Appendectomy Adventure

On Monday morning at 3AM, Trevor woke me up telling me his stomach hurt. This isn't an unusual thing for him to wake me up about, but this pain was different than normal. It hurt when moved, when he touched his stomach, when laid on his side. I have seen him in way more pain then he was currently in, but something was nagging at me that we needed to get him checked out. So off the 3 of us when to the Emergency Room. We were the only people there and saw the doctor right away. He ordered a CT scan after he examined Trevor.

 

 

Trevor went off for the CT scan and returned about 20 minutes later. By 5 am we were told he had appendicitis.  They started an IV and fluids. Here is Trevor right after he got his IV in.

 

 

By this point, I figured I should call his parents and let them know what was up. I was on the phone with his mom when he started having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic. He started turning beet red, getting hives, and swelling. Mostly on his face, neck, arm pits, and palms. This started a downward spiral.

 





I ran to get the nurse, because I didn't know where the call button was. They gave him some Benadryl and a steroid shot. He got shaky, cold, nauseated it just piled on. They came back and gave him a warm blanket and a shot of Zofran for his nausea.

That put him right to sleep.  Miles and I hung out while we waited to talk to the surgeon. Miles was such a trooper, having been there since 3 AM and in his baby car seat so I was free to help Trevor with what he needed.

 

After we met with the surgeon they took us back to the waiting area, where Trevor signed the papers to have his appendix out. We waited there for about an hour while they took a lady's gallbladder out.

 

 

 

They gave Trevor some Versed and prepped him for surgery.  He was feeling good and just a bit apprehensive about he recovery.

 

 

Miles and I waited in the waiting room while Trevor was in surgery, about 40 minutes. The doctor came and told me that everything went well and that Trevor would be waking up and they would come get me in 15 minutes or so.

 

45 MINUTES LATER, they came to tell me he was starting to wake up. He was a pretty slow waker-uper. His oxygen levels weren't staying up very well. Miles had his only melt-down of the day while I was trying to get Trevor dressed and ready to leave. It was a bit hectic.  We left the hospital about 1:30 Monday afternoon.

 

Trevor slept the rest of Monday away and most of Tuesday, only waking up to eat and practice deep breaths and fake coughs. He struggled with being light-headed until about 4:00pm on Tuesday. We got a little bit of studying in, despite his recent operation.

 

 

This morning he headed off to class for the 2nd day since he had surgery. Pharmacy school isn't very forgiving when you get behind. Besides walking slow and not being able to lift more than a gallon of milk for two weeks, I think he's gonna be good as new.

 

I'm very thankful this all happened before I head to Missouri tomorrow, that it happened to be the one day the surgeon was in our town, and that we caught it before it ruptured. Times like these make me thankful for the supportive friends we have here, and miss having our families close. 









5 Month Miles

Dear Miles,

You turned 5 months old on Monday. It was a beautiful, coolish fall day and we were far too busy playing on swings for me to write this post.  I'm stuck in this weird place right now of wanting you to stay babyish and seeing you become more aware of the world  around you.  It makes me think to the future and what type of things I want to teach you as you get older. In the same breath, I'm cuddling you during naps and thankful you can't quite sit up yet. It's confusing place to be as your mama.

My mind constantly shifts from 'beginning with the end in mind' to 'savor each moment' so I try to accommodate both. You are the bright spot in so many people's day. You eat lunch every day with a group of pharmacy students who adore you. But you light up the faces of the volunteers serving lunch each day. On Monday, you hang out with the Methodist ladies, on Tuesday the Church of Christ ladies hold you while I fill up my plate. Wednesday you get adored by the ladies at the Catholic church. On Thursday there is a man with the Assemblies of God who thinks you are great. They remember you from week to week. All of them comment on how happy you are, and how friendly you are.

 

A day doesn't go by that someone doesn't offer to take you home with them. It makes me thankful you are mine to take home. You have a smile for everyone, just like your dad. I hope this trait stays with you forever. I dream that you will be the type of man who is kind to everyone. Everyone is always surprised when I tell them you are five months old, they all say you seem older. I think it's because you have such a great personality. You seem to know how to make people smile.

