A great big truck!!!

While we were in Utah over Thanksgiving we stopped at my dad's work for a couple of minutes. I LOVE to visit my family and my husbands family. I feel really lucky to have two amazingly wonderful families. We only got to visit our families for a week, and can I just tell you it wasn't enough time. I hadn't seen my siblings in a year and a half. That seems like such a long time! We saw David's family at his graduation, but still it is so much fun to get together with everyone. I felt really stressed trying to figure out which families got which time while we were there. Not that they really pressured us, more that I did. I let the stress ruin some of the fun for me. Looking back it was dumb to be so stressed about it, but I guess it is too late now... One of the things that I was stressed about was driving out to my Dad's work. I really wanted to go and to take my kids to see what he does, but I felt like we left late and were cutting into David's family's time so we only stayed at my dad's work for a few minutes, but I am SO GLAD that we went!!! It was really fun to let my kids see his work. He is a diesel mechanic and at the time he was working on some HUGE Catepillar trucks. The trucks are so huge that the tires are taller than my 6'3" husband. And my dad was the only one at his work who new how to fix them (what a smart dad I have). I really love my dad and am so grateful for him.

All of the kids sitting in the trucks tire. I really love this picture even though my kids kinda look like orphans in it. Gracie dressed herself and picked out those great socks. :) David dressed Benson, and even though I don't love him less for it, he doesn't really know how to match. And I don't think anyone had their hair combed that morning... oh well.

My dad le the kids climb in the cab of the truck and was surprised when they figured out how to start the engine. Yep that is my kids driving the biggest truck in the world! I always love to drive past Caterpillar equipment. I can be driving through road construction and every time I see a Catepillar it makes me think of my dad. I love you dad. Thanks for being my dad.

Hallelujah!

I really love Christmas usually, but I have found myself to be kind of... I don't know exactly, maybe kind of drepressed this year. David works a lot and some of our traditions aren't exactly going as planned because of that, and we just went to Utah to visit our family and now I am missing them all a lot having seen them so recently. So yeah, I have been feeling a little Grinchy here and there. But this got me in the Christmas Spirit today. Actually, it made me cry, but I guess the Christmas Spirit can make you do that sometimes. It just made me happy to see all of these people singing about Jesus in the mall where usually everything is about Santa and buying gifts. It is hard sometimes to keep things in perspective, especially when you have young children who are so excited for Santa to come. I wish I could have been here in the mall when this happened.

Duke's Smile

We have been really busy lately and I have tons to blog about, but no time to blog about it. But I just couldn't let another day go by without posting a picture of this cute little fellah's smile. Often times when I am holding him and you know, trying to be a mother to three other children too, so not really paying 100% attention to him I will look down at him and see him just smiling back up at me. Could any mom be more lucky than I am? I doubt it!

Brigham's 6 week stats.

Brigham went to the doctors today. He is getting BIG! I love his doctor and I love how fast the nurse was at giving shots! She was so fast it was almost done before it started! That was my biggest complaint about our old doctors office... the nurse was so slow at giving shots making the crying and screaming last forever. But I really do love this new group of doctors we are seeing. Dr. F took Sammy on a tour because he wanted to see the room that was painted green. She was so nice and cute with him. And they don't charge us any co-pays. They are supposed to with our insurance, but because David is a doctor they don't charge us as a "professional courtesy." They have Saturday hours for busy working families too. I honestly can't say enough good about them! I didn't actually mean to go on and on about how much I love our new doctors office, I meant to tell about Brigham. Like I said, he is getting BIG! He is six weeks old and weighs 12 lbs. 9 oz. which puts him in the 90th percentile. He is 23 inches tall. He has grown two inches since he was born! It almost seems like I should see a big difference from day to day with him growing that fast. He is in the 75th percentile for height. And his head is 15 inches (at least I think that is what she said... it was either that or 15.5). His head is in the 50th percentile. He is beautiful and amazing. I have to say having baby number four was not as terrifying as I was afraid of. He isn't my calmest baby or anything, but it just feels so right to have him in our family. I was more afraid of having him than I have ever been afraid of anything in a long time! But it just seems like he fits in so perfectly... like there was an empty spot waiting for him even though I didn't know it and he came along just when he was supposed to to fill it. I love being a mom. Things have been hard here lately. Gracie is having a few problems on the school bus and Sammy has been acting out... BIG TIME. And while those things are stressful, it is almost like I just have to hold Brigham and he brings me peace. I know I say this a lot, but I am so thankful for him!

Look who is two!

