This Shunt can't Stop me from Smiling

Little by little our boy seems to be adjusting to his new device. He is eating better (granted he did throw up dinner last night...but he was way more active yesterday) and moving around more to see everything and hear every sound like he used to. He is even smiling. :) He smiled a lot yesterday and it made us so happy to feel like he is okay.

Check out my leg-warmers! Mommy says they have robots on them so it's okay for boys.

Really pants are not an option cause of my tummy incision so this is a way to keep those chubbies warm!

Happy and Playing.

Here I'm watching a little bit of Robin Hood on the computer with Uncle Nate.

Here's a video.

I even took a pif his poor little head (I do this mostly for any expectant SB parents who will find this blog and take comfort from real experiences and real babies who have gone through this - the unknown is so scary and I think shedding light can help you go "oh... I can handle that."

The staples come out on the 15th. They don't seem to bother him too much so I'm thankful for that. So we are doing good. Slowly but surely getting things back to normal. :)

Home is where your baby sleeps.

Yes everyone we are HOME! We were given the "okay to go" last night and got home around 8:00 - just in time for bed according to Jet. :) The shunt surgery was a success - no problems yet thank GOD- and the doc says the fluid was flowing great. When they brought him back to us I thought right away that Jet's head looked different then I noticed how sunk in his soft spot was! I don't think I realized how raised it was until the fluid was gone and it looked so flat! Now it's looking more normal and the staples aren't bad at all - nothing like his poor back looked after his spinal surgery. He has some stitches on his tummy too - about 1 1/2 inches long- and i cringe to see his poor little tummy all stitched like that. :( That's the part that looks like it hurts. When Jet came out of anesthesia he was pretty calm and sleepy for while but recognized us with a grunt when we first saw him (talk about making his Daddy and I smile.) Then around 8:00 that night the crying started and let me say - the saddest cries I've ever heard. He was hoarse and there were tears and it sounded so horrible! I guess I'll never know if it was the pain, the unfamiliar, the changed of pressure in his head (doctor mentioned this will affect him for a week or so making him irritable) or just coming out off the anesthesia and morphine - but whatever upset him REALLY UPSET HIM. He would sleep then wake up every 30-45min or so to cry (sometimes more frequently) all night long... probably the longest night of my life. David and I were squeezed onto a little cot the width of a twin bed and there were other babies and kids crying in the other rooms alarms going off in the hospital and our own sweet boy waking up very upset. But THANK GOD everything seems to be working and he is feeling better now at home - still sleeping this morning at 8:00am and only woke up ONCE last night! Hence the title of this blog - Jet is definitely happy to be in his bed at home!

So thank you ALL for your prayers and KEEP EM COMIN cause the next few weeks scare me just as much as I pray the shunt will work and we won't experience any shunt malfunctions or infection and end up back at the hospital. We have warning signs to look for (fever, extreme sleepiness, vomiting, inconsolability) so pray we don't see any of those and that Jet rests and eats and keeps healing! Our biggest concern right now is keeping Jet hydrated. His appetite yesterday was minimal and he vomited 2 times while were were still in the hospital -oh my goodness it scared me- but they said it was expected and gave us some anti-nausea before we came home that definitely helped - but vomiting a lot is a warning sign so I'm praying he keeps his food down today. I would hate him to get dehydrated and put us right back in the hospital.

So much of this is unknown and unpredictable. If you know me those are NOT things I handle well. I want to KNOW and PREDICT and FIX....and I can't. Once again I'm reminded of the hymn "Teach me Lord to Wait" and I am reciting in it my head to keep me calm and trusting HIM. So in your prayers, ask God to help me (and my family) wait on the Lord for guidance, healing, wisdom and faith. We will keep you posted with Jet's progress. :) He goes back in 2 weeks to have the staples and stitches removed so I'm praying all goes well until then.

Thank you all and God bless you.

Here are some pics of the little guy getting ready for surgery.

The nurse in pre-op blew bubbles while she took his blood pressure. It was so cute! He loved them!

Mommy and Daddy used this toy ALOT to distract me! We had to wait for 3 hours before surgery time came.

I was a little congested so they gave me this breathing treatment. It was weird. lol.

The bright waiting room. This really is a great hospital.

I have my bunny before surgery! He's a little squished under Daddy's arm.

And Aubie meets me after. :)

Little angel coming out of recovery in his room.

He had this blanket in the NICU after he was born...and it's still a favorite.

Cleaning up after a bottle of pedialite. :)

Still a little out of it. But so cute.

Can we go home now?

Yes baby boy. :) We love you.

Surrounded by Family

Another wonderful part of this holiday (aside from the Jet-Man's 6 month celebration) was being with our families. We were blessed to have David's brother and sister in town along with their "other halves." It was Jet's first time meeting everyone (except Uncle Daniel...but who knows what babies remember. For Jet everybody could be new.) All that said what better way to get to know everyone than to TAKE PICTURES! :) It was a well documented (sometimes color coordinated) weekend. :)

The Penny Family

Uncle Dan'l and Me.

