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.

ABBY breathing on her own !!

Abby is almost 11 weeks old.  She is doing great today.  She was taken off CPAP and placed on a nasal cannula, basically breathing on her own with a little help.  She is free of infection and weighs 3 pounds 11.5 oz today.  I went to see her and got to hold her for almost two hours.  She looks and smells so good.  I got to see her beautiful grin.  She definitely looks like her Dad except she has my nose and my personality.   Cute and feisty.  We are going to have our hands full with her and Ethan.  I am happy to say that though.  She should come home in four to six weeks.  Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers, they have been heard and I am so grateful for this.  Even though I'm not pregnant with her, I am still going through the nesting phase and wanting to clean every little thing.  I think I may driving Chad nuts with this, but oh well.  We have a baby shower coming up and have decided to do Abby's room in lady bugs.  She is our little lady bug.  Can't wait for everyone to meet her.

Abby Update

 " Abby come home so you can take bubble baths with me"

Tomorrow Abby will be 10 weeks old.  She weighs 3 pounds 8.4 oz today.  She remains on the ventilator.  Abby was doing great and they thought they were going to be able to put her back on CPAP but then she got another immunization yesterday morning.  Abby has had several episodes where she stops breathing and they have to give her manual breaths.  The Dr. told me yesterday that we would reevaluate the situation today.  Chad went to visit her during the night when she was getting a bath.  He said she was wide awake looking all around.  He said he did not stop smiling the whole time he was looking at her.  When I look at her I feel the same way.  She is so beautiful and perfect to me.  Her nurse today, told me she did not think Abby was ready to be taken off the ventilator yet.  She has a lot of secretions in her lungs so they have started on breathing treatments called albuterol and atrovent.  I got in touch with another mother who went through a very similar experience three years ago.  Her son was a 23 week preemie and now he is a happy and healthy three year old.   This gives me hope.  Please keep Abby in your prayers.

Abby is almost 10 wks old

Abby remains on the ventilator ,but is requiring less support.  She weighs 3 pounds today.  The swelling in her neck is also going down some.  She had a renal sonogram yesterday and the Dr. said her kidneys looked normal.  Her urine came back positive for a bacteria named Klebsiella.  She is being treated with strong antibiotics for that.  Monday she will have another eye exam and get another immunization.  We aren't so sure that this last episode wasn't related to a reaction from the previous immunizations.  If she continues to do well with her breathing, they will put her back on CPAP.  Her color is pink again and she is back to her feisty self.  I'm thinking she is going to give her big brother a run for his money.

Abby 9 weeks old

Today Abby is 9 weeks old.  Yesterday we had some setbacks.  I was at work when the Dr. called and said Abby was dropping her heart rate and her oxygen.  They think it might be an infection or a reaction to some immunizations that she received.   When I went to see her she was pale and not as active as her usual self.  She received a blood transfusion and had a lot of tests done.  I was a mess.  Later on, Chad was at work and went to check on her.  When he arrived outside her door there were lab techs, EKG techs and xray techs.  The Dr. was intubating Abby ( putting her back on the ventilator).  I called to check on her in the middle of night and they she said she was still dropping her heart rate and they were having to go up on her ventilator support.   We thought we were out of the woods, but obviously we aren't.  I know that God is taking care of her and the nurses and Dr's are doing the best they can.

ABBY is 8 wks old Today

Today Abby is 8 wks old.  She weighs 2 pound 11oz.   The Dr's say she is doing very well.  Their concern right now is that she is not gaining enough weight.  They are going to start adding preemie formula to her diet because it has more calories than breast milk.  She is still on CPAP but doing most of the breathing on her own.  They moved her to a different nursery in the NICU yesterday for staffing reasons.  Her new room is more private.  I got to take a picture of her yesterday without all of the equipment on her while the Respiratory therapist was changing it out.  We probably have 6 to 8 more weeks to go.    It's time to start getting things ready for her at home.   Keep her in your prayers

ABBY

Abby is almost 8 wks old.  She weighs 2 pound 9 oz now.  Abby was taken off the ventilator 3 days ago and is doing well on CPAP.  Today was a big day for her.  She had a neuro sonogram which showed that the previous small bleed on the left has resolved.  She also had an eye exam to test for retinal prematurity and hemorrhages.  The eye exam showed prematurity but the dr. said it looked normal.  She looks really good to me.  Today when I went to see her she was sucking on a pacifier and was loving it.  Chad and I got to have a date night last night and both of us remembered why it is that we don't drink that much.  Little slow moving today, but we had a good time.  We are half way there to bringing our angel home.  We can't wait.   I told chad we need to get our rest in now, before long we won't be doing much of that.

