We Love Jaida Bug

Today we took the boys down to the hospital to go and see their sister. The nurses have okayed her to go out in the hall for a few minutes so that the boys could see her. Pierce was so excited to hold her again. Brock just wanted to pet her over and over.

They both were curious about her PICC line in her head. Pierce said that is going to make her all better!

Pierce was worried that when we left she would be so sad that we forgot her! He sure does miss her!

holding her again

Sunday March 21,2010 Brought a joyous event, we got to hold our little Jaida bug again. She was finally in a regular room and off her oxygen. She still had a feeding tube,but is looking much better. The Dr. set a goal for her to finish 2 bottles before she could have her feeding tube taken out. As soon as she finished the second bottle she reached up and yanked the entire tube out, just to let us know she was DONE!

It started out a rough morning as they decided to attempt the spinal tap 2 more times, which they were unsuccessful! (They tried a total of 9 TIMES!!!!) Poor baby! So unable to get the spinal fluid, they are also unable to say with certainty that she has meningitis. The Dr.s have decided to treat her as if she had sepsis/possible meningitis! She will have to endure 21 days of IV antibiotics. So she has about 2 more weeks in the hospital.

You have no idea how good it felt to hold her again. Trent and I love her more and more every time we go and visit her. It is really hard to say goodbye when we have to leave.

We brought the boys back some gloves and masks from the hospital. They thought they were so cool. They ask everyday when she is coming home. Every night Brock says in his prayers,"Thank you we can PLEASE bring our Jaida bug home again!" I had the boys record her a message so I could play it for her. Pierce said,"Hey Jaida, this is your brother Pierce, he is saying that he loves you and you love him, please come home soon. I love you!" Brock said, "Jaida bug this is Brockie, we are going to take you home. We are on our way!"

..Jaida is SICK..

Jaida hadn't been eating very well since coming home. It was a battle to keep her awake and interested in eating. Friday morning, March 19, 2010, I finally decided I was going to pump and try to feed her with a bottle after not being satisfied that she had received enough to eat. She gulped it down like nothing. I knew she was hungry! I then started changing her diaper, when I notice that she had some discharge, not knowing that it is completely normal for a baby girl. I called the pediatrician and made an emergency appt. in which they informed me that I had to be there in the next half hour or wait until 5 that evening to be seen. I opted to come asap.
When I arrived at the dr. they all kinda chuckled at me when I told them the reason for me bringing her in, and reassured me that it was completely normal. The dr. then asked if I still wanted to have a physical done for her. I said yes,of course. They took her temperature and found that it was only 92! I was alarmed because she didn't feel cold to the touch! After taking her temp 4 more times to make sure it was really the right reading, they told me to get to the E.R. as soon as possible. I was completely in shock.

I took her to the Pediactric E.R. at Howard County General Hospital. They took her temp upon arrival and it was 93! After being at the hospital for just a few short minutes she stopped breathing! I knew that something serious was wrong! They began running all sorts of labs: blood work, urinalysis, and a dreaded spinal tap. They were unsuccessful all 5, yes 5 times they tried for the spinal tap. My poor baby girl at this point was so sick she didn't even make a peep while they were continually poking and prodding her little body. She was so lethargic she barely moved. It broke my heart! Trent was at work, feeling helpless. The hospital decided that they were unable to give the best care for her there and decided that transferring her to Johns Hopkins Hospital was a better fit for her illness. By this time she has stopped breathing at least 6 times! I have to say that the nurses who cared for her there were the absolute best! They were amazing to me as well. comforting me and helping me to keep it together! Also one of Trent's co-worker's Tracy was working at Howard County and came down and sat with me, hugged me, and explained everything that was going on! I am so grateful to her for that! I needed her support!

The ambulance finally arrived to take us downtown. I was so overwhelmed at this point and my baby girl wasn't looking very good at all. I was so glad to see Trent waiting for me on the other end. His boss Laura was awesome. She was calling everyone that she could to make sure we had the very best care. Plus being there with Trent. She was then admitted to the PICU. They hooked her up on pressurized oxygen and IV antibiotics. Her poor little body is covered in bruises from all the times they stuck her and were unsuccessful in getting IVs into her little tiny veins. It was extremely hard for Trent and I to witness our little sweet Jaida being poked! She also received a feeding tube. Trent's parents came to the hospital. Trent and his dad gave her a Priesthood blessing.

Trent and I stayed the night, Trent on the floor of his office and I in the Wilhide room, a room set aside for mothers of children in the PICU. We were exhausted! The next morning they attempted another spinal tap twice and were unsuccessful as well! She was being weaned off her oxygen and showing signs of improvement. Later Saturday she was able to move to a regular room. She was off her oxygen and also now able to regulate her own temperature. She is starting to look a lot better at this point. At least now when they poke at her she is crying!

