Is Spring Here??

Today was absolutely beautiful!!! After I hung out on the couch for a bit this morning, I was pretty confident that getting up and doing a few things would be ok. I headed outside to get the mail and decided that there was no way I was staying in all day, and neither were the kids. So, with mouth full of gauze, we headed out front. The kids played soccer, t-ball, rode their bikes, we had a picnic....just enjoyed the awesome weather. Then since I couldn't eat anything solid, I HAD to have Dairy Queen :).
I made it through the day with very little pain medication and the bleeding stopped after the first few hours. I am bummed out that I need to dump my milk today due to the pain meds given during the procedure but it was something I had to do. I am going to sleep, sitting up on the couch. Apparently lying down causes pain and I would like to avoid it, if I can :).
Tonight I picked up some pictures I had printed for me mom, and grabbed a few groceries. As each day goes on life seems more normal. And soon, Nathanael will be home and we can start our new life, as a complete family. I can't wait!!!
Off to relax....and I think I hear Lily crying :(.

Kelly

I am a little behind. We have had a couple busy days.
First of all.....Nathanael, is doing great. He no longer has any type of IV:). He is doing really well with his feedings.....thata boy!!! He is still looking a little glowy but they are not treating it. I have been able to spend a lot of time holding him. He is so darn cute :). I am able to take his temp and change his diapers and clothes. It feels more real everyday. At first, it felt like I was just watching someone else's baby. He finally feels like mine :).
I am not getting great results from the reglan. A couple more days and I will run out of pills. I am going to continue to pump and give him as much as I can, as long as I can. He will likely end up on formula in the next few weeks....boo :(.
I had my incision check with my OB on Monday. He thinks I am recovering well. He snipped the stitches that were coming out of the wounds from the central line. He said that the rest of the stitches will work their way out over time. He explained how my incision with change over time. Basically, everything he told me was good news. He said total recovery will be about 6 months. I am hoping once I start exercising that I will feel more like myself, quickly.
Yesterday was a busy day. I took Lily to the dr's then to Toys R Us to spend her Easter money. Then, I dropped Lily off and picked up Alex. He and I went to Walmart, to spend his Easter money. This was the first day driving and running errands. It completely wiped me out! I had a quick, interrupted nap and headed up to see Nathanael. I started feeling sick at the hospital. I think it was what I ate for dinner, so the visit was, unfortunately quick.
I had my wisdom teeth pulled this morning. So far, I am feeling numb and a little unsteady. I took a couple percocet when I got home. It's interesting, trying to swallow when you can't feel your mouth. I am vegging on the couch, with ice packs on my face. I hope to just take it easy today and feel as little pain as possible. To be honest, my perception of pain is very different. Pain would have to be immense for me to complain, ever again!! Well, I am gonna sign off and relax.

Kelly

Happy Easter!!!

Yeah!!! Happy Easter. Thank you Jesus for dying for us (who know you), so that we may live eternally :)!!!
Today was busy and tiring but great! We got up and well, the Easter bunny had come and brought the kids a couple toys and a handful of clothes. They got a soccer net, cars, a pony and a couple books. The soccer net was a big hit! Way to go bunny!! Then we got ready and headed out to church. The message was great, well, what I heard of it, lol. The kids sat with us. Lily has shown a great interest in how salvation works. I thought she would enjoy the message but she is sick. She caught Alex's cold and she is coughing and snotting everywhere. Poor girl :(.
Next we grabbed a quick lunch and headed up to see the baby. Nathanael looked great :). He is a little "bright"...yellowish but they are not concerned as he is eating and pooping well. I got to hold him for a long time. He had his eyes open for about 15 mins and I swear, looked right into my eyes. He even looked like he was rooting. When I asked the nurse about rooting she said they usually start doing that around 35 weeks. Then he did it while she was there and she offered him a pacifier. He took right to it and she said, yep, he's rooting alright. That's great!! I couldn't stay as long as I would like because Todd was watching both sick kids out in the waiting room area. After a couple hours, they are done! So, we headed out, grabbed McDonald's for Easter dinner, LOL, and headed home. I am so glad the kids are too young to know what is supposed to happen today, lol!
We hunted eggs over and over and over tonight. I love watching the kids do things they enjoy. I wish I had half their energy. Lily and Todd went to bed, as Lily is really sick, fever and all. Alex and I are still hanging out. He had a very late four hour nap.
I have only had one percocet today!! My pain has been pretty manageable just on ibuprofen. What an improvement from last weekend.
I just spoke with Nathanael's nurse. His PICC line clotted so they pulled it. He now has regular fluids, instead of TPN, running through a peripheral line. I am interested to see how they handle that tomorrow.
Well, Alex is looking like he could head to bed and I am so beat...... G'nite all!

Kelly

Awaiting the Bunny!

