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September 5, 2012

I just read the last post I wrote in September last year...and man was I having a bad day!  Sad that that was the last time I wrote anything.  Today's entry will hopefully be much more positive!  I am so greatful for my sweet family!  Kingston is doing so awesome!!!  And although I still worry about things and he's still a little delayed, he has come SUCH A LONG WAY!!  and is progressing so well and I'm not crazy worried anymore...he is going to be just fine and we are so blessed!

Now I worry about normal mom things...please don't hit the baby, please don't drag the dog across the kitchen, quit throwing tantrums, please don't climb on that, can you just sit still!!  I definitely have a 2 yr old!  :)  ...and I LOVE it!!

Kingston started crawling on Valentines day...of course he would do it on a holiday...that's the way he is!  We were in Vegas and I made a trail of m&m's  (motivation) and he just kept crawling to eat them...it was adorable! Our next goal after that was walking...I wanted more than anything for him to walk by his second birthday and a couple weeks before sure enough he was doing it!  LOVE that little guy!  I couldn't be more proud! He was walking on the insides of his feet though which had us a little worried.  We took him to a friend of ours who is a foot doctor...for adults, and she thought he would need surgery on both his feet.  She advised we get him checked out and do it right away.  I was thinking, he's finally walking and now he will be in casts and have to learn to walk all over again!  We tried to make an appointment but of course everything was a couple months out.  He had these little orthodics so we just made sure he had them on ALL the time.  They really helped straighten his feet out and he walked fine with them.  When we went to see the foot doc, they took x-rays and let us know he was just fine and his muscles were just a little tight but that he didn't need surgery.  As a mom you spend so much time worrying about your babies...and really you shouldn't worry about the what ifs but focus on the right nows.  Nice advise...wish I could take it myself.  HA! Now he doesn't even need the orthos and he's running and climbing and just the greatest little boy in the world!  (when he's not being a little monster!) :)

We're still doing the PT and Speech therapy but I think we're almost finished with the PT.  He's really caught up fast and is doing so awesome.  He doesn't say many words (like that's a bad thing?) so we taught him some signs and he picked up on those so fast...we need to learn more words to teach him.  He says please, thankyou, more, help and all done in sign. Speaking- He says mama, dada, yah, no, doggie, and ruff, ruff mostly...a few randoms here and there.  He knows most of his body parts in both portuguese and english and understands both languages when we ask him to do things.  It's so fun watching him learn new things!  He loves to give kisses and blow kisses and say hi and bye to people.  He LOVES attention...(where he got that from I don't know???) -HA!  He LOVES everyone he meets and has such a big personality!!!  He is about 28" tall and weighs about 18 lbs.   He loves his mommy, daddy, nanny (Lu), his 2 puppies, his blankeys...which he has 7 of and had to hold them all in the morning and take them to breakfast with him, and his pacifier (I know I know, I should probably ween him off it but he just loves it so much and I'm just not ready to) He LOVES Peanut Butter...I think he would eat it on everything!  Some of his favorite foods are eggs, pb sandwiches, pancakes with PB, oatmeal with PB, fruit, yogurt, CHEESE (this is all he seems to want lately) milk, chicken nuggets, goldfish and Z bars. 

september 7, 2011

I don't really have any exciting news today but since I haven't posted a blog since July 4th I thought it was time. :) Not sure where to start, Kingston has been making a lot of improvement the past couple weeks with his gross motor skills. He is still pretty delayed but I think with a lot of hard work and serious time working with him we will get there. He is doing so much better reaching and being on his tummy with keeping his head up. I am now concerned mostly about his speech. He is still not saying any consonants yet and it worries me. I'm trying to be patient but I wish he would just say one word so that I know he can. He's good at mimicking me with sounds but where are the words? I am also concerned about his feet. He wants to push his feet out and keep his toes curled. The physical therapist mentioned orthopedics might help. Not sure if I should be doing something else. Should I take him to see an orthopedic specialist? Is it something he will grow out of? What to do about that...I don't know. We are going to start Physical Therapy in an outpatient office on the 13th. We are going to try this twice a month. It is pricey but I feel we need to get more aggressive and I'm hoping it is short term. We are also going to have early intervention start coming to our home two or three times a month to work on P.T. too. I'm hoping to try both and cut back after a month. See which one is helping the most. It sucks doing both but I want to make sure we are doing what is best for him and I don't know any other way than to try them both to decide. The first P.T. bill came though. $70. I hope that all of them are not that expensive. All these little things add up. I am truly grateful for him and I know we are so lucky that he has not had any major issues but all these "little issues" add up and it gets overwhelming when I dread to get the mail because I know there will be some little "$100" bill for something or other. I feel guilty for being so frustrated because I know how blessed we are but it's hard and I wish it were easier. There I said it. I try to stay positive and not let things worry me that are not things I need to worry about yet but it's hard. Being a preemie mom is hard. The bills are never ending, the physical therapy, the doctor visits, the worries about development and wondering what it could mean, sometimes I just want to say AHHHHH enough already. But then I see my sweet baby boy and he looks at me and smiles with that twinkle in his eyes and his big dimples and his toothless grin and I am just so HAPPY and so thankful that he is here and in my life and making it so much better.