Benson turned two last week. I didn't know two years ago when he was born that he would have this sweet and obedient spirit that is such a joy to have in our home. I didn't know I would have a thumb sucker that sticks his finger up his nose while his thumb is in his mouth (as illustrated in one of the pictures above). I never thought there could be a two year old who was willing to share his toys with other kids. If one of his friends or siblings wants something that he has he gives it up quite freely and happily. It makes him happy to make others happy. I didn't know he would be such a momma's boy, or that I would love it so much.

I did know that the second they layed all nine pounds and one ounce of him in my arms my heart would melt each time forever after when he wrapped his arms around me. I knew that my life was forever changed because I love him and he loves me. His birthday is two days before mine and he is the best birthday present I have ever had. Ever! I am so grateful to have him in our family.

Happy Birthday to Julie!

With great gratitude, I present, Julie:

Happy Birthday to a most wonderful Wife, Mother, and friend. I am so grateful for her love, support, and influence in our home. She is simply amazing!

She loves and lives each day with gratitude. She lifts and loves her family. She is a giving, service oriented woman who gives to all those in need around her. She takes little for herself, and sacrifices for the needs of those around her.

She is mothering 4 beautiful children(if I do say so myself). She thinks of their needs above her own every day.

She has supported a husband through YEARS of schooling so he can now barely make above the poverty line. And someday because she has supported him, he can support her spending habits(just kidding honey)--He can provide all she has dreamed of having for her family.

She is admired of many, loved by more than a few, an example others have confided in, and a saint by most measures.

She is my wife, my love, my Julie Girl, mother of 4 and counting, daughter to a wonderful family(even if a little naughty--gotcha mom!), and in our life forever.

Love,

David

Haircuts and... dental work?

I cut the boys hair. Actually I am kind of kicking myself for it. I cut off all of Benson's baby whisps. You know the really fine stuff. It makes me want to cry when I look at him. I cut Sammy's too. He does NOT like getting his hair cut. The only way he would finally consent to let me do it was after bribery and threat. I bribed him with a sucker and then David threatened to make him go to bed alone... in the dark... if he wouldn't. My fun sister Caralee sent these funny suckers to us when Duke was born. My mom put them up in the cupboard while I was in the hospital and I forgot about them until just a few days ago. They were the perfect bribe! The kids loved them.

Growing up...

Has it really been 5 weeks today since my baby was born. The time has flown. But I am not sure the first week in the hospital counted... I will say he is only 4 weeks old. At least in my own head. Don't you just love how I live in my own little world and think whatever I want. I put his newborn outfit that he wore home from the hospital on him a couple of days ago, and it officially doesn't fit. I think he only wore it three times. His 0-3 clothes still fit, but I am sure they won't for long since he weighs really close to eleven pounds now! He still seems very tiny and fragile to me though. I don't know if that is because of that extra week in the hospital or if it is because of his size in comparison to his siblings, or if it is just because he is a baby. But here are a couple of recent pictures.

This last picture is an example of what happens almost any time I set him down anywhere. That is Benson kissing his face and Sammy's behind almost sitting right on him. They love him so much they practically maul him to death! He is not safe anywhere except in my arms! This is actually how he got pink eye from his brother. Benson had it, and a cold. I put Brigham in his swing to sleep one morning so I could clean up around the house and when I came back he was coated with snot. Benson had kissed him all over his face. Well after that Brigham got pink eye and a cold. I just love how well my boys all share. It has been really fun having a little baby around the house. Everyone loves little Duke a whole lot!

Duke passed some more tests. What a smart baby.