ABBY is 7 wks old Today

 " Abby Did it Mom"

Today Abby is 7 wks old.  She weighs 2 pounds 7oz.  Abby remains on the ventilator but is requiring less support.  They may take her off the ventilator and place her on CPAP soon.  The nurse told me the other day that she thought Abby was beginning to look more like Chad.  I said " just as long as she has my brains".   Can't wait until May gets here and I can bring her home safely.  Her brother is already starting to blame things that he does wrong on her.  Keep her in your prayers.

Abby Day 45

Today is Abby's 45 th day in the NICU.  She remains on the ventilator , but her oxygen requirements have been lower.  They say she will probably stay on the ventilator another week.  She weighs 2 pounds and 4 oz now.  They are increasing her calories so she can gain weight faster.  Overall, she is doing pretty good.  I started back to work last friday.  It was good to keep my mind occupied with other things for a change.  Today I plan on holding Abby again, can't wait.

Abby will be 30 wks old

Abby is having a wonderful day today.  She still on the ventilator, probably for another week...She weighs 2 pounds 1oz   .   I didnt get see her today cuz i have bad cold or possibly the flu..    i am going to see her tomorrow if they will let me in with a mask..  The Dr's are now thinking that she does not have an infection so the antibiotics were stopped.  They may attempt to put her back on CPAP next week if she continues to do well.

ABBY day 37

Today is Abby's 37th day in NICU.  Last night, I tried to sleep but for some reason could not.  Then at 0430 this morning Abby's Dr. called me and told me he had to put her back on the ventilator.   She is showing some signs of infection and is being put on very strong antibiotics.  Her nurse today only has her as a patient so she can give her special care.  Abby had to have a lumbar puncture to check for meningitis, we are still waiting for the results.  I can't describe how awful this feels as a mother.  Please keep her in your prayers.  We aren't going to give up.

ABBY DAY 36

Today is Abby's 36th day in the NICU.  She is now 29 weeks old.  There were a few set backs today.  Today when I went to visit Abby she dropped her heart rate to the 30's and stopped breathing.  The Respiratory therapist quickly responded by removing her CPAP and bagging her ( giving her 100% oxygen).   She turned blue but regained her color when her oxygen came back up.  I did not need to witness this.  I know everyday  can't be good and that we are going to have to experience these ups and downs.  Abby was also placed on contact isolation because a swab of her nose came back positive for MRSA ( methicillian resistant staph aureus).  This is a common hospital acquired bacteria.  The Dr's say that she isn't showing any signs of the bacteria effecting her and her labs looked ok.  Abby also had to receive another blood transfusion today.  The dr's say to expect her to remain in the hospital until my due date, which was May 5th.  Still have a long road ahead of us, just hope that road isn't too bumpy.

Abby Day 31

Today is Abby's 31st day in the NICU.  Abby remains on CPAP to help her breath.  Yesterday she dropped her heart rate to the 60's and her oxygen to the 40's.  Usually she is able to recover on her own, but today they had to bag her ( put a mask over her mouth and nose that delivers 100% oxygen).  They did a bunch of lab work and discovered she need to get a blood transfusion.. After receiving the blood, she did not do this again. She now weighs 1 pound and 14 oz.   Yesterday, Abby had some visitors.  My Aunt Donna and Uncle Scott came up from Midlothian to see her.  My Aunt made Chad and I some very tasty chicken and lots of sweets.  Very good comfort food, not good for weight loss.  My former step sister also made her a hat, that is adorable.   I can't wait for everyone to meet her.  I go back to work in a week.  I will be able to visit her since we are at the same hospital.  I've been on bedrest for three months now and I am actually looking forward to working again.  It will also help me keep my mind occupied. Happy Valentines Day Abby. Keep praying.

