Drew Turns 1 Month

I'm sure I will start each monthly post like this, "I can't believe it's already been a month!!" ONE month since sweet baby Drew came into our lives.  He cries quite a bit and doesn't sleep much, but we sure love having him in our family!! (This comes 3 days late b/c I had Internet problems.)

Get ready for a Drew picture overload!! I am working from recent back to the actual BIRTHday.

How cute is that little face?!? He's going to pose with the monthly lion each month/year just like his big brothers do.

Crash and burn!!

ENOUGH already!!

SLEEP: What's that?!? He doesn't sleep for more than about an hour at a time.  So at night I average about 3 hours of sleep. zzzzz.....

EAT: I'm nursing and formula feeding. He eats about every 2 hours and about 2 oz at each feeding.  

LIKES: Being held and outside, changing his diaper

DISLIKES: his car seat and his swing after a few minutes

Waiting patiently with me at the doctor's office

 My doctor, Dr. Berryhill

It took a few times in the bath to enjoy it, but now he loves it!!

I put him in the sink and he gets so still as the water runs over him!

Then getting warm and snuggly after our bath.

I know two grandmas who would agree with this shirt!

Take a look at his arms up in the air.  He fell asleep like this!!  Ha!

Giving me a look like his Daddy!!

Such big, curious eyes!

So serious!!  "Don't mess with me while I'm eating!"

Can you tell, he really enjoys our morning and evening strolls around the neighborhood?!?

Showing off his muscles while he sleeps!

Don't be fooled--there's not a lot of this sleeping going on!

Although when he does sleep, his mommy sure loves to cuddle up with him!

Love this!

At first, Connor wanted nothing to do with Drew.  He always kept his distance and would never even touch him!!  Now, he wants to hold him all the time.  Makes my heart happy! :)

If only we knew what Drew was thinking as he stares up at his big bros!

He got to meet his Great Aunt Patricia

Peek-a-boo!

This is how I feel after a nice warm bath!

Uncle Jason holding this 3rd nephew!

The boys!

He's so little in his swing

"Hey there, ladies."

Such a big yawn for such a little boy!

Daddy and his boys

Getting lots of snuggle time with Mimi

These are dark and hard to see, but this was Drew's homecoming.  After each boy was born, Mimi had my favorite cake made.  In Livingston, you say the Marsha cake and everyone knows what you're talking about. (The lady who makes them is named Marsha.) It's a white cake with cream cheese icing and raspberry filling.  It's the same cake we had at our wedding.  YUM-O!!

My Three Sons (That will be a common saying for years and years to come!)

Our first picture before leaving the hospital as a family of FIVE!

Going Home!

Reid getting to feed Drew for the first time.

He was so excited to hold Drew (unlike Connor!)

And our sweet Drew, day 1.  We love him so and are glad God picked us to be his parents!!

Here are his stats from his one month check up:

Height: 22.25" -70% (note: the nurse who measured him did not "pull" his legs all the way, so I'm thinking he's a bit longer.)

Weight: 10lb. 8 oz - 41%

Head: 15.24" - 82%

After talking to the doctor, we realized he has reflux.  She gave us some medication, so hopefully that helps.  At this age, both Connor and Reid were eating about 5oz and Drew is only eating 2-3oz, per feeding, sometimes less at night.  Thus, he is only 41% in weight. 

Texas Children's Hospital

This past weekend was a tough one; something parents hope to never go through. We had to take baby Drew to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.  All through the night on Thursday, Drew was screaming and I could not settle him down.  I slept a whopping 1.5 hours that night because he was in such pain.  He was also burning up though I never took his temperature.  Finally Friday morning he was so hot and still uncomfortable so I decided to call his pediatrician. Thank goodness my parents were here that morning for a special grandparents breakfast.  Mom came with me to help with Drew because he was so upset.  Once at the doctor's office, they took his temperature and it was 101.  The doctor then said we needed to get him to the ER at Texas Children's Hospital.  I couldn't believe it.  She said that a temperature that high in infants could be very dangerous, even deadly. 

