Some things are not meant to share

Toys, yes.... Food, sometimes....RSV, absolutely not!
We were only home about a week when Jack started with nasty congestion and cough. Knowing that RSV is spreading bad this year it really concerned me that that is what he had. RSV is a respiratory virus that for most of us is just a "cold," but for kids under 2 especially less than 1 it can be very serious. The mucus is so thick and it makes it very difficult to breathe because of the restricted airways. I was really anxious for Luke to get sick. I was obsessively washing jacks and my hands, Lysol-ing, and even changing my shirt if I had held Jack. I don't think I could have done anything more. Despite all my efforts though little Luke still ended up with it. It was just a little congestion the first day. Day 2 I took him to the dr to see if there was anything I needed to do besides saline and suctioning at this point. He was still eating good and no respiratory distress so no further measures. 2 days later his breathing was much more labored with retractions. I took him to the urgent care and they sent us to the ER because of his age.

They started Luke on antibiotics and breathing treatments. We spent 4 days in the hospital for luke to be monitored. Praise God he never needed any breathing or feeding assistance.
It never felt better to be discharged as it did after 4 days in isolation.

It's so nice to be back at home and enjoying my family all together again.

it's a BOY!

Welcome to the family…

LUKE JAMES FLETCHER

Luke was born Sunday (yep, another Sunday) November 11, 2012 at 6:10pm. Doyle says I always have to deliver on football Sundays. All of 2 times?! But he says "well, that's 2 for 2, so 100% of the time." Ok, I guess he can be right about that.

I was beginning to think I was going to make it all the way to my due date, Nov 16. When I woke up for work I was having contractions, but I had been having contractions since I was 28 weeks pregnant, so nothing new. When I walked into work I told them that I was having contractions about every 5 minutes, but they weren't painful so we will just see how the day goes. At 1030, the contractions still continued, not any stronger, but still there. I decided I should probably go get assessed just to make sure. I walked over to labor & delivery, really thinking I would be going back to work. Well, my nurse Tamara said "you aren't going anywhere; you are 5-6cm. You are having a baby today!" I called Doyle to let him know I was being admitted. He was at home taking care of Jack who had not been feeling well the last couple days.

 We are so fortunate to have our families so close and able to help out when needed. After a bit of shuffling around, Doyle was on his way to the hospital.

Soon all of our delivery crew (Gigi, Peachy, Aunt Courtney, Aunt Lissa, Aunt Lala and Coco), was there. The rest of the crew was in the waiting room hanging out. It was perfect. Everyone that was there for Jackson’s delivery would be able to be there again.  Just another reason why Sunday was perfect.  I went walking for a bit and then took a nap while we were waiting for the time for my antibiotics to be completed.  Around 3:30, the antibiotics were complete and Dr. LeBlanc came to break my water. 

I am so thankful for my labor coach, Doyle.  I don’t know that I would have been able to press through with out his encouragement. 

Like most moms having their second child, many times throughout my pregnancy I wondered, how am I ever going to love another child as much as I already loved Jack.  Every mother assured me it “just happens.”  And in that moment at 6:10, when this not so little baby was born I yelled “it’s a BOY!” and my heart exploded with a new love for him too. 

The only problem was our precious, new little boy didn’t have a name.  I had been telling Doyle for weeks that we really needed to confirm a boy name.  We had Brooklyn Claire set for a girl name but we couldn’t settle on a boy name.  We had this perfect 8lb 5oz, 21in baby boy, without a name.  I felt so bad that he didn’t have a name.  Doyle went to the waiting room to let the rest of our family know our baby boy was born.

Doyle and I were able to give him his first bath (Thanks Alicia!)

Once everyone went home and we moved to our postpartum room Doyle started going through more lists of names. It was just making it more and more difficult to come to a conclusion.  He kept calling out names.  Finally, we decided that we needed to just sleep on it and think about it again in the morning.  One of the many names daddy listed was Luke, which was on my top names list from the beginning.  During one of the nighttime feedings I woke up and Luke was the name that kept playing over and over in my head.  When Doyle woke up I told him that I really liked Luke.  But he still wasn’t set yet. 

Doyle was going to go home for a bit, so we went to see the baby in the nursery for a minute.  I wanted him to look at him and try to decide on a name.  He promised he would have a decision made before he came back to the hospital with Jack.  As we stood at the nursery window, I couldn’t help but feel so grateful for that opportunity.  Getting to see your newborn through the nursery window doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when you didn’t get to experience it like we missed with Jack, it means everything. 

