New year's eve

Good morning everyone. I finally figured out how to post a photo with my iPad (see the post below this one)...however, it doesn't look good. I am convinced that this blog site does not have the capability to work with the iPad. I may be changing sites because of it.

There are a few updates this week pertaining to Isaac and his health. Things are overall very good. A few weeks ago we went to the opthamologist to have his eyes checked. Thankfully this is a woman who attends our church. However, she saw early signs of Retinopathy of prematurity. She suggested that we see a specialist. Thursday was our second time seeing the specialist who stated that his eyes are improving. We heard that 85% of infants out grow this problem. Of course we are believing for this. For more information, you can check out this website http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/rop/rop.asp#1.

Wednesday night was not a fun night. Isaac did not sleep well at all. So many people say that it is just him being a "newborn". However, not thoroughly convinced, we went to the pediatrician Thursday afternoon. I asked if Isaac could out grow his dosage of reflux medicine as he now weighs 9 lbs 7 ounces. Since the answer was yes they raised his dosage. I also have been thinking that he is getting too much iron which causes constipation and gas. When he was discharged from the NICU he was put on vitamins with iron. Then I realized that the formula that I have to supplement with has iron as well. He also gets iron from my breast milk. So the doctor said to eliminate the vitamins as the formula has vitamins in it too. So he is 3 days free of them. We haven't seen a dramatic change in his sleeping habits but am hopeful that the gas will subside once some of the iron gets eliminated from his body. The doctor also mentioned that he could be lactose intolerant and that I might want to try a more gentle formula. I am waiting to do this as I want to see if any of the other suggestions help. We felt this was a great visit as I was thinking I had tried everything...

I think we have been going to too many doctors appointments...This morning, Arianna asked "are we going to the doctor today?"

I personally am looking forward to the new year as I like fresh beginnings and believe that 2012 will be a great year for not only the Iversons but for all of our friends and family!

I pray God will bless you in 2012 and hope to see a lot of my readers in the upcoming year!

early riser!

Tuesday, december 27

We went to the ear, nose and throat specialist today. I was so happy we were lead go go to this Otolarynologist. He hs been practicing for as long as I have been alive. My mom went with me into the city of Chicago. I have to admit I wasnt excited about going into the city. I am a small town girl through and through! It can be dangerous riding with me too as I dont know my way around....my brave mother! Any who, we made it down and back without a problem. Praise God for a GPS! Okay, now on to the results. Basically he told me that he didn't know what the cough was exactly. That is fine though as it rules out anything foreign thing in his throat or any damage from the short time that he had a breathing tube down his throat in the NICU (less than 12 hours). When they scoped his throat they saw that his esophagus was somewhat red and irritated. He seemed to think it was from reflux and or a slight case of asthma. Again, good information for me as I have thought about stopping the reflux medication because his sleeping pattern hasnt changed much since he has been on it. Both the reflux and asthma should be something he will out grow. Hwever, he did mention it could get worse too. I am to see him again in a month. However, he will conact the pediatrician to let her know his findings and to suggest a greater steroid to keep his airways open. This is a form of treatment of asthma.

David, Arianna and I were listening to worship music tonight on the iPad. Wow did it remind me of how faithful God has been to us! It is amazing how God can take care of us. Even in the little things and when we don't think things are changinga in our favor. Isaac's health is only due to His faithfulness and love for us! The doctor today was really amazed at how great he has been doing and how he looked. Isaac is now 21.5" long. That is 7 inches longer than he was when he was born.

Arianna keeps bringing me plastic food to taste. She just made some soup for Sunday(?). I told her it tasted really good to which she said "I know". At least she is confident in her cooking abilities...okay, she just came in wearing Isaac's blue sock he was wearing today...I need to go...love to all my readers!

Monday, December 26

Merry belated Christmas to everyone! I hope everyone had a great time and enjoyed family and or friends. We had a great time with my parents and david's family yesterday. I think Arianna had a hard time believing that all the gifts she received were for her. She opened everyone of them very slowly. The first gift she opened was something very little and she was so excited about it... It was fun.

We tried out a different jumping facility today and we were disappointed. The activities were all old and very worn. They were also older than arianna could do. So once again David and I had to go in with her.

Tomorrow we are going to the ear, nose and throat doctor. I am really believing that we are going to get some answers. I really want to make certain that we get this cough figured out and taken care of. Isaac just think the cough is just hard on him. Issac is doing VERY well otherwise. He is amazing at how he looks and how he acts. I am so proud of him!

