Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Feeding the Ducks

     One of Sophia's favoriteSunday past times is feeding the ducks. She doesn't so much feed the ducks as she does chase the ducks and eat the bread herself. We love it because it keeps her entertained and Joel loves to get pushed in the stroller. I am surprised at how not afraid Sophia is of the ducks. They get right up close to her hand and she doesn't even flinch it's really funny!






Joel just hanging out on the blanket while Sophia runs around! It was really bright so he is squinting or eyes closed in most of the pics. 









 ~A

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Hypospadias

I have debated posting this on my blog since Joel was born. Ultimately I decided I use this blog to document our family happenings and this is definetly a big happening in our family so I will post it. Hypospadias, baby Joel was born with this birth defect. I think the easiest way to explain what it is will be to copy the paragraph off the info sheet his pediatric urologist gave me.

HYPOSPADIAS: A Correctable Defect

One out of every one hundred and twenty five males are born with a condition known as Hypospadias. The cause for this developmental anomaly is unknown. A boy with Hypospadias has a urethra that does not reach the tip of the penis; that is, the opening of the urethra is on the underside of the penis. It is recommended that Hypospadias be corrected surgically. 

I have some animated pics that came on the info sheet I could post but decided against it. If you really want to see what it looks like google it and webmd has some pics. I will warn you though, the pics on webmd are of full grown men with hypospadias. A little more than I personally wanted to see but if that doesn't bother you go for it.

Hypospadias does not hurt Joel. He urinates and has bowel movements just fine. His case is pretty typical it's nothing severe so one surgery should take care of it. So why are we having the surgery done if it doesn't hurt him and he urinates just fine? Because Hypospadias can cause problems as he gets older.

1. His urine stream is irregular, meaning he shoots straight down rather than out of the tip of the penis. He would have to pee sitting down his whole life.

2. His penis would look different than other boys.

3. It could potentially create fertility issues. If he gets the surgery then the opening of the penis would be as close to the cervix as possible so that the sperm is in the right place to cause preganacy.

4. Sexual function. If the penis has chordee (downward curvature of the penis, often found with hypospadias) it becomes very painful, difficult or even impossible to have intercourse as an adult.

I would like Joel to have as much normal function as possible down there so surgery is a no brainer for me.

So now that we are all updated on Hypospadias I'll get to the point of this post. Joel had his first appointment at Primary Childrens Medical Center today. His Pediatric Urologist is a very nice guy! He is super tender and kind. He has great bedside manner which I am sure you need if you are doing surgery on kids all day with crazy, worrying moms all over the place ha ha. He pretty much handles all hypospadias cases in northern Utah. He examined Joel and told us pretty much how the surgery would go.

The surgery is an in and out procedure, so we will go in in the morning and go home that day. They will put Joel under with a mask. Once he is asleep they will start an IV and put in a breathing tube. The surgeon will then construct an addition to the existing urethra and extend the urethra to the tip of the penis. Then he will close the existing hole/urethra at the bottom of the penis and reconstruct the shape so it looks normal and circumcise him. He will use most of the foreskin for the reconstruction.

They will wait till Joel is 4 months old, because they like to wait to do anesthesia on a baby till at least that age, then we will set up the surgery date. We want to have the surgery and recovery done before we move for Optometry school so Joel will have his surgery sooner rather than later. He said the recovery isn't to bad. It will burn to pee for the first week or so then he should act normal and be fine after that. His penis will be black and blue for a while till it heals and the swelling goes down. After all that goes away he should look like any other boy and his function should all be normal! He said the most common complication is if the baby decides it hurts to much to pee and will hold it in as long as possible, then when he finally urinates it will be to much pressure and can burst the stitches. If that happens we would have to wait another 4-6 months and have the surgery done again. So lets pray that doesn't happen!

