Updates on Josh and Jacy

I hope I can't remember everything and I don't have much time, but I can respond to questions.

As of today the sum of it is:

Josh-- not doing as well as we thought. He is up and around, but still having serious nerve pain down his leg. After a checkup with the doctor last Friday, Josh was put on some more medication and given two weeks. If he doesn't get better by then, he will have to have another MRI. There is possibly more 'stuff' leaking out and pushing on the nerves. If this is the case he will need to go back in for surgery and have the disc fused.

As we were getting ready to walk out the door and go up to Provo for Josh's followup, we got a call from our family doctor. He wanted us to take Jacy in to the hospital for a few blood tests and told me to pack an overnight bag because there was a possibility she would be admitted. Having been through a similar situation we were pretty sure we would be staying in the hospital. Luckily Josh was able to find a friend to drive him to his appointment to find out his not so great but still need to know News.

Jacynda-- at Jacy's 2-week appt. She weighed 6.01 lbs. We came in for a check 2 days later and she weighed 6.02 lbs. Her bili was also climbing which was making her sleep less. We went into the hospital expecting IV's and things to help her gain weight, but after 2 days and double time feeding and supplementing, we were able to get her weight up to 6.08. Another 2 days later we went in for a weight check 6.04 OOOOHHHH!! What a blow. While waiting for the doctor I fed her. We hadn't done anything different than in the hospital. After I fed her she weighed 6.11 after checking it 3 times in 3 places and still getting 6.11 we decided the first one was wrong and to follow up with another weight check. One day later she was 6.10. She looks good and is no longer yellow. We have an appointment with someone (gastro people I think?) To see if there is something else going on. I keep thinking if we can just get on an up hill, but it has been quite a battle to get there. All of my time is spent with her right now. I may have 10-20 minutes to help someone get dressed, do a hair-do, eat, blog (ha ha), but it goes by very quickly.

Mommy Story #5

This post is for those of you who like reading the "birthing story". If you don't, then don't read. I didn't think it would be to graphic, but maybe it is? Actually, I can't remember much but I do remember this was probably the most fun & silly birth most of us in the room have ever experienced.

First of all I had a walking epidural. Yes "walking"! It was awesome!!! and for those of you that deliver at the same local hospital I do, there's a new guy in town (anesthesiologist). He was great. I was able to walk to the bathroom with little or no help whenever I needed.

I remember feeling like it was taking FOREVER!!, but really...I started the 'pit' just before 2. Dr. F phoned to say he would be up in 20 min. to break my water around 3. We had Josh on the way, and were placing bets to see who would make it there first. Elaine, Josh, and Dr. all walked in the room together. Dr. F broke my water around 4:15ish. There was LOADS of it. Seriously! Anyway, I was expecting everything to happen within 20 minutes like it has before, but it didn't. I don't think I had enough contractions at that point to have things progress that rapidly.

We had been making jokes all day, cuz that is what we do you know. ;) and when Dr. F came in and asked me if another Dr. could 'catch the baby', it took me a few minutes to realize he was serious. Well when it finally came time that Dr. F said we could start pushing, I was so relieved. We had watched them set up and they had this big plastic garbage bag that catches everything else, but the way Dr. N was holding the bag, it looked like he was planning to catch the baby in the plastic garbage bag. We joked about it for a little bit. They really have all this new stuff since I had my last baby 20 months ago. Then on the second pushing try Dr. N was standing about two feet away and I was pushing and I said, "well aren't you gonna catch." It was pretty funny. I am not sure what was said during the next push, I only remember laughing so hard I was crying (really). Everyone in the room was laughing (except maybe Josh and Dr. F). We called that a no go for pushing. I remember Dr. N saying that the baby was moving down a teeny bit. SERIOUSLY!!! I was not about to push for two hours! The nurse asked if I would be willing to try something new (of course I was). She laid me back a little and had my grab my knees. One push later the head was out. Then instead of having me to one more big push, Dr. N had me push very slowly to help from tearing and stuff. I really liked it better. A couple of things to remember in the future: Laying in that position totally moves the pubic bone out of the way and makes things way easier for the baby and mommy, and it's totally ok to push slowly.

