When Jonathan got home from school today I noticed that he had an "I voted" sticker on his shirt. I figured that his school must have had a mock election so I decided to ask him about it. This is how the conversation went:
"Jonathan, did you vote today at school?"
"Yes"
"Who did you vote for?"
"I can't tell you."
"Well, can you tell me what the vote was for. Tell me what you were picking something for?"
"We were picking the two new princes."
"Oh, (trying to hide my smile). Who were your choices for who was going to be the new prince?"
"The first one is John..., John McWilliams."
"John McWilliams? And who was the other one?"
"I can't remember his name, its something like. . . Obama. Yea, it was Obama."
"So which one did you vote for?"
"Obama"
"Why did you pick him?"
"I just liked his name better than John McWilliams."
And that is why I am very thankful they don't let 6 yr olds vote!! We really don't need Obama being our new Prince.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Justin's Bathtime and 1 month check up
Can you believe that Justin is 1 month old?!? This past Saturday (the 11th) was my due date, so he is officially supposed to be here now. We went for his one month check up today. He weighed 6 lb 12 oz and is 20 inches. Dr. Gaines said he looked like a normal newborn, which is what he should be now. We got a second monitor download report on Tuesday. It was basically the same as the first one. He had 47 recorded events, 9 of which were significant events. The ones that are of most concern to the doctor are the events where he had apnea and bradycardia. The lowest his heart rate got was 52 bpm and he had several apnea's of 23 - 24 seconds. He was started on Zantac on Monday for reflux. Sometimes reflux in infants can cause apnea. We are going to give it until Monday to see if he has a decrease in the number of alarms and if not we will get another download report and change to a different reflux med. We are hoping that now that he is considered a full term baby that the apnea/bradycardia will resolve on its own. Dr. Gaines did say that because he is having true apnea episodes that he will have to go at least 2 full months with NO events before he will be able to come off the monitor. I'm ok with that, as I am in no hurry to get rid of the monitor!
Here are a few pics of Justin getting his bath. He is finally starting to really enjoy his bathtime, especially his warm towels (a trick we learned in the NICU). These were taken yesterday.
Getting ready for my bath!
I'm splashing in the water!
Wrapped in my warm towel and getting my hair washed.
This isn't so bad!
A pic of Jase with his black eye! This week he got three boo-boo's, all on the same side of his face. Poor thing looked like he had been in a fight, and lost!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Update on Justin
I know, I know. I have turned into a blog slacker now! I wanted to give an update on Justin since we got some new info today. First of all, as of Wednesday our big boy weighed 6 lb 4 oz!! My wimpy boys always like to take their time gaining weight and it drives the doctors crazy! So after several visits to the Dr. for weight checks and a trip to lactation on Tuesday we are finally above birth weight and have satisfied the doctors for now.
After a day on the phone with the home health agency, and the apnea center at Egleston (a whole other story) we finally got some results from Justin's first monitor download. I have to say they were not what I was hoping for. The results covered the first 12 days that Justin was home. During that time he had 53 "episodes". These episodes are either apnea (not breathing) bradycardia (heart rate below 80) or a both. Of the 53 episodes he had 10 of what they call "significant episodes". The significant episodes involved either not breathing for more than 20 secs, or a heart rate down in the 50's or both. I think what they considered one of the worst was when he didn't breathe for 24 secs and his heart rate dropped into the mid 50's. All of the significant episodes trigger the alarm on the monitor to go off and we have to stimulate him (gently shake or rub his chest) and this makes him take a breath or his heart rate go above 80 and the alarm will stop. By the way, the only way to make the alarm stop is to correct the problem. So even though your instinct at 3 am when there is a loud shrill noise is to stop the noise, we have learned to focus our attention on Justin and get his heart rate up and breathing and the alarm will stop on its own. When he has an alarm the only change that is noticeable in Justin is that his face is pale. Once we stimulate him the color quickly returns.
So now we wait for the final report from the doctor at the apnea center along with their recommendations. Then Justin's pediatrician will decide how to proceed. We are expecting that he will be put on a medication for reflux to make sure that this is not contributing to the problem. There has also been some talk (even when he was in the NICU) of putting him on caffeine to keep his heart rate up. I think they will probably want to check the download on his monitor from this past week before they make that decision. Either way, we expect that the apnea monitor will be a part of our lives for a while. I have to say that I am very thankful that he is on the monitor. If I can just keep myself from dwelling on what could have happened if he wasn't on the monitor. I guess right now they are still thinking that this is just from being early, but I will be asking the doctor again when he goes for his one month check up on Thursday. Right now Justin is sleeping next to me on the couch while I am typing, not a care in the world. He has no idea the stress he has caused his parents since he has been born! This Sunday he will be 4 wks old!!
Keep Justin in your prayers. I will post some recent pics soon.
