Our New Chapter

8 Months! & Malakai's 1st Halloween

2009-11-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

Laughing with our GooGoo

2009-09-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

Even though Malakai was stuffy, sneezy, & sick...he just kept smiling at the sound of this empty wipey bag. So we got him on video laughing hysterically at it whenever we'd crush the bag.
He makes us laugh too...& he can just put a smile on our face when we don't even feel like smiling.

6 Months Old!!

2009-08-31T09:50:00.000-07:00

Time is flying by…. Malakai is now 6 months old and growing like crazy. He’s sleeping through the night now which is a relief for Sonya and I . The days are just going by so quickly though. We were looking at his pictures from when he was in the hospital and he has really changed.

Malakai goes everywhere with us now, sometimes it’s easy because he’s fast asleep and other times our patience gets tested ...and well isn't that what being Parents should be all about?

Our little "GooGoo" took his first train ride this Saturday on the RailRunner and he did pretty good. He was asleep on the way in to Albuquerque and did great at the restraunt. He seems to love traveling everywhere because he makes weekly trips with his Grandma “T” to Glorieta and also visits his Great Grandma Lena and Great Grandpa Bear. Malakai's Grandma Shorty is always coming over to check in on her little “Precious”...Yeah the nicknames just don’t seem to stop.

Malakai seems to be adjusting to church life as well. We take him every Sunday and Wednesday to fellowship with everyone. He seems to love worship time. I think it’s because he could hear Ken singing when Malakai was growing inside momma . The moment that worship is over he starts to make his little sounds and seems to be getting louder ...So needless to say, Sonya and I take turns getting blessed by the Word of God during Service. But naturally, we are truly blessed to have Malakai in our lives.

Children are a gift from God-

Psalm 127:3 Behold children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

4 months old!!

2009-06-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone...Malakai here! Tomorrow I'll be 4 months old. Yesterday was my daddy's first official Father's Day. Mommy picked out my outfit to wear for daddy.
He was so happy that he could finally celebrate that special day. My daddy makes me very happy too!
Although I get him & mommy up in the middle of the night to feed me, I know they adore me and want to take good care of me. Every now & then I like to make my parents smile by crackin' one of my own. They just can't get enough.
So lately I've been sticking my tongue out a lot. It feels weird to touch my gums & my lips. I also like to lick my hands and fingers a lot...my skin tastes funny though. Sometimes it makes my tongue feel weird because of the stuff my parents put all over me. I think they call it lotion. I don't know what the big deal is, but mommy & daddy like to dress me up every day in different clothes they call "onsies". If I could, I would just keep my favorite one on for a long time. Sometimes I just don't like the fuss. Grandma Theresa says I look so hansom in stripes, but whatever...I can't even see what I'm wearing.
My grandma Theresa takes care of me in the morning while mommy goes to work and then mommy comes back home to me in the afternoon. I have fun with grandma. She sings silly songs to me all the time...I think it's to try and distract me from making my red face and crying out loud. It usually works, unless I'm starving...then nothing works and I just can't help myself.
Speaking of starving, I gotta cry to tell mommy I'm ready to eat now. Ta-ta 4 now!

Home Sweet Home

2009-06-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

I know, I know! It's been quite a while since our last post. Sorry about that.
Well, our little Malakai has been home since April 24th and he was about 8 pounds at the time. Today, he's a whopping 12 pounds!! The day we were discharged was such a fast experience. First of all, on April 22nd, we were given the opportunity to have a couple of overnight stays w/Malakai at the hospital in our own room. The room was small, and it was tough getting through the experience of feeding little Malakai through the night, getting used to his crying, and trying our best to sooth him back to sleep. We had to keep track of how much milk he drank to see if he was ready to go home. So on Friday morning, the 24th, the doctor determined he was ready to be discharged because he met the volumes he had to drink.
Once all the discharging was done, it happened so fast that I was a little nervous to begin everything on our own. Once we got home, it was a little weird for me because I hadn't lived at home for months! It certainly took some getting used to, especially with an addition to our family. It was also hard getting used to not sleeping through the night......Aah, parenthood! Leon has been such a huge help with Malakai; a great father, that's for sure! It's awesome to see the love he has for our son.
We had a big scare the first night home. During Malakai's 3am feeding, he fell asleep drinking and had swallowed his milk wrong. He stopped breathing and his lips had turned blue! I kept tapping him & yelling his name and he was very limp. I gave him one good breath through his mouth & nose, rubbed his chest a little to revive him, and then he began to breath again! What a traumatizing experience that was. After that, I had some anxiety about feeding Malakai and it took a while to get over. We were more careful after that with the way we fed him.
It was a bit of a struggle to deal with Malakai having to come home with oxygen. The little stickers would keep coming off his cheeks and when we had to replace them, he'd get so upset. Once a week the home-care nurse would come by and test his oxygen level, which was going well. Eventually, the nurse gave us the 'go-ahead' to take off the oxygen. Boy, it was a relief not to drag the tubing all around the house, as it would get stuck under the couch or in the doorway.
Now that Malakai has been home for a little over a month, things have become a little more routine. We're starting to venture out of the house more, to doctor visits and to church. Malakai has still been eating about every 3 hours and a couple of times through the night...3-4 ounces at a time. He absolutely loves to be held! For bath-time, it depends on his mood whether he's cooperative or cranky about it. He loves to look up at our ceiling fan and he likes the vibrations of his bouncy for sure.
Life has never been the same, but we Thank God for our little chubby blessing.

Almost!!!!

