The NICU warned us when the babies started doing so well that many times in the NICU it is one step forward two steps back. I nodded and agreed but still had my hopes up that our babies were almost ready! Last Tuesday (March 23) when I went to visit the babies the nurse stopped me and said let me update you about Presley. My thinking...oh great. Around 7:30 Presley had to go back on the Cpap for breathing help. She had been off since the Sunday before. They said she was probably worn out and just needed a little more time. That Tuesday is also the day they moved her to an open crib. Keeping the body temperature, breathing, eating from a bottle, breastfeeding...is all A LOT of work for her tiny body and something had to give. I was so upset to see her back on the Cpap since both babies absolutely HATE it. It's very uncomfortable for the babies but I know it saves their lives. Luckily, Thursday they turned 34 weeks and the Presley was able to be taken off the Cpap and put on oxygen- just a small clear tube going into her nose. She doesn't seem to mind it much. She's been eating her bottles great and keeping her body temperature well. We just need those tiny lungs to grow a stronger. She also is still having the Bradycardias which are not fun. A "Brady" is when her heart rate drops below 70. When her heart rate drops it also interferes with the blood flow in her body which is carrying oxygen so then she also "Dsats." A "Dsat" is when the amount of oxygen in her blood drops. When the babies Dsat they often turn blue. =( How do we help them during this? We stimulate the babies by stroking their head, back, or hand to remind them to breathe. Presley had a "brady" and "dsat" last night while I was holding her. No fun at all. Presley is up to 4 lbs 5 oz as of last night.
Parker update- Parker was looking great last week! They had told us to hurry and prepare because he might be home by the end of the weekend. Well...he decided he couldn't leave his big sister in the NICU alone so he's on oxygen and his feeding tube has been put back in. Thursday night Parker started having trouble getting down the last bit of his bottle. He was having bradys and dsating. They are thinking he has reflux. Since he is a preemie the little flap that is supposed to close off and keep their food down may just not be strong enough for the amount of milk that big boy is getting. They try him on a bottle at every feeding but occasionally they have to put the last bit of milk in his feeding tube. If we can get his reflux under control he should be better. They haven't treated it yet thinking maybe he will grow out of it. Parker is up to 5 lbs 5.4 oz as of last night.
So, what does it take for the babies to come home? No Bradys for 5 consecutive days, eating on their own, keeping their body temperature, and growing. They've got all those things accomplished except the bradys and dsats. Once we get all these bradys and dsats under control we'll be on our way. I'm hoping to see improvement by the end of the week. Tomorrow the babies will be three weeks old and Thursday they'll be 35 weeks. Please continue to pray for them.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Two Growing Babies
Well, since I've last posted a lot has happened with my precious Parker & Presley. Let me just re-cap their experience and then get up to date. When they were born they were breathing on their own but needed some help keeping their lungs open because they weren't fully formed. To help keep their lungs open they were put on a cpap- a device that blows air up their nose to apply enough pressure to keep those tiny lungs open. After several days on the cpap they decided to try them off. Sweet babies lungs weren't quite ready. They gave them several more days to develop and tried again on Saturday (March 20th.) Parker was ready and has been off since Saturday. Little Miss Presley was being a little more dainty about it and lasted a few hours and had to go back on. They tried her again on Sunday, March 21st and she has been off since then. Now, that they are off the cpap they were able to remove the feeding tube. Both babies had been taking their pacis so we were hoping they would get the bottle idea down pretty good. Wow, was I surprised when both babies were taking bottles on Sunday the 21st. Monday morning (yesterday) both babies were moved out of the intensive care room and down to a "growth room." The next step for the babies is to be in an open crib regulating their own body temperature. The nurses had told me that they don't out a baby in an open crib until they are 34 weeks which would be this Thursday for my babies. I was surprised when I went up there yesterday and discovered Parker already in an open crib!! What a big boy he is! They said his weight is up there for open crib even though he isn't 34 weeks they tried him out. He did great! =) Miss Presley just needs to gain a little more weight and she will be there too. They told me to go ahead and bring a car seat up today so they can start the car seat test on Parker soon. The babies have to be able to be in there car seats for 90 minutes with out any d-sats (d-sats are when there blood oxygen level drops.) I'm thinking next week I'll prob. have both my babies home! I can't wait! I'm so ready to be a full time mommy and not have to drive 30 minutes to see them! Going back and forth in the car wears me out...plus it takes forever to pack all my pumping gear. The guardian angel I prayed for has really helped us out! It has been SOOO amazing to see the babies off all their gear! They are SOO much happier! All the nurses have been bragging about their temperament! Since the babies have been off the cpap I've only heard them cry once each! The two times I heard them cry were for great reasons too- the nurses doing some things to them. We LOVE our Parker and Presley more than anything! Thank you for praying for them! Here are some recent pictures of the sweet babies. Parker has dark hair and Presley has light hair. =)
One last thing- the babies personalities are already so different. Presley is a little more easy going than Mr. Parker. She loves her beauty sleep. =) Parker keeps getting the cutest hiccups. I feel so bad for him though! He sounds like a little squeak toy! Off to go see them now!