You still have the fattest feet and hands. I love to squish on them. I think your hair has started to grow a bit more and your eyes are the most clear, deep blue. A lot of people describe you as a pretty baby. You are wobbly, but love to sit and look at the world around you. You love being outside. You love being around lots of people, especially ones you recognize. You love to stare at your hands and put them in your mouth. You love listen to stories and look at picture books. You think I look silly when I exercise.

I love you sweet boy, it's been a great five months.

saturdays

Saturdays are my least favorite day. In an effort to make them more enjoyable, Miles and I ventured to the park today.  One of the parks here is about half a mile away. It's perfect for a short stroll, since we don't have a second car, and Trevor's at work. So we set out this morning it was nice and cool.

 

 

Miles has finally got to the point that he can hold his neck up without looking like a bobble head while swinging. This is actually his second time on a swing, but being the stellar parents we are, we forgot to take pictures the first time.

 

 

 

He loves the cool weather, the shady spot, and the breeze. He flaps  his arms and squeals while he slowly swing back and forth. 

 

 

Of course, I'm poised in front of him making silly faces and snapping a few pictures. I love his big blues.



 

 

Now for nap time, lunch time, and nap time again!

My baby's getting big (week 21)

In less than a week, Miles will be 5 months old. He's getting big. I remember this every time I pick him up. I remember this every time I try to lay him down in his crib and his feet brush the railing. I remember this every time I cradle him and his legs dangle over my side.

I realize I'm lucky to be able to have witnessed every one of his 148 in full. I think it my have to do with the fact that my best friend is due in a few weeks, another friend just gave birth, and yet a third friend just announced a pregnancy.  I (kinda) miss my newborn. I don't miss the feedings every three hours, and I don't miss the constant diapers, and I don't miss the unresponsiveness.  But every time I look at Miles I see him graduating from college and getting married and moving away. Trevor likes to play on this craziness and tell me he's going to move to Italy, just to see my reaction. It's mean.

So, now that I've married him off,  let's talk about week 21. The dude loves to roll, sit up and stare at the what's going on around him, and is showing more of a preference to people he knows. I also think he may be growing because he's been taking epic naps and seems to be eating non-stop. Oh, and he's been fussy. Besides all that, he's so much fun. He loves to babble, grin, and slime us with his drool. I am excited to see his reaction in the next few months to all the holiday fun! Happy week 21 Miles.

Week 20

This week started out with a fun trip to Shawnee to attend Baby Jacob's baby shower! We are so excited about Jake's arrival!  You can see where we found out baby B was on his way here. (It's #7). :)

So here are some shots from the shower.

This is Miles and Jake (as the baby bump) holding their first BFF sign.

 

This is a bib that Miles and I made for Baby B. (I shamelessly stole the phrase from an old facebook group a friend made, is it even still a group, Carissa?)

 Here are the 4 of us.

 

 



Here's Miles with Lindsey's mom. Practicing her grandma skills!

 

 

 

So after the fun  of the baby shower, it was time for Miles' 4 month check-up.  He is doing fabulously! His stats:

 

Weight- 14 lbs 8 oz = 15 percentile

 

Height- 25 1/2 inches = 75 percentile

 

Headsize= 44 1/2 cm (about 17 1/2 inches) = 95 percentile

 

It blows my mind that in the last 20 weeks he's more than doubled his weight, grew 6 1/2 inches, and  I don't even know what to say about that head! Thank goodness it exploded once he was OUT. :) 

 

His shots has made him fussy and clingy and irritable! Thankful that he's generally a very happy baby, because the last 3 days he hasn't been!

I'm a bad mommy blogger..(weeks 16-19)

As much as I should  have time to update Miles' progress weekly, since I'm staying home, we've fallen into a routine and I'm 'busy'.  Our days look something like this:

8:00- wake up/drink coffee/change diaper/watch Good Morning America/play/eat
10:00- nap for Miles: exercise/shower for me/chores
11:30- lunch with Dad
12:30- play/eat
1:30- nap for Miles: online classes for me/chores
3:30- Dad home/eat
5:30- Dinner for adults
6:00- Dinner for Miles/play
7:00- Bath, bedtime story, top off eating
8:00- Bed for Miles

It is literally the best job I've ever had. Our house is clean, laundry is caught up, meals are being prepared and I get to be with our little guy.

