Claire's Hospital Stay: Part 4

This will be a quick update both because it's been a long day and because it lacks a ton of concrete info.

Claire did have the VCUG done this afternoon to look at the way her bladder works and the results are not what we had hoped for. We are supposed to meet with a specialist tomorrow to get some more detailed information, but we do know that she has some pretty bad reflux that reaches all the way up to her kidney. This most probably caused the original UTI as well as the area that the bacteria crossed over to the blood stream. There are several methods of treatment, including surgery, but we won't be even considering any of them until after we've finished up fighting this initial infection.

The good news is that we caught it very early with Claire. She will probably have this issue corrected before she even knows it exists. We'll have much more on this tomorrow, but for now that's what we have processed and can pass along.

Thank you for your continued prayers and thoughts!

Claire's Hospital Stay: Part 3

It's been a busy day in Claire-land but all very positive.

First on the agenda was getting a PICC (not pick...sorry) line run to replace Claire's hand IV. (I'd explain what it is, but I'm going to assume that if you're reading this you're internet proficient and know where Google is.) Due to staff and equipment, we needed to travel from Children's at Legacy to Children's Dallas for the procedure. So this morning around 8, Claire got to take her first ambulance ride. (Of course she was in a great mood and the transport staff absolutely loved her.)

We arrived in Dallas, quickly got our briefings and away Claire went to have the PICC line inserted. Less than an hour later, we received a call that they were done and everything went as planned. After spending about an hour in recovery we were loaded up and heading back to Plano.

Up next is her VCUG test early this afternoon and then hopefully some rest for all of us.

A few other notes from so far today:

* Today we're trying to take a break from visiting. We look forward to seeing folks after some rest. More details here.

* Big thanks to Papa Mac, who carted me around all morning on a moments notice. (We found out last minute that only one of us would be allowed in the ambulance with Claire.)

* Every person associated with the Children's system that we meet continues to amaze us. (And now we've met teams in two locations.) Everyone including the ladies at the information desks, the nurses, and the doctors have kept us well informed, talked to us like adults, and always treat Claire like a kid and not like a job.

We'll keep you posted...

No Visitors Friday March 19th

I forgot to mention this in yesterday's post, but we're asking that if you'd like to visit Claire (and Shevawn and I) that you hold off on today, Friday March 19th.

Of course we would love to see you, but we have a very busy day ahead of us with a roundtrip to Children's Dallas in the morning and (if all goes well in the morning) a urinary tract test in the afternoon.

We're expecting it's going to be a lot for Claire (and let's be honest, mostly Mom and Dad) to take in so we're going to take it easy for the day. Thanks for understanding.

In case we just shot your plans for Friday and you're having trouble finding alternatives, here's somethings we can recommend you do:

* Watch March Madness (Bonus points for cheering for A&M at 4pm)
* Go to the park. (It's apparently supposed to get cold this weekend, so enjoy the nice weather while it's here.)
* Prepare for the last "WINTER BLAST" of the season. (Do silly things like buy 10 cases of water and a full chord of fire wood...ya know...just in case.)
* Did I mention...March Madness!?!!?!

Have a great day!

Claire's Hospital Stay: Part 2

Summary:
The bacteria in Claire's blood and urine has been confirmed as e. coli...which is very good news. It's the most common and most treatable. We are continuing to treat it with IV antibiotics. Her spinal fluid was negative for that bacteria, another good sign. Still, our stay has been extended to Monday evening at the earliest and possibly next Thursday.

Details:
Yesterday afternoon, they recommended a spinal tap for Claire to ensure that the infection had not crossed over from the blood into the spinal fluid and to rule out meningitis. Spinal taps are the norm during infections for children under 3 months, and given that Claire is just past that and she hasn't been Ms. Chipper, they wanted to do one. So they did and a few hours later we were told that preliminary test results were good news.

Claire actually slept really well and other waking up for her vital checks and her continually lower than normal temperature, she (and Shevawn and I) got some really good rest.

This morning we talked with the doctor again and apparently her low temperatures aren't too concerning at this point, but we'll continue to watch them. She also said that they needed to keep Claire until at least Monday evening (and maybe even as late as next Thursday) to continue to watch her and ensure that her antibiotics are working as expected.

