Wow! Life has been crazy the last week and a half. Here's a quick rundown (because my little man is due to wake up any moment to eat).
About two days after bringing Derrick home, Miss Bree started up with her cough again and relapsed with her RSV. Because of that, Derrick is basically living in our bedroom when Bree is up and only I am allowed to touch him and take care of him. Adam takes care of Bree, and helps out with Riley too. My mom is here this week (she leaves tomorrow morning) and it has been such a blessing having her here. She is able to give Riley the special attention that she needs. With a new baby in the house, a sick sister, and a recovering Mama...Riley hadn't been getting a lot of attention.
On Tuesday I went to the doctor to have my staples from my c section removed (all 34 of them!!) and as they were taking out the staples in the middle my incision started to open again. They immediately called the surgeon specialist and he fit me in right away. It concerned me how concerned they were, and how quickly I was fit in. To make a long story short, my incision didn't heal correctly and there were pockets of fluid that had formed behind my incision so when the staples were taken out it popped right open. The open portion is about 3 inches across and being left open right now and the bigger pocket has to be packed with gauze strips and changed every day to allow it to heal from the inside out. I go back in next Tuesday to have it looked at. Hopefully it will be healing correctly and I can get back on the track to healing.
With all that has been going on, my Mom has been great to have here. Adam doesn't do well with blood or anything "yucky" so my Mom has been changing my packing. She has been helping with dishes, food and keeping the kiddos entertained and happy. I have promised my Mom that the next time she comes out it will be a little more fun. :)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Our little man
Derrick Jason Gonce was born on February 15, 2011 at 9:53 am. He came out screaming and crying, which was the best sound in the world. Nothing else would have sounded better to me. He weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.
He could not be more perfect. He is the spitting image of his Daddy when he was a baby. Derrick is a great nurser and there is nothing wrong with him. He's perfect in every way.
We could not be more happy.
He could not be more perfect. He is the spitting image of his Daddy when he was a baby. Derrick is a great nurser and there is nothing wrong with him. He's perfect in every way.
We could not be more happy.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
So close, yet so far away
5 days.
Never has 5 days seemed so close, yet so far away at the same time.
In 5 days we will be able to hold our baby boy in our arms, kiss his little cheeks, and count his tiny toes.
I had my last doctor appt today and it went well. I'm not dilated or effaced at all so he will hopefully stay put until Tuesday. I will have one last ultrasound on Monday at 330 just to double check that he is still a happy and healthy little dude.
I am grateful that Adam's parents will be in town and are letting us go out for one last night on the town on Valentines Day. We are getting a couples massage in the morning. Then I have my ultrasound that afternoon, and then we are headed to dinner and a hockey game! It will be great to have something to keep my mind off of the excitement of the next day.
This weekend we are going to hit up the zoo (not sure which day yet), and on Saturday night I have a girls dinner with my bestie Anneke. It will be great to relax and fit some laughs in!
5 days people....5 days. :)
Never has 5 days seemed so close, yet so far away at the same time.
In 5 days we will be able to hold our baby boy in our arms, kiss his little cheeks, and count his tiny toes.
I had my last doctor appt today and it went well. I'm not dilated or effaced at all so he will hopefully stay put until Tuesday. I will have one last ultrasound on Monday at 330 just to double check that he is still a happy and healthy little dude.
I am grateful that Adam's parents will be in town and are letting us go out for one last night on the town on Valentines Day. We are getting a couples massage in the morning. Then I have my ultrasound that afternoon, and then we are headed to dinner and a hockey game! It will be great to have something to keep my mind off of the excitement of the next day.
This weekend we are going to hit up the zoo (not sure which day yet), and on Saturday night I have a girls dinner with my bestie Anneke. It will be great to relax and fit some laughs in!
5 days people....5 days. :)
Monday, February 7, 2011
Feeding Tube Awareness Week
I was not aware that there was a feeding tube awareness week. However, I am so glad that there is! We have some people in our lives that accept the feeding tube, and others that question what we are doing. They ask, "Well have you tried this? How about this? or what about that?" when talking about her eating by mouth. While I understand that it is well intentioned, it does frustrate me. We have therapists who dedicate their lives work to helping kids like Bree, and they see her on a weekly basis. We are trying our best to help her, and encourage her to eat with her mouth. For now, the g tube is a part of our lives.
I am so thankful that there is such thing as a feeding tube. Without it, Bree would not be here. She is not able to eat enough food or drink enough liquids by mouth in order to sustain life. So yes, she does get her nutrition differently than other children. Yes, it does take more time. Yes, I do wish that she didn't have to have a g tube...but she does. So we accept and we do our best with what we have.
