Today was a rough day for both of us. Things were going well for Caleb, although he was sating a little low a few times. If he kept going low they said they would put him on O2 thru the nose. They decided to up his calorie content in his milk in the hopes that he would pack on a little weight. Yesterday evening they started at 24 calories, and today they started on 26 calories.
Well... this did NOT agree with Caleb's tummy. He ended up getting the most horrible gas. He was not a happy camper at all, and kept having to strain with the gas. When he strains, the O2 is taken away from his lungs... you get the picture--this is not a good thing. I was holding him, and he was sating badly. He was trying to fall asleep but was so uncomfortable. His tummy was bothering him.
He was in my lap when his sats hit into the 40s (they should be 60+ for him). I thought he was finally closing his little eyes to get some sleep, that he was finally relaxing and his O2 would go up, but then the nurse said, "He's not breathing." Those have to be the scariest words that any mother has to hear about her baby. "Rub his chest like this," she said, showing me. She grabbed an O2 blow and put it in front of his face. Thank God he came back to breathing quickly.
With the O2 his stats came back up into the 80s, and then we had to get the OK to put the O2 back into his nose. His stats kept dropping and going back and forth, and Caleb was a mess--he was screaming and flailing uncontrolably. The doctors came in and ordered some tylenol and some gas drops for his tummy... they tried to feed him again (via the tube--thru the bottle was stressing him out too much) but he started to scream once more.
I couldn't take it and had to pick him up, wires and all, and rock him and hold him. With the gas drops, a warm compress for his tummy, and the reduced speed to his feed, we were finally able to calm him down. My sweet baby was finally able to get a little nap. It was only interrupted by another small fit when there was a little more gas... but a diaper change and a little more love and attention got him to sleep peacefully.
Wow... what a day... I am so worn out, I can't imagine how little Caleb feels. He wasn't able to comfort himself at all with that painful gas. They moved him down from 26 calorie to 23 calorie food. Let's hope that this fixes the tummy troubles. When I left the hospital tonight he was happily in dreamland, and I suspect he was so worn out he would be sleeping it off for a while.
All this from a little gas...
The good news about all this... you should have seen that little baby fight. Oh he threw his arms about, he threw his legs, he was going to fight this feeling of ickiness--he screamed about how he was in pain, he wasn't going to take it... when he had his apnia, the nurse told the doctor about how he was fighting that, too--he didn't give in. What a great little spirit he has! Caleb fought like hell, and I know he will continue to do so.
Good job, my baby!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Good Day for Baby, Rough Day for Mama
Caleb had a great day today. I was having a rough time getting my butt in gear, so I didn't get down to the hospital until late. I had to drag myself to the pump and then I just felt.. bleh. Everything took 100x's longer than normal.
When I got there, my little sweetie was taking a nap. He ended up taking a four hour nap. Then he woke up and started looking around and being a little bit of a crank, but not much. He took the fact that he had to wait for food and a diaper change well (I wanted to change the stinker since I arrived, but the nurse had fiddled with his lines in his belly button so I wasn't allowed to until later). Once diapered and changed, we gave him some milk (mine!) in a bottle. He drank nearly 30ml out of 55. The rest went into his feeding tube.
After eating he was awake--so wide awake. He played with his hands, looked around, grunted a little... he was just very content to sit there and be awake and happy. That was the story of the evening. He was just a happy, content little boy!
They took him off the prostaglandon (do I spell this differently every time? hehe) completely. They wanted to give him another chance off the drug because the surgeons do not like operating on patients when they have it in their system. Not a BIG deal, but prefer not to. They want to keep his sats now between 60-100, and he sat all day off the drug in the mid-70s, low 80s. This is great. If he keeps this up, he'll have his operation next Monday.
If he has to go back on the prostaglandon, no big deal... but they would probably move his surgery to the end of this week instead. Not a hurry, but just because they would rather do it sooner than later if he's going to need any extra drugs.
Ooh, yeah, he's off all IVs altogether now.
I was a little depressed today... I was just having one of those days, I guess. Hard to get moving in the a.m., and then I was watching the nurse remove his lines from his belly button, and I just had one of those thoughts--why my baby? I wanted to take him home right there and just have a normal baby. Silly thoughts, I know. This is what we have to work with, and I know that there is a reason why Caleb came to me--probably because he knew that we would give him this chance!
