Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Thursday - Monday (Plus my 22nd Birthday!)

Thursday - Hannah and I went to my doctor's appointment for JayDonn. I was told I am 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced. The doctor was extremely nice, but told me not to go far from a hospital and to have my bags packed because this kid was going to come...soon! Of course we all got excited. With Dillon I was 2cm and 40% on Tuesday and on Friday night he was born, so surely being 90% would mean he would be here even sooner right? Josiah even brought me home flowers from work instead of waiting till Friday - just in case JayDonn came before then. They were beautiful roses. Then Josiah and I went to the hospital - not to have the baby! - just to see where he is going to be born. When we came home, Hannah had set the table so beautifully with my roses, a chocolate cake she made, a birthday card from her, and a card from Dillon that he wrote himself! It was a sweet surprise.

Friday - I woke up worried that JayDonn could be born on my birthday - it would be a nice birthday present, but I think he would like to have his own day. Hannah and I tried to decide what we should do during the day since I didn't want to clean on my birthday. When the mail came we saw the pictures of Dillon I ordered on line had arrived - so we decided to scrapbook! Josiah took us out to Applebee's for dinner, it was very good but with the appetizer he ordered and the fact that we were going to split both meals, I never even touched mine. So we took it home, and all three of us had enough for lunch on Saturday.
Saturday - Josiah was working all day on his new scooter (he is selling his bike and got something that will get better gas miles). He needed to run to the store for something, and since I had just told Hannah about how my nails were done for Dillon's birth she suggested to Si to take me to get them done. (Last time my co-worker did it). So he did. I have never had them done so I didn't know how to ask for what I wanted, and since they don't speak much English..... Needless to say it didn't turn out too well. Instead of doing pink with white french tips, they did clear with pink tips! Josiah did not like it at all and made me go back to get them redone. The lady was nice and was going to do it for free, but I wanted to tip her for redoing them (even though I know they were laughing and talking about me in another language since the one lady leaned her head out to look right at me and then went back to what she was doing...) The rest of the day was spent by Hannah and I finishing up Dillon's scrapbook. I am not 100% done, but done as much as we could with all the pictures I had.


Sunday - We went to church - bet you didn't see that one coming! :-) No baby though, the afternoon was restful, then we went to church again. On the way home we used 3 coupons for free ice coffees at dunkin donuts.


Monday - Everyone this whole time has been panicking about JayDonn coming. Thinking my labor is going to be too short to get to the hospital, that I might have to drive myself, that Josiah might not make it, etc. So I was worked up about why he wasn't here yet as well. At the advice of many people I called the doctor to see if they would check me again since I was having back pains and hurting whenever I walk. They said they didn't want to see me. So we went on with out day. Dillon had a nuerology checkup a little over an hour away. Sure enough his appointment was only 10 minutes, nothing has really changed, no need to go back on seizure medicine unless I see something, and make another appointment in six months. I had been feeling sick to my stomach all day and it was getting worse so I went to the clinic anyways. I was finally seen there and they said I was running a little temperature - no joke I felt like I was burning up! They also took my blood pressure twice. The first time it was 180/? and the second it was 150/? Since nothing had really changed (I was only 3.5-4 cm now) they sent me to the main hospital to have my blood pressure monitored and blood work done. They were afraid I had preclamsia (Sp?). Hannah and I started thinking of all the stress that has been put on me over the length (or lack there of) that this birth maybe we knew it had to be the cause. Sure enough, by the time we got to LVH my blood pressure was 104/? . It stayed down the whole time I was there - yup that would be stress folks! Anyways they wanted to do something to check for protein even though I didn't have any, and it hurt so I told them to stop and the nurse agreed with me. She said to tell the doctor "no" because there was no reason for it and the doctor knew that because before doing it her answer as to why it needed to be done was "I want it to be." Some answer! Plus she lied and said it wouldn't hurt - so nice an loud I told the nurses while they were trying to "Tell the doctor she lied - it DOES hurt!" Another one of the doctors asked me if I had thought about what pain medicine I want should they decide to keep me and break my water. I told her none, I also said - no scissors. She basically said "yeah right" I told her I didn't need it with Dillon and that I would kick them if they tried to come near me with scissors. Her answer? "Well, then we will just blindfold you." Hannah and I were shocked! That is so dumb, if I don't want it and don't need it then don't do something that will hurt, require stitches, and possible hurt for years to come, just because you want to! Finally, the blood work came back that nothing was wrong with my liver or kidneys so I was allowed to go home.