2009-04-20T19:46:00.001-07:00

Well, Malakai's almost there! He just has to work on his consistancy. The total CC's have been kept at 71 for several days, but I have a feeling it'll be increased by tomorrow. Malakai likes to fall asleep before he finishes his bottles sometimes, so that gets frustrating. For most of his feeding times, he's drinking the whole 71 CC's, but not each & every bottle like the doctors wanna see. Apparently, they'd like to see Malakai "prove" he can eat all 8 bottles in a 24 hour period....as if that's the way it is when a full term baby goes home!! I know it's different for every baby and it's getting frustrating because even full term babies are not kept in the hospital until they eat the way the doctors want them to. Malakai has no problem with gaining weight either, so thank God that's not an issue to meet for going home! Actually, the lactation consultants tested my breastmilk & verified that it's between 25 & 30 calories! It's assumed to be only 20 calories because that's what "formula" has...but not mine!
Anyway, things are getting so hard now especially because I'm home-sick & Leon's sick of being w/out us @ home. We need to be a family already....
I'm losing my strength....but I must remember, "For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2Corinthians 12:10.
*~*~*~*~
Please put your comments on the blog entries to let us know you're still with us reading! :0>

Happy Resurrection Day!

2009-04-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

It's Easter and we're still here. Malakai had a minor set-back. Last week in rounds, I asked the Dr. if we could extend his feeding by about 1/2 an hour to see if he'll be more hungry to take his whole bottle feeding. They agreed to do a "shift minimum" instead. This is where they take an average total of his daily feedings and give him a whole 12-hour shift to intake that total...whenever he felt hungry. That didn't work, he'd get too tired. So on Friday and Saturday, they gave him a rest by having him feed from the gavage every-other-3-hour feeding & whatever he could drink from 60 CCs in a bottle on the other feeding times. Today, Malakai's feeding amounts went from 60 to 63 CCs...of course 'cause he's gaining weight. So now he's taking a set amount of 40 CCs by bottle & 23 CCs by gavage. So far today, he drank one whole bottle of 40 CCs and the other bottles, he came close. His eyes are staying open for a longer period of time during his feedings...he tends to doze off & not drink anymore for about the last 10 CCs.

So that's what's going on w/ Malakai. As for Leon & I, we're getting.....I guess you could say tired. It's so very hard to say bye to each other on Sunday's still. Going back & forth to the hospital is so very worth it, but it's taking a toll on me. I just can't wait to get home to be a family. I'm homesick....

I have to go back to work on the 21st, but they've allowed me to use up the rest of my sick-pay and vacation-pay while going back to work. So for the rest of April, I'll work Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 9am-1pm...for May, I'll work Mondays Wednesdays & Thursday's from 9am-1pm...and in June, I'll work Mon-Fri from 9am-1pm. July is when I'll go back full-time. My mom will be taking care of Malakai for the most part, but Leon's mom will be helping out too of course.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Please pray for our endurance and Malakai's feeding stamina.

Also, please pray that finances will be available to pay our way at the Ronald McDonald House by the time I leave.

~God Bless

7 Pounds!

2009-04-06T19:42:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it!...7 pounds already. And to think that I'd be so huge if I were still pregnant with Malakai. Woh.

So things have been rolling along. But...as Malakai grows & gains weight with the calories that the nurses fortify his milk with, then they increase his feedings by 2 CC's. He went from 55 to 57 today. So then he has to play catch-up with his bottle feeding goal to eat that total intake at each feeding. He's now at 30 CC's by bottle & 27 by gavage. Although, he's only 36 weeks gestation so he has a few weeks for his eating to kick in at full force. Lately, well for quite a while he's had some gas issues. Yup, instead of burpin' it, Malakai toots it....and BOY can he clear his bed-side. They give him medicine for that though, cause he gets so fussy with his gas. My poor baby!

He's getting so chubby, my beautiful son! We love on him so much! He still likes his hair washed though. Malakai's also beginning to coo...it's so cute.

I was hoping by Easter, we'd have our son home.........but it's looking more like the end of that week. We'll see....

*~*~*~*~

Please pray for Malakai's progress

Also, please pray for our anxiety that's building up; 'cause we know the bible says "be anxious for nothing", but it's been rough.

Missing Home

2009-03-29T19:44:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how long it's been since I lived at home in Santa Fe! I miss home deeply. I miss being w/my best friend...my beloved Leon. I can't wait until I'm home with both him & Malakai...our little family. I miss my church family as well, and I can't wait to get back to church to hear God's word through my Pastors' teachings and sing worship songs through Ken's gifted voice leading us. I can't wait...

But I must. Malakai needs time to grow still and I don't want my will to get in the way of course. Our little son is on his way though! All he has to do is eat his full feedings from the bottle at each feeding, which he's working up to. His feedings are every 3 hours with 53ML or 53 "CC's" and was eating all that through the tube or "gavage"...until currently pacing his feeds throught he bottle. Yesterday, the Occupational Therapist (OT) had the Dr. put in an order for him to feed 20CC's by bottle and the rest (33CCs) through the gavage. He gets 20CCs by bottle because that's what he was drinking on average. Before that, his order was to eat by bottle whatever he could take in at twice a shift change. So that means, one shift is from 7am to 7pm and the next shift is from 7pm to 7am. So since Malakai was for certain eating the 20CCs, his order is now to eat that every feeding, so every three hours and in order to keep practicing his bottle feeding w/out getting too tired. It's been said that at 36-37 weeks gestation, a baby will just have a light go on and something will trigger them all of a sudden to eat a lot by bottle feeding coordination. We're just waiting for that light to go on in Malakai! On Wednesday, he'll be at 36 weeks gestation.

