Jaundice

We took Brandon to the doctor this week and he is no longer borderline jaundice. The pediatrician had told me on Sunday afternoon that his would probably clear up with weight gain and that has proven true. We went to the doctor Wednesday and he had gained three ounces in three days. He is a growing boy!!! He weighed 8 lbs 7 oz when he was born and he is weighing 7 lbs 15.5 oz now. We have to go back weekly until he reaches his birth weight. The way he has been eating, that won't be a problem! =)


I go back to the doctor today for my follow-up visit and this should be the last of my appointments until Brandon's 6-week check-up. My doctor is great and I am so thankful for his wisdom in caring for me these past few months but I must say I will not miss seeing him multiple times a month! =)

Nathan has been such a encouragement to me these past few weeks and I can't imagine experiencing this phase of life without him. Thank you, Nathan, for your patience in caring for me and Brandon. We love you!!!


Meg

First Play Date...kind of

Sally and her little girl, Laine, came over last night. This was Brandon's first play date! =) As you can tell from the picture below, he wasn't the best host. He was asleep the whole time they were here. Laine is 6 months old. It's amazing to see how much they change in just a few months.


Before leaving the hospital, they ran some tests on Brandon. He passed the hearing test but tested borderline for jaundice. So, Sunday afternoon we had to go to our pediatrician's office for a follow up. When Brandon was born he weighed 8 lbs 6 oz. He now weighs 7 lb 12.5 oz. Our pediatrician said that his jaundice symptoms will probably go away when he gains weight. They didn't put him under a light or anything. They just asked that we have him nap by windows and take him outside a few minutes a day. I have to call this afternoon and make a follow up appointment so they can check him again.

I think Brandon's days and nights are confused. Last night I slept an hour and a half. I made lots of coffee this morning and I am going to nap with him today. I plan on keeping him awake as much as possible but like my friend, Stephanie, says, "Asking a newborn to stay awake is like asking the pope not to pray." So true. If you have any suggestions for how I could keep him awake, let me know. I am getting ready to clip his fingernails, give him a bath and feed him...after that, I am out of ideas! =)


Meg

Catching Up

I was able to come home from the hospital yesterday...48 hours after the c-section. From what I hear, that is very rare but after being on bedrest for almost four months I was ready to get home and function normally. My blood pressure has been normal since Brandon's birth and I have been able to get back on a "normal person" diet. It's been so nice not having to check my blood pressure and blood sugar levels multiple times a day!

Mama came to Louisville last weekend and left this afternoon. What a blessing it was to have her here the past few days of the pregnancy, hanging out with me in the hospital room and being here to help and encourage when I came home with Brandon. Thank you, Mama!!!

Here are some pictures from the hospital and then some fun pictures we have of our new baby boy. We are so thankful for this blessing!! God has been so faithful the past few months and we are confident that all of the "rest" was worth every minute.

Proud Daddy

Brandon spending time with his Nanny

Brandon and Pa

Sally was our first visitor...Brandon is ready to meet her little girl, Laine! =)

Mona and Brandon

Beth

The Mielkes and Brandon

He definitely got his Daddy's feet!!

Kim

Isn't he precious?!

Bonding with Daddy before Nathan had to leave the hospital and go to work

Home at last...the first bath

I don't think he enjoyed it very much...

Naptime (look at those hands)

Thanks for all the prayers and words of encouragement!!

Meg

Our little blessing

I am still in the hospital and everything is going great! I don't have long to write because Brandon is in the nursery and it's almost feeding time. I wanted to take a few minutes to post a picture of him on here so you could see his ADORABLE face!!

He was born June 10, 2009 at 8:06 am. He weighed 8 lbs 16 oz and 19 3/4 inches long. He is so cute and so sweet!! What a blessing!!!!

I have lots of pictures that I will post as soon as I get home, but for now this will have to do -

Meg

Brandon's Birthday

OVER THE WEEKEND -
I had an ultrasound last Wednesday and it has been a LONG five days!! I woke up Friday morning with a back ache. I continued throughout my day like normal just thinking I had pulled a muscle or something. As the day went on the pain became more and more intense and by Friday night I couldn't tolerate it. I took some Tylenol thinking that would help with the pain and atleast let me get some sleep but no luck! =(

So, after a restless night and the pain continuing to increase, Nathan took me to the hospital. I was dilated to 1 which means they sent me home...no meds for my back, nothing. It was basically, "This is part of it. Sorry." I spent Saturday in the same predicament. My back was THROBBING and contractions only made it worse. By Saturday night, I couldn't sit, stand or lay down. We had called my mom Friday morning when we went to the hospital and she had hung out in Hendersonville with my sister until she heard from us. Since I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for today (Monday) she decided to come stay with us and go to my appointment. Ok, back to Saturday night...

I was getting ready to spend another night without any sleep and in tremendous pain when I decided I would call the hospital to see which doctor was on call. It was my doctor!! (The morning before it wasn't...it was another doctor in the practice.) So, back to the hospital we went. I was given a shot of Stadol (?) that was awesome!!! It helped with the pain and I was able to sleep!!! Amazing! Brandon was sitting on a nerve in my back which was causing all that pain. Since then he has shifted and I am not in any pain at all...just the normal 39-week discomfort.

TODAY -
I am still dialted to 1. After a routine check-up my doctor informed me that Brandon would be born THIS WEEK!!! Mama went with me to my appointment which was great. She was able to hear everything I heard and translate! =) I am having a c-section this Wednesday (June 10th) for several reasons...
1) Brandon still hasn't dropped
2) My pelvic bone is too small for him to fit through even if he were a tiny baby
3) My blood pressure is high; I have lots of swelling; There is a little protein in my urine - all signs of preeclampsia
4) A "normal" delivery might be too stressful for Brandon - my doctor was certain that a c-section would be healthier at this point.
Mama, is all that right?! =)

So, in less than 48-hours I will be holding my precious baby boy!!! The past few months have been SO long but God has sustained me and the end is here!

I will post pictures as soon as I can!


Meg

Maybe next week...

Good news...Brandon is only at 92nd percentile now!! hahahaha Two weeks ago he was at 98th percentile. The past few appointments, I have lost weight but this past week I gained four pounds. I guess the little man is deciding to let me eat! =) The ultrasound showed him weighing 8.6 lbs today which is give or take a pound. Ok, so that's still a normal sized baby...this Mama can handle that! =) (I think.)

Bad news (but not as hard to take as I thought)...Brandon has not made any progress. He hasn't dropped yet which seems to the be the only major concern for the doctor. My blood pressure has been up the past few days so he, again, changed my dosage and suggested that I quit walking at night. He asked that I take it easy until Monday (June 8th) which is when I go back for another check-up. At that point, I will be 39-weeks so we are going to discuss my options. It's going to be a long five days but I can handle it.


Meg

Entertained by Eli

Since I have spent the last few months at home, I have had to find things to keep me from losing my sanity. Our cat, Eli, has been a great source of entertainment...

Meg