6 Months Ago Today.....

Six months ago today we found out that our little blessing, Westin would be born with spina bifida.  Of course we were crushed after that appointment because nobody can prepare you to hear news like that.  We went from having a normal happy pregnancy to worrying about what the outcome would be after 9 months.  Over that time Heather was able to learn many things about spina bifida by blogs.  She eventually got hooked up with the website called babycenter.com which also was a great tool for us.  The things she learned helped us understand what Westin would possibly go through and helped us look to the positive.  Westin is an amazing little boy and we are very proud to have him in our lives.  We hope that you enjoy the videos! 

I'm reporting with....

SUPER NEWS!!! Our appointment in Minneapolis again couldn't have been any better. Westin's ventricles were still unchanged...hooray!!!! Now...drum roll please, we don't have to go back until June!!!!

Casting is still moving right along. Although we finally got it figured out. When we were in the see the Dr. last week for Westin's cold/rash we mentioned what a pain it's been to soak off the casts... Well I guess we should have said something 4 weeks ago because Dr. Halvorson said.. Well I can cut them off!!!!! I bet the look on our faces was like a kid at Christmas! So Monday morning we headed in to get them cut off. The saw was loud but Westin didn't mind it one bit.

Monday afternoon we were back in Fargo for another set. We are making progress, the Dr thinks we will need two more weeks of casting and then we will be ready for Westin to have his tendon release. But time will tell. Monday night I could tell that something was wrong with the right cast. So we called and sure enough Tuesday we were back in Fargo again........ Puke! But they put a new cast on and he was good as new.  Not to mention they gave us a $5.00 voucher for the Sanford Cafateria for our troubles...haha!

So now we are getting the process started for MA, medical assistance.  At first we were told that he didn't qualify, which was totally wrong.  Now we got to sit down with a lady from Fargo that deals with this.  She went over everything and helped us get all of the paperwork completed.  Our next step will be for another home visit where a lady from Wahpeton will come look over Westin.  Eventually we will have people coming into our home weekly to work with him.  That part we are not really excited about, but overall we know that it will be good for us and Westin.

Please keep Westin in your prayers.

Quote of the day:  You have to stay in shape.  My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60.  She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is:-)

Casting.....YUCK

We have met a new enemy.. casting Westins feet. Yuck We all know that this has to be done but oh my what a pain this truly is. I had no idea it was going to be so much work.m From finding clothes that fit over the casts, to diaper changes.. to our weekly cast on session in Fargo to our end of the week soak off session.

The first week we removed them it took just under two hours with scissors, plyers and a razor blade. No babies were harmed in the process!!

3 weeks later we got a pretty good system down, this past week it only took 30 minutes and me, Travis and my mom. Westin developed a pretty bad pressure sore on his left foot so this week we only have one cast.

This past week Westin got his first cold.....talk about no fun, so we brought him into the dr to get that checked out as well as a rash that he developed 2 weeks ago... Turned out to just be baby acne and exema. After a few days of hydrocordozone he looks like a new baby!

We head back to the cities tomorrow for a head ultrasound, as well as a meeting with the Dr. to go over the results.....fingers crossed that his ventricals are unchanged. We feel his soft spot everyday along with measuring his head. From what we can tell things still look good but we will find out for sure tomorrow.

Westin has learned to smile at his mommy and daddy, and also another accomplishment....he slept a 6 hour strech last night!!! Woohoo...let's hope he keeps that up!

Of course im including pictures... They change so fast!

"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for. ~unknown"

January 30th appt update

Well I pulled up the blog the other night and realized the post I wrote a few days back never got posted!!! Sorry for that! Well this past Monday we had our first family adventure and That's exactly what it was! Our first appt was at 1:15. We left the house at 9 am and made it with about 35 seconds to spare!!! It started with a head ultrasound and this was the first one that I was around to see! Talk about nerve wracking.... Once done there we managed to eat some cafeteria food and then we were off to meet with the Neurosurgeons nurse practitioner. The news he gave us could not have been better. I was so happy I could have kissed him!!!! Westins ventricles were unchanged. We know that we are be no means out of the woods with the risk of him developing hydrocephalus, but by him not having it yet is HUGE. From all of the blogs I read from parents of kids with SB dealing with a shunt is there biggest problem. So we are still in the lucky 10%!!! Westin was also able to get his stitches out so as soon as we got home we celebrated by giving him his first real bath!

The original plan was to go back for weekly Check ups but because everything looked so good we dont have to go back for a month!!!!!

This coming Monday we go to Fargo and Westin will get his first set of casts. I hope this process goes smoothly and that Westin corporates... With all of the feet exercises we have all been working on he has really gotten a lot more strength in his legs!!

Here are some pictures of his first bath, and a few others.. Hope you enjoy!

ps. Tuesdaybwas the first time I worked with him on tummy time,so I put him down on his tummy, looked away for 5 seconds... I looked backdown and he was on his back!!!!!!!!!! Talk about one proud mommy!!!! So I tried it again and sure enough he rolled right over!!!!!!!