Due to her extended stay, tomorrow morning we are going to take a field trip down to Children's Dallas for Claire to have a more stable IV line put in called a "pick line". If all goes well there, we'll be back out in Plano by the afternoon in time to a test to checkout her urinary tract where this bacteria all started.

So today has been rather calm and very positive. We all did get a chance to fill out a March Madness Bracket and have been catching games when it works out. (Claire's bracket is mascot based and while it's not looking so good, she is always interested in seeing the games.)

Tomorrow is looking like a long day, but I'm sure we'll have everything we need to face it.

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Thanks to everyone for the thoughts, prayers, texts, emails, calls, visits, food, dog sitting, and even yard work. You have made this experience much more comfortable for all of us.

Claire's Hospital Stay: Part 1

I'm reposting an email I sent out on Wednesday. I decided today to start moving the updates here instead of continuing to send them via email so I thought some background would be appropriate. - Mark

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Summary:
We are going to be here at Children's Medical at Legacy until at least Friday, probably until Sunday.

Background:
On Monday our pediatrician sent us to the ER, where we discovered Claire had a urinary tract infection. (UTI) We were discharged and sent home. Early Tuesday morning we were called back into the ER due to a test result that showed that bacteria was not only in the urinary tract, but also in Claire's blood. This result is still fairly common with UTI's but it's a little more serious so they admitted us on Tuesday.

Update Details:
Last night wasn't a great night. Claire woke up screaming about an hour after we laid her down. After a few hours, doctor/nurse consults and some abdominal x-rays there wasn't any apparent cause and Claire fell asleep. Unfortunately, her temperature during her sleep was much lower than ideal. She was cold and clammy and ranged anywhere from the mid 96s down to 95.7. After more doctor's and nurse's visits, they decided to start her on an additional antibiotic.

This morning Claire started out about the same, but her temperature has come back up to normal since being awake. After meeting with the doctor this morning, we're planning on watching her closely today. Later today we should know exactly what kind of bacteria is in her blood and either continue or choose a new antibiotic to treat it. Based on her last night and the need to ensure her antibiotics are working correctly, the doctor wants to keep us until at least Friday and possibly as late as Sunday.

Shevawn and I traded off holding Claire most of the night so we're not the most well rested campers right now but we're making it.

Visiting:
If you want to come visit, you are more than welcome to. A few details and requests. The hospital only allows 4 people in our room at a time. (Shevawn and I DO count in that number, so really only 2 extra visitors at a time.) Children under 5 aren't allowed up to the room and anyone that's been recently sick is encouraged not to come. If you are going to come, it's probably best to call first. We may not pick up right away but we can usually call back within 30 minutes.

Food:
The hospital has pretty good food and Shevawn eats for free, so we're covered on that front. (I'm not saying we won't get tired of this food, and if you want to bring something, you're more than welcome, but we are covered and nourished.)

PS.

I hit send before finishing out with the standard "prayers...God...Jesus...etc"...but seriously we are very grateful for all the prayers offered on Claire's behalf. We truly believe that God is here and he not only knows what's best for us but that he gives us everything we need to experience that.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work I Go...

Well, I went back to work last Friday, and I was so glad that the weekend was right behind it! It was a great way to ease back into things. Also, we have one week, and then it's Spring Break. Not too shabby! Everyone asked how Claire did at the sitter, and of course she was great. They really should have asked how I did. :) I didn't cry when I dropped her off, and I only thought about her about 400 times... It was difficult not seeing her all day, and even though she was in great hands while I was at work, they weren't my hands. Even so, I am excited about what God will teach me while I am finishing up the school year (only 62 workdays to go!).

I felt very "welcomed" back by the staff, and they put a cute sign outside my door. My students were sweet, too, and most seemed happy that I returned. I will say that they day was reeeeaaaallllyyyy long, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. After all, I do have a sweet little face to give me something to look forward to everyday when I get off of work.

Now, it's off to enjoy my Saturday, snuggling with a teething, fussy girl. I love her!

Mommy McSpadden "Must Haves"... (for moms to be or new moms)

All you need is love...