Doyle went home and he said he had to test out the names.  So he walked through the house calling out the names.  I wish I could have been there listening to him do this.  At least it worked for him, because he finally had a name. Well, he had a first name.  When we first talked about boy names Doyle thought it would be cool for brothers to have the same middle name.  It sounded good to me.  After a small debate, it was finally official. Our new little boy was named Luke James Fletcher. 

Finally after a complete 48hours and the threat of Luke having to stay for phototherapy for jaundice, we were finally getting discharged.

It was such an awesome feeling having my little family at home together.  Jackson loves his little brother and is such a big helper.  I have been trying my hardest to keep him involved in the things he can help me with so he doesn’t feel left out.  I have to say he has adjusted fairly well to the new guy in the house. 

The first week home things were going pretty smoothly.  I miraculously even had a couple days of both boys napping at the same time.  Of course, I snuck one in there too!  God knew I would need this time of calmness before the craziness of sick kids that was about to hit.

Luke has already amazed us.  At 5 days old he started rolling over.  Well, maybe actually 4. Doyle was lying on the bed with him at 4 days old and said “Oh my gosh, he just rolled over.” Of course I didn’t believe him.  I said he must just be rolling into him. Well the next day Luke was on his tummy on the floor while Coco was helping me go through stuff in his room and he rolled over, and we both saw it.  I said “no way. It’s just a fluke! That is the skill of a 2-3 month old, not a 5 day old.” But we kept putting him on his belly and he repeatedly flipped over.  We are in trouble! At this pace he is going to be crawling in no time.  I swear he was practicing in my belly.  I always said how crazy active he was in utero.

I forgot just how much they change so fast in the early days.  I feel like I can just sit and watch him change before my eyes.  It is so exciting to me to think about watching him grow and learn to meet all his developmental milestones.   

Luke is a champ eater just like Jackson. At his 2week appointment he already weighed 9lbs 80z. That's over a pound weight gain already.

So many times I have been asked if we are going to try for a girl.  Nope! My life feels so complete.  I am not going to keep having kids for the hope to maybe have a girl.  I love being a boy mom already! I guess I really need to start studying my sports though.  I am not an athletic person, nor do I really care that much about sports, I can’t wait to be on the sidelines and in the stands cheering my boys on! 

Life is good!

Just shy of 2 weeks old we celebrated our first Thanksgiving with Luke.  We are so blessed and have even more to be thankful for this year!

He'll always be my baby

No longer considered "infant" or "baby" to the rest of the world, but now Jack is in a whole new category ..."toddler." Yikes! Its an age that brings so many stories: some funny, some embarrassing, and some just completely frustrating.

He really is pretty easy going, but believe me he has his moments for sure. He is in the testing stage. Always having to see how far he can push or how many times he can get away something. He has had his share of spankings and time out so far. And I am sure there will be plenty more.

Each day my baby boy is growing, baby-ness is fading, and he is turning into a little boy. I thought that the first year was so full of change and that the second year wouldn't be that drastic. But oh my, what was I thinking. Our little boy is growing and changing before our eyes. It seemed as if overnight his vocabulary has exploded and he can carry on conversations with us, tell us about his day (in a few short words), and tell us what he wants. Little Peter repeater is always right behind us. Even when you think he isn't listening he confirms he is when he regurgitates the phrase you just said. Thank God it hasn't been anything too bad so far but it makes me stop to think about what I am letting come out of my own mouth.

All along while you think you are the one teaching them they are teaching you. I pray each night for Gods wisdom on how to be the best parent I can be.

His favorite things to do are play ball (still, of course), watch football with his daddy, color, and clean and as always eat.

And yes I said he loves to clean... He asks for a wipe and he will wipe down the tables.  I think my tables in the living room have only been as clean as they are this pregnancy due to Jack.  My energy is definitely lower so some things just haven't been kept up with the same. 

He loves helicopters and airplanes.  He loves to look out the windows for them.  It is his favorite past time in the car too.  If we are outside he always hears them and most of the time can find them. 

Jack is definitely his daddy's son. Most obviously still in [good] looks but in interests too. He just loves sports.

Most Friday nights Jack gets to go to a high school football game with Daddy. He loves it. Jack will even grab the remote and climb up on the couch and say "watch football".

He loves to color. He started Mothers Day Out this September, which he loves! Everyday I ask him what he did in school today, and most of the time he will say "I color". He will say he sang songs if you ask about chapel or played ball if it was a gym day. He loves his teachers, Mrs. Amy & Ms. Stephanie.

Jack is very excited for one of the biggest changes in his life coming soon... He will be a BIG BROTHER! I love how excited he is about his upcoming role. He is obsessed with my ever growing belly. He will bring me the doppler and say "mommy listen, baby's heart." after we listen to the baby then he will put his hands on my belly and say with a surprised look on his face "oh, baby kickin!" He is going to be the sweetest big brother ever.  He loves to "share" with the baby, whether it is his stickers or drink.

