3 month update!

It’s been an exciting 3 months for our little man :)  Here's a quick update since the last post:

We took our first family trip last month to Charleston, SC.  I was pretty nervous about taking the trip.  When we first decided to go, Dean was still in Children’s Hospital.  Since it was his second hospital stay (at only 2-3 weeks old), we just wanted to get out of the area for a bit and bond together as a family.  Away from doctors, away from hospitals, just the three of us.  And what better place (within driving distance) than Charleston!  As I said, I was a bit nervous.  I was still getting used to pumping and having a new baby.  I hadn't packed a bag for Dean before (other than his diaper bag), so I definitely over-packed.   All those concerns, for nothing.  We had a fantastic time!  We got to take Dean to all the places John and I visit every time we go, including the very spot John proposed to me:

We went over to Shem Creek and walked/strolled along the water.   Even saw a dolphin!  Dean didn’t understand why we were so excited about the dolphin :)  In all, we were there for 2 full days.  And I’m really, really glad we went.  I was more relaxed that I thought I would be, and it set the tone for what I know will be plenty more fun-filled family vacations.

A couple of weeks after we got home, Dean had his follow-up appointment with his pediatric endocrinologist (ped endo) in Knoxville.  They took more blood to test his electrolyte levels, checked him over to make sure he was developing correctly (he is), and talked with us more about the CAH.  It seems like every day John and I learn something new.  The nurse also took Dean’s blood pressure while we were there, since he hadn’t had it checked since he left Children’s Hospital.  She took it 4 times, and each time it was high.  When she left to get the doctor, John told me that a sign of incorrect medicine dosage is high blood pressure.  So when the doctor came back in, he decided to reduce his hormone medication, and asked us to have blood work done when we went in for Dean’s well visit the next week.

So, we went in the next week for Dean’s 2-month well visit (we’re off by a week or 2 because of the hospital stays).  So proud of Dean for doing so well!  Even took his immunizations like a champ.  It was funny to me, because I was there with him when his nurse administered the shots, holding his hand.  He cried a little, but not much.  After the shots were over was when I had a realization.  I thought back to what my friends have said about taking their children in for shots “Oh, it was worse for me than it was for them” and “My poor baby just had their shots!”  I looked at my mom (John had to work, and I asked her to come in case I needed moral support), told her what I had just thought, and asked jokingly if I needed to be more upset, lol!  I suppose I'm a bit desensitized from where he had the IV's in the hospital and had to have his blood drawn every week.  Shots are nothing to Dean :)  Anyway, they took blood (again) to test his electrolyte levels as the ped endo had asked, since they reduced one of the dosages.  The pediatrician called that afternoon to let us know everything looked normal!   Everything else that the ped endo looked for in the blood work also came back within normal levels.  So happy for all the excellent news!

As of his well visit, Dean is 13lbs even and 24.5in long.  We have a happy, healthy baby on our hands!

One of these days I'll get more pictures up on facebook.  I'll make that my goal to reach before the next update.

Have a great day!

2 months...already!?!

So, Dean turned 2 months old yesterday.  I can't believe how fast these last 2 months have gone!  Sure, the first 2-3 weeks dragged, but since Dean has been out of the hospital and doing so much better, the days are just flying by. 

I had my first Mother's Day this year :)  That was pretty cool.  We received a gift certificate for a family photo session (thank you again Jen and Stephanie!), so that's what we did!  And it was so much fun!  I'm looking forward to seeing all the pictures once they're done (Sweet Snaps by Tara, she's on FB!)

I’m amazed at how much he seems to grow each day (John’s made that observation and few times too).  I love getting up in the morning and seeing my precious little baby boy.  And now that I’m back at work, seeing his happy, smiling face when I pick him up from my parents' just makes my day.  :D

It’s not just Dean’s growth that has amazed me these last few weeks.  Just 2 months ago I became a mom.  Think about that.  Yeah, I know.  And I must say, as much as I love and adore my own mother, I have a greater appreciation for her now than I ever did.  And I realized this new-found appreciation the night we took Dean to the emergency room at the Children’s Hospital.

