Iain loves his carseat and his beautiful quilt from Aunt Breha and Uncle Brett!
He is also excited to see his house and room for the first time... and to meet his new kitty friend Ella.
Let's hope the feeling is mutual...
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
God is Gracious
This is what Iain's name means. We have had some great reminders of that over the last several days. Here are some of the many things for which we are thankful to God:
- Beth was discharged from the hospital today, but Iain has to stay. We weren't sure where we were going to go or what we were going to do. Iain's nurse came in at 7am and said they were moving him to a different bay in the NICU for babies who are getting ready to go home. It is a huge room with a private bathroom with shower, a pullout couch and 2 recliners - and mom and dad can room in with him for free!!!
- Iain's head measurements have remained constant so far; this is very important. Please pray that this continues and there is no sign of fluid increase.
- Iain did not have to have surgery during his first days in the world!
- Beth is recovering and healing from her surgery.
- Iain is showing no sign of the infection that Beth may have passed on to him during labor.
- Iain passed his hearing test, showing another part of his brain that is working great.
- Iain's bilirubin count is going down so he is unlikely to get jaundice.
- Iain is so hungry and is breastfeeding like a champ. His NG tube for supplemental feeding and his IV for fluids are both gone now. This is one of the things he needs to accomplish before he can go home. The nurses are amazed at his progress with this (and also amazed by how much he can eat...).
- He continues to be active and alert, crying his lungs out when he is hungry or upset; by all external signs he is a healthy baby.
- Mom and Dad have felt very well taken care of by the doctors and nurses and have been very blessed by the hospital staff.
- All 3 of us have felt so supported and prayed for by our family and friends. We have had visitors come down from Dubuque and have had many people let us know they are praying for Iain - people that we know and don't neccesarily know personally. This has been huge. For all of you that have sent us congratulations and have prayed for us - thank you!!!
Here are a few pictures from the last few days! We will keep you posted as things progress.
Iain and Daddy having some snuggle time. Notice the family resemblance!
- Beth was discharged from the hospital today, but Iain has to stay. We weren't sure where we were going to go or what we were going to do. Iain's nurse came in at 7am and said they were moving him to a different bay in the NICU for babies who are getting ready to go home. It is a huge room with a private bathroom with shower, a pullout couch and 2 recliners - and mom and dad can room in with him for free!!!
- Iain's head measurements have remained constant so far; this is very important. Please pray that this continues and there is no sign of fluid increase.
- Iain did not have to have surgery during his first days in the world!
- Beth is recovering and healing from her surgery.
- Iain is showing no sign of the infection that Beth may have passed on to him during labor.
- Iain passed his hearing test, showing another part of his brain that is working great.
- Iain's bilirubin count is going down so he is unlikely to get jaundice.
- Iain is so hungry and is breastfeeding like a champ. His NG tube for supplemental feeding and his IV for fluids are both gone now. This is one of the things he needs to accomplish before he can go home. The nurses are amazed at his progress with this (and also amazed by how much he can eat...).
- He continues to be active and alert, crying his lungs out when he is hungry or upset; by all external signs he is a healthy baby.
- Mom and Dad have felt very well taken care of by the doctors and nurses and have been very blessed by the hospital staff.
- All 3 of us have felt so supported and prayed for by our family and friends. We have had visitors come down from Dubuque and have had many people let us know they are praying for Iain - people that we know and don't neccesarily know personally. This has been huge. For all of you that have sent us congratulations and have prayed for us - thank you!!!
Here are a few pictures from the last few days! We will keep you posted as things progress.
Iain and Daddy having some snuggle time. Notice the family resemblance!
A happy, swaddled little man.
Iain's late night visitors!
Iain spending more time with his Auntie and Uncle.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Iain's First Days!
Ok all - sorry for the lateness in this post - things have been very busy for the Pitman clan!
First of all, we thank all of you who prayed for us during labor and delivery. Beth was induced on Wednesday morning and Iain decided not to come into the world until very early Friday morning - needless to say we didn't get very much sleep during this time. Beth did very well throughout the whole process, but she did develop an infection and fever during the end of her labor. Iain's head was also turned in a bad position and this made it hard for him to be pushed out. As a result a c-section was performed. She is recovering very well.
After Iain was born the neo-natology team checked him over and showed him to Beth quickly before he was whisked away to the NICU. Because of the potential for pressure on the brain the doctors wanted to make sure that his breathing and heart rate would be stable and that his body temperature could be maintained. Neil was able to make the journey with Iain to the NICU while Beth's surgery was completed.
As soon as Iain arrived in the NICU the neurosurgery team (yes, 7 doctors) arrived to evaluate him. There was a possibility of imminent surgery so they were ready to take him if necessary. However, the head surgeon said he looked great and they would not perform any immediate intervention. We were thankful for this!
