Dear Jimmie,
Happy Birthday! You are 1 year old today. When your mommy was in the hospital on bedrest one of her favorite cd's she listened to was by Fernando Ortega. Whenever she plays that cd now and the song "Come Thou Fount" comes on, you stop whatever you are doing, sit quietly and listen to the whole thing! So I made a special collage of video clips in honor of your first year- set to your special song.
I'll finish your special birthday letter later. I have some very exciting news about you Jimmie! (-:
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Needy Momma's Boy
Wow! Beautiful boy!
Jimmie has been driving Rachael INSANE this past week. He wants momma to hold him constantly. He is not content to play on his own, sleep on his own and if Rachael is around, he's not even content with Daddy. Rachael feels like this started with his recent g-tube surgery. It's hard to know if he would have hit this stage had he not been traumatized by the surgery. I know my kids did without a surgery, but regardless it has been a pretty dramatic personality change for him and consequently life has been a bit stressful and distressing for Rachael and Justin.
I keep telling Rach that he was an unbelievably good baby before now . . Now he's just like my kids. (-:
The hardest times are when Rachael has to pump. Yes- she can drive and pump, but pumping while holding a grabbing, wallowing Jimmie is a "no can do"! Jimmie often screams the entire 20 minutes she is pumping. Although daddy is not mommy Justin can still provide some relief. When he is gone on his 24 hour shift at the fire station it's an exhausting marathon for Rachael.
As we approach 2/11 I think there is some anxiety or post traumatic stress for Rachael (at least I know there is for me) connected to the memories and the trauma of his birth.
Kara (mother of micro-preemie triplets) shared in a comment on the last post: "probably the very hardest thing about the boys being born so early is that the day they were born is not the best day of my life like it's supposed to be."
I know Rachael can totally relate with that. It's so conflicting because of course we are excited for Jimmie's birthday, of course we want to celebrate the day we first looked into his face and we WILL- believe me! However it also brings back the feelings of grief, shock and fear that were felt as we looked at a "tinier than you can imagine"- Jimmie fighting for his life. There are no words to describe what Rachael and Justin were feeling during and after Jimmie's birth. The joy that he cried, that he was strong and that he did so well in the days following his birth- that joy was great, but it was also always tempered with warnings about how far he had to go, the dangers in his path . . .
We will celebrate Jimmie's birth! We will celebrate Jimmie's life! We will celebrate what God has done! And while we celebrate please pray for a little more healing of our memories and hearts. Jimmie's too. He may not cognitively remember, but there is so much more to memory than that.
Thank you for your love and support.
Love,
Amber
Jimmie has been driving Rachael INSANE this past week. He wants momma to hold him constantly. He is not content to play on his own, sleep on his own and if Rachael is around, he's not even content with Daddy. Rachael feels like this started with his recent g-tube surgery. It's hard to know if he would have hit this stage had he not been traumatized by the surgery. I know my kids did without a surgery, but regardless it has been a pretty dramatic personality change for him and consequently life has been a bit stressful and distressing for Rachael and Justin.
I keep telling Rach that he was an unbelievably good baby before now . . Now he's just like my kids. (-:
The hardest times are when Rachael has to pump. Yes- she can drive and pump, but pumping while holding a grabbing, wallowing Jimmie is a "no can do"! Jimmie often screams the entire 20 minutes she is pumping. Although daddy is not mommy Justin can still provide some relief. When he is gone on his 24 hour shift at the fire station it's an exhausting marathon for Rachael.
As we approach 2/11 I think there is some anxiety or post traumatic stress for Rachael (at least I know there is for me) connected to the memories and the trauma of his birth.
Kara (mother of micro-preemie triplets) shared in a comment on the last post: "probably the very hardest thing about the boys being born so early is that the day they were born is not the best day of my life like it's supposed to be."
I know Rachael can totally relate with that. It's so conflicting because of course we are excited for Jimmie's birthday, of course we want to celebrate the day we first looked into his face and we WILL- believe me! However it also brings back the feelings of grief, shock and fear that were felt as we looked at a "tinier than you can imagine"- Jimmie fighting for his life. There are no words to describe what Rachael and Justin were feeling during and after Jimmie's birth. The joy that he cried, that he was strong and that he did so well in the days following his birth- that joy was great, but it was also always tempered with warnings about how far he had to go, the dangers in his path . . .