I'll always remember that night: He had only been home a week when we got the call we had to take Dean to Knoxville.  It was the quickest I believe I had ever packed.  I knew I would be staying down there with Dean, but I didn't know for how long.  John was going home after so he could finish out the work week.  I don’t remember the drive there at all, just that we needed to get there ASAP so Dean could get care.  As soon as we walked into the emergency room, Dean was taken to a room.  And a swarm of doctors and nurses (there had to be at least 10) came in to the room to get Dean all set up.  I had never been so scared in my life.  People are simultaneously taking blood from him and trying to get IVs in him.  I was standing as close as I could to him when a nurse told me I could take and hold his hands.  So there I stood, holding his precious little hands in mine as he’s screaming and crying.  I knew he was in pain, and that he was so scared.  John did his best to keep my face clean from all the tears I couldn't hold back.  That was really the moment I knew I had become a mom.

I remember, as a kid, getting hurt and my mom wanting to make it better.  She would say “I wish I could take the pain away,” or “I wish it was me instead of you.”  I just thought she was trying to make me feel better.  But looking down at Dean, face red and wet with tears, I wanted more than anything for it to be me instead of him.  I wanted to take the pain away and hold him, assuring that he was alright.  I wanted to endure that for him.  And it hurt my heart to no end.  That was when I thought back to all those times mom said those things, and I knew, with all my heart, she sincerely meant every word.

As I said, since that night Dean has gotten so much better.  He's such a cute little kid, if I do say so myself ;-)  In the words of the great LeVar Burton: "You don't have to take my word for it:"

Look at that handsome little man!  I'm such a happy and proud momma to have such an awesome and incredible baby :D

Dean's been pretty busy in his first couple months.  I'll touch on his adventures in a later blog.

Thanks for letting me share my heart.  I know what we went though with Dean is nothing compared to what other families have to endure.  It still wasn't an easy situation for us, and my heart goes out to those families.  I'm so grateful for my healthy baby boy.

One month later…

Oh my gracious, can you believe a month has gone by?!? 

Just look at my sweet boy :)

Better get used to this pictures, kid ;)

Well, it’s been about six weeks since I last updated this blog.  Last time I checked in was at Week 40 in my pregnancy with Dean.  We (Dean and I) actually went into Week 41 of pregnancy.  I thought about doing a Week 41 update…but it would have sounded something like this:

“Yes, I’m still pregnant, and I don’t think he’s ever coming out!!!  Leave me alone!!!”

You get the idea.

I’d like to use this entry to discuss what’s transpired in the last few weeks.  If you don’t want to hear “the birth story,” then the beginning of this entry is not for you (don't worry, I'm not going to get graphic or anything).  I do encourage you then to skip down to once Dean is born, so you’ll be caught up on him (that is, if you want to). 

Let’s get started: my team and I (team being my doula Ellen and my husband John) did everything we could think of to get labor moving.  Everything short of castor oil (even I have my limits).  I didn’t want an induction.  Truth be told, I was a bit scared of it.  Even its name sounded ominous to me: induction.  But I was so beyond ready to have Dean in this world (and to no longer be pregnant!), so I sucked it up and set up an induction for March 20.

John and I get to the hospital at 5:30am (yes, in the morning!) to get ready for the induction.  After Ellen arrives, we learn from the nurse that they are short staffed and that it would take a while to get to me.  The nurse even said we could go home and come back another time.  I wasn’t having that!  I ever so politely informed her I was staying for however long it took.  Sometime around 7am the doctor on-call met with me to say he would be back to break my water around 10am.  Imagine my surprise when he showed up at my room at 10am ready to go!  Unfortunately, the nurses who had shown up a few minutes before could not get an IV in me, and without an IV the doctor wouldn’t proceed :(  So then we waited until around 2pm, then the show got started.

