The Hospital

We went to Oxford two weeks ago Sunday and Jack had a very stuffy nose. He was really fussy and congested. Tuesday he got this horrible rash from head to toe. His eyes were blood shot and his lips were cracked(everytime he cried they would start bleeding). You couldn't see a white spot anywhere on his body. We went to see a pediatrition on Tuesday in Oxford and he said it was just a virus. As the week went on he just didn't get better. Thursday night he got a fever of 103 that would not come down with Tylenol. I called our pediatrition here in VA and they said go to the ER. He got a chest x ray and they tried to get blood five times but couldn't get enough. The doctor said it was just a virus and keep an eye on his fever. The entire week he was either awake and screaming or sound asleep. We were on our way to the airport Sunday to go back to Va and I noticed his fingers were swollen and red. I showed Guy but he didn't think it was that big of a deal. His fever would not stop despite lots of tylenol. We went to the pediatrition Monday and they saud just keep and eye on him. We went back to the pediatrition Tuesday and he had blood work, a chest x ray, and a catheter to check his urine. By the way my poor husband had to put his catheter in because the nurse couldn't do it. Wednesday his fever was still 101.7 at lunch when the pediatrition called and we were sent to the hospital. He had a spinal tap, blood cultures, blood drawn, and an Iv started for antibiotics. Thursday we just kind of waited around to see if the fever would come down....and it didn't. His blood came back and it was elevated..not good. Friday we had an infectious disease doctor come and check him out. he also had more blood drawn that showed he had a big inflammatory process going on. Saturday the infectious disease doctor along with the pediatric cardiologist said they thought he had Kawasakis disease. He had to get more blood drawn and a new IV put in. Saturday night he got a medicine called IVIG through his IV over 18 hours which worked!! His fever finally broke at 7pm Saturday night. He also got Aspirin every six hours to protect his heart. This is the only childhood illness you can give aspirin. Sunday he was feeling much better. He had an echo of his heart and all was good. They let him go home Monday morning. We are very happy to be home. Thanks so much for the phone calls, help with Abby, thoughts, and prayers. We will be followed by the pediatric cardiologist for several months to make sure his heart looks ok.

Christmas tree farm

abby and jack

Abby loves Jack to get in the crib with her and play. She loves her brother.

my sweet babies

Jacks Big Sister

my brother had this shirt made for her. he is so awesome!

doctor appt

we took jack to the doctor for his 2wk check(more like 3wk) on thursday. everything looked great! He has gained 2 lbs in two weeks....he loves to eat. He also gained 1/2 an inch in height. He is still such a sweet baby.

My princess

Poor Abby is still sick!!!!!! She had a 102.3 fever saturday after motrin and tylenol....so we called the on call doc. He put her on antibiotics (the first time she has been on antibiotics in her little life). She has looks better today. I just feel bad for her. She has been sick for a long long time. She needs a break! Even while feeling sick she has to have her princess crown on.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to a pumpkin patch on friday morning and had a blast. jack was as quiet as a mouse the entire time we were there. Abby had so much fun. It was great for Abby to have some time with both parents without jack needing something. There was so much for her to do she was running back and forth we could barely keep up.

Jack and Abby

Sweet Jack

He must be having a great dream!

Almost a week

So it has almost been a week and we are all doing great.

Poor Abby has a really bad cold, but she is hanging in there. She is doing ok with everything. She has been getting more frustrated with things than normal and has been having more tantrums than usual. She has been so sweet to Jack, and does not like it when he cries. She will get very mad at us for giving him a bath or changing a diaper because he cries so loud. She says guy's stop doing that to jack he is so sad. It really is sweet.

Guy has been able to stay home last week and most of this week. I am so happy he is here with me. I can't tell you how much help he has been. He does everything ....without me having to ask! He has taken care of everything for Abby from A-Z. He has taken care of the meals, laundry, cleaning, and anything else that needs done around the house. He has been such a sweet husband.

Jack has been such a sweet baby! He has not been fussy at all. He is breastfeeding really well, and in return we have gotten some nasty diapers. I forgot how bad the diapers can be. I was really scared to take care of his circumcision. I know it sounds stupid, but it looked like it was so painful, and guy does this for a living so i thought he should take care of it. I have only gotten sprayed with tinkle two times which i think is pretty good since i have had a little girl. He has been sleeping at night 2.5 to 3 hours increments and then he is up feeding for 30 minutes then he is fast asleep. He has been in our bed for the last week not something i am proud of, but after i had the blood patch it was really hard to move around so it was easier. The blood patch was to seal up the hole where the epidural was supposed to go but went into the spinal space instead. I am putting him in his crib as much as i can during the day. I am taking abby to school this morning, and i am a little nervous getting both of them in the car and then into school. I can't pick anything up heavier than jack for a week because of the blood patch. Jack had his first doctors appt yesterday and was very very mad. He has already gained back half the weight he lost. The doctor said since his weight gain was so good i could let him sleep as long as he wants. Now that he said that Jack will be up every two hours to eat. Lets just say my little man likes to eat and eat and eat.

