The First Week Home (actually at Primary's)

When we packed him up in his car-seat to go home from the hospital, he looked so little!

We were only home for a day, but it was nice to sit on our own couch, and sleep in our own beds. Rick already has the multi-tasker position down.

This was his little jaundice light bed that we were instructed to do day and night. He needed to log 50 hours in here. I was so diligent about leaving him in here, even though I wanted to hold him so bad. He hated it at first, but then got used to it, and would just get toasty and warm and go to sleep. I didn't realize it at the time, but he was too sleepy and too lethargic.

Because this lit up like an Avatar bed, Rick took to calling him our little Ryk-a-tar!

When we took him to the pediatrician for a jaundice follow-up, they found a few problems: he had lost a pound in a day (too much for a little guy!), hadn't had a diaper in 24 hours, his jaundice was going up, and most frightening- he was hypothermic. I guess newborns don't get fevers until they are a bit older, but hypothermic is just as dangerous. They rushed us to Primary Children's where they worked hard to get him to bring his temperature up. They put him under warming beds, cracked heating packs to pack around him, and rubbed him vigorously. They also did all sorts of tests to rule out bad infection possibilities, including a spinal tap (checking for spinal menangitis), cathaders, and blood work. So hard and so sad for me to see my three day old baby go through all that!

He had a IV in for three days, and received anti-biotics on a drip every two hours. Final official medical diagnosis: Hypothermia due to an unknown infection with a side of jaundice.

Primary's jaundice lights are super-charged, thus requiring him to wear his protective eye mask. Don't be deceived by the rolly-polly look here- he was actually down to six pounds and a few ounces here.

We finally came home on Sunday (March 11), after a long first week of many tests, nurses, doctors, etc. He was a much healthier baby when we got home. Thanks to the awesome teams at Primary's he is now a good eater, growing like crazy, jaundice and light-bed free, and regulating his own body temperature. He is much more alert and responsive to me, and I'm more confident in feeding him. I'm so grateful we live so close to one of the best children's hospitals in the country and that we were able to receive top notch care that got our sweet baby healthy.

Introducing Ryker Ryan White

Ryker Ryan White

7 pounds 4 oz.

20.5 inches

March 05, 2012

3:55pm

and here is his story:

Sunday Night (March 04)

While at dinner at the White’s house, I’m pretty sure I pee my pants. I beg Rick to take me home, where I change, clean up, get into bed, only to pee my pants again. By the time I stand up and walk into the bathroom, it comes at me like Niagra Falls- I’m not peeing my pants, my water broke, EVERYWHERE!!

Rick drove us to McKay Dee, cool, calm and collected. We checked in, got in the bed, and still hadn't felt a single contraction despite the plethora of water. They put me on pitocin, and I got my epidural around 3am. It wasn't nearly as painful as I thought, and made me so comfortable that I slept for hours. Poor Rick sat there and watched every beeping monitor and machine all night. He could tell when I was going through contractions- but I couldn't!

Monday (March 05)

Around 10 am they told me it was time to push- and this baby would be here before noon. I sat up and got ready, but my epidural had worn off, and I could feel everything. They called the anesthesiologist to come back, and I had to wait and hour for it to kick in. At 11:30, I started pushing, still thinking he would be here by lunch time...

I pushed, and pushed, and pushed. This nice nurse sat on my bed helping me the whole time. After pushing for 4 HOURS, they decided I was a good canidate for the vacuum.

At this point, the poor boy was destined to be cone-headed after sitting in the birth canal for so long, so I welcomed any form of additional strength that would help get this baby un-stuck! By now, I was so tired. I have never worked so hard in my life. Rick said the Dr was pulling on the vacuum so hard that her arms were trembling. He honestly worried our little babies head was going to pop right off. At 3:55, he finally came into this world. He wasn't a screaming baby, and at first it worried me. She kept reassuring me everything was fine.

He weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces, 20.5 inches- a good sized boy considering he was 10 days early. Big enough he got himself good and stuck for 4 hours!

I was instantly exhausted, but so glad to be holding my little baby boy. Rick's heart was instantly melted, and he has been so cute with him ever since.
This was the doctor on call, Dr. Lister, that ended up delivering me (on her little boy's birthday), and she did a great job.

