JW's Story

(sorry for the delay...it took about 3 days to write this.  WARNING:  It is long.  But I did put in a bunch of pictures, so hopefully you'll forgive me.)

JW's story began with a stay in the transition area of the NICU.  We were told he would be monitored and as soon as his breathing was normal for 2 hours, he would be back with us.  When Daddy went upstairs to check on him 3 hours later, he was greeted by one of the nurses who said JW took a turn for the worse and was being admitted.  James came back to my room visibly upset.  He was told JW had a hole in his lung and the doctor would be down shortly to talk to us.  At this point we called both of our moms to come back to the hospital with us.  Once they arrived, the doctor came to the room.  JW had a pneumothorax (collapsed lung).  They were unsure of the cause but were optimistic for the treatment.  James went back upstairs to sit with JW so he wasn't alone.  JW was hooked up to machines and under an oxygen hood.  He would stay under the hood until his stats came up.  I had to get myself to the bathroom and better dressed in order to go upstairs (those of you who have been there, know what I mean - mesh panties anyone?!)  I finally got up to see JW sometime before noon.  It was hard to see him all hooked up, but I did get to hold his little hand. 

Remember his 13 week u/s picture with his hands up.  This looks familiar!

 James and our family stayed with JW most of the day.  I was in my room sleeping off and on and made it up to see JW a couple times.  The next morning, James and I got up early and went to sit with JW for a bit.  The nurses said things looked good and the lung was looking better, but the doctor would review xrays and talk to us.  James went home for a shower.  When he came back, we ate breakfast in my room.  Shortly after that we were finally transferred to my postpartum room.  Getting a shower was high on my list and felt great.  The nurse waited for me to shower and get back to JW's room for his first bath.  We finally got to hold him after his bath.  It was a great moment. 

Sometime during this day (Weds, though I forget the order of things - I totally should have written this earlier) the doctor came to give us an update.  As the nurse had indicated, the pneumothorax was healing very well and JW could come out of the hood (we were very happy about this!!).  They would just use a canula to pump a bit of oxygen for him.  This was awesome news.  We even got hopeful that JW would be able to go home when I got discharged on Thursday.  BUT...The doctor followed that up with pneumonia.  JW had gotten pneumonia and would need a 7 day antibiotic course.  To be administered in the hospital.  He would not be going home with us and unfortunately would be spending Christmas in NICU.  Surprisingly, I took the news fairly well.  Somehow I put it in perspective....He WOULD be coming home with us, just in his own time.  Details of the treatment - they would put in a PICC line to administer the antibiotics.  He would also get a feeding tube until they felt he could handle a bottle.  But, they would use as much of my breast milk as I could give them.  Not ideal, but again, we would be bringing him home soon and that was a blessing.

Thursday I was discharged.  They were putting in the PICC line in the morning so we couldn't spend much time with JW.  (He didn't actually get the PICC line until Friday.  They tried his arms and legs the first time with no luck.  Then they tried his head - they even shaved some hair - with no luck.  Finally they were able to get it into his foot. A bit traumatic for him, but even more so for his parents I think)  We decided to go ahead and get home, showered and then come back.  That ride home was one of the hardest.  (I'm tearing up now just thinking about it.) I couldn't help but think that maybe I could have done something differently - like noticed my water broke - and we would have been bringing baby boy home with us.  Its a very surreal feeling to leave the hospital without the baby. 

James and I did a good job of going to the hospital about 2 times a day.  The nurses were FANTASTIC and I never once was worried about leaving him.  Other than getting up to pump, we were able to catch up on our sleep at home and prepare for JW's arrival in the house!

JW with Grandma

JW with Grandpa

JW with Bama

 My mom and dad bought JW a small Christmas tree and some decorations so his room would feel festive.  His bed also got Christmas blankets (made by the auxiliary group).  We visited Christmas eve and stayed kind of late.  It was nice to just sit with him.  As we drove home it had started to snow.  It was beautiful outside and somewhat calming to me.  James and I went back to the hospital first thing Christmas morning to sit with JW and have our first family Christmas.  When we left we told the nurses we would be back shortly, we were heading home to have Christmas at the house with my parents and sister.  We opened gifts, had brunch, watched a movie and ate dinner.  The day slipped away from us and we didn't get back to the hospital until around 7.  The nurse met us in the hallway with the best Christmas present ever.....They had taken the tube out and JW had taken a bottle at his last 2 feedings (all along I had thought that him not being able to take the appropriate amount at feedings would keep us in the NICU longer than the 7 day antibiotic course).  I hugged her and just cried.  It was a perfect ending to Christmas. 

JW's First Christmas picture

 We visited more on Sunday and Monday.  JW was getting my breastmilk and formula.  He was doing great and the antibiotics were taking care of the pneumonia.  The doctor called us at home with an update on Monday.  He would sign release papers for JW to come home on Tuesday!  Praise the Lord!!  He was coming home!! 

James and I headed to the hospital around 10 on Tuesday morning excited with the anticipation of bringing baby boy home.  The nurse from Christmas was working this day, too (she was AWESOME as were most of the nurses).  All but one wire had been removed - it was exciting!! The doctor had not come to do the circumcision yet, so we were in a holding pattern until that was done.  James and I left and had a quick lunch at Outback and made a Target run.  We got back in time to feed JW (pump for me) and just wait a bit longer.  Finally the doctor showed up.  About 10 minutes later all was done and JW was sleeping in his little crib.  While we waited an hour to check the progress, we packed up and signed all the discharge papers.  FINALLY we were going home as a family!!

We're Going HOME!!!

We didn't get his little hat on very well, but it was cute!

(JW is healthy!!  We've been hanging out at home though because the doctor has stressed that he cannot/should not catch any respiratory illness this winter.  So we're being extra cautious!).