The day started with pain and I was miserable. I had a terrible sleep thanks to an unexpected guest that was sleeping very soundly in my spot when I came to bed. Lily was so tired that she stuck next to me all night. I didn't want to get out of bed, or pump or anything! But we had a whole day planned so I dragged myself out of bed. Everyone was all ready to go out except me. I got in the shower and suddenly felt very sick. I thought I was going to throw up or pass out or both. Todd helped me back to bed. The kids went to Pop's and Todd did the much needed Easter shopping. I woke a couple hours later, still feeling off but not as sick. I spent most of the day lying around. No trip to see Nathanael :(. Two days without seeing him and it's killing me!!!
While hanging out on the couch I noticed that I have stitches coming out of both wounds on my chest!!!!! What is that all about? I will have to draw that to my OB's attention at my appt on Monday. I really hope it does not need to be messed with. But at the same time....why are there stitches hanging out of my skin??
I received a package from my mom for Nathanael and I. She sent a bunch of new preemie outfits for Nathanael. And, to my surprise, a couple nighties for me :).
The evening was a lot of fun, dying eggs and getting the baskets ready with Lily and Alex. The kids are so much fun. They made sure Nathanael got some of the eggs that they dyed :). Very cute!
Well, the bunny has to get up later, so it's off to bed.....

Kelly

Where, Oh Where is the Floor??

Ok, I kid you not.....if you are absent from the home for any length of time.....DO NOT LOOK IN THE PLAYROOM!!!!! The playroom looked like someone stood at the doorway and threw buckets of toys, paper, crunched up chips, dried playdoh, broken crayons and a few dead bugs all over the room. Wow!!! What a mess. I couldn't see any of the floor and had to move things to get one foot in the room! It is evident that the last time anyone picked up a thing in there is the last time I did it! Well, an hour or so later, the room is now presentable and no one is allowed in EVER AGAIN, lol!
The kids and I had a great morning as we had our first post-hospital outing. We went to Mary's for a MOPS playdate. The kids played and hunted eggs and the mom's nibbled on a wonderful breakfast casserole and chatted. It was really nice to see everyone and be a part of something "normal". What a wonderful group of loving women!!
I know I have been in hospital for a while but I think I saw them talking about pirates on the news??? Pirates?? Do they really exist??
Todd took the kids up to the office when we returned from the playdate and I got a long nap. They returned around 7ish which meant no trip to the hospital :(. The nurses assured us that Nathanael is having another good day. He is still not eating as well as they would like but he did digest part of each feeding :). Progress!!! We are going to drop the kids off at Pop's tomorrow so we can get some Easter shopping done, then head up to the hospital. I can't wait to see my Nathanael. He is such a cutie.
All is quiet. Kids are asleep and Todd is watching TV in the basement. I am going to lie back and watch Jay Leno. I got hooked while in hospital, lol. Good night.

Kelly

Eat Baby, Eat!!!

Nathanael's only issue at this point is his eating. He is still having trouble digesting his feedings. They changed his feedings to 4cc/hr continuous, instead of boluses every 3 hrs. The nurse I talked to tonight seemed to think that he is tolerating the continuous feed better. Only time will tell:).
I got a nice long visit with Nathanael today :). Todd dropped me off after we dropped the kids off at preschool. He opened his eyes for a few mins and I got some pretty good pictures. Tracie from FBCA came for a visit as well. It was nice to have the company. While she was visiting, Andy Benes, from the St. Louis Cardinals, came by. Nathanael and I got our picture taken with him and he signed a couple baseball cards. I have to be honest, I have no idea who he is, LOL, but it will be cool to show Nathanael when he can appreciate it.
My milk is still really low. Only one or two more days until the medication takes full effect. I remain hopeful!
Tonight, the rest of the family and I went to Target, to grab a few Easter items. I love doing simple things with them. I missed being home sooo much! Tomorrow we have an egg hunt at Mary's. The kids are excited (and so am I), to get out and do something fun.
What a great day!

Kelly

I am sad, as I get ready for bed, that I didn't get to see Nathanael today :(. Todd had to work all day, then Lily had t-ball practice tonight. But...tomorrow I will get to spend at least half the day at the hospital. The nurse I talked to said that he is doing well. They took him off of oxygen completely and he is tolerating room air well. They upped his feedings to 10cc/3hrs. He had some residual with two feedings today. I hope they go better through the night.
I made an appt to have my wisdom teeth pulled. I have to clear the anaesthesia with my OB first. I will be having at least one tooth pulled next Wed. Oh, I hope the pain is not too bad!
The kids and I just hung out at the house today. Kinda hard to do anything else when you can't drive, LOL! The package my parents send for Easter arrived today. It was a nice treat for them They love getting any kind of mail but packages with toys are always the best :).
Well, I am going to try and settle.

Kelly