Later, I was a little sad again when the doctor was telling me that after his surgery he would need to be on the vent for 4-12 days. Then, depending on how well he was doing, he would be in the hospital another 1-4 weeks after that. So the doctor told me if he was average, he would be in for at least another 2-3 weeks past Monday. I am a little scared of that time... right now it's easier because I get to hold him and interact with him and play with him. Soon, he'll be hooked to the vent and sedated, and I will just get to watch him and hold his little hand. I was wrong--waiting for the operation will not be the hard part. The hard part will be waiting for him to recover after the operation. Since he keeps getting better and better it's hard to remember that he will have to go back on the vent and be a sick little baby again.
So... mama is having a rough day today. But, that's just today. Tomorrow I'll be back playing with the little one that I love so much, and I'll be happy again. One day at a time!
Baby is having a great day today! That is the important part. I don't like leaving him, but his nurses have been fantastic. I stayed tonight until he fell asleep (he had another awake and playing period). I need to go buy little toys for him... he likes to hold things and put them in his mouth. I swear the little IV line in his L hand is the best toy the doctors could ever give him. He loves trying to shove it in his mouth, and when that doesn't work he tries to poke his eye out. I think I'd rather have him try a wrist-rattle instead of the IV.... but you know he won't love it as much. LOL
When I got there, my little sweetie was taking a nap. He ended up taking a four hour nap. Then he woke up and started looking around and being a little bit of a crank, but not much. He took the fact that he had to wait for food and a diaper change well (I wanted to change the stinker since I arrived, but the nurse had fiddled with his lines in his belly button so I wasn't allowed to until later). Once diapered and changed, we gave him some milk (mine!) in a bottle. He drank nearly 30ml out of 55. The rest went into his feeding tube.
After eating he was awake--so wide awake. He played with his hands, looked around, grunted a little... he was just very content to sit there and be awake and happy. That was the story of the evening. He was just a happy, content little boy!
They took him off the prostaglandon (do I spell this differently every time? hehe) completely. They wanted to give him another chance off the drug because the surgeons do not like operating on patients when they have it in their system. Not a BIG deal, but prefer not to. They want to keep his sats now between 60-100, and he sat all day off the drug in the mid-70s, low 80s. This is great. If he keeps this up, he'll have his operation next Monday.
If he has to go back on the prostaglandon, no big deal... but they would probably move his surgery to the end of this week instead. Not a hurry, but just because they would rather do it sooner than later if he's going to need any extra drugs.
Ooh, yeah, he's off all IVs altogether now.
I was a little depressed today... I was just having one of those days, I guess. Hard to get moving in the a.m., and then I was watching the nurse remove his lines from his belly button, and I just had one of those thoughts--why my baby? I wanted to take him home right there and just have a normal baby. Silly thoughts, I know. This is what we have to work with, and I know that there is a reason why Caleb came to me--probably because he knew that we would give him this chance!
Later, I was a little sad again when the doctor was telling me that after his surgery he would need to be on the vent for 4-12 days. Then, depending on how well he was doing, he would be in the hospital another 1-4 weeks after that. So the doctor told me if he was average, he would be in for at least another 2-3 weeks past Monday. I am a little scared of that time... right now it's easier because I get to hold him and interact with him and play with him. Soon, he'll be hooked to the vent and sedated, and I will just get to watch him and hold his little hand. I was wrong--waiting for the operation will not be the hard part. The hard part will be waiting for him to recover after the operation. Since he keeps getting better and better it's hard to remember that he will have to go back on the vent and be a sick little baby again.
So... mama is having a rough day today. But, that's just today. Tomorrow I'll be back playing with the little one that I love so much, and I'll be happy again. One day at a time!
Baby is having a great day today! That is the important part. I don't like leaving him, but his nurses have been fantastic. I stayed tonight until he fell asleep (he had another awake and playing period). I need to go buy little toys for him... he likes to hold things and put them in his mouth. I swear the little IV line in his L hand is the best toy the doctors could ever give him. He loves trying to shove it in his mouth, and when that doesn't work he tries to poke his eye out. I think I'd rather have him try a wrist-rattle instead of the IV.... but you know he won't love it as much. LOL
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Happy Easter
Happy Easter to Caleb!
The Easter bunny came to Children's Hospital at about 5:30 in the morning... that dude is serious about Easter fun! Caleb received a little green rabbit from the bunny.