I can guarantee she is much better fed than most children her age because we control exactly what goes into her, how many calories, and ounces of fluid/food she has a day. For me, that is a comfort. She is getting the best nutrition that she possibly can be, which is allowing for the best brain and body growth for her. When she is sick, we can still give her food and fluids as long as her little stomach will hold it in. She gets all of her medicine through her tube, and I don't have to worry about how much she spit out.
We love our tubie.
Spectacular Bree
I just talked with Bree's speech therapist and he said that if she continues to progress at the rate that she is...she will NOT qualify for the developmental preschool program. This is GREAT news! In our state, kids from birth to three who need therapies have their therapies either come to their house, or they go somewhere. Once they are three, they are put into the state developmental preschool program and receive their therapies that way. He said that she may still need some speech therapy at least once a week, but she won't need it enough to have to go to the developmental preschool. His exact words were that she is "borderline" for needing the developmental preschool. He suggested keeping her in the preschool that we have her in now in order to keep her progressing along with her peers since she responds really well to that. Just knowing Bree and her tendencies to imitate what she sees around her, he worries that by going into the developmental preschool she would regress and adapt to what her special needs peers are doing. Since she is borderline for even needing to go, she would probably be one of the higher functioning kids there. He would hate to see her regress when we have the ability to keep her in a preschool where her peers are functioning at a normal level and she would strive to copy them and be like them. My heart is so happy to hear that news!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Bree is home!
Our little fighter is home! She is still pretty sick, but we can do everything we need to from the comfort of our own home. Nothing is like being able to snuggle with Bree, and watch some good old Dora. :)
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
2-2-2011
Little Miss Bree is doing better, but not well enough to come home yet. The doctor tried a trial run of turning the oxygen off for a bit and it didn't go well. She sits right at 90%, which is right on the border. They would like her to be above 90%. So she is requiring about 0.4 liters of oxygen support right now.
Last night she tolerated a night drip of pedialyte at 40 ml's an hour, which is the rate we feed her at home on her pump. Since she tolerated that they did stop the iv fluids, but have left the iv in just in case they may need it.
She also started taking some pediasure today. She had a bolus feed of 8 ounces fed to her slowly over an hour, but needed to be suctioned right at the end of it. The nose suction gagged her, and it all came back up. So the afternoon feed was put on the pump and was just pedialyte in order to make sure she is getting her fluids. Adam did mention that she has gotten 4 ounces of pediasure this evening and he is going to wait a little bit, and try to give her 4 more ounces. They will then start another night drip of pedialyte to keep her hydrated, and we will try again tomorrow to get her up to full feeds (full feeds for us is three 8 ounce feeds of pedialyte).
She cannot come home until she is off the oxygen. They need her to go a full night of being off of oxygen before she can come home. So for now, we wait.
Thank you for all your love and prayers! Keep 'em coming! :)
Last night she tolerated a night drip of pedialyte at 40 ml's an hour, which is the rate we feed her at home on her pump. Since she tolerated that they did stop the iv fluids, but have left the iv in just in case they may need it.
She also started taking some pediasure today. She had a bolus feed of 8 ounces fed to her slowly over an hour, but needed to be suctioned right at the end of it. The nose suction gagged her, and it all came back up. So the afternoon feed was put on the pump and was just pedialyte in order to make sure she is getting her fluids. Adam did mention that she has gotten 4 ounces of pediasure this evening and he is going to wait a little bit, and try to give her 4 more ounces. They will then start another night drip of pedialyte to keep her hydrated, and we will try again tomorrow to get her up to full feeds (full feeds for us is three 8 ounce feeds of pedialyte).
She cannot come home until she is off the oxygen. They need her to go a full night of being off of oxygen before she can come home. So for now, we wait.
Thank you for all your love and prayers! Keep 'em coming! :)
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sick Bree
On Friday, Bree woke up with a small cough and was sneezing here and there. We ended up canceling a play date that we had planned because we didn't want to risk getting our friends sick. Saturday found her to be worse so I started breathing treatments and broke up her feeds so that she was getting smaller volumes more often because I know with her she tends to throw up really easily, and when you are coughing that hard...it is easy to lose your lunch (or breakfast or dinner).
Sunday found her to be even more worse. She couldn't keep down pediasure and when she was unable to keep down Gatorade Adam ended up taking her into Arrowhead Hospital in the afternoon. The doctor at Arrowhead told Adam in an indirect way that Bree has RSV, and that she will be fine because "when she was a baby we were worried about inflammation and swelling in her throat and airway because she was so small. Now it's just like she has a sore throat." He gave Adam a prescription for cough syrup and sent them home. Needless to say, I was not pleased and was going to take Bree straight to the pediatrician in the morning.