Well, that may be true, but there are several things that make having a baby and bringing home a baby, a lot easier!

Prepare for a verrrryyyy long post...This blog post is really for moms to be, first time moms, parents to be, etc... I've been thinking about all of the things that people tell you that you "have to have" when you have a baby. All of those "whosits and what's its galore" that your friends say you MUST register for, and I thought I would come up with my "must have" list of things that I felt like really were great to have for labor, nursing, the first weeks, and up to the 4th month (so far). Feel free to take everything with a grain of salt. Every baby is different and every mom is different, so I am in no way trying to say that other things aren't great to have. If you get "ooked-out" easily, you may want to just wait and read our next post and skip this one... :)

Labor and the yucky stuff for the first week...

1. Now, first of all, I will encourage ALL moms to be to take a natural childbirth class, even if you want an epidural. They cover anesthesia and C-sections, but let's face it, all labors for the most part have a good portion that is "natural" before you can get an epidural, etc... I didn't have an epidural, and this class really helped Mark and I. Well, mostly me, but Mark helped!

2. A "doula" or person that can help out other than your spouse. This person was Mark's mom. My mom came in and nurtured me a lot, but I needed direction and techniques, and after about 20 hours, Mark was spent, so his mom really got me through, and helped the labor to stay "needle free." ;)

3. A massager. This thing was excellent during the first several hours of contractions. I just got one of those vibrating massagers from Target. Although, now, when I see it, I cringe a little.

4. Bath Robe. I wore mine over the hospital gown to walk up and down the hall. Very comfy. It was also great after I had her because I wore it over my pjs when visitor came.

5. Boppy Pillow- I didn't bring mine to the hospital, but I wish I had. When they tried to show me how to nurse, it was difficult trying to use all of these different kind of pillows. I will bring it next time.

6. House slippers or socks. Enough said.

7. Take all supplies or items that the hospital gives (water bottle, etc...) and extras if they will give them. No extra details unless you ask me. :)

8. * If you have a vaginal delivery, make sure you have one of these at home waiting for you. This was my "heavenly place" about 6 times a day. Could NOT have survived without it.

8. Pain meds. I thought I would just take them a few days and because I was nursing I would stop. Yeah. There is a reason that pain meds for post labor are for 12 days. lesson learned.

9. A folder for all of your hospital documents. Let me just warn you that in the hospital they really give you a TON of information. "Here are your financial documents, social security information, blur, blur, birth certificate, blah blah, nursing, blur, medicine, try this, ounces, use this but only if... blah blah, mail this, come back on this date, test, needle, etc...." and remember, you'll probably be on drugs for pain. Let me just say that my husband was out of the room when the nurses gave me about an hour worth of information that I heard, "blah blah blah" on. I would just have a folder ready to store all of this info in, and sit down the day or 2 after with your spouse and go through it.

10. Music Mix- We brought an iPod with 7 hours of music (not enough, but that's okay). My sis in law helped put together a labor mix. It was perfect!

There are a lot of others, but these were the main things. Email me if you want more specifics.

Nursing Moms Only...

If you aren't planning on nursing or you aren't currently nursing, then skip this!

1. Medela Pump. Or one that is really great. My suggestion- buy one used and buy replacement parts. It will be much cheaper! We use Dr. Brown's bottles and they screw on to the pump, but the medela ones are good, too. C didn't eat as much in the beginning, so I had to pump after I fed her every single time. I would suggest testing the pump out and hooking it up before you have the baby.

2. Nursing Pads. Start wearing them at night, during the day, etc... I bought washable ones, but they weren't good enough. I would suggest disposable ones until you are about 3-4 months in and your body adjusts better. Buy a gigantic box because you will use them like crazy.

3. Milkies "Milk Saver"- this is one of the BEST things I have. Basically no one tells you this, but while you are feeding on one side, you leak like CRAZY on the other side. To save this wasted milk, use this and you can put it in a bottle. After about 5 feedings, you will have a full bottle. It's awesome. Must have!

4. Nipple cream. Enough said.

5. Nursing Tank tops- I have about 4 of these. Don't just try to buy 1. You will have to wash it 3 times a day. I still wear these all of the time. You don't have to buy the super expensive ones. Just buy one that snaps down.

