End of May already?

Ben had his face painted at Daycare-- he was a PIRATE! He loves all things pirate right now, and also enjoyed wearing my cowboy hat... I'm thinking he looks kinda like a little hippy here. :)

Spencer is a happy little boy...

Cool Dude

The first 'swim'!

Ben waded into the (freezing cold!) lake and actually squatted down neck-high. He didn't want to get out of the water. This was on May 2nd!!!

When it was warm out

We had a stretch of nice summer-like weather a couple of weeks ago, and were able to spend some time playing outside. Here is Spencer in his favorite place (though we've only just started in the face-out position).

more pictures from our walk

Big Boy

Ben and Spencer and I spent an hour-and-a-half exploring through the woods this morning...

Love...

I'm sorry these photos aren't in better focus, as I love them. Benjamin can not get enough of Spencer, as I am constantly hearing, "Can I touch Spence-y Wence-y?" (Ben is very much a nick-namer, just like his Daddy.) Ben frequently tells Spencer that he loves him, and I think he can't wait until he's a little older (and less 'fragile') so that he can teach him things!!

Spencer at 2 months

Spring Snow

Ben and I managed to get out and enjoy a final (I hope) snowball 'fight' this year. We had one excited little boy when he woke up at 5:45am and saw SNOW on Saturday.

Spencer is really smiling and interacting with us-- it's so much fun! Here he is giggling at me. He's lying on his new turtle quilt that Nana made for him...

Next Concrete Countertop Installation

This was a first- Jay used the tractor to get the concrete counterop in the house.
Amazingly, nothing got banged up or bruised (Jay included), and he managed to get the piece into place all by himself. He is my hero.

Around the house

Ben is teaching little brother how to roll over...
Little brother is tired from practicing rolling over...

Happy Boys

Scenes from today

Really Goofy Jewett Boys

Yes, Gilbert really did fall asleep like this (mid-bath) on the couch.

Ben's goofy face

Don't know what Spencer was thinking about here...
See what I have to deal with??!! ;-P

The Bar

Jay finished the bar. Now to order bar stools. Can't wait to sit up there with a glass of wine and a fabulous meal!

Easter Boy

Spencer wide awake after a bath. Feeling good!

:)

Spencer has been smiling quite a bit lately- especially at his big brother. They love to hang out together. I caught this moment this morning, with both boys smiling (lucky shot!!!)...

Spencer update

I received a phone call from Spencer's pediatrician's office this morning. All of Spencer's renal tests came back normal. Um, YAY! There is no need for any further testing, nor any reason to continue giving him the antibiotics. Double YAY! Let's hope that the urinary tract infection was a fluke and we can put further hospitalizations behind us.

Thanks to everyone for sending good and healing thoughts Spencer's way. It's hard to believe he's six weeks old already.

Such a love.

March for Babies- Support Team Claire Bears

My brother has invited me to join in the march for babies. As many know, my niece was born 8 weeks early, weighing in at 2 lbs, 13 oz in June of 2006. You can see the blog of when she was born at: Baby Dwyer Blog.
Please consider supporting Matt's team, and my effort, in the March for Babies. Thank you!

Ben's first ski outing

Jay and Ben went up to Sugarloaf over the weekend and Ben went skiing for the first time!

Check-up

Spencer had a check-up with his primary care pediatrician today and things look good. He is scheduled for a couple of tests next week (a renal ultrasound and a vcug- which basically checks for reflux of the urine). In the meantime, he's eating like a champ and is up to 9lbs, 11.5oz already. His overall fussiness has declined, though he still shows signs of colic. He gave Daddy and me a run for our money this morning- awake from 2:45 until about 4am, then again from 4:30am to 5:45am. At first he was just alert and not wanting to sleep (and refusing to be comforted by anybody NOT standing up and walking around), then he began to get a bit fussy. But he fell fast asleep and I had to wake him up this morning in order to get him ready for the doctor's appointment. Hopefully he learns to reverse this sleeping-in-the-day-awake-at-night pattern SOON! I'm ready for a good night of sleep...

Will continue to post updates as we learn more. Thanks again to all for keeping us in your thoughts.