We never got that far. When they got home we gave Bree the cough medicine and 2 ounces of Gatorade and then put her in a hot bath with cold vapor stuff in it. We steamed up the bathroom to help her lungs open up and after her bath she got a breathing treatment and was put to bed. An hour later we heard her coughing and rushed in to get her. She was not able to cough anything up, but could not catch her breath. She ended up going pale/gray and completely limp and unresponsive in my arms. We called an ambulance, and just as they were showing up she started to regain her color and within ten minutes she was high five-ing the paramedics and playing with their equipment. We decided to have them transport her to Phoenix Children's Hospital just to be safe.
Once Adam and Bree got to PCH, she became very sleepy and was hard to wake up. That's how she still is. They have started an IV, and she is on oxygen. Her oxygen saturations (aka sats) are still lower than they would like with oxygen (she's around 91%), but they are trying a few different things to help her.
Adam is staying at the hospital with Bree for right now to try and reduce the exposure that I have to all the sick kiddos there. The last thing we need is for me to get sick and end up with complications or something.
Please keep her in your prayers, well wishes, or send healing vibes her way! She's in the best place that she needs to be right now and is receiving excellent care. Now we just wait for her little body to start to heal itself.
Sunday found her to be even more worse. She couldn't keep down pediasure and when she was unable to keep down Gatorade Adam ended up taking her into Arrowhead Hospital in the afternoon. The doctor at Arrowhead told Adam in an indirect way that Bree has RSV, and that she will be fine because "when she was a baby we were worried about inflammation and swelling in her throat and airway because she was so small. Now it's just like she has a sore throat." He gave Adam a prescription for cough syrup and sent them home. Needless to say, I was not pleased and was going to take Bree straight to the pediatrician in the morning.
We never got that far. When they got home we gave Bree the cough medicine and 2 ounces of Gatorade and then put her in a hot bath with cold vapor stuff in it. We steamed up the bathroom to help her lungs open up and after her bath she got a breathing treatment and was put to bed. An hour later we heard her coughing and rushed in to get her. She was not able to cough anything up, but could not catch her breath. She ended up going pale/gray and completely limp and unresponsive in my arms. We called an ambulance, and just as they were showing up she started to regain her color and within ten minutes she was high five-ing the paramedics and playing with their equipment. We decided to have them transport her to Phoenix Children's Hospital just to be safe.
Once Adam and Bree got to PCH, she became very sleepy and was hard to wake up. That's how she still is. They have started an IV, and she is on oxygen. Her oxygen saturations (aka sats) are still lower than they would like with oxygen (she's around 91%), but they are trying a few different things to help her.
Adam is staying at the hospital with Bree for right now to try and reduce the exposure that I have to all the sick kiddos there. The last thing we need is for me to get sick and end up with complications or something.
Please keep her in your prayers, well wishes, or send healing vibes her way! She's in the best place that she needs to be right now and is receiving excellent care. Now we just wait for her little body to start to heal itself.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Grow baby grow!
Yesterday morning I had my usual ultrasound on Mr. Derrick. However, the tech decided to do a quick check on Derrick's growth and see where he was at weight wise. Please refer back to this post (click here!) to see what all the measurements mean and to compare to his measurements three weeks ago. When the ultrasound was done I was 34 weeks, 4 days along.
BPD (Biparietal diameter) : 8.65 cm which is the size of an average 34 week, 6 day fetus
HC (Head Circumference): 31.60 cm which is the size of an average 35 week, 3 day fetus.
AC (Abdominal Circumference): 29.58 cm which is the size of an average 33 week, 4 day fetus
FL (Femur Length): 6.89 cm which is the size of an average 35 week, 3 day fetus.
This puts Derrick at 5 pounds, 5 ounces! He is in the 40th percentile (42% to be exact) for his overall development.
This means that if you were to take 100 fetuses that were at 34 weeks, 4 days along and line them all up according to size Derrick would be number 42. So it's not necessarily a bad thing or means that he is behind. It just gives an idea of where he is compared to others.
Taking his weight from 3 weeks ago (3 lbs, 15 oz) and comparing it to now shows that he is right on track. Babies at this point are supposed to gain about a 1/2 a pound a week. So as long as he continues along this trend he will be between 6.5 and 7 pounds when he is born.
What is your guess on his weight and length at birth?
My official guess is 6 pounds, 9 ounces and 20.5 inches long!
BPD (Biparietal diameter) : 8.65 cm which is the size of an average 34 week, 6 day fetus
HC (Head Circumference): 31.60 cm which is the size of an average 35 week, 3 day fetus.
AC (Abdominal Circumference): 29.58 cm which is the size of an average 33 week, 4 day fetus
FL (Femur Length): 6.89 cm which is the size of an average 35 week, 3 day fetus.
This puts Derrick at 5 pounds, 5 ounces! He is in the 40th percentile (42% to be exact) for his overall development.
This means that if you were to take 100 fetuses that were at 34 weeks, 4 days along and line them all up according to size Derrick would be number 42. So it's not necessarily a bad thing or means that he is behind. It just gives an idea of where he is compared to others.
