A Life Update: The Challenges We’ve Been Facing and What’s Been Going On
Hi craft buddies, long time no see. It’s been at least a month—maybe 40 days or so—since I last posted here and/or on my YouTube channel. Many of you have reached out, asking how I’m doing, how the family’s doing, and if I’ve been having more health issues related to my postpartum preeclampsia. I’m so grateful for your concern, and I wanted to take a moment to update you all. So, grab a beverage, settle in, and let’s chat about where I’ve been and what’s been going on.
Didn’t anticipate having to share two health updates already in 2025…
For those of you who are new here, welcome! This is a DIY and Home Decor channel, and I never thought I’d do two health updates in one year. But here we are. Back in December or January, I shared Henry’s birth update, where I explained how I was admitted for postpartum preeclampsia. This is a serious birth complication that can develop up to six weeks after delivery. I was readmitted about 3–4 days after giving birth, and I shared that story in detail. If you want to know more about that, check out this video:
After getting home and starting on blood pressure medication, things settled down, and I was really thankful that I wasn’t taking my blood pressure every day. By the time I was around six or seven weeks postpartum, things felt normal again, and I wasn’t on medication anymore.
The Struggle With Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
However, about two weeks after that update, when Henry was around 7–8 weeks old, I started to feel the weight of postpartum depression and anxiety hit me like a ton of bricks. This time, it was much more anxiety than depression, but I was definitely struggling. Having a baby during the winter didn’t help—I’m someone who already struggles with seasonal depression, and the lack of sunlight made everything feel heavier. I’ve always been open about my mental health struggles, and I wanted to share this with you all in case it could help someone else who’s dealing with similar challenges.
At first, I thought I could handle it on my own. I’ve done therapy before, and I figured I knew how to process things. But it was getting worse, so I scheduled a therapy appointment. In our first session, I talked to my therapist about how I was excessively worried about my health and the safety of my boys. It was consuming me.
The very next day, we took Henry to his two-month appointment, and things took a turn. He had lost quite a bit of weight since our last visit, and I was really confused because he was growing longer and moving up in clothing sizes, but he wasn’t actually gaining weight. Our pediatrician recommended increasing his formula intake and supplementing with bottles so we could track how much he was getting. I had been breastfeeding up until then, and this new routine was a struggle.
The ER Visit: My Mom Instinct Kicked In
Things quickly started going downhill. Henry wasn’t eating well, and he was becoming lethargic. I called the doctor multiple times, but I wasn’t getting the answers I needed. Finally, after two days of back-and-forth calling the pediatrician, my husband and I decided to take Henry to the ER. They checked his vitals, which were mostly fine—he had no fever, and he was having wet diapers—but something didn’t feel right. We were sent home with instructions to keep him awake for feedings and continue with the faster-flow bottle.
That night, things got worse. Henry still wasn’t eating, and I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. The next day, we decided to go to a pediatric ER, as our pediatrician had recommended. They ran a ton of tests, including an ultrasound and metabolic panel, to figure out what was going on.
The results were alarming. His metabolic panel was so out of whack that they thought it was an issue with the lab, but when they ran it a second time, it was even worse. The doctor came in and told us that it looked like Henry’s electrolytes were severely imbalanced, and we needed to take him to a larger hospital in downtown Chicago immediately. The pediatric ER doctors recommended transferring him to Lurie Children’s Hospital, and an ambulance was on the way.
The Moment That Changed Everything
I didn’t fully understand the severity of the situation at the time. I just knew we had to get him help. I rode in the ambulance with Henry, while my husband followed behind us. When we arrived at Lurie Children’s, I was greeted by more than 15 medical staff members. I’ll never forget the moment when the doctor talked to me about the possibility that Henry might need kidney dialysis. I was terrified. To hear that about your baby—your tiny little 2-month-old—was a moment that will stay with me forever.
After being admitted to the hospital, they ran more tests and found that Henry’s kidneys weren’t failing. The real issue was a blockage, which had been preventing him from fully emptying his bladder, causing his electrolytes to go haywire. The doctors believed he had a condition called posterior urethral valve (PUV), which can cause reflux and disrupt kidney function.
The Surgery That Saved Henry
That Friday, just a day after we arrived at the hospital, the doctors told us they were going to need to take Henry into surgery to remove the blockage. As a parent, hearing that your baby is going under anesthesia for surgery is gut-wrenching. But it was one of those situations where we had no choice—it was necessary for his survival.
The surgery went well, and the doctors discovered that the blockage wasn’t a valve after all. Instead, it had been a growth that had formed as Henry developed, blocking his ability to urinate properly. Once the blockage was removed, Henry started to feel better almost immediately. It was such a relief to know that his kidneys weren’t shutting down, and that we were able to start the road to recovery.
Recovery and Moving Forward
We spent several more days in the hospital as doctors worked to stabilize Henry’s electrolytes and make sure everything was functioning properly. He had some setbacks as his body adjusted, but now he’s doing so much better. He’s on a special formula, and we’re continuing follow-up appointments, but he’s healthy, gaining weight, and growing stronger each day.
It’s been a lot to process. As a mom, I kept thinking, “How did I not know something was wrong?” But the doctors reassured me that I did everything I could, and there was no way I could have known. Still, it’s been emotionally challenging to work through those feelings of guilt and uncertainty.
Today, we’re celebrating Henry’s 3-month birthday, and I’m just so thankful to have him home. He’s thriving, and we’re finally starting to feel like things are getting back to normal.
What’s Next?
Thank you all for your support, and for being patient as I navigate this difficult time. I’m going to try to get back to creating content and reconnecting with all of you, but I ask for your continued patience and grace as I balance being present for my family and taking care of my mental health.
I’ve received many questions about how you can help support the channel. The best way to support creators on YouTube is by watching our old content, letting the ads play, and interacting with the videos. This helps us continue to create free content and supports us financially.
We’re home, we’re healing, and we’re so thankful to have Henry back to his happy, thriving self. It’s been a challenging journey, but we’re hopeful that the worst is behind us. Thank you again to everyone who reached out and offered prayers or words of encouragement. You truly made this journey a little lighter.
I’ll be back when I can, and I’ll keep you posted on what’s going on. Until then, thank you for your support, and I’ll catch you in the next one. – Whitney
