Wow

It has been awhile since I have updated the ol' blog.  Here is what is going on with the Johnson Family.

Langston has turned 1.  Yes, my sweet NICU miracle baby is 1 year old.  He is busy and all over the place and we are blessed.  Over the course of 1 year, Langston has been to the ER twice (released within 12 hours each time), had regular visits to his pediatrician, audiologist, vision doctor, and visited the NICU follow up clinic.  We are pleased to report that Mr. Man is healthy and happy and developing about 1 month ahead of his gestational age.  He hasn't quite caught up to his actual age, but we feel confident that this will occur.  The hubby and I are just so pleased with his progress and couldn't be happier.

Langston sees his developmental therapist 3 times a month, and every week she is amazed with his progress at each visit.  We hope to be dismissed from TEIS when Langston turns 2, but if we are not, that is okay too.  Langston uses Mama and Dada quite frequently, but his communication isn't quite where is should be. We are hoping this catches up with time.

Here are some pics of my sweet boy over the course of this year:

Headed Home 07-04-12

First visit to the pediatrician: Dr. Aquino

Holding my bottle for the first time

Cutest darn dinosaur EVER! Halloween 2012

Happy Thanksgiving 2012

Christmas 2012

First Visit with Santa

All dressed up with no where to go-NYE 2012

January 2013-Happy Baby

1 year pics at Centennial Park April 2013

Our Son

I started a new blog today to journal about our son.  He deserves to be discussed, he deserves to be loved, kissed, cuddled, and given the world on a silver platter. He is fighter, he is blessed, and he is loved.  My goal to journal every day, but I must start from the beginning.  He deserves that much and more. 

If you want to know about the journey of our son, please visit www.littleladlangston.blogspot.com

Langston Jett-Edward Johnson Born March 17, 2012 at 4:42 PM Weight: 1 lb 14 ounces Length: 13 inches

25 Weeks

We are 25 weeks pregnant today!  We have a check up next week, and the belly has definitely grown since then. It's crazy to think that I only have 15 more weeks left.  So grateful to get this far in the pregnancy. Praying for 15 more weeks of baby safely in the womb!

Joy and Pain

Bed rest has been a joy and a pain.  I have ordered several cute items for Langston, but not being able to get out and about as frequently as I would like is not as enjoyable. 

I'm thankful that I'm able to still continue my master's as I am able to get a lot of school work done during the day.  I'm currently working on my first portfolio, and it is a beast. 

My sister and her boyfriend came up this weekend to help with the packing marathon, and it was a really enjoyable weekend.  Anytime I get to spend with my sister is wonderful as she lives in Tallahassee, and I don't get to see her much.  She plans to return in a few months for my baby shower.  She and I found some pretty cute ideas for the Langston's celebration. 

The hubby's last clinical is quickly coming to a close, and this mommy couldn't be more excited.  He plans to take a day off before returning back to his regular work schedule to spend time with Langston and me.  We couldn't be more excited about it. 

Our final day at 1602 is March 17.  At first I was really emotional about it, but I have come to realize that God is closing one door to better prepare me for the opening of another.  The next home I will prepare will include a nursery for our sweet baby boy.  Just typing that is crazy to me. 

Cerclage update: As far as I know, everything is holding up.  Langston is still an active little one, and the hubby believes he is a little break dancer.  My next check up is March 14.  Every week that I'm still pregnant and have no contractions or complications is one more week of development and growth for our baby boy.  I still have peace that he is staying put until June. 

Updates

We have reached 24 weeks!  According to the doctors this is a milestone, and that things are improving with each week. I'm still on bed rest, but it has been modified.  I also have been released to attend my master's classes a few Saturdays a month.  This news makes me very happy as I enjoy human contact. Being on bed rest does not allow for much human contact besides with the hubby, baby boy, and the parents.

This weekend will be a weekend jam packed with moving.  Our POD arrived on yesterday, and the hubs and family will be packing it while I attend school tomorrow.  I'm very sad about us leaving our first home as a married couple, but I know God has great things in store for our little family to be.  We hope to be moving out of my parents house by mid-April. Of course this is contingent upon the health of the baby and me.

Wednesday and Thursday, I received my beta shots for Baby LJ's lung development.  According to the doctors, I should not need to receive these shots anymore, but we'll see.  My next ob-gyn appointment is March 14, and I hope to schedule my glucose screening test at that point as well.  I have been praying diligently that I pass the 1 hour test, so that I don't have to complete the three hour test. 

