What a trooper!

As most of you know Lily has had two and a half weeks of poking and prodding by various doctors. Before she was even 24 hours old Lily was diagnosed with Aortic Stenosis. This is a defect of the aortic valve. Lily's valve seems to be functioning properly but is thicker than normal and causes a murmur. This is something that we will have to monitor closely with her pediatric cardiologist. In the hospital she had EKG's and sonograms to determine that this is the cause. Since she was a preemie, she had temperature and blood sugar tests every three to four hours in the hospital. She was also a little jaundiced and had to go through that test. Lily also had the PKU test and her first immunization while in the hospital. Through it all the only time she cried was when she was cold or the nurse changed her diaper. Before losing the hospital the nurses were concerned that she had lost 7% of her birth weight leaving her at 5 pounds 7 ounces. But she passed the preemie car seat test and her pediatrician sent us home on Friday.
Monday morning we were at the pediatrician's office for the traditional 48 hour check. Here they check weight, get her officially on the records and answer any questions we may have had. She had been doing well and we were officially nervous about the cardiologist appointment scheduled at Scottish Rite for the following day. We were told that Lily was maintaining weight but had not gained any so they wanted us back for a weight check in a week. On Tuesday we went to the cardiologist, where we got good news. Lily was such a trooper. She only cried again at being cold, she passed her blood pressure check, temperature check, EKG. We spoke to one of the nurse practitioners where she spoke in generalities while we waited for the doctor. We then went for a repeat ultrasound of the heart. Lily slept through the entire 30 minutes of the technician taking over 95 pictures of Lily's heart. The doctor then came and spoke to us about how mild Lily's case is and that they don't want to see us until two months. He did stress to us that the thickening will not get better, will either remain the same or get worse. However he was very optimistic and we are hoping to make it through the first year without need of intervention. The first intervention would consist of a heart catherization where they would blow up a small balloon at the valve to make it open more efficiently. They only do this when absolutely necessary so moderate to severe cases. So this is why we pray for Lily's heart valve to remain the same for a while. We were extremely relieved leaving the cardiologist and ready to finish getting the house ready for a newborn. (I had failed in my nesting to complete before the water broke.)
This is when the other shoe dropped. On Wednesday morning, the pediatrician called to inform us that sections of the PKU had come back abnormal. We rushed ourselves to Scottish Rite to perform a blood test and collect a urine sample. Again Lily only cried when they took off her diaper to put a bag on her to collect urine. By the way - impossible to catch urine in a bag and not catch other things too. So after a few hours we called the pediatrician and had them fax over an order for a catheter. We then went a week with nothing new. Just eating, sleeping and pooping for Lily. On Wednesday we were back for our weight check. Lily had gained 11 ounces in 9 days(Yahoo!) The blood test from the repeat PKU came back with all normal levels (Yahoo!) but there was no info on the urine test. It seems the lab at Scottish Rite never sent it in, because it was not enough for the required test. However, they never called us or the pediatrician to let us know that we needed to redo the test. So Lily had to have another catheter and the pediatrician sent off the sample themselves to insure it got there. So now we have another week of waiting for those results. In the meantime Mommy got a flu shot, Grace got the flu sniffer and Daddy got the TDapp shot and a flu sniffer. We are hopefully all vaccinated and will remain healthy for the rest of this year.
We now hope that we are done with doctors for at least two weeks, minus a phone call, and can start some kind of a routine. Lily is still growing, Grace is loving being a big sister and one day I will get all the laundry finished(both Grandmas are trying, but I swear it is multiplying while we are sleeping).

Lillian Caroline "Lily" Campbell

She's here! She was born Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 4:23 in the afternoon. She weighed 6 lbs and was 19 1/2 inches long. Mommy's water broke Sunday night around 2:00 am and she didn't truly realize it until noon on Monday. After a quick stop at the OB it was a long afternoon and night at the hospital. We are all at home and doing well. We will update when time allows. Here are a few other photos.