He's gotten so chubby and we can tell that his skin color is getting dark too. We love kissing his little head and smelling his hair. *sigh* Our sweet Malakai!

*~*~*~*~*~*
Please pray for God to help Malakai on his way to eating good, so we can be together at home soon.
****Don't forget to leave your comments here too!!!!

Almost Home!

2009-03-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

Malakai is close to going home. The more he eats out of his bottle and not his feeding tube the closer he gets. Which is driving us crazy because I ( his daddy) still has to set up his crib and get most of the house disinfected for Malakai's homecoming. Sonya and I are getting so excited as we see our little one start to get chubby and just to see his personality at this age is amazing.

I wish that I could spend more time here with Sonya and Malakai but my bosses are not too understanding and it's hard to just come and see him for the weekend. So on Friday I had some issues with our vahicle not starting... God's way of making me take a day off and coming to see my little family. When I finally got here after dealing with our vehicle it was a blessing, God has shown me so much through this trial that when I see Malakai and Sonya it's evident as to what God is doing. So much has changed in our lives and not just from the baby but from the trial at hand. God is awesome and through this trial He has revealed His love to us and He is blessing us with Malakai. So the way I see this trial now, compared to when all this began, is that God is in control and we can cry all we want to but he has the last word. I guess what I'm trying to say is when we face a trial we should not blame God or not seek him, but as the scriptures say we should glorify him for his mercy on us and rest in the shadow of his wing.

So with all that said God has blessed us that Malakai J. Moncayo is almost on his journey home. It's been a long stay here in Albuquerque and we still don't know when he is coming home, but the way he is improving shows that it will be soon!

5 pounds!

2009-03-18T20:53:00.000-07:00

Yaay, Malakai hit the 5 pound mark a day after being 3 weeks old. He's doing so good, Prais God! Our love for Malakai has grown everyday for him. He makes us so happy...and all he does is sleep, eat, & go potty. Oh, and every now & then he'll give us his goo-goo eyes and crack a smile for us! Monday night, the 17th, he ate from the bottle for the first time! It was only a 'lil bit (7 cc's), but that's great news and he coordinated his sucking, swallowing & breathing very well. He'll be trying his bottle feedings every shift change for now, which is 7am & 7pm every day. Then, if he does well, they'll feed him the bottle twice every shift. Yay for our son!
**Please pray that Malakai keeps doing well with his feedings and that he weens off the oxygen well...and in God's timing for him to go home w/ us...soon. :o>
(Darn, I can't post a photo w/these computers @ Ronald McDonald House...soon to come)

Our bundle of Joy!

2009-03-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

Well, things have been progressing w/Malakai. In the past week, he's moved from the admitting room & graduated all the way down the hallway, where babies go before they get to go home! He's gaining weight w/momma's milk & some fortification to it. Also, his oxygen keeps getting decreased because he'd doing so well breathing on his own a little more. All he has now is the nasal tube and his feeding tube. In the next week or so, we'll see how he does w/a bottle.
Oh yeah, no more blue light for jeandus and no more incubator either!
It's possible we'll have our little bundle of joy home by Easter! He'll most likely go home w/oxygen for a while though.
*Thank you All So Much For All Your Thoughts & Prayers!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Please pray that my milk supply increases, as I've been having trouble w/that.
(Also, if any of you know of someone who has an extra little commuter/loner car they can lend me, that would be most excellent and more convenient for me)
I'll try to blog more this week!

Baby Announcement

2009-03-02T10:40:00.000-08:00

Gift delivery changed to Sunday, March 15th instead...

Malakai is Here!!

2009-03-02T09:53:00.001-08:00

(March 1st)

*Sigh*....Where to I begin?

What an experience it's been since Malakai's birthday. Early evening on Sunday Feb. 22nd, I was given my epidural. I chose this, not only to avoid a painful delivery, but because of the pain my fibroid might have also caused. I thought for sure I'd deliver on 2/22/09, but my contractions were not strong enough until around 10pm or 11pm. The Dr. wanted to use a uterine catheter to get better monitoring of my contractions, but as he began to do so, Malakai was on his way! I was supposed to deliver in an operating room near the NICU, but there was no time.

So at 12:52 A.M. on Monday February 23rd, Malakai was born into the world at 3 pounds 15 ounces, 16 inches long. We got to hear our son's first cry as soon as he was born, but as he stopped crying, Leon cut the umbilical cord and he was transferred to the baby table where he cried only once more before he stopped breathing on his own. The NICU team quickly gave him some oxygen, let me see him, and rolled him off to the NICU to get him all hooked up the necessary equipment. I spent about 4 hours in my Labor & Delivery room before I could go to my Mother/Baby Care room. Since I hadn't eaten Anything since breakfast, I was starving! The nurse gave me a sandwhich to munch on before the epidural wore off and by about 4:30 A.M. I was wheeled off w/ Leon to see my son in the NICU. What an emotional time it was. Since I couldn't sit up for a long time, I had to be rolled to my Mother/Baby Care room with Leon.

Although Leon spent all day with me during my first day of recovery, he had to leave that evening to go to work Tuesday morning. That's when I began to feel alone...No husband, no baby...just alone. That's when I cried out to the Lord. I had to release all that emotion that was built up in me. I needed the Lord's comfort more than ever, and of course He was there! Even though I could not help but cry, He was there!

