Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Another Update on Our Boy
I just called the NICU and found out that Aidan is 3 pounds 15.49 ounces. I can't believe our 1 pound 12 ounce boy is almost 4 pounds.
So, like I've mentioned before, there is no magic weight he has to weigh before he can come home. But, there are milestones.
He has to be able to bottle feed. No more feeding tube. (Gavage feeding: Feeding through a flexible tube placed through the nose or mouth to the stomach or intestines). Right now he is getting 2 bottles every 24 hours. If he doesn't take the full bottle, they then put it in the feeding tube. In the past week or so he has taken the whole thing from me, but I guess he's not doing so well when the nurses or Daddy try to give it to him. Last night he only took 10 ml from me and 5 ml's was breast milk. (Which he gobbled up). He's eating 33 ml (just over an ounce) every 3 hours and that's a lot of work for such a little guy. I wish I could get a full 33 ml for him, but my body has other ideas. I'm not giving up though!
Another milestone is that he needs to not have any A's or B's for 5 days straight. (Apnea and Bradycardia – Apnea is the absence of breathing. In the NICU an alarm will sound if your newborn has an irregular breathing pattern which consists of intervals of pauses longer than 10-15 seconds. Bradycardia is the reduction of heart rate. An alarm will also sound if your newborn’s heart rate falls below 100 beats per minute. Usually a little tap or simple rub on the back helps remind the preemie to breath or brings the heart rate up.) Luckily he hasn't had any Apnea spells lately, but he's been having quite a few B's. It frustrates me, but it's just something he needs to grow out of. I read today that if a baby doesn't have an A or B for a weeks straight, it's likely that they won't have one again.
He also needs to be on 1/8 of a liter of O2. He's still on 1 liter, but has been doing very well on that setting. He can come home on 1/8 of a liter and it's likely that he will.
He has been maintaining his body temperature just fine and has been in an open crib for almost a week now.
Life continues to be stressful, unpredictable and frustrating but we are getting through it. One day at a time. I know he'll be home soon and I just keep reminding myself that we've made it 2 months, we can make it 1 more. We hope he'll be home sooner than that, but he should be ready to come home by his due date. June 26th. I have to concentrate on that date or I'll go crazy. I keep getting my hopes up and then I'm crushed when something changes or doesn't go the way we expected it. It's a roller coaster. It's 2 steps forward 3 steps back. Sometimes more!
I am so thankful for the many prayers and thoughts that have been sent our way. I couldn't make it without them. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he won't have any long term complications from his early birth. I have known that since the day before he was born. I know we have all been held in God's hand for the last 8 weeks, especially Aidan.
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| Taken last night 5/26/11 |
So, like I've mentioned before, there is no magic weight he has to weigh before he can come home. But, there are milestones.
He has to be able to bottle feed. No more feeding tube. (Gavage feeding: Feeding through a flexible tube placed through the nose or mouth to the stomach or intestines). Right now he is getting 2 bottles every 24 hours. If he doesn't take the full bottle, they then put it in the feeding tube. In the past week or so he has taken the whole thing from me, but I guess he's not doing so well when the nurses or Daddy try to give it to him. Last night he only took 10 ml from me and 5 ml's was breast milk. (Which he gobbled up). He's eating 33 ml (just over an ounce) every 3 hours and that's a lot of work for such a little guy. I wish I could get a full 33 ml for him, but my body has other ideas. I'm not giving up though!
Another milestone is that he needs to not have any A's or B's for 5 days straight. (Apnea and Bradycardia – Apnea is the absence of breathing. In the NICU an alarm will sound if your newborn has an irregular breathing pattern which consists of intervals of pauses longer than 10-15 seconds. Bradycardia is the reduction of heart rate. An alarm will also sound if your newborn’s heart rate falls below 100 beats per minute. Usually a little tap or simple rub on the back helps remind the preemie to breath or brings the heart rate up.) Luckily he hasn't had any Apnea spells lately, but he's been having quite a few B's. It frustrates me, but it's just something he needs to grow out of. I read today that if a baby doesn't have an A or B for a weeks straight, it's likely that they won't have one again.
He also needs to be on 1/8 of a liter of O2. He's still on 1 liter, but has been doing very well on that setting. He can come home on 1/8 of a liter and it's likely that he will.
He has been maintaining his body temperature just fine and has been in an open crib for almost a week now.
Life continues to be stressful, unpredictable and frustrating but we are getting through it. One day at a time. I know he'll be home soon and I just keep reminding myself that we've made it 2 months, we can make it 1 more. We hope he'll be home sooner than that, but he should be ready to come home by his due date. June 26th. I have to concentrate on that date or I'll go crazy. I keep getting my hopes up and then I'm crushed when something changes or doesn't go the way we expected it. It's a roller coaster. It's 2 steps forward 3 steps back. Sometimes more!
I am so thankful for the many prayers and thoughts that have been sent our way. I couldn't make it without them. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he won't have any long term complications from his early birth. I have known that since the day before he was born. I know we have all been held in God's hand for the last 8 weeks, especially Aidan.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
I Am So Mad!
This last 8 weeks have been hell...but we're getting to the point that I cannot take it anymore. I am so frustrated with Denver Health and the NICU. We keep getting told one thing and then another happens. I am talked down to, patronized and treated like I'm an idiot.