One last thing- the babies personalities are already so different. Presley is a little more easy going than Mr. Parker. She loves her beauty sleep. =) Parker keeps getting the cutest hiccups. I feel so bad for him though! He sounds like a little squeak toy! Off to go see them now!
Friday, March 19, 2010
March 10, 2010
March 10, 2010 was an easy going day that turned crazy! I spent the day laying around not feeling well. After lunch I took my blood pressure and it was 140/90 which is too high. I put in a call to my doctor to leave a message for the nurse and laid down on my left side in the meantime. It took my doctor's office a couple of hours to return my call. When they did Nurse Doris told me I should go into Labor and Delivery to have my blood pressure monitored and blood taken. I was sure nothing big would come of this visit. I figured they would just put me on blood pressure medicine and I'd be on my way back home. Just in case I called Eric and had him meet my mom and I there. On the way there I put in a call to Eric's mom just to fill her in. Once we got into triage they put three monitors on me- one for each baby and one for my contractions. My blood pressure there was a lot lower so I just knew we would be leaving soon. I was having a lot of contractions but that wasn't a surprise to me since I have been having contractions for a long time now. The nurse took my blood which took forever- she said my blood was real slow to come out. About 30 minutes later the nurse came back in put her hand on my hip and said, "You're a sick pup, we're delivering the babies right now." WHAT?!?!? No!!! It is NOT time yet! She told me Dr. Robbins was on her way and would be here in just a few minutes. I still assumed that it would be a few hours before I was actually in the operating room since nothing in the medical field ever seems to move quickly....oh was I wrong- she said I would be back in the operating room in about ten minutes. Meanwhile, ten (seemed like fifty) people came in and started working on me. They told me I had preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome. Everyone seemed very panicked including me. I was hysterical crying but trying my hardest to stay calm for my babies. So difficult! All of my closest friends know my fear of blood and having blood taken. Well, this ten minutes was awful for that- each person was trying to get my blood out of every vein in my body. I guess because I was so sick my blood wouldn't come out. They said they had to get the blood incase I needed it during surgery. Dr. Robbins came in to try and comfort me and she told me we didn't have another minute to spare and it was time. Next thing I knew I was being wheeled down the hall and saying goodbye to Eric. I did not want to be back there by myself! I had several nurses in my face trying to comfort me. I was also being introduced to all the people who would be in the operating room with me including our babies NICU doctor. I got my epideral and was laid down on the table. I was freaked out that the epideral didn't have time to go into effect. Finally, a few minutes later Eric was back and sitting on a stool by my head trying to keep me calm. I could feel the doctors pulilng and tugging all over my tummy. Next thing I knew they said- "Dad come see your baby girl." Eric looked over the curtain and saw Presley. She made a tiny cry which was surreal to me! One minute later they said, "Dad look over and see your baby boy." Parker had a louder bigger cry. They were immediately taken to another area, cleaned up, and taken to the NICU. They stopped them by me to see as they wheeled the babies away for care. Next, I was told the Magnesium Sulfate IV had been started and I was soon taken to recovery. I stayed in recovery on the Mag, salt water IV, and pain meds being injected into my back for 24 hours. I don't remember much from that time. The next night I was taken to a regular hospital room and boy was I in pain! On my way to the new room the nurse took my by the NICU to see the babies. They were so precious and tiny to me. The next few days Eric took me to the NICU for visits. I was dreading my discharge from the hospital since I would be farther away from the babies. =( I tried to convince the doctor to give me a few more days...didn't work. Coming home was very difficult. Now I spend my days alternating between pumping and making trips to the NICU. I hate the 30 minute drive each way to see the babies. Each day seems to be getting harder and harder for me. It is SO hard to see the babies uncomfortable and know that they are held and comforted very little...only the time that I can spend up there. =( The nurses strictly keep to medical needs only. I know for a fact that this is the most difficult thing I will experience in my entire life. Well, I'm off to visit the babies now. PLEASE PRAY FOR PARKER AND PRESLEY! I have prayed very hard for God to send a guardian angel to watch over the babies. I'll update soon about their medical status- they are progressing.
