Merry Christmas, Baby...

We got the good news that we have waited to hear for 4 months, Elliott can finally come off of the monitor! He hasn't had a true episode of apnea or bradycardia in over a month. I was so happy to take those leads off and not have to put them back on...to put his onesie on without having to thread the wires through the snaps... and to finally be able to put him in something that zips instead of snaps!

In other news, Jack got into a bag of Ghirardelli dark chocolates and had to go to the Emergency Vet last night... fun right? We didn't make the discovery until around midnight last night, when Eric found three candy wrappers on the floor. It all started to make sense - night before, Jack had some diarrhea and yesterday evening he had thrown up several times. Around 2:30am he was WIRED - could not settle down so I called the vet and took him in - they admitted him and treated him with IV fluids and charcoal to remove the toxins - He only at 3 squares but at 6lbs that was 1 1/2 times the toxic level... I picked him up today around 4pm, all I can say is thank God for credit cards - What's in your wallet?

We went to get our Christmas tree tonight - finally - I was beginning to wonder if we would decorate at all. The kids and I went shopping today with Mom and actually managed to get some things accomplished - doesn't seem to matter how early I start shopping, Christmas always sneaks up on me!

Time is flyin'

Wow, another month has come and gone. Elliott is still on the monitor and his reflux medication has been increased to twice a day. It seems the reflux was/is causing our sweet boy to have episodes of bradycardia - or low heart rate... so the decision was made to increase the meds... oy! (just realized that I already reported that... oh well!)

As far as my healing goes... I have been declared "healed" by the wound center. I will go for another sonogram next week to check the size of the seroma but looks like my paid leave may be coming to an end.

We spent Thanksgiving in North Carolina where most of our family lives. Eric's parents, Mike and Pat as well as his brother, Vince and his family live in Concord, while my dad's side of the family live in Matthews, Indian Trail, and just over the South Carolina border. We stayed with Eric's parents but got to spend quality time with both sides of the family. My Aunt Terri hosted Thanksgiving for 21 of us - yowzaa.

While there, we had Christmas with the Connors or 'Connor Christmas' as I call it. Eric's Grandad came over and was thrilled to sit and hold Elliott. Of course, Elliott was a big hit - this was the first time my family had met him so he pretty much got held the whole time... lots of lovin. Eric and I had fun with my cousins, Ashley and Lindsey - they have their own apartment so we got to spend some late nights with them. We also got to meet Lindsey's beau - Chance' - very sweet.

Already this month we have been to see Santa Clause - to my dismay, I lost the pictures that I paid 30 bucks for! Fortunately, I got a good pic with my camera (see above). We also went to Picture People and had Christmas pictures made of the kids - they turned out very sweet. Last weekend, Eric and I went to my work party (even though I am not working ;-D) while Aunt Summer and Uncle Bryan babysat - we had to pay them in pizza and wings but it was nice to have a night out.

Tomorrow is my 32nd birthday, we will be traveling to WV to have an early Christmas with mom's family.

Enjoy the pics...

Medical Updates

Last month, during Elliott's 2 month well baby visit, Dr. Ginsburg was concerned that he may have a hernia. She referred us to a urologist - same one who did Elliott's circumcision - Dr. Mc Dermott. We had that appointment last week. Dr. McDermott could not get the hernia to "demonstrate" but he explained the whole thing to us. When the testicles drop, the hole is supposed to close back up - when it doesn't a hernia can form when the intestines come through the hole - nice, right? Anyway, he told us what to look for in case of an emergency and wanted to see Elli again in 3 mos.

We also heard from the doctor regarding Elliott's monitor... He continues to be apnea free which is fantastic, however he continues to have episodes of Bradycardia or low heart rate. This is likely caused by his acid reflux so they have increase his prevacid to twice a day. We started this on Saturday, they will come again after Thanksgiving to read the monitor but I have a feeling it will be the new year before he is off of it.

Regarding me... my incision is still not healed. At 10 weeks (Elliott is now 12 weeks) I returned to the OB and we were both so frustrated with the fact that it was still open and draining - gross, I KNOW!!! So anyway, she referred me to the Wound Center at the hospital - what fun that was... they took multiple pictures of my incision, poked and prodded around in there for over an hour... the doctor removed some "granulation" that had formed, with nitrogen - they said that the granulation can interfere with the would closing. They taught me how to wash and dry it and how to apply a silver gel and dressing... i go back in 2 weeks (on the 24th)... we will see... the good thing that is coming from this is that as long as my incision is open, I qualify for time off with pay - otherwise, I would be going unpaid by now.

My return to work is uncertain at this point due to several factors... it was my intention all along to use my sick leave, apply to the sick leave bank, and then to use FMLA (family medical leave act) getting me about 16 weeks off... now that I have had issues with my incision it looks like I could be off more like 20 weeks. If after 20 weeks, Elliott is still on the monitor, I will reapply for FMLA. You see, right now, I am on FMLA for the birth of a child... you can also be on FMLA in order to care for a family member... the FMLA allows me to be off without pay but with continued benefits.

