Colt's first Rodeo

So Saturday we stayed home all day. We had lots of visitors. Jared went four-wheeling with his brother. He came home and asked if it was okay if he went to the rodeo so of course I didn't mind. He left and went to eat with some guys. All of our visitors had left and I decided I wanted to get out. Friday night was such a stressful night and getting out really sounded good. So I called JAred and he came back to pick us up. It was the last night for the rodeo so it was really crowded. Colt stayed awake the whole time. He was so cute. So at 2 weeks old, Colt had his first trip to the rodeo! Also, we went to Jared's mom's boyfriends house Sunday night. He has alot of beautiful horses so we walked out to take a look at them. Colt was just thinking about eating so we didn't stay too long. So here's a few pictures of our weekend.
Margie and Luke came to visit

Samantha loved holding Colt

Uncle Jakie feeding Colt

His daddy talking to him about the rodeo

The whole family

He loves eating that hand


He wasn't too interested in the horses yet

First hospital visit

Well, it was the first since he's been discharged from the hospital. Friday he had a really hard time keeping anything down. He did so good on Thursday, I started to get relived thinking that this reflux thing has passed. But I was wrong. Friday the only feeding he kept down was at 6am. Every 3 hours he would eat and about an hour later, throw it all up. So about 6 that evening I started to worry. His spit up was now yellow so I knew there was nothing in his stomach except bile. So I called the Dr's office and they paged the Dr. for me. They called back and suggested I take him to Childrens to get him checked out before he gets too dehydrated. So we went and man oh man was that an experience. We definitely felt like the minority there. There were screaming yelling kids and parents. One parent was cussing at their child. Another was slapping her child's hand a little bit too hard. It was dirty and all I wanted to do was cover my child up so he wouldn't breath any sickness. So thankfully my Dr. called and referred me so we weren't last on the list. We didn't have to wait that long in the waiting room. We got into a room. The Dr. said he was a little dehydrated but everything else looked good. Because of his disease they wanted to make sure his colon was okay and not blocked. So they did an x-ray. It looked good. They basically said it was reflux and had him drink some pedialite and keep it down before they would let him go home. Well, he kept it down for about an hour and they did the paper work to let us go home. They gave us a prescription for medicine to help with his reflux. Right before we were about to leave, he spit up the pedialite. But they had already discharged us. So we had an eventful night. We left about 2:30 am and couldn't find a pharmacy that would fill the perscription. We went home and I fed him about 4am and he spit that up too. Finally the next morning, Jared went out to fill the perscription and as soon as we gave it to him, he's kept everything down. It's amazing how a little medicine can make all the difference. So he's great now. He's like a whole different baby because he likes to eat. I don't have to fight him to eat the amount he needs to eat and the best part of all.... he doesn't spit it all up. So that was our eventful Friday night

Surgery Update

Well we went to see the surgeon yesterday. He said Colt looked good. He wants to wait as long as possible to do the surgery so he can grow and get a little bigger. He said it would be anywhere between 3-6 months but probably closer to 3 months. That's as long as the irrigation continues to work. So maybe around Christmas time. I really hadn't planned on spending my Christmas break in the hospital but at least I wouldn't have to miss any more school. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Until then, we have to see the surgeon every two weeks. So between the pediatrician and the surgeon we'll be going to the Dr. alot. Okay, as for the spitting up.... I was so excited this morning to write on the blog "no spit ups in 24 hours" but my little man wanted to bust my bubble and he spit up his last bottle. It is probably my fault though. I'm trying to pump and feed him at the same time and obviously it didn't work. This was the mother of all spit ups too. It went all down my shirt, in his hair and ears and all over our bed. But the good news is he is nursing more often and keeping most of it down. I've been able to get him to eat 3 oz at a time and for the most part, he's keeping it down. So hopefully he's gaining weight. Oh and we gave him a bath for the first time. He's not really sure what to think about it. But he sure does smell nice and fresh when we're all done. Enjoy the pics

Not sure what to think of the bath

Right about this time, he's peeing on me through the towel

"Mom, why are you always taking my picture"

He's already such a big boy, holding his pacifier all by himself

This is how he likes to sleep.... how precious!

I finally started putting him down in his bassinet... He doesn't mind it so much.

Another bath time picture. This is right before he started screaming. Guess he doesn't like the bath too much yet.

