 |
Welcome To My Third Month - December 1998
December 1, 1998. My room was decorated with a tiny christmas tree and 3 stockings! It was also Mommy's first day back to work...and what a day it was. Mommy got a call at work (which scared her to death) The doctors told her that I was having a lot of A's & B's, my saturation was really low even after they turned by oxygen up to 80% (from 30%) My color was really pale and they had moved me from my Isolette to an open crib again so they could get to me sooner. They had completely stopped my feedings and honestly thought they were going to have to put me back on the ventilator. This was not how mommy expected today would go...and she was very upset. Mommy left work soon to come up and see me (she took a LONG lunch) and when she got there she said I looked so sick. She sat there takling to me..watching my saturation level slowly go up and down (never getting above 85 - under 80 sets off all of the alarms) and holding my hand. Nurses were there just waiting to rush to me because I had really been having a lot of Apnea spells all day. Well, wouldn't you know it...I thought I would show mommy just how scared she could get, so I decided to stop breathing long enough to literally turn blue. The nurses kinda pushed mommy aside and started bagging me. It took almost 3 min (which doesnt sound like long, but just think about a 2 1/2 lb baby not breathing for 3 whole min) to get me breathing regularly and well enough that they could stop and see what I did next. Mommy sat over in the corner just crying....she told me she felt so helpless, so I decided I would be good for a little while. When mommy left to go back to work I was doing a lot better. Later than afternoon I had 1 apnea spell, but it only lasted a few seconds. The next morning they got the results from the culture back and they were still negative, so they don't really know what is making me sick. After all night of doing well, they put me back on my feedings, but a little less than I was having before. When Mommy came to see me during lunch, I was so much better. I looked like I had more energy and I wasn't pale anymore. My oxygen is even back down to 30% and that is a sure sign that I am better today!! I now weigh 2 lbs 8.4oz...I gained weight even when I wasn't eating..mommy was worried I wouldn't, but proved them wrong again! Finally my cultures came back with some kind of bacteria, but they still don't know exactly what it is. Spinal Tap is still negative, so that is good. That is the one thing the Doc told mommy, since I am on antibiotics whatever infection (in my arm) I have should go away and shouldn't be a concern as long as it doesnt show up in my spinal fluid. Later that day they did another Echo of my heart and X-rays of the bone in my arm and my abdomen to make sure they didn't find anything, and all was fine...so they REALLY can't figure this bacteria out. During all of this time Mommy and Daddy havn't been able to hold me and we all really miss it...hopefully Ill be in Mommy's arms soon! I am now on bolus feedings which is all at one time, instead of a continuous drip like before. They have also started me on Iron and Synthroid for Hypothyroidism that they discovered on a routine lab test. Exciting news..Mommy got to bath me for the very first time tonight!! My saturation is great....even when the C-Pap is out for a few min!! The Second week of this month when mommy called to check on me from work the nurse told her I was being weaned off of C-Pap. Mommy was so excited...she jumped up and down. See, it is so hard for mommy and daddy to hold me with all of the wires and tubes and after this is gone there will only be a little oxygen tube and it will feel and look so much better. But the main thing is, it means I am getting healthier and stronger. Especially since I was just so sick last week. The cultures are still coming back positive, but since I am improving so much....they aren't concerned, I am still on antibiotics though! The next day...I am still doing good, but when mommy came to see me...my hair was shaved. She really freaked out because the nurse hadn't told her over the phone, but they had to do it to put an IV in. There were no other places on my body that would hold an IV for more than 1/2 a day, which just isn't long enough. And Mommy agreed with the nurses when they said they would rather put one in my head and only have to do it once for about a week than keep doing it every day. Remember I have had 2 infections from IV sites already :( Well, after only 2 days of weaning, I came totally off C-Pap today on onto a nasal cannula. It was such a big day for me..after almost 2 months with tubes coming out of my tiny nose. This was much easier and prettier too!! Up until now everyone had barely even seen my whole face, now mommy and daddy can even kiss my little lips (ssshhh..it's a secret though) This also means that I am in Level II (was in III) which means I am not under as immediate care, but more importantly it's one step closer to coming home!!! Usually in our hospital babies actually get moved to a different area, but I am in Isolation...so I just stay right here...but we have really grown to like our own room! I am back in an Isolette on Mommy's B-day (13th) and the only change is I am putting out a little too much again, so they lowered my milk by a few cc's and put me back on a drip again, just for precaution. On Dec 15th, Mommy and Daddy's Anniversary..I finally hit 3 lbs!! I am doing really well, besides putting out too much and they have been adjusting my feedings to try and help that. The docs are talking about my reconnection surgery (my Ostomy), but they want to wait until I get a little bit bigger. Right now, that is basically what we are doing, just waiting while I grow. They tried me totally off of oxygen today, but I de-sated twice so they put me back on...although the nurses say Im not really on enough to be doing anything 25% and 28% is actually room air. They think it just may be a security thing, since I have been SO used to it. This whole time I have been having exams every 2 weeks on my eyes. They check for a disease called Retinopathy of Prematurity. This disease can lead to surgery or even blindness.....so we have been lucky so far. Today they found that I have Stage I, which is a very mild case and are not really concerned right now. Although, Mommy was told that most likely I will have to have surgery on them though, because I was so premature. Towards the end of the month, Mommy decided to stop working to get ready for me to come home. She is so excited that she gets to be with me at the hospital all day....she can do so many more things to help take care me now! So, the 23rd was her last day, she got to bath me, change my diapers, and take me out of my Isolette all by herself. She would stay there and rock me all day...we both loved it!! My first Christmas, Mommy and Daddy came to see me and brought me 3 presents. They opened them for me, but boy...I watched closely to see what all I got. They spent a long time with me...took pictures and then went to have dinner with our family. But..Mommy came back later....she just couldn't stand the thought of me being in the hospital on christmas day....she stayed with me until Midnight...then she let me rest!! They tried me off of oxygen again a few days after X-mas and I was put back on after 24 hours, but that is better than last time! I am still putting out a little too much, but that is about it. They are looking at doing my surgery in about a week..but it is not scheduled as of yet. December 31, 1998 I weigh 3 lbs 8.5oz and I am 17 inches long.
|
