Sweet Baby's First Smiles

Jon Loran has just begun really smiling and sort of laughing. This is the best Christmas present he could give his mom and dad!!! We're in love!

Reasons to be Thankful

We have so many things to be thankful for in our lives. Jason and I have had a number of prayers answered in this past Fall/Winter. Many of you have been praying alongside of us for these blessings. The main ones that I am thinking of are Jason's back and our sweet, healthy baby--Jon Loran.

I am so pleased to report that Jason's back is feeling so much better! In the last couple of months, he has not needed to lie on his stomach at home, but has sat up on the couch or chair and been able to do his work at his desk and sit in class! He has also begun physical therapy. Now, I will say that his neck pains have flared up again (maybe they were just on the back-burner for a while). He has been given a tens unit to wear when he teaches, which is when it is most inflamed. Though we hope for the neck pain to disappear as well, it is not nearly as debilitating as the back pain was. So, praise the Lord for his healing hand and we continue to pray for additional healing.

Our sweet Jon Loran is really growing! At 2 months, he is up to 9lbs 13 oz and 22.25 inches long! He is beginning to smile and talk to us a little with sweet little coos. I'm on a huge learning curve with all of the many changes and things to consider for his sleep and eating, but what a wonderful support system I have in my family and friends (& an online blog :) )! Everyday we thank the Lord for him and can't believe we have been given this precious gift!
Here are a few pictures of this last month:
Visit from Adam and Jessica:

Visit from Delta, Bryce & Ethan: 

 A visit from the Baxley's

 The maker of his beautiful blankie:

Sneak peak at his Christmas pictures--I actually saw these outfits at the store one day, bought them, and during his next awake-time, we had a photo shoot! It was hysterical--he even put up with the wardrobe changes and stayed cheerful the whole time. We had a blast!

 Okay, so he got a little fussy towards the end :) This was the final shot...love it!

One Month Old!

It's hard to believe this adventure has already lasted a month! We had his one month check up yesterday and the doctor said he looks great! He is up to 7 lbs and 3 oz (2 lbs heavier than when we left the hospital!). He has also grown 1/2 an inch--so 19 inches long now.  He is giving us little smiles here and there. Still waking up every 2-3 hours to eat. Most recently though, he is staying awake for a good 1-2 hrs in the morning and evening. Those times are so fun to try to play with him. I'm truly enjoying the blessing of being at home with him and really getting to know him at this early age. Radley has been a little jealous of the attention, but is not at all misbehaving. He is learning to welcome Jon Loran to the family I think because last night when Jon Loran was crying, Radley came over to us and sniffed Jon Loran, then licked his head! Ah, brothers :).

The first picture I've had with him actually looking into the camera! So cute!

I couldn't figure out how to rotate this one. Sorry.

The Rest of the Story

After my last post from the hospital, obviously things changed pretty quickly. On Thursday morning my doctor came by to check on me and see if the bleeding had stopped during the night. It had. So, he said that I was done with work and that I could go home, but was on strict bed rest this time. He said if I had any further bleeding, our baby was to come right out. I had to wait a little for Jason to get back to the hospital to take me home. While waiting, I got back up to use the restroom and low and behold...more bleeding. Not as much as Wednesday night's, but it was there. I called for the nurse to let her know and thankfully our doctor was still on the floor doing his rounds. He came back by around 1:00 that day and this time Jason was there. He looked at me and said, "You know what this means, don't you?" and right away I knew and said, "We get to meet our son today don't we?". It was both exciting and nerve racking. The whole time at the hospital I'd been able to hear his heartbeat and was comforted by the beautiful beat of our son's heart beat. The doctors and nurses assured us that he was giving no signs of distress, but that with a placental abruption, we were at too high a risk to give birth vaginally and he had to be delivered by c-section. Before leaving, the doctor set a time with the nurses for 5:00 that day...just 4 hours! Jason and I immediately prayed and felt terrified and overjoyed that this little miracle would be here so soon! Our prayers were answered at 5:25 after a very fast and safe surgery when we heard Jonathan Loran's screams as soon as he was out. The amazing thing was that he was born 5 weeks early, only 5 lbs 9 oz, and didn't even need to go to the NICU. The nurses were impressed with his lungs and heart beat and just monitored us throughout our stay at the hospital. We continually are looking at him and telling him we can't believe he's really here and what a blessing he already is to us.
I cannot fathom life without him already and have been overwhelmed by this love a mother can have for her son.We are extremely blessed by the Lord to be given this precious child!