God willing, and I feel in my heart that He is, I hope to return to school by the end of the year still pregnant with Baby LJ of course.  I miss my students so much, and I can't wait to get back in a routine of sorts.  However, if the doctor advises against it, then this mama won't be seeing them until next year. :(





Dear Langston Jett-Edward Johnson,
Mommy and Daddy love you so much.  We can't wait to meet you, but we want you to remain in Mommy's belly until June.  No early arrivals for you young man.  We know that you are truly a blessing and miracle to this family, and we can't wait to see what the world has in store for you.  Mommy and Daddy plan to do our best to raise you in a Godly home full of love and support.  Your Nonny and Mimi are absolutely bonkers over you, and your GPa and Poppi can't wait to teach so many amazing things.  We love you, sweet baby boy.  Now please be good for Mommy and Daddy and arrive in June as a sweet, healthy, and full term baby boy.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Cerclage Update

We had our check up yesterday.  Good News: Baby LJ is moving and grooving with a heartbeat of 152. 
Bad News:  This mama is on bedrest until Baby LJ decides to make his debut (praying for June). 

I was really upset with this on yesterday, but you know God's plans are not always your own.  We prayed that Baby LJ remain healthy and strong, and that I deliver a full term baby in June.  Like I said before, I feel very content in my spirit that this WILL happen.  I've stopped googling cerlcages and all that, and accepted that my pregnancy is my pregnancy.  I will remain positive because it's the only thing I have besides a growing boy that is wiggling as I type this. 

Sooo....since I will be on bed rest for the remainder of the school year and my paycheck will be limited if not non-existent, the hubby and I will be moving back in with my parents.  We will be saving a large amount of money by doing so, and I am very grateful that I have such a large family base willing to help us during this trying time. 

Tumultous Weekend, IC, and a Cerclage

Disclaimer:  This post is for me to document the goings on of this pregnancy.  Not asking for sympathy, just want to document my thoughts.




Friday, the 10th, was a regular day for me.  We had our 20 week ultrasound scheduled even though I was slowly approaching 22 weeks.  Our sweet baby boy was moving and grooving during the ultrasound, and LJ and I felt good about it.  We were escorted to the waiting room, and as we laughed and talked about our super active baby boy, we got the dreaded announcement..."Could you please come back to the exam room?".  Upon returning to the room, the ultrasound technician introduced us to the radiologist who told us to go straight to labor and delivery because my cervix was shortened and I could be leaking fluid. 

This news was absolutely devastating to hear, considering, we were having such a smooth pregnancy or so we thought.  As LJ drove like a bat out of hell to the hospital, I prayed and cried and I prayed and cried.  I managed between tears to call my mom, my sister, and my best friend.  Those women were absolute angels to me.  Their calming voices helped me to calm down as we reached the parking lot of the hospital.

After registering, we went to the third floor (labor and delivery) to a room with no bed.  The nurse was very kind and quickly found a bed for us.  The doctor came in and said that we would another extensive ultrasound and a cervix exam.  The ultrasound tech was a sweet (NOT) lady, and the doctor had the greatest bedside manner (NOT AT ALL). After completing all the exams he basically told us we would lose our son. There was no hope.  He discussed a cerclage and recommended that I have one.  After breaking down completely, LJ looked at me and said what do you want to do?  We both agreed that we would take the risk of having a cerclage performed to save our sweet precious baby boy.

I was willed to the OR and had a spinal.  After receiving that, the doctor performed the cerclage.  After completing the procedure, his demeanor completed change.  He said that there was no leakage, no rupture, and that I was dilated more than he thought, but he stitched as much as he could.  He went on to say that everything looked better than he expected.  I was admitted over night, and things went well over night.  I had no contractions, and hadn't had any during this whole process, which is also a very good sign.The doctor said that the next two weeks were critical as at 24 weeks the baby is more viable.  But I know in my heart of hearts that this baby is coming until he is full term.  He likes his current home too much as I feel him jiggle and move at this very moment. 


We were discharged Saturday morning and before we left, LJ asked the doctor to give it to him straight. His response was this "everything I was concerned about is not present, we will still need to take it day by day, but everything does look good."  Shocking to hear something so positive from a man that just completely wrecked my whole world just a few hours ago. 

As I type this, I am on a week of limited activity.  I cannot go to work, drive, workout, or climb stairs.  I am allowed to shower, get up for meals, and do some minimal walking. 


Through all this, my parents, my sister, my best friend, my co-worker Mary, my in-laws, sister-in-law, pastor, and especially my husband were absolute GODSEND.  This people showed me so much love, I'm overwhelmed.  I know in my heart and in my spirit, that our sweet baby boy will be delivered full term, happy, and healthy.  There is no other choice for me at this point.  We have come to far for us to lose this sweet baby now.  He has already brought so much joy and love to our lives that his physical presence will do nothing but enhance that.  From the various research reported to me and what I've done on my own, I'm in a very lucky spot.  I have experienced no contractions, no pain, no severe bleeding, and sweet lil man is still moving and grooving. I pray at least three times a day that God will deliver a happy healthy and full term baby in June of this year.  And I claim it in the name of Jesus that he will. 


The man that I married has been so strong, and I literally have fallen in love with him more than I thought was humanly possible.  My thoughts on becoming a parent have changed completely, and there is no rush on this baby arriving before June.  I have a check up on Wednesday at 11:30, and I know I will have only positive things to report.