In prep for the new baby we decided to keep the nursery the same and give Jackson a cool, new big boy room. He loves his big boy bed.  He has done really good sleeping in there all by himself.  

We had a blast at his 2 year baseball birthday party. 








-



















































































Jackson is now 27.3lbs and 33inches tall.  Day to day he is just like any other little boy, he just has to have a "heart tune up" sometimes.  More than likely this next year it will be time for the next open heart surgery.  He goes for an ECHO Dec 10 for further evaluation as to when.  So please say prayers about that for him.

I think it is such an honor to be Jack's mom and get to watch him grow and develop everyday.  He wants to do more and more on his own. And with his "I can, I will, I did!" attitude he is!  I love to see him try something, and when he doesn't get it, he'll say "try again." I hope that his never give up attitude sticks with him forever.  

We are so excited for this next year to watch our little family grow by adding the "final piece to our puzzle."

  Next blog=new baby!!!

19 months and growing....

So amazing to watch Jackson grow each day.  He surprises us everyday with the new things that he is saying and doing.  At his 18 month check up he was 24lbs, still hanging out around the 30%.  His vocabulary is growing each day. He has about 25-30 words now.  He carries on extensive conversations that make us laugh.  He knows what he is saying but we can't quite make it all out yet.

He can say almost all of his family's names. 
Mama- which lately is Mommy.  Melts my heart
Dad and sometimes Daddy
"mimnie and Mimnie" for his dogs Mini and Mia
Gigi and Pops. He always has to draw out Poooooopppppsss.
"Unca B" and Aunt Desi. Surprisingly he can say Desi perfectly.  He is working on Kade. 
He had Aunt Lissa down good for about a week, of course the week she was on vacation.  Now the "s" part sounds more like a "d."  Randy is pretty clear but he doesn't say Uncle with it.
Aunt Lala has been the easiest from the begining and "Unca Gay." funny thing is Clay kept telling my mom she would be called "gay-gay" instead of Gigi, and Jack did for a while, but now the name stuck for him.
He can say Poppy but most of the time he choses to call him Papa, which Poppy likes too since that is what his dad was called and he always says how much Jackson reminds him of his dad. 
Peachy is getting clearer and clearer everytime he says it.
Aunt Courtney and Uncle Justin are tough ones.  He tries but not quite there yet.  We need nick names for them.  He calls my best friend Courtney "Co-Co" So we need something else.  Suggestions???
Emma and Addison or "Adda"

His absolute favorite thing to do lately is (still) play ball.  Now he is not only catching and throwing but also hitting a ball thrown to him or off a tee, and then he runs around the house like he is running the bases.  It is amazing to watch his eye coordination as he concentrates on the ball being thrown to him to make contact.  He can hit it with a good bit of force most of the time too. 

Summer time has been a blast with him so far this year. Last year he wasn't quite mobile so not too much to do with him. This month marks a year ago (June 29) for his first surgery.  Last month, Jack had a cardiac cath procedure done to balloon the conduit he had placed last year. We learned after this procedure that it may still be possible to repeat the ballon/stent if needed to prolong the time before another open heart surgery is needed.  We liked that news!  It made us laugh when the doctor was giving us the post op instructions when he said to keep Jack's activity low key.  I asked "what does that mean? He is a pretty active boy, even for a kid without a heart defect." He said just his normal activity is fine.  Good thing, cause I don't know how you tell an 18month old to sit and relax.  So...this summer we have had fun.

Our life with a 15 month old...

... is a busy one!

Definitely gotta be on our toes all day long now with this inquisitive, fun, loving, walking 15 month old.  Jack started walking at 14 months, and now after a month he has pretty much mastered his new skill. 


He is into everything around the house.  We decided it was time to put locks on the cabinets.  It seemed better to eliminate the reason we are telling him "no" than to sound like a broken record all day.  And why set him up to be able to get into something he shouldn't?  Cabinets with glass pot lids seem like really fun "toys" to a little boy that loves to throw everything!  We put new knobs on the cabinets so we could use the outside locks and just have them temporarily (I hope).  Now that the locks are on there he doesn't even try to get into them.  It did make me laugh to find toys in the tupperware cabinet, or his snack bowl, or cup, or even a shoe in with the pots and pans.  It's just  little reminders throughout the day of the amazing little boy we have in our lives.



This would be the mischievous Jack getting into my desk drawers, that he knows not to be in.  He will bring me a pen and shake his head no-no.  Such a little stinker.

