August 2009 Pictures

Ty, our oldest is currently 6 1/2, Adysyn just turned four last week, and Preston just turned 7 months yesterday. I wanted to show pictures that we had taken when Preston was brand new. The pictures below were taken in August when Preston was 2 weeks old.
During the week of these pictures Preston started throwing up a lot. It wasn't just baby spit up, it was projectile vomiting that would cover everyone and everything within four feet. I started to worry that he was allergic to my milk or something I was eating or drinking. This was also the week my family and I were freezing corn. My sisters and mom witnessed the vomiting and were also very concerned. On Friday of this week I called my pediatrician with my concerns. A nurse spoke to the doctor and called me explaining that a flu virus was going around and to bring him in on
Monday if he continued to vomit. I was frustrated and worried beyond belief! I decided to call a lactation consultant from the hospital. I explained the symptoms to her and she immediately told me about Pyloric Stinosis Syndrome. This is a condition where the muscle between the stomach and intestines enlarges making it impossible for liquid to pass into the intestines. She then explained that patients with this condition need surgery to correct the problem.
By Saturday(Aug. 23) Preston was very pale and lethargic. He was now vomiting after ever feeding. That afternoon I finally lost it! I hadn't been sleeping at night in fear that my baby would choke on his own vomit while sleeping. I broke down in tears while getting ready to head to Twin for Candice's Birthday dinner. After dinner we decided to head to the ER. Thankfully my family were able to take Ty and Ady with them. In the ER after hearing the symptoms and witnessing the vomiting the ER Doctor told us he thought it might be Pyloric Stinosis. He then ordered an ultrasound and told us Preston was in desperate need of hydration. He wanted to admit him to the hospital for an IV and additional tests. We headed upstairs at about 1:00 a.m.
Tanner and I then faced one of the hardest things we have ever had to face. Preston was so dehydrated that the nurses couldn't get his IV in. It took five different nurses, five different spots--his hand, arm, foot and head, and over an hour before a wonderful NICU nurse finally got the IV in his little arm. I don't think I have ever cried or prayed so hard in my life. Tanner stayed with Preston during the first three tries, then not being able to watch anymore joined me at the end of the hall where we could still hear the screams of our poor little baby.
After a night of sleeping in our arms Preston had another ultrasound and a live Xray. These confirmed that he did have Pyloric Stinosis. After confirming that Preston was stable the doctor scheduled surgery at St. Lukes in Boise. With IV attached we made a very quick trip to Boise. Preston went into surgery at 7:00 p.m. and the doctor was out by 7:45 to tell us that everything went well. We had to stay in the hospital for three more days with Preston continuing to throw up for the first day and a half. I was able to finally nurse him on Tuesday night without him throwing much of it up. He left the hospital weighing only 6lbs. 8 oz., four ounces less than his birth weight. The surgery corrected this conditon and Preston only has two little marks on the sides of his stomach to show for his brush with death. He is still small for his age and weighs two pounds less than his siblings did at his age, but he is growing and thriving. We are so grateful for him and the medical advancements that saved his little life!