Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Week 5: One Month Old!

Wow, time is really going by fast!  I can't believe our little guy is already 1 month old today!  He is absolutely the best gift ever!  We are SO in love and thankful for our precious son!  It's amazing to finally have him here and we have been enjoying every moment of getting to know him!  It's fun to see life through his eyes (he's so curious) and to watch him change before our eyes!


In other news, Cameron is suffering from some issues.  Basically, he cries most of his awake time and is in quite a bit of pain.  This has been ongoing since his birth.  We started gas drops after his 3-day old appointment and an acid reflux medication after his 2 week old appointment.

Neither seemed to be working and he had more gas pain from the reflux medication.  I decided to stop it for 1 1/2 days until I realized it was actually helping his vomiting.  So, we started back and emailed his doctor over the past weekend.

Today was another "lots of vomit" day so I reached out again and scheduled an appointment for tomorrow.  As of right now we are checking his stool for any sign of cow milk intolerance (if he is then I will eliminate all dairy from my diet), doing a weight/dehydration check, and talking about next steps.  We will likely change his reflux medication and maybe start probiotics.

Praying that things improve soon because it's SO hard seeing our little guy in so much pain and not being able to soothe him.

Happy 1 month my sweet little boy!  You are absolutely the very best and bring so much love and joy to Mommy and Daddy!  We love you Cameron!

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Week 4: Gramma's House and 1st Run

Week 4 was filled with some fun new adventures and memories!

Hanging out with Mom!
First, Cameron and I went to my mom's house and had a great visit!  We enjoyed lunch, great conversation, and watched the first two episodes of The Bachelor!  It was so great spending time with my mom...and, Cameron had a good time too!  He was so great and slept most of the time, allowing us to have an enjoying time together!

Gramma and Cameron!  <3
On Thursday I had my follow-up OB appointment.  Cameron and I went by my work first and met all my wonderful co-workers!  It was great to see everyone and for them to finally meet our little guy!  Everyone has been such a blessing through this journey and were excited to see Cameron and hear how the past couple of weeks have been.

I was a little worried about doing all of this because it really was a lot to take on (my OB/work is an hour away, no traffic, from home).  Trying to coordinate feedings, visits, and the appointment were tough but Cameron did great!

Mommy and Cameron!
It was beyond wonderful to see my OB!!!  Truly, I cannot praise her enough!  She is absolutely the best and it was great seeing her excitement for us and Cameron!  We talked a lot about not taking on too much and me needing to take care of me too right now.  It was great to have her insight and advice because I really needed to hear her words.  She even gave Cameron a little pep talk and told him to be nicer to mom and dad!  It was so cute! :)

Cameron's 1st run!
And, the best news (besides Cameron)...she released me to run!!!!  So, Cameron and I got home, I fed him, and put him in the stroller (and let him know that not going wasn't an option).  Cameron and I set out on our first run together (and my first in 9 1/2 months)...it was so amazing being able to run again, especially with my favorite little training buddy!  I have been looking forward to this moment for SO long and it definitely met my expectations!  Looking forward to many more miles, memories, and adventures while running with Cameron!  Life is good!

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Week 3

Cameron had his 2 week Well Baby appointment this week.  I was anxious to see how he was gaining weight and worried that we might have to go on formula if he didn't gain enough.  I was hoping for at least 6 lbs and thankfully he was up to 6 lbs 0.8 oz!!

I also discussed Cameron's fussiness and gas pain.  She felt that it was too early for Colic so went ahead and prescribed a medication (Zantac) for acid reflux.  My mom and I tried to fill the prescription but the line was long and Cameron was protesting so we left and went to Walmart instead (needed to buy his vitamins).  I called in his prescription when I got home and Lloyd was able to pick it up the next day.

Other than that, life is very busy just hanging out, feeding Cameron, changing diapers, and trying to soothe him (and hoping/praying that he takes some naps during the day)!

Here are some pictures from Week 3:




Friday, January 16, 2015

Week 2: 1st Snow

That's right- our little guy has already experienced his first snow!  We are lucky that it snows here about 1-3 times per year (although very minimally, we still love it!).  Last year was our first winter in our new home and we didn't get any snow so this was quite a surprise and fun memory for all of us!




Cameron also enjoyed playing with his play mat that he got from Grandpa and Grandma (Dad and Linda) for Christmas!  I'm continually amazed at how alert and curious he is, especially at such a young age!  He is always taking in his surroundings and doesn't want to miss a thing (this becomes very challenging when we are trying to get him to go to sleep!)!



Week 1: Cameron's 1st Christmas!

"For this child we have prayed" 1 Samuel 1:27
We were released from the hospital on December 23rd, just in time for Christmas!  We spent the next couple days, and our 1st Christmas as a family of three, bonding and trying to get to know each other and different ways to soothe sweet Cameron!

Christmas was very low key this year and the first year we didn't spend with family.  We needed those first days to be quiet and uneventful, not knowing what Cameron's routine or schedule was going to be.  Basically, we hung out at home and spent our day catering to his needs...breastfeeding, sleeping, and soothing.

Even though it was uneventful it was one of the best Christmas' ever!  We were so blessed to have our little miracle baby here and enjoying our first holiday as parents!

My 1st Christmas!
My mom came over the day after Christmas to spend time with us and exchange presents.  It was great having that time with her and seeing how special it was for her to enjoy Cameron's first Christmas!  My dad and Linda also came over that weekend and we had a great time until Cameron started having a rough time.  It was great seeing them and we were all sad when the visit was cut short (although we are quickly learning that our plans are almost always guaranteed to change these days...it's all about taking care of our little guy!).


