Yesterday and today have been great days with Cait. She has continued to lower her oxygen needs and is handling her feedings very well, eating a little over 1/2 ounce every three hours. Her big accomplishment today is that she has now started to gain weight instead of lose it. Tuesday she was down to 2lbs 2oz and today she is 2lbs 4oz. YEAH! Cait has also started physical therapy as her shoulders and elbows are pretty stiff from not being able to move too much while inside. Today the PT showed me how to do Caits stretches so we can do them when we are with her. It kinda reminds me of a Jane Fonda workout for preemies.
The nurses have been letting me help with diaper changes, taking her temperature, and making sure her mouth stays moist since she likes to sleep with it hanging open. It feels so good to be able to do something for her instead of just sit and stare. Yesterday her nurse even let me hang out with her with the blue lights turned off for a few minutes. This means she didn't have to have her little suntanning goggles on and could open her eyes. Seeing my daughter open her eyes for the first time was quite overwhelming. It's amazing what you can see when you look in your child's eyes, I finally got to have a little glimpse of HER and not just her body. To top it all off she gave me quite a few little grins. Melted my heart.
We haven't had the chance to hold her yet but that day will come. Dale and I are more than ready but we don't want to cause her any unnecessary stress when she is doing so well, so we will wait. Her nurse last night showed me some ways I can "hold" her while she's in her isolet. Cait really seemed to like it as she snuggled right down and zonked out.
She is such a sweetheart and I just can't seem to get enough of her. My time at the hospital seems to fly by much too quickly. We are still trying to get a schedule down with the boys, work, school, daily life, the NICU, and don't forget the pump. It's been pretty crazy this week and I want to say Thank You to everyone who have pitched in and helped with the boys and dinners. You have all been lifesavers. We are so grateful to have such wonderful friends and family around us. Thank You again for all that you do for me and my family.
-Candice
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Doing Well
Cait is doing well. She started eating Mommy milk yesterday and was keeping it down pretty well last night. They tried to start her on milk last Saturday but she was spitting up a lot. Her little tummy was still asleep from the sedative she had been on all week.
She has started to be able to cry which is wonderful to hear but also breaks my heart at the same time. She sounds like a baby kitten. We haven't been able to hold her yet which is okay. We would rather wait until she is strong enough than push her into something she isn't ready for. We can put our hand over her and she seems to really love being "held" that way. She calms right down and goes to sleep.
Our new goal for Cait is to get off of the photo therapy lights. Her bilirubin levels are continuing to come down. Yesterday she was at a 5 with her highest level having been a 13 on Friday. She needs to be at a 3 or 4 to come off the lights. Today she will be seeing the physical therapist as her joints are a little stiff from being in such a tight space for so long.
I have started to become quite a fussy mother being concerned over every little thing. Her ear lobe is bent, her wires are between her fingers, her mouth looks dry, there's too much condensation in her oxygen tube, things like that. She has been through so much and I want her to be as comfortable as possible.
It's amazing how much love such a little person can bring to your life. For the longest time we didn't think we would get to be with this little girl and each moment with her is a gift. She is so very sweet and we hope for the day that we will all be together.
-Candice
She has started to be able to cry which is wonderful to hear but also breaks my heart at the same time. She sounds like a baby kitten. We haven't been able to hold her yet which is okay. We would rather wait until she is strong enough than push her into something she isn't ready for. We can put our hand over her and she seems to really love being "held" that way. She calms right down and goes to sleep.
Our new goal for Cait is to get off of the photo therapy lights. Her bilirubin levels are continuing to come down. Yesterday she was at a 5 with her highest level having been a 13 on Friday. She needs to be at a 3 or 4 to come off the lights. Today she will be seeing the physical therapist as her joints are a little stiff from being in such a tight space for so long.
I have started to become quite a fussy mother being concerned over every little thing. Her ear lobe is bent, her wires are between her fingers, her mouth looks dry, there's too much condensation in her oxygen tube, things like that. She has been through so much and I want her to be as comfortable as possible.
It's amazing how much love such a little person can bring to your life. For the longest time we didn't think we would get to be with this little girl and each moment with her is a gift. She is so very sweet and we hope for the day that we will all be together.
-Candice
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Something to Prove
Today is another great day for Cait. I went into see her and Dr. Berger came right up to me and said one word, "Fantastic." That totally made my day. He went on to say that he can't believe just how wonderful she is doing and that he is amazed at how well her lungs are doing. Yesterday her oxygen was at a four and today she is down to a one. Her nurse said she is doing great with no drops in her stats. WAY TO GO LITTLE GIRL!!!! The best news being we might be able to hold her tonight or tomorrow depending on how her stats are. We also get to start helping with changing her diaper. Who ever thought we would look forward to that.
We are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for the progress that our little girl is making. Every day she is proving to all around her that she has her own plans for this life despite the odds she was given which, by the way, was around 1%. She has blessed our family so much already and we look forward to seeing her each day.
-Candice
We are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for the progress that our little girl is making. Every day she is proving to all around her that she has her own plans for this life despite the odds she was given which, by the way, was around 1%. She has blessed our family so much already and we look forward to seeing her each day.
-Candice
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Round 2 to Cait...T.K.O.
GREAT NEWS! We walked into the NICU today and were shocked to see Cait without breathing tubes! She is off the nitric oxide, ventilator, and looking great. It was so nice to see her face without all the tubes. Cait has oxygen tubes running to her nose, but other than that she is breathing fine on her own.The doctor saw us walk in and came right over and had a big smile on her face. Doctor Mohan said she was doing extremely well and that her brain ultrasound had come back at a stable Level 3 with slight improvement in her arteries. We felt like jumping up and down, but settled for hugs with the doctor and nurses. What a huge improvement in just a week. We will definitely call this round in Cait's favor!
