Thursday, August 24, 2017

Total Solar Eclipse - August 21, 2017

I remember talking about the upcoming 2017 Total Solar Eclipse way back in 2006 while I was on an excavation in St. George with my fellow nerdy archaeologist. A few years ago I put a count down on my phone so I could make sure I was in a prime location for said Eclipse. And ever since Josh and I were able to see the 2012 Annular Solar Eclipse I have been so excited about the Total Solar Eclipse.

A few months ago I started researching where the best spot would be to view the phenomenon. I came to the conclusion that Carbondale, Illinois would be the best location for us. It was relatively close, there was a huge party planned, and the totality was going to be the longest in the United States! Sold! I booked our hotel and patiently waiting for the date to get here.

I still planned on going with Theo (I'm always down for an adventure!), however, I did not anticipate how hard my recovery was going to be and how traveling was just not an option. At the last minute I canceled our hotel reservation and Theo and I decided to watch the partial eclipse from home.


Just a few minutes before C1 was to start I went outside to see the sun BUT it was cloudy and raining! :-(


Never fear! David Muir, Bill Nye and the ABC news team had us covered!


When C2 started I went back out side and the clouds where starting to clear! I could see the sun!



Theo wasn't happy if I left the Raptor, so we watched it from inside. It was still amazing!




[Love this!]

I was sad I wasn't able to see totality but there is another Total Solar Eclipse that will be passing through the area in seven years! I really need to make that one count!


Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Theo's Birth Story - Part III: Reflections and First Week Home

Those six days I spent in the hospital were some of the hardest, but most special days of my life. I was upset, I was in pain, I was happy, I was pleasantly surprise, I was vastly disappointed, I was scared, I felt comforted, and I felt love like I had never felt before.

I don't think I would have done it differently. Even though my labor was painful and unnecessary, I think I would have regretted it if I didn't try. I would have always wondered if I could have done it naturally. But I've learned my lesson. I think that I would try natural birth again IF we decide to have another child and IF, and only IF, I go into labor naturally. If an induction has to happen then I will go for the c-section.

Overall this pregnancy hasn't been too hard on me physically. I had morning sickness and dizziness in my first and third trimesters, I threw up once, I was uncomfortable in my third trimester, and I was tired. But overall I think I was pretty lucky... physically. 

One of the hardest thing was being diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes (GD) so early on in my pregnancy. Even though it was easily manageable it was still a pain to prick my finger 4 times a day, 7 days a week (and later, 3 days a week). The GD turned out to be a blessing though. Because of that diagnosis I had to had late term sonograms done. If I had not had my sonogram at 33 weeks we would not have known about the Vain of Galen Malformation and most people don't have sonograms that late unless there is a problem (like GD).

This pregnancy has been harder on me emotionally then physically. Finding out about Theo's malformation was heartbreaking. I had never felt such heartache in my life. I was in charge of taking care of my unborn child and I couldn't even do that right. I felt like it was all my fault and there was nothing I could do about it. I feel responsible for any pain that he may be in and any pain that he will experience in the future. He's going to have brain surgery and he will likely have to have some of the birthmarks on his face removed (or treated) with a laser if they are deemed to be dangerous. I feel for him. He is so innocent and there's nothing I want more than for him to be happy and healthy.

[Hospital bracelets from my weekly visits]

Our first week home has come with tears and great joy. I can't believe how much I love this boy.


[Gifts from Papa and Grandma Neilson]



On Monday, August 14th, we went to the Pediatricians office to have Theo checked over. The Nurse Practitioner checked him out and then sent us to the hospital to have his jaundice levels tested. 

Theo was such a rock star! He didn't even flinch when they put the needle in his arm. He has been pricked so much that it doesn't phase him anymore.

Later in the day the Nurse Practitioner called and told us his numbers were high so we needed to continue to supplement him and then go get his numbers checked again tomorrow.

 The next day we headed back down to Peoria so we could meet with a lactation consultant and the Pediatric Eye Surgeon.

I have had the breastfeeding cards stacked against me from day one. We didn't have a natural birth, we didn't do skin-to-skin immediately after birth, we didn't get to breastfeed consistently because Theo was in the NICU and on an IV (so he wasn't hungry), and we had to supplement him in the hospital while he was dealing with jaundice. I'm trying so hard to get him to latch and be a good breastfeeder but it's really hard. The lactation consultant told me to keep pumping and feeding him and that it will happen for us.

After our consultation, we headed to the hospital for Theo's eye appointment. Theo had his eyes dilated and then the eye surgeon came in and checked his optic nerve. Theo did not like his eyes opened and he was very squirmy. After struggling for a few seconds I walked over to the table to comfort him. He heard my voice and immediately calmed down. Turns out he just needed his mommy.

Dr. Reddy told us that his eyes look good and that there may be something different with his right eye but he doesn't think it is anything. His observations were noted and he told us to get Theo checked again in 3 or 4 months.

We then left the hospital and headed to County Health Department to get Theo's birth certificate.