I'm not an idiot. I am a Mother and one that has a baby too small to leave the hospital. I KNOW how to change his diaper. I KNOW how to keep him warm. Hell...I've even fixed his leads and the medical equipment that they're too lazy or busy to come fix themselves!
They keep saying that he's too little to do this or that and then guess what? He does it. He's not physically able to feed only by bottle. Yet, that is what we were told last night. They said that bottle feeding would be best since he has had some reflux and he's tolerating the feeds and gaining weight...so let's try it. I call this morning and the nurse acts like she has no idea what I'm talking about and that I'm making it up. How crazy am I to even think of it?! He can't do that, you crazy woman!
I feel like I have no one to talk to or help me. I call the nurse and she treats me like an idiot. I call the social worker and she treats me like I'm crazy. The charge nurse calls me and says, "What can I do to help?" and then proceeds to treat me like an idiot too.
I want him out of that hospital so bad. I want him home with me!
I know there are certain steps he needs to take in order to move on to the next one. I know there is a process. I know we don't want to push him. But sheesh! Get on the same page! Stop telling us one thing and then doing another. Stop telling me certain things are policy when only a select few are actually following "policy."
I didn't go to nursing school or medical school....but I know darn well how to take care of my son. Get over the God complex and start treating people like equals.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
My (Missed) 34th Birthday
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| From Katie and Walter |
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| From Amy |
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| From Jim |
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| From the Pressler Family |
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| From Mom and Dad |
March 30th 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
A Few Updates
Aidan is now 3 lbs. 4.02 oz. He started taking one feed a day by bottle. I got to give him the bottle on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Tuesday he only took about 6 ml, but last night he took 14 ml. (He eats 27 ml each feed). He did so well and Ryan and I were/are thrilled. He's on 2 1/2 liters and about 30% of O2. The Resident Dr. said he is one of those kids that seems to be taking longer, but I refuse to believe that. I have faith that he'll be off that darn thing SOON. Even if he has to come home on a little bit of O2, at least he'll be home!
Ivie's last day of 3rd grade is next week. It's hard to believe how fast this year has flown. SO much has happened. Good and bad. She had a field trip on Tuesday. They went swimming at Utah Pool and she had a blast. We just implemented a new Job Chart for her and so far it's going great. She has jobs she needs to do each day and when she does them she gets to mark it off. Depending on how many jobs she has done, her attitude and a few other things, she gets "money" in a jar. At the end of the month I'll add up the money and she'll get paid in cash. It has definitely motivated her and her attitude and willingness to help and improved immensely! She is such a good girl, but being 8 is hard sometimes...so she needed a little help.
Ryan's work is still going well. They are grateful for all the rain we've been getting since they water the course from their reservoir. He is finally feeling better and I am so glad he's able to go to the hospital every evening with me again!
I am still working part-time and fitting in appointment after appointment. I didn't realize how many I'd have and how many things would need to get done after Aidan was born. I guess in a "normal" situation I'd be doing all these on maternity leave, but I went back to work after only 3 weeks off.
Life is busy and continues to go on. I deal with the guilt of doing things without Aidan. Especially fun things. Life goes on, but I feel like it shouldn't. Time seems to be flying lately which is good, I just hope it slows down once Aidan comes home. I want to enjoy this early infant stage and soak him up.
Hope you're all doing well...
Ivie's last day of 3rd grade is next week. It's hard to believe how fast this year has flown. SO much has happened. Good and bad. She had a field trip on Tuesday. They went swimming at Utah Pool and she had a blast. We just implemented a new Job Chart for her and so far it's going great. She has jobs she needs to do each day and when she does them she gets to mark it off. Depending on how many jobs she has done, her attitude and a few other things, she gets "money" in a jar. At the end of the month I'll add up the money and she'll get paid in cash. It has definitely motivated her and her attitude and willingness to help and improved immensely! She is such a good girl, but being 8 is hard sometimes...so she needed a little help.
Ryan's work is still going well. They are grateful for all the rain we've been getting since they water the course from their reservoir. He is finally feeling better and I am so glad he's able to go to the hospital every evening with me again!
I am still working part-time and fitting in appointment after appointment. I didn't realize how many I'd have and how many things would need to get done after Aidan was born. I guess in a "normal" situation I'd be doing all these on maternity leave, but I went back to work after only 3 weeks off.
Life is busy and continues to go on. I deal with the guilt of doing things without Aidan. Especially fun things. Life goes on, but I feel like it shouldn't. Time seems to be flying lately which is good, I just hope it slows down once Aidan comes home. I want to enjoy this early infant stage and soak him up.
Hope you're all doing well...
Monday, May 16, 2011
I Got to Give Aidan a Bath!
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| This is probably my favorite picture of him so far. |
When I picked him up to put him in the tub, he peed on me. I was laughing so hard. I'm sure it won't be the last time that happens.
He was a little upset when I moved him, but as soon as he got in the warm water and I massaged his head, he calmed right down.
Somehow he knows my touch because he reacts to it and is more relaxed when I touch him verses a nurse.
As of last night he weighs 3 lbs. 2 1/2 oz.
He took half of a bottle, which means he ate almost half an ounce! He's at 27 ml right now and an ounce is 30 ml. When I heard he took the bottle, I cried. I was/am so relieved!
We also got to 'practice' breast feeding. He knew what to do, and I was THRILLED.
Our family is so blessed. I am so grateful to be Ivie and Aidan's mother.
So many prayers have been answered.
"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path."
--Agatha Christie
Sunday, May 15, 2011
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