Jewett Boys

Benny loves to explore outside.
Brothers:

Frequent Flyers

Because Spencer and I had so much fun during our first hospital stay (jaundice), we decided to have another go at it. Only this time we stayed for three nights instead of just one! On Friday morning, as Jay and Ben were getting ready to go to Sugarloaf, I noticed that Spencer felt too warm. We took a temp and he was 101.5. I called the doctor's office & they suggested I bring him in and scheduled me for a 3 o'clock appointment that afternoon. Jay and I decided that Jay and Ben should still go to Sugarloaf because Ben had been so excited to go. If something came up with Spencer, Sugarloaf isn't THAT far away! So off they went!
As the afternoon progressed, I noticed Spencer wasn't feeling quite so warm so I took another temperature and it had dropped to 99.5. I debated about keeping the doctor's appointment, but I loaded Spencer up in the car & headed to the hospital anyway. When they took his temp there it was back up over 101 and he was acting really fussy and uncomfortable. The doctor checked him out and decided to confer with the pediatric hospitalist, who wanted Spencer to be admitted for tests. Their argument was simply that it would be way more of a hassle to get these tests done as an out-patient (they wanted blood work and a possible chest x-ray), so Spencer and I headed over to our hospital room.
By this time Spencer was really acting like he didn't feel well- grunting and almost moaning, so I started to worry. When the doctors finally came into the room they were wearing gowns and masks and explained that they had to take these precautions until they knew what was going on. I answered questions and they checked Spencer out. Then the doctor explained what tests they wanted to run: blood work, urinalysis, and a lumbar puncture for spinal fluid (okay, even though Jay had warned me that they would probably want to do an "LP"-- it still totally freaked me out). In addition, they wanted to place an IV so they could start meds up as soon as they knew anything. I was given the option to join the 2 doctors, the nurse, and Spencer in the "treatment room" (not a spa here, people) for the test, but I was encouraged (not that I needed it) to spend a little time by myself- get a cup of coffee or something to eat- while they did their work. Yeah, they didn't have to suggest THAT twice. I stayed in the room and had my first of many hospital meals while I waited. Spencer came back an hour later, not crying, but looking haggard-- I can only imagine what he went through...
I'll interject here that the doctor we saw, and who performed the LP and other tests, is awesome. The best pediatrician I've ever met. I totally trusted him immediately and when Jay heard who the doc was that we would be seeing, he was very pleased as well.
So we hunkered down while the lab tried to grow cultures from Spencer's various bodily fluids. I was sure we'd be going home the next day... Well, apparently it takes time-- days, in fact-- to grow things, or to be sure that things aren't going to grow. So we cuddled and rocked, and Spencer was given IV fluids, 2 IV antibiotics, and an IV antiviral. These people were not messing around with a fever in a 4-week old.
Long story not quite as long- Spencer has a urinary tract infection. His spinal fluid and blood did not grow any cultures, and his urine grew some...thing. So after two nights at CMMC, they narrowed his meds down to just one antibiotic and fluids (he was still breastfeeding and producing wet/soiled diapers which made all the adults happy). And after the third night the IV was taken out all together and we were sent home with a prescription for another antibiotic. I should mention here that Spencer continues to be fussy and has... digestion issues (colic?), so we're still trying to figure that out. However, he seems to be feeling better and we're scheduled for a follow up with his primary care physician on Thursday where we'll discuss the possibility of having an ultrasound (to make sure he has two average-sized and seemingly well-functioning kidneys) and some test that I can't remember the name of that looks for 'reflux' of urine into the bladder/kidneys. He already has reflux on the top end, now we have to look for it on the other side too? Poor little man.
Anyway, we scooted out of the hospital on Monday afternoon and I am SOOOOO glad to be home. My own bed never felt so good. I missed my other boys (Ben and Jay) and am looking forward to enjoying some of this nice weather we've been having.
Thanks to all who called/emailed/commented on Facebook-- it was nice knowing people were sending healing thoughts Spencer's way. Very much appreciated.

More brotherly love

Brotherly Love

Benjamin adores Spencer and is always asking to hold him and if he can 'pat his head'... I caught these photos early the other morning when both boys were just waking up...

Spencer had his 2-week appointment today and got a great report from the pediatrician. He weighs in at 8lbs, 7.5oz, and grew 1 1/2"!!! He's in the 50th% for weight, but 90th% for length. He's really taken to breastfeeding and is a happy, healthy little boy.

2 weeks old

It's hard to believe my due date isn't even here yet! Spencer wasn't 'supposed' to arrive until tomorrow... Thank goodness he was early.

Jewett Boys

Worker Ben, helping his Daddy with one of the many projects around the house.
Spencer, watching the action.

More house projects

Here is our new dining table: a fancied-up custom made picnic table. FINALLY, we have a place to sit and eat as a family!! :)

And our master bath is coming together- Jay painted and finished the countertop just in time for the plumbers to come install the sinks this week. Now we have a functioning bathtub AND sinks. Just need the toilet hooked up and we'll be good to go in there...