Elliott will be 3 months this Saturday - I can't believe he has been here that long already... Pacey has FINALLY accepted her little brother. Last week, he fell asleep in his swing, she walked by and smiled at him, came over to me, hugged me and said, "isn't he cute? I am glad we got him." I had been waiting 12 weeks to hear that :-)

Here are some recent pics...

Peapod Silver

I must confess, one reason that I have backed off from my blog is my new addiction to Facebook - for those of you unfamiliar, it is a social network... a place to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones. I recently reconnected with a girl who I first met in fourth grade - that was a long time ago... anyway, she has started her own jewlery business and I thought I would share her website with you...

check it out http://www.peapodsilver.com/

Friends

Got this as an e-mail, it is so true -

There comes a point in your life when you realize:
who matters,
who never did,
who won't anymore...
and who always will.
So, don't worry about people from your past,
there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.
Give these flowers to everyone you don't want to lose in 2009,
including me, if that's what is in your heart.

more pics...

Here are some great pictures... random, but great.

This one is from Pacey's camera - her perspective of my pregnant belly - so funny!

Elliott's first bath...

Me and my babies...

Trying to smile...

My pretty ballarinas...

Me and Miss Leigh at a "Mommy and Me" Stampin' Up workshop...


Halloween Cutie...

"What... is.... that???"


Sweet smile...

October is over???

Wow... its November and I can't even believe it...

Elliott is doing really well and I am doing pretty well too. We heard from the pulminologist several weeks ago, he said that Elliott had not had ANY true apnea episodes - this is great news however the doctor was concerned about some low heart rate episodes and therefore was not ready to take him off of the monitor just yet. Karl, our neighbor care rep came out last week to download the monitor again... this time I gave him a list of what was happening when the low heart rate alarm went off because I do not think it is accurate... it seems to go off when the leads slip down on Elliott's belly or when he is crying really hard, so we will see... hoping to be off of it by Thanksgiving.

Below are several videos of our October pictures.

We took a trip to Dunbar, WV so that Elliott could meet his Mommaw and Poppaw, the Hills came over for the day on Saturday to visit and to meet Elli for the first time too.



The following weekend, Vince, Mel and the kids came to visit... we spent Saturday at the park - it was a lot of fun.



This Halloween video includes pictures from Fox's 3rd Annual Halloween Happy Hour - I dressed up like myself, 2 months ago! Also in this video are pics from our visit to Homestead to get pumpkins with Mom, and Halloween day: carving the pumpkin with Pacey, Pacey's school parade, and of course trick or treating... my crew were the characters from Peter Pan - Lottie was Captain Hook, Jack was Peter Pan, Pacey was Tinker Bell, and Elliott was the Lost Boy Skunk.

Sweet Caroline

FROM MY DEAR FRIEND, JESSICA...

Today marks one year since I delivered Sweet Caroline. My sweet friend, Emily, from blogger land, sent me this today. Our babies were born 3 months apart, exactly. She is an amazing writer. Won't you say this prayer with me today? Thank you all for your ongoing support and prayers this last year.

Much love,
Jessica

Dear Lord,

I pray you let this day be gentle to Jessica's heart. I pray sweet Caroline be able to look down and see her parents today, on her very first birthday. Oh God, we do not understand your ways... and yet we trust them. We praise you for this beautiful baby girl and the incredible legacy she left behind. We pray you continue to use her life and her story to draw others to you. Oh Lord, be with her baby sister or brother today. Let him or her remind Jessica that hope awaits and it rests in your hand. Thank you, Lord, for Caroline Klug and all she brought to our world.

And thank you, sweet Caroline, for living your life so well and for helping to make your mommy as special as she is. We praise God for you today, Birthday Girl.

Amen

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday, I got to go with Pacey to the Pumpkin Patch while mom took the day off to keep Elliott. Pacey's school trip was planned for Green Meadows Farm in Jessup - not really a pumpkin patch nor a farm but fun nevertheless. Riding the bus is half the fun for four-year-olds... not for me though as I get car/bus sick! Anyway... we got there in one piece and had fun. We hung with Ms. Patty - the daycare director, and 3 of Pacey's little friends most of the day. We got to milk a cow, go for a hayride, hold baby animals, and feed goats and sheep. At the end of our visit we got to select a small pumpkin to take home. Enjoy the pics... remember to click on the play button.

angel babies

I know I need to update this blog... and I will but right now I just wanted to share something with you...

I heard about this from my friend Jessica. A local photographer has made a calendar full of babies dressed up as angels... all of the proceeds go to the NICU at Anne Arundel Medical Center. As you know, both of my babies stayed in the NICU at AAMC and we are forever grateful to them. I ordered a calendar - it was 12.99 and it came in about 2 days.

If you are interested, here is the link...scroll down to the bottom of the homepage and click on the calendar link.

www.visualconceptsltd.com

Petition for Preemies

In the United States today, 1 in 8 babies is born prematurely. More newborns die from premature birth than any other cause. But solutions are within our grasp. Together, we can find the causes of premature birth, ensure moms get health care during pregnancy, and create workplaces that support maternal and infant health.
Act now and let everyone know it's time to do more to help moms have healthy, full-term babies. November is March of Dimes Prematurity Awareness Month. Sign the Petition for Preemies.

update...