Birthday boy!

King's patriotic tatoo

Kingston on Tylenol! Lol!

Kingston wakin up from the anesthesia post surgery

Kingston's First Birthday

Today we celebrate the soldiers who have fought for our country and our freedom, today I also celebrate my little soldier who has fought for his life. Today is a day for celebration!

Kingston is 1 year old today and weighs 13 1/2 lbs. While that seems very small, he's gained 12 lbs in 12 months and I think that is pretty darn good! He has beat so many odds that were against him and has overcome so many hardships and battles. He is my little fighter. He has taught me so much! He is strong, loving, happy, and has the sweetest spirit! He has brought our family so much joy!

He had eye muscle surgery on Friday and it went very well. We are so blessed to live in a country with so many great resources and doctors. It was hard to see him in pain but he handled it so great. He is one tough little guy. As a parent you want to protect your baby from any pain and I would have given anything to be able to go through it for him instead of have to watch him go through it and I think that is how God feels. It would be much easier to take your childrens pain from them, then have to watch them go through it, but you know that is not possible and that this is something they must overcome and you have to watch, be supportive, be there for them, bring them comfort, and when it has passed, you realize this was something they had to go through and that they will be stronger for it. Kingston is so brave and strong and the trials he has faced and continues to face make him who he is. They are a part of him. He is such a great example to me to never give up no matter how bad things may look or how bad things may get. You have to take them one day at a time, sometimes hour by hour, but if you never lose faith and hope and continue to pray, you can get through them. God Bless America today and God bless the preemies! :)

Hungry.

Kingston's first hike

He loved his pack and being up high, but fell asleep within 5 minutes. He did really well until the biting flies came out.

Scrubbing Up

Kingston getting ready for his eye muscle surgery.

Kingston dressed up like the crocodile from Peter Pan

Kingston's flag poster for the preemie parade

Kingston with his eye patch

June 13, 2011

So another two months have flown by. We are now in our new house in Canyon Rim and I absolutely LOVE it! Kingston is going to be a year old in 3 weeks! Hard to believe I had him almost a full year ago. He's still in 3 mo clothes and newborn shoes. He weighs 13 lb 2 oz. We went to the eye Dr. on Wednesday and found out that King has to have eye muscle surgery on both his eyes on the 1st of July. Boo! Sometimes a second surgery is needed but i'm hoping we can take care of it with the first and be done! He has to wear little eye patches every day for two hours up until the surgery to strengthen each eye. He doesn't like it when we first put it on, but he gets used to it and doesn't mind it too much after a few minutes. He's such a good little baby. He is sitting all by himself now and doesn't mind being on his tummy anymore. He LOVES fruit but thinks veggies are just ok. I think he has my sweet tooth.

We were in a preemie parade on Saturday. It was a never never land theme and they were suppossed to dress up like their favorite Peter Pan character. Most the little girls were tinkerbell and the little boys wore their pjs. Kingston was the crocodile and had a little clock sticker on the end of his pacifier. They also had posters of why they were in the parade. Kingston's looked like an American Flag since he was born on the fourth of July. It was cute. :) His little preemie friends met him there. It was great to see them!

