One month!

Hampton turned one month on Wednesday- he also got to come home that day from the hospital. He seems to be feeling better(like last week) and his temperature has been down now for 48 hours. We'll see how the weekend goes- my mom thinks he is allergic to Sunday night. We are just thankful he is feeling well and we are home.

We go to the doctor on Tuesday for his one month appointment- but on Monday he weighed a little over 10 pounds! He is really filling out but still has some cute chicken legs. Hoping those stay around!

One month pics! I must say I love me some day gowns.....not too much longer that his daddy will let him wear a dress :)

First bath- he seemed really calm though the pictures don't show it. His second bath he enjoyed alot more. Too bad he doesn't get a bath every night- poor second child.

Another post of Little B next! He is keeping us all busy and entertained!

We're Back

In the hospital that is. Hampton spiked a fever in the middle of the night. Since he went several days without a fever- the doctors want to run all of the tests again as they think he might have picked something else up. So- we are here until Wednesday at least. Help has arrived (Soos this time!) so we are thankful to have Little B taken care of. Wanted to post some happy pics of Hampton in his fever free four days. Hampton turns one month on Wednesday!

I love this little guy. He is my cuddle bug that is for sure. Will hold him however much he wants since he has been through so much in his short 4 weeks of life.

We're Home!

We are home! Hampton tested negative for bacterial meningitis. Praise the Lord! We are home and he is happy and relaxed when he is sleeping on someone. Good thing we have four people to rotate holding this hot little guy. His fever continues to come around and will for the next several days. He is definitely in pain- the doctors say he has a massive headache all of the time. Wish I could take the pain away. Thanks for the prayers and encouraging words. We are SO glad to be home.

Prayers for Hampton

Wanted to do a quick post about our last 24 hours. Hampton had been having a hard weekend- fussy, hadn't pooped or passed gas, and wasn't eating great. I signed onto the internet to get him a doctor appointment for Monday morning as I knew he wasn't feeling well. Sunday night at 6:00- we had some friends over who had brought us dinner- I mentioned that I thought Hampton felt hot- and when I took his temperature it was 101.4. I called the pediatrician who called right back and told me to go to the ER. Not knowing the seriousness of this- I tried to skip the system and take him to the really nice Urgent Care that has tvs and gliders in the rooms. Once they took his temperature- 101.6- they immediately sent us to the ER. After lots of tests (blood drawn, spinal tap, catheter) and many hours later- we found out Hampton has meningitis. We found out this morning that he tested positive for viral meningitis- which is great news in hopes that he doesn't have the bacterial kind. Either way- we are at the hospital the next few nights. We find out tomorrow if he has bacterial too.

All of it was and is overwhelming. Then add to that trying to figure out accommodations for your older child really becomes a challenge. Little B had his first sleepover at a friends house last night. Our good friends live on the way to the hospital and also had been the ones to bring us dinner and also have a boy same age and size. We didn't realize at the time he would be spending the night- just thought a few hours. So thankful for giving and serving friends. With family so far away, times like these make you ask for lots and lots of favors. God has provided us with a gracious community of friends.

Today we were scheduled to have a babysitter at 8:00am so Bradford picked up B to get him home for her-- all to find out her car wouldn't start and her cell phone had been disconnected. So today Big B and I have been taking shifts with the boys. Thankfully Marta got back in town this afternoon and took B while we switched shifts so Big B and I could see each other for more than a minute.

My parents get in town late late tonight so tomorrow should be much easier with taking care of both boys. Now we just need to get Mr. Hampton well.

No matter what the days hold- God is still Holy and worthy of praise. We have an eternal peace for which I am so grateful for. Can't imagine how people go through this without the peace and promise we have from our Maker. God used Ann again to draw me closer to Him. Psalm 107 and this quote on her blog spoke:

It is a good thing to be without a trouble; but it is a better thing to have a trouble, and know how to get grace enough to bear it.” ~Spurgeon

Survival

We are officially in survival mode. I know that because when I close my eyes they burn. We are tired. Very tired- but are laughing our way through this time. Big B has been cracking jokes left and right to make me laugh and forget the craziness that is going on around us. I think Hampton has his days and nights mixed up...who knows. But I have been asking many people how early is too early to cry it out.

