Day 2

Danny tried bringing Scott into seeing Tyler and he did much better and just kept waving to him. Scott just wanted to touch his new baby brother which was very cute! We know Scott is going to be a great big brother. Tyler looked great in the evening, even though he was connected to a lot of things. That night, Danny and I stayed at the hospital in a room they have for parents. UCSF has great play rooms for siblings and patients as well as so many great ammenities for parents. The staff has been so great and suppportive. We feel so blessed to live so close to some of the top surgeons and facilities in the world to take care of hypoplastic children. Tyler had a rough night and morning with heavy breathing and some convulsions due to Prostaglandin (pge), a drug he is given to keep his ductus areteriousus open allowing his body to receive oxygenated blood. They had a really hard time putting in a PICC line to replace the lines in his belly button. These lines will stay in for a month, allow him to receive medications and draw blood so he doesn't have to get poked so much. He seemed really uncomfortable today. They are hoping to decrease the prostaglandin to help ease the breathing and help him be more comfortable and hopefully take the breathing tube out. He is becoming pretty jaundiced since he is unable to eat before the surgery, so they will probably put him under lights starting tomorrow. It was a rough day for little Tyler, but he is sticking in there. We are so proud of him. He is such an example to us and we love him so much.

Day 1

Tyler did great in the NICU. They put some lines through his belly button and he was pink and breathing on his own. He looked so great. The cardiologist came and talked to us about 8:30 PM after his echo and said that his left ventricle looked larger than they expected. He said that discussions and decisions at UCSF will be very interesting in the next week as we plan what the best surgery option is for Tyler. He confirmed that he had a hypoplastic left ventricle and aorta as well as other smaller issues including an AV canal and valve problems. There was some discussion that the 3 stage Norwood procedure might not be needed if the left side of the heart can sustain life, which was hopeful but by no means the prognosis. It was great to see him peaceful and resting. The next morning, he was still doing great and they decided to intubate him for the ambulance ride to UCSF in case the medication he was on caused him to stop breathing which is common. He looked great and Danny and I got to hold him for over an hour before he left. He was so peaceful and looked so great. What a blessing. They released me that morning so I could go to UCSF to be with him. It is amazing what your body will do to be with your little one. I went to UCSF that evening with my parents and Scott. Scott was a little scared of the machines and doctors so he didn't get to see him.

A new son to Love

5 PM...The very best part to the day was being able to hold Tyler Anthony for about 10 minutes after he was born. I didn't know if I would be able to hold him and it was the greatest blessing!! I look so forward to being able to hold him again and those few moments make me realize what a miracle he is. I just felt so blessed. I thought about so many parents who chose not to give these little guys a chance and it made me so grateful to have him in our lives. He was perfect. 7 lb 12 oz. 21 1/2". Brown Hair. Calm. It was the best 10 minutes of my life to have my son in my arms so peaceful and doing so well.

Labor of Love

I was expecting contractions to begin in about 10 minutes, but they were pretty small and insignificant for an hour. Gave me and Danny time to nap and watch a little Dirty Jobs and America's Funniest Videos. By about 4 the videos weren't so funny to me as the contractions became more steady and painful. I opted not to have an IV of pain meds, since they said it could be hard on the baby, who was already going to have enough health issues. Although I don't use labor drugs, I really don't recommend it to anyone. It was quite painful, but only lasted about an hour. The worst part of the entire labor was when I asked for the doctor to come in because I knew the baby was going to come out and I needed to push and the nurse thought I was kidding. She measured me and told me I was a 7, which I really didn't believe. She tried to tell me the doctor was coming, which I knew she was just telling me, so after being a little more serious and quite demanding, the doctor came in and sure enough I was a 10 and ready to go. Don't mess with someone who has a babies head coming out of her. The worst part was that the cardiologist and specialists weren't there for the baby so I still couldn't push. I thought I was going to die. I think the entire hospital heard me screaming in pain. They got there (it was probably about 10 minutes, even though it felt like forever) and the baby came after about 6 pushes.

MY DUE DATE DOCTORS APPOINTMENT

I went in for my weekly NST (non stress test) and doctors appt and came out with soo much more. My stress test for the baby, weekly monitoring of his heart rate, ultrasound and my contractions looked fine. The doctor checked me and I was dialated to a 2-3, but no sign of the baby. My doctor was concerned that my blood pressure would not go down from the 140-150/ 110 range, so they sent me up to labor and delivery to be monitored. I called Heather Oyler, my saint for the day, who was watching Scott to tell her and she said they sometimes deliver you if it that high. I just felt so lucky that Scott was in such great hands and with a buddy. The blood pressure wasn't going down and the doctor decided to induce me since the baby was 40 weeks, had a heart condition, I have fast deliveries, and was at risk with my blood pressure. She called into UCSF to check on the plan for the baby and when they said that it would be fine to transfer him in the morning. The doctor broke my bag at 3:00 and wanted to see if I would start labor on my own since I was a little dialated.

My Hubby...Jack of All Trades

Landscaper, Paper route, Ivory Homes Construction, Wendy’s Fast Food. Barber Shop Quartet. Only money ever made was on the sidewalk. Cracker Barrel Restaurant. Bussed tables and washed dishes. Seminary President. ESL Teacher. Taught Spaniards how to speak English. Missionary. Photographer. Piano Teacher. C, D, E, F…. Secretary. “I bet I can hang up the phone faster than you.” Audio Visual department BYU. Taste Tester. Mainly tested mashed potatoes checking texture, aftertaste, smell, etc. Driver. IHOP, Top server until fired. Convergys telemarketing. I can't sell. Lofthouse Cookies. Mixed dough in those huge mixers. Chem TA. ICON health and fitness. Factory work making treadmills at 4:50 a.m. Auctioneer. Auto Mechanic.Chem/Spanish tutor. Free-lance brain work making big bucks. Neighborhood babysitter.Day Laborer. Lab technician, Meaningless troll work pouring molds. House-sitter. Some people have mansions. Others houses stink. Pet-sitter. Mute dog, annoying dogs, cats that escaped, birds that got out, chickens, etc. Elderly care. After a while, Dr. Phil got old and I felt like I was in prison. Print Modeling. Heh, you’ll see me on the dog food bag. Highest paying at $500/hour. Extra in movie. Organist. Dentist. Crown and bridge, endo, oral surgery, perio, removable, pediatric. Barber. 2006 Sunday School Teacher. Craigslist seller. Buy junk for less and sell it for more. Transcriber. 2006 Garage demolition. The roof wasn’t supposed to collapse. Dental Educator at UOP. They don’t pay beans, but it sure is fun! Building attendant, aka janitor for Civic Arts. Set up tables, eat food, clean up vomit.

Just keep growing

Both me and the baby. As much as we are excited to meet Tyler and welcome him into the world, we are grateful that he is gaining weight before his first surgery. I weigh the same as I did with Scott at this point. By body has carried both babies about the same. The doctors were really concerned that I was so small with Scott, but aren't worried with number two because of my past pregnancy history with Scott. Yesterday I had a Dr. appt. and was asked what my beginning weight was which I had no idea. He said, "Well, we will just keep it at your 11 week weight so it doesn't seem like you have gained too much. What is another 10 pounds I thought?? Start weight: 110. Now: 144. Still down 15 from my mission. I enjoy being pregnant and think it is fun to have a little guy kicking inside. Even though I have gotten uncomfortable in the past 2 weeks or so. Nothing to complain about.