On June 6, 2018 I went in for my 38 week appointment. As soon as I got to my appointment, they did my routine tests- urine, weight, and blood pressure. My blood pressure was slightly elevated so they had me go and rest for a few minutes and then they would check it again. I had blood pressure issues with both T.J. and Spencer so this wasn't a surprise to me. When they came in to check it again, it was even HIGHER than before! My doctor checked it one last time and it was still high and he sent me to the hospital to be monitored for 2 hours. If my blood pressure didn't get within normal range by the end of the two hours, I would be induced. I wasn't surprised that my blood pressure was high but I was surprised that I wasn't even able to go home to get my hospital bag and that there was a 90% chance I was going to be induced that night. After being monitored for 2 hours, I was admitted to the hospital and I was given fluid and antibiotics before my induction began at 10 that evening. After a long night and painful night of laboring (my epidural was not working) I was ready to begin pushing at 7am. Shortly after my doctor arrived and after 3 quick and easy pushes, little Caleb Jacob Beaman made his way in to the world on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at 7:55am. He was so cute a little! He weighed 6 lbs 2oz and was 18.5" long. He was just perfect!
Shortly after being born, Caleb had to go to the nursery as I was having complications. I typically hemorrhage severally anyway but this time was especially bad as my placenta wouldn't detach. It was a very scary time and as my doctor put it, I've escaped death for a second time. With T.J. because he was my 1st they weren't expecting me to hemorrhage, especially so severally so I lost a lot of blood and had a hematocrit in the low 20's. They were prepared for hemorrhaging with Spencer so it wasn't so bad and they were able to get it under control before it caused any problems. With Caleb they were prepared but because of the placenta it made the bleeding even worse and I ended up losing a lot of blood. My hematocrit got to 24 and they again (like with T.J.) wanted to do a blood transfusion. I was blessed that I was able to get them to wait and see if my body bounced back on its own. If my hematocrit got any lower, I wouldn't have been able to have that choice. Luckily, I was able to bounce back but I was pretty weak and out of it for a couple days which is why I don't have any photos of me holding Caleb when he was first born.
Spencer and T.J. were sure excited to meet their brother. They loved him immediately. Spencer wouldn't leave him alone and wanted to kiss and hold him. He still gives him kisses and is concerned whenever the baby cries.
T.J. is such a great big brother. He is so careful in holding his new baby brother and is showing Spencer the ropes in being a good helper and big brother.
After 4 long days in the hospital, Caleb and I were finally able to go home. We had a lot of doctor's appointments ahead of us. Me for my blood pressure and blood levels and Caleb for his weight. Upon leaving the hospital, Caleb dropped to 5 lbs 5 oz which was on the border of losing 10% of his body weight. When they do that, they like to hospitalize him. We were able to not have him hospitalized but we had to be diligent on feeding him and for the first month of his life, we were going for weight checks 2 times a week! It was exhausting! At his two week appointment he was still only 5 lbs 11 oz which is still low. They like to see them gain .5 oz- 1 oz a day and he wasn't quite getting there. We had to work hard at getting him to eat which required a lot of pumping and bottle feeding to track how much he was eating.
T.J. helped grandma decorate to welcome his new brother. T.J. picked out balloons and made a welcome home sign. It was so cute and I'm sure Caleb felt welcome in his new home.
Caleb has been busy meeting all his new family members. He got to meet his great grandpa Egbert when he was 2 weeks old.
He also got to meet his grandma and grandpa Beaman. They came up for a week to meet little Caleb and spend some time with us. It was so great to have them here.
Caleb gets his middle name from his uncle Jake. Caleb also got to meet his uncle Jake and we were lucky to get a photo of them together.
We were so happy that Caleb came before Father's day. It was so great to celebrate Father's Day with all 3 boys and attend church together. Here are our handsome boys with their handsome dad. I am one lucky girl.
We had some family photos taken when Caleb was two weeks old. I hate not having updated family photos. Here are the photos we had taken. I love this family of ours.
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