Must love Dogs

Angus

Pippin

I love my dogs. People that know me know that I really love these guys. They are small, spunky and full of energy. They are also both male, neutered and house trained...at least I thought. This is my problem with these two the last few months. Because they are both male they are both trying to be the dominate male, so they have decided to go around and mark things. . . IN THE HOUSE!!! I have been patient with them, I have rubbed their nose in it, we put them outside when they do it. When I had Duncan we went to my parents house and they went with me and I thought it would stop. Nope they tried doing it there too. At first we thought it was only Angus that was doing it, but then at my parents house Pippin walks right into the room I was staying in and lifts his leg on the hanging bed spread. I couldn't believe it. The funny thing is that we can tell which one did it, because the guilty one will cower and try to hide. My big worry is that I want the dogs to be good when Duncan comes home. I want them to be used to his smell, and also I don't want them peeing on things in his bedroom so I do allow the dogs to go in when I am in there. Well I forgot to close the door and I had a basket of Duncan's clean clothes on the floor and sure enough I go in there and Angus has peed on one end of the basket and the floor. He is now in his kennel. I have decided that if they misbehave they will go in there. I really don't want them to have to become outside dogs, but Justin said if they don't stop that's what will happen. So if any of you have any ideas how to stop them from doing this, please, all advice is welcome.

A Duncan Update

This is an older picture. I need to take a few new ones, but with the CPAP in you can't really see his face.



Duncan is still on the CPAP, he has made it about 4 days which is really good. He gave us a little scare today though. He has been working hard to breath the last two days. His oxygen level hasn't been too high the last few days, but then today she had to go up to about 62% oxygen which is a lot for him. So she finally said to the NP how much higher am going to go on this. Well they decided that they needed to do an x-ray and they found that his left lung is barley working, it is whited out as they call it. That means he isn't getting enough oxygen into that lung. His right lung looked really good, but it was doing all the breathing. So they are going to do a breathing treatment with him and they are keeping him on his right side to try to get the left doing what it is supposed to do. They are trying to not have to inti bate him again, but they will if they have to. He has lung disease, which is scar tissue on the lungs. When people are given artificial breathing they most likely develop this. It just damages the lungs to a degree, luckily for babies they grow new lung all the time until they are 8 years old, this can happen to adults too, but we wouldn't grow new lung. This is very common for preemies, I had already looked it up and new it was a possibility that he would get it, in fact I think all preemies that are given a lot of oxygen get this. It is also referred to BPN. Most children out grow it by the time they are 2. He just wants to keep us on our toes. We were getting a little too comfortable with his progress, so he probably thought he wasn't getting enough attention. Justin and my dad gave him a blessing and I pray that Heavenly Father will just continue to bless this little boy. He has so much already.

On the CPAP

Duncan was switched over to the CPAP today. As you can see, this machine goes in the nose and is held on by the sweet looking head gear. It's better than the tape! He is doing really good on it so far. Keep PRAYING for him that he won't have to have the tube back in. I had a talk with Duncan tonight before I left and told him that he doesn't want the tube again and that he needs to breath and do what he is supposed to do. He does have apnea, and again this is typical for preemies and they do usually outgrow it by the 34th-35th week. For Duncan it will probably be a little longer. He gaining weight. He now weighs 3lbs. 3oz. He is feeling a lot better and the infection is almost all cleared up. He is still on antibiotics for a couple of more days.

My mom and dad will be back from Alaska tomorrow and they said they had a great time and are ready to plan another trip back.

