Saturday, February 18, 2012

Valentines day!

I think I am the luckiest woman in the world. I have not one, not two but three handsome valentines. I love my boys so much! I am so blessed to be able to spend so much time with them.
Monday we made chocolate covered strawberries. They were yummy, and messy.
His smile melts my heart, every time.
See, aren't they adorable?

They youth in our ward hosted a Valentines dinner to raise money for youth conference....or something, I was actually really good!
And of course we had to have the heart shaped pancakes! I went through the trouble of making Lincoln's heart shaped, only to realize I needed to cut it up for him anyway.

Monday, February 13, 2012

My Heart Hero

Lincoln is a heart warrior!

CHD awareness week is winding down. It's been inspiring to read all of the other heart warriors stories. During Lincoln's journey I had no idea how many people were going through the same thing I was. And how many more had already been through it.
Congenital Heart Disease is considered to be the most common birth defect, and is a leading cause of birth-defect related deaths worldwide.

So what? What does it matter to you?

Are you pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant?

While the cause of most congenital heart defects is unknown, there are actions you can take to decrease your chances.
Obesity and smoking increase your chances of having a child with heart defect.
If there is even a CHANCE you may become pregnant, take your folic acid everyday. The heart starts to develop early on, folic acid reduces the chances of having a baby with a congenital heart defect.
Get healthy, stop smoking, and take your folic acid.

At the 20 week ultrasound ask questions about the heart. Make sure they are getting a good look. Ask about the four chambers and the flow of blood.

Ask for a pulse oximetry test 24 hours after birth. It is an fast, easy, non-evasive test. Most hospitals don't routinely do them. But you can request one.
Since we had Spencer at a birthing center, we just took him in to the pediatrician to get one done.

Know the warning signs! Lincoln was diagnosed three hours after birth, some babies are diagnosed days, or even weeks after birth.

Tires easily during feeding (i.e. falls asleep before feeding finishes
Sweating around the head, especially during feeding
Fast breathing when at rest or sleeping
Pale or bluish skin color
Poor weight gain
Sleeps a lot - not playful or curious for any length of time
Puffy face, hands, and/or feet
Often irritable, difficult to console

About 1 in 100 babies are born with a congenital heart defect. Only half of those are detected before birth.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

5 Months!

Sweet baby Spencer is 5 months old today! He is a heart breaker, we just love him!
Seriously? I could just kiss him all day!
~He smiles all the time.
~Loves bath time with his big brother.
~Loves irritating his big brother.
~Has learned to make all sorts of funny sounds with his mouth.
~He loves to spit his cereal all over mom.
~Sitting up pretty good.
~He has learned how to scream, and loud! I think we have Lincoln to thank for that one. :)
~He loves other kids and babies. No one can make him laugh harder than Lincoln.
~We are still unsure of his eye color. I think they will go brown, but right now they are more grey, brown, greenish.
~He is very determined. When he wants a toy that is out of reach he will wiggle his way to it.

We are still figuring out a schedule. He wakes up at a different time everyday, so it is hard to stay on the same one everyday. Usually he takes 3 naps a day and goes to bed around 9. He has decided to give up sleeping through the night, and usually wakes up twice to nurse. He still doesn't cry when he wakes up, just starts kicking his little feet.

We sure do love him.


Monday, February 6, 2012

Anyone want to help brighten someones day?


I am still collecting items for gift baskets! I would love to put some blankets in there but I don't think I can make 7 by myself before Thursday. Anyone willing to donate a blanket or two? Just a small, one person lap blanket.


Baskets are going to parents who have children in the Cardiac Intensive care unit in honor of CHD awareness week! 


Here is the list again:
Snacks
Cards
Note books/pens
Blankets
Water bottle containers
Treats
Gum
Books/ magazines

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Cute boys

I'm trying to think about something interesting to blog about, but I can't think of anything. So here are some cute pictures of the boys. That's all anyone ever looks at anyway right?