I get to enjoy one more week at home for Christmas break. It has been a relaxing time.

Thursday, December 22

Is it Thursday or friday? Since I am on break I can't remember what day it is! Yesterday I thought it was saturday, today I thought it was Friday.

My parents came up today but I think I am going to send them home tomorrow. They brought up this reindeer that when you squeeze his nose he sings jingle bells and dances.....! Arianna loves it and has played it too many times. I think I will be hearing it as I sleep tonight and tomorrow and the next night... Good thing is that he can go away for the year on Sunday!

Arianna stayed in her jammies all day today. I really don't like that but she looks so cute in this set that I thought oh well, we aren't going anywhere.

It is so fun to be off and rest. Time sure went fast today though, I didn't get to some of the things I wanted to but oh well.

Tomorrow is hanging around and possibly shopping a little.

Wednesday, December 21

We had a family day today. We took Arianna to an indoor jump facility. this one is called Jump Zone. They had 7 huge inflatable activity centers where kids could jump. We started in the youngest area. arianna seemed to really like that one. Then she agreed to go to the one right next to it. It was larger and was for older kids. I decided to go in with her. Then she was brave enough to explore and have fun. By the time we were finished David and I felt every year of our age and were tired ourselves. Mental note....next time bring a friend along to play.

It is official, kids Arianna's age love the boxes more than the toys they get! We received a package today that had packing peanuts...it is now been converted to a bathtub for all of her dolls and stuffed animals. They dive into the peanuts as if it were a sudsy bath!

When we checked the mail today we found that David had won a prize from a sweepstakes that he entered. He won the third prize which was a Chicago Bears baseball cap and a gift card for gasoline! We were so excited!

Monday, December 19

Nothing really new to say tonight. I am getting the house ready for my parent's visit. Cleaning and planning menus. I wrapped gifts while Arianna was napping yesterday. I thought she would be excited to see them under the tree. But she wasn't really interested. I am certain she will be on Christmas day. She is ao excited to have me home for break. She asks me if she is going to the kinneyminneys (her babysitters-MacKinneys). When I tell her she will be staying home with me and Isaac she does a little dance.

I have gotten into the pattern again where I fall asleep in the chair in his room and am not waking up to get back into bed. Last night he was just crying after I checked all the bases to make sure they weren't the culprit. So I held him in front of my face and was telling him to go to sleep. David came in to relieve me and I started to cry from both frustration and exhaustion. Arianna woke up and said to David "I got this" and proceeded to try to console me...David and I laughed so hard. I think she thinks she is at least 10. She also tells me that she has it when I am getting Isaac out of his car seat. I am thankful she isn't strong enough to pick him up. I am safe for a little while longer.

By the way, Isaac was weighed today. He is now 8 lbs 11 ounces. So proud of him! He has been free from the monitor going off for about 4 days now!! He is almost cord free! We go back to the pulmonologist at the beginning of the year. That is who can release him of his cords!

Friday, December 16

Oh glorious day! Let Christmas vacation begin! I know I haven't been at school for the entire semester but whew have I done some work! This morning arianna asked me if we could stay in our jammies tomorrow. I said o course! However, I am not an all day Jammie person so maybe mommy will have an Jammie half morning.

I have some fun things planned for Arianna over break. I might even venture out with the two of them by myself..We'll see...I will need to do it sometime.

Isaac has been alarm free for over 24 hours so hoping we will progress to none! I have also been awake enough during the night to actually get back in bed. I tell you it is so good to not count my hours of sleep that I get. I think it tricks me into thinking I have slept more than I have. I do think it is time to work on his night routine now that I know him better. If anyone has suggestions of what worked for you and tour children to get them to sleep throuh the night, please pass on the tips! I am willing to find a solution. He is doing so well in his development that I know my big boy can handle it.

The other day we went out for sinner. The waitress asked how old Isaac was. David said 5 weeks. After she left he asked me if that was correct. I am glad she didn't hear me say I had no clue. She might have thought we took him from someone. He is now 4 months old but with adjusted age starting from when he was due, he is 5 weeks and 5 days old. The long story is he was a preemie and he was born on.... Short story...5 weeks! We like to just tell strangers the short story.

thursday, December 15

Good early morning everyone! It is about 4:30 right now. I am writing as I feed Isaac. He has been really fussy in the mornings lately,so here I am. Wow, I already fell asleep as I write. I find myself really tired come Thursday morning.

