not up to our expectations. Remember #1.

3. Drink more water and rest - These have to go on what I am accomplishing today, cause a sick momma not only feels crummy and in pain (plugged milk duct) but she really can't get even the basics done if she is sick in bed. My hubby keeps reminding me that my main job right now is to make milk for Liam and feed him... which requires drinking lots of water and resting. I can WISH it were easier, but that won't make it so.

Hang in there with me ladies!

Go look!

Go HERE to see a few of the great pics my very talented sister took of our little guy yesterday. She did a great job! And, we are very blessed by her coming all the way from Michigan to see him and take his newborn photo's! Thanks so much Ju!

Life as we know it right now

We just got home from 24 hours at Emmanuel Children's Hospital with Liam. He had gone downhill fast with sleeping and not eating. It was scary. They ran a bunch of tests and nothing was found to be "wrong", so he isn't sick, just being a preemie. He seems to be perking up a bit, but still is going to want to sleep over eat, which can be pretty typical for preemies they say. We are going to have to work pretty hard around the clock to keep him eating every 3 hours even if he won't wake up. It is all bottles with an easy flow nipple for now, just to get food into him so he will get the calories he needs without having to work and spend his little bit of energy on nursing, etc. The doctors are saying that things may not really turn around till Liam gets past his due date (11/17) and gets to gaining past his birth weight. We are supplementing with high calorie formula or adding formula to pumped milk to make it higher calorie, which should also help Liam.

Please pray for us. Hubby and I are wiped out (hubs stayed at the hospital till about 11 pm last night and I spent the night with Liam in the hospital). My milk supply went down with Liam not nursing (I'm pumping again, trying to get in 8 pumpings a day) and I had/have a stomach bug that is not helping how I am feeling. I am so ready for life to be just slightly "normal". My emotions are being hit pretty hard.

And, please pray for Liam, that he will be more wakeful at the times he needs to eat, will gain weight and generally improve so that we can work back to nursing again (and that my milk supply will build up again).

Thank you for your faithful prayer support!


These pics were taken by our friend Paul last week, I think when Liam was 5 or 6 days old. Our little guy is sure cute!

Joy overflowing!

Praise God, I was able to come home to my family yesterday, after 5.5 weeks in the hospital!

Better yet, we were able to bring Liam home with us yesterday and didn't have to leave him behind in the NICU when I was discharged. This is a tremendous answer to prayer and quite a surprise to Liam's siblings when they saw he was in the car seat in daddy's arms after I walked in the door. What a joyous reunion!











These are all the pics I have so far this morning. It was a bit of a rough night. Have to understand that yesterday, at 4 days old, was the longest time we have had Liam with us. We are still getting to know each other. He is doing really well, and has even nursed at every feeding, better and better, another wonder after he hasn't nursed before this, being in the NICU. My milk is coming in, though a little slowly... another praise!

Just for clarification, Liam is still breathing faster than he should, but I convinced his doctor yesterday that if that was the only reason for him to stay in the NICU, it wasn't a very good reason (Okay, I didn't say it like that, but you get the idea). His oxygen sats are great and he isn't working or struggling to breath, so as long as he passed his car seat test yesterday and would eat well (from a bottle) and see's our pediatrician on Friday, the doctor agreed to let him go home with us. Woo hoo!

I cannot tell you how wonderful not leaving him behind is/was! I finally feel like a new mama and able to start enjoying getting to know my new baby.

I am also overjoyed to be home with my other children and husband. It is like coming awake after a long nightmare. Praise be to God for bringing us through this very hard time and bringing us all back together again! Thank you all for your many prayers on our behalf! God has surely heard all our prayers (and my many tears) and moved on our behalf!

Update

I'm sorry for not updating sooner. Actually I haven't talked to Jerri today so I'm not sure what the current info even is. But I will pass along what I do know.

Liam is still in the NICU, struggling with his lungs. He is still on the CPAP with forced air but no additional oxygen has been necessary. The nurses were able to feed him (via a tube to his tummy) some of Jer's colostrum that she had pumped and his tummy handled that well. However, when they tried formula (since Jerri was struggling to pump anything since her milk hadn't come in yet), it simply sat in his stomach, undigested. So please pray that Jerri's milk will come in quick and strong! A tidal wave would be nice. (Just kidding Jer!)

When I spoke to Jerri on Monday she had managed to get some sleep the night before thanks to some better drugs. I'm hoping that her sleep has only gotten better since then. It is rumored that she might be coming home today. I'll be calling her later to find out for sure.

She hasn't been able to access the Internet in her room at the hospital... that's why you've been stuck with me. That also means none of your comments have been approved for posting. Sorry! I tried to get the blog to let me but it only wants Jerri. Keep the comments coming though, she'll love reading all of them when she and the Internet have been reunited. She knows you are all praying for her and Liam and she's very thankful.