Cameron was very spoiled by all the grandparents for his first Christmas (he's the first grandchild on both sides of our family)- he is one very loved little boy!

Having fun with Mommy!

Hanging out by the Christmas tree!
 
Doing what Cameron does best...sleeping on mom!  Love his cute little face!

Birth Story- Best Christmas Gift Ever!!!

Cameron Lloyd Henderson was born on December 21, 2014 at 2:33 am!  He weighed 5 lbs 15 oz and was 19.5 inches long!  He is absolutely perfect and by far the best Christmas present I could have ever asked for!  We are so in love and are enjoying getting to know our little guy!

I had my last OB appointment on December 17th.  I was 40w4d pregnant and hadn't made any progress despite all of our attempts (lots of sex, endless miles of walking, and evening primrose oil).  Apparently, Cameron was super comfortable right where he was and not quite ready to make his grand appearance!

After the cervical check I knew what I wanted to do (it was dependent on how much progress had been made).  My OB and I discussed our options for induction and she started the steps of scheduling it for sooner rather than later.  We had hoped to deliver at our hospital of choice but quickly found out that they would not induce me until I was 41w3d pregnant, which happened to be two days before Christmas.  Both Lloyd and I were anxious to have Cameron here and preferred to not have him born on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  We also didn't want to be in the hospital over Christmas if at all possible.

So, I asked my OB to see what the availability was at her hospital (80 minutes from our house).  She was able to schedule my induction for Friday, December 19th at 11:30 pm.  In the meantime, I walked and walked and walked, hoping and praying that Cameron would come on his own terms.

With no such luck we arrived at the hospital Friday night.  I talked to the midwife and, after doing a cervical check and being "almost" 1 cm dilated, we agreed to try out the Foley bulb catheter and go home for the night.  The catheter was supposed to get me dilated to 3-4 cm, which would be more favorable for future induction steps.

We went home and I contracted strongly until 11 am on Sat.  Then all progress seemed to stop and the catheter did not fall out (it was supposed to fall out when I reached 3-4 cm and by around 1 pm on Sat).  I called L&D and they advised that I tug on it.  I did and still no progress.

Now frustrated and wanting to stop the induction process all together, I called L&D again.  I was advised to come in around 9 pm instead of the scheduled 11:30 pm and that we would go from there. 

We arrived at the hospital and talked to the midwife.  We came up with a plan to try Cytotec, which would be an 8 hour process but would give my cervix a chance to ripen before trying Pitocin.  The first dose of Cytotec was around 11:30 p.m. 

I was brought my "last meal" and told that we would likely meet Cameron sometime Sunday afternoon or around dinnertime. 

Cameron had other plans though and around 1:00 am he started not tolerating my contractions (these contractions were so minor that I wasn't even feeling them).  The nurse came in three times between 1 and 2 am and on the third time I knew that we were not delivering Cameron vaginally- it was time to get him out safely and meet our son.

Honestly, those minutes of being prepped for a c-section were the scariest moments of my life.  I prayed and prayed that Cameron would arrive safely. 

I was finally prepped and ready to go.  Lloyd was right there by my side, holding my hand and reassuring me that everything was going to be ok...and, we were about to meet our sweet precious Cameron!  He came out and I cried as I heard his cry for the first time!  It was music to my ears and I knew that he was here, safe and healthy!

As I was being stitched up they brought him over to me.  Seeing him for the first time was beyond words!  It was truly love at first sight and I couldn't wait to get to hold him and to breastfeed him!  We were quickly out of the OR and into recovery.  I was able to breastfeed him shortly after birth and have skin-to-skin time with him.  I am amazed at how well he fed in those first moments...they are moments I will never forget!

After our bonding time we made it to our postpartum room and welcomed a visit from all my parents!  Cameron is the first grandchild on both sides and everyone has been excitedly awaiting his arrival for a very long time!  Seeing them with him was amazing!  We are so blessed to have such great family and friends who have walked this journey with us!  Little Cameron is one lucky little boy and is so very loved!

Our hospital stay was quite challenging...Cameron was tongue tied at birth which affected his ability to feed.  On top of that, he just wasn't ready to be outside yet and made us know that he wasn't too happy with his eviction!  He cried a lot and was pretty inconsolable.  It broke my heart to hear him cry and not know how to soothe him.

I also didn't have the smoothest recovery from the c/s due to eating dinner at 6 pm and then the "last supper" they fed me around midnight.  I threw up in the OR and continued to vomit throughout the day, mainly when sitting up to feed Cameron.  Thankfully, we got that under control and I was able to get up and move around about 14 hours post-surgery.  After that, recovery got better and I bounced back pretty quickly- so much so that they were willing to release me the next day.  We still had to deal with Cameron's tongue tie issue though so we decided to stay one more day to take care of that and avoid very heavy traffic going home.

The next day we were able to get Cameron into the ENT and have his tongue clipped before heading home.  Leaving the hospital was so surreal...I had been to that very same hospital twice before and left knowing I had lost two babies...this time we were leaving with our precious son!  The feeling was overwhelming to say the least!  And, he arrived just in time to celebrate our first Christmas as a family of three! 

I cannot express enough how amazing our God is and I truly cannot thank Him enough for all the ways He has blessed us throughout this entire journey!  He is good, He is faithful, His promises are true, He will always provide, and He never leaves us!  This journey has forever changed me and I am so full of anticipation for all that He will do in the upcoming days, weeks, months, and years as we close one chapter and start another!