Tour de Hospitals

Just over 3 weeks ago, our sweet little Hannah gave us quite the scare. She stopped breathing a couple of times while nursing for just a few seconds each time. And then she stopped breathing again and turned blue around the mouth later that evening at Scott's parents' house. After a quick blessing, we took her into the emergency room at Orem Community Hospital. They took an x-ray and thought that she had pneumonia, so they transported us by ambulance to UVRMC Pediatrics. That was the beginning of our 8-day tour of 3 hospitals. Not the way I wanted to spend my daughter's 4th week of life, but we were happy that it all ended well. I really don't want to give many details. Just know that after running many, many tests, UVRMC diagnosed Hannah with severe laryngomalacia (floppy cartilage above the larynx that was completely blocking Hannah's airway). So they transported us by ambulance to Primary Children's Medical Center where Hannah eventually had surgery to fix the problem. Once again, we are incredibly grateful for modern medicine and for the miracle of prayer. We truly appreciate all your support and prayers through a very difficult time for all of us.

And now a few pics. Scott thinks they are depressing, but I think my baby is adorable no matter how many wires are attached to her.

Our first evening at UVRMC Peds. Hannah had not been nursing well and wasn't gaining enough weight, and we would soon find out why.

That first evening, I came back from gathering some things at home to find that Hannah had been put on a c-pap--just like her first few hours in the NICU. I cried the entire first day back in the hospital. Apparently it is even sadder to see your baby hooked up to machines once you both know the difference and have been able to bond at home for over 2 weeks.

Scott didn't have any more time off left at work, so he slept at home but came to UVRMC during his lunch breaks and every evening.

I don't know why this picture is sideways. We were happy when Hannah got taken off the c-pap and was put on this high-flow oxygen tube.

By the end of our 4-day stay at UVRMC, Hannah was on regular oxygen, was more alert than ever, and was nursing very well. It was absolutely amazing what being able to breathe did for her!

Hannah's first day at PCMC. We had a few bad experiences there with a couple of egotistical doctors, poor communication, and one very stupid nurse. But overall, we are glad we went there so that Hannah could get the surgery she needed from an exceptional doctor.

Poor baby got so tired of being poked and prodded.

Hannah sure loves her baths. I totally love the look of pure relaxation on her face.

I was able to spend all but one of the 8 nights with Hannah (I got a sleep room near the PICU the other night), and Scott stayed at a Ronald McDonald House once we got to PCMC.

This was taken shortly after Hannah's surgery. It totally cracked me up that her bow survived surgery. If a dainty bow can survive, of course my brave baby can too!

Could she get any cuter?!?!

Our wireless baby looking totally relaxed as we were waiting to be officially discharged from PCMC.

We are so grateful to have Hannah home with us once again. She is doing so much better than she was before going back into the hospital. Last week she gained 14 ounces, which is amazing! Thank you again for all your love and support! We have truly been strengthened by your prayers! We love you, and so does Hannah! :)

Happy One-Month Birthday, Hannah!

I know, I know. I should be blogging about Hannah's most recent hospital stint. But I don't want to right now. I just want to celebrate Hannah's one-month birthday by posting some adorable pics of her that I took this afternoon. My camera and my skills both stink. So sorry. But she's still super duper cute.

I love her big eyes and crazy hair! And her skinny legs just crack me up. :)

Jana gave Hannah this cute outfit. Part of me loves that she still fits into newborn clothes, but part of me wants her to get super fat and robust really soon.

A little half smile.

One of these months I'll dare venture out with Hannah to get professional pics taken.

Best for last. Adorable!

We love Hannah and are so happy she joined our family a month ago. It has been a totally crazy month, but Hannah is SO worth it all and more. Happy Birthday, Hannah! Here's to many, many more. :)

Exactly what I wanted for Christmas

Last Christmas Scott and I made wish lists to make gift-giving easier for each other. Not surprisingly, this was at the top of my list:

This year I got exactly what I wanted--a precious baby who happens to be very cute and a bit chubby (especially compared to the other babies in the NICU). :)

See. I told you she was cute. And just look at those chubby thighs.

Christmas Eve visitors--Aunt Jana & Uncle Saul.

Adoring Clayson grandparents. (Christina came too, but I didn't get her picture before she had to leave to work in the NICU).

Santa came early Christmas morning.

Scott's lonely string of colored lights.

Good thing we decorated long before the baby came.