Okay another thing. Have you ever watched Cake Boss on TLC? Well it isn't my favorite show, but it is entertaining. Anyway, I watched a marathon of all the episodes yesterday and in one they made a lobster tail pastry. If you ever go to an Italian bakery and see a pastry that looks like a lobster tail-buy it and enjoy eating it. They are sooooooo goooooood. My first experience with this delightfully, flaky, cream filled treat was in Boston (of course). My brother and his wife took us to the North End which is little Italy. They have a couple of bakery's down there, but the best is Mike's and Elisabeth kept saying we had to get a lobster tail. We did and I was in love. So on all my many trips I always want to go to Mike's and get me a lobster tail, but the last trip I didn't get one-very sad. So I'm watching Cake Boss and thinking I really want that. I did this when I was pregnant too, I craved clam chowder. Not just any clam chowder, I wanted Perkins Cove, Maine clam chowder. I never got it. I guess I won't get my Mike's lobster tail either. That's okay, just one more motivation to go to Boston!!

Happy Belated 4th

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. It was very hot here so Justin and I spent a good part of the day inside. Actually I did, but Justin was busy taking our cars to get the windows tinted. Let me tell those of you that don't live in AZ having tinted windows makes a HUGE difference during the summer. I was so glad he did it.

Anyway, after that was all done we went to the hospital, or as I refer to it, our home away from home. We were able to spend a couple of hours with him. He is doing better. He looks a lot better and is tolerating people touching him better as well. If you look at this picture, the pink thing that has a tube in plastic, that is part of his breathing tube. This is what they use to suction the junk out of him. When they first started suctioning him after they found the infection it was bright yellow and today when she suctioned him it was a tanish yellow. She said that is good because it means the medicine is working. YAY!! Also, we were told that the tube will come out when Duncan pulls it out. He did it on Friday, but they are hoping he will keep it in for at least a couple more days. Once he pulls it out they will try the CPAP vent again. He is a little trooper. He is really funny too-he knows when it is time to eat. His nurse said today, without fail, at least 20 minutes before his feed time he would get really fussy and upset and as soon as she would feed him he would settle down.

Also this weekend we went and saw Transformers 2. It was really good, we both really enjoyed it. I thought they did a really good job. I do agree with my sister who thought it was a little long. But still really worth it. Now I can't wait for the next Harry Potter movie to come out.

We found out today that Duncan has another infection in his lungs. They have him on medicine to help clear it up. It was so sad seeing him today, he just wasn't himself. I guess that is natural because I'm not myself when I'm sick either, but it is just harder to see it on my baby. He was so weak looking and even Brooke said he wasn't himself today. He usually likes to "help" by grabbing tubes and squirming around, but he didn't do that today. She said she was suctioning a lot of mucus out of his mouth as well. Justin and his dad gave him a blessing tonight.

Please keep him in your prayers. We knew that he would have set backs, I just hope this is the extent of them. Little steps each day. He will be on antibiotics for the next 7 days and hopefully his infection will clear up. This will probably delay the removal of his tube since he needs to keep his energy to fight off the infection.

I promise I will take pictures tomorrow.

Good advice

Thank you all for the great advice on the lactation problem. I am going to try the Mother's Milk Tea. I was also told about the oatmeal and will eat that each day-I love oatmeal so it won't be a problem. I am going to pump more frequently and through the night and I am also going to call the Le Leche League. I don't think I will try the beer unless I am absolutely desperate and talk to my Bishop first :) I knew I would get good advice if I put it on here.

Quick update

I just wanted to give a quick update. Duncan did have to have the breathing tube put back in early this morning. He was just working too hard to breath and it was exhausting him. He is doing good now with the tube in and they are hopeful that they can take it out either later this week or early next week. He is 32 almost 33 weeks old. Although most babies have their tubes taken out about this time, Duncan's lungs just need a little bit more time to develop. We know he can do it, he just needs to be able to do it without working so hard. Please keep him in your prayers. He is a fighter and a very strong baby-to me he acts like he is done with the hospital, but he will be there until late August.

On another note- I am really struggling now with producing breast milk. I tried to take the herb Fenugreek, but I took it once and made me really sick so my Dr. told me not to take it. They told me to not spend so much time at the hospital this week and see if that helps-that's just really hard for me to not be there. So if anyone has any suggestions I wouldn't mind hearing them.