Before Wednesday the 25th came along, I got to either roll over in the wheelchair by a nurse to see Malakai and eventually walk my way over. I adored being there with him, but then came Wednesday. Leon took 1/2 the day off to get me home, but after being in Albuquerque for a month....I felt just so weird, so awkward. It was an unnatural feeling...We were leaving a part of us behind. Although I was home that night, it was another weird feeling. I was broken...and so was my beloved Leon. We wanted our son with us but at the same time, we had to be thankful he was in good hands at Presbyterian NICU. The nursing care is amazing there and Malakai's doctors are so kind to inform us of every detail that goes on with him. We need to remember...God Is In Control. He knew this would happen, He knew exactly when Malakai would be born, and He knows when Malakai will come home with us.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Please pray that God provides an extra measure of comfort as Malakai is absent from us.

Please pray that God guides us with how to get the appropriate lodging in Albuquerque to be near Malakai. (Ronald McDonald House is our first option)

~Thank You All

Water Broke!

2009-02-20T10:47:00.000-08:00

Around 6am my water broke. It wasn't anything drastic, but subtle. But since I noticed a difference, my nurse got the Dr. on call to verify that the fluid was in fact from ruptured water. So at first I was disappointed and freaking out a little, but then I realized I was wanting 'my will' to be done...I wanted it to be so that I was still stable w/no water breaking...I wanted it to be so that I'm here until April w/no changes...so I give it to God now, like I had before. I can't get all worked up about this, because if my son comes, he comes and it is because God will allow whatever happens to happen. Such great progress has been made in the 4 weeks I've been here on bedrest in the hospital and all the doctors & nurses are amazed.
So there is the possibility I can be stable for several days & even weeks, but it's all up in the air so-to-speak. So since about 10:25 am, the Dr. had me moved into Labor & Delivery (L&D) so that I can be on the monitors for several hours, which they cannot do in the room I was in at Maternity Services. However, they hope to have me back in the room I was in this afternoon...as long as there's no significant changes on the monitors. (The monitors show the baby's heart rate, movement, and my contractions).
I haven't eaten breakfast but they said since I can't really feel the contracting that much, I can have a regular lunch!
It's noon and Leon isn't here yet, but he's on his way. My mom got here about 11:15 am.
So, I'm just hangin' in there...Hangin on to God's Grace. :o>
---Please pray that I can gain more time being stable for Malakai to grow more.

Hangin' on to God's Grace

2009-02-17T10:27:00.000-08:00

Although I've been here on bedrest for only 3 1/2 weeks, it feels like more than a month. But by God's Grace, I'm not going crazy; By God's Grace, He is sustaining me, Malakai is still growing healthy, my care here has been great, and by His Grace I have a husband and family and friends who love me and pray for me. Could I ask for more?

"But He said to me, 'My grace is suffiencient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therfore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." {2 Corinthians 12:9}

I want to thank all of you who have sincerly kept Malakai, Leon & I in your prayers! It is powerful to pray and the fruit of your prayers is evident in our son not being born yet. Praise God!

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." {1 Thessalonians 5:16-18}

"Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance" {Philippians 1:18-19}

Today's prayer request: That God will continue to comfort Leon, while I'm absent from home.

29 Weeks Pregnant!

2009-02-12T12:04:00.001-08:00

Baby & I have made it to 29 weeks as of Wednesday! Malakai's doing great and he gets all his points at each ultrasound, which are 3 times a week; Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The tech measures the amniotic fluid, checks for movement, the heartbeat, the pulse of the umbilical cord, and practice breathing. As for Malakai's practice breathing, he's been stubborn with showing that right away. So sometimes the tech has to use a device against my tummy that makes a buzzing noise so that it alarms the baby a little and causes him to contract his abdomen, which shows his practice breathing. The buzzer is perfectly safe though. Eventually, Malakai shows us his practice breathing and that gets him all his points for the day!
Lately Malakai seems to flutter his legs in my tummy, as if he's swimming. :o> I love it!

Same 'ole routine

2009-02-09T09:48:00.000-08:00

I've basically begun a routine of how my day begins. By after 6am, when the nurse brings me my due medication, I give Leon a morning call before we start our day. After that, I'm usually freshened up and have my makeup on by 8:30, just in time for breakfast. Then, after or during breakfast, I email Leon & check other emails and get on Facebook. By the time I know it, lunch is delivered. Around noon, I'm due for my meds again. Sometimes I'll read a little or listen to a biblical teaching after lunch. Lately, I've been working on a cross-stitch project that they provide here in the hospital. It's a picture of 3 peas in a pod on a little bib for Malakai. I've never done cross-stitch before, but it seems to relax me when I'm working on it. Depending on if someone's here at the time, I'll go outside on a wheelchair for some air around 2pm or 3pm for about 1/2 an hour. When 6pm rolls around I'm due for my meds again. Dinner is served between 5pm & 6pm. After dinner I'll figure out something to watch on TV. Then, around 8:30 Leon & I will talk on the phone for a while. When 10pm rolls around, I'll fall asleep when the news is on. Each day I'll do things a little different, but for the most part...Up at 6am, in bed after 10pm.
~*~*~*~
During the day on Friday, a friend of ours from church came to bring some dinner for Leon & I. She made an awesome spagetti w/meatballs and rolls with some oil & vinegar to dip 'em in. Her little package included our eating utencils, bowls, and even some sparkling cider and candels! It was so delicious.
This weekend Leon decided not to take the train and drove down instead. So he was also able to go to the store for some things he needed at home, while he was here in Albuquerque.
On Sunday, our friend's Kelly and Agnes came to visit us for a while and we had a good talk with them. It was good to see them here, since we hadn't seen them in quite a while. During the afternoon, Leon & I watched Nacho Libre but didn't do much else except keep each other company. Then, it was time for Leon to leave...which is always a sad time for us because it's so hard to be apart after having such sweet time together over the weekend.
Today I had my ultrasound and little Malakai did better with showing his practice breathing. Although, he decided to take a nap while the tech was checking him so it took some time for his movement to be checked off on the list of things they look for.
~Today's prayer request: That God will comfort Leon & I while we are apart from one another and for Leon's bosses to be more understanding and sensitive about our situation.