Please pray for her milk supply to be what it should be for Liam. For Liam's lungs to adjust quickly and that he can come home soon. For Jerri and Dave that they will be able to easily coordinate getting to and from the hospital after she's discharged. And of course that Jerri's c-section would heal quickly and easily also.

Thank you for your prayers. I'll update again when Jerri and I connect...unless she beats me and gets here first.

Pictures!

Liam Jesse D.

Born 1pm, October 25th

7 lbs, 1 oz

19.5 inches

Jerri said it was okay to go ahead and share all the baby news with you all since it'll be awhile before she's up to using the computer. Pray for her as she's really struggling with her pain level. Apparently she can't have morphine so they are working on trying to get her something else that will help.

One of our other sisters did such a good job updating our family blog that I decided to just copy her post. Cheating, I know. Sorry.

"After Liam was born he was grunty, which means that he's having trouble breathing. It was not too serious at first and they wanted to give him a chance to get over the grunting on his own. Unfortunately this didn't happen. He was struggling too hard to breathe, so the doctors transferred him from Jerri's recovery room to the NICU. Liam was trying so hard to breathe that he apparently popped one of his lungs, which caused some air to leak into his chest cavity. Both of these things can resolve on their own without surgical intervention, but both of them can be serious as well. Anything with a newborn can be, of course.

The leaked air did resolve on its own by the time I went home last night at about 7:30pm. They didn't have to put in a chest tube or even use a needle to try to let the air escape to the outside. Praise God! The docs expect Liam to be on the ventilator with pressurized air (to help him breathe it forces the air in to his lungs) for 4-10 days. But as of yesterday it was just the fact that he was early and has immature lungs that put him into the NICU. At over 7 pounds he's a giant baby in there - his next door neighbor baby is only a pound and a half. They are treating him with two antibiotics and an antiviral medication 'just in case' because any infection of any kind at this point would be catastrophic and they want to err on the side of caution.

As of last night Jerri was in a lot of pain and waiting for a new kind of pain med to be sent up to see if it would make a difference. But her bleeding (which is usually a problem) is totally normal and hasn't been bad at all. Which is great!"

Thanks Jane-Holly for letting me steal your pics and your words! =0)

Liam in the NICU, poor baby!

I'll keep you all up to date on everything as I get word. Thanks again for all your prayers... keep 'em coming.

Updates

First of all, my info on his time of delivery was off. He was born right at 1pm. Sorry about that.

Jerri is doing well and in recovery still.

Little Man has just been taken to the NICU (4pm) as his breathing isn't as good as the doctors would like. It doesn't sound like anything huge as it took them 3 hours to decide that. I'm assuming he's just needing a bit of oxygen to keep his levels up. Please be praying that he adjusts quickly and is back with his mama, happily nursing, soon.

~ Jenny

Breaking News...

WE HAVE A BABY BOY!!!!!

He was born shortly before 3pm today. He's healthy and a great size... you'll have to wait for Jerri to announce all the details of her new son. But I wanted to let you know they are both doing well.

Praise the Lord! =0)

News Bulletin...

It's Jenny again. =0)

As I understand it, for the last 24 hrs Jerri has been having an incredible amount of stomach pain and taking strong narcotics to keep it barely under control. Most of you know her stomach has been a battle almost the entire pregnancy. The doctors decided this morning that since her stomach condition wasn't getting better that they preferred to go ahead and deliver Liam today isn't of giving him two more days of Jerri's pain meds. This way there will be less in his system that he has to deal with that might exacerbate any other issues he might have. They were going to take her in a couple hours which I assumed to mean 1pm.

So he should be here now! Praise the Lord! Still waiting to hear the news and will update you when I do. Please be praying, I know it's a little late but God knows the desires of our hearts even before we do. "Post" prayers still count!

I had waited to update you all because I wasn't sure if Jerri would be coming on here herself to do it. We didn't think to discuss it during our brief conversation and I didn't want to bother her by calling her back after I thought about it. So I apologize but I didn't want to jump the gun and steal her thunder.

Stay tuned....

Hanging on...

Sometimes, it is all we can do.... just hang on and allow God to hold us. Monday's disappointment was pretty hard to take (pregnancy hormones thank you so much!), but I am feeling much better now. I have been blessed by visitors each day this week (thank you all!) and that has been a great encouragement and comfort to me. Thank you all for praying for me and baby, that his lungs will finish what they need for his grand entrance next week, and for my family at home, who were expecting me to come home this week.