6. Nursing Cover. Be careful not to buy one that doesn't completely cover you. Find one that covers enough so you don't feel exposed. I got mine at the jbf sale reused, but I've seen them at Kid to Kid and other resale stores... feel free to get one used. Who cares?

7. Nipple Shield- now, this was a must have for me. I had to use these, but a lot of women don't need them. Email me if you have questions about this!

8. Travel Pump- We got one of these because we forgot to bring the pump parts to a friend's house on new years, and we had to get one at Wal Mart, but it actually works well for "in car pumping." It is only one handed, but it plugs into our car outlet, and it's great when we are traveling. It's not comfortable at all, especially compared to the Medela one, but it's great for "emergency uses." I try to keep it in the car, ready to go.

9. Boppy Pillow- I mentioned this above, but you also will want at least 1 extra cover for it.

10. Timer- I used the Itzbeen timer at first, but honestly, if you have an iPhone or another timer, and if you can keep track of sides you start on, you will be fine. Otherwise, this is a good tool for you.

11. Sports Bras- I wore these when I wasn't nursing. Buy cheap ones.

12. Really good "real" nursing bra. I went to the lactation consultant for this. I wanted one I could wear out with my cute clothes. This is my absolute favorite! Spend the money since you'll be wearing it at least as long as you are nursing. Bravado makes the best ones.

13. Storage bags- I just bought whichever ones were on sale. I have used about 150 so far and it's been about 4 months if that helps.

14. Recordings of your Favorite Sitcoms (Friends, How I Met Your Mother, etc...) that are about 30 min long. These are great at 3 am when your hubby is sleeping and you are trying to stay awake. I watched a lot of 30 Rock, Friends, and House Hunters International. :)

15.Large glass of water- always have it near you while you are nursing. You get dehydrated easily!

Email me if you have any other nursing questions. I'm no expert, but I'm going through it now, so there you go...

First couple of months...

This is a list of the things we used MOST in the beginning. We won't call them necessities (although I starred the necessities) as you don't obviously "need" all of these things to make it, but we just actually used them.

* 1. Diapers. C got down to 5 lbs, so we did have a pkg of preemie diapers for her. Be prepared for that just in case. We went through about 85 diapers a week in the beginning (first 2 months). We preferred the Pampers Swaddlers that people bought us (even though we used the others and were appreciative) because these have a "magic line" that turns blue when baby is wet also known as the "wetness indicator". WE hope to eventually move to Flushable Diapers (G Diapers) but until then, this is what we are using.

* 2. Wipes- Buy the 512 size box. You will use it. We like the Pampers Sensitive. We used a few others and C got bad diaper rash.

3. Aquafor- for rash, dry skin, etc...

* 4. Baby Powder

5. Butt Paste- enough said

* 6. Diaper bag- we had the bag stocked up and ready to go minus a bottle for time saving. We also got a wipes carrying case for the bag, and a "poopy diaper" sack holder for yucky diapers while in public.

7. Blankets- You may get a ton of these from guests, but make sure you have: 1 that is warm and fleecy for winter/fall, one that is lighter weight to cover baby or for summer. I also have a knitted one and one that is huge for laying on the floor with toys. But I will say, after all of your baby showers, make sure that you have a few different weights of blankets.

8. *Pacifiers- now, we were lucky enough that C takes a paci at night. She doesn't use it other times other than bedtime, but it's great. We started off with the hospital "soothie," and once we saw that she could take a pacifier, we upgraded. This was the BEST thing ever. She has now upgraded to this kind of paci, but we still use the other one occasionally. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

9. *Medicines: Children's Tylenol Infant Drops (dye free), Mylacon, Saline Nose Drops, Hylands Teething Tablets, Baby Orajel.

10. * Thermometer- We have used 2. One we labeled with an "R" for Rectal, and the other is not for the behind. :)

11. * Burp Cloths- My favorites are cloth diapers. They come 6 in a pack, they are neutral, and they are VERY absorbent. I would have at least 5 burp cloths.

12. * Bibs- We have about 15, and that allows us not to have to wash them very often. You will probably need at least 5.