April 5th, 2011

Man, I just realized I haven't posted since January, what a slacker I am!!! So Kingston is rolling over now and eating solids and it's so fun! He also loves to stand. (holding my fingers) We are getting close to sitting but he leans to either side so we don't have that quite down yet. We went to the Dr. yesterday for a 9 mo. check up and he is still so small! He weighs 12 lbs and is 22 1/2 in long. We need to fatten that kid up! :) His little 3 mo. old buddy Bergin has atleast 2 lbs on him! Other than his small stature, our Dr. told us he is right where he should be developmentally for his corrected age. (5 1/2 mo.) It is so wonderful to think how far he has come and the progress we have made! It seems so long ago now that we were in the NBICU. It's crazy to think he will be a year old in just 3 months!!! Where does the time go? :) We removed Kingston's mic*KEY button a few weeks ago. Now there is just a scar where his tube once lived. It closed up so Fast! I checked a couple hrs later after we took it out and it had already closed) I met up with some of my friends that I made in the NBICU the other day because one of our friends babies is in the hospital with RSV. SO SCARY!!! I thought we were in the clear, but she just got admitted the Saturday before last and she's a month and half older than Kingston. She was transferred to Primary's when one of her lungs filled up with fluid. She is doing better now, but it was so hard to see her on CPAP again and in a hospital bed. I hope she gets to go home soon and I'm keeping her family in my prayers. I just kept thinking when I was up there, that could be Kingston lying there. We have been really lucky to not get sick yet this winter but it can happen so fast and knock them on their feet for a really long time. I was reminded how fragile their little lungs still are. I am so greatful for the friendships that I made through my whole NBICU experience, especially my other 24 week moms! Even though all our struggles are different, we have either experienced, been threatened with, or could still experience similar situations and we can relate to each other and be there for each other. I LOVE YOU GIRLS more than you will ever know, I could have never gotten through this without you. You are my rock and inspiration! love, Amber

1ST Family Christmas

December 26th, 2010

Yesterday we celebrated our first Christmas with Kingston. It was so wonderful to be with family! We enjoyed Christmas eve and morning with Christian's family and had delicious ham and then breakfast! I wish I could have brought him down with me to see my family but there were too many grandkids at my mom's so Christian stayed with him while I visited. Kingston gave us the best present ever yesterday! He took all of his feedings by his bottle and we didn't have to use the pump at all! It was wonderful to watch him eat. Its crazy how the little things that most people would take for granted can mean so much! Thank you for giving me the best Christmas ever, Kingston. I love you more than you could ever imagine! You make me so Happy!

love, Mommy

Dec. 15, 2010

I was inspired by the sweet testimony of an innocent 5 year old to write down my own testimony. It’s been a long time since I’ve shared it with anyone, so thank you Aliah.

I have a testimony of the power of prayer. When things are out of my control, out of my hands, all I can do is trust in the Lord, never lose Faith, and Pray. Prayer has helped me get through the hardest chapter of my life. It kept my son ALIVE. Through prayer I was comforted when I was frightened most. It calmed me and gave me strength to keep holding on. It brought me closer to my family and friends. It brought me closer to God.

I have a testimony of the Holy Ghost. While it was the contractions that inspired me to call my doctor, it was that “still small voice” that told me not to go to Lake Powell over the 4^th of July, long before the contractions started. I know that had I gone, Kingston would not be here today.

I have witnessed the miracle of Life. I have seen a Strong spirit come into the world, given such a tiny, frail body, and fight to hold on- a true miracle. My miracle!

I know that Jesus is the Christ, My Savior, Lord, and Redeemer. I know that through him we may all be saved. I know my Heavenly Father loves me and is here for me when I need him most. He has helped me through my darkest hour and never given up on me. He has blessed my life with a loving husband and beautiful son. I am so thankful for the gift of life and for His love. I say these things humbly, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!

That calls me from a world of care,

And bids me at my Father's throne

Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief,

And oft escaped the tempter's snare

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Dec. 14th, part 2

So I was going to go to sleep, but then Kingston wanted to stay up so we watched a movie instead. I had one of those Mom moments. :) Laying in bed, baby in my arms, the husband and puppy asleep next to me and I was just looking at my sweet little sleeping family and I realized this was the happiest moment! I love my family so much and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I have a miracle in my arms and such a wonderful husband! I don't know how I lucked out. He cooks, he cleans, he is so productive!, so helpful with Kingston, and he loves us SO MUCH! This probably sounds like the cheesiest post, but I want to remember this night always. I LOVE him more than anything in the world and when the doctors told us that having a preemie this early leads to a 75% divorce rate, I was never worried for a moment. I have the best husband in the world and I think this has just made us stronger and made me appreciate him even more! I love you Christian.

Alright, back to reality. Have to cut this short again. Kingston just woke back up and is screaming his head off. I think his lungs are going to be just fine. :) Good night again!