 

Speaking of our main man, he has been busy working on his sitting up, rolling over, and giggling skills. He is much more tolerant of being left alone to play for a while.  The biggest change is that he has discovered his hands. He loves to lay and stare at them and shove him as far as he can into his mouth.

 

He got a short visit from Gramma and Pops, he loved all that attention and the reprieve from his daily floor time. He also battled his first mosquito bites like a champ.

He met his last set of great-grandparents.  My dad's parents (Meme & Poppy) loved him.  He loved my grandma, smiling and cooing every time she spoke. I'm glad we finally made it up there. In the photo Miles' baby blanket is on my grandma's lap. She crocheted it for him.

 

He's wearing size 2 diapers and still easily fits into 3 month clothing.  I'm thinking he weights somewhere around 13 1/2 pounds. We will get the official weight when he goes to the doctor next week. His fussy newborn-ness has turned into the most happy and friendly babyhood.

Weeks 12-15

 

Warning: Long post ahead

Miles, as you get older you will learn that your mom is really good at keeping up with stuff, until she's not.  The best of intentions fell to being busy.  Like I've said many times, your poor future siblings.  Their baby chronicles will most likely fall to the wayside.

 

 

As week 11 turned into week 12 you being a smiling pro.  You not only smiled at us, but in response to us.  I can make  you smile anytime I want.  (read: I spend lots of time making goofy faces at you)

You also experienced your first rainfall.  To be honest, it rained the night after you were born, but you didn't get to go outside for that one. This one you got to enjoy.  It wasn't too hot or cold. We had to take Samson and Ezra out front to potty instead of letting them out back because it was flooded.

We met Lindsey and baby Jacob (in utero) for lunch and shopping.  I can't wait until you and baby Jacob are aware of each other. I know you are going to have so much fun together. Who knows, maybe you will be roommates someday.

Then you turned 12 weeks old.  This is the last week you got your picture made with your rock and play.  You are too big for it. :(  It's had a good run. I would definitely buy it again, even though you only used it for 3 months.

 

 

On week 13 you turned 3 months old.  Here you are playing in your car that Papa got you.

 

 A few days after you turned 12 weeks old we went to New York. We were scheduled to go earlier this summer, but Pops got a kidney stone and the trip was postponed.  I think you did better being a little older.  We flew up to New York. You did great with your first two plane rides. We sat next to men both times, (dad stayed home to work).  Good thing you didn't need to eat. You slept straight through.  You did enjoy a little people watching in the airport.

 

Pops and Gramma picked us up at the airport and took us to Uncle Michael and Auntie Tai's.  David and Kaia were very excited when we arrived. 

 

You loved Uncle Michael.  He thought you were pretty cool too.  I think he may be the tallest person who's ever held you.  You enjoyed being closer to the ceiling fans. You spent a lot of time rocking and reading with Auntie Tai. 

 

 

Your cousin Kaia LOVED you! She was the perfect little helper. She checked on you when you were napping, gave your paci back to you when you dropped it.  Whoever was holding you could bet she'd be right there, lending a hand.

 



 

 

 

David thought you were neat too, but he was so busy running around, playing with trains, and wrestling Pops that he just stopped briefly to check in on you while he was playing.  He was pretty confused about what a cousin meant.  He kept thinking you were his new brother. He told us that we could stay forever.  It's safe to say, he loves you.

 

 

We took a day trip to a Lake Placid, New York.  There we ate bbq, saw your first waterfall, and drove up a mountain.

 



After another day of hanging out when started back towards Missouri with Pops and Gramma.
You turned 14 weeks on the road trip back.

 

 

1500 miles: 7 states

 

Back in Missouri we stopped to visit Grammy and Papa and Uncle Travis before we headed to Oklahoma.  Uncle Travis is leaving for Taiwan so you had to say bye to him.

 

 

 

We finally made it back to Oklahoma. You've learned some new skills the past few weeks. You babble, grin, grab for your feet,  love to sit up when assisted, hold your head more still, grab and pull things towards your mouth, and really go to town sucking on your fists.

 



 

You are still a small little guy for your age, but you are very good at making your wants and needs known.  You have such a neat little personality and get more fun every day!