RSV

Over the weekend Jackson developed a nasty cough and a runny nose. By Sunday evening my internal worry alarm began to sound.
McKinley and I had run errands all afternoon, leaving Cary and Jackson home to rest. Cary was also feeling under the weather. When we got home both were worse. Cary went straight to bed, I began getting the boys ready for bed as well. As I bathed Jackson I could hear mucus in his lungs. When it was McKinley's turn I convinced him to take a nice hot shower so I could get the bathroom steamy and hopefully break up some of Jackson's mucus. It worked and was something we did many times throughout the night. I stayed up with Jackson until after 5am, Cary joined me in those early hours, once he was able to rest his sick body. It was a long night.
At 8:15 I called our pediatrician, they were already booked but worked us in and I am so grateful. All four of us loaded up, McKinley off school for Presidents Day.
The doctor didn't like what he heard with Jackson's breathing...I know, neither did we. He heard wheezing and mucus. He doled out several scripts and sent us on our way to gather everything and make this boy better.
Our little sweets is on two antibiotics, two.breathing treatment medications and two other respiratory related prescriptions. There is a lot of cuddling, especially at night and during breathing treatments. Lots of hugs. And lots of promising, dimple-infused giggles during impromptu games of peek-a-boo.
I know we will get through this, I know all will be well. I am so thankful we've been able to keep him home instead of having him in the hospital. We have a lot to be thankful for, strong, healthy boys is just the beginning.
Lynn

First Zoo Trip

In my last post I mentioned the "LUCK" of having had such gorgeous weather for the St. Patrick's Day Parade...well, the luck continued into this week and so we took full advantage of it.  It is time to introduce Jackson to our long standing tradition of the monthly zoo trip!!!  After the first months of his life, carefully tucking ourselves inside our home to help prevent serious illnesses that can be associated with "winter babies" (and thank goodness all was well!), it was time to air ourselves out!  What better place than the zoo?

It was a fun day, slow and easy, we didn't over do it.  Jackson slept through a lot of the jaunt, but it was wonderful having him with us.  The last visit we made to the zoo, for the Christmas celebration, he was nearly here but the trip was hard on me.  Now, I've got all my boys. 

What a fun first trip!

Lynn

That first smile

Today, while McKinley was at preschool and Cary was at work, this Mama was blessed by our sweet Baby Jackson's very first smile.  I was carrying him from the nursery into our room when I looked at him and those beautiful blue eyes lit up when we made eye contact and he smiled this small, sweet smile.  It was such a precious moment and I feel so lucky to have been the first to share this with both of our boys.

Jackson is so sweet, he sleeps a lot.  I mean...a LOT.  I'm quite sure he's gearing up for when he is mobile.  I can't wait.  He doesn't fuss all that much, just when he's hungry and tired.  And when he's both...well, watch out!  He will babble and coo and make eyes at all of us, but he reaches this point where he must just sleep...like, RIGHT NOW!  And he will cry, which signals us he's had enough and then, as quickly as his fussiness came, in it's place is a peaceful, sleeping baby.  He likes the same "hold" McKinley liked, and the "butt pat".  They work like a charm. 

Ahhh, that first smile...
Lynn

My Three Valentines...

Today I took my Mom and my two LITTLE Valentines to the airport to drop Mom off for her next jaunt abroad.  When she was safely inside the airport McKinley and I were pretty hungry and I was sure Jackson would be ready for that bottle soon enough, so I decided it was time to try out my mother-of-two skills by having lunch, sit-down style.  I'm not big on drive thru food, and there are a plethora of our favorite quick food restaurants nearby, so let's do it!  Noodles & Company sounded perfect, McKinley sat across from me and used chop sticks with the chop stick helper for his Macaroni & Cheese.  Jackson was nestled beside me in his car seat carrier while I ate, then it was his turn.  The whole adventure went off without a hitch.  Hey, five and a half weeks post-partum?  Not bad! 

When we got home in the late afternoon I toodled around in the kitchen when all three of my boys came around the corner carrying a rose (okay, well, Cary was carrying Jackson's because he was asleep and he's only 5 weeks old...but still, it was a moment).  One red, one pink, one yellow.  And cards.  I've got more handsome Valentines than I did when I was 16 years old (and let me tell you...that was quite a year...).  I am completely surrounded by love...and loving it.

Tomorrow Cary and I celebrate 13 years together...it's amazing to look back on the beginning and to be living in the middle of a sweet little family now. 

I love my boys...all three of them!

Lynn

Sweet Little Moments

Below the title of our little blog is my favorite quote. Over the years it has grown to mean different things for me. At one time it was healing, now it try to live the quote. Lately, there have been lots of these breathtaking moments in my life. As my little family has grown, my love for all these men in my life grows as well.

