5 Months Old

With Cole being sick a lot, the blog has been the last thing on my mind. Hoping that all of that will soon be passed us. 

On a brighter note, little Cole has done a LOT of growing in the past few months! 

4 Month Measurements

Height: 2' 2"

Weight: 17.8 lbs

Eye Color: blue/green

Hair color: Light Brown

Sleep: Sleeping through the night since 6 weeks old! Woo!! However, you still like to be in mom and dads room. Some nights you sleep in your nursery.

Cole Loves: MOMMY!!! Playing with Ellie. Sticking everything in his mouth. Pulling moms hair out. When daddy comes home from work. Watching TV with daddy. Late night summer fun at the football field with the boys. Being naked. Bath time!! 

Cole Hates: Being alone. When his stomach hurts. Being still. 

Cole is a happy baby!! Even the hard days, when we all know he's not feeling well, he tries to be happy. He is such a sweetheart! 

Finally Home

We were finally able to bring our little guy home last night from OU Children's Hospital. 

They've determined that in addition to severe GERD, his pylorus muscle is still large after his first surgery, but they can't do much about it until he gains a little more weight. Once he is bigger, they will be able to balloon dialate the pyloric muscle. 

So until then, little Cole has to continue to hang tough. 

It's possible that the muscle will thin out on its own, so we are praying for that! Thank you all for the continued prayers and support! 

OU CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

As many of you know, little Cole had surgery for pyloric stenosis when he was 6 weeks old. Slowly but surely the symptoms are reappearing as of late. After many (and I mean many) doctors visits and speciality referrals, we have found ourselves admitted at the OU Children's Hospital. 

For the past two days, his group of doctors have gone back and forth over a diagnosis and a course of treatment. After further testing today, the leading diagnoses have been a little extinguished.  Although they are far from giving up on finding answers, it's becoming wearisome an tiring for my husband and myself.

As I sit in my baby's hospital room, yet again, I become teary-eyed as I know there are answers with time, yet my patience wants them now. His team of doctors have been incredible. They have done so much research solely for him and his particular case. They aren't dismissing anything until there are no doubts left. 

I know our Lord has Cole firmly in His hands as, despite the persistent vomiting, Cole continues to grow and develope. In fact, he's a little butter ball these days. THANK YOU, JESUS!!! Although this brings a new spin to all the diagnoses in the doctors minds, I don't find it odd at all. My Savior is capable of ANYTHING. And my baby is living proof. No one can change my mind on that.

I'm asking you all for prayers. Prayers for my sweet baby Cole. That he will be comfortable and keep the sweet smile that he so eagerly greets his doctors with (mostly. Ha!). Prayers for his medical team that their eyes would be opened to what is happening in his little body. Prayers that their course of treatment would lead to a permanently solution. Prayers that my husband and I will have wisdom, patience, and strength as we wait, wait, and wait some more. Prayers that my little mommy heart will be able to settle down and rest. Prayers that my sweet little boy will be back home soon giggling and laughing in his own bed and be feeling much better.

Favorite Baby Items up to 2 Months

1. Aveeno Diaper Rash Cream- You have had a few diaper rashes, and one really bad rash. I have tried several different creams and keep coming back to Aveeno. It's the only one that is strong enough to handle the job, yet gentle enough that it soothes him and doesn't upset his already raw skin. 
   
2. Leacho Baby Lounger- Sent from heaven!! I can't say enough good things about this pillow. Before and after his surgery the only way he could really sleep is upright, so despite all the Mommy-No-No's, we let him sleep in the lounger in his bassinet or in the middle of our bed. It is truly been a blessing! Even after I finish nursing I am able to put him in there and know he is still upright enough to not upset any reflux. Quite possibly the best $39 we've ever spent. 
   
3. Little giraffe blanket/Aden and anais bamboo blanket/Vonbon Blankets- These blankets are my favorites! They all have different purposes... so here's my breakdown: Little Giraffe Dolce Dot Blanket- The best for the winter and colder months. It's also great for covering him in the middle of the night when you want a little more warmth. 
   
   Aden and Anais Bamboo Blanket- Breathable and light. Definitely something for the warm summer months or for during the day when you don't want to overheat your already warm little one. 
   