Tuesday - I slept better last night than I had in months! It was so nice, I wasn't hurting nearly as bad and at times, at not all. Last night, we told our family that no one is allowed to call and talk about the baby, pregnancy, how I feel or anything of the such. It is stressing me out too much. I need to plan for this baby to come near July 14th, like planned, and just let it be in God's hands as to when labor starts. He will do what is best. If it isn't safe to have him in the car then God will allow me to get to a hospital on time. He will allow Josiah to get there if that is something I really NEED (obviously I want it, but God doesn't promise to meet our wants, only our needs.) So please, do not ask about the baby - we will tell people and get the word around asap if my water breaks and/or i have contractions because I will be headed to the hospital right away. Hannah and I were able to clean/unpack a room that really needed done but I kept putting off today. I don't think this is "nesting" I think this is "sleeping" I actually had some energy.


Prayer Requests - Please pray that the baby will come in God's timing and that details would be worked out. Please pray that he would be healthy, and that I would have an easy labor like with Dillon. Please pray that the doctor I end up getting is not like the ones I saw yesterday - I want someone who will try to let me do things more naturally so the birth won't be so bad (it would be really great if it were a female doctor! I had one female I really liked - Dr. Jen could you please pray she would be the one there when I have the baby?)


Thanks! Hope you enjoyed the LONG update!

Monday, June 18, 2007

Happy 1st Birthday Dillon!

Dillon is now ONE! Wow, what a year it has been. Can you believe its been a year? I can't. It has been a long, hard yea - but it has also been a year filled with blessings of God. From the fact that Dillon lived, to all the progress he has made, to all the prayers that have been said on our behalf - God has truly blessed us.
Josiah's parents and sister came into town Friday night so on Saturday we went to Lancaster County (Amish country) where Mom and Dad used to live when Josiah was very small. I guess I will just tell about the day as I put the pictures in.
We started off the day in the outfit Grandpa Schnarr bought him since they couldn't be here, but due to an unforeseen incident....

...Dillon had to be changed into a spare outfit.


I am not one for taking pictures of people's houses, but when I saw this one from the street I just had to get some pictures. Isn't it beautiful?


Josiah and Hannah - however went close to the house to get more - I would have just taken them from a distance, but it was worth it.


This is their view from the back of the house. A pond where you can swim, walk out into the middle of it, and a wonderful view of the valley!

Josiah standing so you can see the view from the font of the house.


Yes, we are those annoying people that take pictures of the Amish kids as we pass them.

These people still live in the house next to where Mom and Dad used to live from when Si was about 2-6 years old.

Naps are required, even on birthdays!

This farm has homemade ice cream (that was soooo good!) and a drive thru - so even the horse (well this one looks more like a pony) and buggies use the drive thru.
Dad standing near the cows we watched them milk

Wouldn't it be nice to see signs like this in more businesses? (read their commitment)


Josiah and I near the cows


We ran into people from church at this farm! Now you have to understand, we were about 1.5 hours away from church, in the middle of no where at a little farm. How weird!


Josiah wanted a picture of him with the little calf.

I am told he likes Bull Dogs because it is the symbol for Mack Trucks (My dad like them too, but because they are the Marine Corps symbol) What am I to do with these men?!? :-)


No comment...


Even though Dillon's stomach was upset and he seemed to not feel well near the end of the day from (our guess) the antibiotic he is on, when we got him home he should had a birthday surprise for us! He held his head up for quite a while - straight off the ground! What a blessing. I know my om was praying Dillon would do something special for us that day and he did. For any of who might have been praying that way as well, thank you - it was encouraging!

Look at him go!



"Hey, I'm not Superman - I need a break!"

"And here I go again!"


Can you tell we go a little crazy with the camera when he is lifting his head?


Aunty Hannah helping Dillon to scoot across the floor

I really think he might learn to crawl eventually. He seems to enjoy moving and lifting his head, he just has to learn the coordination of it all.


Mommy and Dillon after he worked so hard! (by the way - those are my new glasses)


Family photo - Happy Birthday Buddy!