More pictures

Colt had his first Dr.'s appt today. The Dr. thought he looked great. Everything was perfect. The only thing he is a little concerned with is his weight. Typically babies are supposed to be back at their birth weight at 2 weeks and he's not quite there. But hes had a rough couple of weeks. So we'll work on gaining weight. He's been spitting up still so we're gonna have to do something about that if it doesn't get better. The Dr. wants to see him in a few weeks to make sure he's gaining weight. If the spit up continues then we'll try some medicine for reflux. So one Dr. down and one more to go this week. We see the surgeon tomorrow. So here's a few more pictures from yesterday and today. We put together his bouncer. We're hoping that will help him not spit up after he eats since he can sit up in it.

Our First Night

Well, we survived out first night at home. Between irrigating, pumping, feeding and changing his diaper I don't know when we're supposed to sleep. I guess this is what everyone has warned us about. I will be glad when he learns how to nurse and that will eliminate at least one thing that keeps me awake. I was excited this morning because he nursed really well but tonight he wasn't interested again. I hope he hasn't gotten too used to the bottle. We'll keep working on it. The irrigation thing is really messy. We're gonna have to figure out a better place to do it. Today he not only squirted poop on the changing table but it got on the wall! So we might try his bath tub. He's a trooper though. He doesn't like it but he tolerates it. Hopefully we won't have to do it for too much longer. So, the Dr. gave me permission to drive today. Jared is going back to work tomorrow so I'm on my own for the first time. I think I'll sleep when he sleeps. Today was a busy day and we didnt have any time to relax. Wednesday is his peditrician appt and Thursday is the appt with his surgeon. So hopefully tomorrow will be a nice peaceful day. Here's some pictures

He's Home!!!

Well, this won't be a long post because obviously the last thing I want to do now is be on the computer when I could be holding my sweet boy. But I did want to update everyone on what is going on. He was discharged today. The Dr. tried to get him to stay another day buy Jared spoke up and compromised with her. She said if he could eat two more feedings without spitting up, then she would discharge him. So he made us proud. We got home about 6 this evening. We've already done an irrigation. And i think I'll let Jared do it from now on because he peed and pooped all over me and his changing table again. But at least he's pooping. That's a good thing. So now he's laying on my chest as we watch the emmy's together. I'll post pictures later.

Still not home

WARNING - THIS IS A LONG, VERY INFORMATIVE, PROBABLY VERY BORING POST....
Well, I guess we were wishful thinking when we thought he would be coming home this weekend. He's still doing good. He just got a different Dr. that had a different opinion than the one who has been seeing him. The one who's been seeing him from day one went on vacation starting yesterday. Before she left she told us she thought he would be going home on Saturday or Sunday. So of course we got all excited. But the Dr. that is covering her is a little overly cautious. While I appreciate her looking out for my son, I think it's time for him to be home. Basically, he's spitting up when he eats. But he was eating about 2 to 3 oz every two hours and spitting up maybe 5-10 mL. She thinks that is too much to spit up. But when Jared and I are there and we feed him and keep him really still for about 15-20 minutes after he eats, he doesn't spit up. So I argued with the Dr. that I really don't think his spitting up is related to his disease. I told her that I really thought he would eat better at home with his parents being the ones to feed him. But she thinks that is a "red flag" so our hands are tied. Also, the person last night that weighed him put down that he weighed 9.3. The night before he was 9.8. So that was a significant weight loss so that was another "red flag" that concerned her. So we stayed up there all day today and fed him at every feeding. And, just as I thought, he didn't spit up when we fed him. Also, when the nurse weighed him tonight he was 9.7. So either he gained 4 oz in the past 24 hours or they didn't weigh him right last night. The nurse tonight said that whoever weighed him last was obviously wrong. Oh, also she put a call in to the surgeon to come access him. She basically gave him her opinion and she came back to tell us that he agreed with her. So we asked to talk to him. When he talked to us, he didn't agree with her at all and thought there's no reason he should still be there. He said he probably just likes to spit up like any other baby. But by the time he came, the Dr. was already gone and she has to be the one to discharge him. So she'll be back in the morning. Hopefully, the nurse tonight will honor our request and hold him for a little while after she feeds him and he won't spit up. And hopefully the Dr. will read the surgeons notes and see that he thought he should go home. So that may be more information than anyone really cared to know about. We were just a little frustrated today. Our hands are tied and our opinion doesn't really matter. I know I'm not a Dr. but I really didn't think his disease had anything to do with him spitting up. And the surgeon agreed so hopefully the Dr. will let him come home tomorrow or Monday. Oh and she also ordered an upper GI series to make sure there's not obstruction in his bowels (which is what started all this in the first place). And of course, as I suspected, it was perfectly clear. He's just a normal baby that spits up alot. So, I've learned through all of this that it's very hard to be patient and kind to the Dr.s when it comes to your child. I hate feeling like I know what's best for my child and I can't do anything about it.I know that he will be home in the next few days so I'm really trying to be understanding and trusting of the DR. And we are appreciative of all the nurses and Dr.s that have taken care of him. I do have a funny story from today. I was doing the rectal irrigation today and he started to pee on me. It's hard enough to cover it up when I'm changing his diaper but I was trying to put the tube up his rear when he started to pee so there wasn't much I could do. Then he finished peeing and as I'm still trying to put the tube in, he shot poop right out. So that was fun. He not only peed on me today but he pooped on me too. Yesterday Jared did the irrigation and he didn't pee or poop on his daddy. So this little boy is already grounded when he comes home! I'm sure his dad will get peed or pooped on eventually. So, overall today was an okay day. We're getting closer and closer to him coming home. So continue to keep us in your prayers. Also, you can pray for me and have a little more patience with the Dr. We appreciate all the prayers your sending our way.

