Holiday Party/Cookie Exchange

Andrew stayed at home with the kids while I went to a playgroup Holiday party and cookie exchange. It was a lot of fun to have girl time. As much as I enjoy my children, I also need a break. Lane has decided that she can not be bothered with bottles. She went 8 hours without eating but then ate a ton when I got home.
My friends Michelle and Tiffani went out to the bar with me after the party. I haven't been in a bar in ages. It was great to bond during girl time. I will forever be thankful for their friendships.
The downside of my evening - we have a 100 cookies in the house to consume. It will not be good for my weight loss goal.

Laney - 6 months is approaching

Laney is almost 6 months old. As with the boys, I can not believe how quickly the time has gone. It seems like I have always known her. She is a very happy girl. She enjoys looking in the mirror, peek-a-boo, and her brothers. She likes to hold toys and can even transfer toys from one hand to the other hand. This past week, Laney scooted several feet across the playroom floor and found her feet! She is changing quickly but one things remains the same - I love her dearly. I am so grateful to be a mother.

Thanksgiving 2009

We headed to Nik's house for Thanksgiving. The kids had a lot of fun. We went to Vail for a day which included a train ride in Georgetown, CO. We also went to the Denver zoo and aquarium.

Alexander was a mess today, crying for Nik and said that he lost him. Poor little guy.

Vocabulary

Gabriel has been working on his vocabulary lately. His latest words include faithful and adaptation. Sometimes they are even used correctly.

ChuckECheese!

If you hear one of my children yelling, "say CHUCKECHEESE" be sure to look for them. They are playing with a camera and they are trying to take photos of each other.

Doctors Office

Alex and Gabriel are hilarious at the dr. office. They genuinely enjoy visiting Dr. Beck. Lane had to go in because her clogged eye duct became infected. Poor little girl gets goopy green eyes whenever she wakes up. Dr. Beck made sure to check the boys ears and eyes when they didn't want to be left out of the fun.
I went to the dentist. It had been far too long. I have to use a medicated rinse because I have periodontal disease starting. The enamel on my teeth has been worn away as well. Both probably due to my rough pregnancy and hyperemesis. Who would have known? Yes, Lane, you were worth it.

Halloween 2009

We had a very busy Halloween. The day started with a Halloween party with the playgroup. We had a great time. Gabriel was a spider, Alexander was a bumble bee, Laney was a lady bug. Mom and Dad were the bug catchers, of course! The hats I made for our costumes were difficult to wear and became toys for the kids.
We went to Oktoberfest in Remsen. It was neat to expose the kids to German music. The food was a big disappointment.
The biggest decision of the day was whether to take our tired children trick-or-treating or to stay home. We decided to go to a couple houses in the neighborhood. I am glad we walked around the neighborhood because two of our neighbors had gifts for our children. They are so generous. It was heartwarming. The boys got the hang of trick-or-treating after a couple houses and did not want the fun to end, even when they were shivering from the cold.

MIAMI!

We traveled to Miami last week. Andrew had a conference so the rest of us tagged along. We arrived on Saturday. We headed to Pollo right away - oh how we've missed thee! Where else can you find cheesecake with guava at a fast food place? Gabriel devoured his food! On the way out, Alex threw his daily fit outside the door, on the ground. Two police officers were walking up and I said... well, I guess the police officer can deal with you. One of them said, "Okay, buddy, why don't you go home with Mom and Dad?" Alex RAN to us, faster than I've ever seen him move. Ahhhh - that threat lasted for a while.
Sunday - We went to the Railroad Museum. It was great to watch the boys explore the trains as if they had never seen it before. The weather was fantastic so we headed to Lincoln Rd in SOBE after having Nicaraguan food for lunch. Yum.
Lincoln Road - where else can you purchase 5 chocolate covered marshmallows on a skewer for $5 and a glass of gross orange juice for $4?! The price is worth seeing the fresh produce for sale, all the different people, and the performers. I also saw the store Dash!