Being told it is "just" one more week over and over again (I know everyone means well) is quite difficult when you are feeling you can't do even one more day. Not from boredom, mind you. I just miss being together with my family, being at home with them all and taking care of them. Coming to the realization, for like the millionth time in my life, that I can't do it/can't do one more day, is absolutely correct. I cannot. But, God can. All I have to "do" is yield... float, instead of struggle. This is what it truly means to "rest in God" or have the "peace of God", in any and all circumstances...right?

The plan right now is to do the c-section on Monday, 10/27 @ 9:30 AM. FOUR DAYS TO GO!

Thank you for all your prayers. We are praying for:

a safe, uncomplicated c-section, despite all the "risks" the doctors are talking about because of the placenta's position and the likelihood of excessive bleeding, etc.

that Liam will be healthy and not have to spend any time in the NICU

that I will recover quickly, not only from the surgery, but to gain my strength back after 3 months of bed rest

that I won't have any trouble with lactation (having milk come in easily, which has been a huge problem with the last 3 deliveries due to blood loss) and that Liam will be a terrific nurser despite being a bit early.


I can hardly wait to see and hold my baby boy... but more than that, I long for the day he and I come home and I can crawl into my bed, with my husband laying beside me and my children surrounding us on our bed..... and just inhale that moment for as long as possible.

Amnio Results

Hi everyone, it's Jer's sister, Jenny.

The amnio went well today. Liam is doing well but his lungs are not quite "done" so the doctors have decided to wait another week. His lungs are close enough to be ready that they won't repeat the amnio, they'll just schedule the c-section. Jerri doesn't have a date or time yet but she'll be sure to pass along the info when she does.

Keep her in your prayers, especially tonight and the next couple days. It's difficult to adjust to having another week of hospital bedrest when you thought the end might be in sight. Well, it's still in sight, just pushed a little out of reach.

35 weeks

We have made it to 35 weeks! Yeah! Below are the only baby bump type pics I have. We had a birthday party for our daughter, Emma, in my hospital room last night. Everything has stayed quiet in the placenta previa realm, praise the Lord! The plan is to do an amnio on Monday of next week, when I "turn" 36 weeks and if the lungs pass the test and are mature, schedule the c-section for the next day.

Lord willing the next post on here will be baby news! Praying for another week of no complications and for those lungs to be ready!

34 weeks

Hi everyone! Praise the Lord, baby and I have made it to 34 weeks. Today was day 16 in the hospital and things are nice and "calm".

A BIG thank you to those of you who live locally and have come out to visit me in the hospital. It always brightens my day to have visitors! And, helps that day go by faster. I know this hospital is way out of the way for most of you and that makes your visit all the more dear to me. And, those of you who bring me Starbucks, well, those are some yummy days for me to say the least. Hospital coffee is NOT a Starbucks white chocolate mocha, that is for sure!

Thanks also to those of you who have helped out making freezer meals, helping out with the children, and taking the kids to your house for a play day. All these ways of helping us blesses us so much and is helping to make this time I have been on bed rest and this extended time in the hospital bearable for the whole family.

One last thank you to those of you who have sent gifts for the baby from our registry, sent cards, sent or brought flowers to me, etc. I feel so encouraged and blessed by your gifts of love and helping us be ready for this little boys arrival!

Here is the latest news as of today, Tuesday. If things stay "calm" and there are no more bad bleeds, they will do an amnio on the 20th, the day I am 36 weeks gestation, to check on the baby's lungs. If they are deemed healthy/mature, they will deliver him by c-section on the 21st.

Plans can change in the blink of an eye, but this is what the plan is today. I believe most of the high risk doctors are on board with this plan, so that is good. There had been some talk of doing an amnio next week, but we have all talked about it and decided that giving the baby an extra week will give the baby a better chance of having his lungs ready and more developed over all.

Please continue to pray for baby and I here in the hospital. And, for David and the children at home. We now have web cams set up so I can see and talk to the children every day, which is really nice!

Lord willing, baby Liam will be born two weeks from today!

Hospital Bed Rest ~ Day 10

The high risk OB who did rounds today (there is a different doctor every day which is frustrating), came in and actually said I should probably stay here till the baby is born. I told him he is the FIRST of all the docs to say this (the other keep giving me a vague amount of days till I can go home). He seems very practical minded and was all "it just makes sense" for numerous reasons. I said PLEASE write this in my chart because tomorrow will be another doctor and they all seem to think something else! He agreed, both to write it up and about how the different doctors have different approaches. He said that maybe what we would do is when I reach 35 weeks (that is 12 days from now) if my blood levels are where they should be (today's hematocrit was 28 point something... up from 26 point something last week, so it is slowly improving... they want is at a min. of 30 before a c-section) they would do an amnio to check on lung maturity and if it was good they could go ahead and do the c-section at that point.

