Back to work already

I can't believe how three months have flown by and it is time to return to work.  I am ready to see the kids and my colleagues but it is so hard to not be with me own children.  I am feeling a slight bit anxious returning to work.  I am worried about all the conferences I have for kids going to kdgn, all the paperwork involved in special ed that I have been away from, getting my own babies out of the door on time so I am not late, and overall all the little things that I will miss while I am away.  I feel like now that Baker is on prevacid for his reflux, he is such a happy and easy baby.  Campbell is well adjusted now and seems to love being a big sister.  I am truly enjoying being a mom of 2.  I am very blessed to have my life, my husband and my strong and healthy children.  By the way, Jeremy had his little surgery and we will not be having any more kiddos.  WE just can't go through any more NICU stays with our children. Again, how we are so lucky. So think of me tomorrow and all next week as I try to be focused at work and be a good mommy to my students and my own children. Lord help me that I get to work on time.  I always cut it close even before kids, I better just stay up after Baker's middle of the night feeding...ha! 

Baker 10 weeks 

6 weeks already? Time to play catch up!

I can't believe time as flown and Baker is 6 weeks old.  We are doing well and are getting adjusted finally.  Jeremy asked me, "What do you think it feels like to be able to deliver and just come home with our newborn without a 2 week stay in the NICU?". I told him, "We won't ever be finding out because this was it.". What an adventure we have been through with both of our pregnancies and deliveries but what special gifts we have now. I am going to try to play catch up in the last few weeks because I stink at this blog thing.

So here goes:

Christmas Eve-wow--look at the belly

 Day of delivery. Had a dr appoint and wasn't planning on even delivering this day but 

dr had different plans since my blood pressure just wouldn't stay down. Again poor 

Jeremy got a call from me to come home from work because we were headed to the hospital

to deliver this baby.

6:26 pm. First time seeing our son. This csection even though another emergency...was a lot 

more relaxed and we felt so elated to have him here.

BIG SISTER CAMPBELL! 

The first time Campbell got to see Baker. 

As you can see Baker is already on oxygen.  Campbell was such a good girl and handled the whole

situation way beyond her years.  She was so excited to have a brother. She just told everyone, 

"He's out...Baby Baker is out!".

Good ole' Respiratory Distress Syndrome.  Both of our angels had this when they were born.

Who would of thought we would ever encounter this once but let alone twice. This was the day after

Baker was transported by Riley to Community North. He ended up needing a vent to help him breath just 

following in his sister's footsteps. 

First time I got to hold Baker.  They had to pin his vent to my scrubs and it was poking me in the face the entire time, but I didn't even notice...I was in complete peace holding my guy.

The vent is out and he is on a vapor therm. (heated oxygen). 

First pic of his face with all tubes removed and dressed.  Hospital clothes of course but

it didn't matter we were moving in the right direction.

Look at that smile! Through it all little Miss Campbell Q was shuffled all around.

The first week Jeremy stayed with Baker the whole time while I was in the hospital. I stayed with Baker when I was released. But we decided we just missed Campbell so much so we would stay with Baker all day and then come home and put our best parent face on and do something special with Campbell at night.

Exhaustion was beyond explainable but it is funny how you just go to it and do what has to be done.

Before we could be released to take Bake home his jaundice level had to come down. 

Oh the lovely jaundice lamps.

Baker leaving the NICU. COLTS PLAYOFFS! We WON!

2 weeks

3 weeks- First bath...loved it. Never cried until we took him out...he was chilly!

4 weeks- loves the swing!

5 weeks- Baker sleeps best on his belly. Just like he did in the NICU. But since I am 

paranoid with him sleeping that way, he doesn't get the luxury often unless we are right with him.

6 weeks

We love you Campbell and Baker!

BAKER JENSEN QUIRE

Baker Jensen Quire

7 lbs 8 oz

21 inches

January 5, 2010

God is good!!!

We went today to have Baker's kidney's scanned... and he was perfect. I swear prayers heal. I am so over the top right now in our news that I could scream from the mountain tops. Jeremy claims he was perfect from the day of conception and was never worried. (Thank you honey). The doctor said his kidneys scanned at 6mm at the most with them trying to get the biggest possible read and in the medical world they do not even worry about the baby kidneys until they show 10 to 12 mm. So baby Baker is good to go. The kicker to all of this is that Baker weighs now a whopping 4lbs 15oz. Almost a 5 pd baby. Remember we brought Campbell home from the hospital at 5pds. The high risk doc thinks that he will weigh close to 9 pds at birth. Bring on that little Butterball, we can't wait. I overall want to thank all my friends and family for all of the prayers and strength you have given Baker and myself. We are so lucky and truly blessed.

