Roll Over!

April 17, 2014

Cash started rolling over to his back today!  He usually sticks it out for tummy time for awhile until he gets screaming mad and rolls over to his back- then he's fine :)

Beautiful Baby

April 15, 2014

This beautiful boy still refuses to laugh! (and we all know how funny his mom is...)

4 Months old!

April 9, 2014

3 months old

What a beautiful Baby!

Ear infections are crappy

This is at the Ronald McDonald house, our last night we stayed there.  The turtle my mom brought was a hit, and this baby slept through the night!  (and has been back to it ever since).

After surgery, Cash had a couple rounds of ear infections.  We went to Boise twice to see the Dr that put his tubes in.  They sucked out all the infection each time and put him on antibiotics, ear drops, and even an ointment.  The third go around we requested to see a Dr in Twin (that was lots of trips to Boise for a 5 minute appointment).  We went to the Twin Dr twice before they decided they needed to put new tubes in his ears altogether. We did one final round of all the meds before scheduling our surgery appointment with our Boise doctor.  Magically the infection left and stayed gone!  Poor Cash had infection in both ears from January to May.  We used the booger sucker to suck out the infections that was coming out of his ears, usually twice a day.  It was gross, and none of our favorite things to do.  There were days that I thought might not ever end wit ha grumpy baby, but overall this little guy was an angel.  For having the infection as long and bad as he did- he was a trooper!

Post op

We got to Cash's post op room just as he was waking up from anesthesia.  He woke up a little grumpy (the good kind) but nothing too terrible.  I was surprised at how well I held it together (I only let a few tears run down my cheek), but it was amazing to see him.

He hated his arm splints and fought them a lot at first.  After he got used to them he was super good.

 Cash liked to be held.  Originally I told Stewart to go back and get a good night's sleep and come trade me in the morning.  I was glad he stayed all night.  We traded off every hour and a half or so, sitting in this horribly uncomfortable (seriously- who makes such uncomfortable furniture, then sells it to a hospital!?!) rocking chair, and sleeping on the (compared to the rocking chair) heavenly couch.  At about 2:30 Stew let me sleep until about 6 am.  That was a nice chunk of sleep.

 Doesn't he look completely different?!

 He hated the IV in his foot, and wasn't too fond of all the wires hooked up to him.  All his cords also made it hard to move with him much.  It was like doing a finely coordinated dance to stand up, side step to the crib, and also to get back situated in the chair with him.

 Cash finally did sleep a little in the crib, but he didn't like it very much.

The next day we got a visit from a few of my most favorite people in the world (who-even though it had only been two days, I was missing terribly).

 Thanks to Grandma Jensen and Aunt JoAnna for bringing the kids up to see us!  It was EXACTLY what this momma needed!

 Brogan- although he was silly he was pretty good.

 They each wanted their picture taken by this height chart :)

 Stewart did take Addison and Brogan to the play room while Mom and JoAnna were with me waiting to be discharged.

 They finally let us go, and back to the Ronald McDonald house we went. Stewart took JoAnna and Cash in the car, but Addison, Brogan, Grandma and I decided to walk back and get some fresh air (after all I hadn't been outside for a good 24 hours!)

On the way the kids found these little pokey things.  They each found one and wanted to "keep it forever".  I decided a picture would be even better ;)

Stewart and Cash went back to the room and took a nap, but the kids and I (and Grandma) went to the playroom for awhile.  The kids had a blast (and I was just so happy to see them!)  We also went outside and played on the playground stuff they have there.  We played tag, cars, house, and hide from Grandma behind the rock pile.  It was seriously such a good thing they came.  They all saved my sanity more than they realized :)

 Grandma and the kids had to go home again that night, but we ate dinner together first (the kids ate at this little table, but then got pretty wild).

Cash loves his Aunt JoAnna!

This is our best effort at a family picture :) 

Addison wanted to hold Cash before she left.  She sure is a great big sister!

They brought Cash a little turtle that lights up and sings a very nice version of "Twinkle Twinkle little Star".  That really did help Cash relax in his crib at night (and it still does).  He slept through the night that night, and has been back to sleeping all night- in his crib ever since.  :)  (I'm the most grateful for babies who sleep through the night!!!)  LOVE YOU CASH!  You really rocked this thing!