Kissy time - One year old is still young enough to have pictures of your mommy kissing you on the Internet without it being embarrassing!

He is such a little man!


He is a gift from God that we love with all our hearts! Dillon is our little boy, we wouldn't trade him for anything.


Aunty Hannah and the birthday boy

THANK YOU for all the cards, letters, emails, phone calls, and ecards for Dillon on his birthday. They were special to read. I am planning to keep them for his scrapbook.


It was so nice to have him awake and alert for his birthday celebration

Grandma and Grandpa came out just for his birthday (it is about a 6 hour trip each way)

Birthdays are such fun!

Well that's all, finally! Actually we have a lot more but I just put some of them on. Aren't you glad?! Thank you again for all your cards, etc for his birthday. I thought it was going to be a hard day, but we kept busy and it really wasn't. I am sure here soon I will have a good cry, but with the progress he is making with his head, how can I be sad? Hannah is staying with us now until JayDonn comes so that I will have some help and can have someone ready to take care of Dillon when JayDonn decides to make his arrival. It is going to be such a help having her here, Josiah and I both are very grateful for her willingness. We go for a hearing test in a few minutes, I will have to let you know (if he sleeps so we can run the test) if his hearing is any better now with the tubes in his ears.

Friday, June 15, 2007

We're Home!

In case you couldn't tell by the lack of blogs - we are home from the hospital. We got home around 6:30pm Wednesday. Dillon seems to be doing well. He is awake more and does not breathe nearly as bad as before. He still have a bit of trouble when he is excited and moving, but he is still swollen and still have the virus. I just got back from taking him to his new doctor for a follow up from the hospital stay. He weighed in at 11 pounds 4 ounces. So he is up two more ounces! This is a blessing to me: it seems as though I will be able to get his insurance to pay for this new formula. Why is this such a blessing? At the amount he is on now, which is only going to increase, it would cost us about $225 a month if the insurance didn't cover it! Thank you for all your prayers, Dillon really is a miracle baby that God just keeps using to surprise the doctors.

Josiah's parents and sister are on their way into town right now to spend Dillon's birthday with us. Hopefully I can get some pictures tomorrow and post them. I also got glasses today (thanks to my precious little boys....) for the first time in my life so you can see those in the pictures tomorrow.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Praise the Lord!

No Tubes! Praise the Lord!



Our God can do what seems to be impossible in human eyes. None of the doctors thought Dillon would be able to keep his blood oxygen levels us without help of a CPAP once they took the tube out of his nose. It has been out since about 3:30 (it is now 5:30) and he is doing wonderfully! His blood ox is 97-100 most of the time. What an answer to prayer! They will only put him on CPAP if his numbers drop and stay down in the high 80's. Please keep praying for him - but know that God is hearing and answering our prayers! Thank you so much for praying.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Pictures from Long Weekend

I remembered that I said I would put pictures of our long weekend with my parents on and haven't yet. Since there isn't much to do here, I thought I would put them on. I don't have any of the renewing of the vows to put on right now. Maybe I can find the couple I have and put them on later. Lots of pictures!
Josiah at the cave (see below for more details about the cave)

Sitting by the river enjoying the view


My birtday present - a heater/cooler that plugs into a lighter thing in a car so that I can take snacks when I have to be gone all day for doctor appointments.



Dillon eating a potato chip (can you guess who gave him that? Yup! Grandpa!)


So cute!
What a face!



Dillon's Birthday party
New clothes and shoes




Still a little big, but he will grow into them








My Dad and Si on motorcycles at the Rec Center





Dillon wasn't too sure of this cold water thing...
I think he likes bath water better!
Some young boys wanted to know all about him when they saw him in the pool - the one asked if he could hold Dillon. I am not a jumpy first time mom, but as you can imagine that was a "No!" (but sweetly said of course because it was cute that he wanted to.)




The mountains were just beautiful





Grandma and Grandpa holding onto Dillon so he would fall over the clift right behind the wall!






This is a cave that no matter what the temperature is it is always 35 degrees. They used to have a cafe built right on the side of the cave so they used it as their fridge. Josiah and I went into it, it was pretty small but very neat and cool!
What a view!





If you look really close at the top right corner of the mountain you can see a face of an Indian Chief
My sweet husby and I





Waiting for the trolley that took us to all these places




Mom and Dad