Big Sigh of Relief!

We had our appointment with the neonatal doctor on June 8, which went amazingly well.  I have to first say that the people at Phoenix Perinatal Associates are amazing, wonderful and kind people and I love them.  We had an ultrasound first with a very kind ultrasound tech who actually did some special 3-D images just for us so we could have some profile shots of Grant and she gave us a CD with all Grant's pictures to take home.

Then the neonatal doctor came in and he was wonderful.  He said that Grant is still small, about two weeks behind the "normal" growth charts and weighing in at about 2 pounds 2 ounces.  However, based on the ultrasound he does not look like any disease processes are making him small at this point (i.e. lack of blood flow, organ problems, placental problems) he is just a little guy.  He actually said he does not think he has IUGR, he thinks he is SGA (small for gestational age all these stupid abbreviations), which seems much better to us.  The baby does not appear to be in distress right now and is just small.  So at this point the doctor wants me to come in every week to get my fluid levels checked and then we have to do another ultrasound in three weeks to check his growth.  Since we have now established a growth curve for Grant, the next ultrasound will show us how he is growing.  He also said the contractions are only bothering me the baby can't feel anything and to keep doing what I am doing taking it easy.

The doctor was amazing and made us feel such relief.  He told me, "Maybe you just make small babies, which is a good thing for you mom." It would be nice if God sent a shipping label when we were born with that type of information. Mine would say something like this, "Not a morning person, will have a strong dislike for long distance car rides, doing laundry and math and makes small babies." You know just to give us a heads up.  Oh well, I guess he has it all figured out and knows what he is doing.  So for now baby Grant is perfectly small, healthy and happy.  Next doctor's appointment is June 16!

June 8, 2011: Grant 29 weeks 4 days profile shot. 

June 8, 2011: 3-D image of baby Grant.  

Noah Phone Home

My grandma and my Uncle John were in town from April 26 to May 2.  We spent lots of time hanging out with them.  Here are some picture of Noah hamming it up for my grandma after a bath at Nana and Pa's house.  He is quite the charmer.  He said he was calling daddy at work.

Nana helping Noah get an outside line, just dial 9.  

Hello, is this cute enough for you Grandma, I am really trying here to impress you with my dimples.  

Let me see if I can get 911 on the line again.  

This person just asked if we want cheese on that.  

"Daddy its Noah, I love you" (actual Noah quote) 

Easter Fun!

Easter weekend fell on the weekend of April 23 and 24 this year, which was kind of late.  We had a great weekend with an Easter egg hunt on Saturday with our friends from our mom's group.  We were very lucky this year and Daddy actually had Easter Day off for the first time since he has been working at the hospital.  It was very nice to have him around for the Easter.  Noah woke up to lots of wonderful treats from the Easter bunny. We went to early mass at St. Andrews and then went over to Nana and Pa's house for brunch (and Nana's wonderful rolls), an Easter Egg Hunt and later a wonderful Easter dinner with Pa's wonderful smoked roast.  That silly Easter bunny also made a stop at Nana and Pa's house, he is a busy bunny.  Noah also took his first dip in the pool at Nana and Pa's house, it was very cold, but he didn't mind. Noah had a great day and said for a week or two after Easter, "Happy Easter Mommy". 

April 23, 2011: Easter egg hunt with our friends.  

April 23, 2011: Easter egg fun. 

April 23, 2011: Off he goes.  

April 23, 2011: Little snack during the hunt.  

April 23, 2011: Found another egg.  Noah had the egg hunt concept down.  

April 23, 2011: Group picture attempt, not an easy thing with so many little ones.  

April 23, 2011: Poor Drew, he was not happy about the picture taking.  

April 23, 2011: Yes, that is my son with the bucket on his head.  

April 23, 2011: Adding humor to any situation, Noah.  

April 23, 2011: Bucket head.  

April 24, 2011: Easter morning, sharks, dinosaurs and candy what more could you need!  Oh and Mom got me new some new clothes (lame).  

April 24, 2011: Happy Easter!  

April 24, 2011: New Dinosaurs to play with.  

April 24, 2011: Noah's Easter basket, someone is a little bit spoiled, that Easter  Bunny sure is nice.  

April 24, 2011: Shark attack! 

April 24, 2011: Easter egg hunt at Nana and Pa's house, Noah wearing his summer outfit.  

April 24, 2011: Hunting away for eggs.  

April 24, 2011: Eggs are serious, move mommy, I need to find then all! 

April 24, 2011: Happy Easter Bear, we love you so! 

Easter Eggs with Nana and Pa.