   Vonbon Blankets- I LOVE Vonbon. These blankets are truly multipurpose. They fold up nicely and are a great addition to the diaper bag. I have used them for burp rags even when nothing else was close enough. They are warm, yet light. Great for all seasons!
   
4. Kickee Pants Jammies- These are the only Jammies that Cole doesn't break out into heat rash wearing. They are made of Bamboo and so they are nice and breathable. We love us some KickeePants! They're regular clothes are awesome too!
   
5. Prince Lionheart Wipe Warmer- One of the tie bits of advice I received before having Cole was to purchase a wipe warmer. I am now a firm believer in the wipe warmer. He doesn't cry warm wipes hit his little bum... when cold ones do it's a rough diaper change for all involved. 
   
6. Rolling Bassinet- a MUST have in our household! We move this little mini crib all over the house. He chills in it in the kitchen with me while I cook, in the living room to take a nap, and sleeps in it at night in our master bedroom. I truly love our little mini crib. And it folds up so its perfect for taking with you if you need to travel for the weekend. 
   
7. Mamaroo- Some days, our Mamaroo is the only way I ever get anything accomplished around the house. Especially when he was a newborn, he LOVED his Mamaroo. He still loves it now, but he's wising up to the fact that I leave him in it. Heaven forbid he be alone for a few minutes. Ha!
   
8. Solly Baby Wrap- When the mamaroo doesn't work, I just throw on my Solly and take little bit with me around the house or the grocery store. I have two different baby carriers, but the Solly is by far my favorite. It isn't bulky and holds him close enough to me that he feels like I am still holding him. 
   
9. Ryan & Rose Paci Clip- I just came across these recently and am IN LOVE. I wish I would have found these sooner! A definite staple for my baby gifts from now on. 
   
10. Peg Perego Stroller and Carseat- I can't say enough good things about the carseat and stroller that I picked out for Cole. I did SO much research it was borderline obsessive; however, it has all paid off now. My husband and I bitterly argue over who gets to push the stroller when we are out and about. It's so smooth and easy to steer. The carseat isn't super light, but its layers of cushion have kept Cole perfectly comfortable from the day we brought him home from the hospital. I'm glad we spent a little more and purchased these two items. Worth every penny.
    

One Long Week

It all started on a Wednesday. Cole couldn't seem to keep his feedings down and would vomit it back up. I called the next morning and got an appointment with his pediatrician. I wondered if maybe he had a stomach bug since there are lots of them going around, but decided it would be best to just have him seen since he was only 5 weeks old at the time. 

 

Friday morning came and with it his doctors appointment. I explained everything that was going on to his pediatrician in great detail. After hearing everything I had to say and examining little man, she diagnosed him with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). She gave him a prescription for an antacid and told me to keep an eye on him and if it didn't get better to either take him to the ER or make another appointment to come back in and see her. 

I thought the antiacid helped a little Friday night, but by Saturday his vomiting increased and became more forceful. Everyone kept telling Lee and I that it was "normal" and that their children did the same thing. I was less than convinced. If this is "normal" than Cole was quickly becoming an only child.

My washer was doing so many loads of laundry a day just to clean the vomit that I thought I might cry. We were on day 6 of continuous vomiting when I decided it was time to be seen again because this plan of action obviously wasn't working. I tried to get a hold of the nurse at the pediatricians office but was unable. At 10pm on Monday night, I found blood in Cole's diaper. So, I called a fellow coaching wife who also is an NICU nurse at the Children's hospital and asked for her advice. After discussing with her and my brother who is a medical student, Lee and I decided to take Cole to the Pediatric ER. 

When we got there it was PACKED! I mean we're talking PACKED to the point where there were few seats left. I was terrified Cole would pick up something from one of the other sick kiddos who were coughing all around. Thankfully, the paramedic at the front desk offered for us to move wheel chairs out of a small nook and let us hide out inside and hopefully prevent exposing Cole to unwanted illness. 

At 12AM the pediatric ER shut down, so we all headed over to the main ER. I don't know how often you've been to the regular ER in the middle of the night, but it was a scary place to be with a little one. At 1:30am, we were told the pediatrician left at 2am and there were 8 children in front of us in line. Consequently, we left and I decided to just call his pediatrician at 8am when they opened. 

Cole slept good that night and mommy and daddy crashed! 

At 8am I woke up and called his pediatricians office. Her nurse told me that it sounded like we needed to go back to the Pediatric ER because he would need testing done that they couldn't offer at the office. 