Neil stayed with Iain for a bit while they poked him full of tubes and then went back to check on Beth in the recovery room. Beth was able to go visit Iain for about 20 mins before she was sent to bed to get some much needed rest.
Iain progressed very well on his first day and spent his first night under the warmer. Both sets of grandparents and his aunts and uncles were able to come and see him. By the late evening Beth was able to be wheeled down and got to spend about 4 hours with him. Iain did have an ultrasound and MRI done on his head, which was quite swollen in back. It was hard to tell how much of this was from labor and how much was concerning. We just received word from one of the neurosurgeons today that Iain will not need to have surgery at this point! This is a huge answer to prayer. They believe his head measurements to be good. They want us to come back for another MRI in 4 weeks to check on his progress. They were not able to find the corpus callosum on the MRI, and we are unsure of the ramifications of this at this point. It may be a concern, it may not.
Iain is doing really great with all of his vitals and is breastfeeding like a very hungry boy, so these are all great signs for him. He was moved from the warmer to a regular crib yesterday. He is being treated with antibiotics for the infection that Beth had and he will have to stay on those until Wednesday. We are also waiting for some other blood work to come back. If all goes well we hope he will be discharged soon, but we are trying not to get our hopes up too much! Beth is on schedule to be discharged tomorrow so we need to figure out where we are going to stay for the next few days (hopefully). There is the possibility that we can stay at the hospital - currently we are on the waiting list...
Continue to pray for this sweet little guy - that he would have normal blood work and no infections would come back from the lab, and that the ventricle size in his brain would remain stable and that it would not increase. Also pray that the absence of the corpus callosum would not bring any physical or mental developmental delays. Thank you for all of your prayers for baby Iain and our family. God has been so good to us through this challenging time and we are so grateful for His provision.
And now, what you all came here for...
First of all, we thank all of you who prayed for us during labor and delivery. Beth was induced on Wednesday morning and Iain decided not to come into the world until very early Friday morning - needless to say we didn't get very much sleep during this time. Beth did very well throughout the whole process, but she did develop an infection and fever during the end of her labor. Iain's head was also turned in a bad position and this made it hard for him to be pushed out. As a result a c-section was performed. She is recovering very well.
After Iain was born the neo-natology team checked him over and showed him to Beth quickly before he was whisked away to the NICU. Because of the potential for pressure on the brain the doctors wanted to make sure that his breathing and heart rate would be stable and that his body temperature could be maintained. Neil was able to make the journey with Iain to the NICU while Beth's surgery was completed.
As soon as Iain arrived in the NICU the neurosurgery team (yes, 7 doctors) arrived to evaluate him. There was a possibility of imminent surgery so they were ready to take him if necessary. However, the head surgeon said he looked great and they would not perform any immediate intervention. We were thankful for this!
Neil stayed with Iain for a bit while they poked him full of tubes and then went back to check on Beth in the recovery room. Beth was able to go visit Iain for about 20 mins before she was sent to bed to get some much needed rest.
Iain progressed very well on his first day and spent his first night under the warmer. Both sets of grandparents and his aunts and uncles were able to come and see him. By the late evening Beth was able to be wheeled down and got to spend about 4 hours with him. Iain did have an ultrasound and MRI done on his head, which was quite swollen in back. It was hard to tell how much of this was from labor and how much was concerning. We just received word from one of the neurosurgeons today that Iain will not need to have surgery at this point! This is a huge answer to prayer. They believe his head measurements to be good. They want us to come back for another MRI in 4 weeks to check on his progress. They were not able to find the corpus callosum on the MRI, and we are unsure of the ramifications of this at this point. It may be a concern, it may not.
Iain is doing really great with all of his vitals and is breastfeeding like a very hungry boy, so these are all great signs for him. He was moved from the warmer to a regular crib yesterday. He is being treated with antibiotics for the infection that Beth had and he will have to stay on those until Wednesday. We are also waiting for some other blood work to come back. If all goes well we hope he will be discharged soon, but we are trying not to get our hopes up too much! Beth is on schedule to be discharged tomorrow so we need to figure out where we are going to stay for the next few days (hopefully). There is the possibility that we can stay at the hospital - currently we are on the waiting list...
Continue to pray for this sweet little guy - that he would have normal blood work and no infections would come back from the lab, and that the ventricle size in his brain would remain stable and that it would not increase. Also pray that the absence of the corpus callosum would not bring any physical or mental developmental delays. Thank you for all of your prayers for baby Iain and our family. God has been so good to us through this challenging time and we are so grateful for His provision.
And now, what you all came here for...
Meeting Mom for the first time
Mommy time!