Every year our association puts on an Easter egg hunt and pizza and ice cream party for the kids.  This year it was on April 16, 2011.  Unfortunately, John had to work, but Nana and Pa came along to help me with Noah and to enjoy the fun.  Noah got the concept of the Easter egg hunt down right away and got quite the haul of eggs and candy to enjoy. Here are the pictures.

Noah collecting eggs.   

Hunting for eggs. 

Noah's attempt at a smile. 

Get those eggs.  

Egg collector. 

Noah, Nana and Pa at the egg hunt.  

Noah resting in the shade, it was kind of hot that day.  

One of Noah's favorite part of the day, the streamers.  

And he is off... 

Noah and Nana.  

Little runner! 

Small Fry

It has taken me about a week to compose my thoughts about our last doctors appointment, but I think I have everything in perspective now.  Our last doctor's appointment was on May 19th, 2011.  We had another ultrasound and found that we are having another sweet little boy.  Grant Alonzo Plummer will be joining us some time this summer, hopefully he will wait until August, but we will welcome him whenever he decides to come.  That's the wonderful news (Alonzo is a family name on my dad's side that has been passed down for four now five generations, my Dad is so proud he is about ready to pop).

The not so wonderful news, but not bad news is that Grant has IUGR just like our Noah.  He was measuring about a week and a half behind and was approximately one pound and 11 ounces.  He looks perfect besides the fact that he is small.  We have good news and not so great news about how he is doing.  The good news is he is moving around a lot which Noah never really did.  Grant is also measuring proportionally small, Noah never grew proportionally.  The not so great news is Grant is measuring small earlier than Noah did and the fact that I am already having contractions.  So we have an appointment with a neonatal doctor for a special ultrasound and consultation on June 8.  Dr. Webb told me to take it easy and when I start to have contractions to stop and rest.

I was kind of resting, but still lifting Noah and doing a lot.  I started having some pretty strong contractions so I called the Dr. Webb yesterday and he had me come in and have a non stress test (oxymoron it's completely stressful).  He said the baby look happy and the contractions had stopped, but I really needed to take it easy and try to relax.  

So before I am put on full bed rest or even worse, I am finally taking the advice of the doctor and taking it easy. I am on modified bed rest, resting when I feel tired and not lifting the 30 pound toddler.   I have not lifted Noah since yesterday which has helped with the contractions.  I am trying to take it easy which is kind of hard with a busy little almost three year old.  I have babysitters and help lined up for the next two weeks and I am just trying to take it easy.  My mom put it all in perspective for me saying it's easier to take it easy let some things go then have a premature baby.  

So I am trying, maybe this is God's way of making me slow down and learn to accept that he is in charge and not me.  I am going to work on managing my fear about the situation, try to be calm and take it one day at a time.  I know I have given the link to my blog to several people who have asked about how the baby is doing.  I will post updates after doctors appointments and as things change so everyone can keep updated on how we are doing. I keep telling myself that Noah had the same condition and now he is perfect and keeps me running.  I guess Dynamite comes in small packages.  Here are some pictures of our little movie star, we are going to have a whole album of pictures before he is even born.

May 19, 2011: Grant 26 weeks.  

May 19, 2011: Grant smiling for us at 26 weeks.  

Who Dat Boy?

Noah is currently going through a "thing" with his clothing.  The only things he wants to wear are guitar shirts and brown shorts, so when we can get him in something new especially something cute, its a big deal.  He has the cutest Saints shirt that our good friend Shaun got him when he was a baby.  So on April 21, 2011, when we got him to wear it I had to take a ton of pictures, he looked so cute.  (For people who are not Saints fans, "Who Dat" is a Saint thing, they chant "Who Dat Say they Going Beat Them Saints" at games).

Who Dat Monkey at Home Depot.   

Monkey boy. 

Daddy and the Bear.   

No smiles for mommy.  

Mowing the courtyard.   

Go Saints!  

Helping with the flower bed.  

Little man. 

Who Dat Boy?  Love it!

Time for a Hair Cut Mr. Shaggy.

Noah was in desperate need for a hair cut, but I had been putting it off because typically he throws a fit when we get his hair cut.  So on April 17, 2011, we decided to try a new place called Cool Cuts for Kids.  They did a great job and he sat still the whole time.  I think the Cars DVD, suckers and the car hair cutting chair helped.  Thanks to Nana for going with me.  

Noah sitting still during a haircut! Amazing! 

A lot off the top please! 

Looking good with the new hair cut! 

Side view, he has ears, though we lost those.