On this day he had a few visitors, but mostly slept. The O2 sats are still doing fantastic. He is very thoughtful when awake, watching everything, looking slightly concerned. The nurses are still wary of mucking around with his blood pressure, temp and lines as he is still prone to his outbursts. And he's loud! He definitely doesn't have little baby cries--full blown angry baby. Change my diaper will you??
Today Eric got to change his first diaper on his son. I got to feed him a few times (and he dropped a few poopie diapers for me personally) but he did not drink much from me. They've taken him off the suppliments and he's now getting all his nutrition from a combo of breast milk and formula. He just isn't getting the hang of the bottle nipple at all, so they're doing most of it via feeding tube.
As for what Caleb listens to while in the hospital... lullabys, silly songs, toddler dance songs, a few stories (such as 3 little pigs) and just for kicks a little Frank Sinatra, Elton John and Disney Classics. His iPod is loaded with good things to listen to instead of the beep of his machines.
Speaking of machines beeping--this little one cannot seem to keep his hands off of things! He still is grabbing at everything. He has pulled or kicked off nearly all of his monitors at one point or another. He's down to two IV liquids now, and luckily he hasn't touched that one, but today his heart monitors, resp. monitors and O2 monitors have all gone to be stuck on either different body parts or the bed. He loves to have his hands up by his face, and has already found his thumb to munch on.
Yep... that's my baby! The Crankasaurus Rex that likes to foil the nurses. I love him!
The Easter bunny came to Children's Hospital at about 5:30 in the morning... that dude is serious about Easter fun! Caleb received a little green rabbit from the bunny.
On this day he had a few visitors, but mostly slept. The O2 sats are still doing fantastic. He is very thoughtful when awake, watching everything, looking slightly concerned. The nurses are still wary of mucking around with his blood pressure, temp and lines as he is still prone to his outbursts. And he's loud! He definitely doesn't have little baby cries--full blown angry baby. Change my diaper will you??
Today Eric got to change his first diaper on his son. I got to feed him a few times (and he dropped a few poopie diapers for me personally) but he did not drink much from me. They've taken him off the suppliments and he's now getting all his nutrition from a combo of breast milk and formula. He just isn't getting the hang of the bottle nipple at all, so they're doing most of it via feeding tube.
As for what Caleb listens to while in the hospital... lullabys, silly songs, toddler dance songs, a few stories (such as 3 little pigs) and just for kicks a little Frank Sinatra, Elton John and Disney Classics. His iPod is loaded with good things to listen to instead of the beep of his machines.
Speaking of machines beeping--this little one cannot seem to keep his hands off of things! He still is grabbing at everything. He has pulled or kicked off nearly all of his monitors at one point or another. He's down to two IV liquids now, and luckily he hasn't touched that one, but today his heart monitors, resp. monitors and O2 monitors have all gone to be stuck on either different body parts or the bed. He loves to have his hands up by his face, and has already found his thumb to munch on.
Yep... that's my baby! The Crankasaurus Rex that likes to foil the nurses. I love him!
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Caleb Rocks!
Ok, so he's not rocking out at the moment as we turned off his little iPod. :)
We got here this morning to find that he is no longer on the O2 in his nose--just the drugs and no extra help. Of course, he was being cranky so the nurse had made him a "burrito" baby. He likes to yell, and wow those lungs are getting strong. He's so sweet!
The nurse we have today is a good 'do-it-yourself' nurse. I changed his diaper, then Eric got to hold him and feed him today. I was jealous, but it was Eric's turn to hold him. It was also Eric's turn at the diaper, but we all know how that went... :)
Today he's learning how to eat. You'd think this would be instinct for someone in my family, however he doesn't seem to quite get the hang of it. Put bottle in mouth: check. Suck: check. Wait, I'm supposed to keep sucking?? That's hard work, nevermind.
Eric got him to give a few good burps, but he only took 5oz by bottle and the rest had to go thru the feeding tube. Oh he was mad about that tube going in.
He's about to be moved into a crib instead of his ICU bed, so woohoo! I'm going to get down there for that action... and I want to hold him again. Will update as needed, but his O2 is fantastic and it looks like the original schedule is still on track for the surgery. If we hear any different, will let you know!
We got here this morning to find that he is no longer on the O2 in his nose--just the drugs and no extra help. Of course, he was being cranky so the nurse had made him a "burrito" baby. He likes to yell, and wow those lungs are getting strong. He's so sweet!
