Brant Russel Benedict

First of all I have to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped in so many ways this last week and a half. Thank you to all of you who helped with the kids and even more of you who offered to help. Thanks to all of you who brought food or gifts. Thanks to all of you sent emails or called or sent prayers on our behalf. We love you all and are thankful to have so many wonderful friends and family. I know that many of you have been waiting for pictures of Brant, so here you go. But I have to warn you that this is going to be the longest post EVER, so if you just want pics just scroll down, but if you are really bored go ahead and read the post....I'm mostly just posting it all for my journal.

Monday January 5th
I went to the specialist for my amniocentisis test to see if the baby's lungs were developed (big needle...not fun). It made me have contractions so they had to monitor me for a few hours then they sent me to be monitored at the hospital. Jared picked up Mia from school and took the kids to my friend, Monae's house (Thanks Monae) then he met me at the hospital. After several hours of monitoring they determined that even though I was having consistent contractions that I wasn't in labor but since we were scheduled to have the C-section early in the morning anyway, we might as well do it now and save everyone a very early trip the the hospital. So, we just prepped, and waited for my doctor to finish her patients for the day and headed into the OR at 5:00. Brant was born at 5:42. I got to hold him for about 20 seconds on the O.R. table after they wrapped him up and as they were stitching me up. They put him in the NICU because he immediately needed oxygen and also for blood sugar reasons. For me the surgery went well other than I threw up on the O.R. table and they thought I would inhale it....I didn't. The kids and I were really bumbed we didn't get to see him that night.

Tuesday the 6th
At about 2 a.m. I begged one of the nurses to wheel me down to the NICU to see the baby. She wasn't suppose to let me because I was still nauseous and I had to be on oxygen (I guess I couldn't get enough oxygen because for so long I was SO big that my lungs weren't use to taking big enough breaths....not enough room for baby and lungs). Anyway, the nurse let me see him, but I was pretty drugged still and don't remember anything more than that. I finally got to hold him and try to nurse him Tuesday afternoon. Jared and the kids came to visit after Mia got done with school and were disappointed that they still couldn't see him, but we all thought that it might be tomorrow.

Wednesday the 7th
During the night, Brant (by now we were starting to call him that) started having episodes where he would stop breathing. His blood sugars were fine now, but his breathing episodes made it so he had to stay monitored in the NICU on oxygen. The Doc now said he had to have 3 straight days without an episode before he could go home. Kids were really disappointed they wouldn't be able to see him for so long. Mason didn't believe that the baby was here....I don't blame him. If I was 3 and I saw my mom with a big belly still and no other evidence of a baby, I'd think my parents were nuts too. We did finally get a couple of pictures of Brant. (It was hard to get pictures because one of us had to be out in the hall with the kids the whole time, so we just decided to have the nurse take some.





Thursday the 8th
Brant still has more breathing episodes so the Doc now says she thinks he needs to have 5 straight days without any episodes. The kids keep visiting me each day after school and enjoy playing with the hospital bed and wheel chair in my room. Brant is nursing really well.

Friday the 9th
I am officially discharged today but since I want to nurse Brant while he is in the NICU they give my a small room down a dark and deserted corridor to "board." The room didn't have a shower and a few things like the blinds were broken, but at least I could still take care of Brant. Brant is still having episodes, so the doctor decides to do an MRI to rule out brain damage. Brant has to be sedated and finally calmed down enough to do the MRI. Brant was upset most of the night because of the MRI and refused to eat for 7 hours. To Jared's great relief my mom got here today. No MRI results today.

Saturday the 10th
Brant had a couple of episodes early in the morning. The MRI results are clean, so no brain damage. The Doc decides to give him a dose of this fabulous obscure drug called caffine (Jared and I now refer to this amazing drug as just "The Wonder Drug"). This was supose to jump start his brain to get more connected with his lungs. No episodes after the dose. Since my mom was now here and could stay with the kids, Jared and I took some more pics together.





Sunday the 11th
No Espisodes. Finally the nurses are less strict about his nursing schedule and let him go 4 hours instead of 3 in between feedings....we both enjoy the sleep. That night they decide to take him completely off oxygen. Still no episodes. My mom holds him for the first time today.



Monday the 12th
-No Episodes
-Doc says maybe Thursday he can come home

Tuesday the 13th
-No Episodes; eating great; gaining weight; jaundice levels going down....doing great!

Wednesday the 14th
-No Episodes; Everything is great.
-Discharge meeting with Doc....going home tomorrow!

Thursday the 15th
After a long week and a half, we are finally going home. The kids couldn't be more excited to finally meet their new baby brother. It was so nice to unhook all the wires and cords that were hooked up to Brant. Jared met us at the hospital and we all took a few pictures before heading home!




Brant is a very fun baby. He likes to cuddle and what more could a mom ask for. He does on the other hand have a very powerful set of lungs and isn't afraid to use them when the need arises....which is quite often. He is a little more calm now that he is away from all the loud alarms, beaps, gabby nurses, other crying babies ect.... We are just thankful to have him home. He is very sweet and very loved!