I took Brigham Duke in for some testing at the children's hospital on Friday. The doctors had ordered an ultrasound on his bladder and kidneys and a VCUG (voiding cystourethrogram) test. For the VCUG test they put some dye in his urinary tract through a catheter and then watched to see if he had urinary tract reflux (see if the urine went back up into the urinary tract after it had already gone down it which is what they thought caused his infection the day after he was born). When I took him into the pediatrician's office the day after he was released from the hospital one of the really great pediatricians ordered the tests and tried to explain everything to me. They were concerned that there might be something wrong with his kidneys or bladder, but really thought it was more likely to be the urinary tract reflux. Treatment for the reflux would be putting him on antibiotics until he out grew the reflux (usually within 1-5 years). We started Duke on amoxicillan that day and were told in about 6 months they would put him on something a lot stronger. I was so not looking forward to my son taking antibiotics every day for years. The yeast infections and thrush that come with antibiotics give me nightmares and I could just see him screaming every time his diaper was changed (actually he pretty much does that anyway...). But David and my Dad gave Duke a priesthood blessing in the hospital and I trusted that everything would be fine. I just didn't know what "fine" was going to be. I wasn't sure if fine would mean he would have problems, but that we would be able to handle whatever those problems were, or if fine meant everything would be perfect. I think maybe I was keeping myself prepared for the worst because even when David and my mom and others would say they thought nothing would be wrong I wouldn't let myself think it... I didn't want to be disappointed or to have my son think that I loved him any less if he was anything less than perfect. I don't know if that really makes any sense, but it is the best way I can explain it. They did Brigham's ultrasound first and only told me, "Your pediatricial will give you the results in a few days." That actually made me worry, like they didn't want to give me the bad news... even though I know that is what they tell everyone. Then they did the VCUG. He REALLY didn't like that test. They layed him on a big table, stuck a catheter in him, put a big machine over him and just waited for him to urinate. He screamed! I kind of hoped he would piddle on the techs and doctor for making him cry so much. But at the end of the test at least the doctor told me he didn't have any reflux!!!! Yes! That much I knew was fine. I called David to let him know and he contacted the pediatrician to find out the results of the ultrasound. It is really nice being the wife of a doctor when you want to find out the results of tests. :D They just make a call, or when we were in the hospital he would go look up the results himself. I could get kind of spoiled this way. The doctor said that Brigham's kidneys and bladder looked great and we were able to take him off of the antibiotics that day! Hooray! The infection he had in the hospital was, as the pediatrician called it, a "fluke." We will probably never know what caused it. Brigham is happy and healthy and amazing and wonderful and perfect. He doesn't like to sleep in his own bed, and he is wide awake at odd hours of the night, but other than that, he is perfect. I am so thankful for the priesthood!

Open House

Gracie's school had an open house last night. We were almost late. But there was no way in you no where I was dragging all of my kids to her school and around to half a dozen different classrooms (see previous post if you wonder why). So we waited for David to get home, had a quick family dinner and then Gracie and I went on our own. We started out in her home room class. She LOVES her teacher. Her teacher told me that Gracie loves to draw, dance, sing and hum, and that she makes sure that her teacher is following the school rules too. Gracie once shushed her teacher because she was humming in the hall (humming in the hall is NOT allowed... it is something that will get your car moved to the yellow or red light). Her teacher also said Gracie is doing great in math (100% on both of the tests they have taken). Then we went to see Gracie's reading teacher. But on the way Gracie had to take me to the classes of her friends. All of the teachers know Gracie by name and all tell me what a delightful happy girl she is. She has hugs for all of the teachers as she passes them. It makes me laugh to see how social she is, probably because I am the complete opposite (completely shy). Gracie is in the highest reading class and is doing marvelously! Her teacher told me she wishes she could have a whole class room of Gracie's. I could see that she had a sweet relationship with her reading teacher (rather than the fake one I could see that she had with the gym teacher who gave me the fake smile and same line she was giving all of the parents... "She is doing just great, and call me if you need anything." but of course she sees her reading teacher a lot more, every day instead of once every 6 days). Her reading teacher also said that she can see that Gracie is going to be able to be what ever she wants to be someday because she is so determined and happy. Gracie took me to see her music teacher and sang us both the song they had been learning. We met her computer teacher. Gracie showed me the lunchroom and the library. We missed the art teacher because we were so late. I have never seen an elementary school where the kindergarten kids go from room to room for different blocks of time like they do in middle and high school. That must be why walking quietly in the hall is such a big deal. I am so happy that she is thriving in the structured environment so well!!! Not that she has never had a mishap or had her car land on the dreaded yellow or red light, but for the most part she is doing AMAZING!!! Because she is amazing. We stopped at Krispy Kreme on the way home and got Halloween donuts to celebrate. I sure love that little girl. I feel like one lucky lady because I get to be her mom.