We were spoiled with tons of Christmas gifts & goodies from friends, family, & neighbors.

Hannah in her Christmas jammies on Christmas morning.

Santa filled Hannah's stocking with diapers and a rattle and our stockings with fun gifts and yummy goodies (thanks to a last-minute run to the store).

Hannah's Christmas haul (minus a few things not pictured).

On Christmas day, we ventured to the Carters' to exchange gifts, get pictures with Hannah's cousin Isaac, and be held by Grandpa Carter & other fam. We also had to take Hannah to the hospital to get her bilirubin checked. Poor baby.

Hannah was sleepy after a long, wonderful Christmas day.

Nighty night, Christmas miracle! You are our best Christmas present EVER!!!

Hannah Mary Carter

Now that our baby is almost 2 weeks old, I am finally getting around to posting some pictures of her. Hannah Mary Carter was born on December 18th at 5:14pm. She weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. and was 19 or 20 inches long (measured 20 inches at birth but 19 inches in the NICU--go figure). I was scheduled for a c-section on December 21st, but Hannah had other plans. I wasn't sure I was in labor on Saturday, so I ran some errands and went to tithing settlement. Then my water broke just before 3pm in the middle of watching the BYU bowl game. We hurried and packed our hospital bag and arrived at the hospital almost an hour later. Hannah was born about an hour-and-a-half after that. She was taken directly into another room to have her nose and mouth suctioned out because there was meconium present, and my placenta had abrupted during delivery. Hannah seemed fine, so Scott brought her in to meet me about 20 minutes after she was born (I was bummed I didn't get to see her right away) and then took her down to the Nursery. Soon after, Hannah started turning purple and was rushed up to the NICU (they think she swallowed blood from the abrupted placenta). And that was the beginning of the 6 longest days of my life. The hardest days were the 2 that we didn't get to hold Hannah because she was hooked up to a ventilator. I don't have the time or energy to post all the details. Maybe I will do that later. Just know that we are very grateful for good doctors and nurses who helped our baby girl heal so that she could come home with us on Christmas Eve. We were especially blessed to have my sister who is a nurse in the NICU there to help comfort us, explain things to us, and take special care of sweet Hannah. We love Hannah so much and are so incredibly grateful for the blessing we have of being her parents!

And here are some pictures of adorable Hannah. We think she is absolutely beautiful and amazing!

During Hannah's first few hours in the NICU, she was just hooked up to a c-pap. I only got to hold her for about 15 minutes that night.

The next morning Hannah had been hooked up to a ventilator. I love how relaxed she looks even with that tube down her throat.

Almost everyone says that Hannah looks like me. I take it as a huge compliment. I agree that she has my square face, chubby cheeks, and little nose.

Scott and I got to help give Hannah her first sponge bath. It was really sad because we couldn't hear her cry due to the tube down her throat.

Hannah did not like the sponge bath.

But she sure looked cute sucking on her fist afterward.

I love this pic of her taken shortly after her bath. Crazy hair!

This is the first pic I took of Hannah off of the ventilator. Even though her face is red from all the tape, she sure looks better without all those tubes.

We absolutely loved holding Hannah for the first time in almost 2 days. I love that she is looking at me. I don't love that I look like death warmed over.

Hannah loves her daddy!

Hannah got jaundice, and I got a spinal headache--two frustrating complications that prolonged Hannah's stay in the NICU.

Scott enjoyed the food from the hospital cafeteria--especially this foot long corn dog. He didn't enjoy the chair/bed he slept on for 4 nights.

My room service meals were delicious.

I got discharged 2 days before Hannah did. We then spent one night at home and one night in a sleep room of the NICU. Gotta love all the wristbands.

I am so grateful for the love and support Scott has given to me and to Hannah. He is the best husband and daddy ever!

We spent Hannah's last night in the NICU trying to get her ready to come home. We gave her a bath, which she loved. Cute!

Hannah also passed the 90 minute testing in her car seat.

Scott and I were thrilled when Hannah's doctor told us she could go home on Christmas Eve. Too bad she didn't quite fit into this stocking my nephew Cole picked out for her.

Our cute little baby!

We were so happy to be leaving the NICU with Hannah.

Home Sweet Home

Hannah was the definitely the best gift under our tree.

Hannah's first time in her room.

Hannah's first nap in her bassinet. Super cute!

Thank you for all your support and prayers that helped bring Hannah home. We feel extremely blessed.