Dad and Mom and Iain
Grandpa and Grandma Patterson
Grandpa and Grandma Pitman
Uncle Stu, Aunt Ashlee and Uncle Graeme
Uncle Stu and Aunt Becky
Rest time
Mommy time!Dad and Mom and IainGrandpa and Grandma PattersonGrandpa and Grandma PitmanUncle Stu, Aunt Ashlee and Uncle GraemeUncle Stu and Aunt BeckyRest time I love my toothette! It's the best way to get medicine!
(This is to prevent yeast infections from breastmilk. The nurse let him hold it like a lollipop!)
(This is to prevent yeast infections from breastmilk. The nurse let him hold it like a lollipop!)
Friday, May 22, 2009
Iain James Pitman is Here!
Finally, after 43 hours. Full long story and more pictures to come when we get time!
May 22nd
4:16 am
8lbs 14 oz
21.5"
Beth is doing fine and Iain is doing great for now. He is in the NICU and he has a lot of swelling in the back of his head due to the fluid - but his vitals are good and the surgeons have said that no immediate intervention is needed. Lots more tests to follow today...
First Picture Ever!
In the NICUWednesday, May 20, 2009
Baby Pitman's Birthday?!
Well, we are in Iowa City and Beth is being prepared for induction. Baby is not quite ready to come out yet, so it may be some time before we have any news. Here are some pictures to satisfy you for now. Please continue to remember us in prayer today! Pray for a safe delivery for Beth and that Baby would be ok and not have to spend a lot of time in the NICU! We will post any updates as soon as we can!
The final family picture before we are four!
Driving to the hospital
Last belly picture!
The final family picture before we are four!
Driving to the hospital
Last belly picture!
All ready to go!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Final IC Appointment...
Just a quick update on our current situation...
The appointment yesterday went well. Ventricle size is still enlarged and is not showing a decrease at all, but the doctors do feel that although the condition is serious it is stable (no huge spikes in the amount of fluid). The baby's head size is within the normal range so the doctors feel good about a natural delivery, which is positive. The baby is doing well apart from the ventriculomegaly, so this is also positive. Current estimated weight is 8lbs 11oz! This being the case (combined with baby's condition) - if Baby Pitman decides not to come by May 20th Beth will be induced. We are still delivering in Iowa City and baby will go to the NICU shortly after birth. We are still hopeful for a reduction in ventricle size after birth. Surgery is still a possibility at this point, but this won't be decided until the baby can be evaluated outside of the womb. We are hoping that this can be avoided, but of course we will do whatever is best for baby! Infant brain surgery just sounds, well, a little unnerving.
Please continue to pray for us, we have been so blessed by the faithful prayers of God's people. Pray that:
Baby will come safely into the world
Beth will stay healthy these next 2 weeks and will have a safe labor and delivery
Neil will not break every traffic law known to man driving to Iowa City if Beth's water breaks in Dubuque :)
We will stay encouraged and will trust God and His perfect plan
The appointment yesterday went well. Ventricle size is still enlarged and is not showing a decrease at all, but the doctors do feel that although the condition is serious it is stable (no huge spikes in the amount of fluid). The baby's head size is within the normal range so the doctors feel good about a natural delivery, which is positive. The baby is doing well apart from the ventriculomegaly, so this is also positive. Current estimated weight is 8lbs 11oz! This being the case (combined with baby's condition) - if Baby Pitman decides not to come by May 20th Beth will be induced. We are still delivering in Iowa City and baby will go to the NICU shortly after birth. We are still hopeful for a reduction in ventricle size after birth. Surgery is still a possibility at this point, but this won't be decided until the baby can be evaluated outside of the womb. We are hoping that this can be avoided, but of course we will do whatever is best for baby! Infant brain surgery just sounds, well, a little unnerving.
Please continue to pray for us, we have been so blessed by the faithful prayers of God's people. Pray that:
Baby will come safely into the world
Beth will stay healthy these next 2 weeks and will have a safe labor and delivery
Neil will not break every traffic law known to man driving to Iowa City if Beth's water breaks in Dubuque :)
We will stay encouraged and will trust God and His perfect plan
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Our Bags Are Packed and We're Ready to Go!
Baby Pitman could come any day now as Beth is almost 39 weeks! We have been trying to get all the last minute details taken care of before this Tuesday night, as we have our final appointment in Iowa City on Wednesday. Please keep us in your prayers as we meet with the doctors once again. If the baby's condition has worsened then they will most likely schedule inducement or a c-section, but if things have remained stable then they will let things progress naturally. Here are perhaps the last pictures before Baby Pitman arrives. Enjoy!
Beth's Final Open House at TSCS! (37.5 weeks)
Parts of the Nursery
Someone's Favorite Part of the Nursery...
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