Murphy's Law Strikes Again

Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Isn't that Murphy's Law? Well, we were victim's to it today. I woke up with a plan this morning. Maybe that was my first problem. But I did have a plan. I was going to get up, get all 4 kids ready in time to drop Gracie off at school and then get some groceries and get home in time to clean the house before play group at noon. It was a good plan. And everything was sort of going according to plan. We got out the door about 8:45. Gracie's school starts at 9:00. We had perfect timing. Normally Gracie rides the bus, but the bus stop has become a problem. Getting 3 little boys dressed and ready to walk to the bus stop is hard. Brigham is kind of small to ride in the double stroller. Benson is too little to walk because he doesn't really understand about not running in the road. It takes two hands to push the double stroller. We live too close to drive, but the bus stop is out of sight of the house and across a semi busy road so I don't dare to let Gracie go alone. So far the best option is to put Brigham in the baby carrier and the older boys in the double stroller. It isn't ideal and I don't know what I am going to do when it starts to snow. Anyway, that is why I was taking Gracie to school today was part of my "plan." Well, about 3 minutes from the school I heard a loud clunk, clunk, clunk as I was driving. It was a sound that was vaguely familiar to me. A flat tire. I pulled over at the first business I came to because in my hurry to get out the door this morning I forgot my cell phone. I remembered it about 2 minutes after I left my house. I thought to myself when I remembered, "What is going to go wrong? We will be fine." Little did I know huh? Well the business that we had pulled into was a self service laundromat. I got out of my van and walked around it trying to figure out which tire was flat. None of them was. But then I saw it. The hugest screw with a gigantic bolt sticking out of my right front tire. This thing was enormous! At least the diameter of a nickle and who knows how long. I looked around for some help. There was not a human being in sight. And no pay phone either. So what could I do. I got back into the van and drove across the street to a convenience store... clunk, clunk, clunk. But they had a pay phone! I locked my van doors with all of my children inside (not the best looking place) and ran inside to find out what the address was of where I was at. Then I went out to the pay phone to call David for help. I kind of know how to change a tire, but it was cold and my baby was crying because the van wasn't moving and I knew in order to prevent a total melt down (my own) I was going to need help! Did I mention that this was the very first time I had gone out alone with all four kids since Brigham was born. Maybe all of this wouldn't have been so traumatic if it hadn't been my first time. So, yeah, I went to the payphone to call David for help. The payphone didn't work. So I went back inside and the lady who worked there was kind enough to let me use the store phone. I called David, and despite trying to be strong I could hear the tears in my voice. I don't think I have ever been more grateful to hear his voice on the other end of the phone! I was so thankful that he was at a point in his schedule that he could come and help me too. Had he been in his office seeing patients they would not have let him come and save me! After I got off the phone with him a kind man at the convenience store actually offered to help me as well. Isn't it wonderful to know that there are kind strangers out there willing to help other people! I told him my husband was on his way, but it warmed my heart to even have him offer! When David got there he sent me to take Gracie to school in his car while he got out the jack and donut tire. He jacked up the car and the jack broke. Didn't I tell you anything that could go wrong did. So we called road side assistance (thank goodness for car insurance!). They came in just a couple of minutes. Wow, the guy was fast! He got there and had the donut on the van in less time than it took me to go into the convenience store to get some cash out of the ATM to pay him! Then we took the tire to the tire store. Two tires and a car inspection later (the one with the gigantic bolt in it wasn't reparable and the other one didn't pass inspection which we were way over due for) and the van is ready to go again. I don't know if I can say the same for myself. The grocery store wasn't fun, Sammy has been talking back a LOT lately, and he fought with the other kids at the play group as well. Gracie just got home and she had a bad day at school. Can we just have a do over? Or can it be bed time and have this day just end? I think it will be a while before I venture out on my own with all 4 kids again. I guess the silver lining to this day is that they finally have canned pumpkin at the grocery store. I think I am going to go do some therapeutic baking... if only my kitchen was clean...

Brigham Duke's Story

It seems like a long long time ago... that night that Brigham was born, instead of... well I guess it has been over two weeks! He is so amazing. My water broke on the evening of the 15th around 7:00. I started having some really tiny contractions after that. I could barely feel them. We decided around 10:00 after we had put the kids to bed and packed a bag and I showered, to walk over to the hospital (it turned out to be a huge blessing to be so close to it when Brigham had to stay for so long!). I was hooked up to pitocin shortly after that. David and my mom sat and played Phase 10 with me for several hours. David was pretty much forced into it. My mom won. Can you believe they didn't even let the woman who was in labor win? After that the contractions started to get a lot harder. They had been turning up the pit pretty regularly! The next few hours are kind of a blur to me. I know I slept for a few seconds here and there between some of the contractions. I hadn't slept more than a few hours each night for several days. I have a really hard time sleeping the last month of pregnancy. I know we were all exhausted! But my mom rubbed my legs all night anyway, and David was ever the watchful doctor. But even with all of the painful contractions, for some reason the baby wasn't really descending. My mom said she had a feeling that the chord was wrapped around the baby's neck. That can keep a baby from descending. David was pretty sure that wasn't possible because everything looked fine on the monitors and having the chord wrapped around a baby's neck would cause signs of distress during contractions. But still little "punkin" did not descend. I was pretty much all the way dilated and I remember the nurse reaching inside me (TMI?) to try and get the baby's head to go through the top of the cervix. Ouch! It seems like they did this several times but still no baby came down. So they decided I should do some practice pushing while her hand tried to help the baby get through the top of the cervix. That worked and hurt a lot. It was time to call in the doctor. Oh wait... he was already there. :) David was gloved, gowned, and ready for action. But the OB was there to help out just in case. It was now probably 3:30-ish in the morning on the 16th. I don't really know how long I pushed. I know it wasn't very long, but I still thought I would die (well maybe not literally die, but you know what I mean) because it hurt so bad. As soon as baby's head was out they did find that the chord was in fact wrapped around his neck, but were quickly able to fix that. Then the OB had me change positions a little because Brigham's shoulder was stuck.