Baptism Sunday

We waited to reveal our boy's name until his baptism. This was an ancient church tradition Jason read about while in seminary. By waiting to name our child at his baptism, we were acknowledging that his family is the church, he is God's son. We were blessed to have our pastor from LMPC in Chattanooga, Len Teague, come up to do the baptism.
Here he is: Jonathan Loran Bintz (Jon Loran)

Baby Bintz Video

Well, after viewing this, mom and I thought the camera really did add 10 lbs (or ounces). He does not look that chubby in the face in real life. He's still only 5 lbs 3 oz at 1 week old.
I just thought my friends and family would enjoy seeing him in a little after-bath action. We are really seeing some funny facial expressions and think he just might be smiling and not just because of gas! I still want to post the story of his birth and our adventure, but for now, here are a few pictures too!

Our First Family Picture

Nana and Papa

Awake time with Nana

All my boys! Radley has been such a good big-brother. The first night he met Baby Bintz he sniffed him and licked him on the head. He even tried to stand up high enough to check on him when I was bathing the baby tonight .

Big eyes

Back in the Hospital

Well, today after school I was planning to meet Jason's mom, Jan, to go to the big consignment sale tonight. On my way there, my car started acting up again--began smoking a little. (Don't worry, plans are in the works to replace my car, Tudy, very soon.) So, I pulled off and parked in a shopping center. Jan met me there and just picked me up. We drove over to where we had planned to have dinner before shopping. As soon as we got out of the car I noticed that either my water had broken or I was bleeding. I went straight to the bathroom and it was blood, much more than before. So, we jumped right back into the car and went to the hospital.
Good News:

• Baby Bintz is looking great on the monitor--not at all in distress. We are thanking our wonderful Lord for this blessing!
• I am at the hospital, so no matter what happens, I have peace that everything will be taken care of.

Other News:

• My contractions are frequent, though still not painful.
• The bleeding was much more than before which is an indicator of further tearing (placental abruption).
• I've now been put officially on bed rest--I cannot return to work. AH! I wasn't ready for that. That was one of my goals for next week--to get everything neat and tidy and prepared for a maternity sub. This also means more days off than I had planned as well.
• The doctor has even said that I may be here until delivery. 
• At this point, there is still a possibility that I could have a regular delivery, but I am preparing myself for a c-section as that is often what ends up happening for these kinds of abruptions.

That is basically what I know at this point. I will update as we learn more. Keep Baby Bintz in your prayers! 

Today's Visit to the Doctor

Diagnosis
Jason and I went for a follow-up visit to the doctor which involved an ultrasound to look at Baby Bintz and examine the placenta. He was just moving around with the same healthy heartbeat he has consistently had throughout the pregnancy--thank the Lord! However, the ultrasound did show that my placenta had torn slightly from the uterine wall (known as a placental abruption). If you look this up (at least at babycenter.com) it isn't encouraging. So, let me just say that he is not worried as it was a minor tear and is not affecting its (the placenta's) job at this point.
What now?
Well, he is not putting me on bed rest; however, he will if there is any more bleeding. In fact, if there is heavy bleeding, since I am 35 weeks tomorrow, he may just take me right in to delivery if the tear is severe. He is insisting that I not raise my heart rate at all and not lift more than 10 lbs. Thankfully the nursery is all set up, whew! I'm also supposed to kick back, watch movies and eat chocolate in the evenings--love this doctor! Instead, I will be kicking back, writing papers and reading for grad school.
Anyway, he is also scheduling me to come in 2 times a week for a BPP to monitor my stress, baby movement, etc. He did not feel this was absolutely necessary, but he wanted to give Jason and me peace of mind through the rest of the term. What a considerate doctor! Finally, those of you keeping track know that my due date has been Nov. 10th. He said he will not let me go a full 40 weeks. He wants to induce if I make it to 39 weeks. So, now, due date is Nov. 3! We are meeting this baby boy within a month!!!! We're thrilled!
Pray
1. Continued blessings in a healthy pregnancy and Baby Boy
2. That we cast all anxieties on the Lord who cares so much for us