Baker

Hi, Just wanted to give everyone a heads up. We went to the doctor for another ultrasound check on Baker. At our 19 weeks ultrasound we didn't see his bladder empty or fill during our 1.5 hr ultrasound. So they had us return 10 weeks later to recheck his bladder function. Well, not good at this moment. He was diagnosed with Hydronephrosis. (Fetal hydronephrosis is the swelling of the kidney when too much urine collects in the pelvis (or basin) of the kidney. This occurs because there is a blockage of the normally free flow of urine, most commonly in the ureter (the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder), and the urine is not allowed to drain into the bladder. This blockage causes a pressure buildup which causes the kidney to enlarge. The severity of fetal hydronephrosis depends on how large the kidney has ballooned and the extent of the blockage.)

I also have this condition. I was diagnosed at 21 when I encountered the most excruciating pain in my life. After a few surgeries and stints in my kidney, I am doing 100% great. I am hoping that this condition goes away for Baker before delivery (there is a 20% to 35% chance it could). We go back in about 3 1/2 weeks to rescan him and see what the blockage consists of then. IF it is still blocked we will be referred to a high risk doctor and a pediatric urologist. Please keep Baker in your prayers and ask for healing. I know God is already taking good care of him. He already weighs 3 pounds. I will keep everyone posted.

Candy Corn anyone?

Campbell loved Halloween this year, down to the candy, pumpkin carving, trunk or treating at the church, going door to door, and the outfit. She had the trick or treat saying down and would tell everyone, "I'm a candy corn princess" when they came to the door. She did go back and forth though on saying she wanted to be Miley Cirus, but in the end she was happy with her candy corn costume. My parents even got into the spirit by dressing up. My mom was Cruella Deville and my dad was the dog catcher. I thought their outfits were one of the best I have ever seen. They are so cute. My mom is so creative and did a excellent job on making their outfits. Can't believe next year we will be toting around 2 little trick or treaters.

Preemie

I never thought you would hear these words coming out of my mouth. But for once I am actually relieved that my child was a preemie. Since she was a preemie her pediatrician just called and said she is a candidate for her H1N1 vaccination. Campbell has been hospitalized 5 times before the age of 2, has had 2 surgeries, and with our next baby being due in the hard core winter I am so elated to know she is also maybe protected from the swine flu. So tomorrow we will be at the doctors office with bells on to receive her shot. I hope to never be thankful for her early arrival again because those who know what stress we went through when she was born would never see it has a relief. But today I am truly thankful there is a silver lining.

It's Fall Ya'll

With the weather being beautiful and Jeremy home for the weekend, we gave Campbell the option of the zoo or the pumkin patch. She chose the pumpkin patch. So off we headed to Smith's Family Farm for a fun filled fall day. She was so excited and such a good girl!

Campbell"s pumpkin!

Family pumpkins! Baby Baker's pumpkin!

The goats were so friendly!

The only pony we could get her to ride.

24 weeks pregnant!
I love my little girl!
Campbell loved the cats, so we made sure to ignore the "free kittens" sign.

Happy 3rd Birthday Campbell Q!!!!

Our princess is 3. Can it really be? It seems like yesterday I was being rushed in for an emergency C-section being scared to death and looking at Jeremy and knowing our life would never be the same. But somehow through the 2 years of sleepless nights and the countless ups and downs of parenthood, our life is changed for the better. Campbell adds spunk and joy to everyone she meets. She is my pure satisfaction. My side kick who is truly an amazing, bright, and energetic girl. We love you more and more daily. You are everything to us Campbell. Thank you for being you.

She had a blast tonight at Chuck E Cheese!

I will post more pics of her school party, family pool birthday party,

and our ultrasound later this week.

Baby Baker!!!!

The guess work is finally over,

It is officially a BOY!!!!!!

Our friend was able to do an ultrasound for us and looks like it will be Baby Baker. We truly will have the best of both worlds. We will have another formal ultrasound on August 26th, Campbell's 3rd birthday. We will post pics then because my last ultrasound had the wrong name on it and with the whole HIPPA code we needed to take it off. 10 more days and pics will follow.