Progress

Long time no see blog world! Things have been fabulous with the Walshes. Lincoln has been tube-free for about 3 months and he's gaining nicely. We're working on nutrition and making progress there...Slowly but surely.

Lincoln was approved for speech therapy awhile back, which we were very excited about as we we were told he was behind by close to a year. There was a delay in the assessment and in the start of therapy though so the therapist came a couple of weeks ago and was shocked at the progress. Lincoln is chaining together 4,5, and sometimes more words...Like, "Fuhst go see Daddy a' work 'en go 'incoln's house." He has so many words that I wasn't even able to fathom a guess for the therapist. Hundreds and hundreds. Here's a quick video of the little man showing off....



The only other new piece of news is that yours truly will be going back to work. I know, I know. The horror. It's only part time though and it was really my choice. For one, Lincoln needs experience being disciplined by someone besides his parents, and he also needs time with other kids. We have been told this for awhile, but the risk of him getting sick has always kept us from worrying about his social skills. He's been hospital free for over a year now though, so we decided it was time. And we're starting slow and easy too. We hired a Nanny and we are going to share her with a family upstairs in our building that we've become close to. Lincoln and their daughter, Allie, are close in age and love each other. The Nanny will take them to places where other kids are, but use discretion, especially during the winter months so that they can both stay well. We're very excited to have her and I'm actually looking forward to getting back to work. It was time, I think. When you start to think The Wiggles are hot, it's time. So, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I'll be bringing home the bacon...Right honey? (He's nervous about this whole work thing. One, I have an excuse to spend more money. Two, who will clean and cook and do laundry? You will, my dear.)

I guess that's about it for now. It's 6:10 AM. I've been up for about 45 minutes. No idea why. This has been happening more and more over the past few months. Although I haven't fully recovered, I have been sleeping better than last year, but I've been a bit off lately. Let's hope another sleep study isn't in my future.

Life's a Beach

Well, it's been almost three months since I've posted. I wonder if anyone will read this :-) Things have been a bit crazy around these parts. I was talking to Shawn's aunt Alix yesterday and she hit the nail on the head about the lack of posting on the blog. She said that she knew everything was going well with us if she hasn't seen a post because we were out and busy doing things. She couldn't have been more right. But I did promise her (along with a few dozen other people in the past month or so) that I would get around to posting very soon. So, here it is...

Where do I start?! How about with the best piece of news? Lincoln's feeding tube is GONE. It came out a couple of weeks ago after 3 months of not using it, not even for hydration. Lincoln is eating and drinking just like a normal two year old...And I do mean the normal, PICKY two-year old, because that's exactly what he is. Some days are better than others, as is with any human's appetite, but we're SO happy that we've arrived to this point. Not only is he eating, we haven't a hospital stay in almost a year. In fact, he hasn't even had so much as a cold since last year. Everything seems to be catching up, including his talking. Therapy hasn't started yet for that, even though he's been approved and has had his first assessment, but he's picking up things on his own now and even making sentences. I understand almost all of what he says but some translation needs to be done when it comes to others getting it entirely. He's made HUGE progress this past month though. I think that this has helped with the feeding as well. He's able to tell me what he does or doesn't like and that is a huge aid.

Lincoln and I spent a month in North Carolina with my family and a week of that was at the beach in SC with my Mom's side of the family. Lincoln learned everyone's name on the first day and he has all of their pictures that he pulls out at least once a day from his little drawer, lines them all up on the coffee table, and points them all out name-by-name.

Kit-Kat (Caroline)
Emmy (Emily)
Nina (Savannah)
Genn (Glenn)
Benda (Brenda)
Wachel (Rachel)
Soosie (Suzanne)
Tina (Christina)
Libby (Olivia)
Chanla (Chandler)
Mike-Mike (Michael)
Ba-Ba (Barbara)
Maak (Mark)
Baybeeee (Baby Lily)
Candance (Candace)
Kisten (Kristen)
Cat-ee (Cathy)
Bobby (yep, you guessed it)
Chapa (Chapel)
Jeddy (Jerry)

It was so nice to spend a week with them all. Lincoln hadn't even met most of them. I was pregnant with him and headed to the ER last time many of them saw me, so it was a wonderful reunion. We were also able to see Auntie Leah and Uncle Greg (Shawn's sister and husband) while we were at the beach. They live close by, so that was wonderful as well.

We've been spending the summer at the splash pad, the pool, visiting Grams and Grumps, going for walks, visiting the farm, and seeing friends. It's been such a great summer so far. Nothing else too new here, I guess. Lincoln is just my little buddy and we're having a blast!