Last night we had our first outing as a family(we were going stir crazy!). Dinner went well other than I had to skip out and feed Hampton in the car and leave Daddy with clean up and Little B. Then Hyde Park was super crowded and people wanted our parking spot- but I was still feeding and was not leaving until he was happy and full. Then when Hampton finally finished eating- the car wouldn't start. Big B's eyes got really big and all I could do was laugh. Of course HE provided the next second-- there were some off duty police officers just finishing eating that sat near our family at dinner- they asked if we needed to be jumped off and we jumped on that! So our first outing was successful! We had another successful outing today too!

Our week started with Daddy giving B a haircut in the bath. I don't have anything positive to say......all I will say is that I miss his hair.

My new reality below. Eating dinner. on the couch. holding both of my boys.

Ouch. Please do not touch- so painful.

I took the same picture of B in this outfit at this age. You be the judge- do they look alike?!

2 weeks old.

2 weeks old.

Little B loves loves loves his brother- he calls him "baby"

Today we had a really fun outing at the Pumpkin Patch and Festival at Hyde Park Village.

We met the Johnson's there- we have very identical lives :)

B loves pumpkins and has the book Duck and Goose and the Pumpkin Patch memorized.

We haven't seen Noah in a while and Little B was so excited to see him- when we left he said in the car- "Noah fun"

The boys watching the adorable little girls dancing while enjoying a cupcake.

Soooo cute.

Of course B had to show off his dance moves.

B wore a hat all day but thought I would share one of his haircut day 4....it hasn't grown. at. all.

And for the record- I am blogging during the Auburn game. A little painful to watch....mainly the offense.

Hanging Pretty!

Just wanted to share some things that are hanging pretty at our house!

My talented friend Makenzi made this for Hampton! You can see all of her designs here!

This is probably my favorite as Little B brought this home on Tuesday from school! Nothing like kid art filling up your walls! Love it!

New post soon- honeymoon period with Baby Hampton ended Monday and survival mode has kicked into full swing- trying to figure out what is making our little man be in pain....coffee has been my best friend each day and I now know why everyone drinks so much of it!

Sweetness

I have been seeing some really sweet things lately. First- a newborn is just so sweet. The cuddles and the coos and the even the poops. I feel like I am really enjoying this stage unlike last. Last time I was so fearful that Little B was going to stop breathing at any minute that I didn't relax and enjoy the sweetness. I think the next sweetest thing is watching Little B and Hampton kiss each other. It is more Hampton being hungry and trying to latch on to B's cheek- but B thinks his brother is giving him kisses which in turn makes him want to kiss Hampton all day long. Little B cracks me up because he talks to Hampton in this high pitched voice- I need to get it on video. Also, we've been getting sweet calls, texts, meals and gifts that are so sweet from neighbors and friends. Thanks for all of the sweet comments and for sending lots of love our way!

We are loving our new family of four and things are going really well so far.(besides bfeeding which seems to never come easy to me- lots of hurdles to jump over) I can say that right now because we have had some good help from the grandparents. Our last helper goes home on Sunday so then we will see how things go. Here are some pictures from our week at home and even a video of when B meets Hampton up close and personal.

This is the sweet day gown my mom made for Hampton to come home in.

This is what little man does all DAY and even all night! (he wakes up to feed but goes right back down) He is quite the sleeper!

First game day- one proud daddy!

Getting kissed from brother

Giving brother kisses

Little B meets Hampton- he kissed him but we didn't start rolling the video in time to catch that.

Please note Aubie in the back- Little B was "drive Aubie"

Did I mention B is obsessed? He threw Aubie in the bath with him the other night and Daddy didn't notice him in the bath until quite some time later- so now Aubie doesn't sing the fight song or say War Eagle anymore- which is kind of nice as Little B can now sleep with him since he doesn't make any more noise.