The nurses surprised us with a picture of Cait they took with all of her tubes and thing removed, and a note attached that said, "Look Mom, no tubes!" Cait is so funny, with her wrinkly skin and funny faces she makes. We were holding her hands through the incubator and she gave us a little cry. It was amazing to hear her, and see her taking breaths on her own. She is amazing and a strong little fighter...what a will she has. Eat your heart out ROCKY!
-Dale
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Round 1 to Cait
What a little fighter we have on our hands. Cait's doctors and nurses are ecstatic about her progress and improvement over the past 48 hours. She has reduced her need for the nitric oxide a considerable amount this morning and hopefully will be weened from it completely by tomorrow morning. Her ventilation requirements have also been reduced, with minimal drops on the rest of her vital stats. Way to go Cait!They have Cait scheduled for another brain ultrasound in the morning. We hope and pray that these results will be positive as well. At her last ultrasound she was at a Level 3 with a bi-lateral brain bleed. If there is, or will be, any more bleeding it should show up now, as the full extent of brain bleeds usually fully manifest themselves in about 7 days in pre-term babies. This is the scary part. We are hoping the current bleed/clots have not broken down into smaller pieces causing the arteries in her head to become blocked, causing neurological damage. We hope to report Round 2 tomorrow will be in Cait's favor as well.
Our family has a lot to be thankful for today, besides elastic waistband in our pants. What a blessing it is to have Cait here with us. We know that even if Cait doesn't win the rounds ahead of her, our family will ultimately win the fight, because we are blessed to be an eternal family...Families are Forever!
-Dale
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Back and Forth
Well, it is so nice to be home with my boys. They are so sweet and helpful. Celtin has been opening doors for me and telling me he will help me so I don't have to bend over. They both are very anxious to see their sister but that will have to wait for now. Tonight they got to hang out in the Ronald McDonald room while I sat with Cait. They thought that was pretty cool.
The last five days have been CRAZY to say the least. I was home last night for about two hours before we were back at the hospital with Cait. She is so tiny and I can't stand the thought of her being without family. Even though we can only touch her with a finger it makes me feel as though we are doing something to let her know that we are there and that we love her.
Today was a good day for Cait. We got a call this morning from her Doctor saying that her chest x-ray had come back looking very good. No signs of pulmonary hypoplasia which is what the Doctors were most concerned about before she was born. She has also continued to slowly come down on her nitric oxide and respirator levels. No big leaps and bounds but rather tiny steps in the right direction.
Before she was born I was so scared about how we would get through this but when you see your child for the first time and you are filled with a love like nothing in this world you suddenly become stronger than before. You are able to handle things that you didn't think possible because that little baby is worth it.
I'd like to say Thank You to everyone for all the prayers and kind words of support. Some of you have asked what you can do to help and right now what's helping us the most is to have the support of such wonderful friends and family. We know that we can call on any of you at any time for help and that alone is a great comfort.
-Candice
The last five days have been CRAZY to say the least. I was home last night for about two hours before we were back at the hospital with Cait. She is so tiny and I can't stand the thought of her being without family. Even though we can only touch her with a finger it makes me feel as though we are doing something to let her know that we are there and that we love her.
Today was a good day for Cait. We got a call this morning from her Doctor saying that her chest x-ray had come back looking very good. No signs of pulmonary hypoplasia which is what the Doctors were most concerned about before she was born. She has also continued to slowly come down on her nitric oxide and respirator levels. No big leaps and bounds but rather tiny steps in the right direction.
Before she was born I was so scared about how we would get through this but when you see your child for the first time and you are filled with a love like nothing in this world you suddenly become stronger than before. You are able to handle things that you didn't think possible because that little baby is worth it.
I'd like to say Thank You to everyone for all the prayers and kind words of support. Some of you have asked what you can do to help and right now what's helping us the most is to have the support of such wonderful friends and family. We know that we can call on any of you at any time for help and that alone is a great comfort.
-Candice
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Home Sweet Home
Giving this post a title was interesting. I thought about the term Home Sweet Home and what that really means. I was able to bring Candice home from the hospital this afternoon and what a great feeling it is to have her back home with us after several weeks in the hospital. The spirit Candice brings to our home truly does make it, Home Sweet Home. I have missed that.
It was hard for us to say goodbye to Cait before we left the hospital, knowing that she would no longer be just down the hall. We know she is in good hands. We had a great update from Cait's doctor today. She is making small improvements on her oxygen levels, but her jaundice levels have increased. She will continue to receive photo-therapy treatment for probably another week or so.
We are able to hold her hands through the openings in the incubator, which has been a choice experience for the both of us. Sometimes she will grab hold of your little finger and not let go. She is so strong. I say that more in a spiritual way, than physical. Her strength is our strength. We hope at some point we will bring Cait home so that she too can be apart of our Home Sweet Home!
-Dale
It was hard for us to say goodbye to Cait before we left the hospital, knowing that she would no longer be just down the hall. We know she is in good hands. We had a great update from Cait's doctor today. She is making small improvements on her oxygen levels, but her jaundice levels have increased. She will continue to receive photo-therapy treatment for probably another week or so.
We are able to hold her hands through the openings in the incubator, which has been a choice experience for the both of us. Sometimes she will grab hold of your little finger and not let go. She is so strong. I say that more in a spiritual way, than physical. Her strength is our strength. We hope at some point we will bring Cait home so that she too can be apart of our Home Sweet Home!
-Dale
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