Taking his weight from 3 weeks ago (3 lbs, 15 oz) and comparing it to now shows that he is right on track. Babies at this point are supposed to gain about a 1/2 a pound a week. So as long as he continues along this trend he will be between 6.5 and 7 pounds when he is born.
What is your guess on his weight and length at birth?
My official guess is 6 pounds, 9 ounces and 20.5 inches long!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Maternity photo previews
Head on over to Carrie Fay Photography's blog to see my maternity photo previews:
Click here!
We took these last Saturday morning, and had a great time! I am sooo pleased with the photos, and they mean more to me that I can express. The fact that I am still growing Derrick inside me is wonderful, and the photos will be cherished forever.
I recommend that any pregnant woman take the time to make sure to take maternity photos. Whether it be with your own camera or having a professional photographer take them, it is a time in your life that you will want to remember and you will never be able to get that time back once the baby is born. Every pregnancy is different and beautiful in it's own way.
With Riley's pregnancy I had a much further out belly, and I had a distinct line running down the front of my belly:
With Bree's pregnancy we all know I didn't get very far, so I never had the chance to have Carrie Fay take maternity pictures. This is the last picture we have of her pregnancy...it was taken on September 1st, and she was born 9 days later.
I feel so blessed to have made it this far into Derrick's pregnancy. I have appreciated (and still are!) every ache, pain, throw up, and feeling this time around. Pregnancy may not be the most comfortable thing in the world, but nothing compares to holding your child in your arms and knowing that you created them.
I got a little off track with this post...but back to the meaning of it. Carrie Fay is an amazing photographer, and I highly recommend her to anyone needing photos taken of any kind. Whether it be family shoots, maternity, or just for fun shots...she will take the time to make your photo shoot unique and about you.
Click here!
We took these last Saturday morning, and had a great time! I am sooo pleased with the photos, and they mean more to me that I can express. The fact that I am still growing Derrick inside me is wonderful, and the photos will be cherished forever.
I recommend that any pregnant woman take the time to make sure to take maternity photos. Whether it be with your own camera or having a professional photographer take them, it is a time in your life that you will want to remember and you will never be able to get that time back once the baby is born. Every pregnancy is different and beautiful in it's own way.
With Riley's pregnancy I had a much further out belly, and I had a distinct line running down the front of my belly:
With Bree's pregnancy we all know I didn't get very far, so I never had the chance to have Carrie Fay take maternity pictures. This is the last picture we have of her pregnancy...it was taken on September 1st, and she was born 9 days later.
I feel so blessed to have made it this far into Derrick's pregnancy. I have appreciated (and still are!) every ache, pain, throw up, and feeling this time around. Pregnancy may not be the most comfortable thing in the world, but nothing compares to holding your child in your arms and knowing that you created them.
I got a little off track with this post...but back to the meaning of it. Carrie Fay is an amazing photographer, and I highly recommend her to anyone needing photos taken of any kind. Whether it be family shoots, maternity, or just for fun shots...she will take the time to make your photo shoot unique and about you.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
February 15
21 days.
504 hours.
30,240 minutes.
1,814,400 seconds.
That's how long we have until our little man enters the world. My c section is set for February 15th at 9:30 in the morning. We will need to be there 2 hours early so we will be checking in at 7:30 am. That gives us enough time to drop the girls at daycare, and make it in time to check in and get ready to have a baby!
Adam's parents will be coming into town on the 14th, so they will get to be with us during the big event.
I can't believe how close it is. I am very excited to hold our little boy in my arms, to kiss his little head, and to show him off to the world.
504 hours.
30,240 minutes.
1,814,400 seconds.
That's how long we have until our little man enters the world. My c section is set for February 15th at 9:30 in the morning. We will need to be there 2 hours early so we will be checking in at 7:30 am. That gives us enough time to drop the girls at daycare, and make it in time to check in and get ready to have a baby!
Adam's parents will be coming into town on the 14th, so they will get to be with us during the big event.
I can't believe how close it is. I am very excited to hold our little boy in my arms, to kiss his little head, and to show him off to the world.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Proud
I am so proud of our Bree. I am sitting here a blubbering, crying mess of pride. Just thinking about how far we have come with her is such an amazing thing. I can't even put it into words or make my brain think how to put it together to convey all of my feelings. I don't think that I can.
She started out as this tiny tiny baby in a box that couldn't breathe on her own, couldn't eat on her own, and couldn't be moved or touched or stimulated too much or she would stop breathing and drop her heart rate. She received EXCELLENT care from all the nurses and doctors at Phoenix Children's Hospital (and still does!) and was able to join our family at home in time for Christmas.