This morning, as I end my first week as stay-at-home-mom-of-two-boys-who's-hubby-has-returned-to-work-after-paternity-leave, I'm getting McKinley ready for school when Jackson wakes, hungry. McKinley said, "Mom, I'll go see him!" Okay, so I make a quick trip to the living room to drop backpack, coat, etc. I come back to find McKinley, on his stool, standing over his baby brother. I peeked inside the crib and found a very quiet and transfixed Jackson, who was obviously hanging on his brother's every word while studying his face. That did very good things for my heart. Thankfully, I thought fast enough to grab the camera and snap a few photos of the moment.

Camera by my side lately, I've also snapped these cute shots of moments that are precious to me.

Jackson, trying to enjoy his bath (we're getting there!), he discovers the faucet sprayers and loves to touch it with his toes. TOO CUTE!

McKinley & Cary, on their way out for some Man Time at the ISU basketball game. At that game, the boys caught a little basketball from the cheerleaders. McKinley was thrilled! He had a blast with his Daddy.

The boys aren't the only ones who give me precious moments to capture. Valentine, our beloved white cat (and the only other source of estrogen in our home) loves her boys so much she cannot decide where she wants to spend her time. So, she floats back and forth between the two rooms all night and all day. This morning I went in to wake McKinley for school and found this: Valentine back to back with McKinley, both sound asleep. After I woke McKinley, she sauntered into the nursery to lay under the crib for an early morning nap. What a life...

Love these sweet little moments in my life,

Lynn

Jackson Michael Vernon

Around 5 o'clock in the morning on Friday, January 6th, Cary, McKinley, my Mom and I walked into the hospital to get this party started.  That is NOT what I was thinking at the time.  On the contrary, I was shaking like a leaf, scared as can be (of that freaking spinal), worried about McKinley, worried about Cary, worried about this baby.  I am pretty sure Cary and I neither one slept more than a few hours...collectively.  But when we reached the labor and delivery/nursery floor we were greeted with the smiling face of Robin, and some of her crew.  It helped calm me a lot.  We were ushered into our labor room (though, there would be no laboring for me!) and suddenly, I was signing papers, changing into that glamorous gown (swear, if there's a next time I'm wearing what Tori Spelling has worn...way more chic), being hooked to the monitors, starting the IV, and having contractions, fairly big ones too!  Then my in laws arrived, then the man whom I would stick that needle in my back.  I think I had a few moments to "rest", however I was definitely panicked.  That's just me, I guess.

All of a sudden, I was told my OB I had arrived and was getting ready.  I looked at the clock and an hour and a half had already flown by!  It was time.  If my blood pressure hadn't sky rocketed by now it sure was at that moment!  I tearfully said goodbye to McKinley, he would spend this time with my mother and father in law.  Cary and my Mom would be getting dressed in their surgery garb while I was being prepped and stuck.  Fun.  And Robin was close behind, scrubbing in as well.  My nurse walked me across the hall to the surgical room, now here's where it all gets a little, um, less than ladylike for yours truly.  Evidently, I felt it necessary to just whip out a few cuss words.  Mild ones, but I apologized to the nurse, who promptly instructed me not to apologize and to say whatever I felt necessary and she would say it with me.  There was a resounding, "OH SH*T" a few seconds later...in unison...me and my nurse. 

Inside the OR, I sat on the table as the nurse anesthetist did his thing.  My nurse was holding me - as she is supposed to during the anesthesia, I was crying, so another nurse came over.  It was Dawn, we'd worked together before I had McKinley.  She's great, she grabbed my hand.  Then in came another nurse, Amy.  I also knew her from my medical field days.  She's great too.  Then there was the guy I'd helped in his orientation to the hospital!  He had also scrubbed in my first c-section and remembered us!  Then of course, my sweet OB.  I instantly felt MUCH more comfortable.  Which is good because I was numb and laying down and moments away from seeing my beautiful baby!  Robin and company went straight to work, I was prepped, the curtain was draped, all the baby stuff was ready, Robin was camera ready!  Cary and Mom came in.  I was crying.  Happy tears (and frankly, I was thrilled the spinal was OVER)!  It was such an emotional experience! 

Doctor was talking to us all, I was dozing slightly.  There was small talk, a few stories, then Doctor began chatting about my Mom and her career with the surgeon (and dear friend) she has worked for going on 30 years.  He said, "This woman right here, she and Doctor are DINOSAURS!" I swear if I hadn't been numb and immobile from the neck down I would have raised up and smacked his arm.  God love him, wrong choice of words.  He meant it in a kind way, but wow.  There was a lot of surgery talk, Cary and I talked a little too.  He patted my head, held my hand (which was falling asleep), checked on me regularly.  Then Doctor said, "Here we go, Lynn! How big does everybody think he will be?" I think I guessed 20 pounds...only half kidding because that is exactly what it felt like!  Lots of guessing went on and then he said he was getting him out.  I think there was a comment about getting him out because of his size.  My Mom peeked over the curtain (I mean, really?) then grabbed Cary and pulled him up.  Not sure he was prepared for that, but I know now he isn't sorry.  In my c-section with McKinley we were both so exhausted from being awake for days, the laboring and the drama of everything going wrong, we were just emotional and needing to be focused on each other, the birth and getting through it to see that sweet boy.  This time, he was much more prepared and knew what to expect so he could take it all in.  I was proud, though I'm not entirely sure either of us ever intended for him to see my insides!  Ha!!!!!!!!