The nurse we have today is a good 'do-it-yourself' nurse. I changed his diaper, then Eric got to hold him and feed him today. I was jealous, but it was Eric's turn to hold him. It was also Eric's turn at the diaper, but we all know how that went... :)
Today he's learning how to eat. You'd think this would be instinct for someone in my family, however he doesn't seem to quite get the hang of it. Put bottle in mouth: check. Suck: check. Wait, I'm supposed to keep sucking?? That's hard work, nevermind.
Eric got him to give a few good burps, but he only took 5oz by bottle and the rest had to go thru the feeding tube. Oh he was mad about that tube going in.
He's about to be moved into a crib instead of his ICU bed, so woohoo! I'm going to get down there for that action... and I want to hold him again. Will update as needed, but his O2 is fantastic and it looks like the original schedule is still on track for the surgery. If we hear any different, will let you know!
Friday, April 6, 2007
Caleb's First Days, Part II
Ok... where were we?
I went and saw Caleb at Children's at midnight the night he was born. I was so tired, but I wanted to see the little guy for myself. He was moving and I was surprised--it was the first time I got to see him move! He was only partially sedated.
That night I went home and passed out.
Next day I arrived at the hospital to find that they removed the vent. Woo! I was even allowed to hold the little bugger! Oh, how cute he is!! How fantastically cute!! Eric also was able to hold him for the very first time. He was a little nervous, but Caleb was being cooperative.
When I went to get something to eat and pump (oh joy... my new job!!) Caleb was able to get food for the first time. Well, apparently that wore him out because his O2 stats fell down right afterwards. They had to put him on a CPAP machine to make sure he had enough. That night his nurse was a fantastic lady who absolutely fell in love with him.
Today we arrived at the hospital to find new things again. He was off the CPAP machine, and he was getting an ultrasound of his heart. His O2 was being delivered thru the nose. He was also bellowing. Wow... just yesterday there was a little "meh" when he was upset. Today: WAAAAAAAAH!
I got to hold him and calm him down. Then his O2 started dropping again. They put him on some more drugs... Prostagladin? I'm sorry, I don't know how to spell it. :\ But this was the drug that he was originally on. It helps his blood mix. He is doing quite well on it right now, but one of the side effects is that he might have to go back on the vent if he develops apnia.
Another side effect of this drug: Crankiness. His nurses are wary as I guess little Caleb has been giving them the what-for. He has been known to rip out his tubes and move all over the bed--wasn't this kid just born the day before yesterday?? Well, he is trying to show them who is boss. Unfortunately they're bigger and stronger than he is at the moment, which causes him some frustration and crankiness. The nurses say, "Oh he loves his binkie!" I think *they* are the ones who love it!! :)
When Eric and I were walking back from lunch today, we were at the handwashing station, and from across the room there are some yells of frustration. Eric and I looked at each other. "I think that's yours," he said to me.
Yes... indeed it was our little cranky one! His O2 stats are up on the drug, and so far no apnia, so we're keeping our fingers crossed.
His heart operation is currently scheduled for a week from Monday. Why so long? Because A) he's doing so well and B) the surgeons like to schedule to do the work together. So they scheduled it out to give chances to the other babies. However this is now subject to change since his O2 levels are going up and down and up and down... if he keeps this up they'll do the surgery earlier. They don't expect that it will be an emergency, and they stressed that it doesn't hurt him to have the O2 jumping like that, but they want it nice and even.
That's it so far... yes, I have a million and one pictures, no I haven't posted them anywhere yet! By the time I get home from the hospital I'm exhausted, and I only get my 5 hour nap when I'm pumping--it's the longest that I should go until my milk comes in.
Keep you updated!!
I went and saw Caleb at Children's at midnight the night he was born. I was so tired, but I wanted to see the little guy for myself. He was moving and I was surprised--it was the first time I got to see him move! He was only partially sedated.
That night I went home and passed out.
Next day I arrived at the hospital to find that they removed the vent. Woo! I was even allowed to hold the little bugger! Oh, how cute he is!! How fantastically cute!! Eric also was able to hold him for the very first time. He was a little nervous, but Caleb was being cooperative.
When I went to get something to eat and pump (oh joy... my new job!!) Caleb was able to get food for the first time. Well, apparently that wore him out because his O2 stats fell down right afterwards. They had to put him on a CPAP machine to make sure he had enough. That night his nurse was a fantastic lady who absolutely fell in love with him.