And of course, pictures...

This one is just for good measure. Yup, that's me...making a sand angel. Who said Moms couldn't have fun? Psssh....

WE ARE ALIVE: PART II

I'm not even gonna bother with the apologies this time. I've been gone for far too long and there is just no excuse for it...

We've been doing lots of fun things in the past couple of months.

Lincoln is still cute...

We spent a day in the ER when Lincoln's feeding tube came out at sometime in the night and the hole closed back up...

"Hmm...Let's see. Nurse, I'm gonna need one of these 5 cc syringes over here. Could you come get it for me? I've already scrubbed in."

Lincoln has learned to love cold pizza and faux-hawks. (More on the eating part later)...

We've gotten rid of the ridiculous snow suits and have moved onto lighter clothing. ('Bout time)...

We bought a new train set to add to our daycare house. And he still begs to go play with the Choo Choos at the bookstore beside our house...

We spent some time at the cottage with Joe and family...

We've spent almost every day at the park...

He loves the slide...


And loves to throw his shoes down it... ??
(On a side note, Shawn's Mom took Lincoln to the butterfly conservatory this past weekend and apparently Lincoln bent down, unvelcroed his shoe, took it off, and threw it into a nearby fountain. I think I have a barefoot hippie boy on my hands. Sounds about right, eh Amma?)

We've had some naked TV time...

Went to the farm to see the "Bock Bocks" and the "Moooos." (That's what their names are. Just ask Lincoln.)

Contemplated splashing in puddles...

Played with the sting rays at the zoo...


...and TONS more.

We're all well. No illnesses. No hospital stays the entire summer. No drama. No nothing. It feels odd but WONDERFUL.

Speaking of wonderful...

Lincoln hasn't had ANY Pediasure in his tube for over a week now!!

Yes.

You read that right.

We're WELL on our way, folks. We've been pretty aggressive for the past 6 weeks and it's paid off. Lincoln's calories consist of:

(in order of percentage of calories)

Chocolate chip cookies
Mcdonalds french fries (only)
Mcdonalds hashbrowns (2-3 at a time)
Chex Mix (mainly the cheese rings)
Crackers (all kinds)
Spaghetti Ohs
Salt and Vinegar popcorn (remember this was the first food he ever actually ate?)
This from May of last year...

Cheese puffs
Yogurt and cheese

Okay yeah, so we have some work to do. But he is drinking Vitamin water and does get a daily multivitamin until we can get the nutrition thing sorted out. We're SO happy though. He's been doing great. He even asks for things to eat. The tube will stay in for awhile. A few months at the very least. It'd be nice to see how he eats through an illness, but I'm not wishing for that.

Speech is coming along. He's VERY behind but has just come up on the waiting list for therapy after 8 months. He had his first session last week and she will be coming to our house weekly. He has a lot of words, but only Shawn or I understand half of them. But he's coming along. This morning, I said, "Lincoln, we need to put your jacket on." And he said, "Yeah. Ith Cooold." I was floored. I didn't even know he knew that the word "cold" correlated to the word "jacket" and I didn't even know he could say "cold." Every day is a major improvement.

I think that's about it for now. I'll be back...Not sure when :)

WE ARE ALIVE!!!

I took a MAJOR blog break, as you can tell. I know I promised otherwise, but I needed the time away. I know you all understand :) I got into a major winter funk and hardly even took pictures. But Lincoln and I went South for 3 weeks and I returned energized and ready to go! Not to mention Spring is on it's way to Toronto and I couldn't be happier about that.

The Walshes are doing well. Lincoln has had a nasty cough and cold for most of the winter, but has managed to stay hospital-free. We haven't had to even take him in to be checked. He's doing VERY well in that regard, and only down to one steroid puffer. He's off the nebulizer completely. (A REAL treat!) His weight has been dropping every month, but his weight and height are finally proportionate and sitting around the 10-20th percentile for his adjusted age for height and actual age for weight. Apparently they adjust height until 40 months, but stop adjusting weight at 24 months...New to me. I thought it was 24 months across the board.

His feeding is coming along. He'll try just about anything. He eats 3 minigo yogurts, consistently every morning, a large amount of popcorn in the afternoon, and usually half a can of spaghetti-oh's, a slice or two of cheese, and perhaps some animal crackers. Nothing entirely nutritious yet, but we're getting there. We will be cutting his Pediasure intake two days a week to see if getting less through his feeding tube will spark some new hunger. Nothing too dramatic, as he is still losing weight, but it may make a difference.