Isaac now weighs in at 8 lbs 9 ounces. That makes me so happy that he is gaining weight like he is. The at home nurse said that she doesn\'t have to visit any longer! She will come next week and then we are done with that phase too. It is nice to feel as if we are making some progress in Isaac\'s healing process. However now we will take him to the pediatric ear nose and throat doctor to check on the cough. It is the oddest thing. As there is no pattern to its occurrence and its intensity is always different. But we have to do something about it. The cough is so alarming and loud that it startles people when he coughs. I can also tell that it bothers him and it is almost like he swallowwed something and is choking on it.

At this time my two prayer requests would be for the ENT doctor to have wisdom about the cough and for him to sleep better through the night.

Thank you so much. I am going to try to lay him down in his crib now so I can try to get a little sleep before my alarm goes off at 5:30.

Monday, December 12

I hope everyone is getting close to having their shopping done. Christmas is coming fast upon us! I have done a lot of my shopping online since it is easier than toting the kids (which I am shocked every time I say "the kids") to a store. The weather has been nice enough but my patience I would say would not be nice to endure the shopping this year. However I must say I am getting more comfortable being a mom to two!

Isaac is doing well. The doctor last Tuesday said that it would take about 5 days for the caffeine to be out of his system and we would have an idea of how he will do off of it. I had forgotten about the whole ordeal until yesterday when his monitor went off. David thought it was a low battery for the monitor. When I went to look the red light was on for the lungs. Which meant that it sensed a problem with his breathing. It went off about 5 times within a 3 to 5 minute time Span. I even shut it off and turned it back on thinking it was a fluke. Isaac\'s color was really good and he seemed to be breathing shallow but at a steady pace. David was holding him throughout the whole ordeal. I suggested he move him because Isaac was asleep. This seemed to do the trick. There weren\'t any alarms last night or today either so we are believing God to keep progressing him to the next healthy level.

This morning I dressed Arianna in a new shirt. While we were eating breakfast she proceeds to tell me that the new shirt "makes me feel like a new woman"! I thought she should share some of that feeling! I have been spending most of the night in the chair with him. Both of us asleep. What happens is when I wake up to nurse him I am so tired I fall asleep. I cant seemed to wake up enough to go back to ned. A few times i have been awakened by david asking me to go back to bed! I know this is only a season. I have also stopped counting how much sleep i actually am getting. It makes me much less stressed out.

I forgot to tell you about the christmas lights we went to see on Saturday night. We bought some hot chocolate at oberweiss and set off to see the lights. There is a street in south Elgin thar has about half or more of it\'s houses decorated and they even have a live santa our waving at the cars. We drove through enjoying our hot chocolate, each of us with a cup in hand (except for Isaac). We were off at another street when Arianna keeps repeating "I did not wave to Santa". She seemed kind of worried about and I think she felt as if she hurt his feelings by not waving. She eventually says " I did not wave to him because I was holding my hot chocolate". We told her Santa understands the need for hot chocolate. I find it funny that she would even think twice about Santa as we don\'t talk about him and what he represents. She must just know that he is someone who all kids want to impress! So we did drive back by Santa so she could wave at him. She started giggling and said "I did not know where he goed but I see he goed there." I still have to come up with a Christmas activity for this weekend...anyone have an idea? I was over zealous and should have kept the cookie baking for this weekend.

Friday, December 8

I did it! My first full week back to work! Everyone survived to live to tell about it! I just fell asleep on the couch for an hour and a half before going to bed and I am Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow until 6 am! Arianna woke up at the 4:30 am feeding this morning. I fell asleep during it and woke up to her playing in her room with her entire toy box emptied on the floor. I love the fact that being in the same room with her is enough for her. Talking is optional I guess.

We had a small accumulation of snow this morning. She was so excited! When we went downstairs to eat breakfast and she grabbed one of her chairs and placed it in front of our big three panel deck window. She started telling her baby doll all about the snow. She also likes to put the chair right next to jIsaac when he is in his bouncy seat. She sets "baby Julie" on the seat. I asked her why baby Julie had to sit so close to Isaac. She said "she watching him and talking to him". I thought that maybe baby Julie could possibly take over the 1 am feeding for me so I can get some sleep. Her plastic arms wouldn't be too comfortable for Isaac to lay in so I nixed that idea.