Today we arrived at the hospital to find new things again. He was off the CPAP machine, and he was getting an ultrasound of his heart. His O2 was being delivered thru the nose. He was also bellowing. Wow... just yesterday there was a little "meh" when he was upset. Today: WAAAAAAAAH!
I got to hold him and calm him down. Then his O2 started dropping again. They put him on some more drugs... Prostagladin? I'm sorry, I don't know how to spell it. :\ But this was the drug that he was originally on. It helps his blood mix. He is doing quite well on it right now, but one of the side effects is that he might have to go back on the vent if he develops apnia.
Another side effect of this drug: Crankiness. His nurses are wary as I guess little Caleb has been giving them the what-for. He has been known to rip out his tubes and move all over the bed--wasn't this kid just born the day before yesterday?? Well, he is trying to show them who is boss. Unfortunately they're bigger and stronger than he is at the moment, which causes him some frustration and crankiness. The nurses say, "Oh he loves his binkie!" I think *they* are the ones who love it!! :)
When Eric and I were walking back from lunch today, we were at the handwashing station, and from across the room there are some yells of frustration. Eric and I looked at each other. "I think that's yours," he said to me.
Yes... indeed it was our little cranky one! His O2 stats are up on the drug, and so far no apnia, so we're keeping our fingers crossed.
His heart operation is currently scheduled for a week from Monday. Why so long? Because A) he's doing so well and B) the surgeons like to schedule to do the work together. So they scheduled it out to give chances to the other babies. However this is now subject to change since his O2 levels are going up and down and up and down... if he keeps this up they'll do the surgery earlier. They don't expect that it will be an emergency, and they stressed that it doesn't hurt him to have the O2 jumping like that, but they want it nice and even.
That's it so far... yes, I have a million and one pictures, no I haven't posted them anywhere yet! By the time I get home from the hospital I'm exhausted, and I only get my 5 hour nap when I'm pumping--it's the longest that I should go until my milk comes in.
Keep you updated!!
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Caleb's First Days, part I
Right before my son's birth, my room was filled with doctors. The door opened up and they started pouring in! After 16 hours of labor... I pushed for about an hour, and then my doctor caught little Caleb as he came into the world. He wasn't too impressed with it, apparently, as he tried to grasp anything in his path--from my cord to the doctor's scissors. He was unsuccessful in organizing his escape, however. The doctors took him, cleaned him off, stuck a cap on him and wrapped him like a baby burrito.
I was allowed a few minutes to say hello--I remember it being about one minute altogether, and then they took him and went to the ICU. Eric went up with him, and I was left to be sewn back up. After a while Eric came back down and we sat about waiting. Then right before they took the baby to Children's hospital he was "packaged" and brought down to see us. We had the chance to poke at him inside a little plastic box. He was sedated, on a vent, and couldn't care less about us!
Eric took the ambulance to Children's, and signed a million papers and met a million doctors. I was back at the hospital, trying to get a nap between a million nurses and a million checkups. But, I was doing alright so I was allowed to leave after 12 hours after giving birth.
And... this is where I have to say that I'm taking the time to nap for the evening. :) More to come, including meeting him in the hospital, and holding him again!!!
Sorry kids.... I'm really tired :(
Special thanks to Kate for helpnig so much... she drove us around everywhere, sat and listened to me cry and whine, watched my epidural, held my leg during labor (Eric was the co-pilot on the other leg) and had the decency to tell me that I did a "good job" even with all my whining. :) Thank you Kate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3
I was allowed a few minutes to say hello--I remember it being about one minute altogether, and then they took him and went to the ICU. Eric went up with him, and I was left to be sewn back up. After a while Eric came back down and we sat about waiting. Then right before they took the baby to Children's hospital he was "packaged" and brought down to see us. We had the chance to poke at him inside a little plastic box. He was sedated, on a vent, and couldn't care less about us!
Eric took the ambulance to Children's, and signed a million papers and met a million doctors. I was back at the hospital, trying to get a nap between a million nurses and a million checkups. But, I was doing alright so I was allowed to leave after 12 hours after giving birth.
And... this is where I have to say that I'm taking the time to nap for the evening. :) More to come, including meeting him in the hospital, and holding him again!!!
Sorry kids.... I'm really tired :(
Special thanks to Kate for helpnig so much... she drove us around everywhere, sat and listened to me cry and whine, watched my epidural, held my leg during labor (Eric was the co-pilot on the other leg) and had the decency to tell me that I did a "good job" even with all my whining. :) Thank you Kate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)