Baby Jay's Heart

When JJ was born he initially looked great and he even cried like he should. The nurse started wiping him off a bit and he stayed a little blue not starting to turn pink like they are supposed to. The pediatrician wanted to check him out just in case so they took him over to the warmer and started him on a little bit of oxygen. No matter how much oxygen they gave him, his 02 wouldn't stay above around 70%. They just weren't sure what was wrong, usually a little oxygen boost helps a heart healthy baby get to where they need to be pretty fast. He was sent to the NICU for further testing.

In the NICU the doctors tried everything they could. His lungs looked good, his heart sounded good, etc.  They decided to do an echocardiogram which was read, in real time, by the team up at Cleveland Clinic main. This is what revealed his Congenital Heart Defect, TAPVR.

Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return is a heart defect in which "the pulmonary veins (PV), which carry oxygen-enriched (red) blood from the lungs to the heart for pumping to the body, are "anomalous," or abnormal with respect to how they return to the heart".

"There are various forms of this defect, but all of them involve the red blood from the lungs being carried by the pulmonary veins back to the right side of the heart rather than to the left atrium (LA), as in a normal heart. This means that all the red blood is mixed with the oxygen poor venous (blue) blood in the right atrium...

In the most common form of this defect, the pulmonary veins (PV) are connected by a vessel to the superior vena cava (SVC), which carries blue (oxygen-depleted) blood back to the heart. This is known as the supracardiac type. "

So little guy had to have open heart surgery within the first 24 hours. 

His surgery went well, everything was repaired. His surgeon said he should not need any further surgeries, praise the Lord!

He stayed in PICU for about 8 days, hardly any setbacks aside from some lingering swelling, which is common. He was intubated for about 3 days,  then was on high flow oxygen for about 5 more. Went to the step down unit to work on feeding. The second day there he pulled his ng tube out of his nose and did so well with eating that eating that he didn't need it put back in. We were discharged from the hospital on day 13. 

It was a long 13 days. Staying at Ronald McDonald House made it way easier for us to be there with him the whole time. I had to pump milk for him every 2-3 hours around the clock. Honestly, it was the best outcome given our initial situation. The team of doctors and nurses in the PICU are in a league of their own, I do not have one bad thing to say about them. They made sure to take the time to thoroughly explain everything from his surgery to medications to oxygen, etc. 

He went home eating fortified breastmilk from a bottle for the first week and a half or so. Once he went to his follow up cardiac appointment, we started breastfeeding directly for half of his feedings. Then about a week later we stopped bottles and switched entirely to breastfeeding. 

Jay Jrs Birth Story

Where to begin...

I'll detail the induction but just for my own memory really, it might he boring.

I went in to be induced Sunday morning at 8am. I was still only 1cm dilated and 50% effaced so we started with Cytotec. Got my first pill at close to 10am, minimal contractions and 4 hours later, still only about 1.5cm and 60% effaced. Got another pill inserted and 4 hours later I was having mild contractions and was about 2cm and 60% effaced (I believe). 

So at that point it was about 6pm. The midwife and I decided to start pitocin and see what happens. I was given the choice of another pill or the Foley bulb but thought pitocin might just work easier and be more comfortable that the bulb. Two hours later around 8 or so I was having some relatively strong contractions and getting uncomfortable. Got checked and I was at 4cm and about 70% effaced. We decided to break my water but first to go ahead and get an epidural because I never got the opportunity in the past and I just wanted things to be easier.

I was really worried about getting the epidural. It wasn't really that bad honestly. I even had to be poked twice because the first space wasn't the right space. I would do it again for sure though.  The worst part was the local anesthetic shot to numb the area then just a lot of pressure.

The midwife broke my water around 9 and I layed on each side for about 25-30 minutes with the peanut ball between my legs. They upped my pitocin to a 6 and my contractions got stronger but I couldn't feel them yay! 

