Lexie's First Bath

Alexandria's Umbilical cord fell off so we gave her, her first bath at home. 

With all the helpers

 She didn't cry at all and seemed to enjoy it.

2 weeks

(I know she's almost 3 weeks old now but that's ok)

Lexie at 2 weeks old

Alexandria had her 2 week check up on Tuesday. When we has 2 1/2 weeks old.

• She passed her carseat test! 

All bundled up in her Carseat

So she doesn't have to be in the car bed any more. But she still sometimes forgets to breath in the car so it freaks me out and we still aren't going very many places. And when we do go somewhere the O2 is in tow. This also means she can have short times in her swing and chair now that she is breathing better sitting at an angle.

• She weighs 7 lbs 4 oz. 

So the preemie formula mixed with Mommy Milk giving her 2x the calories of a regular feeding is working.

• She is 20 inches long

So apparently she shrunk a 1/2 inch but that's ok. Either that or she wouldn't stretch out at the Drs office. 

• She has to stay on the oxygen for a little while longer but seems to be doing better most days when her reflux isn't acting up to bad. 

But other than those few things she is doing good and making progress most days. So we are just happy she is here and doing as well as she is. 

Updates...

So I will get around to loading more pictures but for now just a quick update.

• Sam still has a chest cold but is getting better. 

• Seth had a program at preschool yesterday and did really well and is still healthy. 

• Chris is over his respiratory infection and happy as ever. 

• Alexandria has had a rough couple of days but seems to be doing better today. Her reflux got worse but she is on the highest dose of meds and we've tried different formulas etc. So we are watching to make sure she doesn't lose any weight. She also because of the reflux needed more oxygen. The Pediatrician is thinking part of the reflux and oxygen issues are because the cartilage in her throat didn't fully develop so it will collapse and not allow her to breath when she relaxes. Hopefully she will just grow out of it. 

• Me my blood sugars are all over the place. I went really low this morning, like to the point of seizing, and then went really high because of over correcting for the low. It's still a guessing game, my insulin levels will work one day and then my body will change and they are completely different the next. But hopefully it will level out soon.  

So that's what's happening at our house. 

What's Happening Now...

So what's happening at the Baugh house?

 Alexandria got to spend days and days on the billibed at home.  But she finally started filtering out the billyruben and antibodies by herself so we avoided the NICU.

 Christian decided he didn't like the big tub anymore and wanted to take a bath in the sink.

 Alexandria started Oxygen. She still forgets to breathe especially when she gets into a deep sleep. She is needing less and less O2 so that's good.

She started a medication for reflux they say that the earlier a child is born the more likely it is that they have reflux. She will reflux when she sleeps and that is another reason why her oxygen levels drop and they don't want her to aspirate into her lungs.

 So has to wear an O2 monitor most of the time to make sure that she is getting the O2 she needs.

 Sam got to take 2 weeks off work. And the boys have loved it! They love Daddy Days off anyway but they have loved having him home every day!

 They got to go to the carwash

 On special trips to the store.

 Play dress up

 And tons more fun stuff.

 A few of Alexandria in the hospital

 A few more of her at home.

 They boys play lots with the puppies.

 Hew sweet little cheeks with her O2 stickers on them.

 Marie came for a visit

 More time with Daddy

 Because Sam had so long off of work he grew some facial hair for me. I think he looks good with a goatee. But for work and High Council he can wear one. So he kept the Goatee as long as he could but he had to shave for High Council duties. But...

 He only shaved his chin and kept the 70's stash! (Only for a few days but still it was great!)

 Alexandria had her first bath...

I will do a whole post on that one another day.

 Alexandria got dressed up for pictures

 The boys blew bubbles with Daddy.

 Chris has had a respiratory infection so he couldn't be around Alexandria. So when he started to clear up with the antibiotics he was pretty excited to be able to hold her again.

 They loved on their new little sister

 They played outside

And a Little girl got lots of cuddles. 

So that's what's going on with most of us. 

Alexandria goes back to the Dr. tomorrow to take her carseat test again and see if she can come off the O2, make sure she is gaining weight etc. It's her 2 week check but she'll be 2 1/2 weeks because we wanted to give her a little while on the oxygen to get stronger. 

I went to the Dr on Friday. Sam told me I had to go before he went back to work or I was in big trouble. So I put it off until the very last day I could. I just couldn't deal with one more thing. So I saw the Endocrinologist on Friday. My kidneys are doing what they are supposed to now and there seems to be no lasting effects from the pregnancy from them. My thyroid is a little low so they are watching that because most of the time a low thyroid is caused by an autoimmune disorder, which diabetes is. My diabetes is still all over the place, nursing makes me drop low, adjusting my insulin to the hundredth of a unit can make me high or low and will work one day and not the next. My Dr was not happy I had waited 2 weeks to see him. So instead of making me drive up to see him every 3 days he just gave me his cell # and told me to check in. So we'll try that.

I keep telling myself that I should be all better by now, but I just still don't feel good. I want to have the energy I did before, I want this headache to go away, I want to have some spunk. Woman have babies all the time and feel fine after. What's wrong with me? 

The Dr says it's that with the diabetes I take longer to heal, and trying to regain control of my blood sugars takes a toll on the body. Where most people process carbs and get energy and their body keeps their blood sugars level with the diabetes mine doesn't and all the highs and lows takes it's toll on the body and makes me tired, have no energy etc. So I have an excuse I just want to feel better though.

And I have beaten myself up pretty bad emotionally about Alexandria's birth.  I feel horribly guilty. If I would have been better about the bedrest than she would have stayed in longer and been healthier. If I would have managed my bloodsugars better, if ? If? If? The list goes on and on. 

But the thing is I kept my blood sugars so tightly controlled. My fingers are callused and covered in tiny holes from all the testing. I really tried and I can justify that I did my best to have a healthy pregnancy. I worked so hard at it. I can explain it all in my head but emotionally it's my fault I just wasn't strong enough to do it, my body just couldn't do it no matter how hard I tried. I know she will be ok and the oxygen and other stuff will all pass, but she will be forever labeled a preemie because of me. My diabetes doesn't bug me most days, because most days it doesn't effect anyone but me. (ok it effects Sam because he makes sure I eat, and we spend money on all my supplies and my kids because they eat more artificial sweeteners than regular sugar) But my diabetes hurt my baby girl so it's really gotten to me lately. It kills me to watch her get tangled in her oxygen tubing while she sleeps, or turn purple while she tries to eat, to rub lotion on her little feet because the sensor has dried them out so bad they are cracking, to watch her lay on that billy bed because my body attacked hers. I want to make her better and I just can't. 

And this doesn't even cover about the guilt I have about the boys and needing to spend so much time taking care of Alexandria. 

But it will be ok I just have to keep telling myself that. It will be ok. 

So that's what's going on here...

• Alexandria goes to the Dr tomorrow to see if she can ride in a carseat and come off oxygen.
• Sam went back to work today after being off for 2 1/2 weeks.
• The boys loved having Sam home for Daddy Days off. 
• Sam did lots of stuff to keep them busy while he was home, bubbles, car wash, shopping, dressup etc.
•  Chris is over his respiratory infection. Sam is almost over his chest cold, Seth stayed mostly healthy. 
• Alexandria got her pictures taken. 
• It's been 2 years since we finalized Christian's adoption and it was Seth's half birthday on March 9th.
• Marie came to visit.
• Sam grew a 70's mustache. 
• Everyone is still alive.