ABBY AT HOME

Abby has been home for a month now.  Between dr appts and taking care of the kids, I haven't had much time to make new posts lately.  Abby is doing great.  She weighed 7 pounds 2 ozs at her last cardiology appt.  The cardiologist said her heart looked perfect and that he did not need to see her again.  One less Dr to go see, now we only have 6 doctors that we have to see frequently.  Abby is still on a little oxygen, but we hope to get that taken away at her next pulmonologist appt.  Her brother Ethan was extremely jealous at first but now he loves her.  Chad and I are so thankful to have her home.  She is spoiled rotten and loves to be held and kissed all the time.  We are a little sleep deprived but she is getting better about sleeping longer hours at night.  She has done the projectile spitting up on both me and Chad lately.  Not too often though.  My friend Kay came over yesterday to meet and hold her.  She made Chad and I a really tasty indian dinner.  Kay is going through a rough time medically and needs everyones prayers like Abby did.  They gave Abby a less than 10% chance to survive and God made that miracle happen.  I know he can do it for Kay too.  Here are some recent pictures to enjoy.

ABBY IS COMING HOME

Abby is almost 18 weeks old now and doing great.  She weighs  5 pounds 11 oz .   We got the best news this week, that Abby can come home next weds.  She will be coming home on a small amount of oxygen and special formula.  We met with the home health people to get the oxygen and apnea monitors.  She got the first of three immunizations yesterday and so far she has not had any reactions.  They even took her off the oxygen for awhile and she was able to keep her sats up on her own.  We are nervous but so ready for her to be home with us.  This has been the longest journey of both of our lives.  It has been a difficult time, but the Dr.'s and nurses have done an amazing job getting her to where she is today.  We look back at where we started and can't believe how far we have come.  We are so thankful for the support and prayers that we have gotten from our friends and family.  I can't wait for everyone to meet my little angel.  She is so beautiful.

Abby is almost 4 months old

I have been really bad about keeping this blog current.   Good news is , I've been busy getting things ready for Abby to come home.  Abby is still in the NICU, but should be transferred to the Special Care Nursery sometime this week.  She weighs 5 pounds and 4 oz today and has been on a nasal cannula for 3 weeks now.  She is taking a bottle 3 times a day now and doing well with that.  Chad has mastered bottle feeding but not dirty diaper changing. Abby has a nasty diaper rash that the nurses are having a hard time taking care of.  Today they mixed up a special cream that will hopefully help.  Abby's Nana, Poppy and Mommar have gotten to hold her.  She has already won over their hearts with her cute grin.  We have her nursery all ready for her too.   Ethan is so excited that he gets to meet his sister soon.  They say she might be home in as little as two more weeks.  She has another round of immunizations in two weeks, pray that she does not have another reaction to those.

Abby is 13 Weeks Old Today

Today Abby is 13 weeks old.   She weighs 4 pounds 8 oz.    Chad , Abby and I were in a THR commercial this morning promoting the NICU.  It was kind of cheesy, but will be neat to show Abby when she is older.  She is doing well today, breathing with only the help of a nasal cannnula.  They are increasing her tube feedings so she will be able to gain weight faster.  She is so cute, and already has her own little personality.  I can't wait for the world to meet her.  Chad got to hold her for the first time the other day.  He agreed with me , that it was the most amazing feeling.  She smells so good.  Ethan told me yesterday that he won't fight with sister and he will help change her diaper.  This weekend our family is having a baby shower for Abby.   Next week, work is having one too.  This is helping to make her coming home feel real now.  We appreciate all the support friends and family are giving us.  Yesterday, my landlord , Jenny's pastor came to pray for Abby at her bedside. We are so thankful all of the prayer lists that Abby's has been on.  God truly does work miracles.

Abby is making her move

Abby is having a great day.  She weighs 4 pounds 6 oz now.  She was taken off CPAP and put on a nasal cannula.  The Dr. was reluctant to do this , but all of the nurses and RT's thought she was ready.  I talked him into giving it a try.  I'm glad I did because she seems much more content now.  Her HR is normal now and she isnt working as hard to breathe.  Yesterday, Chad put together her new crib.  He did a great job and we cant wait to put her in it.  Pray that she is through the worst.  We have made it almost 13 weeks now and can almost see a glimmer of light at the end of this tunnel.

Abby is almost 3 months old

March 29th Abby started dropping her heart rate and her 02 sats.  She was put back on the ventilator and diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis.    She was started on strong antibiotics and her tube feedings were stopped.  This was heart breaking because just the day before she was on a nasal cannula and I was holding and kissing her.   She remains on the ventilator today, but is doing much better.  Her KUB xray shows that the necrotizing enterocolitis had resolved.  Her oxygen requirements are low.  She won't be able to get fed for another 5 days or so.  They may try to take her off the ventilator some time this week.   I always get scared when they do this because she has been reintubated four times now.  Yesterday, was her brother Ethan's fourth birthday.  Abby's nurse and I made a card for him with abby's foot print.  He continues to ask me when can he see her.  Abby is 3 pounds and 14 oz today.  She looks good to me today.  She is alert and her color is pink.  Continue to keep her in your prayers please.

Pray for Abby

Abby was doing so good and I thought just maybe that we might have made it through the woods.  Yesterday Abby started having trouble breathing and was dropping her heart rate again.  The blood gas was terrible, so they had to put her back on CPAP.   The Dr. called to inform that they would try CPAP again and if that did not work she would be put back on the ventilator.  She is now on droplet precautions to rule out RSV and the flu.   Just the other day I was holding and kissing her.  They are also sending more blood and sputum cultures for an infection work up.  During all this, she won't be able to get fed.  It feels like we take one step forward and then ten steps back.  My faith is wearing thin at this point.  Not sure why God won't give us a break.  Its been almost eleven weeks of constant uncertainty and worrying.  Im getting to the point where Im just angry.