Lincoln's speech is MUCH improved. He can attempt any word and usually at least get the first consonant out. He will point to a duck and say "Kack Kack" (Quack Quack), to a cow and say "Moo," to a sheep and say "Baaa," to a chicken and say "Bock Bock,", to a ball and Elmo and say those words appropriately. He says "yeah" and "no" and uses them when he should, although the use of the word "no" is far more often than "yes." He has yet to string any words together, but he continues to comprehend even very complex things that we say to him. He's a smart kid.

We had a BLAST in NC. I had permanent babysitters and I took full advantage, seeing close to 40 people that I haven't seen in a long time. I had so much fun. Thanks to my family for that. It was AMAZING :) And it was so good to see you all too. Lincoln will definitely remember you all after this trip. He points to your pictures and says names all the time. "Amama" (Amma), "Papa," "Va Va" (Haven), and "Gay Gay" (Grayson). We miss you :(

Here are some pictures since I last posted...

Lincoln, bra shopping...

Lincoln and Uncle Gray Gray...

Lincoln at Aunt Haven's...

Lincoln on the plane...

Mom and Dad at Shawn's CA dinner...

(At this point in the day, I had been up since 4 AM, waking up in NC, flying back to Toronto with a 4 hour layover, a 2 hour drive home, and it was 10:30 PM here...)

Lincoln pushed the bottom out of his bucket of blocks and found a new use for it...

Lincoln got a new 'do, thanks to Grams. Here he is sportin' it...

More later. I promise. Yeah I know. You've heard that one before.

More?

I caught this adorable clip of Lincoln and Shawn last night. Lincoln can't decide if he should sign 'more' or 'all done' while Shawn tickles him...

Faux Christmas

Everyone needs a break during the holidays, right? Even from blogging, right? I know. I completely broke my 'every other day' rule. I promise I'll try to stick to it now that the craziness of the holiday season is over.

My family came up from NC to visit us in Canada, and we had such a good time! Here are quite a few random photos...

Mom and me...


My sister, Haven, and Lincoln...

From left to right: My brother, Grayson...Dad...Haven...and Mom

Lincoln and 'Papa' playing in the sink...

A big fat hamburger my Mom patted out...

Lincoln and Abby...

Haven showing off a Christmas present on our faux Christmas morning on December 27th...

Grayson with his new toy...

If you can't think of what to get me for Christmas...PJs or scarves. You can't go wrong...

Lincoln with his new headphones...

Shawn, Lincoln, and Abby on 'Christmas morning'...

Mom and Dad...

The kids...

The fam, minus Shawn and Dad...

We met Busy Ramone, from 'Ready or Not' while we were out to eat one night...Look at the excitement on my face....

Playing Cranium..Lincoln with Amma's cane...

Amma and Lincoln...

It was so good to have them here for a few days. Lincoln fell in love with them all over again. We're headed down in Feburary, so we don't have to wait TOO long to see them again.

Nothing too much to update on the health/feeding front, but no news is good news when you're raising a preemie.

Happy Birthday Little Man

This morning, two years ago, I had another ultrasound to show Lincoln in the same position as the night before, with slight progression of the cervix. I was told that if I started to feel pressure at any second to alert the nurses. At about 3:30 PM, I knew that it was time.

I was in the OR in no more than 15 minutes and Lincoln was delivered soon after. There was no cry. No "It's a boy!" No joyous laughter or smiles from the surgeons. The respiratory therapists began work on him and actually brought him over, still bagging him, to let me see him. Letting the Mother see the baby is something that they make sure to do with babies that small.

Shawn went with Lincoln and the team to the NICU while they finished up with me. I sat in recovery for what seemed like FOREVER, waiting on Shawn to return to tell me how he was. Because of the pain meds and the cup of ice chips that I was finally able to munch on, after 12 hours of no liquids or food, I was comfortable. Relaxed. Shawn came to my side and told me that he was doing okay. They wheeled me, in the bed that I was in, to Lincoln's bedside in the NICU.

I'll never forget seeing him there. The tubes and wires made it almost impossible to even see him, but from what I could see, his skin was translucent, his eyes were fused, and I could see every rib, every bone and muscle, and his heart beating through his chest. But God was he ever beautiful.

This picture was taken about a week later, after his eyes had opened. You get an idea of how small he was, with the RT's hands around his head.

I absolutely cannot even believe it's been 2 years. In some ways, it feels more like 10 or 12. Close friends and family (and faithful blog followers) will know that it hasn't been easy. I'm only 27 years old. I've had little happen in my short life that has caused me pain and heartache. I had no idea that deciding to get pregnant 2 1/2 years ago would change my life in this way. I knew that my life would change, of course, but I never anticipated this.