Fast forward two and a half years and you have this:
That's right. Bree is a model for Phoenix Children's Hospital! I can't believe it. We had a photo shoot during one of her doctor appointments a few months ago and I signed waivers and all that, but they weren't able to say if they were going to use her or not. Our friend Anneke took her kiddo to their GI appt today and she said that Bree's picture is up everywhere!
I am sure I will be able to write a much more put together and thought out post one of these days about this...but I wanted to share it with you all. Thank you for all your prayers, well wishes, positive thoughts and support you have sent our way during this journey with Bree. We have only just begun to see how amazing of a person she is going to be. :)
She started out as this tiny tiny baby in a box that couldn't breathe on her own, couldn't eat on her own, and couldn't be moved or touched or stimulated too much or she would stop breathing and drop her heart rate. She received EXCELLENT care from all the nurses and doctors at Phoenix Children's Hospital (and still does!) and was able to join our family at home in time for Christmas.
Fast forward two and a half years and you have this:
That's right. Bree is a model for Phoenix Children's Hospital! I can't believe it. We had a photo shoot during one of her doctor appointments a few months ago and I signed waivers and all that, but they weren't able to say if they were going to use her or not. Our friend Anneke took her kiddo to their GI appt today and she said that Bree's picture is up everywhere!
I am sure I will be able to write a much more put together and thought out post one of these days about this...but I wanted to share it with you all. Thank you for all your prayers, well wishes, positive thoughts and support you have sent our way during this journey with Bree. We have only just begun to see how amazing of a person she is going to be. :)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Gonce Family: 2010
A big thank you to Carrie Fay Photography for taking fabulous photos of our family! We had a fun time, felt relaxed...and the pictures show how our family truly is. Hope you enjoy!
Pregnancy update
So I had my usual ultrasound and doctor visit today.
During the ultrasound, they noticed that Derrick's fluid is lower than it usually is. When they measure it is usually at 12 or 13 and today it was at 9. It looked low to me. She did measure it 3 times to be sure. I asked the tech at what "level" do they start to worry and she said when it gets to 5.
When it came time for the doctor visit, I already have a bacterial sinus infection that I am on antibiotics for (went into urgent care for that on tuesday) and I had to let them know about it. Well turns out that it is good I am on antibiotics because I have a UTI. (you have to leave a urine sample when you show up for them to test). Holy cow! I feel fine and haven't had any pain at all. I asked Dr. Folkestad about the low fluid level and he said that if this was a normal pregnancy, the low fluid levels would be cause for concern and they would start doing ultrasounds twice a week to monitor it. Since I am already high risk because of the T-scar incision and Bree's premature birth it doesn't change anything for me. However, it is something they are concerned about and will watch. He also mentioned that the low fluid levels may be because my body is trying to battle two different infections right now and it is hard work to fight off infections and grow a baby. He told me I need to be making sure that I am getting my fluids in, and that I am eating well. Which is two things that I do pretty good at. He did check me and he said nothing is dilated, changed, and it is exactly how they want all that.
Next visit (on thursday) is when we will be scheduling the c section date. Since nothing is dilating or effacing, he would like to deliver me in my 37th week and I can choose any date from that Monday to Thursday (as long as the hospital has availability). So it would be February 15 to the 18th (**correction** 14th to the 17th...I apparently don't know how to read a calendar)....so we shall see! Adam and I will sit down and talk about it tonight. It is getting close...only 4.5 more weeks....
During the ultrasound, they noticed that Derrick's fluid is lower than it usually is. When they measure it is usually at 12 or 13 and today it was at 9. It looked low to me. She did measure it 3 times to be sure. I asked the tech at what "level" do they start to worry and she said when it gets to 5.
When it came time for the doctor visit, I already have a bacterial sinus infection that I am on antibiotics for (went into urgent care for that on tuesday) and I had to let them know about it. Well turns out that it is good I am on antibiotics because I have a UTI. (you have to leave a urine sample when you show up for them to test). Holy cow! I feel fine and haven't had any pain at all. I asked Dr. Folkestad about the low fluid level and he said that if this was a normal pregnancy, the low fluid levels would be cause for concern and they would start doing ultrasounds twice a week to monitor it. Since I am already high risk because of the T-scar incision and Bree's premature birth it doesn't change anything for me. However, it is something they are concerned about and will watch. He also mentioned that the low fluid levels may be because my body is trying to battle two different infections right now and it is hard work to fight off infections and grow a baby. He told me I need to be making sure that I am getting my fluids in, and that I am eating well. Which is two things that I do pretty good at. He did check me and he said nothing is dilated, changed, and it is exactly how they want all that.
Next visit (on thursday) is when we will be scheduling the c section date. Since nothing is dilating or effacing, he would like to deliver me in my 37th week and I can choose any date from that Monday to Thursday (as long as the hospital has availability). So it would be February 15 to the 18th (**correction** 14th to the 17th...I apparently don't know how to read a calendar)....so we shall see! Adam and I will sit down and talk about it tonight. It is getting close...only 4.5 more weeks....