Very soon after that they placed this warm beautiful baby on my abdomen and I found tears running down my face.

Tears of relief at having the pain finally stop,

tears of exhaustion,

but most of all tears of joy and love because I had a new son, a new precious baby sent from heaven to be my own.

The explosion of love in my heart was immediate and constant.

Each time I have a child I am awed by the ability of the heart's capacity for love to increase! You think your life is so good and you couldn't possibly love more or be happier, and then Heavenly Father shows you how wrong you were by sending you an amazing child to love and immediately you love increases a hundred times!!! Baby Brigham Duke is amazing and perfect and I couldn't ask for anything more!!!

He weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz. and was 21 inches long. My smallest boy yet. I tried to nurse him, but he wouldn't nurse. He cried a little, but I could tell something was wrong. He was grunting and "singing" as the nurse put it with every breath that he took. David and my mom had seen him take in a mouthful of gunk as he was being born. I was scared. The nurse acted like everything was fine though and David and I both sat and cuddled him for a while before they whisked him away to the nursery. It was then that they decided he had TTN Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (a lung condition where breathing during the first hours of life is more rapid and labored than normal). I was moved from the delivery room to the "suite" (the fancy recovery room reserved for important people and hospital staff and their families). I don't know how long it was before they let me walk to the nursery to see Brigham... times and days in the hospital have completely blurred together, but it seemed like forever... it was probably only a few hours. They had him hooked up to machines monitoring his respirations, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels.

The nurses told me through out his time there in the nursery that every time I held him the numbers were better. Sure did make me feel good to be a mom and to know that I make a difference!

I love being a mom!

Brigham Duke wasn't allowed to nurse after the first day because his sats dropped after his first successful attempts, but I pumped my milk for him and had so much that the hospital was getting tired of storing all my milk. Leaving the hospital without my baby coming home with me was heart wrenching, but the hospital gave me a room close to the nursery so that I could be there with Brigham as often as I could. I walked back and forth between the hospital and home several times a day. I was totally surprised by just how well I felt physically. I took motrin for my pain until I left the hospital, but after that I was able to forget myself and all the normal aches and pains that usually come and linger after having a baby. I was also surprised at how well I felt emotionally. After all, my baby was in the hospital! Each time something new was wrong with him I would break down for a few minutes, but I knew in my heart that he would be okay. I know this strength came from all of the prayers of family and friends. I felt carried through everything! My body was strong. Stronger than I have ever felt after having a baby. Since Brigham has come home it is almost like my healing has gone backwards. Like it was suspended for a while during all of the stress and now has gone back to normal healing. I felt all of the prayers for Brigham keeping me strong enough to take care of him. It was truly amazing.

Brigham finished his IV antibiotics during the middle of the night one week and one day after he was born. He could finally come home!!! I guess we caused quite a stir in the hospital by bringing him home the very second that he was done... during the middle of the night. But honestly if you had the option of sleeping alone in terribly uncomfortable hospital bed or sleeping at home with your spouse with your baby in the cradle next to you wouldn't you choose home? We did!

Having four kids is a new challenge, but it is so sweet and wonderful. Gracie is my big helper! She can always be counted on to fetch a diaper or binkie or help her other brothers while I am nursing. She loves to hold Brigham while I do other things.

Sammy cannot stop touching his baby brother's head. He wakes up in the morning and the very first thing he says every day is, "Is that the baby." He is the first one to come running when Brigham starts to cry. He is also turning into a big helper. When Gracie came back with the wrong thing yesterday he went up and got what I needed himself.

Benson is very sweet with Brigham. He will come up to him and kiss him anywhere there is enough skin to kiss... his head, face, hands, arms, legs, feet... and then he will come up to me and kiss me. Then he repeats it all over again. Kiss the baby. Kiss mom. It makes me really happy.

We have had a few ups and downs along the way, but I would truly say that life is beautiful!!!

Brigham is off Oxygen and out of the Isolette!!