Doctor said, "Here he comes! OH!  He's BLONDE!" Insert mental record scratch - WHAT?  He's BLONDE?!  How precious and unexpected!  Then there was another comment about getting him out, "oooh, big boy!" as I waited for his first cry.  As he cried, so did I.  Now I can breathe (literally and figuratively...).  Then came the weigh in...NINE POUNDS EVEN!!!!!!!!!  Twenty one inches long!  Time for Robin to work her magic on our boy, off Cary went to be a part of it.  I was a little caught off guard when Cary trotted off to the other side of the curtain (where I could only hear but not SEE what was going down...and I guess that is a very good thing), but I'm glad he was able to get the full experience this time around.  As I said, last time we were like deer in the headlights.  I lay there, think I had a conversation with my Mom (whom I think asked me if I knew what was going on on the other side...that's the surgery nut for you.  No thanks, Mom, I didn't need to know fine details.  I will feel them soon enough!  Ha!), I cried a little, I dozed a bit, and began to feel a little light headed.  The fun was JUST beginning...trust me.

Soon, Cary brought that precious little bundle over to meet his Mama.  I kissed him.  Cried more.  Took a picture and said goodbye to Robin, Mom, Cary and our new baby boy.  Then it got really quiet...Doctor was furiously working on me and explaining how extremely large the umbilical cord was and how much fluid had been removed.  I mean, TMI!  Just kidding...I started dozing a little again, then the light-headedness came back along with dizziness.  OHMYGOD.  My anesthesia nurse said my blood pressure was normal and all was well, he promised.  In no time, I was on my way back to the labor room for recovery.  There was propping and lowering, ice chips and then puking.  Yes, puking.  That was fun...and lucky me, it continued until 9pm! 

That means all our guests were witness to my random episodes.  My Godmother came in and just held my hand saying, "Honey, I don't like coming in and seeing you like this."  Oh my...it was a dizzy day.  I fondly remember holding that beautiful baby.  I fed him a bottle.  I was so groggy, but it was sweet.  I felt such peace having all my family together.

When Cary first arrived back by my side after leaving the baby inside the nursery for their routine stuff, he came back and said, "Well, I think I named him.  I hope you're okay with Jackson Michael!"  Ha!  Long ago, we decided if we had two boys they would be named McKinley Shane and Jackson Michael.  Guess what?  We got 'em!  Our boys.

So, this beautiful boy, his name is Jackson Michael.  He is named Jackson after Cary's beloved Mamaw, who died in November, 2011.  Her maiden name was Jackson.  His middle name is Michael, in memory of my Dad, and in honor of my father-in-law and brother-in-law.  He is blonde, blue-eyed, has TWO dimples and that same handsome chin his big brother and Daddy have.  He is perfect and precious and we are so very, very blessed.

Life is good and beautiful and so full of love,

Lynn

Kind of alarming...

I'll be the first to admit things have been extremely stressful lately...and we've been so busy.  We had a major wake up call over the weekend.  Saturday evening I began having pains in my stomach, which eventually I came to realize were likely cramping and contractions.  We cancelled our evening plans and laid low.  They eased through the night but started up again Sunday morning.  And I am swelling a lot.  So much so that I can no longer wear my wedding rings.  I had swelling with McKinley but not until I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in my third trimester.  This is a full month sooner than last time.

We decided not to take any chances and went to the hospital.  My Mom, who just had a surgical procedure in Indy on Friday drove home from staying with my Godparents.  She picked McKinley up and off we went.  She was certainly in no shape to be sitting for us, but we had no other options (we tried...) and she was more than willing. 

At the hospital they immediately hooked me up to monitors and a blood pressure cuff.  It was found that my blood pressure was pretty high, not my norm.  I also had an infection that was causing my cramping and also creating the contractions.  Nothing threatening to the baby, thank God.  However, I've been told to immediately cool it.  No more riding for hours in the car on vacation, no more long trips, more rest, more water.  Time to scale back. 

I have testing to be done and will now be monitored for my blood pressure, which was still high.  We have to watch for pre-eclampsia.  Drink water, water, water.  Guess what that makes a really pregnant woman do?  Hahahaha.

Anyway, all is well but it scared us.  I will be slowing myself down considerably until further notice.  Yikes.
Lynn