28 Weeks Pregnant!

2009-02-04T17:40:00.000-08:00

Today I am 28 weeks pregnant! Yaay! Things have been stable and staying the same but (this may be TMI), I'm getting over a bladder infection I had over the weekend, which I've been taking antibiotics for. That was miserable and a little scary because it can cause pre-term labor.
So I was having an okay morning today, but it got even better when Leon surprised me with a visit around 11:30am! Apparently, he planned on surprising me since Monday and used a sick-day to take off from work. This morning, I called him around 6am as I usually do but he didn't let on about his little plan. I had the biggest smile when he snuck in the door :o> His mom was off of work too, so she brought him to see me but she left him with me while she went furniture shopping. What a sweet afternoon!
Although Leon had to leave by 4pm, it's that much closer to seeing him on Friday for the weekend!

Another Day Blessed

2009-02-02T20:49:00.000-08:00

Two more days and on Wednesday, I'll be 28 weeks pregnant! The Dr. says getting to that day will be another milestone.

Today, my mom came by for the afternoon and brought my grandma Lena to visit. It was sweet to see her today! My friends from church, Mark & Karen Skoog came by too and were able to meet them. I had a good time enjoying the outside air again today...it was such awesome weather too!

So when we were outside, we saw a couple of guys in a Channel 7 vehicle getting out some camera equipment. We wondered what story they would be covering. A while after I got back in to my room, one of my nurses asked me if I'd mind getting a picture taken of my wrist band getting scanned with their scanner for their "Robot" medication system and it would only be of my arm. (Every time a patient gets their meds, the nurse verfies which meds to give and then scans in each pill from the packet it's in). So, my mom said jokingly "I bet those Channel 7 news guys will be the one's to take the picture"...I'm like, "Yeah, right!" Then about 20 minutes later, in came those Channel 7 guys. Ha! All they had to get was a clip of the nurse scanning my wristband on my arm though. Sooo, my arm will be featured in a news story that will air on Sunday night's 10pm news. Funny, huh?!

Weekend with my Wife

2009-02-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

Friday had finally come...the day I left Santa Fe to go see Sonya in the hospital, after a week without being with her. I decided to take the Railrunner after work and a co-worker of mine who already rides it, showed me the ropes of the commute. All I had to pay was a buck to take the Park & Ride bus from work to the station at the South Capital complex. Yeah, the ride took longer than a vehicle commute, but it was pretty smooth. It was kinda funny watching how people loose their balance as they walk through the train...When I got to downtown Albuquerque station, my grandma who came to Albuq. also, was able to pick me up. I arrived to Sonya's room around 7pm & it was so awesome to see my wife after being away from her for a week! She welcomed me w/open arms of course and we spent the night catching up. Not that we didn't do that during the week on the phone, but it's just different face to face.

So far, the weekend has been a relaxing time with Sonya. Not a thing to do. I kind of needed this rest for quite some time. On Saturday, the Dr. gave the okay for her to get some fresh air for 1/2 an hour so I wheeled her outside on a wheelchair. It was disappointing though, to see that there were a few people outside smoking where there were clearly big signs that said "This Is A Smoke-Free Campus", having no consideration for patients (or my wife) who want to go outside for FRESH AIR! We just rolled to another area & enjoyed some people-watching. That fresh air was good for Sonya and we were told that she can have a 1/2 hour each day of being outside!!

Today, I'll be getting a ride back home with my mom who will be visiting Sonya for a while. But it will be hard to leave Sonya again. :o( I'm basically going to keep working to accrue more hours until it's time for our baby to be born. I hope to see Sonya at least more than once during the week though...besides spending weekends with her.

My prayer request is that God give me comfort while I'm away from Sonya and Malakai...and that this trial will pass with God's Grace.

Day 7 @ Presbyterian

2009-01-30T10:28:00.000-08:00

Tonight it will be a whole 7 days I've been in this hospital. I'm actually finding that my tolerance is high for just being stuck on bedrest. Although some may say "Ugh, I'd go crazy" or "You poor thing, you must be getting bored", I actually have SO much to be thankful for in here.

*Most of my necessities are at my fingertips

*I have a tray-table that rolls wherever I need it and it holds almost everything I need for the day

*I get 3 meals a day including a few choices for each...and I get to ask for certain snacks whenever I want.

*My nurses are always so nice and are willing to make me comfortable in any way

*My window view is of the outside world from the 5th floor

*My bed is comfy and includes little feet circulation pumps I can connect to so I don't get blood clots.

*All the pillows I can possibly use to make me comfy.

*Cable TV

*Heating or A/C that works

*My laptop w/ internet connection that's not as slow as dial-up....and includes a camera!