Here are a few photos- I'll put more later
Parker Michael born 3/10/10 at 7:22 pm
Presley Kate born 3/10/10 at 7:21 pm
Holding my sweet princess Presley for the first time
Holding my sweet baby Parker for the first time
Here are a few photos- I'll put more later
Parker Michael born 3/10/10 at 7:22 pm
Presley Kate born 3/10/10 at 7:21 pm
Holding my sweet princess Presley for the first time
Holding my sweet baby Parker for the first time
Monday, March 8, 2010
Top 10...
Top 10 Things to be Thankful for Lately (in no particular order)...
1. I am thankful to have "slash." That is a nickname Eric and I came up with for him a few weeks ago since he does everything for me. Example- water provider/sock applier/body lifter/cook/maid/emergency contact finder/and most recently leg shaver. haha I had a lot of fun calling him slash for awhile.
2. I am thankful to have my own personal table wherever I go. My belly comes up so high and is so big that I can rest my plate of food on it. =)
3. I am thankful for my recliner that I have now been living in the last oh 9 weeks. We have definitely gotten our money worth in this chair!
4. I am thankful for my water cup with lid and straw. My first favorite cup accidentally got melted in the dishwasher when Eric put it on the bottom rack. I was so sad about it that I cried. Silly! I have a new one my mom brought over that works.
5. I am thankful for my good friend Janet bringing me over some old huge t-shirts. She told me they were big enough to fit Shamu. haha! So comfy!
6. I am thankful for Italian food and cheese as I have been eating it through this whole pregnancy!
7. I am thankful for my Tums which provide reflux relief!
8. I am thankful for the t.v. show The Bachelor. Although I hated the ending it gave me something to look forward to each week. I always recorded it to watch the next day when nothing was on t.v.
9. I am thankful for my mom who has put up with all my grumpiness. I owe her big time for being here daily to take care of me even when I have been unpleasant on many days. She makes sure I have all my favorite things daily and has made way too many trips to stores for me to get the things I need or want. She has done more than I can even list here and I don't tell her enough how much I appreciate it all.
10. Last, I am thankful for Pudge. He's been my bed rest buddy who keeps me cheered up. The sweet little guy never leaves my side. Even though it is so hard for me to bend down I somehow find it in me to cover him up in the middle of the night when he is in his bed on the ground next to my chair sleeping so sweetly. He is so funny because I rotate between the recliner and the couch at night. The minute I move to the couch he immediately wants on the couch to snuggle. Then, when I move to the recliner he jumps back down to sleep on the floor in his bed by the chair. Such a cutie!
One last thing- SO here is what I wished I looked like right now-
Here is a closer example- HAHA
Dreaming of that moment when I get to hold my babies. Literally! I lay at night thinking about it. =)
1. I am thankful to have "slash." That is a nickname Eric and I came up with for him a few weeks ago since he does everything for me. Example- water provider/sock applier/body lifter/cook/maid/emergency contact finder/and most recently leg shaver. haha I had a lot of fun calling him slash for awhile.
2. I am thankful to have my own personal table wherever I go. My belly comes up so high and is so big that I can rest my plate of food on it. =)
3. I am thankful for my recliner that I have now been living in the last oh 9 weeks. We have definitely gotten our money worth in this chair!
4. I am thankful for my water cup with lid and straw. My first favorite cup accidentally got melted in the dishwasher when Eric put it on the bottom rack. I was so sad about it that I cried. Silly! I have a new one my mom brought over that works.
5. I am thankful for my good friend Janet bringing me over some old huge t-shirts. She told me they were big enough to fit Shamu. haha! So comfy!
6. I am thankful for Italian food and cheese as I have been eating it through this whole pregnancy!
7. I am thankful for my Tums which provide reflux relief!
8. I am thankful for the t.v. show The Bachelor. Although I hated the ending it gave me something to look forward to each week. I always recorded it to watch the next day when nothing was on t.v.
9. I am thankful for my mom who has put up with all my grumpiness. I owe her big time for being here daily to take care of me even when I have been unpleasant on many days. She makes sure I have all my favorite things daily and has made way too many trips to stores for me to get the things I need or want. She has done more than I can even list here and I don't tell her enough how much I appreciate it all.
