Penrod's Play Pen: May 2018

From Facebook...

5/3/2018 - 10 years ago I went through 41 hours of labor to bring him into this world. He is turning into a great young man and is such a huge help to his mom and dad. We love you to the moon and back, Chase!!

5/4/2018 - Eamon loved the puppy, but was terrified of Chewbacca on SnapChat.

[I think I posted this video before, but I found out what month it was. :)]

5/24/2018 - After 12/1/2 hours of labor, I had this little big boy yesterday afternoon. He was 10.5lbs and 21.5in. Yes, another big baby. 😊 His name is, Elan (Ee-lin) Rae. [His middle name was my Grandma Johnston's middle name.]

He is not doing so great right now and I am asking for prayers cause I'm a hot mess. Literally! Fever, blood pressure and all. There is something wrong with his heart. We don't know what yet as we are waiting on the cardiologist to come talk to us. I don't think I could handle another NICU baby. 😢

UPDATE: Pediatrician came in. They echo looks okay. The only thing they saw is a bit of swelling on the right side of his heart. So they gave him an x-ray to check his lungs. They think they may be causing his heart to work harder than it should. He is in the NICU on oxygen and an IV. We are not waiting on the x-ray results. Kylann is there with him and I will be heading down to feed him soon. Please keep the prayers coming that everything is okay as he is not out of the woods yet.

I had an amazing doula and friend, Michelle with me while I was in labor. I highly recommend a doula for any pregnancy!! I also had a bonus doula, Katie who was training under Michelle. She was also amazing! I only have pictures of my delivery of Cayden, Eamon and Elan. I wish I would have had a photographer or someone taking pictures with the others. It's fun to look back on.

Look at that cute neck fat!

You can see a bit how tired I was.

The pictures my doula's took of my labor.

My husband comforting me.

My doula pointed out the expression on this nurse's face. Haha!! I guess they aren't used to seeing babies as big as he was.

This cracks me up. Another nurse in the background with a funny expression. They were all shocked at how big he was. The lady on the left is my doctor who delivered him. She is amazing!! Dr. Camille Stevenson.

5/25/2018 - UPDATE: Elan's bilirubin and hematocrit (red blood cell) levels are back up again. 😔 He is in a billi bed and overhead lights now. He is off oxygen, which is a good thing. They are upping his IV fluid intake and he is currently getting an albumin transfusion through an IV in his scalp. Poor baby is getting poked so much because he keeps clotting up. I just want to take my baby home. 😔

I have been discharged, but I am being allowed to stay the night tonight. I might not be able to any longer though.

Thank you all for your love and prayers. It means a lot to us. Keep the prayers coming. I know they work.

Milk drunk baby

5/26/2018 - UPDATE 3: Elan's levels went down a bit. Both the billi and hematocrit (red blood cell). They are slowly decreasing his IV fluid to wean him off it. He has to be off it for 24 hours before he gets to go home. And of course if his levels continue to go down. And they are going to wean him off the billi lights as well. He is very frustrated having to be unswaddled and have his eyes covered almost all the time. Poor baby just wants to be cuddled and loved and I can't do much of that until he's off the lights. 😔

As fr myself, I am tired and so ready to go home. But feeling a lot better since he first went in there. I had flashbacks of all the trauma I went through when Cayden was in the NICU and I was not in a good place. But I am okay. Still a little nervous though and of course really hoping his levels keep going down.

5/27/2018 - UPDATE 4: Not a whole lot to report this morning yet. We are waiting on lab results to see if his levels have dropped. He is off the IV fluid, but still in the billi bed. Yesterday he went up three oz from the weight he lost. He was at 9.13lbs. Eating great! Prayers he can come home today.

5/28/2018 - Someone is going home!!

[They wanted to keep him longer, but Kylann spoke up and fought for us to take him home that day. I felt a little bad for the nurses, who were just doing their job, but also grateful to him that we were able to take him home!]

Cayden and Eamon checking out their new baby brother.

5/30/2018 - One crappy thing about having a baby in the NICU is they have a horrible schedule when they come home. This baby nurses ALL night long and does not want to sleep. I have literally gotten no sleep at night for the past two nights. Maybe 5-10 mins here and there. 😜