Jase's 18 month check up and Good News for Justin

On Wednesday Jase had his 18 month check up. Everyone in the office knows him by name because of all the trouble he caused when he was born! He saw Dr. Gaines, the doctor who has followed him since birth. He was 26 lbs and in the 50% for his weight, height, and head circ. Developmentally he is right on track and Dr. Gaines said he looked great. I just remember how worried I was over the last 18mos because he was delayed. He was almost 11 wks old before he smiled, 9 mos old before he sat up unassisted, and 14 1/2 mos before he walked. And of course, there was the "rocking" back and forth that he used to do. But, to see him today you would never know that he had such a rough start, or that he just took his time doing things so that he could drive his poor mommy crazy. Well you know, I hadn't been through enough and I did need something else to worry about! But our baby boy (for a few more weeks, anyway) is perfectly healthy and has been more than worth every second of trouble or worry that he has caused! We love you Jasey Doodle!!

While at the appt I got a few minutes to talk with Dr. Gaines about Justin. Since it appears that I am headed for another early deliver I wanted to discuss with her a few concerns that I had. My first concern was whether or not Jase's early delivery had anything to do with the bilateral inguinal hernias that had to be repaired when he was 5 wks old. She said that while it is more common in premature infants, it is in babies born around 32-34 wks that would be more likely to experience this problem. She said that Jase would have still had the hernias even if he had been born at full term, it was just "bad luck". She said that once I reach 36 wks whether or not Justin would have a hernia would already be determined and an extra week or two on the "inside" would not change the outcome. The next topic was the pyloric stenosis. She said that pyloric stenosis is more common in boys and it does run in families. Pyloric stenosis has nothing to do with when you are born, in fact it is something that progresses after birth and can not be diagnosed until between 3 wks and 3 mos of age. She said of course we will watch Justin close for any symptoms and test him early if there is any reason for concern, but there is nothing to do to prevent it from happening. Basically, no point in stressing until we see reason to be concerned. She did finish the conversation by saying its always important to remember that to have a healthy baby you have to have a healthy mama. (She is not the first doctor to say this to me). She said that once we are to 36 wks we must consider if it is actually more stressful for the baby to stay on the inside rather than be born. She said when dealing with something like a kidney issue you have to remember that the mom can get very sick, very fast and that could be very stressful for the baby. So we have to remember that if Justin is developed and his lungs are mature it may be better to deliver him sooner in good conditions rather that wait till later when things could go bad fast. It was a good conversation with Dr. Gaines, and I trust her as a doctor. I tend to spend a lot of time stressing about the "what ifs" when it comes to when I should deliver. Dr. Gaines helped me step back and look at the big picture and see what the real risks were and what risks I had blown up in my mind. I am thankful to have a great OB who cares for me and the baby and then a great pediatrician who I completely trust to care for my children. I am not going to spend the next 2, 3 or 4 wks stressing out about what "could" happen. We have great medical care and both Justin and I are going to be just fine!! I will keep you informed about how things unfold over the next few weeks. I am excited!!

Home Depot Picnic

OK, so I knew what I needed to do. Nate had a company picnic, you know, one of those "career" things that you can't miss. I knew what my role was as the wife of one of the managers. I have to look "together" and "supportive". I make sure that all the children are dressed nice and behave. I must "glow" with the joy of being part of creating a new life, even though it is 100 degrees in the middle of August. We would look like the picture perfect family. I knew what my job was, what I didn't take into account was the fact that my kidney would be backed up and I would be in the process of passing a 5mm kidney stone. I was up until 6am that Saturday morning (after taking 3 10mg lortab and an ambien) because the pain was so bad I could not sleep. We still managed to get the kids dressed, lecture them on the importance of good behavior, instruct them on how to respond when an adult introduced themselves, and get to the picnic on time. Of course the bathroom was across the parking lot from the pavilion. Being pregnant alone requires the need for a close bathroom, but when you have a kidney stone you feel like you have to go the the bathroom ALL the time. I think it was on my second trip across the hot parking lot and in pain to go to the bathroom that I thought I was going to faint. I had to stay in the bathroom with wet paper towels on my forehead and back of my neck for a few minutes, while trying to ignore the contractions that I had started having. But, we all made through the day and I was glad we went. Here are a few pics from the day.


Jessi, with her 5th snow cone of the day. I love this pic, its like there is nothing else in the world but Jessi and that snow cone!


Jonathan in the watermelon eating contest. He tried hard, but only made it through one piece in the 5 minute contest.


I always say you can tell how much fun you had by how dirty you got! She really did look cute when we got there, but within 10 minutes she had her hairbow out and was covered in sand. It just went downhill from there!


Nate in the watermelon eating contest being cheered on by Jonathan. Nate didn't win the contest, but he should have. He ate all his watermelon down to the rine, and the guy who won left a lot of "red" on his. As far as Jonathan was concerned his Daddy won!!


