A Hard Week

Well after we decided to send Kolton to Fredericksburg for a few days so that I could rest and Dustin could get a much needed break, I seemed to have a rough couple days. By Tuesday evening we decided I needed to go to the ER for some more fluids. After a 2 hour wait, I finally got back to a room and my IV started. Long story short, we sat in the ER for nearly 6 hours I only got 2 liters of fluids due to the doctors not writing orders for more and a staff that refused to listen to me, we finally called my doctor and asked that I be admitted since I was unable to get the treatment I needed in the ER. So off to what they call the "short stay" unit. At this point I am regretting the decision to come to the hospital at all. The room they put me in was the size of a closet, with a shared bathroom, and a curtian for the door. After 24 hours in that room, I FINALLY got moved to a private room with nurses that were eager to do whatever it took to get me back home. So here we are on Friday, my doctor has set me up with home health care and as of last night, I have a zofran pump. This is a device much like an insulin pump, that stays in 24 hours a day administering small doses of zofran continously all day/night long. I am to get to come home tonight, or Saturday morning at the latest. Even more then that, I am looking forward to Kolton coming home. I can't wait to see his beautiful smile, and to hug him as tight and as long as he will let me. We are saying lots of prayers that this will be our last hospital stay, at least until this little one makes his or her big debut into the world.

Thank you again to everyone for their continued support and prayers. We are still very excited about the newest addition to our family, we just pray for healthier days ahead.

With Love,
Dustin, Jamie, & Kolton....and baby #2

A bit of news

Well for those of you that don't know, I am pregnant. After some long talks of "Are we sure we can do this again?" we decided that we didn't want Kolton to be an only child, and he deserved to know that special bond that only siblings have. As most of our loved ones know, pregnancy is NOT kind to us. During my pregnancy with Kolton, we discovered that I suffer from a VERY rare pregnancy related disease called Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which translated pretty much means SEVERE and CONSTANT vomiting throughout the entire pregnancy. With Kolton, it took several weeks to even get a diagnosis, but fortunatly this time around we knew what medicnes worked and to have a protocol in place. So as soon as we found out, we called our doctor who began doing weekley lab work, and prescribed my medications to hopefully get a head start on this. Weeks 4 and 5 went pretty well, with me just feeling tired and hungry at all times. But then week 6 comes along and things began to go down hill. After changing some medications around and uping the doses on others, I was still unable to keep any food or liquids down. So on Tuesday Feb. 10th we were off to our first visit to the hospital for a round of IV fluids. After 6 liters of fluids, and 24 hours in the hospital, we felt that I would be able to maintain things from home, which I was for a little while. After a couple of days, I began the vicious cycle again, so on Friday Feburary 13th, we are off to the ER for more fluids. This time, I was lucky enough to get 2 liters and come home, no overnight stays. After getting home, I was able to eat some toast and jello and manage to keep it down. So here we are Valentine's day morning, and so far I am having a pretty good day. We are 8 weeks along today and very excited we have made it this far. We are saying a prayer daily that things don't get much worse then what they have been but the next month may very well be the worst, as with Kolton, weeks 8-13 were the hardest. We have such an amazing support system in our family and friends, we know we can make it through this, no matter how hard it gets. I just want to take a minute to thank those of you that have been here for us and for Kolton. We would be lost without you all and it means the world to us to know we have so many great friends and family that are willing to help us in this difficult time. Our biggest concern with having another baby was how it would affect Kolton while I was unable to care for him, and you all have made this an easy transition for him. To those of you who have brought dinners for Dustin and Kolton, THANK YOU, you will never know how much your generosity means to us. We can't wait to welcome this new little miracle into our lives, and introduce Kolton to his new baby brother or sister. As I am sure he will be the BEST big brother. Our due date is September 26, which seems like so far away right now, but well worth all the struggle and strife getting there. Thank you again to everyone in advance for your prayers and support through what can be very trying at times, we are able to do this again because of your support.

If anyone would like more information on Hyperemesis Gravidarum you can visit the website www.helpher.org

Love to all,
The Kramer's