Well, I have to say that was encouraging to hubby and me. Stay here about 2 more weeks and deliver the baby who will be 35 weeks and should be able to come home with me. This OB today was so practical, which I can really relate to, about how the longer I go the more risk I have of more bleeding and I am already a high risk to lose a lot of blood during the c-section, so the risks start to outweigh keeping the baby in a few extra weeks. What an answer to prayer today and addresses both mine and David's concerns!

We continue to appreciate your prayers for an uneventful 12 days, that my hematocrit comes up and a good report on the lung maturity. Of course, things can change without notice and his lungs might not be ready, but it is so wonderful to have a plan in place! We have been in limbo for 10 days now and it was getting old. God is so good!

~jerri

9/26 Update

Just a quick update and many, many thanks for all your prayers for the baby, hubby, kids and me.

I have had a little more spotting today, and am feeling a bit dizzy when I get up out of bed. The labs on my iron count show that even with three days of iron therapy via an IV drip, my numbers have not gone up. So, the plan is to do an iron therapy today (Friday), Saturday and Sunday and then re-test my blood on Monday. And, of course keeping an eye on the spotting. If my iron comes up to where they want it to be and the spotting stops for more than a few days at a time, I could go home, on very, very strict bed rest. We aren't there yet. And, things can change in the blink of an eye. So, we just continue to take one day at a time.

Baby boy is still doing well. =)

I did get permission for a 15 min. wheelchair ride per day. Woo hoo! I'll finally get to see what is outside my door! I am hoping to get my first ride when David stops by on his way home from work tonight. =)

If nothing changes through the weekend I probably will not update till Monday or Tuesday.

Oh, my *orthodontist sent lovely flowers for me, with large fragrant lilies! Isn't that so nice? David had taken two of the boys to ortho appts on Wed. and the staff had asked about me and so that is how they found out what is going on.

Happy Weekend,
jerri

* For those who don't know, I was in braces for 3 years leading up to extensive jaw surgery for TMJ.

9/24 update

Just a quick note to say things are stable. Hubby brought the kids to see me yesterday. Pardon the totally unflattering pic of me. I don't think anyone can make a hospital gown look good, especially while lying down in bed. lol. And, bed head, argh!




Thank you all for your prayers for me, baby and hubby and kids at home. This isn't easy, but God is getting us through each day. Small prayers, like having a great nurse for the day, to bigger ones like having a great perinatologist as my doctor yesterday. Several people came to visit me yesterday and that encouraged and humbled me.


Even things like getting a better bed and an egg crate mattress on top of it... a "write in" list of things that can be put on the daily menu order (for when nothing on the printed list looks any good), all have blessed me the last two days. And, all your comments and suggestions to "amuse" me bless me too!



I still don't know how long I will be here. My OB gets back from vacation tomorrow, so I hope he will call or come by and he will then be in the "loop" again and we'll start getting some of these questions answered. Until then, things staying calm, baby continuing to do well, are all wonderful. One day at a time...

9/22 evening update

Hi everyone! I have my computer now and as long as I am stable I will be able to update the blog. Many thanks to my sister Jenny for doing updates when I am not able.

They decided I was stable enough to transfer to the hospital with a level 3 NICU, so I got another ambulance ride this morning. I am also now under the care of a perinatologist. He, of course, wants things done completely differently than they were at the other hospital. lol. So, he wanted the Foley out, oxygen off, even the IV drip is off for now (thought I have the PICC in one arm and a heparin lock in the other arm). I was allowed to get up and use the restroom and I did okay with that. I didn't get dizzy or pass out. But, I did have a bit of fresh blood from that brief excursion.

They are holding off giving me a transfusion... rather wait and see (oh boy, does that phrase get used a lot!)in hopes my numbers will start coming up. And, hang onto the blood they have all ready on hand for me if I have another significant bleed. The Peri. had good reasons about doing too many transfusions has a lot of risks, and gets harder and harder to type and match. He seems really smart and good at his job, but he isn't as personable as my OB.

How long I will be here is a "wait and see" of course. If I can make it to 35 weeks, I can transfer back to the hospital my OB is at and where I would prefer to deliver at.

I have gotten my two shots of steroids, so that is good. Baby boy is still do awesomely great. By ultrasound they do not think my water broke...or it has refilled by the time they did the US.

Oh, I'm really hoping they will let me take a shower! Argh! I haven't had one since Sat. morning. A washcloth wiping just doesn't cut it for long.

Guess that is all the news. Thank you all so much for your prayers and words of encouragement!

~jerri

32 Weeks Today!!

And Baby Boy is still safe inside Mommy!!

Jerri had her in-depth ultrasound this morning but is still waiting on the results. She's been moved to another hospital in her area. It's better equipped to care for Jerri and especially Baby Boy. We're thankful that there was time to do the move before birth and that Baby Boy didn't have to be whisked away to this hospital right after being born, leaving Jerri at the previous one.
She should be seeing a high risk specialist this afternoon or evening and is expecting to hear results from the ultrasound then. I'll be sure to pass along the information as soon as I get it.