Meeting Auntie Cheri and...wait...he's my Uncle Dan? Daniel and Dan?

You people are out to confuse me for sure. :) But I sure liked his beard!

Oh hi Grandpa!

Then it was off to meet...

The Palmer Family

Ok...no this was not all the same day. We don't change clothes that many times.

Well...maybe Jet does.

Beautiful Boy!
Bundled Up.
Isn't he gorgeous in black! :) Steals my heart!
His daddy looks good in black too. :)

Aunt Kay loves me! Even when I'm about to spit-up on her. lol.

He colors my word!

And this adorable hat was courtesy of Aunt Kay and her trip to Italy last Christmas...yep before I was even born I got PRESENTS!

Papi is good at holding me.

And so is Nina.

One of my favorites. Papi and Jet.

Christmas is COMING to Kennesaw!

Let's hear it for the boys!

and of course...

Girls just wanna have fu-un!

Yes...a pun was intended. lol.

The End.

Happy Holidays to our FAMILY! For you we are so thankful!

Thankful for 6 months!

Yes our little baby celebrated his HALF-BIRTHDAY on Thanksgiving Day. :) Such a big boy! We cannot believe he is already half a year old.

Nina and Aunt Kelly made me my "half birthday" cake. :)

A look at last year's Thanksgiving...we didn't even know it was a boy! And here he is! What cracks me up is how David and I look EXACTLY the same. lol. We are so un-creative.

I'm not sure he liked this. lol.

We had a lot of fun with family and tried to follow the nurse at pre-op's advice and "not worry over the holiday." I still can't stop thinking about monday. Every time I come his hair, or give him a bath, or pull a shirt over his head I think about how we are going to have to watch that pretty little (or rather not-so-little) head carefully for a while as he recovers from his surgery...and then even longer as the shunt is a permanent thing. But I am thankful none the less. Thankful for my angel. Thankful he is healthy. Thankful the doctors have watched him and can help him. Thankful we are not alone and have so much support. Thankful God knows and cares and loves my baby. So here's to being thankful.

God knows we have much to be thankful for.

Expect the Unexpected

I'm not sure who came up with this phrase - but I'm sure they couldn't have been a very happy person. To "expect the unexpected" is to worry all the time about something you cannot control, predict or do anything to prevent. I feel like I certainly WAS this person during my pregnancy - always trying to prepare for the unknown. But I learned to ignore this phrase soon after Jet was born. God took care of us in ways we could not and I have been content to just take one day and a time since. And in that mind-frame I have been exceedingly happy with how everything has turned out. However, today - happy was hard for a little bit.

Today we went in for a routine check-up with our neurosurgeon and 4 hours, 4 waiting rooms and one CT scan later we were told news we had always hoped to avoid - our Jet needs a shunt. The CT scan showed the fluid on his brain is increasing and though in the past we were told it was minimal - today I guess we crossed that line where Jet is no longer better off without the shunt - now it is better to have one. While the doctor says he looks great (no real symptoms of fluid pressure or effects on his brain tissue - praise God.) the fluid is growing and Jet's head is growing and the doc says it is time to drain that fluid. We handled the news well from the neuro, asked the usual questions, thanked him as always. Then he left us and the tears came. For me anyway. :) It is so hard to swallow news like this. I thought I was prepared. I knew it could happen. I thought I EXPECTED it! But I guess I didn't and it totally breaks my heart. Jet was of course happy in the arms of Daddy. And as I am processing this change of events, I realized I cannot truly process and persevere without prayer.

So I am asking for prayers - prayers that we will remain thankful for all God has done for us and thankful for this age and country we live in where Jet can be helped by capable doctors. Prayers for strength and peace this coming Monday 11/30 when Jet is scheduled to have the shunt surgery. Prayers of protection and healing for our little boy (that the surgery will be successful and no infection will set in). And prayers for trust and wisdom as we watch for any problems in the future...but not so watchful that we worry too much.

So we know what to expect -

From the doctors who have outlined the surgery for us.

From our friends who have shared this same experience.

From our family who has always supported and cared for us.

And from our GOD who has never forsaken us.

And knowing this, we are able to face the future (and the unexpected) without fear.

Thank you for your prayers.

Love ~ Joanna, David and Jet

Thankful

Dear Jet

This holiday has always been

a favorite of mine from the start.

But this year it brings brighter smiles,

and greater joys within my heart.

For while I have so many blessings

my thankfulness for one is new.

This year has been extra special-

This year I thank God for you.

~ Love, Mommy

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Enjoy the week. Count your blessings. Thank God for them. Then repeat. :)