After all this I have to know that I was being watched over. As I think of all the things that had to happen just right for her to still be here. I cannot explain the amount of pain and anguish I felt through this ordeal, but also cannot explain the peace, love and comfort I have felt through my Heavenly Father. I know that he really hears my prayers and is looking out for me. Also all the people who were there for Trent and I. Their concern was so genuine. I am also so relieved that through this my mother has been here. She has unselfishly given her time to take care of my 2 little boys night and day, so that Trent and I can be with our Jaida.

I'm a BIG brother!

This is our attempt to have a photo shoot with her and the boys. They were not cooperating very well. We got them shirts that said I am the BIG brother. Brock was most proud of this shirt.

Miss Jaida Bug

Pierce LOVES his baby sister and is constantly kissing and loving her. I often have to tell him to give her some space.

Coming home from the hospital

We brought our Sweet Baby Jaida home on Wednesday March 17, 2010. The boys were so excited to have her at home! Pierce refused to let anyone else hold his baby sister. Both of the boys have the nickname "Jaida Bug" for her.

Can you tell how excited they are?

Pierce kept saying,"mom take a picture with me and Jaida Bug!" He absolutely adores her. He even picked out her outfit for her to come home in!

All the boys ready to take her home.

Jaida Mikelle Belliston

Welcome the newest addition to our family.... Jaida Mikelle Belliston, March 15, 2010 at 7:49 PM. Weighing 5 lbs. 13 oz. and 20 inches long. We are so excited for her arrival.

A Day at the Museum

The boys have been really excited to go to the Museums in Washington, D.C. They have seen the movie,"The Night at the Museum" Both #1 and #2. So they have been hyped up to go see at the sights of the Natural History Museum. Since it isn't that far from our house we made a morning of it. They awoke at 7 AM and ran into Trent and I's room yelling out,"Mama, wake up today is the day we are going to the Museum!" They were really excited to see this statue of "Dum-Dum" from the movie. All around the museum they kept quoting lines from the movies, and recognized a lot of the exhibits.

At the museum, they have an insect zoo. One of the demonstrations they do is feeding the tarantulas. Pierce was so into it. He thought that was pretty neat.

The boys out front.

After the museum, we drove around the National Mall. We found this neat park and decided to have our picnic lunches there. The weather was great! The boys had a great time running around and being outside!

On the teeter-totter. Today was a really fun day. Can't wait for more adventures like these. It was great to see the excitement in their eyes today!

Boring Rainy Day

What do you do when you are bored out of your brains! It has been a yucky rainy day and we were going nuts by 11 AM so we tried to be creative today. We have lots of boxes hanging around, so we decided to make cars. The boys had a really fun time making them and choosing the colors. It has kept them entertained for the last couple of hours.

Lumpy so Proud of his " Green Machine"!

Pierce wanted to have a Blue car just like his daddy's car. He also named it "The Blue Poo" Hahaha! We used to have a car named that when I was in high school, I told him about it a few months back and he of course remembered its name.

I used to do this when I was a kid. It brought back a lot of memories. Funny how a simple box can be so entertaining!

Visit From Grammy

I don't know who was more excited for Grammy to come and visit, me or the boys! The boys made welcome signs for her and couldn't wait all day for her to get her. Pierce was most excited to show Grammy our new Mall, sound like Trent or what? We didn't do a whole lot of sight seeing this trip, but we did take her out and about. The boys got matching Spiderman T-shirts. Since they are absolutely OBSESSED with Spiderman. Pierce has even changed his name to Pierce Riley Belliston Spidey! Brock WILL NOT wear anything but spiderman clothes.

The boys had fun goofing off with Grammy.

We took Grammy over the Bay Bridge to Queenstown, Maryland. We hit up a pretty fun outlet mall there.

As we were crossing the Bridge, Brock yelled out," We are going to fall into the water, AHHHHH!" Nothing more comforting than hearing that! It is kind of scary going up so high over the water.

The boys being good sports while we were shopping at the outlets. We found some great deals there. We had a great time with Grammy and cannot wait until she comes back again to visit. Love you!

Gotta love Brock

In true form again, Brockie decided to embarrass me.. We went to Burger King yesterday with my mom while she was here. As we were sitting down to eat, a lady walked in that could pass as a guy. She had short hair and a hat on. Brock points and yells out,"Hey mama, is that a boy or a girl?" Before I can get a word in he repeats it just as loud, but this time a more enthusiastic point. Hahaha... Gotta love moments like this as a mother. I just smiled and chuckled, what else can you do?