Next, we drove back to Ottawa so we could go to the hospital to get Theo's jaundice numbers checked. They poked his arm but had a hard time getting the blood this time so they had to stick his heel. Poor guy. He has had 9 sticks on his heels since he was born. Such a trooper! We got a call later that night from the Nurse Practitioner telling us that Theo's numbers had come down so he won't need to be admitted to the hospital or put under lights.


The next day I had my check up with the OBGYNs in Ottawa. My incision looks good but my feet are SUPER swollen. The doctor told me to stay off my feet and that I need to come back in five weeks to take another glucose test so we can see if I'm actually diabetic or if it was GD. Fun, fun.


Other then all our appointments life has been pretty great. We gave Theo his first "bath" (we can't have a real bath until his umbilical cord falls off). He seemed to really like it. Afterwards I brushed his hair. He really enjoyed it!








Theo is such a sweet boy and I am so glad he joined our little family!


[Due date picture]

[Blue Steel]

[All that hair!]


Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Theo's Birth Story - Part II: NICU, Level 2, and Hospital Stay

My first night in recovery was rough. I had nurses coming in and out of the room all night. They had to keep up with the antibiotics in my IV and my vitals were taken every two hours due to my high fever and infection.

In the middle of the night, two nurses came in and helped me stand up and use the bathroom. It was pretty painful and I am grateful they were there. 

After a few more hours of sleep (and a hot bowl of chicken broth for breakfast) Josh got me a wheelchair so we could go to the NICU to see Theo.

Happy Birthday to me!

Over the next two days we spent a lot of time in the NICU visiting Theo and talking with his doctors. 

The NICU was so great and accommodating. Each baby had his (or her) own large room that had plenty of space for the family and doctors. 

After Theo's MRI he had an Echocardiogram, which looked good.


Dr. Lin was able to analyze Theo's MRI and came personally to tell me what his thoughts were. He said that he looks good and that he thinks we can have his surgery done in 6 months. Theo will need to go to monthly check ups and if things continue to look good then the surgery will stay scheduled for February.


We also met with a Geneticist who was interested in Theo because of his Port Wine Stains. There is some debate, but some doctors believe that the Vain of Galen Malformation could be linked to Port Wine Stains. They drew his blood and had it sent off to be tested for any genetic abnormalities. We should hear back in a few weeks.

[Theo's Port Wine Stains are mostly on his arms, back, chest and legs, with a few spots on his face. He is very lucky considering a lot of people who have Port Wine Stains have large birthmarks that cover half of their face.]

There is also a connection between Port Wine Stains, Vain of Galen Malformations and Optic Nerve issues. Because of this link, the doctors scheduled a check up for us with a Pediatric Eye Surgeon for the week after we are released.

During one of my NICU visits, a Lactation Consultant came in and helped me breast feed and do skin-to-skin with Theo. It was a little difficult because of his IV and all the wires hooked up to monitors, but we made it work.





[I love all that hair!]




  
[Happy dad with Theo]


[Proud Grandma]


After two days in the NICU Theo was allowed to come to the nursery, but he had to remain a "Level 2", which means he has to keep his monitors on at all times and he wasn't allowed to come to my room, but we could visit him as much as we wanted in the nursery. 

[Gift from the hospital]


Once Theo got to the nursery his jaundice started to kick in. I was approached by the NICU Pediatrician who asked me if it was okay for them to supplement Theo. Jaundice can most easily be taken care of if the baby eats, pees, and poops a lot. Since he wasn't getting enough milk from me they thought it would be best if we gave him a bottle after each time I nursed him. 

Over the next few hours his jaundice got worse so he had to be put under the bili lights (aka "baby tanning bed") and we were only allowed to hold him every three hours for 30 minutes. That broke my heart. Not only was he not getting enough milk from me, I wasn't able to comfort him whenever he needed me. However, he really seemed to enjoy being under the lights.




[I really think he liked it in that warm box]

[Proud Papa]


By Saturday morning his jaundice was looking a lot better. It was at this time that we were both cleared to be discharged from the hospital. Part of me didn't want to go. I liked having nurses and doctors check up on me. I liked that I could get help breast feeding whenever I wanted. I liked that food was brought to me just by making a phone call (sure I was harassed by the same lady about my GD, but what are you gonna do?). I loved that I had so many resources at my finger tips. And I'm still on pain medication from my c-section. Are we sure this is safe?! Now we have to go home and do this all by ourselves?! I'm not ready!

[Isn't he the cutest?!]

After a few more hours we were both officially discharged. Before we left we met with the NICU Pediatrician who told us all about our upcoming appointments and what to expect over the next few months.

I then dressed Theo in his Harry Potter themed outfit and we all left the hospital.





Since it was late we headed back to the hotel instead of making the drive back to Ottawa. We will do that tomorrow.




   
    

[We all thought it was so funny how he liked to have his legs stretched out] 

[Grandma was the first victim]

The next morning we all headed home to Ottawa. My mom, Theo, and I rode in my parents car; my dad drove my truck; and Josh drove his Jeep. After we arrived home I fed Theo and then my parents said goodbye. I want to thank my parents for coming out and spending the week with us. It was so nice to have all the love and support while Theo was in the NICU and Level 2.