Another Day and another Weigh in

Yesterday my Mom came over again to help me out! Thank goodness for Mom's.... I told her she needed to check into taking short term to help me out ha ha! This 3 kids business is insane!! Lesson learned DON'T have your kids 13 months apart especially when one is stuck to you like glue... NOT a good idea! Paisley is super cute with Bronson though, she loves to give him kisses on his head and tries to be soft when she rubs his head, she's a sweet little girl. Gavin is loving being a big brother, he loves holding Bronson and keeps telling us who of his friends he's lined up to hold him next!!
I took Bronson in for another weigh in today and he still hasn't gained any weight, so we have to go back in on Tuesday. He is already 3 weeks old! I can't believe it! I hate that I have only had him home for a week of it, but I'll just be happy that I have him home!! He sure is a handsome boy!!

Another Day

Today we went in for another weigh in for Bronson... he isn't gaining anything, today he lost 1/2 an ounce which isn't a huge deal but he needs to start gaining weight!! He has been doing good though, such a cute little guy! Paisley has been super jealous and has to be attatched to me or she is crying. SOOO much fun! She had her 1 year check up on Monday and had to get 3 shots... since then its not been too much fun. She is sick now and she has a really bad diaper rash that nothing seems to be taking care of... its so sad, she just screams when its time to change her. Poor thing. Gavin is trying to be a good big brother, he thinks he should be able to walk around with Bronson, I barely trust myself to walk around with him ha ha!! My Mom has come over the last couple days, she's been such a big help through all of this!! I asked her one day if she ever watched Jon and Kate plus 8 and she said No... we're living it! ha ha!! I appreciate all their help, especially since we weren't anticipating all of this!!

The Best Day Ever!

Yesterday we were able to bring home Bronson!!! We are so excited to have him home!! Gavin and Paisley were able to "meet" their new little brother for the 1st time yesterday, since its RSV season they won't let little kids into the NICU to see the babies.

Saturday to Sunday Dallas and I stayed at the hospital. We were able to keep him in the room with us and try and help him get the hang of eating. He did really well. Sunday we were suprised to hear that there was a possiblity of him coming home on Monday! We were so excited!! This whole time we've been there they kept telling us to expect our due date to take him home which was February 9th! So for him to come home he needed to take everything by mouth and not through the feeding tube, and also to gain weight! He did great with eating but lost a lot of weight, so early Monday morning we were told to not be too dissapointed if he wasn't able to come home. Then a few hours later we got a call from the Nurse Practitioner who told us that he for sure would be coming home!! YIPEE!!!

Anyways we do still have to take him in to the Pediatrician every other day for weigh ins to make sure he is gaining weight. Then I can only nurse him every other feeding and the opposite feedings I have to pump and then fortify the milk so he gets extra calories.

So needless to say we are all so happy he is finally home!!! Here are a few pictures I took of him today!!

Paisley's 1st pony tail!!!

Finally Paisley has enough hair to attempt to put in a ponytail and today we accomplished the task!! She only left it in for as long as it took to take these pictures but hey she still looked super cute!! Oh and the good ol picture of her on the dishwasher!! Too cute!

Finally a bath for Bronson

Yesterday we were able to give Bronson his first "real" bath... all I can say is THANK GOODNESS!! I was so happy he was finally going to smell like a little baby and not like a hospital. He had just had a "spit bath" prior to this one which was done after he was born, but this was much better!! He is our only kid that actually loved the bath. They had us wrap him in a blanket and put him and the blanket in the water. I still let Dallas give him the bath since this is normally what the Dad's get to do. He would wash one arm and then have to cover it up and move to the next, this was so he would keep his body temperature while we were giving him the bath. Bronson just layed there, he was super quiet and just seemed to love it, until we took him out of the water then he cried a tiny bit! He is such a handsome boy! They took out his feeding tube and all the wires off of him for his bath, it was nice to see him without everything hooked on him. After the bath I loaded him up on the baby lotion and then he was set!!

As far as what is still keeping him at the hospital... he just needs to learn how to eat. There isn't a set number of days that this will happen in, but I'm hoping soon... it'll be so nice to have him home and not have to drive up to the hospital every day. I do have to go in for 2 of his feedings now to try and help move things along. Since he is off the oxygen and everything he did get to move to a "big boy bed" that's always exciting!! He did stop breathing on Sunday which when that happens he has to for sure stay for 7 more days, so the soonest if he caught on to everything super fast would be Sunday unless he has another "event" again. So we'll see how it goes! Enjoy the pictures!!

Update on Bronson

Bronson is doing a lot better, he's made quite the improvement since he was born a week and a day ago. I can't believe that much time has gone by, and yet I am still going up to the hospital to see him everyday and still not coming home with him... I can tell you this much... its HARD!

As of yesterday he came off the oxygen and is on "room air" he's been able to maintain all the levels since he's been off the oxygen as well!! They are increasing his feedings and at the same time decreasing the iv's. As of today his iv is basically sugar water and they are hoping to have the iv out within 48 hours! This would be great!! Right now his iv is in his head... its HORRIBLE to look at, but this is his 5th iv so there wasn't much to choose from as far as places they could put one. Yesterday I got to try and nurse him for the 1st time, he would open his mouth but that was it. Today however, I can assure you that he knows what he is doing!!!

I sure love my sweet boy! I can't wait until they tell me I can take him home! Then I can't wait for Gavin and Paisley to be able to finally meet their new little brother!