Today is a happy day. The baby was taken off Oxygen in the isolette this morning at 1 am. I was too tired to notice when I fed him. I missed one feeding because I slept through the nurses calling me on my phone I'd turned off. I was 20 feet from my son, but I slept... I felt awful. Julie still hasn't forgiven me. We've tried to be at every feeding. We know our awesome nurses would do it, and they've offered multiple times, but he is our son and we want to support and love him. This morning, one of the nurses asked if we could adopt her, and we be her parents because we come and take care of our baby. It was very sweet.

After he was out of Oxygen in the isolette, he had several tests he had to pass. (This is one of those top teir nurseries, lots of tests, only the smart babies come here) First, he had to eat without desaturating (his oxygen level dropping to dangerously low levels)--and that went fine. Next they "cold stressed" him, taking him out of the isolette, leaving him in a normal baby crib, and he did great with that too. Now the Duke is chillin' with the other babies and making friends. He's still being monitored for heart rate, respirations and oxygen saturations. When they see him in the morning, they can take him off that too. Here is a handsome picture of the Duke now!

Good News and Bad News

Well, we have some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that Brigham continues to improve every day. He is on just a whiff of oxygen in his isolette (3% over normal air). He is on 1/2 liter of oxygen by nasal canula (that plastic thing in his nose) when he is out of the isolette, down from 1 liter yesterday. He looked so good this evening and it is getting harder and harder to leave him there when I come home for portions of each day.

The bad news... No matter how good he looks he won't be coming home until Friday. He had some tests ordered on Friday. He has had a urinary tract infection. One of the tests, the urine culture, was to find out just exactly what bug was making him sick so they would know exactly which antibiotic would make him better. The hope was that it would be something he could take orally so that he could come home as soon as he was able. But for some reason, although the test was requested verbally, it wasn't written down, so the lab never did it. Now instead of knowing what antibiotic he might be able to take from home, he has to stay at the hospital and finish his weeks worth of IV antibiotics. We have been very blessed because my parents have been here to take care of our kids and actually to take care of me too. They have been AMAZING!!!! I never would have made it through these last few days without them. The days have blurred together until I don't know which way I am going or even if my shirt is on forwards or backwards. They have kept things going smoothly and perfectly at home. But they have to leave on Tuesday and David has to go back to work on Monday. I am terrified of this next week of not being able to be in both places at once.. But we are also very blessed to have great nurses that will take care of Brigham for us during the times during this next week when we can't make it to every feeding and can't be there to take care of him every minute. They already do so much for him and I know that they will be happy and willing to do everything that they can for us! We live so close to the hospital that I can drive there in seriously like one minute and walk in less than five. We will continue to do the best we can and I know that Heavenly Father will continue to bless us! I just wish we could bring little Brigham Duke home.

Baby Blues

"Dude...I'm the Duke. That's right. The Duke."
As sweet as he is, sometimes Brigham has ATTITUDE!!!

I just love feeding little Duke. Every time I do he opens his eyes and gets really alert. Isn't he a good lookin' fellah? They won't let me breastfeed him yet, but I am pumping for him and they let me hold him and give him his bottle. I also love calling him Duke... and Brigham. I can't really decide which I like better. He is a sweet little fighter and I am so grateful that he has joined our family.
I am going to turn the computer over to the intrepid doctor husband for the medical update since he is better at all of the lingo.

David:
So, he had this high temperature today, which is possible with TTN. The pediatrician ordered blood cultures, urine cultures, and another chest xray. It turns out he has a urinary tract infection. Right now he's getting IV antibiotics until we know exactly what bug and which antibiotic will work best. His fever is gone, so we have that under control, and his breathing is a little better, but not where it needs to be. Since little boys don't often get UTIs, it usually means something could be wrong anatomically inside, so we will follow up with some pediatric urologists in the near future for some further tests. The most probable issues are not serious, but could require some watching and treatment for a few years.

It is so weird to be here because my family is in my hospital. After Brigham had a fever as a neonate, they ordered the tests I just explained. I've done it before for others, but now it's on my little boy. It makes the perspective much different. I didn't write the orders this time. I'm the one asking the doctor questions. I know it's common to need doctors, but being one, and the switching of roles is eye-opening for me. I know everyone, the medical team is awesome, the nurses are wonderful. The pediatrician I spoke to today was wonderful, and took time to explain the situation and future. We are very blessed to be here.

Some more pictures of Brigham Duke

The kids got to come visit Brigham Duke and I at the hospital yesterday. The first thing they wanted was to hold their little brother. They were a pretty disappointed when they found out they couldn't even be in the same room. :( I tried to distract them by reading them a story. The look on Sammy's face should show just how well that worked.

I sure do miss being at home with these kids!!!

The view through the glass.

David slept at home with the kids last night. Brigham missed him last night.

He loves his daddy!!!

