One Month Old!

Things have been going well since our return from the hospital. Kealon was very happy when mommy and baby sister were back and things returned to "normal." The day we were discharged, he asked several times, "Mommy, you and Haidyn home now?"

Kealon continues to be a loving big brother, and he is still very curious about babies. One day he was concerned about the fact that Haidyn does not have any teeth. He asked me, "We go to the store and get Haidyn some teeth?" Kealon feels sorry for his little sister because she cannot enjoy treats with him like fruit snacks and cookies! At least he is not trying to sneak things into her mouth--yet.

Kealon is also becoming more comfortable holding the baby. He now likes to lay her on his chest and pat her back--very cute! This week I got a surprise, though, when Kealon picked Haidyn up and carried her across the room. "Here you go, Mommy! She's crying for you!" Surprisingly, he was doing a pretty good job holding her, so I didn't freak out as much as I could have :) I just snatched her up and told him it was dangerous for kids to pick up babies! I'm sure it won't be the last time that happens...

As for Haidyn, she is still doing a lot of sleeping and eating. At her most recent appointment (last Monday) she weighed 8lbs 7.5oz! And she has officially graduated into size 1 diapers :) Her newest thing is crying at night between 7pm and 9pm for about an hour or so. Good times. At least it's not in the early AM hours! We now try to go on walks during her crying time, since the great outdoors is always a sure cure for crying babies.

Our outings over the past week have included Daddy's office and the PwC picnic. Stetson's work picnic at was at "Lupton's Boggy Bottom Ranch". There were pony rides, a train, bouncy houses, clowns, carnival games and lots food! Kealon was in heaven :) He loved playing the carnival games and won a stick horse that makes galloping sounds! He named the horse "Cabbie" and rides it all over the house. I have no idea where the name came from!

I can't wait to see how Haidyn develops over the months to come. The first month seems to go by so slowly; but once it passes, everything else starts happening so quickly! Before we know it, she'll be rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking. It's so hard to imagine all of that now...I'm going to enjoy these tiny baby days while I can!

Trip to the ER :(

If you haven't yet heard about our recent hospital visit, here is a summary of the week's events. And for those who have been waiting for the next update, you can just skip to the end!

On Tuesday evening I noticed that Haidyn felt a bit warm and had also noticed during the day that she seemed congested. She ended up having a fever of 101 degrees. The doctor advised us to take her to the ER. So, at around 7:30pm we dropped Kealon off at a friend's house and rushed over to the hospital.
The ER pediatrician told us that because she was so young and had a fever, she would need to be tested for everything...including meningitis! Poor Haidyn had to have several vials of blood taken, as well as undergo a spinal tap. These samples were sent to the lab where they had to be observed for 48-72 hours before we were able to get the most accurate results. We were given "preliminary results" that the most dangerous illnesses had come back negative but were informed that Haidyn would still need to be monitored and receive antibiotics through an IV drip until the most accurate results became available. By 3am, a room had opened up for us in the Pediatric Wing, and we settled in.

On Wednesday afternoon Haidyn's fever broke but she was still congested and very sleepy all day. Another test was done to check for common colds and viruses; thankfully, nothing serious came up. Throughout the day, Stetson and I kept busy with phone calls, sending emails, and we even had a few visitors. Kealon's daycare is right by the hospital, so he spent the day there. Friends kept Kealon busy in the evening and Stetson took him home at night, while I remained at the hospital.

Thursday, the nurses said that Haidyn looked "fantastic!" She was much more awake and alert and her congestion was almost gone. However, we still had to wait for the 48-72 hours to pass before the doctor could be completely sure she was ok and allow us to go home! Nothing new really happened on Thursday--at that point it was just a waiting game.

Now it's Friday morning I am really feeling the effects of sleep deprivation, stress and hospital room confinement! I'm ready to get out here ASAP. The hospital pediatrician just updated us on the status of the blood culture and spinal fluid sample taken late Tuesday night. He said everything looks good in the 48 hour report, so Haidyn can be taken off antibiotics for the remainder of her stay. (She is being treated as if she has meningitis through an IV drip of antibiotics.) BUT she will still have to be monitored for another night to see if the fever returns once off the medication. That means one more night in the hospital for us :( At least the end is in sight...we should be released by Saturday at some point. Tomorrow won't come soon enough!

Thanks for all of the prayers, phonecalls, emails and visits! I would have gone crazy being in here without talking with people to make the days go by faster. We weren't expecting to have to go through this experience with a baby who is still so new to the world. It's nice to have had the support of so many people through her first few weeks of life! We are truly blessed.

2 Weeks Old

We've past the 2 week mark already! Haidyn is doing a great job adapting to life in the outside world. She is still a good sleeper and eater, and I'm hoping the trend continues :) At her last apppointment (a week ago) she was up to 7lbs 2.6 oz! She is still tiny but we can see noticeable changes since we've brought her home. She is really filling out and getting some of those baby fat rolls; her complexion is getting darker and her hair is also getting more wavy--I wonder how curly it will get!

Kealon continues to be a very loving and helpful big brother (how long will this last?). His new sister is still the first thing on his mind when he wakes up and when he comes home from daycare or from an outing with daddy. He has been asking lots of questions--wondering where Haidyn's teeth are, why she is "eating mommy's stomach", and why the baby is sleeping AGAIN! He even sat in the rocker one day, lifted his shirt up, and announced that it was his turn to feed the baby! I'm sure Kealon won't appreciate me sharing that with everyone once he's older :)

Over the past 2 weeks I've really tried to refrain from housework and lifting things other than the baby. It's hard to resist doing the laundry (ha ha), but I've been blessed to have such supportive family and friends around. Stetson has taken on many of the everyday housekeeping tasks and gets Kealon ready for bed and for school, all while juggling work and MBA classes. People from church have been sending meals, which has been a tremendous help--it's so nice to have one less thing to think about! And we've had lots of family and friends visiting who have given me a break from baby duties and some contact with the adult world. THANKS EVERYBODY!