*MOST OF ALL, I have my Abba, Father who Loves Me so much and sustains me each day with breath of life as He also cares for my baby...and Who has given me all of you who Love me so much and pray for me....my husband...and Malakai.

God Bless You!

~Today's prayer request: First, Praise and Thank God that He is in control and has given Malakai another day to develop. Second, that my womb continues to stay as stable as it's been and continues to nourish little Malakai.

27 weeks...& on bed rest!

2009-01-28T17:36:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. It's been a while since I've given a status here. For those of you who know my current situation, this may be redundant.
******
Well, there I was Friday the 23rd at my 4:00 ultrasound appt. I had invited my mom to come along w/me too! I got the ultrasound tech I asked for too...Kym! She's so nice & let's me see everything she's measuring on the monitor. So the last thing she measured was my cervix, which she made a comment on & said it was measuring a little short. She went to call my Dr. to see what she'd advise me to do...Kym came back in & said my Dr. wanted to see me right away. I'm like..."Now, now?!" I guess I wasn't understanding how serious "measuring short" meant. So I'm off to my Dr.'s office a block down the Rd. & she examined me right away, had a concerned look on her face, said I was 3cm dilated....even the nurse who she was showing gave me a weird look of concern. Once my Dr. started instructing me on what to do next, I was beginning to get scared. Basically, get to the hospital into Labor & Delivery, they'd get me on meds, then I'd be taken by ambulance to Presbyterian in Albuquerque! Woh, I was about to freak out & I began to tear up...but I couldn't, I shouldn't...I needed to focus on what to do next & keep my head clear on what I was instructed to do. I prayed that the Lord would keep my head clear & guide me & protect me on my way. Once I got to the hospital parking lot, I didn't even want to walk to the doors! I took the elevator, prayed the whole way, got to registration....called up Leon to leave work to get to the hospital right away! By then it was about 5 til 5:00...registered & waited for a nurse & wheelchair to take me up and by that time Leon got to the hospital.
So sparing some details, it was a night of many "firsts", as I've shared w/some of you...First I.V., first time being admitted, first time catheter, first time in a helicopter....yup, a helicopter! Once my Dr. got to the hospital & made the call to Presbyterian about me, the Dr. (Joffe) advised not to transport me by ambulance but by all means the helicopter. I was pretty scared about that at first! Wow, would I ever get such an opportunity...Ha, I'm calling it an opportunity! It took about half an hour before they came to get me to board the heli, so I left the labor & delivery room in Santa Fe about 7:20pm.
I began to just be excited about the flight but I was bummed that Leon couldn't go with me. He would have in a heartbeat, but there just wasn't any room...at all; myself on the stretcher, the pilot & 2 EMTs. What a ride though! It was SWEET. Once I gave my fear to the Lord, I had such peace about it & I enjoyed the trip. I couldn't hear anything or anyone talking to one another w/the headpiece they gave me....so...it was just me & the Lord all the way. What a beautiful night to fly too. The weather was perfect & not even windy. I could see the city lights as we approached Albuquerque, which was nice. So we landed fine, I thanked the pilot, and was wheeled into Presbyterian.
I had no idea where I was being taken & lost my sense of direction as they took me through hallway after hallway. I got to Labor & Delivery, which was a good size room, 2 windows, nice monitors, a bench bed at the window...but as I found out, the bed was sooo uncomfortable. My mom met me at the hospital as they rolled me in to L&D.
Once the doctor met with me, he examined me & did an ultrasound, said I wasn't dilated any further (whew) and baby Malakai was perfectly fine. It was me who was at risk of dilating further. So just in case, I was given steroids through IV for my baby's lungs to develop faster if he should be born any time soon. I was also given Magnesium Sulfate to prolong or stop my mild contractions. Boy, that stuff made me so unfocused. It didn't make me so much tired, as it made me look, but I had a hard time focusing on people's faces. The doctors & nurses understood that of course, especially when I would close one eye just to focus on what they were saying to me when I was spoken to.
Sunday came along and I was beginning to get confused about what I took at what time and what time this nurse came in or left. Good thing my husband was with me to take in everything and my mom too. Sunday night was the last night I needed my 2nd dose of steroids for the baby and the last night I'd need Magnesium. I think it was Sunday or I should say Monday at midnight that they moved me to the Maternity Care Unit just down the hall.
The room was so much smaller and I had the same 'ole view of the other wing of the hospital. I thought I would get a better view for sure...and from what I was told by some of my nurses, Maternal Care rooms were nice & the beds were much more comfy. Well, the bed was Much nicer, but my room was much smaller. So Tuesday night, I had a really nice nurse who asked me when I was moved to my room I mentioned that I thought I was going to get a different room....so she told me if I wanted to move I could because there were some rooms available. I was so Happy! Not even 10 minutes later, they began getting my things and preparing to move me across the hall. Now I can see the interstate, the weather...life going on outside! God is Good. My nurses have been so nice too.

So here I am, another day without further dilation, no increased contractions...stable. I've been saying this to everyone who gives me encouraging words....I don't care how long it takes for me to be here, how bored I get, how miserable things can get...it's not about me...it's about my baby Malakai! God knows I want my baby to keep developing in the best incubator there is...my tummy! I've given all my worries and anxiety to God. HE will be glorified through this, whether Malakai is early or whether he's close or right on time. It's about God's perfect timing.
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So as I close this long entry, I'll share something in transparency...This morning, I purposed to read scripture out loud to Malakai (and my soul of course)...I hadn't really ever done that, but hey, I wasn't alone! Since I've been meditating on Psalm 139, I read it out loud.....I never would have thought I'd cry so hard as I read God's promise for me...for Malakai. I especially cried and was touched on verse 15: "My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them."
Until next time, God Bless and THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your thoughts & prayers!
~Sonya

Not a New Due Date

2009-01-09T15:19:00.000-08:00

So when my nurse called me this week, I told her that the ultrasound tech had given a different due date of April 20th according to the baby's measurements. But, the nurse said they still want to stick with the first due date given, which I think was April 29th. She said that's usually the most accurate.