I planned to teach my child in these first two years. I wanted to be an influence. Show him love and strength. But today, I can look back and say that Lincoln has done all of these things for me, and so much more. I really have no idea what I did with my life before he came along. It all seems so unimportant.

Thank you for these two years Lincoln...For your determination, your unconditional love, and your life.

Two Years: Part II

In a couple of hours, it will have been two years to the minute that Lincoln tried to be born in the bathroom of a movie theater in Morganton, NC.

Shawn and I were watching The Pursuit of Happyness and I had just finished off a large popcorn. (Yes, by myself. Don't judge.)...

The previous day, my Mom took me to a local hospital (separate from the time I mentioned earlier in the week), and I was checked out again. This was a total of 3 times with just an uneasy feeling. I'm sure I had begun to be referred to as a "frequent flyer," a name that I've come to find out is give to those women, usually pregnant for the first time, who make repeat appearances to the ER thinking they're going into labor. A blog that I read Tales from Labor & Delivery (although she is on some sort of hiatus), has had quite a few posts regarding these women. I am nowhere close to the record at her hospital of 81 times during a single pregnancy. Poor woman.

The previous day's trip to the ER was the same as the last. Everything looked fine. Go home. Relax. I was up most of the night, though. Shawn arrived the following day and when he got into town, we headed for the theater.

I started to feel lots of pressure and what I could have sworn was kicking VERY low. I went to the bathroom and I could feel Lincoln's feet. Something kept me from passing out right there and maintaining composure enough to go back into the theater and get Shawn to head to the hospital.
Upon arriving, the same nurses who had seen me before sent me to a room and took about an hour to come check on me. I told them what I felt, but instead of doing a cervical check, they spent 20 minutes getting the heart rate and contraction monitor set just right. They were actually ready to send me home, after seeing that all of the numbers looked good but they said they'd do a cervical exam just to ease my worries. The look of horror on the nurse's face was something I'll never forget. Everything is kind of fuzzy after that. For the next 30 minutes, my room filled with around 15 people, all preparing for delivery, even though I was sure to let them know that absolutely was NOT happening. This hospital was hardly equipped for a 34 weeker, and I knew that I was only 23-24.

They did an ultrasound that showed Lincoln in the breech position, with his feet in the birth canal, exactly how I knew he was. My bed was turned on an angle, head down, and 2-3 medications were started through IV. I was able to be transported to a hospital an hour up the mountain with a large, 51 bed Level III NICU. I remained at 4 cm throughout the night and received a steroid shot to help with Lincoln's lungs. The nurse that night tried to keep us optimistic that I could hold on for a week or even longer, but I knew it would be a day at the most.

My family was there. They got a room in a hotel just down the road, and Shawn slept in a recliner beside my bed. In 12 hours, Lincoln would be born. I knew what was coming. I was prepared. I prayed all night for my little boy, for God to give him strength and to help him rest through the night. The next day would be long for both of us.

Weekend catchup

I joke about Lincoln inheriting my OCD, but look at this...


We went out for a social night with Shawn's coworkers on Saturday night....Curling. Yes. How much more Canadian can you get? I guess we could've played hockey. I had low expectations for the evening, but I ended up having some fun. Its a lot harder than it looks.

Well, not for this guy. His athleticism makes me wanna...(Well, I won't go there. We don't talk about vomit lightly here.)

And here's a great shot of me, showing exactly where I spent most of the night.

It's been snowing like CRAZY the past few days. We probably have a few feet on the ground now. On Sunday, we took little Lincoln sledding. It was -17 so we probably shouldn't have. He made it down the hill once before we were all ready to go, but he seemed to enjoy the actual sledding part. Maybe when it's a bit warmer, at least above zero, he'll appreciate it.

Two Years: Part I

It has been two years since I showed up to the ER in Georgetown, South Carolina demanding that something was wrong with my pregnancy. I was down from Toronto, visiting family in NC, and the annual Christmas gathering for my Mom's side was that weekend. I was a little anxious throughout...Just felt off...But hid it well and really enjoyed myself. I tried to attribute any abnormal feelings as too much ham, or Aunt Brenda's extra sweet tea.

The next morning, before we were to leave to go back to NC (a six hour drive), I broke down. I wasn't in any pain, but I really felt like there was a problem. My Mom rode with me to the closest larger town and we were taken to labor/delivery. After a thorough check, I was sent home. I felt better knowing that a medical professional had looked me over, but I wasn't at all convinced that things were okay. I just knew they were okay for now.

This was my belly picture then...Lincoln was born 6 days later.