The induction really wasn’t as bad as I had it built up in my head.  No, it didn’t feel great to have my water broken, but it wasn’t the horrendous pain I had thought it would be.  Labor started around 2pm.  I feel I did pretty well laboring on my own for a while, but the contractions weren’t as strong or frequent as the doctor liked, so we went forward with medication to make them stronger and more frequent (doesn’t that sound like fun :P ).  Once those meds got into my system, it took until the second contraction for me to scream for my epidural. And thank goodness for the epidural!

That all occurred during the evening/night hours.  Midnight comes and goes, so it’s been at least 24 hours since I had anything to eat or drink.  I’m dilating, but not as quick as I would like.  It wasn’t until around 4:30am THE NEXT DAY that I got to start pushing.  Thankfully at this point the epidural is still in effect.  Until around 5am.  Oh no!!!  I started getting feeling back in my left hip.  At first I thought it was from the way I was laying down, so Ellen tried to massage it out.  Then we all realized I was able to feel the contractions in my hip.  Oh my gracious!  Looking back now I’m thankful I had feeling in my hip (at the time it hurt like nothing else, so I wasn’t able to see the positive in it).  Pushing made the pain lessen, so that made me feel a little more in control. 

Finally, at 6:15am on Thursday, March 21, Dean Edward Martin was born.  All 8 pounds, 11 ounces, and 23 inches of him.  He was (and still is) absolutely perfect.  I can’t describe how I felt the moment John brought him over for me to hold.  I was so proud of Dean for finally making it into this world, and filled with so much love and joy for this precious little person.  He was healthy and alert and I couldn’t wait to just hold him all day (and finally eat!)!  After he had his bath, the nurse took Dean back to have his exam by the doctor.

That was when things went downhill.

To make a long story short, Dean had to be transported to the NICU of another hospital.  His breathing was irregular and his blood sugar level plummeted to 6, when it should have been in the 80 range.  I wanted so much to be discharged from the hospital so I could go be with my newborn son.  Seeing as I had just given birth 4 hours earlier, the doctor nicely and politely told me that wasn’t happening.  Once Dean was in the NICU and settled, John got to go over to be with him.

I was discharged the following morning.  John and I spent most of that day, and the subsequent days, in the NICU with Dean.  It absolutely broke my heart to see him there.  I had imagined leaving the hospital with my son in my arms, going home to spend quality time with my new family.  Instead, I had only held him for a matter of minutes, and now I got to look at him, in an open incubator.  The NICU staff did everything they could to figure out what was going on with my son.  MRI, EEG, blood work, and several other tests were run to determine the cause of his issues.  Everything came back normal, so they worked on stabilizing his breathing and glucose.

After 7 days in the NICU, Dean’s breathing and glucose were finally stabilized and he was able to go home!  We were so happy to finally have our son home, so we could start bonding and become a family.

The “honeymoon” was short-lived.  The hospital didn’t do Dean’s newborn screen until the day he was discharged from the NICU.  A week later, on a Wednesday, I received a call with the results of his screen (yes, a week later).  The resident in the NICU sent the information to the wrong pediatrician’s office (that’s another story all together).  The screen showed that Dean was in adrenal crisis (adrenal glands were not functioning properly).  Our pediatrician told us to go have more blood work done to make sure.  We did, and within a couple of hours we found ourselves on the way to the Children’s Hospital in Knoxville. 

Upon arrival, the emergency room staff immediately took Dean back and started getting him on an IV and taking blood to check his levels.  Dean was diagnosed with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) and admitted to the hospital’s PICU so they could give him medication to monitor his sodium, potassium, and glucose levels.  It took a couple of days for the medication to work, and those were the longest 2 days of my life.  John came back home after dropping Dean and I off in Knoxville (he had to work the next couple of days).  So there we were, Dean and I and the wonderful nurses in the PICU.  John came back Friday after work, and Dean was released to come home Saturday afternoon.

We’ve now been home for 2 straight weeks, and we couldn’t be happier to be together as a family!