Baby Update

The doctor was very positive today. Pumpkin was resting comfortably, heart just beating away. She did say that it might be possible to induce earlier than the 24th but only by a week. I am not sure why but this did make me feel better. Pumpkin is measuring right at 34 weeks, seemingly in the ready to go position. My blood pressure is good, 110 over 60 and I only gained a pound in two weeks, even with that yummy cake last week.
Pumpkin's most active times seem to be between 7 pm and 7 am or any other time that I am trying to rest. With Grace being very active between 6:30 am and 8:00 pm, it seems there is no rest for the weary. We went to lunch today with a dear friend from my public school days and I think Grace talked the entire time. Poor Sherry didn't know what she was in for. However she did pay me back by giving Grace two chocolate filled cookies that kept her talking all afternoon.
We are looking forward to our fall break, no school or dance next week. Mommy is hoping for some rest, but the nesting has also set in and there is much to do. Poor Tom is never sure what he is coming home to. I have a feeling this may get worse. Anyway we are still working on the name thing, just DON"T ASK! Keep praying for us and we will keep you updated.

The Shower

SO, t minus seven weeks and the countdown continues. Pumpkin's soon to be arrival was celebrated last evening with good friends, family and neighbors. There was plenty of good food, great cake and lots of pink everywhere. Grace had a great time and got a few big sister presents of her own. I think her favorite is the Tinkerbell toy house that her BFF's Joshua and Caleb gave her. She has played with it non-stop since 9:30 last evening with only moments of sleeping and eating. Pumpkin got lots of pink bibs, burp cloths, blankets and pink and brown clothes; she will be donning all the latest fashions when she finally arrives. She even received her first ballet outfit from Mommy's friends at the dance studio. Pumpkin will also be sporting a Vera Bradley diaper bag (how swanky), it is beautiful and extremely sweet of our best friends the Hughes and their Big Momma and Big Daddy. Mommy was also excited to get a few gift cards to help purchase those necessities, diaper pail, feeding instruments and other things people don't like to buy for shower presents.
Mommy has started the washing process. The nursery is set with furniture, sheets are washed and there are some diapers ready to be used. Next is washing all the gear for everyday needs, the swing, bouncy seat and car seat covers all need to be washed. However they do have to come out of storage before that can happen. Mommy is also trying to get the guest room ready for all the visitors who will be coming to help.
Next week we head back to the doctor for the 34 week checkup and from there we go every two weeks to every week. Mommy is hoping for an earlier arrival than Oct. 24th but no signs yet, other than Braxton hicks, acid reflux and wishing for a full night of sleep. But so far so good, the doctors are optimistic and Mommy keeps on trucking at the preschool and at the dance studio. Keep us all in your prayers; it may end up being a long 7 weeks after all.

Some neighbors are good, some are great, some may even be heroic, but some of God's creatures' I never want to see in my neighborhood. NO I am not racist, I am talking about the slithery, slimy ones - SNAKES! Yesterday before dinner we had a guest COPPERHEAD in our garage. Tom provided the photos. He was not moving and we assume had been literally flushed from his underground habitat due to all the rain from the Fay leftovers. He put us in a precarious position in that he put himself in the path to the killer shovels. Luckily one of our heroic neighbors was able to come help Tom trap and kill the nasty thing and bag him up in the trash. Unfortunately we have a whole week of waiting for him to be picked up by the garbage man.

I am still freaked out and hoping it was a one time thing. I can deal with boogers, snot and even some bugs but I never want to see another snake anywhere near my house. So needless to say, I won't be going into my garage without looking 6 times and turning on all the lights.

First Day of School

Today was Grace's first day of 4 year old preschool. I have slowly been able to pick her brain for information. She enjoyed centers where she played with lots of play-dough, markers and the babies in the house center. She enjoyed reading "The Kissing Hand", one of my favorites, and made a little craft to go along with it. She also got to make a first day of school hat and wore it home. The only bad part seems to be that she is back to not eating lunch at school. I need to remember snacks for the car ride home. I think her favorite part of the day was the birthday celebration for one of her new friends also named Grace, who brought her favorite, OREO'S! Hopefully she will enjoy tomorrow just as much.