From the Hospital - Update

This is the Intrepid Husband with an update. Before we begin today's blog post, I want to recap on a phone conversation that happened last night.

Julie calls the house, and I pick up the phone
David: Hi Honey, how's everything?
Julie: Good, Brigham ate really well, more than they expected he would!
David: That's great, but he's still in the isolette?
Julie: Yes, probably another day.
David: Oh good.
Julie: So, um... *awkward pause* ...what would you think about changing Brigham's middle name to Duke?
David: *stunned silence* Really?
Julie: *optimistic retort* Yea, Really.
David: *confused query* Why?
Julie: Cause it's cute and the boys (Sammy and Benson) like it!
David: *still confused* Didn't your dad say that name only to keep Gracie from naming him pumpkin?
Julie: Yes, but he (Brigham) likes it.
David: *what do you say to that?*
Julie: My mom and I talked about it and I think we should change it to Duke.
David: Are you serious?
Julie: *firm reply* YES!
David: Um...can I think about it? *an off-phone conversation ensues with David accusing Grandpa of planting seeds in the obviously pain-killer addled brain of his sweet wife*
Julie: So, how long do you need? Another minute or two?
David: Um, no, I'll call you back. *The sound of children, fighting, and name calling in the background* You're serious, really?
Julie:*confident adieu* Yes, love you, call me later, bye!

So, there you have it. That's pretty much how it happened. My son is a Duke. Brigham Duke. Just like that.

This is Julie now: Let me give you a little more information about the above conversation. There has been a lot talk about what our little baby's name would be over the last several months. Sammy decided on Monday that it should be Pumpkin because that is what my stomach looked like. Finally the kids all agreed on a name... oh great they want to turn their brother into a vegetable. Before that there had been Mario, Luigi, Sammy, Benson, Peter Pan, Prince Derek... the list goes on about like that. When my parents came into town, my dad couldn't stand the thought of him being called "Pumpkin" so he started saying, "We want DUKE!" The boys quickly picked up on it. Even Benson, who I am sure didn't even remember his grandpa (it has been more than a year since they have seen each other) quickly warmed up to him and the name Duke and has been going around pounding his little fist on the table shouting "DUKE" ever since grandpa arrived. My mom told me that when she showed them the first pictures of baby Brigham he was saying, "Baby... baby Duke." I just thought it was so cute and it made me so happy, I wanted to change his name to Duke. Now we call him Brigham or Duke all the time. I can tell it makes the baby happy.

Back to David, Intrepid Doctor Husband

So, It's not that I don't LIKE the name Duke, it's fine name for rich snobby people who were born into positions they didn't earn *Julie just slugged me and pinched my arm*, Not to mention every time I see him or think of his name, I hear Duke of Earl singing in my head. *Shout out to my old Boys Quartet "Boyz to RM"--Julie rolled her eyes at me* I have to admit, and Julie did point this out, now he's not destined to go to Brigham Young University, he can go to Duke University in the Carolinas. (Not that he would anyway with his father encouraging the "Ute" in each of his kids--Julie shouted Go Cougars in the background).

So, now he's Brigham Duke. It kinda grows on you.

Here is a medical update from Doctor. So The Duke, has Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn or TTN. It is essentially retained fluid in the lungs after the baby's born. It usually happens after C-sections, when the baby isn't squeezed out, but Grandma, and Dr. Dad think he may have gulped in some "gunk" (Medical term). He's had a chest x-ray that should some extra fluid and most importantly, his breathing rate is mostly >100 breaths per minute. Baby's usually breath in the 40-60 range. So. He's breathing too fast. This means he could get more sick with complications stemming from that, but they treat him in an isolette extra oxygen, and it helps slow his breathing, and give him time to take care of the fluid. Day 2, he's doing well, the pediatricians are awesome! The residents as well, who I asked to be involved, have been incredible.

Julie's doing well, he has breast fed once, and but they are not letting her breastfeed more due to his oxygen needs. If all is well, then tonight we'll try breastfeeding again, and if that goes well, then he can come out of the isolette and tomorrow home!

**UPDATE**
The Residents just came in to tell us that his temperature is creeping up a little. Since he has TTN anyway, we need to check for a source. Newborn shouldn't have higher temps. So, Blood culture, Urine Culture, and another X-ray. He's doing well otherwise--more active today, eating alright, pooping and peeing, etc. The nurse even commented that he has stinky farts. I told her that was hereditary. So, this is where we are now. A little more worriesome, but with a great team of doctors and nurses, I know we're doing great.
David

More pictures to come, we had to charge the camera battery. Oops - Dad and Mom forgot.