Joel will have to see the Urologist periodically through his life to make sure no problems occur with growth and development. In almost all cases like Joel's this one surgery should do the trick and everything should be just fine. I feel bad the little guy has to have surgery but after sitting in the waiting room watching kids go by with obviously way worse issues than Joel's we are so grateful it's something fixable and common enough that the doctor feels very comfortable taking care of it! This little guy is growing like a weed and I am sure he will pull through like a champ!

 ~A

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Family Updates!

This family has been one crazy, busy family lately so I decided to post it all at once instead of several little posts.

First of all our little guy is growing like a weed! At his two week appointment he was already 8 pounds 7 ounces. In 2 weeks he almost gained a full pound! He has also almost grown 2 inches! His newborn clothes that were so big when we brought him home are almost to small. They just grow to fast! He is getting into a good night time routine. He goes down about 10 and gets up at 2 and 6. It's really not a bad schedule for a 2 week old. Sophia is starting to realize he isn't leaving. She asks for baby Joel when she wakes up and she likes to hold him and give him his pacifier. She talks to him like he should understand her and doesn't quite get why he doesn't respond ha ha. Joel loves it when she talks to him and will just stare at her.

Tyler has been super busy with school at BYU and applying to Optometry schools. He has heard back from all 4 schools he applied to and has interviews set up for each. He had his first interview in Tennessee this last weekend. It went great! He had so much fun and was very impressed with the school. To top it off he got an offer to attend school there next year! He has nothing to compare it to right now but  after his other interviews we will make a decision of where we want to go. Tyler was super relieved to just know he got into a school, to know his hard work and plans paid off, to know he doesn't need to find a new direction in life. I couldn't be more proud of him! He has worked so hard and every school he wants to go to wants to see him. I am sure we will see a couple more offers before we choose. We could know where we are going as soon as October!

As previously stated we moved the day after I got home from the hospital so that first week home I was crazy busy unpacking and cleaning, trying to get our new apartment to feel normal. Thanks to my mother who cleaned my old place and unpacked a large chunk of my new place, our apartment started to feel normal within the week of us moving in! Then once life started to get into a routine I got knocked down hardcore ha ha. Friday, a week and a half after Joel was born, I got a double breast infection and a UTI. Now before you think I don't clean myself 1 in 3 women get a breast infection or a UTI after having a baby. I was just lucky and got all 3! Saturday morning I could barely function so Tyler took me to the ER. They decided to give me IV therapy. Which means I would get an IV put in and go to the hospital for 3 days to get antibiotics. The nurse stabbed me twice in my right hand and then burst the vein, finally she got it in my left hand. I won't mention what she had to do to check for my UTI, just know it was unpleasant, especially after having just had a baby. To top it all off Tyler left for his interview in Tennessee Sunday. Now 5 days later I am finally starting to feel better. I am super tired a lot but I'll take that over the infections! It's like my body was barely recovering from a major thing like birth then got three infections so now I am starting from scratch again to work up my energy. Thanks in a huge part to my mother in law who took care of my kids the entire weekend. I am sure she was just as exhausted as I was after her weekend with my kids!

I would like to say hopefully life will settle down, but it doesn't look like it will for a bit. Joel has an appointment at primary children's about his surgery on the 27th. (another post to come on that soon, don't worry he isn't sick). Tyler will be gone conference weekend and the weekend after and then again the weekend of the 2nd of November. As long as everyone stays healthy I am fine with it. Having said all that, we are loving life as a family of four and looking forward to our new adventures!


~A

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Joel Zike Robertson

Warning: This is the story of Joel's birth if you don't like details skip to the bottom where all the pics are! I'll star the paragraphs that have to many details.

Monday night my mom came into town and we went to dinner with Hanna and Eric, Sara and Collin, Leah and Kenzi. It was fun and got my mind off the fact that I was going to have a baby that night or the next morning. Sophia was a bit of a drama queen at dinner I think she knew something was going on. After dinner we dropped Sophia and my mom off at our apartment and Tyler and I headed to the hospital.

