Emma weighs 3 pounds 9 ounces today.
A few nights ago (Friday night I believe) they changed her bed from the isolette which is most high powered preemie bed for the most needy babies, to what I call the blue bottom bed. It still has closed top like the isolette but less bells & whistles for a less needy baby. This morning they decided to take her bed and switch it to manual. Manual means instead of them setting a temp for her bed to be and having her use that help to stay at it (kinda like a heater in her bed) they are her sitting at room temperature and she has so far been successful at keeping a 98 degree temp. And this means .... She gets to wear clothes!
I have some pictures of her without the CPAP in her nose just waiting to get them on the computer. She has been opening her eyes a lot more recently. The best time to go see her is bath time! And tonight is a bath night! Me and my mom are going up there and once the bath is done we are planning on putting this cute little sleeper my mom got her that has bunnys on it on her. Its her Easter outfit. I think that might be a good fit since the issue is keeping her warm & if she gets too hot they will just take it off. (Kinda like what you do with normal babies I hope)
Won't be long now. 32 Weeks In / 6 Weeks to go. (At most)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Thursday April 1st 2010 - No More CPAP
Today Emma got her CPAP taken out! This is so good because you can actually see her nose and most of her cheeks. She still had a little tape on her holding the feeding tube in but nothing like what she had before.
They replaced the CPAP nasal prongs with a clear plastic tubing called a canula (CAN-U-LA ... not CA-NU-LA). It is giving her oxygen to help he keep the levels in her blood up but its not reminding her to breath like the CPAP was. So far she is doing great on it. Me and my mom gave her a bath tonight and I wasnt worried about her stats for the first time in FOREVER! She got beyond red, she was HOT pink! Im guessing she doesnt like bath time ... but mommy does! But when it was all over I got some really good pictures of her. (hopefully to post soon) I love her little face and her piggy nose!
Tonights weight was 3lbs 7oz I can't believe it, soon she will be 4lbs! OMG. I guess I need to get her a little onesie to wear for when she moves into her new bed in a few days. As exciting as it is to see her get better its sad that she will be leaving the wonderful nurses in level 3 NICU. With out the need for a CPAP and the fact that she is gaining weight quickly it doesn't look like she is going to be staying in there much longer.
In other good news, after two days of infusions, her hematacrit level is at 45! (When it droped to 20 is when she needed the blood) So she is doing good with that! We will know if she maintains it in the next week or so. They did an eye exam on her, since she is starting to really open her peepers when I come see her! And the exam shows that for now her eyes are fine, in 3 weeks they will do another exam as a follow up.
This wknd Jason & I are going to go play with her and hopefully we will get a picture of the 3 of us together. Then we can play the "Who does she look more like" Poll. <3 Things are looking up and we are ready for a Happy Easter!
They replaced the CPAP nasal prongs with a clear plastic tubing called a canula (CAN-U-LA ... not CA-NU-LA). It is giving her oxygen to help he keep the levels in her blood up but its not reminding her to breath like the CPAP was. So far she is doing great on it. Me and my mom gave her a bath tonight and I wasnt worried about her stats for the first time in FOREVER! She got beyond red, she was HOT pink! Im guessing she doesnt like bath time ... but mommy does! But when it was all over I got some really good pictures of her. (hopefully to post soon) I love her little face and her piggy nose!
Tonights weight was 3lbs 7oz I can't believe it, soon she will be 4lbs! OMG. I guess I need to get her a little onesie to wear for when she moves into her new bed in a few days. As exciting as it is to see her get better its sad that she will be leaving the wonderful nurses in level 3 NICU. With out the need for a CPAP and the fact that she is gaining weight quickly it doesn't look like she is going to be staying in there much longer.
In other good news, after two days of infusions, her hematacrit level is at 45! (When it droped to 20 is when she needed the blood) So she is doing good with that! We will know if she maintains it in the next week or so. They did an eye exam on her, since she is starting to really open her peepers when I come see her! And the exam shows that for now her eyes are fine, in 3 weeks they will do another exam as a follow up.