I went for a sonogram this morning - NO, I AM NOT PREGNANT!!! It was to have another look at the seroma around my incision - the lovely place where all that fluid has been pooling and draining. Anyway, the draining has really decreased but is still happening so Dr. Buckson sent me for another sono... it showed that there is not much fluid left in there rather it is becoming scar tissue - so nothing to remove - it also showed that it has decreased in size. Dr. Buckson wants to continue to monitor it so I will see her every 2 weeks. The good news is that this should qualify me for more time off! Yippee!!!

On a much lighter note - Elliott smiled today for the first time - a real, non-gas, non-funny-faces-you-make-when-you-fall-asleep smile :D

New Kids on the Block!!!

Thursday night was AWESOME!!! My friend Jessica and I went to see New Kids at the Verizon Center in DC. We went to several shows together back in the day - this pic is from 1989...


Our seats were great - at one point in the show, the boys came up on a center stage right in front of our section - we were so psyched - felt like a teenager again! Click on the play button to see my pics from the show.

Yes we had t-shirts made, yes we are holding "vintage" Donnie and Joey dolls... try not to be jealous!

Colic...

Well, the relief from the prevacid was short lived. Tuesday we called the doctor because Elliott had returned to his old ways of spitting up and screaming. Of course, they wanted to see us in the office. This time they told us that he had Colic - an otherwise healthy baby who cries for no reason... FUN!!! The doctor said that now they think Colic has to do with an underdeveloped portion of the brain that controls satisfaction - in time it will develop but right now, he "can't get no - satisfaction" even though, "I try, and I try, and I try, and I try" he "can't get no - no, no, no!" - sorry, I couldn't resist :-)

So... her solution was to try a special formula called Alimentum by Similac - it is easier to digest and is supposed to help relieve Colic within 24 hrs... she gave us 2 sample cans. I asked if we needed a prescription, "no, just a paycheck." - Fan-freakin-tastic - this formula costs twice what the others do. So we tried it and it does seem to help so if anyone comes across any coupons - please send them my way.

Reflux...

Elliott has been diagnosed with reflux. His spitting up was getting really bad - several outfits a day for him and us. He was also doing a lot of arching and crying during and after feedings. I had him to the doctor on Wednesday and she suggested several things that we could try - ex. keeping him upright for 45 minutes after a feeding, leaving him in his car seat or bouncy seat, etc. Dr. Ginsburg said that the reflux can trigger the apnea and since we had seen an increase in the apnea alarms she suggested medication. So we did - he started on Previcaid on Wednesday evening and WHAT A DIFFERENCE! It had gotten so bad that for 2-3 nights in a row, he cried from 11 - 4am - but the second night on the meds he slept from 11-5:45! Last night he ate at 9 and slept till 6:45! YOWZAA!!!! He is spitting up and crying less - his feedings are much smoother and don't take near as long. His apnea episodes have decreased as well.

Thursday, Neighborcare - the monitor company, came out to download Elliott's monitor. Karl (our rep) said that the pulminologist would have the information by Tuesday and that we could call to speed up the process. He said that it could take 2-3 weeks for our pediatrician to get the results but that by calling we could speed things up. He also said that with preemies the apnea alarms can be false because they can breath really shallow. As you can imagine we are very eager to hear the results.

Deep fried and on a stick...

We ventured out yet again... to the Maryland Renaissance Festival. It was a gorgeous day here - high of 72. This morning Eric said that we should do something outside and went online to check out the local happenings... Ren Fest! We hadn't been in years, probably since before we were married. We knew Pacey would have a blast, we told her that where we were going she would be able to see princesses - not Disney princesses - "you mean like statues?" - no - "you mean real live princesses?!?!?" - yes! She looked adorable (as usual) in her Disney princesses shirt, jeans, and tennies. I did her hair "like a princess" in double knots... super cute.

We had lots of fun, we enjoyed bits and pieces of lots of shows - kids sing-along and story time, juggling, tournament of champions (knights on horses)... Pacey and I waited in line for 30+ minutes to ride an ELEPHANT!!! We bought Pacey a princess hat and had her face painted with a purple unicorn. She got to meet Robin Hood and Maid Marion - he called out to her as they were walking by - "Dear Princess, I like your hat!"

Elliott tagged along in his snuggli carrier and stroller - he slept the entire time.

We ate our way through the whole place - Eric was so excited - reading all the different food signs... we ended up with fish-n-chips, chicken dippers, fried cheese, fried sweet potato sticks, fried ice-cream, sweet nuts, several sodas, and one hard core cider - sounds like the Very Hungry Caterpillar! We were amazed at how many things were offered on sticks and/or deep fried - steak, cream puffs, chocolate covered cheese cakes, chocolate covered bananas, pickles, mac-n-cheese (on a stick?!), cheese, peppers... Mom called us while we here eating some fried cheese and asked if we wanted to come for dinner - I said, "are you serving deep fried things on sticks?"

Enjoy the pictures...