After a day on the phone with the home health agency, and the apnea center at Egleston (a whole other story) we finally got some results from Justin's first monitor download. I have to say they were not what I was hoping for. The results covered the first 12 days that Justin was home. During that time he had 53 "episodes". These episodes are either apnea (not breathing) bradycardia (heart rate below 80) or a both. Of the 53 episodes he had 10 of what they call "significant episodes". The significant episodes involved either not breathing for more than 20 secs, or a heart rate down in the 50's or both. I think what they considered one of the worst was when he didn't breathe for 24 secs and his heart rate dropped into the mid 50's. All of the significant episodes trigger the alarm on the monitor to go off and we have to stimulate him (gently shake or rub his chest) and this makes him take a breath or his heart rate go above 80 and the alarm will stop. By the way, the only way to make the alarm stop is to correct the problem. So even though your instinct at 3 am when there is a loud shrill noise is to stop the noise, we have learned to focus our attention on Justin and get his heart rate up and breathing and the alarm will stop on its own. When he has an alarm the only change that is noticeable in Justin is that his face is pale. Once we stimulate him the color quickly returns.
So now we wait for the final report from the doctor at the apnea center along with their recommendations. Then Justin's pediatrician will decide how to proceed. We are expecting that he will be put on a medication for reflux to make sure that this is not contributing to the problem. There has also been some talk (even when he was in the NICU) of putting him on caffeine to keep his heart rate up. I think they will probably want to check the download on his monitor from this past week before they make that decision. Either way, we expect that the apnea monitor will be a part of our lives for a while. I have to say that I am very thankful that he is on the monitor. If I can just keep myself from dwelling on what could have happened if he wasn't on the monitor. I guess right now they are still thinking that this is just from being early, but I will be asking the doctor again when he goes for his one month check up on Thursday. Right now Justin is sleeping next to me on the couch while I am typing, not a care in the world. He has no idea the stress he has caused his parents since he has been born! This Sunday he will be 4 wks old!!
Keep Justin in your prayers. I will post some recent pics soon.
Jase's First Day of School!!
Jase started preschool yesterday! He had been on the waiting list at the preschool where his Aunt Krista works and last week they had a spot come open. He will be going on Tues and Thurs from 9 - 1. I was worried how he would do since he has never been away from me and the couple of times we have tried to take him to the nursery at church it has not turned out well! So on Thursday he did cry off and on but over all they said he did good. When I got there to pick him up he just said "Hey Mommy!" and continued to play. Guess he wasn't too traumatized. I think it will be good for him to get out of the house and have some time away from mommy and that new baby that is STILL at his house! What started as excitement over the new baby has now turned into this "look" of "why is that baby still here?" Here are a couple of pictures of him on his first day of school. His expression is the same in ALL the pictures we take of him! He starts saying "cheeeeeeeese" as soon as he sees the camera. Its going to be a nightmare trying to get Christmas pictures this year if he doesn't stop doing this! 
Thursday, October 2, 2008
A Visit with Grandmother and Bip
On Wednesday Grandmother and Bip came to see Justin for the first time. They seemed to think that their 7th great grandchild was as "cool" as the first. We had a good time talking and catching up on all the happenings in life. Jase enjoyed showing off for them and even sat still long enough to get a picture with Grandmother. Bip got one of his famous pictures with the baby up next to his face posing. It was a good visit. Too bad they don't live closer and we could visit more often! (Thanks for the casserole Grandmother! It was great!)
Grandmother and Jase!
Bip and Justin.
Grandmother and Justin.
On Thursday Justin was visited by his "Aunt" Kim. Kim and I have been friends for over 10 yrs and between us we now have 7 children! Let's just say that if we ever try to meet for lunch with the kids it has to be at McDonald's, and we cause a scene! We have always been there when each other gave birth, but this time Kim and her family had just left for Disney World on the day I went into labor. I somehow just knew I was going to have Justin while she was out of town, but I didn't think it would be fair to ask her to stay home! So normally I have pics of Kim holding my kids when they were just born, but not this time. And believe it or not, I didn't get a pic of her and Justin today! Oh well, I guess you will just have to come back in a few days so I can get a pic of you holding Justin!
Grandmother and Jase!
Bip and Justin.
Grandmother and Justin.
On Thursday Justin was visited by his "Aunt" Kim. Kim and I have been friends for over 10 yrs and between us we now have 7 children! Let's just say that if we ever try to meet for lunch with the kids it has to be at McDonald's, and we cause a scene! We have always been there when each other gave birth, but this time Kim and her family had just left for Disney World on the day I went into labor. I somehow just knew I was going to have Justin while she was out of town, but I didn't think it would be fair to ask her to stay home! So normally I have pics of Kim holding my kids when they were just born, but not this time. And believe it or not, I didn't get a pic of her and Justin today! Oh well, I guess you will just have to come back in a few days so I can get a pic of you holding Justin!
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