This wknd Jason & I are going to go play with her and hopefully we will get a picture of the 3 of us together. Then we can play the "Who does she look more like" Poll. <3 Things are looking up and we are ready for a Happy Easter!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Friday March 5th 2010
Yaaay! They took her off the ventalator!
And she is doing great! Today is a huge milestone, ... just in time for mommy to leave the hospital. The doctor told me I can't drive for a week! UGH! This worries me because I'm not sure how I will get up here everyday to see Emma. Jason doesn't see why I need to be up there everyday but I refuse to let her sit and rot in a hospital, I know what that feels like! Also everything I read or hear says that its real important to be with your preemie because it helps them grow and get healthy!
And she is doing great! Today is a huge milestone, ... just in time for mommy to leave the hospital. The doctor told me I can't drive for a week! UGH! This worries me because I'm not sure how I will get up here everyday to see Emma. Jason doesn't see why I need to be up there everyday but I refuse to let her sit and rot in a hospital, I know what that feels like! Also everything I read or hear says that its real important to be with your preemie because it helps them grow and get healthy!
Thursday March 4th 2010
Good News / Bad News (But the good out weighs the bad so I am ok with that!)
Bad News:
They did an ultrasound on her head and found out she has a bilateral grade 2 brain bleed. It means both the ventricles in her brain have blood in them and the grade 2 refers to the amount of blood in the ventricles, which is about half or less the space of them. Its my understanding that this is a common problem with preemies, so we will ride it out like everything else that is thrown at us.
Good News:
- They're going to take her off the ventalor and see if she can breath on her own using the CPAP. This is good because its a step closer to me getting to hold her!!
- I signed a waiver for her to get a PICC line put in her leg, its more of a permanent IV line for little babies. This way the lines in her umbilical cord come out and she will be mobile! & more comfortable.
- I was also informed that breastmilk is coming soon! Which is really going to help her get well!
Bad News:
They did an ultrasound on her head and found out she has a bilateral grade 2 brain bleed. It means both the ventricles in her brain have blood in them and the grade 2 refers to the amount of blood in the ventricles, which is about half or less the space of them. Its my understanding that this is a common problem with preemies, so we will ride it out like everything else that is thrown at us.
Good News:
- They're going to take her off the ventalor and see if she can breath on her own using the CPAP. This is good because its a step closer to me getting to hold her!!
- I signed a waiver for her to get a PICC line put in her leg, its more of a permanent IV line for little babies. This way the lines in her umbilical cord come out and she will be mobile! & more comfortable.
- I was also informed that breastmilk is coming soon! Which is really going to help her get well!
Wednesday March 3rd 2010
Updates:
- Came off 1 antibiotic
- Found out from blood/placenta cultures what kind of infection is in your lungs. Ecoli, and the doctors are treating you for it appropriately.
- Went from 18 to 17 on the oscilator
Today was another day where Emma did really well. Sally at Ashtead said if she is anything like her mom or grandmother she will do fine. Thats comforting. She comes from a LONG line of strong women. Me, My mother, and Jason's mother are all strong women who are fighters and I see no differnt in Emma.
Sometimes when I am not with her I look at my feet, because she has mommy's big feeties! It makes me feel close to her. <3
- Came off 1 antibiotic
- Found out from blood/placenta cultures what kind of infection is in your lungs. Ecoli, and the doctors are treating you for it appropriately.
- Went from 18 to 17 on the oscilator
Today was another day where Emma did really well. Sally at Ashtead said if she is anything like her mom or grandmother she will do fine. Thats comforting. She comes from a LONG line of strong women. Me, My mother, and Jason's mother are all strong women who are fighters and I see no differnt in Emma.
Sometimes when I am not with her I look at my feet, because she has mommy's big feeties! It makes me feel close to her. <3
Tuesday March 2nd 2010 - Surgery
Today they did the surgery on Emma's PDA. Dr Bloss came from Texas Children's Hospital, he was SO nice, he made me feel extremely comfortable with the surgery. He said he has done a million of them and never lost one! I was nervous, but I knew she was in good hands. So I went down to check on her before her surgery. To my superize she looked GREAT, the best I had seen her look ever. I took this as a sign today was the day and everything would be OK. Another day she would amaze me.