Thank you again for all your prayers. So far, Baby Boy is doing well and for that we are sooo very thankful. Every day counts and your encouraging words and prayers help to keep Jerri's spirits up.

Breaking News!!!!

Sorry, I know it's not a good sign to be hearing from me at this point but it's Jenny, Jerri's sister, again.

Around 8am today, Jerri started bleeding heavily and had to have 911 called. They rushed her off in the ambulance (also putting an iv line in the opposite wrist of her PICC line. Standard procedures and all). Since she's been at the hospital, the bleeding has pretty much stopped, although she continues to have trickles now and then. She's right on the border of needing a transfusion due to the loss of blood but so far they are not giving her one.

To complicate things a bit more, Jerri thinks her water broke. No labor thankfully and the initial ultrasound still shows water pockets. She is waiting for a more in-depth ultrasound to actually check how much fluid is still there. Because of her trickle of a bleed, they are unable to do the paper litmus test on any fluid leaking out.

She received her first shot of steroids earlier today but has to wait 12 to 24 hours before the next shot.

It is still up in the air whether or not they will have to c-section her at this point. So for now she waits. And she would appreciate your prayers.

Things we are thankful for:
~ Hubby was home at the time of the bleed and was able to call 911 and be there to help.
~ Hubby is off the next few days so there's worry about needing to take time off for the time being.
~ Older boys were home to care for the younger munchkins as mom and dad rushed off to the hospital
~ A freezer full of meals already prepared by families from their Church.
~ Jerri was taken to her "regular" hospital, where they have her records and know her.
~ The bleeding has virtually stopped.
~ No labor has started.
~ There's been time for Steroid Shot #1
~ Baby Boy is 32 weeks gestation tomorrow and apart from having no movement during the initial bleed, he seems to be handling the chaos pretty well.

Things we need prayer for at the moment:
~ Water to have either not broken or that the leak would have self-healed in order to "buy" more time.
~ That Jerri's blood stats would return to normal quickly in case of another bleed, whether that be on it's own or through a transfusion.
~ That there would be no more bleeding and Jerri can remain on bed rest at the hospital for a few more weeks.
~ For the younger munchkins to not be worried or scared due to Jerri's terrifying and abrupt exit. No goodbyes, blood, etc.
~ That things will go smoothly at home for the older boys.
~ That Jerri will have time for as many steroid shots as necessary for Baby Boy's lungs before delivery. And that he will be in good health no matter at what point he is delivered.
~ Wisdom for the doctors (and mom and dad if there are choices to be made)

I will update you all as soon as I get updates. When Jerri's hubby gets the green light to go home for a little bit, he'll return with her laptop and she'll hopefully be able to bring updates to you all herself. We just aren't sure when that will happen.

Thanks for your prayers. It means so much to her. We are so thankful that both she and Baby Boy are being held firmly in the Creator of Life's loving hands. He's in control, no matter how out of control things seem to be.

Sunflower favorite

So, it looks like sunflower picture # 3 got the most votes, closely followed by # 1. Thanks to all of you who voted. It helps amuse me and amusing me helps pass this bed rest time.

And, thank you to the brave souls who signed up as "followers" of my blog. I know there are more of you... don't be shy! I'm thinking of having a contest, possibly involving everyone who is signed up as a follower, by a certain date....hmm, have to think on that some more. It would include everyone already signed up of course. Maybe even extra chances in the drawing for those who sign up BEFORE the contest is announced.... I'm sneaky that way.

Name game

A few of you commented that you'd like to help us with our "name this baby" problem. Sounds like it could be fun, and amusing. As I have already mentioned today, amusing me is very helpful, even therapeutic, during this long season of bed rest.

Yet, I wonder if you fully understand what you are getting yourselves into? You see, not only have we already used 14 boy names (first and middle names) that we COULD agree on, but we also have RULES.

Yes, we have had name rules since our first was born. Here they are:

1. First name must have more than one syllable.
2. Middle name must be a family name (someone's first or middle name from either of our families).
3. This one is more of a guideline than a true "rule": We usually use more traditional/classic type names. (this one is starting to sound like a home design show.... oh I do love to watch HGTV when I'm in the *hospital!)
4. Prefer biblical names for the first name, but again, more of a guideline, as we haven't stuck to this one each time.

You probably can't begin without knowing what names we have already used, right? So, in alphabetical order, here are the 14 boy names we have used:
Adam, Austin, Bryce, Christopher, Daniel, David, Geoffrey, Isaac, James, John, Joseph, Joshua, Patrick, Paul.