 Jack loves to be involved in everything we do.  He is my little helper around the house.  He helps me do the laundry.  I hand him clothes from the washer and he puts them in the dryer.  I have to check the dryer before starting it though to make sure there are no extras, lol. One day I was in the kitchen and kept hearing a "thud" sound.  I went to check the dryer to find one of those 12" rubber kick balls.  It was pretty hot, I am surprised it didn't pop!  He will also take the clothes from the dryer and put them in the basket, and just like his momma, he loves the smell of clean laundry.  He smells the clothes out of the dryer and says "mmm."  When I vacuum I have to give him the extension piece and he uses that to vacuum with me. I can only hope that this "clean" little boy will always be clean and be my little happy, eager helper.

I am loving this next stage of development.  Each stage has had its special point: newborn, was the ever so special bonding and snuggle time, then to infancy when his eyes were opening to the world around him and learning to do so many things like sitting and crawling, and now this age when he's not quite little baby (although, he'll always be my baby, no matter how big he is) but he is growing into this little boy who is just a little sponge, trying to what we do and learn to speak.  It really makes you sit back and evaluate your own self, not just the things you say but how you say them.  At this age his little mind is being molded.  I pray each day that God would lead us and direct us on how to raise Jackson to be the man God has called him to be.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful parents that we can follow their examples of both marriage and parenting. 

Jack has always had such a loving personality.  I am thankful for a husband that loves me and can teach Jack what it means to love a woman and how to treat her, so that one day when that special woman comes along for him, he will know how to love her.

One of my very favorite things Jack does is he gives "awws."  Really, its a hug but it is Jack's special thing. He will lay his head on your shoulder and say "aww."  I am sure he learned it from the many times when he was a baby, laying his head on our shoulders and we would say "awww, I love you!"  Now in his simple little language, he will say, "momma... aww."  Melts my heart!

He is trying to say some things here and there.  Most of it still, we know what he means but it's not quite English yet. He says:  Momma, Dad, dog, bye-bye, nigh-nigh (night-night), ball, nack (snack), ba-ba (more please, or I want to eat...way off I know, but that's what it means.  It stemmed from us teaching him sign language to say "more"), bath, on, go and maybe a few more that I just can't think of right now.  He loves to make sounds for a lot of things too. He can do animal sounds for cow, horse, dog, cat, and sheep.  If you tell him car, he says "vroom."

He loves music and loves to dance!  Anytime he hears music come on he starts dancing.  His favorite song to dance to: Party Rock on the commercial with the hampsters dancing for the Kia Soul.

His favorite toy is still the ball.  He is constantly throwing them all over the house.  He has quite the throw too.  He really shocks us sometimes how hard and far he can throw the ball. He has a hard ball baseball, from his first Astros game, that I recently had to put up because I was scared it was going to go through the french doors in his playroom.  Speaking of, because of all his toys all over the house, we had to revamp our set up.  We never used our dining room, and quite frankly I think if we did have a dining table it would rarely get use. We are always in the kitchen. So, the dining room is now the study, and the study is now the "playroom."  All Jacks toys officially have a home, although they are always throughout the house still, at least they have somewhere to go when we clean up. It's nice because it is its own room but we can see him from the kitchen and living room.  He loves it too.  In the mornings he will knock on the door for me to open it so he can go play with his toys.

singing with Elmo

slam dunk

You can hardly see his scar

His favorite food is, well everything.  The child can eat! I think he eats as much as we do.  At least he is a fairly healthy eater.  We are trying to train him to have a healthy diet.  Daddy and I have a sweet tooth.  If we ate like Jack we would be in good shape, haha. He loves to try to feed himself with a fork and spoon.  Sometimes he is successful, but most of the time he will hold the utensil in one hand and pick up the food with the other. End result: food in the mouth, that is all that matters.



The boy loves yogurt

Jack went to his first (of many, I am sure) Rockets game.  He loved the music and all the excitement.

His 15 month check up at the pediatrician, he was 24lbs and 28inches tall.  He is a healthy little boy, doing everything a 15 month old should.  He had a good check up with the cardiologist as well.  He will go back in March for a sedated ECHO this time.  Dr Quinones said he looks good, but in order to get good pictures of his heart on ultrasound we should give him some sedation.  Not that easy to tell a little boy that just learned to walk, to sit, and sit still for 15 minutes.  That's an eternity for him. He'll get a little Versed.  He'll just get an extra good nap that day.  So please just say a little pray for a good report, for a strong healthy conduit that will last.  His surgeon said at this age it is typical for a conduit to last 3-7 years.  There are a lot of factors that play into how long it lasts, but we pray for the full length of 7 years from this conduit!

Just a few more pictures...

wonder how he learned this...

he loves to sit at the desk and play