This will keep the fluid out of her lungs & it is something almost all preemies have to have done. Aunt Laura rushed up here to sit with me while she had the surgery. Mom was super tied up at work & Jason was at work. Everything went well and after the procedure we went down to see her again.
I got to see her get her diaper changed and she didn't have the eye covers for the bulli-lite on so I could see her little eyes! (Even though they weren't open) She has the most precious little face! Big plump lips, a little piggy snout (just because its not finished growing) and little eyes that will someday blink at me and turn to puppy dog eyes when she wants a new Barbie. Were not sure if she has my sniffer (nose) or Jason's its a close draw. I got to see the X-Ray that shows where the PDA clip is and it showed her lungs which look great.
Sigh, another so far so good day.
One more step.
This will keep the fluid out of her lungs & it is something almost all preemies have to have done. Aunt Laura rushed up here to sit with me while she had the surgery. Mom was super tied up at work & Jason was at work. Everything went well and after the procedure we went down to see her again.
I got to see her get her diaper changed and she didn't have the eye covers for the bulli-lite on so I could see her little eyes! (Even though they weren't open) She has the most precious little face! Big plump lips, a little piggy snout (just because its not finished growing) and little eyes that will someday blink at me and turn to puppy dog eyes when she wants a new Barbie. Were not sure if she has my sniffer (nose) or Jason's its a close draw. I got to see the X-Ray that shows where the PDA clip is and it showed her lungs which look great.
Sigh, another so far so good day.
One more step.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday March 1st 2010
Today Emma went on a differnt kind of breathing machine called an Oscilator. Its more harsh than the ventalator she was on the days before. It puffs her lungs up and keeps them open while it breaths for her. This machine is supposed to help make her heart work less. Judging by her vitals it seems to be working.
After the EKG they saw her PDA was going in two directions, up & down AND left to right. So they decided to hold off on the surgery and see if they can get it to go in one direction. (Ideally right to left)
My mom showed me how to tell if she was crying. At this point between the oscilator tubes in her mouth and her being so premature I can't hear her cry. But mom showed me that when she turns red and keeps opening and closing her mouth she is crying. And the best part, now that I knew she was crying I was able to hold her little hand and soothe her. .... Because I'm her MOMMY!
After the EKG they saw her PDA was going in two directions, up & down AND left to right. So they decided to hold off on the surgery and see if they can get it to go in one direction. (Ideally right to left)
My mom showed me how to tell if she was crying. At this point between the oscilator tubes in her mouth and her being so premature I can't hear her cry. But mom showed me that when she turns red and keeps opening and closing her mouth she is crying. And the best part, now that I knew she was crying I was able to hold her little hand and soothe her. .... Because I'm her MOMMY!
Sunday February 28th 2010
Today was a scary day. Dr. Thompson came in and started talking to us about PDA's. A PDA is an artery in preemies that disappears before they're born full term. It helps to oxygenate the blood while in the woomb as the lungs do not breath oxygen inside there. When babies are born early this artery is often left open and requires a small surgery to put a titanium staple in it and close it. That is NOT how it was presented to me.
Dr Thompson told us they found some bleeding in Emma's lungs. They believe this is the result of the PDA being open and will do an Echo Cardio Gram the next day to deturman if surgery is nessacary. Now everything is fine and dany unless as it was put to me, She starts bleeding out of her lungs and blood just comes out of her little body. Ugh SCARY much? Yeah.
This was the first piece of "bad" news I had gotten. Good news was she started peeing a lot today and they upgraded her to bigger diapers. As a result of her peeing her swelling went down A LOT. Today she also came off the blood pressure medicine and was able to regulate her own blood pressure. It seems like every day she takes a step in the right direction, even if its counteracted by a step backwards.