Me and Jase hanging out watching the kids jump in the "bouncy thang" (as Jessi calls it). Jase was so good, as usual. He just sat in his stroller most of the time and watched everything that was happening.

Lets hope that if there is another picnic next year that Nate wins the watermelon contest, oh and that I don't have a kidney stone!!

The First Day of School

Monday was the first day of school for Jonathan and Jessi. Jonathan started first grade at Roberts Elementary, and Jessi started pre-K at Just Kids Learning Center. Everything went fine and the kids seemed to enjoy their first day back at school. We are looking forward to an exciting year filled with fun and learning!!

Jase is adjusting to being home alone with Mommy. The first day the kids were gone he followed me around and whined all day! I think he was wondering what I had done with the other kids. Today I took him to the pool to swim for a couple of hours and that seemed to keep him distracted so he wasn't as fussy and clingy. I personally am not having any problem adjusting to the kids being back in school! I am trying to use the next few weeks to make the final preparations for Justin.




Waiting for the bus!

On the bus with Mrs. Stephanie, the same bus driver from last year.

Getting in the van to go to the first day of pre-K!



Big girl Jessi in her new classroom!


Jase enjoying some pizza last Friday night!

Hydronephrosis, Kidney Stones, Blah Blah Blah . . .

So here we go again. At least this time I was 30 wks when the problems started and not 24 wks like I was with Jase. In the last 2 wks I have had one trip to the Women's Center at Kennestone with back pain and pelvic pain, two renal ultrasounds, both showing moderate hydronephrosis of the right kidney, several appts with OB and urology to monitor current state and discuss options, passed 2 lovely kidney stones, one 3mm and one 5mm, and made it to one very important company picnic! As far as the kidney stones go glad those are out and hope there are not anymore. Won't know for sure until after Justin is here and I can have a test with some radiation, either a CT or IVP.

Here is where we stand as of today. Urologist doesn't think the hydronephrosis was due the kidney stones. He thinks it is from a 4 pound baby sitting on the ureter and blocking the drainage of the kidney. Just like last time. He is open to managing this on a day to day basis for now. He said his concern will be the kidney, and when it has to be drained, then it has to be drained. We have agreed that the method of drainage will be the nephrostomy tube like I had last time. He does not even want to attempt the stent (the internal form of drainage) due to the last time that was attempted the ureter was perforated and this time the baby is already to big to expect that they would be able to get the stent placed. As for now I am using pain meds as needed and staying on my left side as much as possible to allow gravity to pull the baby off that ureter. This is getting more difficult because even on my left side I can feel little Justin pushing his foot up under my ribs on the right side, so he is just getting so big that I'm not sure how much staying on left side is helping. Right now I can make it to about 2 or 3 in the afternoon before taking any pain meds, so I think that is pretty good.

If things stay as they are I am pushing to make it to 37 wks before delivery. If the kidney starts acting up more I want to make it to at least 36 wks and have an amnio to test for lung maturity before we induce. I am 32 weeks now and things are not as bad as last time and we are just praying to get through the next few weeks. We will make it!!!!!

Mmmmmm.... Watermelon!!

Friday nights have become our traditional family hang out night. We (Dewberry's, Arwood's, Kronenberger's) either go out to eat or go to someones house for dinner. This past Friday everyone came over here since I wasn't feeling well enough to make the trip to another house and the weather was nice so the kids could play out in the backyard. Dad bought a nice big watermelon for after dinner, and it was good!!! I will attach some pics of the other kids eating the watermelon, but Jase loved it soooo much that I had to give him his own post of pics! He was so cute eating it, and I think he had 3 slices! Look at those beautiful blue eyes!! He is growing so fast, and I can't believe he is about to be a big brother. I bet he won't be able to believe it either!!

While I was typing this post about how cute and sweet Baby Jase is, he pulled off his diaper and "relieved" himself on the carpet beside my chair!! The joys of motherhood!

Jessi got her hair cut!!

I finally agreed to do it. I let my princess get her beautiful long blond hair cut! She was very excited to have it done and I had to hold back the tears. I don't know why I didn't want her to have it cut. Maybe because it seems like it is just one more step toward her growing up. Nate's mom (Granna) came to visit on Wed. and she brought her scissors in case I decided to let Jessi get her hair cut. I agreed and Jessi hopped right up in the chair after letting me take some before pics. I will admit that her new "do" is cute, but she does look more grown up. I posted some before and after pics. The after pic is not as good because we hadn't washed her hair yet. I will post another one in a couple days after it is washed and dried. My little girl, I can't believe she will be 5 yrs old soon!

Just thought I would add a cute comment Jessi made the other day: Mommy, you better tell God if he decides to put any more babies in your tummy that it better be a girl!! I guess that is her way of saying enough brothers!!