ABBY is 28 days

Today Abby is 28 wks old.  She survived her first month in the NICU.  Yesterday, her weight was 1 pound 11.5 ozs.  She lost a little weight today at 1 pound 10.8 oz.  The Dr's think she may have the begininng of an infection brewing, so they started  her on antibiotics.  She is tolerating her feeding a little better but they had they had to decrease the amount a little because of her abdominal distention.  She got her first enema yesterday to possibly help remove some of what may be causing her distention.  So far, they do not think she has necrtotizing entercolitis, which is a severe stomach infection that can affect preemies.  We pray she does not get that because it is a serious complication.  Her oxygen requirements are a little less today too.  She is having episodes where she drops her heart rate and they have to stimulate her to get it back up.  I may get to hold her again tomorrow if everything goes well.  I want her to hear my heartbeat again and know that it beats for her and the rest of my family.  I got some not so good news from Abby's nurse yesterday which made me cry.  She walked away without saying a word or even offering a tissue.  Another baby's nurse comforted me.  This is also teaching me the importance of being compassionate and offering hope even when things aren't going so well.  When I return to work , I think it will make me a better nurse and even be able to put myself in my patients families shoes.  We, too are patients as well as our loved ones.  I had to make a list of things that i needed to get done and I found my self adding a reminder to breath.  They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  Chad and I are definitely gonna be a lot stronger from this situation. Despite multiple attempts, my  breast milk seems to be going away.  I even tried that nasty stuff called mothers milk with fenugreek herbs.  All it did was make me smell like strange pancakes.  She has enough to last awhile but we may have to rely on donor milk.  Breast milk decreases her chances of getting necrotizing entercolitis in her stomach by 70%  .   I will keep on trying for her.  Thanks for all the prayers from friends and family.  Please continue these for they seem to be helping a whole lot.

ABBY DAY 25

Today Abby weighed 1 pound 9.8 ozs.   Her stomach became distended so they had to do an xray to make sure she did not have an obstruction.  The xray showed just air.  They will have to slow down her feedings for a few days.  She is doing good with her breathing and her oxygen requirements are down a little.   She is almost 28 wks old.  This is the most difficult experience I have ever had to go through.  Some days are easier than others.  God bring her home safely to us please. 

ABBY DAY 21

Today was a big day for Abby and for all of us.  She was taken off the ventilator today and placed on CPAP.  So far she is doing well.  She is having to have a little more oxygen support but that is to be expected.   They told us not to get upset if they have to put her back on the ventilator because that is normal for preemies .  This is a huge step for her and for us.  She is so strong.  Sometimes I think she is stronger than us.  The Dr's say take it day by day , that is easy for them to say .   We try but , we have so much planned for our family .On a lighter note,  the nurse says she poops frequently.  Fine for me, Im a nurse and used to it.  Chad , not so much.  Ethan is helping me with that.

  Our angel is so strong, stronger than us.  God is stronger than us all and I know he brought her here and is watching over her.  I think this experience is making  Chad and I closer too.   As a mom, It is so  hard to see their child suffering and not being there to make it better.  I am struggling with the fact that she is still not inside of me where we are together no matter what.   They say take it day by day, but they don't know .  It is second by second.  I do have faith therefore I know whatever happens is meant to be- That doesnt make things easier sometimes.   One day I hope to look back at this  and say " Wow what a wonderful family I have".   I already have that , but ABBY  is a necessity, she is our BABY.

ABBY DAY 20

 

Today is Abby's 20th day in the NICU.  She had a really good day.  Despite the icy roads, I had to go to the hospital to see my little angel.  She weighs 1 pound 9 0zs and they are starting to feed her even more.  They were able to wean down her ventilator settings as well.  They let me hold her today for one hour.  I was scared but as soon as she was snuggled up against my chest I felt at ease.  She and I both loved it.  The familiar sound of my heartbeat put her to sleep immediately.  I can't wait until Chad gets to do this as well.  Dr's say she is doing very well and her condition is stable.  The obstacle now, is to keep her free from infections.  She will probably remain on the ventilator until she gains a little more weight and her lungs become stronger.  Keep praying for her to come home to us safely.  Today was a good day !!!

Abby Day 19

Today is Abby's 19th day in the NICU.  Yesterday abby had to get a new IV and receive some blood.  The Dr. says all in all she is doing pretty good.  She weighs 1 pound 8 0zs now.  She is still on the ventilator but doing better with that as well.  We still have a very long road ahead of us and sometimes it is hard to see the  light, but we are trying our hardest to stay positive.  They want me to start doing kangaroo care , that is where I hold her skin to skin.  Im scared and excited at the same time.  On the way home from the hospital yesterday, Abby's brother Ethan says out of the blue " Sister is not sick anymore and she is coming home soon ".  He was right when he predicted that I was having a girl and hope he is right about this too.  Kids sometimes seem to have a sixth sense about things.