Week 3

We are just over 3 weeks old! Wow! The time is flying by! This week Travis had to go back to school. That was a bummer for everyone! We are enjoying every moment with Parker. He is gaining weight and changing almost everyday it seems! This week we are sleeping really well. We get up at 2 and again around 5:30 or 6. We have been really gassy, but get some relief with Mylicon. The gas could be a result of our new guzzling habit when we eat. I'll try to take a video of it so you can hear this Mr. Moo!



We go back to our pediatrician for a regular appointment on Tuesday. We think he might have gotten his mommy's cold :(
Tuesday night, weather depending, we are going to Travis' last football game against Churchill at GHS. We are excited to see daddy coach! On Friday this week we will get to see our friends in Peoria at Dr. Sauder's office again and then maybe hit up Red Lobster for dinner! :)
With and without gas...can you tell which one is which
Ready for errands with Mom!

A visit with Gma after work.

A potential babysitter...

The cards let us down this year..at least they don't stink as much as the cubs!

We have enjoyed having many people over to visit and welcome more visitors as long as they are feeling well and don't mind washing their hands when they arrive!
We hope to see you all soon!

Good News!

This is a good news post!
Yesterday Parker saw the pediatrician...he has gained half a pound from Friday to Monday! This is significant especially with his CAH. We are quite proud of our little eater. He is less than impressed by this news.

His blood work came back yesterday very good and because of the great levels, he doesn't have to go back to see Dr. Larson for 2 weeks! He also doesn't have to have another blood draw until Thursday! Hip, Hip Hooray!


Buddy has adjusted to having Parker in the family. Buddy doesn't seem to mind, in fact, I think he forgets that Parker's here as I sometimes see him sniffing Parker's stuff, but he never bothers it.

We received these beautiful flowers from my Uncle Russ in Cedar Rapids. Parker will be pulling the wagon around before we know it. Everyone comments on how strong he already is. He does have quite the kick!


We have been blessed to have many visitors at the house. We love visitors! Last evening we had a steady stream. My mom came by, then Sarah came with dinner (yummy! Thank you), then Nicole and Jeremy came and brought 2 huge bags of their sons clothes that he has outgrown. This is one of Sawyer's outfits. We are excited to be able to be next in line for Sawyer's clothing!


We have been blessed to have extra time with Daddy home and are not looking forward to him going back to work :(
However, we realize we are luckier than most families and are trying to enjoy the rest of the week as a family!

This has been a week of good news and we have been thanking God for answering many people's prayers! We are hopeful that Friday's visit to the specialist will be full of equally good news.
Thank you all for your continued support! Come visit us soon! Parker LOVES to be snuggled!

Cousins

Parker met his cousins from Des Moines on Saturday!
Annica, the oldest cousin, giving Parker some advice.
Caleb, saying hello to the newest boy in the group.
Tyler and Buddy were able to bond about not being the "baby" anymore.

Four Stecher Grandchildren

Grandma and Grandpa with their growing brood

Aunt Heather and Uncle Kirk who are old pros at this newborn thing were great to have here to ask questions and get advice from.

Parker's room got a run through as a toy room. The cousins say it passed and Parker will enjoy playing in here.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

On his first Saturday morning at home, Dad taught Parker how to be a true "American" kid....they watched Saturday Morning Cartoons together!

One Week Old

Parker had a pretty eventful first week of life!
After spending much of his one week birthday in the hospital Parker got a GREAT present....he got to come home!

It's hard to tell who's more tired here....Parker or Dad?

Happy one week birthday Bud!

CAH

Wednesday afternoon we received a call from our pediatrician saying there were some abnormalities in Parker's newborn blood screen. She wanted us to go back to Cottage and have the test re-done. One of the tests would have to be sent away to a lab, but one of the blood tests would be back later that night.
When Dr. Larson called back it was news we weren't expecting. Parker's levels of Potassium and Sodium were all out of whack and Dr. Larson was not comfortable with him staying at home or Galesburg for the night. We were told to quickly pack a bag for the 3 of us and head to Peoria!
Wow! What a scary feeling as parents and especially parents of a newborn! We quickly headed to the Children's Hospital in Peoria.

This is a WONDERFUL facility where they really know their stuff! Parker was admitted and had several tests done through the night and next day. We met with doctors and specialists in order to find out how to make our little boy better.

Parker was a trooper man! He had an IV started in his head. That is where there are good veins as a newborn and that way he couldn't kick or pull at the IV. Each time they came to examine him, take blood, do an enema, or poke, prod, and mess with him he would cry only a minimal amount....in fact I am pretty sure mom and dad did more crying than Parker!!

On Thursday after meeting with a specialist it was determined that Parker has a condition known as CAH. It is a genetic disorder where he received 2 mutated genes one from Travis and one from me. Travis and I are only carriers of this gene which is why we don't have the condition that Parker does.

With CAH Parker's body can not break down potassium so his levels get to high, and he gets rid of too much sodium in his urine so his levels get to low. He was not showing any signs of this condition when we took him to Peoria because he was still living on my hormones left over from pregnancy. However, if the blood screen had come back 2 days later he would have started to get really sick.

Travis and I are thankful that this condition was caught early, can be treated with medication daily , and that Parker can still have a completely normal life as our perfect little boy!

Thanks to everyone who has sent prayers our way and kept our family in your thoughts. We will see many doctors during this first year of life because Parker will grow so quickly we'll have to stay on top of the medicine dosage to ensure he doesn't get sick, but it appears he will be just fine. He is responding well to the medication and doesn't fuss when it is put into his bottle.

We are thankful and lucky that this disease is easily treated. We saw many families in Peoria who have it MUCH worse off than we do.

First Doctor's Visit

Today was Parker's first visit to the doctor. He did a great job!


Parker was born weighing 8lbs. 7 oz. ; he left the hospital weighing 7lbs. 14 oz. on Sunday and today weighs 8lbs. 0 oz.
He is currently in the 50th percentile for weight. He is in the 90th percentile for his height. He's going to be tall lke his daddy.


Dr. Larson came in and checked him over. She was a little concerned with his jaundice and ordered another blood test. The test came back with very low levels and she wasn't concerned.
Dr. Larson was very helpful in answering all the questions the new mom and dad had and helped us to remember some things we had forgotten to take care of. We will see her again next week.

After the doctor we ran our first family errand. A trip to Wal-Mart.

Here Parker is learning how we must always stop and look for new PEZ....and he was so lucky today to find 3 PEZ on his first trip to Wally-World! (Dad was happy too!)


When we came home everyone got a nice rest and then we were excited to have visitors. My friend Krista came by with dinner (THANK YOU) and the Kleine's stopped by to meet a new friend!. Kannon was very excited to have a new "boy" to hang out with and informed Parker that in 4 years they would be playing the Wii together. Kannon even challenged Parker to a Mario Kart tournament.

It has been an exciting day for all, but the excitement isn't over yet......we are having our first bath at home tonight! All of the firsts........so much fun!

Coming Home

We were so blessed by the Labor and Delivery staff at Cottage Hospital that I didn't want to leave. They truly were fabulous! I don't have enough good things to say about the nurses there. I was truly taken care of to the fullest (maybe too good) and was spoiled for a week. We stayed until Sunday evening around 7:30 PM before finally making that nerve wracking leap into parenthood on our own....YIKES!

All of our goodies from friends, family and Labor and Delivery

Parker's first ride in his car seat.

Welcome Home Parker!

This is the cradle that I was brought home to. My dad built this to put me in and it has been passed around the Vancil family from cousin to cousin and now makes it's way back to me.

Parker thinks it's pretty special and comfy!

Parker Stecher