ups and downs....

I wish I could say things were going excellent, but it has been another crazy day.  

Jacob's holding of his breath is no longer thought of being because he is in pain... the doctors aren't sure why he is doing it.  They have been running tests all day.  They are doing brain scans, genetic testing and all sorts of stuff.  Results are not back as of yet.  Also, he is back with a breathing tube down his throat.  :(  That is a big step backwards.

He now has a catheter for his urine, an oxygen tube, is being feed through a IV...  He looked so much worse than yesterday because of all the machines and tubes.  Its a hard thing to see.  

Good news though is that he opened both his eyes today and was looking at us!  It was the first time I have seen him with both eyes open... so I could finally answer Nico's question about "What color eyes does baby Jakey have?"  He was happy to hear the answer blue...(dark blue)...Nico REALLY wanted Jacob to look like him.  Isaac and Nico are waiting to be able to see their brother again.  unfortunately it may be a while yet.  Isaac is asking lots of deep questions about all that is going on and I know he is still very scared.  He just wants mom and Jacob to come home so badly.  (don't we all!)  

Anyways, Jacob's WONDERFUL surgeon came in today also and asked us surprisingly, "Why all the long faces?"  He said that this is how it goes...  we take a few steps forward and some back.  But that Jacob is ok and he is going to be ok.  So for whatever reason, me hearing him say that, made me believe him.  We just need to focus on the positive and keep praying!  

Just Breathe Baby....

It has been one very busy day to say the least.  The surgery this morning went excellent.  The surgeons said that Jacob being big really did make it easier.  And they were done quicker than normal.  :)  So I was so happy!  I sadly was in my hospital bed getting updates, but thankfully everything went well.  

I made plans with my doctor and nurse to head over to Children's at 11am, and we were all set to go... I just pumped, took pain medication, and had my wheel chair, when the nurse comes to tell me that the doctor never signed the okay for me to leave for a couple hours. So there Alex and I waited....and waited...and waited until about 2 hours later we got the clear to go.  So finally I got to go see my precious baby.  

He was very puffy and swollen.  He still had his breathing tube in from the surgery and he looked so helpless.  Lots of wires and IVs. I just wanted to grab him up and take him away from all the pain of this world.  Eventually when I was there, they took out his breathing tube, which was a very good sign that things were looking up for him.  Yet now his cry was all scratchy and he sounded so miserable.  And he wasn't peeing, so the nurse was concerned about that and he was continuing to get more and more swollen.  

Than came the scare of my life....  seriously this was the most scared I have ever been.  All of a sudden Jacob's breathing rate went down to 40 (they want it to be at least 70), so all these beeping alarms started going off.  The first nurse to get there started screaming for everyone else saying all these technical scary sounding things that he needs, so like 10 nurses and doctors ran in and were surrounding him.  Off course my mind turned to the worst and I just started balling my eyes out.  Thankful the nurse who has been watching Jacob all day decided to make his way over.... and he told everyone he was fine and just needed more pain medication.  My poor baby, as it turns out, when he is in a lot of pain, he holds his breath.  

So I just kept telling him, no matter what baby you just have to keep breathing.  He scared me out of my mind.  I couldn't stop crying than for like the next hour, it shook me up very badly.  

So that has been my day.  The next 48 hours are critical for Baby Jake.  I will post more pictures, tomorrow hopefully.  

Also Auntie Vania came today, of course right in the middle of my breakdown.  But I know she is going to be a big help with all three boys...she already has been.  :)

Surgery

So today at 7ish am they are taking baby Jacob to get prepared for his surgery.  The doctors say he looks good, so he is ready. 

 

 I got a leave of absence from the hospital yesterday for 3 hours to go to Children's and hold Jacob.  So that made me happy.  :)  I feel so terrible being in my hospital room alone, when the only place I want to be is at Children's with my baby.  I don't even know if I will get to go later today or not.  Hopefully I will get a nice nurse, who lets me go for a while.  

I want to thank my Aunt Lisa for coming for the birth of Jacob and for staying by my side, over night at the hospital for as long as she could.  It meant so much to me, to have her here and she helped me to stay relaxed.  And I am so grateful to my dad who also came, he is a strong pillar of support for me.  I just feel better when he is around.  Also, of course my mom, and Hari.  I couldn't of made it till today without my mom, my best friend.  It gives me peace of mind knowing that my mom is at Children's, with Alex, staying up all night and giving Jacob just as much love and attention that I would be.  I have such an amazing mom who literally would sacrifice anything to be here with me for as long as I need her and want her to be.  And she knows I need her now!  And Hari for taking care of my other two loves, Isaac and Nico, and saying prayers with me.  

I feel such a strong support group from everyone.  I know so many more people wanted to be here, and that means just as much knowing that baby Jacob is going to be so loved throughout his life.  Alex and I have much to be thankful for.  

!!!!!!!!! He's HERE !!!!!!!!!!!

Posted  By (Daddy)Alex

Jacob Miguel Robles was born today, March 31,2009, @ 9:45 am Eastern Time @ Ohio State University Medical Hospital.

weighing in @ 11.1 pounds and 22 inches long he is by far the biggest hypo-plastic baby doctors have ever seen. both mama and baby are recovering and doing fine.  Jenny will soon post more... 

here are some pics of jacob.....

March 31st 2009

Looks like that is going to be the big day for baby Jake! Please keep him in your prayers especially this week. It is going to be tough for him. He needs all the strength he can get. Depending on what his echo results show when he is born, he may have to go into surgury right away, or hopefully he can wait 3 or 4 days. Than he will be stronger. And than I will get to have some time with him too. Which of course I want more than anything. His birth (and my recovery) hospital is different than where he is going to have his surguries. So now that I am for sure having a c-section it will be at least a day or two before I can go over to Children's and see him. :( But we are doing our best to stay positive.
Thank you in advance for all the continued love and prayers....

Just waiting......

Nothing too new to report. Isaac and Nico have been spending the week with me and mom here in Ohio. They love the cable tv here at the hotel and that it is warm enough to go to the park daily. The boys love my belly... especially Nico. The other day he was laying next to me, sorta on my belly when Jacob kicked him. So he said, "Ouch, MOM, Jacob kicked me right in the face!" It was like he wanted Jacob to get in trouble, it was very cute. :) They can't wait to meet their brother!

We did have a doctor's appointment today with another ultrasound. I am still dilated the same, which I can't believe considering how many contractions I have daily. Than my ultrasound showed a BIG BABY, 10lbs. 3 oz. The nurse said my enormous stomach is all baby... We scheduled a c-section for March 31th at 8 am, if I don't go into labor naturally before than. So its 11 days or less.....

Chunky Monkey

Below is Jacob's face from Ultra sound on March 5th. It is very hard to see since he is so low and squished. Below is his Leg.... Can you see his big thigh, going to the bent knee, to calf, to foot?! It is very cute, so look closely. :)

We are now camping out in Ohio until our sweet baby decides he is ready to come out! I had a doctors appoinment today and everything is looking good. Baby Jacob is already.......... 8lbs 3 oz. The ultrasound showed a big tummy and even chubby thighs. :) His head is down and he was moving non stop, like always. My Doctor says he will not induce until week 39, so hopefully I will go naturally before than... or else I will have a c-section for sure. But it is good news that Jacob is big and strong. He is ready for whatever will come his way!