Several of you called, emailed, and/or texted during the time we were figuring out about Dean’s CAH.  I was not in a place to respond to communication, therefore I thank you for understanding why I didn’t respond.  I also want to thank everyone for their support, thoughts, prayers, visits, and meals for us.  I wish I could express in words just how much they meant to us and how much we love and appreciate all of you!

For anyone interested in learning more about CAH (and I highly encourage you to be), the website the hospital directed us to is http://www.caresfoundation.org/productcart/pc/index.html.  This is a condition Dean will have for the rest of his life, and will have to take medication every day to balance himself.  As long as he takes his medication, he can still live a normal life.

Alright, now for some pictures of our little man!

Isn't he just precious!?!  Look at that sweet face!

Sleeping on daddy

My little "Dean Burrito"!  =D

Gizmo, being a good big brother, keeping guard

Walking together as a family!

Thanks for reading!  Until next time!

Week 40/ Made it to the Due Date!

Greetings all!

Well, we made it to Week 40!  Wow, how the time has gone by.  Feels like it was just July 3, 2012 when we first found out we were going to become parents.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again now, I have enjoyed my pregnancy.  Feeling little Dean grow and become stronger has been one of the greatest feelings I've ever experienced.  He's already a blessing, and John and I are so grateful for the experience we've had.

All that being said, it's about time for him to get moving.

John made an observation this morning that Dean seems to be on Martin-time.  In other words, he's taking his time getting here.  Bless him :)  I'm as ready for him to be here as I can be.  If I may ask, please send your positive thoughts and prayers to Dean to encourage him to come out into the world.  Dean, so many people, your mommy and daddy especially, who want to meet you!  And I promise, there's so much more room out here for you to move and squirm around!  Imagine what all you can do being outside the confines of mommy's belly, lol!

Let's get on to the update:

Size: Small pumpkin!  It's hard to say for sure how big Dean will be by the time he's born.  At last week's appointment, the doctor estimated his weight at around 7.5 pounds, and that he could gain roughly a half pound a week (another factor to encourage him to come on out!)

Physical Features:  His skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor.  So, he could have a little conehead after birth, but it's normal and temporary.

How I'm Feeling:  Still having the Braxton-Hicks.  I'm ready for them to be real contractions.  Not that I'm looking forward to the pain, just ready to have him here.  Still feeling great overall, tired as per usual.  I'm not working now, so I've got time to do my exercises and rest when I need to.  Emotionally, I want so much to hold my little boy for the first time.  So again, come on out Dean!

What I'm Thankful For:  Overall I'm grateful for a wonderful pregnancy.  I've stayed as fit as I could (even stayed within the weight gain window!), as healthy as I could (granted all the milkshakes I've had), and I think I did well emotionally as well, but you'd have to ask John about that.  I'm very thankful to have had John and his support throughout the last 40 weeks.  Love him just so much!

Appointments and Upcoming Events:  No more appointments (unless something comes up), and my visit today was uneventful.   So really, the next event will be Dean's birth!

Let's see the last bump pic!

I appreciate all of you following my blog these last few months!  I plan to continue writing as to chronicle our lives with Dean, although it may not be as frequent as the lead-up :)  Thank you all for your encouragement, support, thoughts, and prayers.

Stay tuned for Dean's birth!

Have a great week!

Week 39/ One Week/ Drop It Low!

Yes, I just referenced 2 songs in one title.  I'm cool like that ;)

One week to go before Dean's arrival!  That's give or take, of course.  Although I'd prefer he be born next Monday.  Then his birth date will be 31113!  Over the last few days, Dean has been doing some dropping.  I confirmed this at last week's doctor's appointment.  I felt a little lighter on top, noticed it was a bit easier to breathe, and my mid-back was hurting again.  For me, that's always a sign of his re-positioning :)  Had a minor little emotional freak-out last week, just stressing about everything, but got over it fairly quickly.  Thankful for that!