Almost Home!

Today was another good day. Colt is continuing to eat and poop good. The Dr. anticipates him coming home on Saturday or Sunday. Today they increased his feedings to 2 oz which is what he needs to be eating. They took him off of the iv. He still had it in today but they'll take it out tomorrow as long as they don't have to give him nutrients through it again. We got a little taste of parenthood today. He spit up on me and Jared both. Yesterday when Jared was changing his diaper, he starting to pee but Jared caught it in time. I'm sure that's the first of many. He also burps really well and is "tooting" alot too. So his insides seem to all be working very well. I guess it's another thing we get excited about that maybe most parents don't. So tomorrow night we get to stay at the hospital in a room with Colt. He'll be in a regular crib in a hospital room with us. Most moms get a few nights with their newborn with nurses help. But since they took him right after he was born, we never got that one on one time with him. So this is something they offer to NICU moms at no charge. So really tonight is our last night without him. I'm so excited. I just pray that he gets through the last night continuing to do really good with eating and pooping. Then hopefully we'll bring our boy home on Saturday night. So I'll keep everyone updated. I can't wait to bring him home!

Still the cutest boy in the world!


This is how he reacts to his diaper change

He always has this expression on his face like he's so curious

A Great Day

Today we spent several hours at the hospital. He has been keeping down all his feedings. The only time he spits up a little is when they do a rectal irrigation right before they feed him. So they are gonna try to not do the irrigation thing right before the feed him. I think it kinda upsets his stomach. So we got there at 2 which was right after one of his feedings. We took a onesie up there so he could actually wear some clothes. We barely got it over his head when he spit up all over it! So we just decided he could stay naked for a while. I think another reason he spit up that time is because they gave him formula instead of my milk. She said they were out but she just didn't look in the freezer. When she looked, she found it. So he barely got used to the breast milk and they gave him formula so I don't think he liked it. But since then, he's kept everything down. He's even pooping a little bit too. The Dr. seemed impressed and said he just needs to keep it up for a few days in order to go home. They increased his feedings to 1 oz every 3 hours. She wants him to be eating 2-3 oz every feeding before he goes home. So maybe she'll increase it a little more tomorrow.She also let me try to nurse today but he wasn't too interested yet. It wasn't time for him to eat but I had to pump so we tried. He just slept. Hopefully he'll get the hang of it when he comes home. So Jared was super dad today. He changed his diaper, fed him and held him most of the time we were there. He's so good with him. Even the nurse said yesterday that he was very good with him. So we're counting down the days. Hopefully he'll continue to do good and he can come home soon. I'm posting lots of pictures. Enjoy.