13. * Bottles- We used Dr. Brown's, (Plastic bottles) for colic purposes. Makes sure you have a few smaller bottles (4-6 oz) and some that are bigger (6-10 oz) for later. Also, make sure you have different nipple strengths. (Ex. Level 1, Level 2, Level 3). We got a "starter kit" which had everything we needed.

14. Tummy Time Mat- This is Claire's favorite. We can even put it in her crib if we want and we can change out the toys. It folds up very easily.

15. Bumbo- She didn't use this until she was sitting up with support, but it's great!

16. Teething Toys- Now, I will say that C starting teething early at 2 mos, so we weren't prepared. She doesn't really like teething toys. She prefers mommy's knuckle or her own fingers, but she really likes "Sophie the Giraffe" now. It's a little pricey but a great teething toy!

17. Snap N Go Stroller- We didn't buy a "travel system." Instead, we borrowed a car seat and bases from a friend, so we got this Snap N Go Stoller for the car seat to snap into. It's PERFECT for the first several months. We got ours on Craigslist for 1/2 price and it has totally been worth it. We will probably switch to an umbrella stroller in a few months.

18. * Car Seat- Obviously. We borrowed this Chicco car seat and bases from a friend who was "in between" having babies. We didn't really want the entire travel system, and it's really pricey. Basically, you will need a car seat like this one that is rear facing, and you will need a base for it to go in. There are cheaper ones that may work out just fine, or find a friend to borrow from, like we did! We borrowed 3 bases... one for my car, one for Mark's car, and one that will be at the sitter. You really only "need" one for the car seat, but if you have a sitter, you'll probably need 2.

19. Car Seat Toy Bar- I love this toy bar for the carseat. It's great b/c it is soft unlike the hard toys for the car seat. It seems safer to me. :)

20. Furniture- For the first 8 weeks: * bassinet, bassinet mattress, changer of sorts, dresser, glider. Beyond 8 weeks: Crib Changing table, dresser, glider

21. Swing- We really didn't want our house to be "baby central" even though we have a baby, so we tried to by things that compact easily. That's why we really liked the travel swings. They fold up easily and C loves it.

22. Baby Book or Calendar- Obviously not a necessity, but I had a mini calendar where I wrote all of the firsts for C so far. It has a place for each month, pics, etc... A baby book would be okay, too. :)

23. * Clothes- Sleep N Plays (about 3-4; preferably the ones that zip), Onesies (3-4 long sleeve; 3-4 short sleeve), Footless snap up outfits (in case you have a long baby like we do :)), a coat (this depends on the season), Pants (2-3 pair), Cap/ Hat ( we just used the ones from the hospital. Socks (5 pair or more), Dress for church/ event (or boy dressy outfit thing :))

24. Baby/Kid Hangers for the closet. We have about 15.

25. Swaddle Me Wrap- In the first few months, this thing was AWESOME. We had 2 of them. :)

26. Sleep Sack- Claire has upgraded to a sleep sack b/c she no longer likes to be swaddled. These are great! She just wears a white long-sleeve onesie underneath.

27. Storage Totes- We were so blessed to get clothes for C for months in the future. In order to store these clothes, I just placed them in labeled bins by 3-6 mos, 6-9 mos, 9-12 mos, and beyond and keep them in the closet until needed. Also, we had an empty bin marked "outgrown clothes" as a place to store clothes she's outgrown.

28. Bathtime- Here is the big list:

a. A baby tub. We still use it, and she's almost 4 mos. old.

b. Bath Luves- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. C loves taking a bath, and I have determined that this is why! You really just need 1 or 2.

c. Washcloths- we have a million of these. We used them a lot. My sister told me that when baby starts eating "real" food, you can use them for that, so don't get rid of any, even if you have a million!

d. Hooded Towel- These are great. We have a few, but you really probably only need 1 or 2 because you only bathe baby every other day (and less in the beginning).

e. Johnson's Wash- we have several types, but this one seems best. :)

f. Ducky- this one is great to see if the water is too hot!

g. Frog Pod- This is a very FUN way to organize tub toys. We LOVE IT!