Now, lets also look at the family names that we are thinking of using as a middle name this time around, and there aren't many left, believe me!
Jesse
Emerson

The ONE first name hubby likes and seems to not want to budge from, at least right now, is Liam. To be honest, I was okay with this name several months ago. But, the longer I thought about it the more it just didn't seem to fit with rule #3. Don't get me wrong, it is a fine name, just a bit more "trendy" than we usually go with.

Here are the names I am thinking about:
Andrew (Jesse)
Jacob (Emerson)
Elijah (Jesse)

Are you totally confused yet? Do you see why this is so hard? Argh!

Oh, and while we are at it, scratch the names Dustin, Travis, Benjamin, Samuel, Ethan, Micah and Owen off this list of possible first names. Already been used amongst cousins.

If you haven't already clicked over to watch HGTV online, instead of reading all this post, and I don't blame you, and you have some name suggestions, BRING THEM ON! I mean, leave your suggestions in the comments section please.


* We don't have broadcast or cable TV at home... just use it to watch DVD's.

Seeds planted before my bed rest ...

... are now abloom, in all their glory!

click to enlarge any of these images

I just love sunflowers!

Which is your favorite pic? Number them 1-4 from top to bottom, and leave your vote in the comments section. I'll add up the votes on Saturday morning.

And, while you're at it, sign up as being one of my blog followers. I KNOW you are all out there, even if you don't comment (and that is totally okay with me), because I can see my blog counter go up and up after I put up a new post. It would be fun for me to see all of you wonderful people who grace my blog with your readership. Just click on the "follower" link in the left side bar.

31 weeks

I "celebrated" turning 31 weeks by being in the hospital, yes, once again. I went in on Saturday 9/13, with severe kidney pain, again. Only this time it was not a kidney infection, but a kidney stone. Go figure. I came home Monday afternoon 9/15.

I am very thankful that this hospital trip was for something as "easy" as a kidney stone and not because the placenta previa was bleeding.

For anyone who might be counting, not that I am of course, but this was my 5th hospital trip. Again, thankful these have all been for things not related to the previa. And, baby boy continues to be healthy and strong for which I am also very thankful.

I have an OB appt. this afternoon and hopefully there will not be any surprises. I refuse to take my hospital bag with me today. I just do. I kind of cannot handle the thought of being put back in after I just got out of there yesterday.

On a good note, I did take my fully prepared hospital bag with me when I went in on Saturday, and though I was too sick and in too much pain the first 30 hours or so, when I did start to feel better it was very nice to have clean clothes and my own toiletries with me. Yeah!

About 7 more weeks till the c-section. Still hoping and praying we get that far without any complications from the previa.

On a funny side note, hubby and I cannot agree on a name for this baby. We have never had this much struggle coming up with and agreeing on a name. But, how many people have to come up with 8 different boy names they like? When people ask me if we have a name yet, I say, yes, his name is " Baby Boy". Maybe we will be inspired on a name we can both agree on after we "see" this little boy.

**Edited to add: Just back from my OB appt. Yes, I got to come home! Hooray! My OB is wondering if my severe stomach pain is an ulcer, but there isn't any difference in treatment if we knew that for sure and so doing an upper GI really isn't going to benefit us anything and only add risks to the pregnancy. He is going to up my at home hydration to be sure I am getting enough and I am supposed to work on getting more potassium into me. Darling hubby is at the store right now buying banana's and looking for a sports drink that has potassium in it for me to see if I can drink it and have my stomach tolerate it. My kids were thrilled to see me walk back through the door after my appt. They are getting used to me ending up in the hospital anytime I leave the house. Nice surprise for them, and for me too!

30 weeks

You probably all noticed how I didn't post last week, week 29. To say it was not a great week is, well, somewhere in the ball park of being accurate. I'll try to briefly recap:

* Last Monday night my 13 y.o. son fainted in the kitchen and on his way DOWN hit his head very solidly on the edge of the kitchen island. Off to the ER with my hubby. Son had a concussion and needed 5 staples to close the hole in the back of his head. A tad stressful for all of us.

* Last Tuesday I went for my ultrasound and OB appt. Ultrasound was good, baby is good, if not great: He measured 2 weeks "ahead" on skeletal measurements and estimated at weighing 3 lbs. 6 oz. Yeah! Only a little bit of cervical change... another big yeah! BUT, my urine showed I was dehydrated again/still. So, hubby had to take me to the hospital for another round of 2000 ml's of hydration.

In the meantime, I asked my OB if I could PLEASE have in-home health care and so have my hydration done at home, so I wouldn't have to be away from my family every week for a day (my dehydration issue isn't going to go away before the baby is born it would appear - my stomach is in so much pain and I have such severe nausea if I eat AND try to drink , even with a whole slew of meds they have me on to try to combat it, that giving my stomach a break so I can be somewhat comfortable would be best, and daily hydration at home the best option of all). Home health care was set up, only in order to have daily infusion therapy the patient has to have a PICC Line put in.

