Day 4: Baby Boy Bower

Yeah! The blood cultures remained negative for 48hrs! Which means, they will most likely not grow anything, and whatever he reacted to - was not massive enough to catch. We spent our first night at home last night and what a nice change of pace that was. He still has a full two weeks of antibiotics to ingest, but what a nice change of pace. I was talking to one of my doctor colleagues and she told me that her first baby also had a fever in the first 24 hours and she, as well, wanted to take her baby home and give the antibiotics. She was a little more forceful than myself and said they sent her home and a very disapproving nurse came twice a day and administered the antibiotics. Doctors do not fit into the mold of "usual care", we tend to be challenging for our treating physicians! Just ask my midwife!




As a mom, I am thankful, because now we can start nurturing our family and building bonds between Jadon and the baby, build a flexible working schedule that maintains my patience, and savor every precious minute of this time. As a doctor, I continue to worry about setting up my little one for a drug resistant infection and allergy to penicillin in his short life. Consider it all joy as James says. The latter is not within my control - so I will concentrate my mental energy on being a mom!

Day 3: Baby Boy Bower

So far it's all good news. The ear issue was a non-issue. The baby just squirmed too much the first test to get a good read. The blood cultures show no growth (no bacteria). And he continues to feed, sleep, pee and poop well. God willing we will take him home from the hospital tonight or tomorrow.




In the mean time Will and Jadon are roughing it without Mom at home. So Dad decided to carve a pumpkin with Jadon. He has been pointing out the neighbors and since (a little sarcasm coming) it will not critically wound him spiritually, we had a little fun.

Welcome Baby Boy Bower

Baby Boy Bower joined our family October 26th at 11:50pm weighing 7lbs 12oz and 21 inches long - weighing in one oz larger than his big brother. Big Brother Jadon, enjoyed meeting his baby brother and thinks we should name him "Bee". His name is still being withheld from us and it seems that we need to attend to other urgent things before we can concentrate on listening for his name. As a family, we were all set to leave the hospital, when they took one last temperature and it was elevated. The follow-up blood work was also concerning so baby boy Bower, got to stay the night. He ended up with an IV and is getting at least 48hrs worth of IV antibiotics. If the blood work remains negative for 48 hours, then we will go home on oral antibiotics as early as Wednesday pm (Oct 29th). Otherwise, he may require a longer course of IV antibiotics. I have asked if I could administer the antibiotics at home like we do in adult medicine - but I guess in baby medicine world, that is not done because of the fragility of his veins and they have more issues with infiltration, etc..... So an early road bump in this little guys life make's Mom & Dad Bower's life a little more interesting for a couple of days. Other than the IV and antibiotics, this little guy is feeding well and sleeping soundly despite all the interruptions.

James Chapter One talks about a lot of practical stuff as we have been learning lately as our church has been teaching on it the last couple of weeks. Counting trials as joy, asking for wisdom, being hearers of the word and not just doers. When I have considered my circumstances, responsibilities, or challenges, I have the attitude of jumping in and going with the flow, because I know that God already has it all taken care of and things will work out, at least that is what I tell myself. My sin in this is that I do not make Him an active participator of my trials or my activities, i.e. I am too prideful to go to Him, I inadvertently trust my own wisdom and my own abilities to work things out. James (1:23-25) says this is like the man who looks in the mirror and then forgets what he looks like - I am not being a doer. Will and I have been given another little "talent" by God, and already in his short life, he is sick. I instantly went to my medical wisdom and training to find the assurance and comfort I needed to know that he was going to be "OK". I failed to first stop and pray. I am really good at hearing and judging, but not humbling and doing. Forgive me for my pride and not choosing to stand on "the Rock" but to stand on my own sandy foundation. Pray for this little one of God, that he will continue to do well and overcome this infection and that we, as a family, can go home Wednesday pm. Also pray that his Mom will consciously place herself at Jesus's feet every morning so that she is best equipped to train him and his brother in the "way that they should go" Proverbs 22:6. Pray that you are not like myself, that you will not struggle with pride, that humility will be your virtue and the key to your relationship with Jesus.

As soon as Will or I are able we will have pictures of this little one for all to see!

And Jadon Grows

Jadon continues to amaze his parents as he continues to learn and grow. He is definitely a car/truck/tractor boy! He gets excited about anything with "wheels". Especially when he see's a motorcycle. Jadon has had Mega blocks to play with for a while and he is finally grasping the concept that the blocks stack! But the old fashion way of playing with them (just scattering them all over the floor) still remains to be a lot of fun!





This Leap Frog Pad that Great - Aunt Shirley got Jadon for Christmas last year is starting to become more interactive. He is putting together that he can touch the pictures and they make different sounds. He also knows that he has to touch "the green go button" so the Leap Pad knows what page he is on!





He is picking up words faster now too and is becoming quite the little helper around the house with good direction from his mom and dad! He really likes music and singing time, especially if we are creative and put hand motions with it. So much fun to see, watch and experience him grow! Thank you Jesus.

Happy Labor Day!

Who would of thought that driving those race car grocery carts would be this exhausting?

The summer is coming to an end at the Bower household and Jadon has visited his new day care a couple times already and doesn't even notice when Mom comes and picks him up! (Mom takes that as a good sign). Dad is at a new position at Beaverton School District and Mom is still doing the same old thing. Jadon has grown tremendously these last 3 months, he towers over most of the two year olds in his sunday school class and we keep telling people who ask that he is only 17 months old! If he grows into his paws (just like a puppy), Will and I are looking at a big boy (He's wearing size 5/6 shoes!). I see babies at work all the time and keep thinking to myself "Jadon was never that small!". God will continue to provide all our needs - Even energy/stamina to match all of Jadon's currently unbridled energy. Praying that God continues to work in our lives as we steward this talent that we have been entrusted with.

Orangutan

It started with Jadon's preferred two books of pictures of animals. Will and I would go through them and as Jadon pointed we would name the animals and make the corresponding animal sounds. Jadon picked up some of the sounds and some of the hand motions that we made to go with the animals. He really enjoys the elephant sound that Will makes and the orangutan motions that I showed him. He picks up the books multiple times a day and points and makes corresponding animal noises. Because of his interest in animals, we decided to take Jadon to the Oregon Zoo during Papa's visit. We saw and touched a lot of animals, but got the most excitement out of Jadon in response to the orangutan's and giraffe's.



Jadon now lets us know when he wants to see an orangutan.



We would like to share his favorite orangutan video with you.



If you would like to view more pictures from our trip to the zoo, the link is on the right.