I had an interesting conversation the other day with 2 of my children.
On June 6, 2010, Alivia Joy was blessed by her daddy. This day was a very special day, it also happened to be Grandma and Grandpa Kenworthy's 41st Anniversary! Grandma K made Alivia's Beautiful dress. It was completely handmade, I know that she put an incredible amount of time into it! We were so honored that she would put so much time and love into making something so extraordinary for this special event.
(Grandpa K with Alivia and cousin Audrey, only 2 weeks apart in age)
Alivia is such a sweet addition in our home. She is so incredibly loved. I have a strong feeling that she named herself. When I was pregnant with Brynlee, Brian mentioned this name as a possibility for her. I thought it was really pretty, but it just didn't feel right to me. Two kids later at the beginning and throughout this pregnancy, this is the name that kept coming to me. I didn't want to commit to anything, but I just felt so strongly that she needed a beautiful and feminine name. I started a list, but Brian and I are just so picky and we weren't sure that anything felt right. We had narrowed a list to about 2-3 names that we took to the hospital. We were so torn on naming her that it took us until 2 days after she was born to commit to her name. We just wanted to get it right. As soon as we named her, it felt So right! Everyone that sees her says her name fits her perfectly. This was confirmed to me as Brian stood and blessed her. A lot of what he said focused on how she will both have and be such a strength and joy throughout her life. He didn't even realize at the time, but this is the meaning of her name.
May 24th was a special day, we celebrated our Favorite little guy!
It was more like a Birthday-week really, we celebrated him on Memorial Day with family as well.
(Below): Brynlee, Myla, Kambria, Gavin, Kyson, Bret
I am SO in love with this kid!
I've been booked Solid.
...That's why I'm not too surprised that she LOVES gymnastics! She had her first recital last weekend and did a Great job!
Doing well here. Alivia is 1 month old today, I can't believe it! Things (house, kids...) feel so much out of my control right now with a newborn . I have had to just laugh at things that happen, mostly when I have dozed off on the couch while feeding Livi.
#1 --This was a bit of a surprise when I came-to:
...but there is not much surprise to me that it was still there on day 2:
#2 -- Another time I dozed off feeding the baby on the couch in the front room. When I awoke, I saw that the front door was WIDE open and baby sound asleep in my lap with me TOTALLY exposed! Hoping no salesman (or even worse, neighbors!), were caught by surprise by stopping by. (Sorry, no pictures!) :)
April 14th we had an appointment to have an external version of the baby (try to turn her because she was Breech). After an ultrasound the Dr. informed me that the amniotic fluid was too low to even attempt the procedure. I was upset about it, but the thing that really got to me was that they were going to send me home to come back in a couple of days for a c-section. I was NOT ready to go home empty-handed, I had come to the hospital with my bags packed and ready to have a baby that day. If I was going to have to have a c-section anyways, I didn't want to go home and sit and worry about it for a few more days.
...she wasn't exactly in our arms that evening. Surgery went well and the baby came out wailing, but they soon found out that she had fluid in her lungs and they were worried about infection. They admitted her into Special Care on IVs and antibiotics.
On the 3rd day, we were informed that Alivia was doing great and would be able to come home with us that day! We were so happy and the kids were especially happy because they hadn't been able to really even see her yet (except through the window of Special Care).
...and now her REAL journey begins...
... Really. Mean. The truth is that there is no cat. I have to blame the damage on my very own fingernails.
My liver condition I have referred to in the past is called Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy. Basically, Bile Acids accumulate in the bloodstream because the liver is failing to do it's job of regulating those acids. Those acids cause INTENSE itching!!! This is not an itch that anyone can understand unless they have experienced it. It is NOT a skin condition or rash or any sort. The itch is in the BLOODSTREAM, so no lotions or anti-histamines can even TOUCH the discomfort! Another few strange things about this is that although the itching is all over, the most intense itching displays itself in the hands (including palms) and feet (including soles), and the worst episodes of it show up in the middle of the night. This means not much sleep (if any!), just A LOT of frustration and tears! The only thing that brings me any relief at all is a bucket full of ice water and plunging my hands and feet in for as long as I can stand it (until pain takes over most of the itching).
Unfortunately, there is not much known about how to treat my condition. Basically, monitor the baby really closely until their lungs are mature enough, and then deliver immediately since the high levels of acids can cause a perfectly healthy baby to unexpectedly die. This bit of information does not help the sleep issues.
That being said...
I have actually been able to get some rest a few nights this week! This is really Miraculous since it has been weeks since I have had much relief! I was becoming Very desperate and I am going to attribute this miracle to prayer. Any sleep I can get is a tender mercy for me. I know I am not out of the woods, but it is amazing what a couple of good nights of sleep can do for a person (both mentally and physically)!
April 7th is the day that I will have an amniocentesis done (checking baby's lungs). If her lungs are mature enough, they will deliver her immediately. I will be 36 weeks and 5 days at that point. If she is not ready then they will just deliver her at 38 weeks (April 16th). Only 2-3 weeks left! We love this baby so much already, even if she still has no name! Brian thinks we still have "Plenty of time" to come up with something. Hmm...
We have had a rough couple of months in our home (as far as sickness goes). Every weekend for the last 7 weekends with the exception of one, at least 1 of our 3 kids have been fevering or coughing, or something along those lines. It has not been fun. Jan. and Feb. are NOT my favorite months! Gavin had been coughing for a little over a week or so and it didn't seem like a big deal until he started fevering this week. I took him to the Dr. on Thursday and I was told that he has pneumonia. It broke my heart. The funny thing about Gavin is that he is the happiest sick-person I know. Whenever he is fevering he just smiles and says "I Lub you Momma" over and over again.
Thursday was a hard day. The Dr. said he wasn't going to admit Gavin into the hospital because Gavin was still eating a little, thank goodness. They gave him a heavy-duty shot and sent us home with a prescription which was a one-time-dose medication which stays in their system for 10 days. The only problem was that Gavin is really stubborn about taking meds. REALLY. It was also a HUGE dose for all at once and had to be taken on an empty stomach (so no sneaking it into food), and he did NOT want it. I tried reasoning with him ALL DAY, but he would have NOTHING to do with it. When Brian got home, we wrestled him down and got a little into him only to have him gag and immediately throw it all up! After the medication has been mixed it expires after 12 hours. I tried for 12 hours and he threw it up 9 times. We will be going back to the Dr. tomorrow for "Plan B"... Hopefully "Plan B" is NOT a refill!