Lots of firsts

Well yesterday, our Internet was down so I couldn't write about our exciting day. We were so excited about the news that our son might come home if he could just eat and poop good for a few days. When we got to the hospital they told us the first feeding didn't go so well. He threw it all up. So we were a little bummed but also realized that that was his first feeding. He's never had anything in his belly so the Dr. wasn't that concerned that he didn't' take the first feeding. So before I could give my opinion the Dr. must have read my mind. She wanted to try again and let me feed him. So I fed him (still my milk but out of a bottle) and we held him upright so he wasn't laying flat on his back in his bed. We waited a few hours and guess what.... He kept it all down. So one down and several to go before they'll let him come home. So we left to eat dinner with our cousins and came back in time for his next feeding. This one wasn't as successful but he still kept some of it down. They're starting out giving him 15 mL which is half an ounce every 3 hours. At 4 he only took 10 but he kept it all down. At spit up 5 but kept 5 down. I called this morning and all night he got down all 15 every feeding and only spit up 5. So I think he's doing better and better the more he eats. It's just gonna be a slow process. But we're happy with the progress. Hopefully now it will all come out the other end and he'll prove he can eat and poop so he can come home. Okay so for the firsts.... I changed his diaper for the first time(Most moms can't say that after their baby is a week old). I fed him for the first time. I took his temperature. The nurses are great about letting me help do some of the things I've been missing out on. So all in all it was a good day. I did take some great pictures but I left the camera by his bed so we'll have to post them later. Keep the prayers coming and maybe our precious boy will get to come home soon.

Finally some news!

The Dr. just called. He does have Hirschsprungs disease but they don't know how long the segment is. The Dr. wants them to start feeding him my milk and see how he does. If he can digest it good then they will send him home in a few days. The Dr. doesn't want to do surgery right now. He wants to see how well he does first. If he does good then it is just a short segment and surgery may not be necessary. If it's a long segment then he won't be able to digest much and they will talk about surgery sooner. The Dr. wants to see him back 2 weeks after he is discharged to see how well he is doing. So now we pray that he does well eating. She said today they would bottle feed him with my milk and if he does well today, tomorrow I can actually nurse him to see how well he does with that. So hopefully we're looking at Thursday or Friday if he does well. So pray, pray, pray that our little man can eat and poop the next few days so he can come home where he belongs. I can't wait to see him without the tube down his mouth. They are still leaving the iv in and giving him some nutrients through that because they won't give him all the milk he needs at once. They'll only give him a little to see how well he does. So we'll be down to only one iv and no tubes. Thanks for all of you who have been praying for him. Keep them coming and maybe he'll come home soon.

No news yet

I know there are several out there who check the blog for updates. So I just wanted to write and say that we haven't heard anything yet. I guess God is testing our patience because it seems like we've been waiting forever to get some kind of news. Thursday they told us it would be Friday. Then Friday they said Monday morning. Now it's 3:15 and still nothing. We just left the hospital again. The Dr. said she called the pathology lab this morning. They told her they would get the final results to her by late this afternoon or tomorrow. So one more day of waiting. I keep think he will be home with us eventually but everyday that goes by it just gets harder and harder without him here. Jared is going to have to go back to work soon. We were kinda hoping to have some kind of plan and know when Colt would be back before he had to go back to work. But I know everything will work out. A big thanks to everyone who has offered to take me to the hospital and cook us dinner and offer anything we need. Right now, it's hard to know what we need. Hopefully we'll know more when we know when we can bring him home. Also, thanks to everyone who is praying for our little guy. He always seems so perfectly content when we go see him. Right now he's usually sleeping all day and awake all night. Maybe he'll break that habit before he comes home! I didn't take many pictures today. He was sleeping so peacefully and I hated to disturb him with the flash. I'm sure in a few years, he'll be annoyed with my picture taking. If I hear anything later today, I will let
everyone know.

Another Day

I don't have any new news today but I thought I'd share some new photo's. He's doing great. I did have a "proud mama" moment today. He was crying and as soon as I picked him up and put him against my chest he stopped. It was so sweet. I felt like I was the only one in the world who could make him happy. Hopefully we'll have some more news tomorrow.