So...my poor little husband hurt his back this weekend :(  He'll survive, I promise :)  Since he was out for the count, my family stepped in to help with the tasks we wanted (read: I wanted) to accomplish this weekend.  Mom came over to help clean again, and Nick came over to put together our new glider.  Love our new glider :)  Thanks mom and Nick for all your help! (and to April and Eli for their patience!)

In honor of Dean's upcoming birth, I've decided to be clever, so I came up with a Top Ten list about my pregnancy.  Well, two Top Five lists, but when added together, equals Ten :)  Here we go!

What I Loved about Being Pregnant:

5. How nice people can be.  Many times people have gotten up from their seats to let me sit, or let me go first in line for the bathroom.  Such sweet folks :)

4. My awesome hair/nails/skin!  Other than my first trimester, my skin has never looked or felt better!  I'd break a nail and think, so big deal, it'll be back in a week.  And it would be!  Oh, and my hair.  Secret's coming out, I'd sometimes go 2...maybe even 3 days without washing it.  Yeah that may sound gross, but no one ever knew!  

3. While I was tired (a lot), I loved how I felt overall during my pregnancy.  It's difficult to explain.  Those who have children may know what I'm referring to.

2. Getting to experience this with John.  He's been absolutely fantastic during the whole pregnancy and being as involved as he can be.  So excited for our little family!

1. Feeling and watching my little man move around.  I would just watch with utter amazement as I'd see limbs shift or feel little nudges into my ribs.  Absolutely priceless!

What I'm Looking Forward To about Not Being Pregnant:

5. No more aches and pains (pregnancy-related)!

4. Being able to get comfy!

3. I'll have some energy back!

2. I'll be able to shave my legs like a normal person again!

1. My little man will be here!!!!! :D

On to the update!

Size: Mini-watermelon!  Dean is waiting to greet the world, measuring about 20 inches and weighing around 7 pounds (although boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls).

Physical Features: Dean's continuing to build a layer of baby fat to help control his body temperature after birth.  The outer layers of skin are sloughing off as new skin is forming underneath.

How I'm Feeling: Tired, experiencing some pain all around as well as infrequent contractions.  Otherwise very blessed and very excited to meet Dean!

Who I'm Thankful For:  Jason at the Johnson City Fire Department!  He showed John and I how to install Dean's car seat.  John and I are very much visual learners, so sitting down with instructions isn't the best for us.  So glad that Jason took the time to explain everything carefully and show us how it's done.  We'll be ready to install the second car seat base (but will still take it by to him to check our work :) 

Appointments and Upcoming Events: Next doctor's appointment is tomorrow.  We'll see how far along he's progressed!

Bump Pic!

Keep close to FB for any developments on Dean's arrival!

Have a great week!

Week 38/Still Preggers!

Hello!

So, who all thought I had the baby?!?  "She didn't post Sunday!" She didn't post Monday!" "Did she have the baby and didn't say anything?"

Nope :)

I wore myself to exhaustion on Sunday, so I didn't feel like taking my pic or spending time on my  computer.  So I planned to blog yesterday.  But Comcast had other thoughts; their internet was messed up.  Another day without blogging.  I know some of you were taking bets that I'd go into labor on the full moon (which was yesterday).  That didn't happen either.  So here we are, at Week 38, just playing The Waiting Game.

Had a doctor's appointment today.  Everything looks good (weight, blood pressure, etc).  I'm dilated 2-3 cm and around 75% effaced.  Dean's arrival is coming up so fast!

We had maternity pictures taken!  Thank you again Thornhill Photography for the awesome pictures!  I'll get some of those posted once we get the disc.  Anyone that needs a photographer, either here or in the Asheville area, I can recommend a good one :)

Let's see the update on Dean!

Size:  The length of a leek!  Dean's about 6.8 pounds and over 19.5 inches long.

Physical Features:  Dean has a firm grasp,  His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

How I'm Feeling:  Tired, as per usual.  I can tell Dean's getting into position.  My mid-back has been getting sore, and I'm having to use a jacket or a pillow while I'm sitting at work to ease some of the pressure.  I haven't been doing my exercises/stretches like I know I should be :(  I'll do better about those this week.