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Mindless Babble
Just a random assortment of things I feel like sharing.
We still have our Christmas decorations up. Our Christmas tree was taken down a few days after Christmas to be able to put our recliner back in the living room so that we had extra room to sit. I have just been sick for the last week and not had the energy to take down the decorations. And yet here I sit typing a blog instead of taking down the stockings hanging up on the wall. :)
Even while we have our Christmas decorations still up, I had Riley making valentines this morning. She has reached the age where she really enjoys it. I give her markers, some sequins, jewels, pom poms, glue and some hearts cut out and she will sit there and decorate until her little heart is content. I would say we could a good hour of quiet from that this morning. It was heaven. So Nana, Papa, Grandma and Papa, Grandma Sott and Grandpa Sott, and Yaya will be getting valentines in the mail in a week or two.
On Thursday and Friday this week I went and got steroid shots to help mature Derrick's lungs. They actually weren't that bad. I do not have any bruises from them...and it is for a good cause.
Tomorrow I will be 32 weeks pregnant with Derrick. That is huge. At 32 weeks gestation, the risk of ROP and brain bleeds go waaaaayyyyy down. Which were our two biggest problems (and still are) with Bree. Woo hoo! We are in the home stretch.
Well I guess those Christmas decorations aren't going to take down themselves. I better get to it.
We still have our Christmas decorations up. Our Christmas tree was taken down a few days after Christmas to be able to put our recliner back in the living room so that we had extra room to sit. I have just been sick for the last week and not had the energy to take down the decorations. And yet here I sit typing a blog instead of taking down the stockings hanging up on the wall. :)
Even while we have our Christmas decorations still up, I had Riley making valentines this morning. She has reached the age where she really enjoys it. I give her markers, some sequins, jewels, pom poms, glue and some hearts cut out and she will sit there and decorate until her little heart is content. I would say we could a good hour of quiet from that this morning. It was heaven. So Nana, Papa, Grandma and Papa, Grandma Sott and Grandpa Sott, and Yaya will be getting valentines in the mail in a week or two.
On Thursday and Friday this week I went and got steroid shots to help mature Derrick's lungs. They actually weren't that bad. I do not have any bruises from them...and it is for a good cause.
Tomorrow I will be 32 weeks pregnant with Derrick. That is huge. At 32 weeks gestation, the risk of ROP and brain bleeds go waaaaayyyyy down. Which were our two biggest problems (and still are) with Bree. Woo hoo! We are in the home stretch.
Well I guess those Christmas decorations aren't going to take down themselves. I better get to it.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Measurements and weight estimation
We officially have an on-time, 3 lb 15 ounce (estimated weight) little man stretching and jumping around in my belly.
His measurements were great at todays ultrasound. I am 31 weeks, 1 day along. For those of you who are geeks like me here are the official measurements:
BPD: Biparietal diameter (BPD): The transverse width of the head at it's widest.
8.09 cm which is the average size of a 32 week, 3 day fetus.
HC: Head circumference
27.52 cm which is the average size of a 30 week, 1 day fetus
AC: Abdominal circumference
27.42 cm which is the average size of a 31 week, 3 day fetus
FL: Femur Length
6.18 cm which is the average size of a 32 week, 0 day fetus
The weight estimation came out to be 3 lbs, 15 ounces which is 1798 grams. Wow!
To put that into comparison, Bree was estimated at 500 grams at birth and about 1 pound. After being given fluids and meds she was finally stable enough to be officially weighed in at 1 lb, 5 ounces. So Derrick is almost 4 times the size that Bree was.
Derrick should gain about a half a pound a week until he is born. So if I am 31 weeks right now we'll just say he's four pounds. That leaves us week 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 to gain weight. (We're hoping to do c section at the end of week 36). That will estimate his birth weight at around 6.5 pounds! How awesome will that be???!!
I am so proud that he is doing so well and is growing right on schedule. I am so blessed.
His measurements were great at todays ultrasound. I am 31 weeks, 1 day along. For those of you who are geeks like me here are the official measurements:
BPD: Biparietal diameter (BPD): The transverse width of the head at it's widest.
8.09 cm which is the average size of a 32 week, 3 day fetus.
HC: Head circumference
27.52 cm which is the average size of a 30 week, 1 day fetus
AC: Abdominal circumference
27.42 cm which is the average size of a 31 week, 3 day fetus
FL: Femur Length
6.18 cm which is the average size of a 32 week, 0 day fetus
The weight estimation came out to be 3 lbs, 15 ounces which is 1798 grams. Wow!
