William was 3 months old on December 4th.
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Gotcha Day 2019
For those who have adopted, gotcha day has a special meaning in their family. As I look back five years ago today, I was very pregnant with Kathryn, due any day, we were surrounded by family and friends and our children. This is a day that has been branded into my memory and I will forever cherish. It just so happened that it was National Adoption Day, November 21, 2014.
Every year, on Gotcha Day, I ask Jensen what happened on this day. He always says that it was the day he “officially became a Grasham”. Each year we let him pick the meal for dinner and we have cupcakes. We talk about what happened on that day and how thankful we are for mama Brittney and the sacrifice she made choosing us to love and care for Jensen when she could not provide.
I’m so thankful for adoption, I never knew what kind of love I could have for a child outside of my flesh. I love Jensen just as I do my other children and I can’t imagine my life without him.
Jensen is filled with beat boxing, laughter, jokes, compassion, a sensitive spirit, and is gifted at befriending anyone. I love you Jensen, you make mama so happy, blessed and proud of who you are!
Monday, November 4, 2019
William Wesley is 2 Months
My, oh my! Where has the time gone? It’s hard to believe that William is two months already. We are just loving getting to know our sweet son, brother, grandson, and nephew!
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Halloween 2019
This year we decided to let the kids wear their costumes and trick or treat!
I put a table in our cup de sac and wore my
Mama Bear 🐻 shirt. William was the hidden Superman in his blanket.
It was a brisk, cool and windy evening. It was perfect!
Friday, October 4, 2019
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Saturday, September 14, 2019
William Wesley II Newborn Photography
Fabulous Newborn Photography Courtesy of our dear friend Krytondra Mamou
I am so thankful for these AMAZING moments Krytondra captured with and for us!
William was 10 days old at the time of capture.
Friday, September 13, 2019
William Wesley - First Bath
William had his first bath at home.
He is so calm and cool and collected. He didn’t cry or whine at all.
I am 99% sure that he will have curly hair, it’s so fun to see his little self unfold as we see him grow daily. I’m so thankful for this laid back 4th child. Thank you Lord for blessing us with William.
I am 99% sure that he will have curly hair, it’s so fun to see his little self unfold as we see him grow daily. I’m so thankful for this laid back 4th child. Thank you Lord for blessing us with William.
No sooner did he get out of the bath in his towel to where he was quite comfortable to have a really good bowel movement. Otherwise, his bath was very uneventful.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
William Wesley II - 1 week
Tomorrow William is one week old. Time flies! So much has happened in this week and I am still exhausted.
We went to the pediatrician this afternoon to have his bilirubin checked for jaundice and it went down a little from Sunday and is nothing to be concerned about, praise the Lord!
Sunday, September 8, 2019
William Wesley Meets the Crew
The kids were so excited to meet William today. Since he was in the NICU and they were all compromised with sickness, we did not have them come to the hospital.
They are all in love with him!
William Wesley We’re Going Home!
We are so excited to announce that we are going home from the hospital.
William Wesley NICU Update - Going Home Sunday
Sunday, September 8th - Going Home!
The doctors made rounds this morning and his bilirubin is slightly elevated at 14.2. They are discharging us and are requiring us to have his bilirubin checked tomorrow, Monday, September 8 with the pediatrician. If his numbers continue to go down there is nothing else we have to do. If his numbers continue to go up, then we have to get it checked again on Tuesday and if it reaches 17, he will need to go under the blue lights to reduce the bilirubin level. They say that on day four is when the bilirubin peaks, so this may be the high point and there will be nothing to worry about after. Otherwise, everything else that he has been dealing with has resolved on its own or has been relatively normal for a C-section baby.
The doctors made rounds this morning and his bilirubin is slightly elevated at 14.2. They are discharging us and are requiring us to have his bilirubin checked tomorrow, Monday, September 8 with the pediatrician. If his numbers continue to go down there is nothing else we have to do. If his numbers continue to go up, then we have to get it checked again on Tuesday and if it reaches 17, he will need to go under the blue lights to reduce the bilirubin level. They say that on day four is when the bilirubin peaks, so this may be the high point and there will be nothing to worry about after. Otherwise, everything else that he has been dealing with has resolved on its own or has been relatively normal for a C-section baby.
Saturday, September 7, 2019
William Wesley NICU Update- SuperDad!!
My husband is the best. Having time with him alone, no other kids except caring for William...makes me slow down and remember why we’re a really great team together. I’m captivated by his persistent support to protect me and my needs here in the hospital. It’s been tough traveling to NICU every two hours, especially after surgery. We have enjoyed the time to work together, support each other, and pray together and for our son and family. He’s a trooper and I nominate him as our Super Dad!
William Wesley NICU Update - No more tubes!!!
We came down for the 5 o’clock feeding and Williams because level measured 69 after eating exclusively breast-fed for the last several feedings. They had removed his oxygen tube a little bit earlier today and also removed the NG tube while we were here this time. Now I can finally see his little face for the first time. He is a trooper! He is eating great, sleeping great , all his bottle he functions are very much in good working order, peeing, pooping, burping, etc.