First Post

It's strange to write a beginning post because it's difficult to know where to begin. Perhaps a quick update on what is going on in our world is appropriate.
Andrew had a medical procedure done on Thursday. Everything came back fine. The dr gave me good news and after the past year of difficult medical news, I stood stunned. The dr said, "that's good news Jessica." Finally! I think it's time for us to catch a break with medical issues.
I'm chugging along and finding my groove with three children. It hit me a couple weeks ago that I have three children under 5. I hope I handle it with grace. Some days are more pleasant and peaceful than other days but overall, I am happy. I am thrilled to be a stay-at-home mother. I got to help raise many other children and now I am finally raising my own family.
I am a part of an organizing team for a play group. I started the group almost two years ago but I think the group has morphed into its own being. I have made friends here who I love dearly. I am lucky to have them in my life. They are not "for a reason" or "for a season" friends, they are life long friends. Today I celebrated the arrival of a soon-to-be second baby - I hope she felt showered with love today.
Gabriel has a new interest in dinosaurs. He still likes trains and dogs as well. The weather is affecting his sensory processing and making life more difficult for him. I hope he finds his way through it soon.
Alexander is adjusting to life with a younger sister. He is our resident clown and works hard at making us laugh. He sings constantly and makes up the cutest songs.
Lane - our dear sweet 3 month old daughter. She smiles but makes us work for it. She can roll over, especially when she is annoyed. I have learned a lot from my sweet little girl already. I never knew how much I needed a daughter. I am in love.

The financial cost of having a preterm baby

This isn't an insightful look into our health care system. It is simply a tally of the costs associated with Lane's birth and visit in the NICU for 29 days. Guesses regarding the total would be entertaining.



Inpatient 6/25-6/28 for Jessica charges submitted 12778.04 benefits paid 6230.60 our cost 0
Jessica procedure 6/25 3500.00 2927.00 cost 0
Jessica surgery 6/25 250.00 133.00 0
I/P physician 6/26 160.00 49.00 0
anesthesia 6/25 800.00 545.00 0
neonatologist 6/26 258.00 204.00 0
neonatologist 6/25 548.00 449.00 0
neonatologist 6/27 258.00 204.00 0
neonatologist 6/28 258.00 204.00 0
neonatologist 6/29 258.00 204.00 0
neonatologist 6/30 258.00 204.00 0
neonatologist 7/01 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/02 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/03 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/04 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/05 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/06 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/07 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/08 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/09 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/10 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/11 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/12 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/13 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/14 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/15 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/16 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/17 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/18 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/19 258.00 186.00 0
hospital 6/25-6/30 71321.24 0 71321.24
Med Equip 9/23 425.00 323.80 0
Med Supplies 9/21 28.70 28.70 0
Med Equip 8/23 425.00 323.80 0
outpatient for Jessica 5/22 565.48 373.22 0
xray 6/26 28.00 16.00 0
xray 6/29 100.00 57.00 0
inpatient 7/15-7/24 13905.00 3900.21 0
inpatient6/25-6/30 9270.00 2600.16 0
inpatient 7/01-7/14 48146.24 6067.04 0
xray 7/13 224.00 131.00 0
neonatologist 7/20 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/21 258.00 186.00 0
neonatoloigst 7/22 258.00 186.00 0
supplies 7/23 21.00 21.00 0
supplies 7/23 21.00 21.00 0
supplies 7/23 36.40 36.40 0
med equip 7/23 425.00 323.80 0
neonatologist 7/23 258.00 186.00 0
neonatologist 7/24 168.00 136.00 0
professional 7/9 235.00 120.00 0
professional 7/9 75.00 39.00 0
professional 7/9 150.00 7.50 0
med equip 10.23 425.00 323.80 0
lab for Jessica 6/2 433.05 209. 0
outpatient for Jessica 6/2 493.91 325.98 0

Welcome Home LANE!

After 4 weeks and 1 day in the NICU, Lane Elizabeth is home. She came home after her 4 pm feeding. I'm holding her as I type this and can not believe she is here. I feel like I had her a couple days ago - the emotions are right on the surface. I'm overwhelmed, in love, frightened, excited, anxious, to name a few. We didn't tell many people that she was probably coming home because we were worried that it wouldn't happen.
Lane is home on a monitor to watch her heart rate and breathing. If she stops breathing for more than 20 seconds, the monitor will blare an obnoxious alarm to alert us. She will continue on caffeine, vitamins, and NeoSure 22. Once a month, the monitor will be downloaded to check her apnea episodes and we'll continue for there. The Dr did mention that outpatient testing might be required in the future in Omaha.
We brought her home in a pink dress, white tights, and pink ballet shoes. I can't believe I am holding my little beautiful princess.