To put that into comparison, Bree was estimated at 500 grams at birth and about 1 pound. After being given fluids and meds she was finally stable enough to be officially weighed in at 1 lb, 5 ounces. So Derrick is almost 4 times the size that Bree was.
Derrick should gain about a half a pound a week until he is born. So if I am 31 weeks right now we'll just say he's four pounds. That leaves us week 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 to gain weight. (We're hoping to do c section at the end of week 36). That will estimate his birth weight at around 6.5 pounds! How awesome will that be???!!
I am so proud that he is doing so well and is growing right on schedule. I am so blessed.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2011...here we are!
Whew! 2010 was sure full of exciting times, and much growth for our family. I am not as organized or super cool as many of my blogger friends to be able to do a month by month run down of the past year for us. However, I do remember (and will always remember) 2010 as these exciting things:
- Last year at this time Bree wasn't crawling or walking. She had mastered sitting up on her own, but that was it. 2010 has brought us not only a crawling master, but now a walking and running toddler.
- Riley started preschool, and she LOVES it! She is definitely a child who craves attention, and constant structure so she has blossomed. I am very thankful to the help we get from Adam's parents to be able to give our children the opportunity to go to preschool. We would not be able to give them this ourselves.
- We had a wonderful opportunity to have Adam's parents and the three "big" nieces and nephew visit us for 6 weeks this summer. I will remember it forever.
- Many plans changed in our family this year. At the beginning of July I got an unexpected positive pregnancy test...and life hasn't been the same since!
- We thought Adam was going to Korea for a year with him leaving in September, but with the high risk pregnancy we were able to file a humanitarian package and have him stay here with us. I honestly think I would not have made it this far without his help, love and support. He is an amazing husband.
- My student teaching was supposed to start in August, but with our surprise pregnancy we decided the stress, time and exertion of student teaching would not be beneficial and so we are holding off until August 2011.
- My grandparents had a trip planned to come and help during my student teaching, but with it canceled I got to spend that extra time with them. :) It was made extra special by my grandma being able to be present for our "big" ultrasound when we found out we would be having a little boy!
I am sure that there are different things that stand out in Adam's mind when he thinks about 2010, but these are the things that I remember.
2011 will bring us many more new things that the girls will do, it will bring us a beautiful...ahem...handsome baby boy, and a stronger marriage and relationship between Adam and I. Life is good.
- Last year at this time Bree wasn't crawling or walking. She had mastered sitting up on her own, but that was it. 2010 has brought us not only a crawling master, but now a walking and running toddler.
- Riley started preschool, and she LOVES it! She is definitely a child who craves attention, and constant structure so she has blossomed. I am very thankful to the help we get from Adam's parents to be able to give our children the opportunity to go to preschool. We would not be able to give them this ourselves.
- We had a wonderful opportunity to have Adam's parents and the three "big" nieces and nephew visit us for 6 weeks this summer. I will remember it forever.
- Many plans changed in our family this year. At the beginning of July I got an unexpected positive pregnancy test...and life hasn't been the same since!
- We thought Adam was going to Korea for a year with him leaving in September, but with the high risk pregnancy we were able to file a humanitarian package and have him stay here with us. I honestly think I would not have made it this far without his help, love and support. He is an amazing husband.
- My student teaching was supposed to start in August, but with our surprise pregnancy we decided the stress, time and exertion of student teaching would not be beneficial and so we are holding off until August 2011.
- My grandparents had a trip planned to come and help during my student teaching, but with it canceled I got to spend that extra time with them. :) It was made extra special by my grandma being able to be present for our "big" ultrasound when we found out we would be having a little boy!
I am sure that there are different things that stand out in Adam's mind when he thinks about 2010, but these are the things that I remember.
2011 will bring us many more new things that the girls will do, it will bring us a beautiful...ahem...handsome baby boy, and a stronger marriage and relationship between Adam and I. Life is good.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Bi weekly dr appts
Normally these check ups are the routine mundane (we like routine and mundane though!) "How ya doing? Yup, measuring great. Blood pressure is good...we'll see you in a few days" type of deal. However, today was a little different.
I was informed that my labs came back from when they tested me for gestational diabetes. I am good to go and do NOT have gestational diabetes. However, my iron is apparently on the extremely low side to which the doctor said "I am doing to write you a prescription ANNNDD give you some samples so that you can get started on those right away". I didn't even think to ask how low it was, but it's not like I won't see them in a week.
Lots of things set up for next week. They are doing an in depth ultrasound on Monday at 3 to measure Derrick (weight, etc) and to check my anterior placenta to see how it has affected the c section scars so we know what to expect at the c section. Luckily, I have an amazing friend (Anneke!) who is watching the girls so that Adam can go with me to that appointment. I think for Adam and I, it is even that more special to get to share in our excitement of seeing how big he is (anything that is bigger than Bree was is SUPER exciting to us!). I will get a steroid shot on Thursday, and then another one 24 hours later on Friday. The steroid shots will help to develop Derrick's lungs so that when he is born at 36 to 37 weeks we should be able to bring him home when I come home.
