Saturday and a trip back to the NICU

It has been too long, yet again. There have been so many fun things going on but I don't know how I will ever catch up.

This past Saturday was a fun one though. We have had Tyler's soccer every weekend for the past few months so we enjoyed a Saturday that wasn't packed.

Ryan took each boy out on a "date". Tyler got to go on the first date to CarMax and out to breakfast. Ryan brought home a BMW for the weekend that had to be checked back in anyway so the boys went for a drive and enjoyed the "fast car" as Tyler calls it.

When they got back it was Jacob's turn to go with daddy. They went to Home Depot and got some plants and weed killer. When they came back, Jake and Tyler helped plant the plants and clean up the front yard.

I thought that was already awesome- but Ryan had more surprises in store! He pumped up the tires on his bike and the trailer and took Tyler and Jake out for a half hour ride. He was pulling an additional 70 lbs in that trailer!

They all came back tired and hungry and then it was nap time. What a start to the day!

The excitement in my day was with Adam. He is just over 3 months old now and his belly button hasn't been healing right. I had brought it up to the pediatrician twice and I was told that it was fine and just be patient. Well, after his stint in the NICU and being told that the UAC (arterial line in his belly button) was the one thing we should not touch b/c he could bleed out so fast...I was a little hesitant to clean or pick at this thing that looked like a scab. He had what first looked like a black scab, but then I got brave and washed it a little harder and it became two black string looking things. I was trying to figure out if the artery or vein could have somehow healed outside of the belly button.

After having little luck with the research I had done, I finally called the NICU Saturday morning and explained what was going on. They told me to bring Adam back in and they would take a look. I was relieved and nervous all at once. I took Adam down to Spring Valley after the big boys were down for naps. As I pulled up it was strange to be taking my healthy baby back down the hall we walked so many times when he was sick and on life support.

I was surprised how even the smell of the hand soap reminded me of those two weeks...the charge nurse came out and looked at my little guy. She told me it did look like a suture (stitch) had been left behind all this time!

We got Dr. Edmonds, the neonatologist on for the day and headed back to a NICU room. They had some suture removal kit but all it took was a little alcohol and a brave Dr. who knew what he was doing to pull the stitch out. Thankfully we had a best case scenario where it was just a stitch, not a vein or artery, and it came out in one piece. I was also lucky that the area had not become infected in the THREE MONTHS that the stinkin thing was left in!

The Dr. and nurses were very nice, yet again. We even got to sit and visit with the Charge Nurse, Suzanne for quite awhile and talk about how good Adam is doing now.

I'm glad my little guy is still doing okay. It was exciting to see the Dr. and nurses gush over him and how healthy and strong he looks now. As strangely emotional as it was to go back there it was nice to be reminded how blessed I am to have a healthy baby boy at home with me now.

I really need to find time to journal more because life has been very full. I know most of the things that end up on this blog are the good moments, but honestly, that is because it is in those happy moments that I have time to sit and think. Most days are challenging with an almost 4 year old who thinks he knows everything, a 2 year old who gets away with almost everything, and a baby who needs fed, changed, and loved in between teaching life lessons to the other two. Life is full- very full, and for now, that is a good thing.

Adam's Blessing

May 1, 2011 Ryan blessed Adam Richard Crooks at our ward building with My dad (Richard Earl Denos), Uncle Ben (Benjamin Richard), Popa Dunn, Uncle Taylor, and our friend Dave. I love baby blessings because it is the only time I have ever seen Ryan get emotional. He hates it (and probably hates that I'm writing this) but I love it. He is such a stoic kind of guy who rarely shows emotion- which makes it that much sweeter when he does ;) As much as his boys drive him crazy 99% of the time, I am reminded how much he loves them and how excited he was to become a dad- all 3 times.

Ryan and his boys (Tyler 3, Jacob 2). Adam was about 10 weeks old when we finally got to bless him. It was only our 2nd time back to church all year! And we only went for the first hour. We had family over to the house for a little lunch after and enjoyed each other's company.

I really think Ryan and Adam have a special bond. I'm not sure if it is just from their alone time in the beginning when they were both probably so scared and only had each other (while I was still left clueless in my hospital bed) or, more likely, because of what we will learn down the road from this sweet spirit. Ryan mentioned several things in Adam's blessing that stood out to me. One being that he was a choice spirit meant to come here from his Heavenly Father. Another was repeated what a help he will be to his mother and the special bond he already shares and will share with his brothers. What more could I wish for? And it is true already, Tyler and Jacob both love this little boy and Adam loves his big brothers. I'm pretty sure that it was Tyler who got the first smile out of Adam!

We got to have Popa stay at our place and the boys loved it! They love it when we will get donut money in the mail from Popa. Wish we had some more time with everyone around. The boys were even adventurous and went out on a fun walk with Popa while Adam and I got ready one day. So daring of Popa!

Then there was Adam- who was completely smitten with his Popa! It was so darling to watch. It was almost like Adam was telling Popa a story or something. At this point Adam was not very personable yet but he locked eyes with Popa and poured out his soul ;) So glad Adam could finally meet his Great-Grandpa Dunn.

I am blessed to have these boys in my life. Even though they keep me so busy I can easily forget the last time I showered, ate, or brushed my teeth (yup- really. sad, but true.) I love being their mother. I am trying hard to be better at it and I am glad that they are so willing to let every day be a new day. I am grateful for a wonderful husband who is far more wonderful that he cares to let on. I love the experience we get to share when blessing a baby and the reminder it is of where they came from. I love our family of 5 and we are so blessed to have our little Adam as a part of it.

Happiness

Lately I've been wondering what it is that makes us truly happy. I definitely don't have all the answers, but I figured out one thing that makes my heart warm...

Looking at old pictures of my family after everyone is asleep and the house is nice and still and quiet. I love the excuse to look over how life used to be and what got us to where we are now. It is so nice to be able to stop and smile without being interrupted by the darling children who are in the pictures.

Today (well, and last night) for just a little while, I felt exceptionally blessed to be a mom and wife. Things are far from perfect, but I'll take them just the way they are and look forward to improving myself and my family in the future.

(oh- and if you're wondering, I was going through thousands of pics because the 4x6 prints are on sale at costco until Sunday. Only $.09- time to print some pics of the past 6 years :) )

Hoppy Easter!

Try to not be too jealous that I get to live with 4 amazingly handsome men now :) Love these boys- even though they drive me absolutely insane most days!

2 yrs old and 2 months old

Jake's stats:
34 3/4 inches (50-75%)
27.3 lbs (25-50%)

Adam's stats:
22 inches (10-25%)
10.2 lbs (5-10%)

Happy Birthday to Jacob!

Happy Birthday to our wonderful 2 year old. Can't believe it's been 2 years already (and we can't believe it's been only 2 years as well). You are so independent and strong willed. We hope that we can teach you the right way to use these wonderful attributes so they become an asset. :) Love you more than you know little boy. So glad we were blessed with our blonde-hair, blue-eyed boy.

March 2011

Click here to view these pictures larger