.

Lyrics for I've Got No Strings

I've got no strings

To hold me down

To make me fret, or make me frown

I had strings

But now I'm free

There are no strings on me

Hi-ho the me-ri-o

That's the only way to go

I want the world to know

Nothing ever worries me

Hi-ho the me-ri-o

I'm as happy as can be

I want the world to know

Nothing ever worries me

I've got no strings

So I have fun

I'm not tied up to anyone

They've got strings

But you can see

There are no strings on me

Dutch puppet

You have no strings

Your arms is free

To love me by the Zuider Zee

Ya, ya, ya

If you would woo

I'd bust my strings for you

French puppet

You've got no strings

Comme ci comme ca

Your savoire-faire is ooh la la!

I've got strings

But entre nous

I'd cut my strings for you

Russian puppet

Down where the Volga flows

There's a Russian rendezvous

Where me and Ivan go

But I'd rather go with you, hey!

Preterm Labor Update

Since last Friday I had been having contractions, some times it was very strong. I hadn't had an FFN test the week before, probably because I had the boys with me but I'm unsure. I didn't know if I was another two week window when the baby would arrive but the contractions did not stay consistent, they were just strong and sometimes increased. I went about my routine but rested when I could in the afternoon.
On Tuesday night, I went to Elaine's Mary Kay party. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to receive my things. I was having contractions every few minutes but they weren't strong and I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. On the way home, I almost had to pull over because one caught me by surprise. I called the office and Aldrich wanted me to go in to be monitored. I tried to convince her I would be fine until my appt. at 9:30 the next day. No luck.
I made it to the hospital around 10. I was having contractions every 5 minutes. The dr. decided to give me terbutaline. I told the dr that it doesn't work for me and sure enough, I was contracting every 2 minutes with no end in site. I was then given Procardia. Imagine the following scenario on top of having hard contractions every 2 minutes:
Terbutaline gives me a rapid heartbeat, jitteriness, and restlessness.
Procardia makes me lightheaded and dizzy. It also makes my face feel like it's on fire for a while.
By 3 am, the nurse said, "you are contracting like a bat out of hell and we don't know if you're progressing and don't want to check you in case it makes things worse." Swell.
The room became a buzz of activity with three nurses. I was hooked up to an IV for fluid. Then I had the Group B strep test done (joy), a Foley catheter inserted, and two more medications were added: penicillin and magnesium sulfate. I was officially bed bound and miserable yet the fun was to begin. I also received steroids for the baby's lungs. I am grateful I have that in my system. Poor Elaine was there while I got that awful burning shot in my leg.
I tolerated the mag pretty well until later that afternoon. On top of the side effects from the other medications which they continued to give me because I was having "break through" contractions, I had yet more side effects from the mag. These side effects were: muscle weakness, drowsiness, difficulty breathing, and headache. I also had tingling in my face, vomiting, and confusion. The medication made me extremely emotional.I begged the nurse to make me feel better. They had to run a test to see if I had too much mag in my system and then lowered the mag when it came back high.
I continued to have smaller contractions this morning (and some whopper ones) but they took me off the mag and sent me home on complete bed rest (I'm not allowed to leave the house until my appt. next Friday) and Procardia.
I also had another FFN test done and it was negative so the hope is that I'll remain pregnant until week 32 when another test can be done. That will be the last FFN test that can be given so I hope for another negative FFN and I would be headed to 34 weeks, at the very least.
I would not wish the experience of mag on anyone but I am glad it is there to help mothers because it is frightening to lay in a hospital bed knowing your 30 week baby can arrive at any minute if something does not work. It was out of my hands and lack of control is not something I deal with well.
Thank you for the phone calls and emails. I can not tell you how much it means to me to receive even a small note. My visitors were amazing - thank you Elaine, Michelle, and Maggie. I am blessed by such good friends.