I can't believe that we only have 6 weeks left!
I was informed that my labs came back from when they tested me for gestational diabetes. I am good to go and do NOT have gestational diabetes. However, my iron is apparently on the extremely low side to which the doctor said "I am doing to write you a prescription ANNNDD give you some samples so that you can get started on those right away". I didn't even think to ask how low it was, but it's not like I won't see them in a week.
Lots of things set up for next week. They are doing an in depth ultrasound on Monday at 3 to measure Derrick (weight, etc) and to check my anterior placenta to see how it has affected the c section scars so we know what to expect at the c section. Luckily, I have an amazing friend (Anneke!) who is watching the girls so that Adam can go with me to that appointment. I think for Adam and I, it is even that more special to get to share in our excitement of seeing how big he is (anything that is bigger than Bree was is SUPER exciting to us!). I will get a steroid shot on Thursday, and then another one 24 hours later on Friday. The steroid shots will help to develop Derrick's lungs so that when he is born at 36 to 37 weeks we should be able to bring him home when I come home.
I can't believe that we only have 6 weeks left!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Speaking
Little Miss Bree has been making some amazing strides with her speech lately. Just this morning, for the first time, I heard her playing in her bed (over the monitor) and heard her call out for "Mama! Dada!". She has never done this before. I was so proud!
She has been identifying things lately. She'll see shoes on the ground and inform you if they are "Dada" or "Mama" shoes. Or she'll go get some shoes and carry them around yelling "Shoe! shoe!" and showing it to you. She'll tell you "phone" if she sees you with your phone, and she tries to take it from you to play games on it. She is progressing so well...
Just to satisfy my curiosity, I made a list of how many words she can speak and then a list of how many signs she does:
Speaking:
1. Baby
2. Shoe
3. Yay
4. Whoa
5. Night night (Nigh-nigh)
6. Mama
7. Dada
8. Grandma (Ma-maw)
9. Off
10. On
11. Help (Elf)
12. Please (Peas)
13. Bye bye
14. Read
15. Yeah (Yes)
16. No
17. Ball
18. Tape ("Ttttt" with sign)
19. This
20. Mine
21. Wow
22. Blanket (Ki-ki)
23. Phone (Bone)
24. Diaper (By-buh)
25. Spongebob (Buh-Bob)
26. Riley (Yai-ye)
Signed
1. Help
2. All Done
3. Please
4. Thank you
5. Hat
6. Play
7. More
8. Milk
9. Eat
10. Nods yes
11. Shakes no
12. Bye Bye
13. Tape
14. Wipe
That's 40 things!!
You rock Bree...keep it up! Bree would not be doing as well as she is if she didn't have the help of her amazing speech therapist Brian. He works so well with her, and is constantly challenging her to do better and work harder. It was one of our best decisions we've made to switch our speech therapist. I am proud to be an advocate for Bree. Heck, at the rate she's going she'll be able to tell us what she wants herself here soon!
She has been identifying things lately. She'll see shoes on the ground and inform you if they are "Dada" or "Mama" shoes. Or she'll go get some shoes and carry them around yelling "Shoe! shoe!" and showing it to you. She'll tell you "phone" if she sees you with your phone, and she tries to take it from you to play games on it. She is progressing so well...
Just to satisfy my curiosity, I made a list of how many words she can speak and then a list of how many signs she does:
Speaking:
1. Baby
2. Shoe
3. Yay
4. Whoa
5. Night night (Nigh-nigh)
6. Mama
7. Dada
8. Grandma (Ma-maw)
9. Off
10. On
11. Help (Elf)
12. Please (Peas)
13. Bye bye
14. Read
15. Yeah (Yes)
16. No
17. Ball
18. Tape ("Ttttt" with sign)
19. This
20. Mine
21. Wow
22. Blanket (Ki-ki)
23. Phone (Bone)
24. Diaper (By-buh)
25. Spongebob (Buh-Bob)
26. Riley (Yai-ye)
Signed
1. Help
2. All Done
3. Please
4. Thank you
5. Hat
6. Play
7. More
8. Milk
9. Eat
10. Nods yes
11. Shakes no
12. Bye Bye
13. Tape
14. Wipe
That's 40 things!!
You rock Bree...keep it up! Bree would not be doing as well as she is if she didn't have the help of her amazing speech therapist Brian. He works so well with her, and is constantly challenging her to do better and work harder. It was one of our best decisions we've made to switch our speech therapist. I am proud to be an advocate for Bree. Heck, at the rate she's going she'll be able to tell us what she wants herself here soon!
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