This is the Intrepid Doctor Husband (and my Julie) Signing out.

At the Hospital - Blogging Live

This is the intrepid husband(now intrepid doctor husband), blogging live at the sceneWe've just walked into my hospital. Julie's water has broken today. She visited the OB/Gyn office earlier, and things are great, she's ready to have a baby! Mom made it in town and so Grandma wont miss a grand baby being born!

We've got her settled into the room, and ready to get going. I personally reported to the ob about the beautiful patient I was very attracted too who just showed up. We got her settled in a room, after walking through the ER to get registered. Most of the staff knew me, and wished us luck as we walked through. Julie is radiant, and ready as always to have a baby--no epidural!!

Grandma is doing the dula thing-rubbing feet with oils and keeping the patient happy. Here we go! We've just started this adventure for the next kid---a boy.

More to come, stay tuned!

Now Julie's been on Pit for a couple hours, and contractions are up to the requisite speed. She's feeling them and still shunning the epidural. We're playing lots of Phase 10. Its Julie's game she plays while she's in labor. So Grandma Leslie is kicking our butt. She's having way too much fun. Julie is moving a long like we've watched her do many times before, we were pretty much running the show. We had a great nurse, and nursery nurse, and a fantastic OB/Gyn.

And it came to pass, that the time for delivery was immanent, and we called the nurse. The nursed checked her, did a test push, and it came to pass that the nurse called another nurse and let the doctor know that the season of delivery had come. The Intrepid Doctor Husband (that's me) gowned and gloved up like a real doctor.

Julie pushed for no more than 15 minutes, and after a short stint of a stuck shoulder, that the OB/Gyn fixed in a jiffy, we had a baby boy.

This is Brigham Banks, 8lbs, 7 oz, 21 inches long. Julie was great!

Soon after he was born, the nurses were concerned he was breathing too fast, and not keeping his sats up.

This is called transient tachypnea of the newborn, a common condition meaning a little extra water on the lungs that's hard to get out

So right after birth he was in an incubator with some extra oxygen.

Julie and I have had him out with some Oxygen by nasal canula, and he's doing okay, we're about to go watch as they wean him off of it to see how he does.

Here we go.

Intrepid Doctor Husband Out.

Pregnancy and Prayers

This is truly how it feels to be in the last month of pregnancy. I am lucky to make it out of my pj's in the mornings. Although for the past few days I have been making a bigger effort so that I can go out for a walk, you know trying to get some dilating going on (I was only a "good 1" on Wednesday). So if I am glowing it is because I am sweating! The cooler weather has been AMAZING! My kids are freezing though, and I just don't know how warm to dress them because I can't tell how cool it is. I have been praying that this pregnancy can be over soon and that our sweet baby boy will come join our family soon (SOON being the main part). Is that a bad thing to pray for? I have mixed emotions about it because I know Heavenly Father knows best for my baby. I have a specific date in my mind that I want this little fellah to come on (I know it is kind of silly to plan what day you are going into labor, but there it is). Sometimes when I pray, I don't know that my prayers are getting past the ceiling. I know Heavenly Father listens, but sometimes I wonder if my prayers are sincere enough, or if I am praying for the wrong things or something. I know this is one of Satan's tools to make me doubt myself and my prayers. I was out for a walk today though. We walked over to a park that isn't too far from our house. Imagine a 9 month pregnant lady pushing a bulky double stroller (not the easier jogging kind) with 75 pounds of kids in it... up hill both ways of course. I feel kind of silly and know that I get lots of pittying looks. There is this one street next to the hospital on our walk that is pretty busy and has no sidewalk. On the way to the park the traffic isn't as bad. Most of the traffic is going the same direction as I am on the other side of the street. Even still there was one close call with a big truck at a corner with lots of bushes that made us hard to see. But on the way back the traffic is 10 times heavier. I decided to walk on the side of the street that is slower even though I couldn't see the traffic coming towards us that way (except when I looked behind me). I said a quick prayer in my head and heart that we would be safe and protected. And something amazing happened. Not a single car came down that road until we reached the part of the road that had some driveways for us to pull into while the cars passed us. And it is a pretty long stretch of road for someone who can't push a stroller all that fast (this really was one of the up hill parts). I know it is something pretty small and insignificant, but it was an answer to my prayer. Heavenly Father is listening... to me. He is listening to my prayers all the time. He may not always say yes, but He is listening. What a blessing it is to know that He loves each of His children that much. So when I feel overwhelmed with the job of raising children, or lonely because David worked nights for the last two weeks (so glad to see the back end of that by the way), or when we ask daily for physical protection and the Spirit to be with us... He knows and is listening and helping. I am so thankful!