Things went really fast from here. By the time I finished laying on both sides for the recommended time I started to feel quite a bit of pressure. I called the nurse in and the midwife came to check me. I was at least an 8 and she said I could probably push. We got set up to push and when I layed on my back JJs heartrate dropped for a second. The midwife said that's pretty normal but we should go fast. Called a pediatrician in just in case. (She later said that she isn't even sure what made her call the pediatrician in but thank God she did)

I started pushing. 4 or 5 pushes later he was out. He came out moving and he cried a little as they were putting him on me and wiping him. They rubbed and wiped him off but he just wasn't getting any more pink. They took him over to the pediatrician to give him some oxygen. He stayed over there while I was finishing up delivering placenta and getting sutures (1st degree).

I started to worry because they hadn't given him to me yet and it seemed to be taking forever. The doctor came over and said that his blood oxygen levels just weren't staying up high enough so they needed to take him to the NICU. That was really hard. I got to say bye to him and they took him to the NICU. I couldn't leave to go see him for an hour and a half while my medicine wore off. Jay went with him. My nurse stayed with me the whole time because as you can imagine, I was a mess.

They took me down to see him around 1:30 because the NICU nurse came and said they needed to bring me down because they were thinking of transferring him to main campus.

That's pretty much the end of the birth story. In the NICU they xrayed him and listened to his heart. They did everything they could to get his oxygen levels up but they just weren't staying up so called in someone to do an EKG and that's when we found out he had a congenital heart defect.

Around 3am (I think) they transferred him.  

Gemma is 2.5

Miss Gemma turned 2.5 at the end of July.

Things she says:
"I love you Mom"
"Baby JJ, boobs, boobs, baby JJ" (pointing to each)
"When Elsies at school, I miss her"
"1,2,3,4...butt poop!"

She likes to sing Wheels on the Bus, "Tinkle, tinkle, little star", and pat-a-cake

She likes to watch Danial Tiger, and Wishenpoof

She pretty much is potty trained when we are at home and did it herself but... she likes wearing pullups. She's stubborn.

She's pretty smart. She can count to 10 when she wants to and she knows her colors and some shapes. I haven't actually worked hard with her on any of this.

She sleeps in a twin bed with a side rail and absolutely insists that every baby she owns be on her bed as well.

Her favorite book is "Don't Ever Touch a Monster"

She's the cutest!

36 Week Update- Baby JJ

It's been 12 weeks since my last baby JJ update! Third child problems.

I'm 36 weeks today. Lots of Braxton hicks contractions on and off but I am just now half a centimeter dilated. I did have regular contractions for about 1.5 hours one evening but they went away. I looked back on my records and I was the same amount dilated at this point in both previous pregnancies. Hard to say when baby boy will come. I hope he's earlier than his sisters were but also pray that whenever he's born he's healthy.

Baby boy is very active. He always has a foot or something tucked up under my right side, causing a considerable amount of rib pain. Just like his sisters, he's face up (not really how he's supposed to be). My midwife says it may just be the shape of my pelvis.

I've gained about the same amount of weight with this pregnancy as I did with my others. I did try to compare pictures and my belly is definitely bigger this pregnancy. Hopefully he's not too much bigger than Gemma was (7lb 15oz).

Considering induction during week 39 if he's not here yet, due to my history of precipitous labor. So if he does come earlier, pray that we actually make it to the hospital heh 😏.

Getting excited!

24 Weeks with Baby JJ

24 weeks already!?

We spent this last week at the beach.

Baby should weigh around 1-1.5lbs by now, even though I've gained like 18. 😅 Also, this week marks viability, where there is more than 50% chance of the baby living after birth. Not that I'm planning on having him anytime soon. Keep growing baby JJ!

I have another appointment coming up this week.  At my last appointment my midwife mentioned that I can probably be induced at 39 weeks due to history of precipitous labor (less than 3 hours start to finish). I'm a little nervous about induction but also relieved. I definitely have worries about how fast this labor might go. I don't want to have my baby in the car on the way to the hospital! We'll see how things look as my due date approaches.

Otherwise, everything has been looking good. At my last appointment my uterus measured a little big. My midwife said we might have to have another ultrasound eventually to check his size if I keep measuring ahead.