We got to the hospital at 8 pm Monday night and the nurse told us we were an hour early. I told her the nurse from Thursday said to get there at 8pm come back at 1am and again at 5am. She told me that we were supposed to come every 6 hours not 4. This would put me back at 3am and my induction at 9am rather than 5am. That still didn't sound pleasant to me. The nurse called my doctor and he decided that I only needed one dose of the cervadil. Which means I would only have to come back at 5am.

*The nurse told me putting the cervadil on would feel a lot like getting your membranes stripped. That didn't sound pleasant but to my surprise she was very gentle and it didn't hurt at all. The only down side was I was not allowed to stand up for an hour. So Tyler and I hung out at the hospital till almost 9:30pm then they sent us home. They told me the cervadil could cause me to go into labor but it is mostly just to help prep my cervix for labor.

Around 11pm I went to bed and could not sleep. Around 2am I started contracting. At 3am I woke up Tyler and told him we needed to head to the hospital. My contractions weren't super painful but they were every 3 min. and I wanted to make sure I got the antibiotics before the baby came. As we were getting ready to go I was super nauseous and that's when I knew for sure it was happening. We got to the hospital around 3:30am and the nurses got me hooked up and started on the antibiotics. They told me to get some rest, that didn't happen.

Around 6:30am my mother showed up at the hospital and they started the actual induction. They gave me the pitocin. The contractions were not bad. They left the pitocin for 2 hours then decided to break my water. I was dialated to a 3. I told the nurse I wanted my epidural right then. I did not want to do one contraction with my water broken without the epidural.

*The doctor told me my cervix had rotated to the side which apparently is  normal thing but he had to dig around for my sac of water and that was very unpleasant. Then he had to push on my abdomen really hard to get the fluid to come out. Even more unpleasant.

So the anesthesiologist was helping some other ladies so I had a good 6 hard labor contractions on my own. Then he came in and I thought sweet relief, WRONG. Since my blood pressure was high he made me get a blood test drawn to check my platelet count before he would do the epidural. This took a good 45 minutes, oh man not fun. I finally got my epidural and it gave me the crazy shakes. I am talking seizure like shakes. The weird part was I would shake really hard in between each contraction then during the contraction I was fine. Then my blood pressure dropped dramatically and I got crazy dizzy. They were about to give me some meds but it started coming back up on it's own and was fine the rest of the time. An hour later the nurse came in to check me because I was in a lot of pain, I was dialated to a 7. I could feel the contractions again. I tried pushing the pump but it wasn't working. Literally 30 seconds went by she decided to check me again because of how much pain I was in. I was dialated to a 10. Time to push.

** We discovered that my pump had come out of my back so all the medicine was just squirting on my pillow. Which means I felt every contraction while I pushed. Then he noticed that baby boy was face up which makes it a lot harder to push the baby out. So the doctor just reached up and and twirled him around. I pushed for literally 3-5minutes but it was so much harder than it was with my first. I felt like it was much harder for my body to push through the pain. Then he was out. The cord was wrapped around his neck twice and it was tied in a knot. The doctor said the knot most likely happened earlier on when he was small and that in rare occasions it can tighten and cut off nutrients. He also said it was a good thing I was induced early, with the cord wrapped around hi neck and him being so active, it was good to get him out.

They held him up for me to see and I was instantly in love! He was perfect and I couldn't have asked for anything more. My labor was 4 hours, so it is a good thing we went in early to get the antibiotics. He was 7 pounds 10 ounces and 20 inches long. He was 10 ounces bigger than Sophia and 1/2 an inch longer. We love him and he makes our little family complete!

He has already had his week check up and he has gained all the weight he lost back and is up an ounce. He also grew an inch and a half already. So that puts him at 7 pounds 11 ounces and 21.5 inches long. Sophia was the same way, she grew an inch a week after she was born! My kids are just tall.  He also had to have a  jaundice test during the week but it came back normal and he didn't need lights. He doesn't look the slightest bit yellow anymore either. At one week he is already sleeping a good 4-5 hour stretch at night which is awesome. He will eat about 1am then again between 6am and 7am then go back to bed till about 10ish. He loves to cuddle on my chest and really only cries when he is hungry or we are changing his bum. He is fabulous!