29. Lotions- we have regular baby lotion (johnson's) but we also do the lavender baby lotion every night before C goes to bed :)

30. Baby Monitor- We didn't get a super pricey one. We like this one b/c it tells the temperature in the room and our house isn't too big, so it's just right. :)

31. Sheet Saver- Some people like the Ultimate Crib Sheet, but we just have this type of Sheet saver for now, and we hope to upgrade later.

32. Pack N Play- Our mission was simple: lightweight, easy to assemble, must have bassinet.We LOVE ours. :)

33. Bedding- Sheets (2 for the bassinet, 2 for the crib, 1 for the portable crib (packnplay), Crib bedding)

34. Changing table cover (for the "accidents")

35. Diaper Genie- (or some form of one) with refills. I would say you will need about 4-5 refills to get you started the first 4 months or so.

35. Sleep Positioner- a must for the first couple of months, so baby doesn't roll!

36. Emery Boards- We still use emery boards for baby, and we haven't upgraded to clippers yet.

37. Baby Q-Tips

38. Boppy Pillow- I mentioned this above, but you also will want at least 1 extra cover for it.

39. Nasal Aspirator- The one from the hospital is best, but if we have 1 extra to put in the diaper bag. Apparently they have electric ones now, but we just stuck to the hospital one, and it has worked out fine.

40. Sling- This is still one of my favs, especially in the 1st month. If you plan on getting out and about, grocery shopping etc... this is a must!

41. Dishwasher Basket- We use this everyday.

42. Bottle Drying Rack- you won't use this much if you are nursing (unless you are pumping a lot). If you use Dr. Brown's bottles, you may want to get the Dr. Brown's Drying Rack for the special holders.

43. * Humidifier- We used this every night, especially in the winter. It is a must!

44. A Chart to Record Info- The first week, you will need to document # of poopies, wets, feedings, etc... I would make sure you have a chart from a book or online to record it. Your doctor will want to know!

45. Books- Obviously C was given a lot of books for herself, but I suggest the following books for you to read to keep informed about baby, especially the first month: Your Baby's First Year, Baby Wise (with a grain of salt), and What to Expect The First Year.

46. Belly Band- After you have the baby, you probably won't fit into your pants yet. Make sure you keep your belly band out to be able to wear your old "pre preggo" pants.

47. Comfy Clothes- You will wear them everyday. Make sure you have a couple of track suits or sweats that you will comfortable in. Healing is the worst!

48. * Detergent- We use "Dye Free, Fragrance Free" Detergent.

49. A camera- You wouldn't want to miss your little girl or boy growing up! Snap away!

Random Helpful Tips:

1. Meals- We were blessed that friends and family brought over food a few times a week for us the first month we had C. I also prepped ahead of time and made a couple of Quiches, lasagna, and had a few frozen meals ready to go at a moments notice. It was nice. :)

2. Place a few baskets or organizer Bins throughout your home for quick grab of burp cloths, bibs, sanitizer, toys, books, etc... This is great for when you are nursing or feeding in the other room and need something. It also keeps your house less of a "mess."

3. Here's the best suggestion that a friend gave me: Make sure you wash your own clothes in the same detergent as what you wash your baby's clothes in because they are laying up against you a lot. Duh!

4. Also, I didn't sanitize baby bottles, nipples, at all. I just wash everything in the dishwasher and in hot water. I'm not germaphobic, so that was my deal. All the "sterilizers," etc... I didn't really use because I had no time to do that. My baby is healthy and hasn't died, so there you go. :)

4. Buy baby clothes, baby gear, etc... at a resale shop. I go to Kid-to-Kid and Once Upon A Child, as well as JBF sales (jbfsale.com) to get great deals on secondhand stuff. Babies only use stuff for a short amount of time, so really you get these items barely used.

*** Well, I'm sure I left off a lot of things, but I've been wanting to jot this down for some time. Feel free to ask any questions or if you want to add to the list, feel free! I hope this list helps you "new moms to be," or brings back memories for those who have already made the journey. Since I go back to work in about 1 and a 1/2 days, I thought I'd put this together now before I forgot it all! Shorter post next time, I promise!

Here's an extra pic of C, as a reward for making it through this post!

Love is all you need...