He got some good snuggle time with mommy before they took us both to the recovery side.

Must have a picture in a cute frog hat to send to the anxious kindergartners that all want to know where their teacher is Monday morning?! And then they had a plethora of other questions: Why is she in an ugly blue dress? Is that brown chair at her house? When is she coming home (school)? Oh kiddos, not for awhile :)

First family picture. I still look pretty swollen and puffy in this picture- but oh so happy to be holding a cute baby boy that we finally named Ryker Ryan White!

He can't wait to meet all his friends when the threat of RSV has passed and we can safely venture out. Until then, we're just hanging out at home, and I'll keep the picture posts coming.

Meadows Friends Shower

My cute friends Ali, Hillary and Abby put together a very nice shower for me at Ali's house. I am always saying how much I love my neighborhood and how many nice girls we have here. This is proof! So many people came and brought nice gifts and showed love and support. I really appreciate them all going in on our swing, as we have used that every day since we got home! (Rick actually left McKay Dee one afternoon to come home and set it up in the family room). We got so many other fun things we have used- clothes, diapers, boppy covers, blankets, burp cloths- you name it- I've pulled it out this week. The food was delicious, and they decorated cute- I have the animal print sign, zebra and lion in his room now. I sure appreciate my good friends here!! Thank you everyone!

Valentines Day (yes.... a little late!)

Valentines Day: Better late than never... I have to catch up on a few post before I can start posting baby pictures!

This year for Valentines Rick and I made homemade Valentines that actually turned out fun and creative. Here is Rick's:

He was so proud of his gross concoction he made in the microwave. I think he was just a little excited to open the diapers and start using them. A+ for creativity.

Here is mine:

Since we were still calling Baby "Crispen" in February, I signed mine from Scout and Crispen and attached a box of Crispy Cremes. I think my treat ranks a little higher than Rick's!

My room mom's did a surprise shower for me at the kid's Valentines Party. They had been working on some cute secretive gifts. They had all the kids write why they loved me, and made it into this cute Valentine bouquet. I love kindergartner's inventive spelling at this time of year- so funny! Something I will save for sure.

Projects are getting done!

I think I have had that horrible nesting bug for awhile now. Over Christmas Break I cleaned out closets like crazy, bought tons of bins and organized all my wrapping paper, folded my tissue paper, sorted the bows, cleaned out old scrapbook stuff, organized paper, you know... those type of crazy things that baby is not going to even notice or care if they are done! Then I pressured Rick to clean out the garage, buy shelving and (more) bins. After much nagging, he did that. Looks great! Baby will love the garage I'm sure!

But a few of the projects have actually been practical. We put together his nursery and cleaned and organized the laundry room so that I will be happy to be washing tons more clothes- even if they are cute, tiny and spit-up covered.

I had to laugh at this picture. Rick was so mad when he pulled into the driveway. Isn't this why we have a truck??!? Oh wait.... that would require it to be registered, insured, windows un-tinted and street legal to go to home depot. Add those items to the ever-growing "to-do"list so that next time we need bead board and moulding we can take the truck...

Rick did a fabulous job!! I told him I wanted bead board and a shelf and he far surpassed my expectations.

We slowly started getting our furniture and bedding. Thanks Grandma Jen for sewing his cute blanket that became the inspiration for the whole room!

Almost done... if we could only pick a name, then I could put it on the wall above his crib in the large empty space you see. If only names were easy! But just imagine it totally done.

His changing table came out nice after Rick built the bottom shelf and Chase painted it for us. I'm sure we'll spend many a hours changing diapers here.

This was the extent of my laundry room organization before. Stack everything on the dryer or throw it in a laundry basket on the floor that is always in the way. Hang coats on the ironing board and therefore never iron. It literally became a jenga situation on the dryer before I lost patience and asked Rick to buy shelving and (more) bins so that I could organize, and even label my madness. It is now entirely functional and actually one of my favorite places to be. I love doing laundry actually. It smells so good in the process and after.

Ta-da! I feel better! Baby can now come.. we are organized enough to wash his laundry :)