 
First day in the hospital.



Going home day.




First bath!


Sophia kissing Joel!


Hanging out with dad.


So this is a pic of Sophia when she was first born, and below is a pic of Joel. I think they definetly have a resemblance but Joel has features that are different than Sophia, he has dark hair and Sophia had blonde hair and I think he might have dark eyes instead of blue ones. We will have to wait and see. 


We moved the day after we got home from the hospital and school started for Tyler the day we had him. Plus this week Tyler is flying out to Tennessee for a interview for Optometry school. So we have been insanely busy but we are doing good and this little boy is doing great! Thanks to everyone for all their help this last week!! We could not have done it on our own! 

~A


Thursday, August 30, 2012

Baby boy 38 weeks

Warning Novel length post!

Alright where to start? Sunday I woke up with a headache I couldn't get rid of. Monday rolls around headache still here and to top it all off serious nausea and feeling in general icky. After Tyler got home around 2pm I decided I better call the doctor, I was feeling a lot like I did the morning I had Sophia. I went into the office and my blood pressure was through the roof. they immediately sent me to the hospital to be monitored.

This happened twice with Sophia before they induced me so I thought I knew what was going to happen but this time it was so much worse. They put in an IV because they figured if they kept me there then it would already be in. I hate needles and IVs are worse than regular needles. They took my blood and it made me really dizzy and nauseous. Once that passed they just let me relax in bed and watched the monitor. Of course just like Sophia my blood pressure started to go down as soon as we got to the hospital. They decided to send me home, but before that they wanted to give me a drug for my headache. It was called Fendral or something like that with an F. Oh man it made the whole room spin and made me super sick. Once I got the vomiting under control and got dressed Tyler took me home. I was so sick and super nauseous the rest of the night and into Tuesday morning.

Tuesday was my regular weekly appointment. It was at 9 and I was still sick and tired from the night before. When I finally got into the office I was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Seriously holding back the tears and not well ha ha. The poor old doctor could tell I had just had it. I think he wanted to induce me that day but they don't like to before 39 weeks if they can help it. He wanted to strip my membrane to try to induce labor and I told him no because they did that twice with Sophia and nothing happened except me in extreme pain and wanting to vomit. (notice vomiting is associated a lot with my pregnancies ha ha). Anyway he told me to go back to the hospital Thursday to be monitored again. If my blood pressure was high I would have the baby today if not they will induce me Monday.

Obviously since I am writing this post I am not having a baby today. We had an AFI ultrasound which measures the fluid around the baby. Normal. Then they monitored my blood pressure and the baby for 40 minutes. Normal. So we got sent home. This time was much more pleasant that last time. They didn't poke me with any needles or give me any drugs and I just got to lay and relax for an hour. Then they told me the plan for Monday.

I am supposed to go in Monday night at 8pm and get a prep gel put on my cervix. Then I go home. Then I come back at 1am get more put on my cervix. Then go home. then come back a 5am and get induced. Boo. Doesn't that sound miserable? I am going to be so tired! Don't just feel bad for me though my poor sis in law Sara volunteered to watch Sophia which means she will also be getting up coming to my place at 430am. Feel bad for her too. She is too good to us! Oh while I am at it a big shout out thanks to Sara and my other sis in law Jess who took Sophia for us multiple times this week while we were running from hospital to doctors to hospital!

So if all goes according to plans baby boy will be here Tuesday morning! I am really excited to finally have him here! I have been looking at pics of Sophia all day today from when she was a little baby and I can't wait to hold this little guy!