We are blessed

Today, I decided to try and think of all the positive things that we should be looking at. When we go see Colt, we have to pass by a few other babies in the NICU. There's 66 babies in the whole unit. They come from all over because Baylor has one of the best NICU units. But in Colt's nursery there's 4 other babies. The biggest one was born weighing 3lbs4oz. There's a set of twin girls who were triplets at birth. One was 1 lb3 oz and 1 lb4 oz and 12oz. Obviously one didn't make it. It is so sad to see how tiny they are and know that they will be there for a long time. So here I am so sad that they are going to keep my baby for another week or so. I can look at them and know that I really have so much to be thankful for. It could be so much worse. So I'm trying to keep my chin up and know that he will be home with us very soon. Today my parents went up there and stayed for a few hours just holding him. I'm very thankful for that so he doesn't have to be alone so much. I would sit up there all day if I could. I just know I need to be trying to heal and rest as much as possible. They took the iv out of his head and put it in his arm. He's having a hard time because he loved to suck on his hand. Now it's all wrapped up and he can't suck on it. It's kinda cute but sad in a way. I'm just glad it's not in his head anymore. He's starting to get really fussy because he's so hungry. They have an iv in him but that doesn't satisfy his hunger. Today, while I went to pump, Jared held him for a while. He said he starting screaming at Jared and it took a minute to get him to calm down. I thought it was kinda funny because we haven't had to deal with any screaming yet. I never thought I would appreciate the sound of his cry. So I came back from pumping and held him. I felt so bad because he wanted to nurse because he was hungry but he can't eat yet. Hopefully he'll be a good eater when he finally gets to eat. We stayed for a while and said goodbye for the night. He's just so perfect and precious. He's definitely going to be spoiled when he comes home. I never thought I could love something so much. I am thankful for all of you who are keeping us in your prayer. I know that I could not get through any of this without the strength from God. I'll try to take more pictures tomorrow when we go up there so I can post more. He changes so much everyday.

No definate answers yet

Well, today wasn't the best day. I had to leave my room. We had to leave the hospital without our son. It was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I know that he will be fine and God is taking care of him. I just hate not having him here with me. I hate not being able to give him what he needs to make him better. I hate not being able to just pick him up because he has all these tubes in his mouth and arm. So now that I've vented for a minute, I'll try to be more positive. We did find out some news today but once again, it's nothing for sure. The biopsy they did is still being looked at. They've gone through some of it and haven't found any cells which means it's looking like he has the disease. But they still have more tissue to go through. So there's still a little hope that there will be some of the nerve cells in parts of the tissue they haven't gone through. They will be done going through the cells by Monday morning and will make the final conclusion then. Once that is made, they'll be able to decide what to do. Honestly if he has the disease, I just want to know so we can make a plan and bring him home. Of course I'd rather him not have it but if he does than we'll deal with it and do what it takes to make him better so we can bring him home. I just want my baby home with us. So that's the news we got today. I was hoping for something better but we'll deal with what we got. I know that there's a reason for all of this and God has a plan for us. I have faith that God will take care of him when his mama can't. As always, please continue to keep us in your prayers and know that we appreciate all of them.

A good day

Today has been a good day. I am starting to feel better and move around better since my c-section. Also, we went back to see Colt after the anesthesia wore off.He was more alert than we've ever seen him. Since we can't be with him all the time, we don't get to see those certain faces or noises he makes. We've never even changed his diaper. The nurses have been great at telling us little cute things that he does and funny noises he'll make. I really appreciate the nurses in the NICU because they're helping me not miss out on so many things. The nurse also said he had been pooping alot. She had to keep changing his diaper. She said that was a very good sign. The whole blockage could've been that the merconium (the tar like poop that babies have when they are first born). Sometimes the poop is so tarry that it blocks the intestine. So this morning they did this irrigation thing that was supposed to help cleanse him. Well, it's working cause he's pooped alot today. So we're not getting out hopes up. HE could still have this Hirschsprungs disease and if he does, we'll deal with it. But it would be wonderful if he doesn't have it. We would be able to take him home. We still won't take him home with us tomorrow either way. If he doesn't have the disease, they will still keep him for a few days to see how well he eats and digests it. So alot of things will be decided tomorrow. I hope they dont wait all day to contact us. We're gonna stay at the hospital as long as we can tomorrow. I think we have to be out by midnight. So please, please, please everyone say your prayers tonight that he will be disease free and we can take our precious boy home very soon! Here's a few more pictures from today.