Also we want to thank everyone that has come to visit, brought meals, and gifts. Everyone is soo thoughtful, and we love you all!!!

The Wibergs

BATHTIME!!!

All Done!

All tuckerd out from my first bath

Im such a big boy... holding my bottle!

Sucking my thumb!

Lots of updates!

Sorry for the delay in updating, once I was discharged from Abbott, the Childens hospital wouldn't allow access to the site so we are a little behind in our updates. I'll start with the most important update of all... WE ARE HOME!!!!! And it feels soooooo good! After not being outside for a week I was more then ready. It was a long ride home because the roads in the cites couldn't have been worse for driving.... And having a brand new bundle it was even more nerve wracking!!!!

All of Westin's tests went great. He had two more head ultrasounds and both showed that the ventricles were still normal! This will be monitored very close as this can change at any time, so for the next 4 weeks we will head back to the cities for check ups and head ultrasounds. After the next month these appts will be monthly. He also passed his hearing test and his carseat evaluation...who knew there was such a thing. He had to sit in his car seat for a hour hooked up to a monitor to check his heart rate and his breathing. We are also working on stretching his feet several times a day to help with his clubbed feet.

I know there is a lot to update on but the past week was pretty much a blur of dr's, nurses, machines, lots of snuggle time, and lack of sleep! The first night home went really well... Last night was not soo good. So we will see how tonight goes! Wish us luck. We are having the time of our life with him. Every day he amazes us more and more. We are so blessed and lucky to have him! I wanted to post some pictures of our new crazy life.

READY OR NOT....

Hes here!!

Right after birth with his back wrapped up, ready to be transffered to the NICU

This is how he was transported to the NICU

After I was out of recovery and seeing Westin for the first time

His back before surgery.  I was smaller then we were told from the ultrasounds.

After surgery. 

First family photo!

Go Sioux!!

Day 2 and 3

We just want to let everyone know that our lil boy Westin has been doing great thus far. We definitely have much to be thankful for. Westin has been peeing in his diapers so they don't need a catheter anymore. He has also been leaving some poopy tar in his diapers as well which is a good thing. His head is still measuring the same which is great news and if that stays the same it means he doesn't have fluid backing up.  If there is no fluid leaking or backing up then the odds are good he won't have hydrocephalus.

So tomorrow we will have a full day as we will have many doctor people stopping by to visit our new bundle of joy.  Since things happened on Friday most of the main guys weren't working the weekend.  I'm sure we will get all of our questions answered.  We also will be meeting with the "Guru of Spina Bifida" Dr. Marker.  Everyone speaks very highly of him so we are excited for that.  Hopefully when the day is over we will be filled with more good news and optimism.  Our son Westin has been doing so great, we just hope he can keep it up and prove to all he wants to go home:)

We wanted to have a little fun since it was football Sunday and mommy let me try to put his football hat on.  We didn't quite get it on good for the photo, but will get a better one in the near future.

Here is Westin after spending some quality time with mommy.  They are getting to hang out together and both are loving it!!  Don't mine his milk mustache:)

So that is all for now, please keep Westin and Heather in your prayers.
We love all of you, and thanks for the support.

Westin has arrived!

Friday morning came fast and crazy. I was back in Wahpeton at home sound asleep and my phone rings. I heard the last ring, but before I could grab it the call ended. It was my beautiful wife Heather calling and telling me that she thinks her water broke. At 6:30 in the morning so i had to move fast being 3 plus hours away from the hospital. Westin sure didn't want to wait any longer! I had a lot to do in a short amount of time. I got up got our dogs ready, got everything loaded up and took off for Minneapolis.

While driving I made and received many calls from Mama Rood to keep me up on how things where going with Heather. Things were okay as the doctors verified that her water did break. So as I drive I thought about how real the day was. It's not the norm when you go to bed not thinking about how your life can change over night.

So finally I got to Abbott to get the scrubs on. I finally figured out why Mama Rood told me to take my time. She had scrubs on to and wanted to be by Heathers side. That's why she is such a good Mom. So finally at around 1:35 p.m. On Friday the 13th our son was born.

Westin Wayne Wiberg arrived ...at 8lbs. 4 oz. His length was 20 inches and head and weight were in the 94%.

P.S.

I just wanted to take this time on here to let you know how amazing my wife Heather is... I don't think many of you realize all that she has gone through to get to this day. She surprises me every day with her strength, love, and support. Every day that I get to spend with her makes me want to be a better person and husband and I cherish everyday that I get to be with her. This may end up being a journey, but there is nobody in the world I would want to go on that journey with than my wife Heather. I have no doubt in my mind that she will make an amazing mom for Westin. I'm so proud of her.

Here was pretty much the 1st photo I got of him after C-section:

Here was the little guy after his spina bifida surgery recovering in the NICU:

And here is was the day after his surgery looking healthy and relaxed:

 And I saved the best for last, here is the first time that mommy and baby got to be together: