Mom Space

I do not respect or appreciate How you treated me this morning. that leadership is not effective and it has not been affective.   Being screamed at undermined belittled and berated unjustifiably in front of my team is unacceptable.    But thank you for NOT giving me the opportunity to give feedback and perspective.   Instead I got the perspective and reassurance that I do not respect your leadership.    Since I didn't get the chance to say 3 words, here is what I wanted to discuss.   The way you acted in front of my team and the entire flight line is unacceptable.   You failed to display proper radio etiquette and professionalism.  You failed to respect your subordinates and fellow SnCOs.  What you were effective in doing was display an unacceptable form of leadership.   You belittled you Airmen. You micromanaged your production team and undermined your flight chiefs.  And because i was on the flig...

I haven't written since Landon was in the NICU but feel an urge to get my thoughts down.  A week ago, at work, we began preparation for the Corona-virus COVID-19.  As maintainers, most of my coworkers and I joked around about it however I stressed the importance of staying healthy for those with lowered immune systems, including premature babies.  While we don't know the outcome of this situation yet, I hope and pray that people take the precautions necessary to stay healthy and social distance from others.  The boys are in Texas this week and I cannot express the anxiety I feel at not being with them and the possibility of them, especially Landon being exposed.  I have several family members that are also susceptible due to on-going medical issues and worry that this terrible pandemic will effect them. In an attempt to due some good, I  tried to donate candy, treats and word books to the local veterans hospital.  However, they had already taken step...

Landon is 3 weeks old!  He is still in the NICU but is growing stronger everyday.  As of yesterday, he was 18.5 inches and is officially 6 pounds!  A few days ago he was still struggling with eating consistently.  I was very frustrated with the situation and had unrealistic expectations about me being able to get him to eat more.  Saturday I received a room to stay in here at the hospital and am right down the hallway from Landon. The first night was rough.  He slept a lot and didn't want to be bothered.  That was also the first time I got to feed him with a bottle.  I (thought I) understood when the nurses said that babies that small don't know how to suck/swallow/breath...I was wrong.  Within a few minutes of trying to feed him with the bottle, Landon started gagging and shaking.  He simply couldn't do it.  I was so scared but the nurses reassured me that it was perfectly normal.  Thus the reason he is still in the NICU. ...

Day 12... Where do I start?  Landon is doing well, he is up to eating 45 ml and today has taken two feedings of 28ml by bottle before getting tired.  The rest gets tube-fed to him.  The nurses say he is also still gaining weight and is Above his birth weight.  Thursday he hit 5 lbs and today is at 5 lb 3.5oz!  He is still small but he is tough. Yesterday when Bryan and I went to visit, Landon had a new nurse who is normally in Labor & delivery.  I had called to let them know we were coming and that I'd like to nurse him since we would be there for the 10:30: feeding.  We arrived at 10:40 and they had already given him the bottle and were hooking him up to tube feed.  I was extremely upset by this.  I'm sure it was just miscommunication but I couldn't get over it.  To make matters worse, the nurse kept interrupting our time with Landon and then came to tell us that she would be gone for a while to discharge another baby.  She...

*written from Landon's point of view Hello world! Dr. Schooly says I'm doing well. I've graduated to the "big kids" room because we got a few more newbie's in this week. I'm slowly gaining weight, I'm at 4lb 13.9oz but doc says I might lose some because my body is working so hard to stay warm. They are lowering my incubator temps every 12 hours and I should be in a regular bed by Thursday. Bottle feedings are also going well, I eat about 40% from the bottle before I get tired.  Tuesday my Lita (short for abuelita) visited me. She talks so soft and sweet and mom says she takes the best pictures. Lita facetimed Mom so I could see her. The nurse was changing my diaper and checking my weight. I didn't want to be bothered so I decided to Poop 💩 when she had the diaper off. That'll teach her! I was sleepy but when I heard my brother Hayden's be voice, I woke right up! I can't wait to come home and spend time with my big brothers.  ...

Today marks one week since my baby has been alive yet unable to come home.   I am extremely grateful for the love and support we've received but am still sad that my baby can't rest at home.   Landon is doing well.   He had lost some weight, as to be expected, but it slowly gaining it back.   Over the weekend, he was down to 4 lbs, 10 oz.   Today he weighed 4 lbs, 13 oz.   The IV is out and they dressed him in clothes yesterday and his labs are all normal.   They are increasing his feedings 4ml every other feeding, so every six hours; today he hit his max at 45ml however, I'm not sure yet how well he was able to keep it down.   The nurses are going to start weaning his isolates which means turning down the heat in the incubator 1 degree every 12 hours to see how well he can maintain his own temperature.   They said to expect his feedings or weight to go down because we are asking his body to work harder.   We visited Landon on ...

Arriving at the hospital   So, Landon Matthew Anderson decided he wanted to come early... six weeks early! My water broke at about 3:30 a.m. even though I am only 33 weeks and 4 days. Bryan was at work for midshaft so I called him right away and called my mom to come watch the boys. Hayden just happened to be sleeping with me but thankfully did not wake up.  When Bryan arrived home, we left and got to the hospital at about 4:08 a.m. The nurses thought I had just had an "accident", it wasn't until they made me get up from the wheelchair (covered in water) that they realized my water actually had broken like I told them. My contractions were about 3 minutes apart already and I was dilated to about 3.5 inches. The nurse was terrible and finally called Dr. Alumbaugh after 3 other nurses and I told her to. When Dr. A got there, she wanted to transport me to Kansas City but had to slow down the contractions first. They started me on magnesium and although the cont...