* Last Friday I went in to have the PICC Line put in. It went pretty well, with only one wrong turn (in my vein that is) and only one serious bought of feeling like I was going to pass out or throw up while it was being put in. Don't want to do this again anytime soon, but if this line will last, I won't have to be poked again, even for my c-section. This line serves it all, even blood draws and IV mediation needs. Yippee! (if you could see my arm from last weeks "regular" IV, the huge bruises and the pain I had from it, you'd understand why a PICC Line is such a blessing for me)

* Last Saturday the home health care nurse came out and taught me how to start and stop and clean and everything my own infusion therapy. Yup. I have a frig full of IV bags, a little battery operated pump and tons of sterile packs of tubing and such. My infusion takes 4 hours to run, but it is totally protable, so I can go anywhere (technically speaking of course... I am still on bed rest) with it.

* Today, Tuesday the 9th, I had my weekly OB appt and FINALLY I wasn't dehydrated. Woo hoo! So, the infusion therapy is working! Yeah! I am also now in the 30th week, which means I am heading into the most dangerous time for the placenta previa. We discussed with my OB about starting steriod shots in the next could of weeks, as a preventitive measure. I asked my OB what his "gut" feeling was about my previa? He said, of course, previa's are impossible to guess at what they will do, but his "gut" feeling was that I would do okay for another couple of weeks. I'll take that, doc! So, my new goal is reaching 32 weeks without any problems...not that I have ANY control over any of this. It is just a goal.

Notice my belly bump picture? Do you see how far out my stomach is sticking? This baby is doing some serious growing lately, don't you think? I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that it is almost 10 weeks till my actual due date (though the c-section will be in about 8 weeks), with as large as I am feeling already! Yikes! God is so good though, because in the beginning of this whole previa thing one of the OB's concerns was the baby possibly not growing well. Praise God, we can scratch that concern off the list!

Thank you Jesus for your mercies each day!

I'm home!

After spending a mostly sleepless night in the hospital, I am so happy to be home again! I would have been home sooner, but I had a reaction to the vitamins they put in the second IV bag they started on me yesterday. They stopped everything and between watching me, checking my BP, checking my blood glucose (it was fine) and some oxygen, I finally stopped feeling so dizzy. Then we had to wait for my OB to come out of surgery to okay switching back to the regular lactated ringers IV solution. Once we got that going again, I actually started feeling hungry for the first time in a couple of days.

Baby is great! He did wonderfully during the three NST's they did while I was in the hospital (one per shift).

I was very blessed, once again, to have great nurses. Actually, a whole different group than the last two times I was in. At this rate, I'll get to know the whole staff by the time we deliver! LOL!

I will see my OB again next Tuesday and have an ultrasound right before I see him. So, we have moved up to weekly appointments a little earlier than we expected, but all expectations are pretty much out the window at this point! My partially packed hospital bag was of no use to me sitting on the closet floor at home and me in the hospital! I never thought to bring it with us to my OB appt. yesterday! Guess it would be better to take it with us every time and not need it than to be without it. Just the little things like some clean clothes, your own comb, toothbrush, shampoo, etc. are sure nice to have with you!

Best laid plans... yeah... out the window.... lol !

Anniversary

Today is hubby and my wedding anniversary. Not just any anniversary either, mind you, but out 25th anniversary! God is good!

What do we have to show for 25 years together? Not many earthly possessions; retirement accounts, vacation homes, new cars, etc. But we have been blessed with CHILDREN! Twelve and one on the way. Many would say we are "poor", but some understand the richness that children are in a marriage. We consider ourselves very rich indeed!

Yesterday our oldest son and daughter-in-law moved away.... up to northern British Columbia, where dear DIL hails from. We knew this day would come. It is bittersweet. We were so blessed to have them living so close for most of their first year of marriage.

This picture is probably one of the last times the whole family will be together for quite a while. You wouldn't believe how the moon, stars and tides had to line up just to get this picture taken (with a timer too)! **WARNING: for those of you with all younger children still, read ahead at your own risk... it is what happens when children become adults and are all going in different directions at the same time... but ignorance is bliss, so if you want to skip to the next paragraph, I don't blame you!** Second oldest son was flying home from being on staff at the YWAM base in San Francisco, CA all summer the day we took this picture. He was supposed to land at 2 pm. He missed his flight. He got home instead about 7 pm. We ate a hurried dinner together and took this picture. You see, this was the ONLY day we could because my husband would be at work the rest of the week, third son was moving out the next day (to an apartment around the corner from us - so nice!) and four days later fourth and fifth sons were leaving for a week at the YWAM Gleanings For The Hungry base in CA. They won't be back till after oldest son is gone. Did that all make sense? I could make a power point presentation of it...would that help?

