Wow! Its hard to believe that 3 weeks have flown by since we welcomed Miss Em into the world. Life is beginning to settle down here (thank goodness!) and we are finally getting into some semblance of a routine. Today was my first day to have all 3 kids by myself-- not too bad if I do say so myself.
Carson is doing well. All of his follow up appts have been great. Chest Xray looks good, labs look good, he is eating and playing like crazy:) He can't wait to go back to school after spring break.
Olivia is the best big helper, although sometimes she likes to help a little too much..the other day I got in the shower and told Liv to come get me if the baby woke up. Well, I got to the living room to find the baby on the couch instead of the swing where I left her. Hmmmm. wonder what happened between the swing and couch. But I love to watch her in her "big sister" role.
Emerson is growing like a weed. She wasn't gaining enough weight at first, but I think we fixed that problem. I should find out today or tomorrow when her appt is with the genetic specialist. She appears to have a partial biotinidase deficiency--an enzyme produced by the body that aids in the breakdown of biotin. Many things can happen if the deficiency is left untreated, but luckily in Texas, its one of 28 rare disorders that an infant is tested for within days of birth. early detection=early treatment. She loves just laying on her back looking around. She smiles a lot and even chuckled at Carson a couple days ago. She mostly sleeps through the night. She wakes up once and eats, then goes right back to sleep.
Life is definitely crazy right now but I wouldn't trade a minute of it!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Life's Little Curve Balls
To say the last few weeks were eventful in our family doesn't even begin to cover it!! I can't say its all bad though because in the midst of all of the madness we were blessed with our beautiful baby girl. It all started on the night of February 18th...
I'd been having contractions all day, but they weren't exactly strong or close together so I wasn't concerned, but I was really beginning to doubt that I would make it through the weekend to my scheduled c section on Monday. I was really hoping I could get through until Saturday night so that we could attend Daniel's great grandmother's funeral. She passed away on the 16th, just 2 days after my Grandad. Well, Emerson had other plans. At around midnight, Daniel and I decided to head to the hospital as my contractions were a whopping 2 minutes apart. At around 5, the jerk doctor that happened to be on call decided he would deliver by c section at 7:15. Daniel went and picked up my mom and the kids and got back just in time to gown up for the delivery. At 7:45 we were blessed with a beautiful 9 lb 12 oz (ok Dr. Kaye was right, she was big) 20 inch long baby girl, Emerson Grace Mack. She is such a sweet baby and she totally makes everything I went through during this pregnancy (even the face smashing on the concrete) worth it.
In the meantime.... I knew when we left for the hospital that Carson was running a fever, but it wasn't alarmingly high. We left him with my mom and didn't think twice. After I got to my room after the baby, Carson was sleeping on the couch. Again, I just assumed he had whatever virus or junk was going around this week. All of my younger cousins had been sick the week before and they had spent they whole week together. By Monday morning when Carson was still running a fever, I called first thing and made a dr appt. At this point, he was beginning to complain of abdominal pain. By the time Daniel got him to the Dr, his temp was 105.7 and he was in excruciating pain. Dr Kim sent them immediately to the ER because he was sure he had an appendicitis. Oh, how I wish that was the case. Nope, he had pneumonia. He needed to be admitted for IV antibiotics. My child that never spends the night away from home was in the hospital and I was helpless to do anything for him. Tuesday showed no signs of improvement, and by Wednesday, a pediatric surgeon was consulted. Then Infectious Disease dr, then a Pulmonologist... his antibiotics were changed but showed no improvement. Finally by Saturday, it was obvious that surgery was necessary and he was transferred to Medical City Children's Hospital. He had surgery that night to clean out his lung and place a chest tube, and by the next day, you could already tell that he was feeling sooooooo much better (aside from the pain from surgery). 8! excruciating days later, he was finally able to come home. I have never been so happy about something in my life. I would have gladly taken his place so that he didn't have to go through any of this. Daniel stayed with Carson the entire time, other than small breaks to pick Olivia up from school and spend a little time with her. He is finally able to start bonding with our sweet Emmy. I love, love, love the sound of Carson and Olivia playing together. I had no idea how much I missed it. Our house was so empty without the boys.
Of course in times like these, you realize who is going to be there for you. Sometimes its the most unexpected people that step up. I am so thankful for the many many thoughts and prayers (I know there were a lot) that got us through this, the meals, the babysitting, everything. It was truly one of the most gut wrenching experiences of my life, and we are so blessed to have so much support and that it had a happy ending.
Sitting here tonight with my sweet family of five, I am thanking Him dearly for the blessings in my life. I may not understand why everything happened this past month, but I know its a part of a plan I may never understand.
I'd been having contractions all day, but they weren't exactly strong or close together so I wasn't concerned, but I was really beginning to doubt that I would make it through the weekend to my scheduled c section on Monday. I was really hoping I could get through until Saturday night so that we could attend Daniel's great grandmother's funeral. She passed away on the 16th, just 2 days after my Grandad. Well, Emerson had other plans. At around midnight, Daniel and I decided to head to the hospital as my contractions were a whopping 2 minutes apart. At around 5, the jerk doctor that happened to be on call decided he would deliver by c section at 7:15. Daniel went and picked up my mom and the kids and got back just in time to gown up for the delivery. At 7:45 we were blessed with a beautiful 9 lb 12 oz (ok Dr. Kaye was right, she was big) 20 inch long baby girl, Emerson Grace Mack. She is such a sweet baby and she totally makes everything I went through during this pregnancy (even the face smashing on the concrete) worth it.
In the meantime.... I knew when we left for the hospital that Carson was running a fever, but it wasn't alarmingly high. We left him with my mom and didn't think twice. After I got to my room after the baby, Carson was sleeping on the couch. Again, I just assumed he had whatever virus or junk was going around this week. All of my younger cousins had been sick the week before and they had spent they whole week together. By Monday morning when Carson was still running a fever, I called first thing and made a dr appt. At this point, he was beginning to complain of abdominal pain. By the time Daniel got him to the Dr, his temp was 105.7 and he was in excruciating pain. Dr Kim sent them immediately to the ER because he was sure he had an appendicitis. Oh, how I wish that was the case. Nope, he had pneumonia. He needed to be admitted for IV antibiotics. My child that never spends the night away from home was in the hospital and I was helpless to do anything for him. Tuesday showed no signs of improvement, and by Wednesday, a pediatric surgeon was consulted. Then Infectious Disease dr, then a Pulmonologist... his antibiotics were changed but showed no improvement. Finally by Saturday, it was obvious that surgery was necessary and he was transferred to Medical City Children's Hospital. He had surgery that night to clean out his lung and place a chest tube, and by the next day, you could already tell that he was feeling sooooooo much better (aside from the pain from surgery). 8! excruciating days later, he was finally able to come home. I have never been so happy about something in my life. I would have gladly taken his place so that he didn't have to go through any of this. Daniel stayed with Carson the entire time, other than small breaks to pick Olivia up from school and spend a little time with her. He is finally able to start bonding with our sweet Emmy. I love, love, love the sound of Carson and Olivia playing together. I had no idea how much I missed it. Our house was so empty without the boys.
Of course in times like these, you realize who is going to be there for you. Sometimes its the most unexpected people that step up. I am so thankful for the many many thoughts and prayers (I know there were a lot) that got us through this, the meals, the babysitting, everything. It was truly one of the most gut wrenching experiences of my life, and we are so blessed to have so much support and that it had a happy ending.
Sitting here tonight with my sweet family of five, I am thanking Him dearly for the blessings in my life. I may not understand why everything happened this past month, but I know its a part of a plan I may never understand.
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