I called Josh and we were so glad that he was in town and it wasn't a busy day at work.  He came home and we discussed back and forth whether or not we should really go to that extreme (of taking him to the ER over an hour away.) Finally we decided to go because, if Drew did get worse, we would never forgive ourselves. 

Here he was on the ride downtown

Once in the ER, we were sent to triage where his temperature was still 101.  They gave him some baby tylenol which worked wonders.  We then waited...and waited for a room to come available.  Finally, 2 hours later, they called us back.  Once in a room we had various nurses and doctors visit us.  Because of his age and his fever, they had to perform all kinds of tests.  They put in a catheter to collect a urine sample, and a tube up his nostril to collect fluid there.  Then they poked a needle in the top of his hand to collect 3 viles of blood.  Lastly, and sadly, they did a spinal tap. I was in the room for all of it except that.  I walked out nearly in tears knowing sweet Drew was getting poked and prodded.  Through all of this, his fever never returned and he was not fussy at all.  In fact, he was so good!  However, they needed us to stay the night until all the test results came back. Finally at 8:00pm (after checking in at 1:00pm) they had a spot in the NICU for him.  I had never been in a nicu before and had no idea what to expect. One of the first doctors that saw us said we'd be in a room with beds...not so much.  There was one chair next to Drew's bed.  I was so upset.  After all we'd put him through (which Josh and I questioned the whole time whether or not it was all necessary) then he was left in the NICU.  I did not want to leave his side, but I was completly exhausted and knew I would get no sleep sitting in a chair.  Josh convinced me it would be okay to leave him and check into the hotel across the street.  I was very reluctant, but finally around 9:00pm we left Drew there. 

The next day, I never left Drew's bed (other than a couple of bathroom breaks!) A group of doctors came by and told us most of the tests were negative, but he did test positive for a viral meningitis called enterovirus.  Basically, it's a big scary term for a cold. For what's a common cold in children, can be deadly in infants. This all makes sense because since school started, Reid has on and off had a cold.  And as much as we try to keep Drew away from the big boys, it's nearly impossible.  They get so excited to see him when they get home from school and it's hard for them to keep their distance.  

SOOO...we were given the green light to go home and were finally able to leave around 8:00pm. 

We ran through every kind of emotion --- exhaustion, sadness, guilt, thankfulness, relief. But mostly, blessed that we were able to walk away with nothing more than a cold.  After seeing so many very sick babies in the NICU, it really made me count my blessings! 

As hectic and stressful as my days with the kiddos can be, I'm able to kiss 3 healthy boys goodnight and for that I thank GOD!!

 Once we were home, I gave him a bath to wash off all those hospital germs.  He was just as glad to be back home as we were!  

Before Drew...

Getting caught up on pictures BD (Before Drew) so that I can start posting the many, MANY pictures I have been taking of that sweet baby!

A few days BD, I took Connor and Reid along with two of their friends, Jackson & Jimmy, to a nearby church (where Reid went to preschool) for a fun, messy morning!

It wasn't planned but all 4 boys had on bright orange.  The first game was hungry, hungry hippos.  The boys each had a laundry basket.  The church interns threw out balls and sprayed them with silly string as they used their baskets to collect balls. 

 Connor was the big winner!

 Next, they played a throw and "catch" game.  They each partnered up and while one boy was sprayed with whipped topping, the partner threw cheese puffs at him!

 Connor decided to use a plate to "catch" the cheese puffs instead of his shirt.

Connor decided to put a pie in his own face!!

 It was yummy, messy fun!

Then it was time for the water balloon toss, which was much harder than it looks!

 Here I am in what ended up being TWO days BD!

 Oh Reid!  He dressed himself in a camo shirt, red athletic shorts, one croc and one flip flop.  

 He's such a riot!

 Technically, these are AD, but it was when I was still in the hospital.  Papa Jud took the boys to CFA where there was a Tae Kwon Do teacher there showing the boys some moves.

 They actually broke boards!!

I think that's all BD.  Next up lots and lots of pictures AD!!