So, we took the few minutes we were all together and with a borrowed flash unit (thanks Paul!) and some great editing from my sister (thanks Julie!) we have a picture of all of us together.

25 years... wow! We have so much to "show" for it, praise be to God!

Health Update

Hi everyone!


This is Jerri's sister Jenny (otherwise known as Runningamuck). Jerri asked that I pass along information to you all.

She went to her regular ob appointment today and was letting him know how cruddy she's been feeling. Well, her urine test came back that she was severely dehydrated. (We suspect that's due to the meds and all the side-effects) So she's off to the hospital to be plugged in to some IV fluid. Hopefully once she's nice and hydrated the contractions will stay away, she'll need the meds less and she'll feel much better.

In the meantime, I know she would appreciate your prayers for continued health of the baby and that her poor, dried up veins would be easily accessible for the IV. She's got a bit of "record" of being difficult in that area. Not only would that delay her getting fluids but being a human pin-cushion isn't all that comfortable either.

At this point she has no idea if they'll keep her overnight but I'll be sure to pass along information as I get it.

Thanks for your prayers.

28 weeks

By this week, your baby weighs nearly 2.3 pounds and may measure 14.8 inches from top to toe. At about this time, your baby can open his eyes and turn his head in utero if he notices a continuous, bright light shining from the outside. His fat layers are forming and his fingernails appear.


Another week completed...another week starting!

It is somewhat surreal to think that up to about 6 weeks ago we "thought" that I would be starting on bed rest TODAY. How quickly that all changed.

This last weekend was challanging. I started contracting again on Friday and this time the contractions didn't stop with just 24 hours of medication. They have finally stopped today, after three days of the medication and staying pretty much completely in bed (actually, my lower back hurt so much on Thursday that I spent that whole day in bed also....my contractions have started both times now the day after a low back ache starts... aha! A pattern!).

Today marks 10 weeks till we "hope" to deliver the baby... if things stay calm, no bleeding, no need to take the baby earlier because it will be safer "out" than "in". Ten more weeks of bed rest to get to that "hoped" for day. 70 days.... Okay, have to stop thinking about it that way. Every day inside me is a blessing, even if it is hard for me to be on such extended bed rest.

This is also the day/week that the real problems of this type of previa start to happen (which is why this would have been the week to "start" bed rest). Spotting, bleeding, etc. I feel like a time bomb.... ticking.... never quite knowing when (or if) it will explode. I have strict instructions from my OB that if I start spotting to go directly to the hospital. If it starts with bleeding call 911...immediately...do not delay! **gulp** See what I mean about the time bomb ticking?

On the home front, after getting a lot done on lesson plans for school the early part of last week, I hope to finish them up this week. We are planning to "start" school on Sept. 1st. All our books have finally arrived (what would I do without online ordering?). I think we have about everything we need for to get us to Thanksgiving.... though the best laid plans are great to have, there is no way to know how this will play out.

God knows and is with us today and will be there for whatever may come. We appreciate all your prayers for us!

27 weeks

It has been 7 weeks since I last posted a pic of my baby bump. Oy, lots of growing in these last 7 weeks... all over. (ahem!)

Uh, yes, I did go outside to get a pic taken, on our way to church....which I do have permission from my OB to attend, for now, as long as I stay reclining. Hubby takes our outdoor chaise for me to recline on at the back of the auditorium. I feel a bit like Cleopatra and get a fair amount of jealousy ribbing for my "lounging" at church.

Another week "gained" for our little guy. Our countdown chart says 77 days to go. We've come a ways since our 100 days began!

My bookends....

Oldest and youngest...get, ready, get set....


















GO! Look Ma, no hands! (many years ago when his father did this with him, it would make my heart stop, but not anymore, I'm used to it now.... I think...)


















Add a mid-air twist for more points.













Oldest with his lovely wife, their new puppy (dare I say our "grandpuppy"? **shudder** ) and the youngest.


















This pic really captures our "current" youngest child's mischievous personality - she is a lot like her oldest big brother was at this age.

Now, don't even start asking who took these pics. I could lie and say it wasn't me, but I have twelve witnesses who would tell you otherwise. Yes, I escaped my room and recliner and went outside to be part of the fun (the big attraction was the puppy) and capture some of it with the camera. Being on bed rest means no one is taking any pics around here. Time is escaping us, to get some of these memories saved as pictures. You see, oldest and his wife are moving next week to her native British Columbia, Canada. So, I want/need to cherish these last few times we are together, for who knows when we will be together again?

For the record, I sat the whole time I was taking pictures outside and cherishing those moments.... just saying....