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!

34 weeks and spent the night at the hospital...

Thursday afternoon, Jason and I had planned to leave right after work to head to a wedding/reunion of friends in South Carolina. I had been given permission to travel as long as I got out and stretched.
So, I rushed straight home from school to load up our car and head to S.C., but when I went to the bathroom, I noticed some blood. I hadn't seen that at all the entire pregnancy, so this worried me. Jason called the doctor and I had to go in to be checked. (While we were still at home waiting for a call back from the doctor, I was laying down and Jason came over and prayed. My mind was racing a bit and I wondered when the last time I'd felt our baby kick was. But, just then, while Jason was praying and rubbing my belly, that sweet baby boy kicked! God is so good! I felt immediate peace!)
At the hospital, a few tests were run. I wasn't dilated. My blood work all came back fine except for a blood clot test. So, because of that and the fact that I was having slight contractions, the doctor wanted to monitor me overnight. Throughout the night I was taking medicine to calm the contractions down. Meanwhile, everyone was saying the baby's heart rate and movements were wonderful.
This morning they did the blood work again and the blood clot test had improved so I was discharged. The doctor said that the bleeding and minor contractions was indicative of my placenta tearing away a little from the uterus--and it had to have been minor due to the amount of blood. But, since there was no further bleeding, that indicated it stopped. So, I don't need bed rest, but just to rest. My doctor is known for being pretty conservative, so I'm trusting that just plain rest is okay and back to work Monday is fine. I'm going to keep taking the medicine to keep contractions down until I go back Tuesday for a check-up and ultrasound. As for the reason for all of this, no one knows. It could be stress with work full time and grad school at night--so many people do it, but I've learned it isn't easy.
We both feel that the Lord gave us sweet reminders of His care and love for us in this: the baby kicking as soon as I was worried, a beautiful heart beat on the monitor at the hospital, the fact that we were not already on the road to S.C., insurance to have this time at the hospital and be monitored all night. We are blessed with this baby and extremely blessed by our Heavenly Father's love and protection.
What a whirlwind! So, change of plans for me--I'm not getting to go to the wedding. However, I am making Jason go so he can have this rare time with our dear friends. Here's to a rest-filled weekend! Hope you all have good ones!

Post-Surgery

One week ago yesterday, Jason had his back surgery to remove the ruptured part of his disk irritating his nerve. It was a long day and night, but he was able to be home the next day. He had 2 really good days (Friday and most of Saturday), but by Sunday afternoon, the nerve pain was back. Jason was told by doctors that it can take a while for the nerves to correct themselves. He's also been told by others who have had similar issues that it took a little while to get back to normal. Meanwhile, it's been extremely hard for Jason both physically and emotionally. We're praying this pain will truly subside and he can have a normal life again--not being able to only lie down or stand, yes, even in his classes!

Both of us would love your prayers as we seek the Great Physician to be his healer. Thank you so much for the prayers!

Flying Colors!!

I just had a message from my doctor's office, and they said I passed my 3-hour gestational diabetes test with flying colors!
Thanks so much for the thoughts and prayers! I celebrated with a few M&M's with my co-workers :).

Bloodwork is in...