What I'm Thankful For:  Having the time to "wrap up" everything.  We still have a couple things left to do, but it's all minor.  Glad we got the major stuff taken care of.  And thanks again to everyone who helped us get to this point!

Appointments and Upcoming Events:  Next appointment is set for next Wednesday, so that John can come with me.  As far as upcoming events, just waiting on Dean's arrival!

The bump pic!

Oh!  I do have one picture from the maternity shoot: 

Can't wait to see the rest of them!

Have a great week!

Week 37/The Last of the Showers

Hello everyone!

Week 37...means Dean is now considered full term!

As you noticed, I did not make my update yesterday.  My apologies :)  I feel the slow-down as this pregnancy draws to its near conclusion.  Can you believe we are 3 weeks from the day of Dean's arrival (give or take)?!?  So many feelings, both physical and emotional.  (I'll talk more about that later)

Last week, John's work threw us a baby shower!  It was great.  And they were gracious enough to host it at the branch across from where we live, even though John's not at that branch anymore.  I'm so appreciative of the food and gifts they gave to our expanding family.  And John was excited to get to open some gifts, lol!  

Today, my work threw us a baby shower! :)  It was planned for today thinking John would be off for President's Day.  But while banks were closed, the credit union was not :(  Still, we had a great time, and I'm very thankful for the generosity my work showed me today.  You guys are incredible; thank you so much!

So, now that the showers are over, I am in full organizational mode!  I've already sorted and organized the diapers by size (as well as the wipes), hung up some of Dean's clothes, and set aside the bath items.  We have more clothes now, so those will need to be washed and sorted by size (oh yes, all his clothes are sorted by size).  This week we'll get the car seat installed (and checked by the fire dept) as well as the monitor.  Those are John's jobs :)

Everything's coming together!

Oh, one thing before the update: a lot of people have been asking me how I know how much Dean weighs, if the doctor's check it every week, etc.  The doctor's don't necessarily measure him, they measure my belly to make sure I'm on track.  Generally, how far along you are in weeks is how much you should measure out to be.  For example, when I went at week 34, my belly (uterus) measured 34 cm.  To get his length, size, weight, etc, I get that info off an app on my phone.  

Let's see what Dean's up to this week:

Size:  The length of a stalk of Swiss chard (yeah...)!  He weighs around 6.33 pounds and measures just over 19 inches.

Physical Features:  Since he's now considered full-term, Dean's lungs are likely mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb.

How I'm Feeling:  Oh, the adjustment's my body is making in order to make room for Dean's delivery.  By the end of the day I just want to put my large, swollen feet up and do my best to relax.  Saturday I stayed home for the majority of the day, and I could tell a difference in how I feel when I run around like crazy and when I take it easy.  Of course, I felt much better after taking a day to just rest.  

Sleeping has also become an issue.  Once I get home from work, I am ready to roll over and just fall asleep.  Although sleep doesn't always come easy.  I try to get as comfortable as I can, but between bathroom breaks my large belly (which makes it interesting to turn at night), I have a dog who stays on my feet and a husband who loves to get as close to me as he can.  Assuming we have another child, we will have a King-size bed :)  

All that being said, I know I've been blessed with a great pregnancy, and I'm grateful for everything :)

What I'm Thankful For:  My mommy!  In going along with trying to take it easy, she came over yesterday and helped me clean!  She's been offering to come help, so I finally took her up on it. I did a few things here and there, but she did a majority of the work.  It was great to not only have her help me clean the house, but to spend some time with her as well.  Thank you again mom!

Appointments and Upcoming Events:  Doctor's appointments are now every week, so my appointment this week is tomorrow.

Bump pic!

Props to my mom for taking this pic yesterday!  She cleans and takes pictures!  As you can see, Dean's all in the front.  This is what makes turning in the middle of the night an adventure.  

Have a great week!