Tomorrow is my first day at the preschool. I get to look forward to carpool, crying 3 year olds and making sure everything runs smoothly. I know I will be pooped out. After school we have to run to Grace's ballet class and then home. Hopefully I will get to nap afterwards but we will see.

This weekend we are looking forward to setting up the baby's room and buying her a mattress. We will think of a name soon, we have 8 weeks right?

First Flight and More

On Tuesday July 29th, I know two weeks ago, Grace took her first flight. We arrived at the airport in style in a Lincoln Town Car. The driver was so nice; he even had a sucker for Grace. After struggling through security and an emergency on the escalators (not ours, another small child and open toed shoes) we made it to the concourse. We had some time to kill so we ate a doughnut with Grandma Suzanne and watched the planes take off, Grace announcing each one. "Mommy look there goes an airplane; mommy look there goes another one." This was said amongst the squeals of excitement of seeing all the airplanes take off. I know the other passengers were all hoping we were not on their flight. As Grandma Suzanne left for her concourse, Grace and I went to buy something to chew on the plane. We decided on Gummy Bears and Chips. The flight went well, even though there were a few squeals as the plane took off and she could see things and once we were "taller than the clouds." We each got a Ginger Ale to drink and Grace enjoyed her peanuts and chips. She read a few books and played with her princess magnets too. Luckily it was only a little over an hour in the air. We flew over the ocean and we saw Grandma and Popop's house in Cortez as we were coming in for a landing.

While in Florida we had a great time staying with Grandma and Popop. We ate good food, swam in their pool and got to go to the beach 3 times. Grace had a blast playing with her "best cousin" Faith (I think she is combining best friend and cousin here.) and Campbell too. We went to the beach two times with them. Grace and Faith bogy boarded, picked up shells, played ball with Campbell and wore themselves out. Grace was back to napping. It also was fun to have a girls' night with Faith and Grace spending the night.

Tom and I were able to go see a movie with his sister Jen and brother-in-law Jake. We saw Batman The Dark Knight. I was not thrilled with the movie. It was definitely over-hyped and more than a little disturbing. The best part was the TCBY yogurt we snuck into the theater. The kids were also asleep when we got back to the house which was nice too and the grandparents were still breathing and not cursing at us for leaving them with three children under the age of 6.
The long car ride back was rough on the preggo one. Swollen ankles and many pit stops later, we were glad to make it home before rush hour truly started. Cody was glad to be home too, after 5 days at the Kennel and 3 with Grandma and Papa. We spent the rest of the week recovering and doing laundry. We went to the pool once, the OB for a checkup and the dentist for Grace. That is a whole other story.
I started work at the Dance Studio Saturday. I loved it. I have 3 classes that are absolutely wonderful. It was hard work and I took a big nap, and found some muscles that had been out of work for a while, but it was well worth it. I can't wait for this Saturday to do it again. We even have a website: www.danceimagination.com.
This all brings us to today; I went back to the perinatologist for the final ultrasound. Grace and Grandma Suzanne went with me. Pumpkin was not in the mood for pictures but the technician was able to get a few 3-D face shots. Grace told the nurse her sister's name is Emily. We are still undecided but know that in 10 weeks she will have a name. The doctor estimates that she is already over 3 pounds and looks very healthy. In a few weeks, Grace will take a big sister class to learn how to hold the baby and things she can do to help mommy. She was very excited to go with mommy to the doctor today. But she did get anxious at the gel put on mommy's belly, and wanted them to get it off. All said and done it was good to show her parts of the hospital and get to see the baby moving. She has told everyone about it since returning home.
Well I have one more day off and then I start at the preschool. I am looking forward to working with Grace's teacher from last year and learning a whole new system. It is going to be a rough couple of weeks but starting the 23rd I will only be there 2 times a week.
I think that is all but I will try to update more often.