Well, this past Friday I had a 1-hour gestational diabetes test completed and found out today that my numbers were too high. So, I have to go in Friday morning, yes, this being the Friday of my first week with my students, for a 3-hour test. If I fail that one, then Baby Bintz and I will be put on a strict eating plan for the remainder of the pregnancy. So, I'm praying for good results from this Friday's test.
In the meantime, today was the first day of school, and I love my new class and I think it's really going to be a great school year!
More info

 

Good news, Bad news

Okay, I always like bad news first so I can end on a positive. Jason's back was improving as I mentioned after the 2nd injection. However, just a week or so later, he was back to square one with no physical activity to link it to. So, we decided not to get the third shot and to go with the surgery on Sept. 2nd. That is the bad news. The good news is that I am very optimistic about this surgery. It is much faster and less intrusive than the neck fusion he had last summer (June 2009). They will just shave off the bulging part of the disk. He will be able to go back to classes the next week. However, he will not be allowed to lift over 10 lbs for 8 weeks or so. Therefore, our prayer request is obviously, that the surgery would be effective!! Also, that Jason would be able to enjoy holding our tiny baby boy (who hopefully will not be over 10 lbs!) pain free when he gets here sometime in November.
On a lighter, but also important note...we are headed into the 3rd trimester. I just had my gestational diabetes test today (results should come by Monday), and regular check up and everything looks great! I absolutely LOVE feeling this little boy moving around and Jason has been able to feel him too. It is truly an amazing feeling! Most of you have seen the pics on Facebook, but I thought I'd at least log them here as well. Jason's mom, Jan helped us to paint the nursery a few weekends ago, then Jason put the crib together. Then, Mom and Dad surprise us with the matching changing table. I tried to put it together, but one piece was slightly damaged. So, I had to wait on the replacement part to come in. Well, this week it did come and Jason hid it from me and put it all together while I was gone at work. So sweet! So, here are the pictures:

26 weeks

Slight Improvement!

So, over these few weeks of 2 steroid injections, we are just now starting to notice some slight improvements. Praise the Lord! Jason went to see his neurosurgeon on Friday and was told to start trying to do normal things. So, he has started sitting up more at home and even helped with painting the nursery this weekend. He plans to try mowing the lawn, for which I'm very thankful :). He does still have the sciatic nerve pain, but it seems to be a little less often. He has one more injection scheduled for early August that we're considering. So, please continue to pray for his healing, especially as the Fall semester approaches when he'll be sitting in classes a lot and teaching 2 classes. We are so thankful for the many prayers you have said, and are so blessed to have such caring and concerned friends and family supporting us!

Still wondering...

Tuesday was Jason's second steroid injection. Today is Saturday, and I'm so sad to say there is zero difference in his level of pain. The good news is that the pain has not increased. Next week (I think Thursday), Jason will go back to the doctor to discuss options. We expect the doctor will want to go through with surgery. It's so hard for Jason to face that since he went through with the neck fusion last summer and still deals with pain from that surgery--though there has been some improvement there, it was not a cure for his neck pain.
So, we are still wondering 1) if he received the correct diagnosis of his back pain and 2) if surgery really will be the best option.
Thank you so much for keeping Jason in your prayers!

Update on Jason's Back

Today, Tuesday, we are heading back to the hospital for Jason to have a second steroid injection. After the first one a few weeks ago (mentioned in an earlier blog), Jason felt only slight relief and had a few positive changes. He was hesitant to get a second one due to the cost, but our prayer is that this one will further improve what little the first one started to improve. He doesn't see the neuro-surgeon until the end of July, so we decided to go ahead. It is quite probable that if this shot doesn't do anything better, then the doctor will recommend surgery.

Praise: Jason found out last week that a professor agreed to supervise an independent study for him this summer. That means he can work at home and only meet with the professor a few times instead of attending class every day for 2 hours!

Prayer request:
1. Jason's comfort--he is only able to maintain comfort lying on his stomach at home.
2. Today's surgery to be effective in providing that relief.
3. Wisdom for the doctors and wisdom for our future decisions if this procedure does not do the trick.
4. Trust in our Lord's provision for Jason's health and financial burdens this brings.