I went to a specialist for back pain which has seemed to help some. I am supposed to go back about once a month until after birth.

I have to do the glucose test for gestational diabetes at my upcoming appointment. It's not fun but hopefully it'll be fine just like the last two times. Wish me luck!

17 Week Bumpdate

17.5 weeks

In general I feel a lot better now.

My food aversions are gone, I can drink pop now and chicken doesn't gross me out anymore.

My (slight) nausea has subsided.

However, this lower back pain is not fun. It's been going on for about a month now. Definitely not getting better.  My midwife is referring me to a chiropractor. We'll see how that goes, still waiting on approval from Tricare.

I have a bump now. I've even had strangers at work recognize that I'm pregnant. Much better that just feeling like I look like I ate too much! Also, I'd just like to say that the third one really likes to make themselves known Haha I feel huge already.

Baby is most definitely a boy! We had a blood test and have seen the parts Haha. So exciting! Totally thought we'd be an all girl family.

That being said, it's been really hard to not buy every cute baby boy outfit I've come across. 😅

Elsie is excited and talks to the baby in my belly several times a week. She is way more aware of what's going on than Gemma is. The only thing Elsie doesn't quite get is "when is that baby coming out?" She thinks I can just go to the doctor and pick him up or something. She's also asked a few times where he will be sleeping.  She's so funny.

Next week we have our anatomy scan already! Can't wait to see our sweet boy!

Baby #3

Spring is in the air, and we have exciting news to share!

This weekend I am 12 weeks pregnant! Due October 6th. We have known since week 4 so it already feels like I've been pregnant forever. And let me tell you, it's hard to hide a third pregnancy! My belly was just like "again? Ok! I give up" haha.

I haven't gained any weight but my regular pants are very uncomfortable so I've been embracing maternity pants and leggings already.

The worst part of my first trimester has been the back to back cold, stomach flu, cold, stomach flu.  Yes I had some sort of stomach flu type virus twice. Not fun.

Otherwise, less nausea than my other two pregnancies, although I didn't have bad nausea with either of them.  Food aversions to soda, strong garlic scents and flavors, and the sight of raw chicken. Gag.

Other symptoms include: crazy dreams (which was my first noticable symptom), some back pain, sore boobs

Have seen baby twice now on ultrasound, once at 8 weeks and then again today. Baby is growing and kicking! Heartrate of 157-160. Measured 2 days ahead but not changing due date at this point.

I will be happy with either a boy or girl.  A boy would be nice but we already have so much girl stuff that just seems easier.  Won't know for probably 6-8 more weeks.

Elsie is 4!

How is my first baby girl so big already?! I can't even believe it.

She loves:

Anything girly, dresses, heels, makeup, jewelry etc.

Playing with her sister

Her stuffed pig "Mister Pig"

Singing songs in the car

Showing off her dance moves

I asked her a few questions and here are her answers:

Favorite food: grapes

Favorite color: pink and purple

Favorite thing to watch on tv: daily bumps on YouTube which she calls "ollie and fin "

Favorite song: Heart song (to the tune of b-i-n-g-o)

What's to be a doctor when she grows up. Or a tooth fairy. 

Favorite thing to do: play with Molly (her Meme's dog)

Gemma is TWO!

Gemma is growing up so fast! I can't wrap my head around how she is already two, walking, talking, and so big.

She loves:

-"baby show" which is a YouTube channel that's actually called cocomelon that makes animated kids song videos

-milk, juice, fruit and candy. Otherwise, shes a much pickier eater than Elsie ever was at this age. She does eat a lot of grandma's mac n cheese though.

-taking toys from her sister and laughing

-taking a two hour nap

-doing puzzles

-sitting on the couch next to me or dad under a blanket, she's much more cuddly than her sister

-talking to Meme on video chat

-seeing "Papa"

-anything that Elsie likes because she follows her around a majority of the time

She is really so cute and funny it's hard to describe her. She plays hard to get and can be shy at first then is pretty loud and silly.

We love our little Gem!