Nursemaid's Elbow

 

And because William hasn't spent enough time at Wheeling Hospital...

 

 

 Poor, poor, rough little boy. Luckily, it wasn't his shoulder, and the fix was easy, albeit uncomfortable. Unluckily, he was all too eager to play in the air as soon as we got home. Boys, ugh.

 

 

 



Oh, Poop. Seriously, poop already.

Today we took William to see a gastroenterologist at Pittsburgh Children's Hospital... exhale. JB played with Alexander for seven hours (seven hours) while we were gone, and had dinner on the table when we got home. Best. Friendo. Ever. Seriously, I'm not sure we would have made it in the Wild & Wonderful so long without them (and our other neighbors). We're lucky. Our kiddos are lucky.

Of course, Will.i.am didn't feel so lucky when the very nice man was taking seven (seven!!) vials of blood or the nurse practitioner was... well, hopefully he doesn't remember that part of the day. But we're home, and despite the baby torture, we're healthy. Now, if we can all just re-learn to sleep (and let Mama sleep), all will be right in the world.

...And Right Back Out

The poor little guy didn't feel too good last week. On the babe's 10th day of ear infection antibiotics, we returned to Dr. Archibold's office for an ear check. And although his ears were "perfect," the doctor noticed the boy's distended belly, and sent him, once again, for an abdominal x-ray. Constipated. Again.

We went home, did all the usual "push it out" steps, but after another 24 hours of piles of dirty diapers, but barely any poop, the doctor sent us to Pittsburgh Children's Hospital...at 7pm on a thursday night. Double ugh.

But, by the time we got there the boy had a 104* temperture that wouldnt go down, so that was all the residents could focus on. Long story short, the boy had a chest x-ray, abdominal x-ray, abdominal ultrasound, catheter, flu swab, numberous rectal tempertures, and a huge needle of antibiotic before he was sent home with a pneumonia diagnosis & rapid referral to a pediatric GI doctor.

And now that he's feeling a little big better, i will show you the pathetic pictures of our very restless baby.

Grandma & Grandpa

 

New Year, New Baby

Where were you when the ball dropped on time square Saturday night, ringing in 2012? Alexander was in bed with Jenny Brown & Stretch, while Daddy & Mama were getting ready to meet the baby brother! Party Time!

Dr. Peter Bala's Catch of the Day, William Bernard. While the doctor was pulling the boy loose, he was guestimating that the boy weighed 9 pounds and a resident chimed that he felt about 9 pounds 3 ounces. Now, although the official document says 8 pounds, 11 ounces, the kid was weighed AFTER taking quite a bit of fluid from his lungs. What a chunk!

Doesnt he look adorable in his Hi, Jenny Brown homemade hat?

Introducing Baby Brother William Bernard

William Bernard

(Named after Grandma Aileen & Grandpa Smith, two beautiful, caring, people we love.)

January 1, 2012 @ 12:45 am
8 pounds, 11.5 ounces & 21.5 inches long

Perfect in every way!

William was the first baby born in the Ohio Valley in 2012, which, of course, is a very great honor (with no prizes included *unhappy Mama*...). So we made the news...

Read about Wheeling, WV's New Year's Baby & watch a very embarrassed Mama & Proud Papa on the local news. (Click the highlighted text to link to the article & video).

Apparently after 18 hours of icing & elevating my foot,  and 4 hours in the ER, Mama lost a little blood flow to her brain... Around hour 3 in the "Fast Track" @ Wheeling Hospital, the above sign became the funniest thing we'd ever seen. And if you were wondering:

 1. My main problem is that I am stupid. 2. I need to listen to my wife 3. It is important for me to listen to my wife, cause I am stupid. You might not think this is hilarious, but Daddy & I are still laughing...

And Lucky for Jenny, Stretch & Alexander the hospital delirium followed us home in the form of Mama's new walker...

And just to be clear, Mama fell. I am alright. Baby Brother is perfect. My friends & family took good care of me. And my ankle will heal nicely... eventually.

Tympanostomy Tube Time

Well, our Little Ear Infection has seen his last fevered, fluid-filled infection; Dr. Jeremy Tiu did a little nip/tuck, and five minutes later, the boy was healed!

The pre-game wasn't so bad. The babe looked cute in his little polyester gown. He wasn't too upset about the lack of breakfast, but he was begging for his "cup" very early in our OR wait.

Luckily, the cage-like bed kept him busy in his panda gown for a little bit. And then the nurses turned cartoons on for the little guy!

Grandma & Aunt Jenn sent a box of goodies, including a box of crayons & newsprint.... and a toy hoopdie truck that plays loud rap music. Shortly after we arrived on the OR floor, an orderly walked by & told the little guy that he had a truck in the back, just like Alexanders, and that he liked to run it up & down the halls, just like our boy.

Shortly before 8am, Mandy came in & gave the kiddo some Valium. Interesting. About 10 minutes later, the boy could barely keep his mouth closed or his head up.

While good & high on the bubble gum flavored medicine, the boy started saying "cat, cat," & pointing at a frail looking, white-headed lady laying in a bed nearby. As loopy as the kiddo may have been, she really did look like a cat!

Unfortunately, we were made to wait in the out patient waiting room, miles away from our boy. We saw the doctor walking down the hall shortly after Papa made himself a cup of coffee; all went well & he said the nurses would come for us shortly...

Because the boy was so friendly early-on, I suspect, the nurses didn't think it so important to get us back to the boy's bedside before he woke... so they didn't. When they finally called for us, it was too late. The boy was awake (barely) & not happy. Screaming mad, actually.

By the time we got there, he was inconsolable. He was kicking me away, but he wanted held. Papa got him some water, which he wanted, but threw across the room. Everyone in the very long recovery room was staring at us. It was awful. There was nothing we could do to calm him.

About an hour of screaming finally wore the kid out & he passed out. Then, they let us go.

Our big guy was clingy, but easily amused most of the morning. He finished most of the cookies that Aunt Jenn sent to Maia. Yum.

And Ms. Amber & baby Ella (with some of Ms. Tammy's special Pesto) made us a delicious pasta for dinner. Double yum. I've never seen the boy eat so much. After dinner I had to make him a second plate to satisfy his demand for another, "bite, bite."

Shortly after we arrived home, the babe demanded a "bubble." I felt so bad when I saw all the marks left on his poor little chest!

And now, every one's sleeping soundly. Thank God for the easy outcome, and thank God for all of the wonderful prayers that so many of our friends & family sent up for us this week! XOXO.