Hullabaloo Family - Page 3

JenniferMR · #17 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 05:10 AM

Hey guys, sorry for disappearing again, but it is hard to find the time to just relax in front of the computer these days!

KC - I'm sorry to hear that your nephew was born prematurely, but he'll be just fine. Lauren was born at 33 1/2 weeks and only spent 16 days in the NICU. She was on CPAP too for about 24 hours and then just switched to a regular nasal canulla for another 3 days or so. The main obstacles that he will have will be learning to eat by mouth, and just gaining the stamina to do it because eating is very strenuous for little ones. Lauren was released as soon as she went 2 solid days of all 8 feedings by mouth. If he struggles with apneas and bradys he will be in there until he goes a certain amount of time without any and I think those rules vary by NICU. Ours said 5 days without any and she was evicted, lol. She happened to go 5 days without any and took all her feedings by mouth at the same time - they say that it usually happens that way, that they suddenly just turn the corner and next thing you know your baby is coming home! White boys do tend to be on their own time schedules, so he may be in there for a month or he may be in there just a week, it just depends on him. There was a little guy in the NICU with us born at 34 weeks and he was a great eater, but what kept him in the NICU for 32 days were the bradys, but they just suddenly stopped completely and he was fine. You can share that info with your sis and hopefully it will help her feel better about everything. It is really hard to see your tiny little baby hooked up to so many tubes and wires, but gradually things will come off and then it will all be a distant memory.

I know that the high bp is very unpleasant and scary, so I hope that she is doing better. The good news is that it probably bought her some extra time in the hospital to stay with the LO. I was in no hurry to leave the hospital at all and my OB let me stay 4 nights which I was so grateful for. It was so nice to be able to just walk down the hall in the middle of the night when I was up for pumping and say hello.

Keep us updated and I hope you get to go down for a visit!

ladybug · #18 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 09:41 AM

Hi all--Its Spring Break here so its quiet but still lots to do work wise! We get off Thursday and Friday and Friday I leave for my retreat with my sisters...should be tons of fun, I can't wait!

Gotta run!
H

phdn05 · #19 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 12:57 PM

Thanks for the info, Jenn. I'll be sure to pass it on. The docs and nurses haven't said anything about apnea or brady. I take that to mean he doesn't have a problem with them. What do you think?

I did get to go down there. I left Fri, spent the night in Philly airport, got there Sat. I was supposed to fly back on Mon, and didn't get on the plane because my flight got delayed and was going to make my conection tight again. Not wanting to spend another night in an airport, I flew back yesterday instead. To spare you all the details, don't fly USAirways. They aren't worth whatever you may save.

The baby did turn the corner long about Saturday. He spent about 36 hours on the CPAP, and then another 48 on oxygen. We got to hold him on Sunday, and he was moved to a regular bed on Monday. He is breastfeeding some now. Yesterday was his first day of mostly bfing. He went backwards in weight a bit with that. He still has only dropped 4 oz. Now he just needs to nurse every time and gain weight steadily. He kept pulling all the stuff off his face, so they had to tape it all down. He didn't even look like a baby when I first saw him. I know too many of you know what I am talking about. He is beautiful now. I would attach pics, but my stupid camera battery died. Rheadon is doing fantastic recovery-wise. You wouldn't even know she had had a C just a week ago looking at her. She's on meds, but her bp is under control. It's been really hard on both of them watching poor Jace go through this, but it helped them tremendously to get to hold him and see his face without all the tubes running everywhere. Hopefully they will get to go home soon!

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. It means a lot to me knowing I can turn to all of your anytime!

ladybug · #20 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 02:41 PM

Oh KC--That is fabulous news! I am so happy they have turned a corner and are on their way to leaving the hospital. I hope he happens soon for them all!

I am thrilled you got to see them, I know you must have ached to not have been here! I know Rheadon was glad to see you too.

Keep us updated! Well, its 4:40 pm on the day we leave for Spring Break, the U closes at 5pm....can you say READY TO GO! We are all so READY!

I am home tomorrow then leave Friday for my retreat.

Happy Spring to all!

phdn05 · #21 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 12:18 PM

Heather- I hope you are enjoying your spring break! Where are you retreating to?

Jace does have apnea problems. They had gone 2 days without his pulse-ox dropping, but it dropped again yesterday. Now they have to count 5 more days again. He is nursing well, but not gaining any weight yet. At least they are giving her a free room in the hospital.

ladybug · #22 (**permalink**) 03-16-2008, 07:51 PM

KC-Well,, I guess it is one step at a time, right. Hopefully soon he can be strong enough to go home!

We went up by Lake Whitney to Clifton, Texas....cute little town! The retreat was so much fun and I got 16 pages done in L's scrapbook plus some cards and 2 birthday gifts.

KC-So, what can you tell me about North Carolina? It seems DHs company may open up a plant in NC in the Kinston area and he has considered applying for the job. Its one of those deals where you need to move out of the area to move up in the company. Its close to Goldsboro and about 20 miles south of Greenville. What do you love and what do you hate? I remember you saying its expensive! Give me the dirt please!

H

JenniferMR · #23 (**permalink**) 03-17-2008, 01:27 PM

KC - that's great that he is such a good nurser! Lauren just couldn't get the hang of it no matter how much the LC's and nurses helped without the stupid shield. The weight gain will come soon enough. Is she following up with bottles of EBM? I think that the fortified breastmilk really helped Lauren to gain weight back fairly quickly. She went from 4 - 8 down to 4 - 3 and back up to 4 - 15 after 16 days. I understand that not all NICu's do that though. Sorry to hear about the desats which happens as a result of apnea/brady episodes. It is very common, and he'll grow out of it in no time. They don't want him home if that is still happening.

H - enjoy your sping break!

More later, Lauren is sleeping on me so i'm typing one handed

ladybug · #24 (**permalink**) 03-17-2008, 08:25 PM

I just checked Molly's Facebook page and she has had her baby! She is beautiful!

I am not sure if you can see if or not but here is the link
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