Well, the baby has been kickin' around like crazy lately & I Love It! Right now, he should be almost a foot long, like an ear of corn, Heehee.

Baby's taste buds are beginning to develop and his lungs too. Leon is so amazed when he feels the baby kick hard enough to feel from outside my belly!

So here's a photo of a 24 week baby fetus...

A New Due Date

2008-12-27T14:41:00.000-08:00

So my last ultrasound visit on Christmas Eve wasn't that great. I hoped I'd get the nice lady-tech Kym, who I had on Dec. 3rd, but it was someone different. Unfortunately, she wasn't too friendly or talkative and didn't have me in a position to see everything that she was seeing on the ultrasound monitor. At the end of her measuring and picture-taking, I got to see my baby boy moving around & his little feet kickin away. Oh yeah, according to the ultrasound tech's measurement's of the baby, my due date isn't April 29th...it's April 20th. Hmmm...

Well, about a week from Thursday I began to get pain in my lower right abdomen & my Dr. said the pain is from my fibroid. It got worse over the weekend to where I could barely walk normal and it hurts to change position in bed. According to my Dr. and from what I've read, if a fibroid doesn't get enough blood circulating to it, then it's as if the fibroid is having a 'heart-attack' & therefore causes pain. But in the last few days, it seems that the pain has been lessened. Thank God!

At least I'll get to rest a little this next week 'cause I took off from work!

Christmas for Leon & I seemed to breeze by so quickly this year! On Christmas Eve, we only had one little cousin around to enjoy watching her open her gifts. On Christmas Day, eating & family time just seemed to pass by way too soon. It's just not the same as it used to be when we were younger. It seems like family used to get along better, stick around longer, and enjoy swapping old stories & fun times together...not so much anymore...times are a'changin' I guess.

Leon & I are looking forward to spending some time with our friends Danny & Sonja in Albuquerque for New Year's. Not sure whats's in store yet though. So until next time, HAPPY NEW YEAR Everyone!

21 weeks!

2008-12-16T11:33:00.001-08:00

Wow, I can't believe I'm half-way there! Or the baby's half-way there, I should say. I am now a proud owner of stretch marks that are beginning to show! I'm not quite ready for a belly-shot though. *sigh* Maybe in a few days....
Next Wednesday, I get to see my baby again! There were a few pictures that the ultrasound tech didn't get to capture on December 3rd, so I'll be there again. Yaay!
This week, I have to be especially careful with the snow so I don't slip & fall & break something. But I do love the snow! Lately, I've been in pain with my tail-bone whenever I sit down, it's getting harder to bend down to pick things up, and the ligaments on my right leg were overstretched so there's some pain there. I've also been more clumsy than I was to begin with...dropping almost everything I try to pick up or hang on to. Other than that, I've been feeling great.
My next Dr. appt is Friday morning...so we'll see how that goes.

It's a BOY!!!!!!

2008-12-04T18:53:00.000-08:00

How awesome GOD is... He has answered our prayers not only now but in Sonya getting pregnant and to be having the baby in the spring as we had prayed for. He has blessed us so much that all Glory goes to him. Our little one has been kicking a lot lately, well that's what Sonya always clues me in on and she's been so awesome in dealing with all the changes going on with her emotionally and physically. I am totally blessed and all glory goes to God.

Yesterday we were once again blessed to see our little miracle. We went to a different imaging center to see how the baby is now developing. The baby would not stop moving enough for the technician to get good images of his little profile. We got to see the baby's heart, brain, spine and bones...I can keep going on and on. We had a very friendly technician who let my wife see everything and we got several pics. We did get to see the baby's little "parts" confirming it's a boy... We won't embarass him yet by showing his picture here.

Seeing our baby's images yesterday reminded me of

Psalm 139:13-18...

13 For you formed my inward parts;you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,the days that were formed for me,when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.I awake, and I am still with you

Feelin' Better

2008-11-17T18:17:00.000-08:00

I'm finally getting over my morning sickness, but I still feel so yucky & bloated after eating a meal. Also, I just got over a cold where I had to stay home for 3 days last weekend. It's so hard getting through a cold when you can't take a darn thing. I was just too concerned about even taking Tylenol for a headache that happened to last for a whole day & night! I was just miserable, but I got through it though.

As for the fibroid, my nurse said that it's grown from 5cm to 7cm within a month. At this point, they're just going to monitor it by ultrasound once a month. The good news about that is we get to see the baby that often! Please pray that the Lord removes the fibroid or stops it from growing.

Now, I'm 17 weeks pregnant and the baby weighs about as much as a turnip (I know, ugly picture), 5 ounces, and is about 5 inches from head to rump. I should be able to feel the baby kick any time now! Excitiiiing! In just a few weeks we should know the baby's sex. What an awesome birthday gift...to know if our baby's a boy or girl! Can't wait. Please pray that the Lord gives us that opportunity to find out.

Leon is so happy through this pregnancy! He has such a smile on his face, just seeing how my tummy has grown.