So I called my husband at work, and graciously his school let him leave immediately and drive Cole and I to the Pediatric ER. 

After several tests and ultrasounds, Cole was diagnosed with Pyloric Stenosis. 

Pyloric stenosis is an uncommon condition affecting the opening (pylorus) between the stomach and small intestine in infants. The pylorus is a muscular valve that holds food in the stomach until it is ready for the next stage in the digestive process. In pyloric stenosis, the pylorus muscles thicken, blocking food from entering the baby's small intestine. (MayoClinic.org)

Within hours, we had gone from our comfortable home to the NICU floor at the Children's hospital waiting for emergency surgery on our 6 week old baby boy. 

The next few days were a whirlwind. Cole was unable to have the surgery that same day as he was too dehydrated. Consequently, he was put on an IV of fluids and monitored overnight before having surgery that next morning at 9:30am. 

[Watching them wheel away your little baby boy into surgery when he's only 6 weeks old is a horrible experience. No matter how much you trust the medical staff, you never want to hand your little baby over for surgery]

Then came the wait... The (what felt like) very long wait...

At 11am his surgeon came back to his NICU room to meet us. Cole's surgery had gone perfectly. Praise the Lord!! He was doing well and was on his way back up to his room in the NICU. 

He spent the next few hours recovering before they gave him several feedings of pedialite. He was able to keep the pedialite down, so by 8pm he was able to nurse. That made one happy momma and a very happy baby boy! It had been 39 hours at that point that little man had eaten. 

To his surgeon's surprise, Cole never threw up again after his surgery. YAY! 

He stayed another night in the NICU and the next evening we were released and headed back home!!!

I have never been more thankful for the loving and caring staff at St Francis Children's Hospital! They were amazing! I can't sing their praises enough. 

Our little man is all smiles now. We brought a completely different baby home from the children's hospital. He smiles and giggles and wants to play all the time now. He eats and eats and makes this momma so very happy. 

As grateful as I am to the doctors and nurses at the Children's hospital, I am even more thankful to our Heavenly Father for having His hand of protection on Cole through everything. He went before and behind and enclosed our sweet little Cole in. Thank you, Father for Your faithfulness. Our little boy is a testament to Your goodness.

Cole's Birth Story

On the cold morning of December 27, 2014, Lee and I headed into the hospital to meet our little baby boy, Cole.

We arrived at the hospital at 5:30am.

We signed in and got settled. I was being induced so the petocin drip started at 6:30am. Dr Wood came in at 8:40am and broke my water. The labor process was officially in full force. 

Cole wasn't very cooperative for the first 9 hours. Every time I had a strong contraction, his heart rate dropped. The nurses became concerned and kept calling Dr Wood frequently. He kept having them move me regularly and came in to check on me about every hour. Our nurse kept talking to me about emergency c-sections and what all was involved. I could tell she thought I would end up needing an emergency c-section, but I was determined to have Cole naturally. 

Finally, at 8PM Cole had moved down far enough for me to start pushing. It was the LONGEST two hours of my life. Finally after 14 hours of labor and 2 hours of pushing, our precious little boy was here! Cole Anthony was born at 10:02PM. He barely cried when he came out, which scared this momma, but he was perfectly fine! Just a tough little guy from the beginning. 

After he was all cleaned up the grandparents came in to meet our little guy. 

We are so grateful for a healthy baby boy!  Praise the Lord!

And after two nights, it was time to head home! Cole was smiling as we packed our bags and got him ready to leave.

After Lee pulled my car up to the hospital door, my battery died. Of course. So thankfully Cole's Nana and Papa switched us cars and got ours up and working while we drove our little man home in their car. Thanks Nana and Papa! We love you!!

Cole's 4 day doctors appointment came quickly. He obviously remembered that his pediatrician was the same man who had circumcised him two days earlier because he decided to poop not only on their scale as he was being weighed, but also popped on their exam table. Oh little Cole, you always keep us guessing. 

His appointment went well and we headed back to Nana and Papa's house to spend more time with family over the holidays. 

The week following Cole's arrival was the fastest week of our lives. Although Lee & I were both completely sleep deprived, we somehow managed to keep waking up and taking care of our little man at the jump of a hat. 

We love you, little Cole! 

The Lord blessed us beyond words the day He gave you to us.