Dr Thompson told us they found some bleeding in Emma's lungs. They believe this is the result of the PDA being open and will do an Echo Cardio Gram the next day to deturman if surgery is nessacary. Now everything is fine and dany unless as it was put to me, She starts bleeding out of her lungs and blood just comes out of her little body. Ugh SCARY much? Yeah.
This was the first piece of "bad" news I had gotten. Good news was she started peeing a lot today and they upgraded her to bigger diapers. As a result of her peeing her swelling went down A LOT. Today she also came off the blood pressure medicine and was able to regulate her own blood pressure. It seems like every day she takes a step in the right direction, even if its counteracted by a step backwards.
Saturday February 27th 2010
Today was the first day I got to spend a good amount of time with Emma. Like all the other new preemie moms I was wheeled down to NICU with my IV Pole. (The first of MANY trips to the NICU with an IV Pole) Like the one I just took!
The doctor who I refer to as "Dr Scare-the-Shit-Out-of-Me", said she was stable, which I learned is a nice way of saying she is OK but we are not exactly sure how she is going to do. They had her on meds to lower her blood pressure, and she was on a ventalator that breathed 35 breaths per minute for her, anything else that showed up on the monitor was all her work, which was only 5 or so extra breaths. Her heart rate was ok, about 180ish a little on the high side but nothing to worrie about.
I was able to see the most precious thing today. Jason put his littlest finger up to her and she gave him a little squeeze.
The doctor who I refer to as "Dr Scare-the-Shit-Out-of-Me", said she was stable, which I learned is a nice way of saying she is OK but we are not exactly sure how she is going to do. They had her on meds to lower her blood pressure, and she was on a ventalator that breathed 35 breaths per minute for her, anything else that showed up on the monitor was all her work, which was only 5 or so extra breaths. Her heart rate was ok, about 180ish a little on the high side but nothing to worrie about.
I was able to see the most precious thing today. Jason put his littlest finger up to her and she gave him a little squeeze.
Friday February 26th 2010
After having contractions since 9:00 o'clock the night before at 4AM nurse Ashley in Labor & Delivery @ The Woman's Hospital of Texas said Dr. Adam was ready to do an emergency C-Section. I was so tired I didn't care at that point. (Not to mention doped up on demerol and other pain killers which DID NOT work!)
They wheeled me out the the room and into the OR. Superisingly I was still NOT scared! Getting onto the operating table was difficult because I kept having contractions. (NOTE: I thought they made meds to take the pinch out of those things? Maybe because I was sick my body wasn't taking to them?) For anyone who hasn't had one MOM the epidural was painless. No shit! They put a shot of lydacane in my back and then it just felt like someone grabbing my butt. The actual C-Section felt like a tummy massage, and was kinda relaxing. I chatted with Jason & my anestesiaoligist about his kids, what college they went to and how this was nothing like I dreaded! I was very impressed!
5:19AM they took little 2 pound 2 ounce Emma out and wisked her away. Jason caught a glimps of her on the way out and got teary eyed and said OMG she's so tiny! Which worried me but I knew she was in good hands. After a few minutes of them poking around at me & Jason making UGLY faces in response to whatever it was they were doing down there they sewed me up and sent me to recovery.
RECOVERY SUCKED! They wouldn't let my mom in to see me, only Jason & I was there for over 6 hours!! (FYI: Most women are in for an hour and a half tops.) I had a 104 fever was shaking to the point I thought I was going to have a seisure and die, asked to be put on oxygen because breathing was hard and was still paralysed from waist down. So there I lay for 6 hours coming in and out of sleeping and the longer I was there the more pissed off I got because I wanted to see Emma. A nurse came in with her once to let me squeeze her hand before they took her to NICU Level 3. That was all I saw of her until mid afternoon the next day. (Sad)
Eventually I made it to my room where my mom and Aunt Laura were waiting for me. I went in and out of sleep that evening. My mom stayed with me that night thank god, but fell asleep herself fast.
That was the day Emma was born.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)