10. Last, I am thankful for Pudge. He's been my bed rest buddy who keeps me cheered up. The sweet little guy never leaves my side. Even though it is so hard for me to bend down I somehow find it in me to cover him up in the middle of the night when he is in his bed on the ground next to my chair sleeping so sweetly. He is so funny because I rotate between the recliner and the couch at night. The minute I move to the couch he immediately wants on the couch to snuggle. Then, when I move to the recliner he jumps back down to sleep on the floor in his bed by the chair. Such a cutie!
One last thing- SO here is what I wished I looked like right now-
Here is a closer example- HAHA
Dreaming of that moment when I get to hold my babies. Literally! I lay at night thinking about it. =)
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Baby Shower with Family
Saturday, February 20th my Aunt Cindy hosted a wonderful small family shower at her house! It was nice to sit around with family, open more great gifts for the babies, and of course eat delicious cake!! =) We are so blessed to have such wonderful families to help us provide for Parker and Presley! Here are a few pictures from the afternoon- we didn't take a lot of pictures so some family is missing in the photos
The cute cake that said on the sides- Twice the Blessing, Twice the Fun =)
My Aunt Cindy
Eric's Mom, and cousin Jennifer
Granny, Me, Mom
This Tuesday will be my last shower for the babies! My team at school is hosting a shower after school on Tuesday. I'm supposed to go up to school a little early and visit my classroom for a shower from my class...I'm not sure if I will be able to though. It's been a really hard week and I'm not sure I could handle it. We'll see how I feel and how my doctor appointment goes tomorrow. Being off the contraction medicine hasn't been easy...I may be taking it again soon.
The cute cake that said on the sides- Twice the Blessing, Twice the Fun =)
My Aunt Cindy
Eric's Mom, and cousin Jennifer
Granny, Me, Mom
This Tuesday will be my last shower for the babies! My team at school is hosting a shower after school on Tuesday. I'm supposed to go up to school a little early and visit my classroom for a shower from my class...I'm not sure if I will be able to though. It's been a really hard week and I'm not sure I could handle it. We'll see how I feel and how my doctor appointment goes tomorrow. Being off the contraction medicine hasn't been easy...I may be taking it again soon.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Doctors and Itching
Well, this week has been full of doctor visits! Monday afternoon I saw Dr. Tabor, Tuesday back to Tabor for blood work, and Wednesday Dr. Robbins. Phew! It does help the week go by but not in a fun way.
Here is the latest news-
Monday Dr. Tabor measured the babies. They are looking great well in Dr. Tabor's words "mighty fine"- Presley is 3 lbs 13 ounces and Parker is 4 lbs. Phew, that's about 8 pounds of babies! The other outcome of the appointment was the possibility that I have Chloestasis- not fun. The last week and a half I have been itching horribly! The itching is mostly on my hands and feet then spreads all over. Chloestasis is when the pregnancy hormone interferes with the liver causing toxic bile to go into your bloodstream- which causes the horrible itching. So, Dr. Tabor had me fast Monday night and come in Tuesday morning for blood work. Oh my gosh the fasting was NOT easy! I get dehydrated in about 30 seconds (it seems) so I was dying for water! I didn't care at all about food just wanted water! SO glad to have that over with! Just waiting to hear results... Oh and I was very disappointed when I left Dr. Tabor's office because he didn't check my cervix OR due the fetal fibronectin test which meant I would be having it done by Robbins. Eek!!! Update about test results below-
Wednesday I went to see Dr. Robbins. I was NOT looking forward to this appointment because of that fetal fibronectin test that was horrible last time. My appointment was at 1:30 but I didn't see Dr. Robbins until about 3:30- she had to leave for a delivery. The nurse wanted me to stick around because my blood pressure was high. I was uncomfortable in the inferno office but didn't mind because I knew one day that will be me she will be delivering. =) When she got back I heard the greatest news of all- NO MORE FETAL FIBRONECTIN TEST OR CERVICAL CHECKS of me! WOOHOO, so Dr. Tabor did have a reason! All my stress seemed to melt right away. The reason she will not be doing the test is because her checking me could actually move things along more quickly. She said I could be walking around dilated to a 4 but would not check me to find out...since I could walk around at a 4 for a long time...makes complete sense to me! I was worried with all the bleeding last time that she had caused something.