2008-11-03T18:26:00.000-08:00

Hi there everyone! I'm just here kickin' it in the womb. They caught me by surprise when they took my picture today, so I didn't get a chance to wave or anything like that. I hear my mommy's feeling much better and I'm noticing that she's having to eat less crackers for her tummy aches. I hear her burping all the time though...I think I can even hear her voice when she's singing songs to Abba. What's also amazing is I can taste some of the things she's been eating too. I think I've heard my daddy's voice saying hi to me! I can't wait to see my mommy & daddy. Abba is taking such good care of me in here...but I hope that mommy starts drinking more water! Keep me in your prayers, Okay?!

Gettin' Better

2008-10-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

It seems as though my nausea has been getting better & I feel less yucky. Little by little, one day at a time. I was told that this month I should begin to feel more healthy & eventually have boosts of energy throughout the day.

The baby has developed fingerprints & toeprints by now and can suck his or her thumb. BTW, many people have been asking if I want to find out if my baby's a girl or boy. Well, I remember there was a time (way before this child was even a twinkle in my eye) when I was certain that I did not want to know the sex and knew I wanted to be surprised. But now, I'm certain that's changed. I do want to know if my baby is a boy or girl! That should be something that might be determined for my next ultrasound on Nov. 3rd!

At this point the baby can grab with the little fingers and wiggle them too. Baby should be about the length of a lemon, 3 1/2" and about 1 1/2 ounces, and baby can even squint & frown! How cute is that!

My Dr. appt went well on Oct. 22nd and I got to meet my doctor, Dr. Laura Wolfswinkel. She is so nice & easy to talk to. I asked her about my fibroid and she said there's a possibility I'll have to do a C-section when it's time. That made me kind of sad, but if it's what's best for our baby, then I'm fine with that. I was able to hear the baby's heartbeat, which is such an amazing thing to hear from inside my tummy. I can't wait to see the baby again in the ultrasound though.

Over the 1st hump

2008-10-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

I'm now 13 weeks pregnant and just over the 1st trimester hump! My nauseousness is slowly going away but it seems like I'm eating every 2 hours so that I don't leave my stomach feeling empty. It's so funny how I've been belchin' like a man lately. I just can't help this inevitable pregnancy symptom of indigestion. Hopefullly, I don't have an overwhelming urge to belch in public...how embarrassing that would be. (lol)

I'm getting a little baby bump now & boy are my maternity clothes comfy! Although, I don't think I'm comfortable enough to take my first belly photo. Maybe next week.

Well, we have some good news about our mobile home situation. My uncle & his girlfriend needed a place fast so for now they've signed a purchase agreement to rent-t0-own it! But, they've turned in an application to our lender to qualify to assume the loan but we have to wait to see if they're approved. Please pray for that!

I'll let you all know how my Dr. appt. goes too. I get to meet my Dr. tomorrow, Oct. 22nd.

~Sonya

12 Weeks!

2008-10-13T19:19:00.000-07:00

Not too much going on that's different. I've still been feeling queasy off-n-on and as for my appetite, it's still not much better. Certain smells are really bothering me & make me feel sick. My Dr.'s nurse called me last week & said they'd like me to have another ultrasound by the end of the month. I was told that I have a somewhat large fibroid on my uterus and if it grows too much, it can cause me to have premature labor. (Sorry if that was T.M.I., but it's medical). Hopefully, it won't turn out to be a big deal. Some women who have fibroids, have a pregnancy that turns out just fine.

Leon & I actually have something major going on that we'd like everyone to keep in prayer. Our old mobile home still hasn't sold and we need to find someone acceptable to live in it within the next 2 weeks! Otherwise, the current landlord will make us move out the mobile home and that's something we just can't afford right now. What a time to have such a trial in our lives. But we know and trust that God is in control. Honestly, Leon has had a hard time fully enjoying this pregnancy because of such a burden it's been. (Please pray that the Lord will reveal an answer to us soon).

~In His Strength, Sonya

11 Weeks Pregnant

2008-10-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

I couldn't believe it when I found out I was pregnant! I had a feeling something was not normal. It was August 28th and I was off from work that day when I got me a home pregnancy test. I had dropped Leon off at work after our lunch together when he told me to go get the home test. I felt so weird when I saw that positive result...It's like I knew I was pregnant, but the positive result just made it so real. We didn't really expect this either because at the beginning of August, my aunt had passed away and my body went through a time of stress & emotion.

But Praise God! Leon & I had been trying for several months but it was in His perfect timing that we were blessed to conceive. Not to mention, a time that I prayed about becoming pregnant. You see, I would often think to myself that if I were to get pregnant I'd prefer it during the cold weather months so that I could have a nice summer-time of maternity leave with my baby. (Silly me!) So God answered my prayer! He's so Good!

As for Leon, he's been taking on several chores that I used to handle...like changing the cat litter, feeding our 2 cats, and lifting laundry and....he's so good to me, my hubby! As for me, I've been getting nauseated 2 to 3 times a day, but no hurling! I've been taking my vitamins and omega-3 every day, eating often, and not letting my stomach get empty. If I do that, I'll feel just rotton.

Leon & I are so amazed and blessed! So on Oct 2nd, I had my first ultrasound so that we could know for sure how far along I was. The ultrasound tech said I was 10 weeks according to the measurements. It was so awesome to see the movement of the baby and the little hands & feet just waving around.

Well, I hope to keep up often with this blog to let everyone know the progress we're making. Oct. 22nd is my next Dr. Appt.

Until next time, God Bless!