For those of you who couldn't comment before, I believe I fixed it. Please feel free to post any clean comments.
I am almost done Christmas shopping. Just a few more gifts! Hoping to finish this weekend. Then onto wrapping. I think that is something I am going to have to do when Arianna is napping. Again, just like the Christmas cookie baking...I need to have control over the mess! I don't want to make more work for myself! Okay, maybe I will let her wrap a few!

Thursday, December 7

Well threes days into work...I am doing pretty well I think. I am tired though as I have had to get up earlier the past two days due to doctors appointments. Yesterday Isaac's follow up visit with the NICU and the pulmonologist. Isaac is now 8 lbs and 3 lbs! Wow is he growing. The physical therapist was astonished at how he was doing. He can hold his head in the center of his body while on his back, follow an object when it moves from one side of his head to another and has great movement in legs and arms. Today the pediatrician said he is healthy and right where he should be. The NICU originally said that we would need to visit them monthly. Ater yesterday we were told with his development we only need to come back in 3 months! He also has been taken off of caffiene! One more medication gone! So exciting.

He is still waking up in the middle of the night more than I would like and more than I think a newborn should. I have always heard that a newborn should sleep most of the time. The pediatrician today said give the reflux medicine another week. This too shall pass and in a few more months we will be progressed to another stage....

I don't remember if I blogged this but Sunday night arianna and I made sugar cookies and decorated them. It was fun. However I learned that I have to let her explore more and let her do things... I was so concerned about the uncontrolled mess that was being made and the not so perfectly shaped cookies... Candy cane shaped cookies are bound to be in two pieces! She was shocked that I let her wipe her floury hands on her shirt when she asked. I thought that is part of baking right? Then every time I turned around she had another M & M in her mouth just smiling away. All in all they tasted good and it was a great memory. This weekend the Iverson tradition will be driving around looking at Christmas lights in her pajamas and drinking hot chocolate!

Sunday, December 4

Today is our 7 year wedding anniversary! Tomorrow I do go back to work... I have mixed feelings about it. I am excited to have a routine again as I am a regimented person however that regiment is sometimes stressful when I cant predict Isaac's sleeping schedule. He is sleeping much Better at night but now he can cry in the morning which is when I will be getting ready. Oh well, it will work.

Isaac has a follow up apptointment with the NICU and the pulmonologist on Tuesday and his pediatrician on Wednesday. I am certain that the reflux medication is doing some good. I am looking forward to what the pediatrician says about the results. I am also hoping to take away the caffiene from his meds. I really am not a fan of medication. However, Isaac is doing really well for all that has happened in his young life. I need to keep reminding myself this is all only a season!

Today Arianna was playing with her dol and she said I am giving her medication.....she said the entire word and very clearly...we are thinking about getting her a doctor set for christmas...

Friday, December 2

Happy weekend to everyone. Isaac has been doing somewhat better over the past two days. Wednesday night was fabulous! I actually received about 6 or more hours of sleep and it was in intervals longer than 15 or fewer minutes! I felt like I could conquer the world that day! I actually was able to take a morning shower and didn't have to wait for David to be here! Last night wasn't as good but better than it had been. Believing for an even better night tonight!

Sunday David and I celebrate our 7 year wedding anniversary! Wow those years have gone by so fast! Hard to believe it has been that long since I married my best friend!I think we have too much fun together. Tonight he and I were trying to sing one of Arianna's bible songs as they sing it on her show in different intervals. We were lauhing so hard and she didn't understand. She kept saying...don't laugh so hard. I think she can't figure us out! I would not to be married to anyone else! He truly is a blessing to me in so many ways.

We got a red cat tonight named catty/kitty/cat. We found her at the mall....okay it is Arianna's imaginary cat. We didnt know she had one until she informed me that I had stepped in it! I had to carry catty throughout the mall and had to make certain I put her on Arianna's lap when we got back in the car.....maybe catty will be gone tomorrow? She and I rode a train around the mall. She was so adorable. I kept asking her if she wanted to sit on my lap and she kept telling me "no I okay." she is definitely daddy's girl. David and Isaac sat the train ride out. arianna kept saying "I want to go back to daddy." I am so happy they have such a good relationship. She has so much fun with him!