So, the biggest news- Dr. Tabor's office called me with my results today- my bile acids came back in the normal range. That is such a relief because I was SO worried that the babies were being poisoned by my body. Now though I was left thinking- "What the heck is causing this?!" The itching has been getting progressively worse on my hands, feet, ankles, and wrist. Last night I was able to sleep from 3 am to 6 am and that's it. The rest of the time was spent frantically scratching and moving an ice pack around on the spots. I have several skin creams and have taken benadryl...NOTHING helps except the ice. I take back every complaint I have had from pregnancy so far...I will take ALL of those things happily as long as I don't have this itching! =( I called Dr. Robbins to see what to do next and she said to stop taking my Procardia (contraction medicine.) She said it could be the cause of this...also me sitting in the sun could be part of the problem. No more sunshine for me! So, for now I will be off Procardia and visit Dr. Robbins on Monday morning to check my blood pressure and evaluate the itching situation. I'm praying the Procardia is the cause and I have relief soon and that I adjust to being off the medicine and do not go into labor as a result.
We learned some really sad news about my first baby- Pudge this week. I don't want this post to be completely depressing so I'm not going to write about it right now.
On a happier note- it feels like SPRING is HERE! Spring is my FAVORITE time of year! I love everything about it! I'm so happy our babies will be born during this beautiful time of year! I look forward to getting back into some cute spring clothes, (eventually!) flip flops, sunglasses, and pedicures! I'm thinking about trying to get a pedicure sometime soon.
Here is the latest news-
Monday Dr. Tabor measured the babies. They are looking great well in Dr. Tabor's words "mighty fine"- Presley is 3 lbs 13 ounces and Parker is 4 lbs. Phew, that's about 8 pounds of babies! The other outcome of the appointment was the possibility that I have Chloestasis- not fun. The last week and a half I have been itching horribly! The itching is mostly on my hands and feet then spreads all over. Chloestasis is when the pregnancy hormone interferes with the liver causing toxic bile to go into your bloodstream- which causes the horrible itching. So, Dr. Tabor had me fast Monday night and come in Tuesday morning for blood work. Oh my gosh the fasting was NOT easy! I get dehydrated in about 30 seconds (it seems) so I was dying for water! I didn't care at all about food just wanted water! SO glad to have that over with! Just waiting to hear results... Oh and I was very disappointed when I left Dr. Tabor's office because he didn't check my cervix OR due the fetal fibronectin test which meant I would be having it done by Robbins. Eek!!! Update about test results below-
Wednesday I went to see Dr. Robbins. I was NOT looking forward to this appointment because of that fetal fibronectin test that was horrible last time. My appointment was at 1:30 but I didn't see Dr. Robbins until about 3:30- she had to leave for a delivery. The nurse wanted me to stick around because my blood pressure was high. I was uncomfortable in the inferno office but didn't mind because I knew one day that will be me she will be delivering. =) When she got back I heard the greatest news of all- NO MORE FETAL FIBRONECTIN TEST OR CERVICAL CHECKS of me! WOOHOO, so Dr. Tabor did have a reason! All my stress seemed to melt right away. The reason she will not be doing the test is because her checking me could actually move things along more quickly. She said I could be walking around dilated to a 4 but would not check me to find out...since I could walk around at a 4 for a long time...makes complete sense to me! I was worried with all the bleeding last time that she had caused something.
So, the biggest news- Dr. Tabor's office called me with my results today- my bile acids came back in the normal range. That is such a relief because I was SO worried that the babies were being poisoned by my body. Now though I was left thinking- "What the heck is causing this?!" The itching has been getting progressively worse on my hands, feet, ankles, and wrist. Last night I was able to sleep from 3 am to 6 am and that's it. The rest of the time was spent frantically scratching and moving an ice pack around on the spots. I have several skin creams and have taken benadryl...NOTHING helps except the ice. I take back every complaint I have had from pregnancy so far...I will take ALL of those things happily as long as I don't have this itching! =( I called Dr. Robbins to see what to do next and she said to stop taking my Procardia (contraction medicine.) She said it could be the cause of this...also me sitting in the sun could be part of the problem. No more sunshine for me! So, for now I will be off Procardia and visit Dr. Robbins on Monday morning to check my blood pressure and evaluate the itching situation. I'm praying the Procardia is the cause and I have relief soon and that I adjust to being off the medicine and do not go into labor as a result.
We learned some really sad news about my first baby- Pudge this week. I don't want this post to be completely depressing so I'm not going to write about it right now.
On a happier note- it feels like SPRING is HERE! Spring is my FAVORITE time of year! I love everything about it! I'm so happy our babies will be born during this beautiful time of year! I look forward to getting back into some cute spring clothes, (eventually!) flip flops, sunglasses, and pedicures! I'm thinking about trying to get a pedicure sometime soon.
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