Dallas has been such a sweetheart during all of this! I couldn't ask for a better husband. He has to put up with my meltdowns too and from the hospital and is nothing but sweet while I try to stop myself from crying. I sure do love him.

My kids are doing great. Dallas' Mom has been in town since Bronson was born helping out! I don't know what we would have done without her. Paisley is just as happy as can be and Gavin is pretty good on entertaining himself! I am certainly thankfull for my little family!! Here are some more pictures of Bronson... I need to remember to take pictures of the other two, but I'm either sleeping or laying down if I'm not at the hospital!!

Updates and Pictures of Bronson

Monday I came home from the hospital, it is SO hard to leave my little guy there. I know the nurses that are taking care of him are excellent and very knowledgeable and they are watching his every breath, but I just want him home with me and my family. We came home around 12:30 in the afternoon and when I got home I just sat in my room and cried... its amazing how you can miss someone you just met.

Bronson is doing well though, he was able to come off of the cpap machine yesterday, and has done pretty good with that. They also started feeding him breastmilk yesterday. Up until then he had just been getting the nutrients needed through iv's. The first couple of feedings he had were a little tough for him, and he threw up what he was getting. Since then he seems to have got the hang of feedings. Today they increased the amount he was getting and he still has done well. He has had a couple of "episodes" where he will quit breathing which makes his heart rate drop and the nurses rush in and have to stimulate him by rubbing his back quickly or flipping his foot or moving him around, anything to stimulate him so he remembers to breath. Each time this happens he has to stay another 7 days to make sure he doesn't have any more of these. He is doing a little better at getting the extra water weight to come off. We need to pray for pee!! :) All in all he is doing what a preemie his age should and would be expected to do. We have been told to expect him to come home on his due date (February 9th) and if he comes home sooner then it will be our lucky day!!

Dallas has been off work and its been great to have him around, especially for me, and being my support. I swear I am going to have a melt down every other day... poor Dallas has to deal with me... but he doesn't seem to mind too much!

Gavin and Paisley are doing great. Dallas' Mom came into town Thursday when Bronson was born and has been nice enough to stay a week and help out. She has been such a great help with the kids and making it possible to go up and see Bronson. Gavin is dying to see his baby brother, but unfortuneately since it is RSV season they won't allow him into the NICU. He's been pretty good about that.

Paisley got her ear surgery to get tubes in the same day Bronson was born. My parents were able to take her and be there for her since I couldn't be. Everything went well with that, and she is one happy little girl!!

That's the update for now! Here's a few more pictures of Bronson enjoy... he's one handsome little guy!

Bronson is Here!!!

Hello Everyone, I just wanted to let you all know that our little guy is here! Bronson Dallas Schmidt was born on 01/08/09 at 7:40 pm weighing 5 lbs 7 oz 20 inches long and lots of hair! He was 5 weeks early and because of that his lungs aren't all the way developed. Right now he is on breathing machines and he has to be on the C Pap which he hates, they have to give hime a sedative to prevent him from pulling at the tubes. The Dr's say he needs to start peeing more to start getting better, so pray for pee!! I've been able to hold him twice. And was able to finally see him Friday night. He sure is a cutie!! I will update the blog when I get a chance or when I get new info!! As for visitors that would like to see Bronson just let me know! We'll be at the hospital a lot so we'll just make sure we're there when you are wanting or able to come up just make sure you are not sick!! Since it is RSV Season unfortuneatly no kids will be able to see him until he comes home. (Gavin is dying to see his little brother!!). Here are a few pictures of Bronson

My Day

I can't believe how quiet my house is with out my boy being home! Today is Breanna's wedding, I am so sad I'm not going to be there. I know she will be a beautiful bride and her wedding will be just as beautiful. I sure wish her and Brian the best.

Yesterday I ended up having to go to the hospital for my blood pressure being high. I got there around 5 and we finally were allowed to leave at 9. Thank goodness! After about 15 minutes I had had enough!! They monitored my blood pressure and said it is still high but not to the point that the baby HAS to be delivered. So we're still just trying to buy time. I told her that my blood pressure had been normal up to my last appointment on Tuesday and then it was way up, so I asked if there was any chance that it could just go back down to normal. She said not before the baby is delivered. I told her my Dr is going to induce me a week early and asked if I'd make it until then, and she said they will take the baby before that. 37 weeks is where Dr's will consider you "full term" Monday I'll be 35 week so we'll see how long we can keep him in me!! Well I guess that's it for now... I'm so bored with this best rest....

This stinks

I am SOO sick of this bed rest crap already. Seriously who can stay in bed or on the couch laying down doing NOTHING all day long... its just insane. I haven't got any of the test results back because my Dr was out for the new year and is off today, however I called and her nurse is in so I guess she will be calling me back. My parents and Brittany left to Arizona for Breanna's wedding and they were nice enough to take Gavin. He is having a good time. They left yesterday and got into Vegas and then will finish the drive today. I can't believe how lively he makes this house... its is SOOOO quiet without him here!! Dallas is at work now and I'm just home with Paisley trying to follow Dr's orders (MUCH easier said than done!!) I've been monitoring my blood pressure and it still hasn't come down any... I also feel numb over my whole body.. .its the weirdest feeling... the only way I can think to describe it is if you are outside too long and you get cold then when you come back in, you can still "feel" that you're feeling your face but it just feels different... maybe that makes no sense... I have this headache that just won't go away and feel dizzy... maybe my body is rebelling against the best rest too!!! ha ha!! Well I'll update later if anything comes up!