Jack is here!!

Jack Hamilton Shoaf was born Wednesday, October 9th at 9:20 pm. He weighed 7lbs 11 oz and was 21 inches long. We arrived at the hospital at 6:30 in the morning, so Barrie was wiped out by the time he came along. We were lucky to be joined in the Hospital by Barrie's good friend (and Abby's awesome godmother) Jodie Low. Jodie may have gotten more than she bargained for but she helped with the delivery!! Barrie had a problem with the epidural, it made her numb all the way up to her shoulders! It appears the anesthetic went in the wrong place, and she had a small leak of spinal fluid. This gave her a terrible headache and they took her this morning to put a blood patch in her back over the area where the epidural went to stop the leak and her headache. Her back is killing her!! Guy's mom came from Ohio to watch Abby while we were in the hopital. She and Abby made cookies, painted pictures and read books.

SICK SICK SICK

Abby got the stomach virus two weeks ago and then gave it to me. It was so much fun to be 37 weeks pregnant on the bathroom floor. I never ask Guy to come home and help me, but I did this time. Well we were all better after a couple of days. Then my friend Heather and her little boy and new baby came over on Monday and they had the stomach virus the week before but thought they were fine. By the way Heather had her baby Friday night while she had the stomach virus and her husband is deployed in the middle east. PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE!!!!! I really can't think of many things worse than being in labor while you have the stomach virus.Tuesday night Guy got the stomach virus, and then Abby threw up all afternoon on Wednesday. I have never felt so sorry for someone in all my life. The poor child could not even pick her head up to look at me. Then I got a sick Thursday morning. I thought she was getting better and then she woke up this morning with a cough cold and fever. She will barely drink anything and wont eat anything. I have poured clorox all over this house, and I have clorox wipes everywhere hoping to get rid of all the germs. I just hope everyone is feeling great by Wednesday!

38 weeks

I went to the doc last night and everything is great. I was a little more than 1 cm dilated but my cervix was more effaced. Jack was moving and looking right into the monitor at us. We decided that I am going to get induced next Wednesday morning. I am really excited, and really nervous! Last time I got induced it didn't go so well. I think She is going to give me cytotec and then pitocin. My doctor works at another hospital on Wednesday, so she wont be able to get there until later that afternoon. There is a chance I will deliver before she gets there which would be sad. Guy's Mom is going to come on Tuesday to help out with Abby. So, unless i go into labor before next Wenesday then that is the plan.

36 week ob appt

I went to the ob last night and everything looks great. I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I had told Guy before we got there if I wasn't dialted I was probably going to start crying. I know it is silly, but after my experience with not dilating with Abby I was a little nervous. I have another check at 38 weeks and if I am dilated more I am going to get induced at 39 weeks. I am hoping that walking two miles everyday will help get things started. I can't believe my sweet baby jack could be here in three weeks...or earlier. I feel like I have everything ready. Guy keeps telling me to chill out that all I need is a bed, diapers, and stuff to feed him. I am really scared about the sleep issue. I hope he is healthyand happy.... and it would also be nice if he slept a little more than Abby.

1st Day of school

Abby had her first day of school last Tuesday. She had a blast! When I picked her up she ran to the door to show me her name tag. On the way home I asked her what she did and she said fun. Later in the car ride she told me her teacher had told her no for climbing on the fence. She also told me she got mad at a little girl about a toy. At least she told me what happened. She made a lamb out of cotton and a white paper bag...had to do with mary had a little lamb. I was really sad to drop her off, but really enjoyed my three hours of quiet. She takes a nap around 1230, so she came right home and crashed until 230. I was so proud of her for being brave and not getting upset when I dropped her off.

The Outer Banks

Guy, Abby, and I went to the outer banks last Saturday for a week. We stayed on the 4x4 beach in Carova. We had to drive in the sand for about 30 minutes to get to our house. All I am going to say about that is it was interesting. Guy told me if i went into labor at 3 am i was on my own. We had the best weather lots of sun with very few clouds. Abby had a blast!!! She only complained when she was hungry or getting really tired. We went on walks, played in the sand, dug for shells, and ran in the ocean until we dropped. Abby told the sun goodnight each night and told it hello every morning. She loved to chase the seagulls...poor things. We left on Friday because ofthe tropical storm. We all had a great quiet vacation!!

Playing on the beach

If you can't tell by the pictures Abby had a blast at the beach. She would play in the morning for about 2 and 1/2 hours and the same in the afternoon. She loved everything and played until she dropped. She slept and ate really well while we were there. She was so much fun to watch and hang out with.

Flying her kite

The butterfly was all wet and couldn't fly, so we helped him dry out on our chair.

On our way to the beach