Cash's First Surgery- Lip and Nose

Wednesday (February 19th) Stewart Cash and I headed up to Boise around 1 pm.  It snowed on the way up (so far it's snowed either during  the drive or the night before EVERY appointment we've gone to for Cash- so it was only expected) and it was VERY windy.  We got to the Ronald McDonald house, unpacked a little, did a little shopping (I got some new pants, a new vest thing, and new slippers), then we settled in for our pre-surgery night of sleep.  Originally we were scheduled for Surgery at 7:30 Thursday morning, so we were to be at the hospital by 5:30.  On the way up they called us and told us there was a NICU baby that Dr. Griffiths needed to work on first thing, so we'd been bumped to 9:30 surgery- be there at 7:30.  That was almost perfect.  The last time Cash could eat would be 1:30 am, so I did wake him up (he sleeps through the night ya know!) to feed him then. 

This is the (AWESOME) picture Addison drew for us to take to Boise.  I LOVE it!

 Cash stayed asleep for a good while, but eventually he woke up.  He was a little cranky at first, but once he realized he wasn't getting fed right away, he decided to ham it up for the other people waiting in the waiting room.  This was taken around 8 am Thursday morning.  At about 8:30 they came and told us that his surgery would have to b e pushed to 12:45.  (awesome)  They gave us some glucose water and some pediatlite to try and give him.  We went back to the RMD House where Cash choked down an ounce of nasty glucose water- he really wasn't happy about it!

 After that he went back to sleep (thankfully) and so did Mom and Dad.  Back to the hospital we went, and again we waited forever to be sent to pre-op.  When they finally took us back they woke up Cash to weigh him and measure him.  They took us into a little room to change him into his "gown" and we waited for the ENT doctor, the Anesthesiologist, and doctor Griffiths to come in to talk to us.  As the first nurse left she said, "all the dotors will be in soon to talk with you, and answer any questions you may have.  Looks like Dr. Griffiths will be in surgery for another 90 minutes, so it will be a little while still."  My jaw just about hit the floor....ANOTHER 90 minutes?!?  AHHH.

Cash really is just the best baby.  Stewart rocked him in his carseat, and he again went back to sleep  (going on 12 hours of nothing but an ounce of glucose water)  (I know I couldn't do it!)

 Eventually we saw everyone we needed to see, then they took him back to surgery (what a heartbreak for mom).  I am proud to say that I held it together really well.  I only sobbed to myself a little (I'm pretty sure no one even knew-not even Stewart) ;)

Stew and I ate our lunch, tried to watch some Netflix (horrible connection), played flappy wings on our phones, updated facebook a little, and attempted to do this puzzle.  (It was really hard, and was missing 6 pieces- we gave up) :)

Dr. Robbison (the ENT) came out quicker than I expected and told us that Cash's ears were SUPER infected.  It made it more difficult to do his job (tubes in the ears) but he got it done, and we were to expect to see some blood drain from his ears (which happened a little) and we were to keep using the prescribed ear drops until they were gone (not just for three days).

After three hours (the longest three hours of my life) Dr. Griffiths came out and told us everything went well, and Cash was done!  He told us it was a wide cleft, and somewhat difficult to repair, but that he was pleased with how it turned out.  Then we waited for a transport person to take us down to post op.  {Seriously- all the waiting- almost killed me!}

The Most Beautiful Story

This might perhaps be one of the most beautiful stories ever captured through pictures.  It was so special to have some of my favorite people with me to deliver this precious baby boy.  It was really a neat experience to have my best friend Jaime Williams (Jaime Williams Photography) with me through this whole thing.  She takes amazing photographs, and really captured this day perfectly.  Every time I look through these all the emotions of the day come rushing back to me and I can't help but tear up a little.  I tried not to put too much commentary in, the pictures really do tell the story.  Enjoy. 

This is Stewart's favorite place to be while I'm delivering babies.

{Actually this is more accurate...}

I couldn't really feel my contractions, so I just pushed my hardest when they told me to. 

As soon as I was done I had to laugh at Stewart and Dr. Astin.  They were really nutty! (I even had to tell them to shut up one time in the middle of pushing because they kept making me laugh!)

Seemed like he held him like this ....FOREVER.  One of those Momma moments you want to snap at him for holding your baby so rough!

Dr. Marc Astin.  

Reality.... I Love it. :) 

This is what Grandma Jensen worked on while waiting.

This nurse was there through the whole thing, and by far my favorite.  Rosalia was very helpful when it came to learning the pigeon nipple too!

Cash Wallace Bingham.  Born December 9th 2013.  We Love you Baby Cash!