Dr. N said there were big shoulders and Josh said, "that means it's a boy". With the exception of me, everyone else in the room had already made up their minds it was a girl. That is the only time I can recall Josh there. I know he was standing by me the whole time, but he must have been in a lot of pain. Well Josh did get to cut the cord too.

I wish I could remember all the jokes and wise cracks. They have always made delivery way more fun, but this time was exceptionally fun. Of course all the jokes stopped immediately when "the baby girl" was out. She was every one's focus and priority.

It's my Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Jinaya!!!

Jinaya celebrated her 4th birthday in January. Because of all the events happening, Nana & Papa and Grama were all at our family party.






Nana helps Jinaya put the candles on the cake.









It was a super yummy white cake with creme filling.







Grama took Jinaya to pick out her cake. Jazel from Enchanted. Doesn't it look great!?!?!?






Jinaya is in Heaven with her new pillow pet!

Back Surgery

Woosh! What a ride! Besides ER visits, croup, weekly OB appointments, and twice a week hospital visits for NSTs (non stress tests) and ultrasounds, we also had a back surgery! We knew Josh needed surgery (we've been through this kind of pain before). Josh actually had this same surgery 4 years ago. I was 6 months pregnant with Jinaya. Josh had an MRI at the beginning of January. I immediately went into panic about when we could even plan for a surgery. Finally I turned the timing over to Heavenly Father and honestly Never thought about it again. We spent the rest of the month trying to get into a back specialist. Being on Self-pay makes it hard to see anyone. A lot of rigamarol later, we ended up seeing the back doctor in the ER. The first thing they asked if we were on the wrong floor, Labor and Delivery is on the fifth floor. ha ha. We soon realized how serious Josh's condition was. Josh was admitted into the hospital that night and had the back surgery the following night. It was late like 6:30pm.
I had the suspicion of surgery when they guy in the next bed was getting ready to go in. Then when the PA asked Josh when he last ate, I was sure. Josh was a little skeptical about the timing, and I just thought we already have everything set up for me to have the baby, it is very convenient for our parents who are already taking off work to help us out. We also learned that we had one of the best doctors in the nation. We were extremely blessed from Heavenly Father to be able to have this procedure. Josh did extremely well, up and walking around, we were ready to go home by 11am the next morning. (We did have a birthday party to get to.)I am so thankful for neighbors I can call at the very last minute to take care of my kids way into the night. I came home and took care of things while Josh 'hung-out' in the hospital. Plus I had to go in for a NST & BIO. My mom came up really late that night and stayed that weekend with the kids. Josh's parents also came down and took our two little ones, Jaythan and Jinaya, home with them for the week. What a lovely week. Our two older children learned a lot of valuable responsibility. Josh was so pleasant and nice. The week was very slow for me, but I kept busy with hospital and doctor visits.
Well Josh started to get into a little more pain after about 9-11 days. (our baby was born on day 10.) On day 11 I met him in the Ultrasound room at the hospital to check Josh for blood clots. He looked clear, but had the same pain symptoms as blood clotting. Josh finally was able to talk with the neurosurgeons office and found out that he had a couple more "-ectomy's" than we thought. They worked more on his bones and moved his nerves around more than a regular discectomy. Also, he had some pain meds right inside his back after the surgery that wore off at about a week and a half. Josh is still recovering. It is a long process. His progress is measured in millimeters rather than milestones. He can't lift 25 lbs. or more from the floor or above is waist for about 6 months. (not a typo) Jaythan is right around 25 lbs. and it has been quite a chore not to pick him up or get Jaythan off things he's been climbing on.
The pictures are of me taking the stitch out of Josh's back. The Doc just did one long stitch with no knots. It was pretty cool to take out. The scar left behind is healing very nicely.

Cutting The Tree

Jinaya, Jaxon, and Josh trek up the mountain in search of a wonderful Christmas tree to bring home.

Nana brought Papa Rob down special for the occasion. He took all the pictures.

Jaxon does the cutting with his saw.

This is the perfect tree. It looks small but we still had to cut a foot or two.

The Picnic in the back of the truck was the Best Part! Yummy Hot Chocolate!!!!

This was Josh's first time cutting down his own tree. He enjoyed it so much I think it's the start of a new tradition.