The only thing he has left on him is the oxygen monitor on his foot and his two heart monitors on his chest and belly. If he continues to have two more good glucose numbers and his oxygen levels continue to stabilize then there is a good chance that he will be discharged tomorrow with me to go home. That would be our best case scenario.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and encouragement. I have definitely felt very much peace throughout all of this and I do not doubt that is due to all of you who have lifted us up in prayer.
William Wesley NICU Update - Saturday # 3
Saturday, September 7th Update # 1:
1:30am feeding went well. William nurse for 20 minutes on the right side and a few minutes on the left side. When we got back to the room I pumped out 30 ML, 20 on the right and 10 on the left. That tells me that he ate at least 10 ounces, if not more.
Upon returning for the 4:30 AM feeding, his glucose had reached 58 which meant that the progress we made previously was no longer good and we had to go back up to number two on the IV fluids. Either he is not able to manage his glucose at a level one or he did not eat enough at that particular feeding. The nurse, Dan and I feel that he did not eat enough. Shortly after we had left from the 1:30 AM feeding, he began rooting again and so the nurse went ahead and gave him some of the pumped milk that I had brought down. During the 4:30 AM feeding, William nursed for 25 minutes on the right side and about 15 minutes on the left side. He was definitely what you would call “milk drunk”.
Since he ate so much on the right side, when I got back to the room I had to make sure that I pumped on the left. I’ve decided not to do a pump anymore because I will oversupply. My milk is in now And I am producing more than adequate amount, which means that either I have to pump but I have to feed, unless I want to deal with the engorgement. So I’m going to start pumping out the side that he does not finish at a feeding. I only pumping out one side, this will also allow me to get better sleep so that I am not constantly pumping and nursing every two hours.
Hopefully since he had a good feeding, he will be able to have a good glucose number at 7:30. There are several factors since we did go back up on the IV to number two, and then of course the really good feeding. At this point we’re waiting for numbers to be good to consecutive times in order to go down.
1:30am feeding went well. William nurse for 20 minutes on the right side and a few minutes on the left side. When we got back to the room I pumped out 30 ML, 20 on the right and 10 on the left. That tells me that he ate at least 10 ounces, if not more.
Upon returning for the 4:30 AM feeding, his glucose had reached 58 which meant that the progress we made previously was no longer good and we had to go back up to number two on the IV fluids. Either he is not able to manage his glucose at a level one or he did not eat enough at that particular feeding. The nurse, Dan and I feel that he did not eat enough. Shortly after we had left from the 1:30 AM feeding, he began rooting again and so the nurse went ahead and gave him some of the pumped milk that I had brought down. During the 4:30 AM feeding, William nursed for 25 minutes on the right side and about 15 minutes on the left side. He was definitely what you would call “milk drunk”.
Since he ate so much on the right side, when I got back to the room I had to make sure that I pumped on the left. I’ve decided not to do a pump anymore because I will oversupply. My milk is in now And I am producing more than adequate amount, which means that either I have to pump but I have to feed, unless I want to deal with the engorgement. So I’m going to start pumping out the side that he does not finish at a feeding. I only pumping out one side, this will also allow me to get better sleep so that I am not constantly pumping and nursing every two hours.
Hopefully since he had a good feeding, he will be able to have a good glucose number at 7:30. There are several factors since we did go back up on the IV to number two, and then of course the really good feeding. At this point we’re waiting for numbers to be good to consecutive times in order to go down.
Saturday, September 7th Update # 2
We came for the 8:00 AM feeding and his glucose test was 62. Based on that, the doctor put the IV fluid back up to 2. She did say though that on 1, that’s basically .5, so he did well for being on .5. She is going to confer with the attending g physician and see what they’d like to do.
She wants me to continue breastfeeding exclusively, and every 3 hours for the glucose tests to be run. We only need two more tests with good numbers before they will turn it off.
His oxygen breathing has also improved. He still has some intermittent breathing, but it is not as often as days before. The doctor said that hopefully we can try to remove the oxygen by the end of day.
He has only lost 4 ounces since birth, he is now 7 pounds and 10 ounces. He is holding his weight very good and is an excellent eater.
I tried to feed him and he only ate for 15 minutes on my left side before becoming “milk drunk”!
The nurse wanted to make sure that he had enough, so she pushed 7oz. of my pumped milk through his NG-tube. We will check glucose again and feed again at 11am.
William continues to be very laid back and only really cries when he is hungry or doesn’t want to eat when we offer. He loves to sleep and has absolutely no issues with peeing and pooping. He is a strong little guy and just yesterday was lifting up hoa head off my chest and shoulder.
We are so captivated by him, he is our true miracle reversal baby and we are so delighted that God chose US to be HIS parents.
Saturday, September 7th Update # 3
William is off oxygen!!
I can’t wait to kiss his face...
Saturday, September 7th Update # 4
I just woke up from a wonderful nap. My husband is fabulous!!! Meanwhile, Dans protecting me so much that he’s going to get us kicked out of the hospital 😆 Boy do we have stories to tell
Glucose IV is OFF and disconnected. He drank 40ml, almost twice his previous feedings and newest glucose numbers are good.
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