Thank you for your prayers! We are so blessed to have so many people praying for Jason. I will do a better job updating you all after this procedure (though the effects may take a few days to really know).
Love and Blessings to you all!

It's a Boy!

We found out on July 1st that we are having a BOY! The 5th grandson to my parents and 1st grandson to the Bintz side of the family. We had a fun gender-revealing party to tell our local friends and family...
The Cake


Votes for boy

Votes for girl

Cutting the cake (made by my sweet friend, Kristen)


Blue icing inside revealed that it was a BOY!

Summer is here!

We kicked off our summer going to Chattanooga to meet up with some of our dear friends from seminary. We mostly walked around and ate all weekend, which was fine by all of us! We even got to go back to Point Park on top of Lookout Mtn where Jason proposed to me over 6 years ago! It was the first time we'd been back there. Below is a picture of the spot where we got engaged (we didn't have a camera with us on that actual day since it was a surprise).

Jessica and me waiting for breakfast at our favorite breakfast nook.

Enjoying a snow cone in the art district!


Now, we've been back home in Knoxville and Jason is taking himself through a course independently through textbooks and online lectures and is loving it! This is a perfect scenario for him since his back is giving him such a hard time! Here is the story on his back:
Back in April Jason did something to his lower back (yes, this is different from his neck--for which he had surgery last June). He began going to physical therapy for it in May and they recommended after zero progress that he get an MRI done. He did and learned he has a ruptured disc (L4 and L5). They made an appointment for him to see the neurosurgeon about it and that finally happened this past Monday. The doctor wants to do the steroid shot to the spot next. We are waiting to get the call for that appointment and praying it comes SOON! If that shot does not help, then the doctor said surgery is going to be necessary. It sounds ridiculous since we just went through all of this last year with his neck (which has finally started to improve). But, my poor husband has spent the last month unable to sit (only stand and lie down on the floor to eat and do his work. He can sit, but it is quite painful. He wakes up in the wee hours of the morning with cramping causing nerve pain down his leg and takes walks down our street. (If neighbors see him, they may think we're a little creepy!)
Anyway, I just don't know how clear a picture of this I've give you all. When we drove down 2 weekends ago to Chattanooga (just barely a 2 hr drive) he laid down in the back of my car, but it was still uncomfortable. When we got home from that trip, he was in the most pain he'd been in yet for 3-4 days.
I'm sharing this for a couple of reasons: 1. Please pray for a quick appt. time for the shot 2. that the shot would do the trick (they didn't with the neck, so even though this is separate, it's hard to be optimistic), and 3. if he doesn't heal, he won't be able to travel with me in July to go on our family vacation :(.
I am happy to say, though, that his attitude regarding the entire thing has amazed me! I'm not going to claim that he is thanking God for it, but he is embracing it and making the most of his down time working through his independent study for this month and learning a ton. He remains aware of God's love and sovereignty in his pain.
Meanwhile, I am teaching summer school to a small group of students. That will end July 1st. It is providing a little extra income, which will help in numerous ways for Baby Bintz (if extra maternity leave is needed, or starting a savings for day care, etc.)
July 1st is also a big deal because that is my next doctor's appointment--the one with the big ultrasound! We are going to try to find out if it's a boy or girl and are super excited! So far the pregnancy has been a blessing and very easy going. Jason encouraged me to start some preventative physical therapy since I also have a history of my back going out. So, I've been twice and have a home routine that I do and will be going back one more time next week and then as needed after that. They said I may want to come quite a bit in my last trimester. I'm just now starting to wear maternity clothes (began around Week 16 and now I'm on 18) and I need to be careful since I keep "going on errands" and coming home with loose skirts, shirts, and pants. Whoops! It is kinda fun to get to start looking a little preggers though!
Anyway, that is our update and I'll be sure to update after the July 1st ultrasound and when we know more about my sweet hubby's back. Please do pray for him!