Hi All,
Things are going well in the NICU. It's as if we never left. Actually I'm not sure everyone knows we went home and are back, but whatever.
Maddie is doing just fine. She is growing, up to 4lbs 8oz and 16.5in long! She gets chubbier every day, I can't even count all the rolls on her thighs. LOL!
They did a test yesterday called a swallow study. This is to help us understand what is going on with her reflux. Well she passed it with flying colors (which is a good thing, it just doesn't give us any answers). We are now playing the waiting game again. Once she is so many days free and clear of episodes and continues to gain weight we can come home.
Last time I was a nervous wreck to bring her home, hence the post. This time we both feel ready. Mothers intuition or something must have been kicking in last time.
Keep praying. I'll do my best to keep you updated.
Thankyou!
June 24, 2008
June 20, 2008
Back in the NICU 6-20-08
Hi everyone,
What a crazy week this has been. We are actually back in the NICU.
Monday night after a bottle Maddie began breathing really shallow, she took a big gasping breath and we looked at her. She had begun to turn blue. Patting her on the back and other stimulation would not bring her back and I ended up having to do CPR. It only took about 1-2 minutes but she began to pink up and breathe well on her own. We were staff-flighted to Kosair and after 2 minutes in the ER she was off of all O2 and looking like her old self again. They admitted us to the NICU (only the 2nd baby in 7 years to return, rather than go to the PICU) for observation and we are still there. She will probably be there for another few days. We've been working with speech therapy and a lactation consultant to see if we can remedy this problem and hopefully have no more repeat episodes.
She has done well all week and we are beginning to calm down and feel a little better about the whole situation.
Please keep us in your prayers that she will grow stronger and bigger and when she does come home again will be able to stay there.
Thank you!
What a crazy week this has been. We are actually back in the NICU.
Monday night after a bottle Maddie began breathing really shallow, she took a big gasping breath and we looked at her. She had begun to turn blue. Patting her on the back and other stimulation would not bring her back and I ended up having to do CPR. It only took about 1-2 minutes but she began to pink up and breathe well on her own. We were staff-flighted to Kosair and after 2 minutes in the ER she was off of all O2 and looking like her old self again. They admitted us to the NICU (only the 2nd baby in 7 years to return, rather than go to the PICU) for observation and we are still there. She will probably be there for another few days. We've been working with speech therapy and a lactation consultant to see if we can remedy this problem and hopefully have no more repeat episodes.
She has done well all week and we are beginning to calm down and feel a little better about the whole situation.
Please keep us in your prayers that she will grow stronger and bigger and when she does come home again will be able to stay there.
Thank you!
June 15, 2008
Home At Last 6-15-08
Well, our NICU journey has come to an end. We are at home. I cannot believe that this day has already arrived. Time has flown by.
Maddie is doing very well. She is home on a monitor and we will have home nursing care twice a week for the next two weeks. I know that I should sound more excited, and don't get me wrong. We are so happy she is here. But also terrified! We have left the security of the NICU. The security of having doctors and nurses right there in case anything went wrong. Of having all the tools necessary for anything that might come up. Now we must face these challenges on our own. They say that these feelings are normal and that within a few weeks will subside. I hope they are right.
Keep praying for us. Pray for peace for Jeff and I, pray for Maddie's health, that she continues to do well.
Thank you.
June 13, 2008
Self Care Room 6-13-08
Hi Everyone,
I am typing this with just one hand, because my other is occupied holding our beautiful girl. Maddie has been having a hard time with her bottles at night and has been choking on them thus delaying our trip home. So, I elected to stay with her 24/7 and basically strictly breastfeed which she does amazingly well with. If all goes well we will be headed home Sunday.
Keep praying and thank you all for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.
I am typing this with just one hand, because my other is occupied holding our beautiful girl. Maddie has been having a hard time with her bottles at night and has been choking on them thus delaying our trip home. So, I elected to stay with her 24/7 and basically strictly breastfeed which she does amazingly well with. If all goes well we will be headed home Sunday.
Keep praying and thank you all for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.
June 10, 2008
Not Wednesday 6-10-08
So we've been pushed back till Friday at the earliest to come home. But we're ready. She's passed her car seat test (see picture) and hearing screen. We've been trained in the giving of the medication, monitor managment, and CPR. All that is left is the eye exam tomorrow, take pictures and to go home! Keep praying, we need 3 episode free days to get home.
June 9, 2008
Many Changes 6-9-08
Well, I can't believe this day has come. They are talking about sending her home sometime this week! She now weighs 4lbs 1oz and is taking all her bottles at night and breastfeeding during the day. She has continuously gained weight and has been keeping her numbers up. She has also been moved out of her isollette (enclosed bed) into a open crib and has been able to keep her temperature up. If she can continue to gain weight and not drop her heart rate or O2 they will let us finally take her home. Possibly as soon as Wednesday! Aghhhhh!!!! We are so excited. Keep your fingers crossed and pray that these things happen.
June 5, 2008
Rolling Rolling Rolling 6-5-08
3lbs 13oz, no O2, taking bottles and nursing! Woohooo! What a day, I'm pooped! LOL
Nurses are starting to predict a coming home date. Keep your fingers crossed and keep praying. The light is getting brighter!
Nurses are starting to predict a coming home date. Keep your fingers crossed and keep praying. The light is getting brighter!
June 4, 2008
Feeding Frenzy 6-4-08
Hi Everyone!
We have some big news. Maddie was able to take her first bottle! She loved it and did very well. She took 11ml yesterday and 15 today. Today they stopped her continuous flow of feeds and started her on an 3 hour schedule. She is allowed 1 bottle a day and tomorrow she is going to get 1 bottle and 1 breastfeeding session! WOOOHOOOO! I can't wait. This feels like the biggest step towards coming home so far. They will work her up to breastfeeding while I'm there and bottle feeding when I'm not over the next week or two depending on how she tolerates this. She heard the nurse and nurse practitioner talking and when they said something about her pulling her own NJ tube (feeding tube in the small intestine) out she gets to start eating and she did it less than 30 minutes later! So smart.... So we got to start this sooner than expected. She's not quite up to the 1.7kg I had mentioned earlier. She has grown a little more, 3lbs 9oz, but I suspect she will be growing even more after we get this feeding thing going good.
She had another eye exam today. She didn't pass this one with flying colors though. She has stage 1 ROP in one eye and stage 2 in the other. Now, the doctor said that this is nothing to worry about yet. There is a 75% chance that it will clear up on its own. If it does not clear up or gets worse she may have to have laser surgery. Please pray this doesn't happen. We would love for it to clear up all by itself. I don't really understand the ROP thing, so I will read up on it and post more later after her next eye exam next week.
June 2, 2008
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