               ~A

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Baby boy 37 weeks

     I had another appointment today. It seems this little baby likes to play with us. I went in today and my blood pressure was back to normal. I was only dialated to a 1, and getting checked was way more painful than I remembered. Although after he checked me I was contracting like crazy for about an hour. I told Tyler I just need him to do that a couple more times and this baby will be here in no time! My group b strep test did come back positive but the doctor said since baby is behaving he wanted to wait it out another week and see how things progress. I gotta say I was kinda bummed ha ha. Don't get me wrong I am glad baby boy is behaving but I was getting excited to meet him early. Which we still might, but not for at least another week or two.

     On the plus side I lost a pound this week, instead of gaining any weight. I thought it was weird but the doctor wasn't worried about it. Most likely it is from all my laying down and losing some of the swelling water I had last week. It was only a pound not a major amount of weight so that's good. Less weight I have to lose after the baby comes right?! Tyler keeps telling me he has gained more weight this pregnancy than I have ha ha. It doesn't help that all I want is french fries and dessert so Tyler eats junk to. I told him not to worry I will kick his butt back into shape after the baby comes!!

     There is my short update for now. We will see what next week brings!

                                                ~A

Friday, August 17, 2012

baby boy 36 weeks

     That's right I hit the 36 week mark!  4 weeks to go, actually 3 but that's beside the point. How am I feeling? I get that question 3 or 4 times a day. I never know how honest to be. I usually go with, I am hanging in there. How I really feel, I am unbelievably uncomfortable!! I was not this uncomfortable with Sophia. I am told it's because of my other issues, since things aren't where they should be it is putting much more pressure on my body. Which makes it uncomfortable to walk, sit, lay, sleep (what's that?), eat, pretty much anything. I also feel like a giant sweat ball! ha ha it's the truth though. I am hot all the time and so swollen my ankles have stretch marks! That's right, you read that correctly, I have stretch marks on my ankles from swelling! It is kind of ridiculus but what can you do?

     Don't get me wrong I am grateful to be prego and to have made it to this point. Besides the constant uncomfortable feelings, I really try to enjoy this part of my pregnancy. I still love feeling the baby move inside me, even when he jabs me extra hard. I love watching my belly make weird shapes. I love when Tyler sits there and rubs my belly and feels the baby moving. I love when Sophia gets tired and comes and lays her head on my prego belly and baby boy gives her a swift kick ha ha. I really actually like the way I look with my round belly. Sure I have my days where I feel like a heffer but for the most part I really feel pretty when I am prego. There is something so amazing and sometimes weird about the way a woman's body holds a baby.

     Anyway on to my appointment. The doctor was wanting to check dialation this week but when I went in my blood pressure was really high. So he decided to take a bunch of tests instead. He did some blood tests and my group b strep test and some other test, I will spare you the details. He is waiting for all the results and then at my appointment this Tuesday he will check dialation and compare that and test results make a plan for when this baby is coming. Most likely I will be induced a week early. Which means this baby could be here in as little as 17 days!! YAY!

     Since my blood pressure is high the doctor keeps telling me to do less and less. I was already on a take it easy regiment, gravity is not your friend. Then he told me I needed to be laying down and having my feet up at night. Now he told me to lay down during the day while Sophia naps. SO really what am I supposed to do but lay down? ha ha. He knows I have a 2 year old and I think he is trying to put off bed rest as long as possible which I appreciate but lets be honest I am pretty much on it. Tyler has been great at doing stuff around the house for me since I am not supposed to do much. I also have not been feeling well since my blood pressure is up, so Tyler has been a big help.

     I have been trying to finish up baby boy projects but my energy is an all time low so we will see. I did finish a couple more blankets but I don't have pics. I did make these 2 cute onesies for my cousin Kendra's little girl that is due 4 weeks after baby boy.



     I was going to make little matching shoes but I didn't start these till the night before her shower SO that didn't happen. She loved them and that's all that matters. 

     In other news Tyler has officially turned in his Optometry applications! Now we just wait. I am so excited for him. He got a letter in the mail yesterday from one of the schools. It was just an admissions office letter letting him know about the school but the admissions director personally wrote on it "great OAT score" which made Tyler feel really good about his applications! So cross your fingers for us! 

     ~A