Welcome James David Johnson!

Dear friends,

Let me begin by saying that if you thought I posted long blogs before...GET READY!  LOL!  This one will most certainly be a record breaker but so much has happened and I can't bear to not share some of the amazing things.  To keep it simple for those of you who are skimmers I'm trying to utilize headings so you can just jump to the section you want and ignore some of my other ramblings :)

Getting Things Rolling...Friday, June 14th

On Friday, June 14th we went to our usual doctor's appointment for James David.  We were excited when we got done with the ultrasound because his fluid was holding steady, he was growing and everything looked good.  Maybe we would make it to 36 weeks after all!  Post ultrasound we went to the examination room to wait on our doctor.  For a few days I'd been experiencing a new sensation that I could really only describe as feeling like James was kicking me in the crotch.  Not a very lady like description but it really felt like it!  Just before our doctor arrived I told Matt that and we chuckled at our future soccer player of a son.  

When Dr. Savell's checked me she said, "Oh!" with a surprised look on her face and we knew she must have found something unusual because she does not surprise easily.  Turns out I was 2 cm dilated and JD's foot was sticking out!  So I really was getting kicked in the crotch!!  We knew then that I wouldn't get to leave the hospital pregnant again.  She admitted me to see if we couldn't take measures to stop labor from progressing for as long as possible.  I couldn't feel them yet but I was having contractions and that was a priority.  They gave me the first of 2 steroid shots to help develop his lungs and we waited to see what was next.

Saturday morning, really early they decided to begin magnesium.  Magnesium functions as a muscle relaxer so it can stop labor but more importantly it protects the center of his brain and helps it to develop.  They warned me though that Magnesium isn't a fun medication to be on.  It generally produces flu like symptoms.  I had the most amazing nurses working with me and they did everything possible to make sure I understood what was happening.  I would be on the Magnesium for 48 hours.  During that time I would have to be watched carefully to make sure there were no dangerous side effects one of which was fluid developing on my lungs.  To make sure I had a good output of fluids they also put in a catheter.  

Misery Loves Company...

Well...the Magnesium worked in that I stopped having contractions.  But that Saturday (June 15th) was one of the worst ones I can recall.  The Magnesium made me incredibly hot...poor Matt was freezing in the corner with a blanket and I was burning up!  Remember too, James' foot was sticking out right by that catheter and he loved to kick it, agitating it in the process!  By Saturday afternoon I was at my tolerable end.  I was a sobbing mess and I am so grateful that Matt was there to soothe me and work with the nurses to get a solution.  They, thankfully, agreed to take the catheter out which was my primary source of pain.  Again, the nurses kindness and gentleness with me was something to behold.  I will never forget how wonderful they were to me during that time of stress.

Sunday was also Father's Day and not what I had planned for Matt but he was wonderful.  Friends stopped by to visit bringing me special treats to help distract me.  I'll never forget when one of my dear friends from Benton stopped in I started crying as soon as I saw her.  Knowing she and her family took the time on Father's Day to come see me meant the world.  

Because the next day I would be taken off the Magnesium we understood there was a chance that my contractions would pick back up and a baby would come.  For that reason we arranged for Ellie to stay with my family in Harrisburg for several days.  They came up to Paducah and spent some time sympathizing with my discomfort before taking a very happy Ellie with them.  It was a great comfort to me to know that she would be spoiled rotten at mawmaw and pawpaw's the next few days.  It also allowed Matt to just focus on taking care of me and JD.  So we waited for Monday.

It's time!

Early Monday morning, June 17th they took me off the Magnesium and boy was I grateful!  It was worth it to ensure that JD got the steroids he needed for his lungs and his brain but that was a very tough two days.  We hoped that contractions would stay away and James would stay put but we truly didn't know what would happen.  About 11:00 a.m. we noticed some slight contractions returning and by 2:00 that afternoon I had progressed to 3.5 cm dilated and we knew.  Our c-section was set for 4:30 that afternoon.

In that moment peace just filled both Matt and I.  Knowing it was time we were excited to meet this little boy who we already loved.  Matt looked pretty adorable in his OR gear...kinda like a thin teletubby but adorable none the less!  I was nervous about the surgery aspect of a c-section since I've never had any type of surgery or stitches.  Matt continually reassured me and the nurses spoiled me rotten knowing I was unsure.

Having had Ellie naturally I wasn't sure what to expect from this experience.  I've read where moms feel cheated out of a birthing experience and other negative side effects they've experienced.  The truth is though, I loved it.  I was completely present when my son was born whereas I don't even remember Ellie being born, I was in too much pain!  Every person in the OR went out of their way to make it a positive experience for me.  They talked to me and loved on me more that I could have ever expected.  I have nothing negative to say about any of it!  

James David Johnson officially made his debut at 4:55 p.m. on June 17th.  He weighed 3 lbs. 9 oz. and was 16 inches long.  He has a head full of dark hair and is perfect.  I got to see him quite a bit in the OR before they took him to the NICU where Matt got to see him more.  Perhaps the most bizarre thing considering the circumstances is how truly peaceful everything was.  It was so obvious to Matt and I that God was present with us and we just felt totally surrounded by His love and peace.  It was a beautiful moment.

Where we are now...

James will be in the NICU more than likely until August.  He was 31 weeks and 2 days when born but has not had any major complications outside of those naturally related to just being early.  In the past week he has had slow and steady progress which is exactly what we want!  There are 3 milestones he has to achieve in order to come home:

1.  Maintain his body temperature.  He is currently in an incubator and this is just one of those things that will develop as he gets older.

2.  Able to eat on his own (suck and swallow).  Most babies do not develop the ability to suck and swallow until they are about 34-35 weeks old.  For now he has a little feeding tube that delivers my milk to his belly.  He is doing amazing on his feedings though!  He's already up to 33 ml of milk every 3 hours and has tolerated his feedings wonderfully.  Being able to suck and swallow is just something that will develop as he gets older :)

3. He has to go 5 days with no apnea episodes.  Premature babies almost always need a little more time to develop the part of their brain that reminds them to breathe.  It's not a lung issue but rather a neurological one.  For now there are just occasions where he forgets so before he can come home he has to go 5 consecutive days without any episodes.  The hospital told us this is usually the one area that takes the longest because he may go 4 and half days but then have an episode and we start all over.

All of these are areas that just need time to develop so while he may be in the NICU until August it's not because he is in critical condition, he is simply young and needs time to mature.

So that's it!  We go every evening to see JD and hold him.  Leaving is truly difficult but knowing he is in the care of some outstanding nurses who adore him does make it easier.  I promise to try and keep everyone updated as we go each week, in the meantime thank you for all the love and support we have received.  We always knew we had amazing family and friends but you have all truly gone above and beyond to help.  Between meals, assistance watching Ellie, gifts, cards and much more you have helped make this the best possible situation given our circumstances.  We love you and can't wait to introduce you all to our little James David one day! 

Like father like son...