We will celebrate Jimmie's birth! We will celebrate Jimmie's life! We will celebrate what God has done! And while we celebrate please pray for a little more healing of our memories and hearts. Jimmie's too. He may not cognitively remember, but there is so much more to memory than that.
Thank you for your love and support.
Love,
Amber
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Around This Time Last Year
The day Rachael turned 24 weeks, we celebrated that Jimmie was still safe in momma's womb.
Rachael spent a month in that bed. She did not even sit up to eat.
Mom would spend very 3rd night with Rachael when Justin was on his 24 hour shift at the fire station.
Rachael only got up to go to the bathroom.
They watched a lot of the "Dog Whisperer" . . . (-:
So many people sent words of prayer, love and encouragement.
The memories from this time last year especially as we approach Jimmie's birth are pretty heavy. It's hard because our feelings are so mixed. How can the birth of your child be both the worst and the best day of your life? Please pray for Rachael. I'm sure it's affecting her.
We cannot believe Jimmie is almost a year old. In 4 days... Rachael has planned a small party for him on Sunday. It's going to be a very special celebration for our little miracle Jimmie Jim Jim.
Love,
Amber
Rachael spent a month in that bed. She did not even sit up to eat.
Mom would spend very 3rd night with Rachael when Justin was on his 24 hour shift at the fire station.
Rachael only got up to go to the bathroom.
They watched a lot of the "Dog Whisperer" . . . (-:
So many people sent words of prayer, love and encouragement.
The memories from this time last year especially as we approach Jimmie's birth are pretty heavy. It's hard because our feelings are so mixed. How can the birth of your child be both the worst and the best day of your life? Please pray for Rachael. I'm sure it's affecting her.
We cannot believe Jimmie is almost a year old. In 4 days... Rachael has planned a small party for him on Sunday. It's going to be a very special celebration for our little miracle Jimmie Jim Jim.
Love,
Amber
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Ugh!
Rachael and Justin both got hit with this nasty stomach flu last night. They were pretty out of it this morning and desperate for help. So my mom went and spent most of the day helping them with Jimmie, preparing appropriate food and doing laundry. Jimmie seems to be over the worst of it and is on his way up to full feeds. Now if Rachael and Justin can just feel better . . .
Love,
Amber
Love,
Amber
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Jimmie's Doing Alright
Dr. S. said that Jimmie looks good considering. He's not showing signs of dehydration and it seems to be a virus, not an infection. So no hospital . . . yeah! He is tolerating about 90 mls 1/2 milk 1/2 Vitalyte (like pedialyte). A normal feed is around 140 mls so that's acceptable for the time being. He is still having a lot of runny stools, but he's not really puking anymore. He's been pretty listless today so we know he's not feeling good, poor little guy.
Thank you for praying him through this . . .
Love,
Amber
Thank you for praying him through this . . .
Love,
Amber
Going to The Doctor
Jimmie is still struggling. He's been puking and having diarrhea for over 24 hours now. He's not having very many wet diapers and Rachael is concerned. She will take him to see Dr. S at 11:30am. Dr. S. will check him for an ear infection and a tube site infection . . . Rachael does not suspect either. She really feels he's caught the stomach bug that's been going around. Dr. S. will also make sure he's not showing signs of dangerous dehydration.
Pray for Jimmie! I'll update this evening. We are really hoping for NO hospitalization.
Love,
Amber
Pray for Jimmie! I'll update this evening. We are really hoping for NO hospitalization.
Love,
Amber
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Stomach Flu
Jimmie has the stomach flu. )-: He started throwing up last night around 10:30pm and he either threw up or dry heaved every hour until about 3am. Rachael started his 2am feed and after 8mls he started retching so she stopped it. She has been concerned about dehydration so she's been offering him water with an electrolyte powder in it and "lo and behold" our little man has been drinking it! He's been taking it from a soft tipped sippy cup. He's kind of chewing on it more than sucking, but Rachael can tell he is swallowing and he's taken in about 3/4ths of the cup!
Rachael said he has been resting fairly peacefully for a while now so we are hoping the worst is over. Please pray for our little Jimmie Jim Jim . . .
Love,
Amber
Rachael said he has been resting fairly peacefully for a while now so we are hoping the worst is over. Please pray for our little Jimmie Jim Jim . . .
Love,
Amber
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