Monday, January 31
Monday, January 17
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.
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!
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.
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!!
(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!).
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.
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 |
 |
| JW's First Christmas picture |
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!).
Wednesday, January 12
3weeks
(you can't see it but his outfit says "let it snow". I thought it was appropriate for the weather we've been having here in Atlanta.)
Monday, January 10
Birth Story, part 2
We got to the hospital and were assigned a room. I changed, signed a lot of forms, got a bunch of blood drawn, and then the nurse came in to do my IV. I am not a big fan of needles. I made a comment to that effect and said that it would be okay because the nurse was good. Well - karma kicked my butt....she got the IV in my left arm, but the vein blew. Awesome, it felt really good. So she had to move to my right arm. Well the vein on my forearm looked the same as the left side, so she had to do my hand. It worked, but damn it hurt. Once the IV was in (I think this was around 11AM), they started the fluids and pitocin. The pitocin started slow, so the contractions came slowly and felt kind of like the BH I was used to. Then they upped it. James and I tried to watch a little TV, but my contractions were coming every minute and a half - yep fast, but not intense enough. They brought the pitocin back down some as not to wear me out too early. This went on for most of the afternoon. I did pretty well just breathing through the contractions, but around 5:30, James convinced me to go ahead and get the epidural. Great Idea! They were about to up the pitocin again to get things moving and I probably would have been pretty uncomfortable. The epidural was not bad at all. Actually, compared to the IV it was nothing. The epidural took immediately on the right side, but I was still feeling pretty strong "twinges" around the left hip, enough that the anesthesiologist came back to give me a little booster. It finally went away. I was checked after that and was at 6cm. As the time passed our odds of having a baby on 12/20 (see back to my post on numbers) got slim. We continued to hang out in the room watching tv and waiting. (We did see the last episode of the Sing Off - loved Committed). At some point I was checked and was at 9cm. They adjusted my bed to let gravity do some work to get Baby down. Around 11:30 PM they decided it was time to start pushing. I won't go into a lot of detail on this part, just know I pushed for 3 long hours and was "this close" to the vacuum or c-section. JW arrived at 2:31 AM on 12/21. The neo natal team was on hand due to the low fluid levels. They checked him out, things looked good and then he was placed on my chest. I got to hold him briefly (seemed pretty short) and then he started grunting. They called the neo natal team back to check him and they didn't like his breathing. They took upstairs to the NICU for monitoring. He needed to go 2 hours with normal breathing before they would bring him back to us. Since he was taken from the room, I got some pretty good drugs and tried to sleep. Around 6 AM James went upstairs to check on JW. He came back about 30 minutes later and things came to a crashing halt (or at least that is what it felt like). JW's story in another post.
I am not sure when this was taken, but it was definitely early in the story.....
I am not sure when this was taken, but it was definitely early in the story.....
Friday, January 7
Birth Story, part 1
Baby Boy's (I'll call him JW from now on) birth story begins with my doctor appointment on Monday (12/20) morning. We always try for the early morning appointments because then James can head into work from there. So we went in separate cars. (Mom was here so she went with me in my car.) Get to the appointment, pee in a cup, get weighed and blood pressure. My BP was higher than normal, twice (top number was around 155 and it is usually 118-120). It had been that high the week before, but it went back down - I think I was having a BH contraction. Nurse really doesn't say anything, go to room to see doctor. Baby's HR is 120 but again, they didn't really say anything one way or another. Doctor does exam (2cm) and asks "Did your water break?" Um, no not that I can recall. Well, she couldn't feel the bag of water, so in came the ultrasound machine. (we were all very careful not to look at the picture because it would have been horrible to not know for this long and to accidentally see something). There are 4 quadrants where the measure water volume, I was only measuring in one. So, we were sent to the hospital. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, and no, you don't have time to stop at home for your bags. James and I headed to the hospital and Mom headed home to get our bags and meet us at the hospital. Ummm, can we say wave of emotion? I had been ready for Baby for at least a week, but the moment the doctor said, it's time....I got a little scared. On our way to the hospital, I started thinking back to the previous days to see if I could remember my water breaking.....from what I can remember, I think the birth story goes back the previous Thursday night.
We attended a Christmas dinner that night. Things seemed fine but on the drive home I got a couple pretty intense BH contractions. I had been having them, and there was not a pattern, so I didn't think much of it. I woke up in the middle of the night for my usual trip to the potty. (this part might be tmi) I noticed that my underwear were soaked. But I had sweat through my tshirt as well. I changed my underwear and thought to myself that if they were soaked again in the morning, then we would call the doctor. Friday morning, dry underwear. I didn't think much more of it. Though I did tell James that he might want to answer a phone call from me that day because "my water might have broken overnight." Again, nothing more throughout the day, so I didn't think much more of it.
Friday night I did not sleep well. I think I woke up at 3ish and did not go back to sleep. Around 5:00 I went downstairs to eat (I was hungry). James wasn't too far behind me. So we did a few things around the house and then decided to run some last minute errands. We were home around noon and I decided to take a nap. I woke up around 2 with BH that were coming every 3-5 minutes. After an hour, I called James into the room and we decided to call the doctor. Talked to the midwife and she did not think I was in labor. I told her my water had not broken and the contractions were not unbearable and still felt like the previous BH I had previously. She said to take a walk and if things change (I would know if it was real labor) to call back. It was raining, so I vacuumed - Mom & Dad were arriving that night. I did not have an appetite and did not eat much the rest of the day, just in case.
Sunday was more of the same. BH but nothing unbearable. Went antique shopping with Mom & Dad hoping the walking would get things moving. Felt a little uncomfortable when we got home, but again nothing that was truly unbearable. Went to bed and woke up the next morning for my appointment. (In hindsight, I think I had an idea we would be having baby soon - I have a very small breakfast of cheerios and apple juice).
This is from Sunday night and is the last belly shot I have.
We attended a Christmas dinner that night. Things seemed fine but on the drive home I got a couple pretty intense BH contractions. I had been having them, and there was not a pattern, so I didn't think much of it. I woke up in the middle of the night for my usual trip to the potty. (this part might be tmi) I noticed that my underwear were soaked. But I had sweat through my tshirt as well. I changed my underwear and thought to myself that if they were soaked again in the morning, then we would call the doctor. Friday morning, dry underwear. I didn't think much more of it. Though I did tell James that he might want to answer a phone call from me that day because "my water might have broken overnight." Again, nothing more throughout the day, so I didn't think much more of it.
Friday night I did not sleep well. I think I woke up at 3ish and did not go back to sleep. Around 5:00 I went downstairs to eat (I was hungry). James wasn't too far behind me. So we did a few things around the house and then decided to run some last minute errands. We were home around noon and I decided to take a nap. I woke up around 2 with BH that were coming every 3-5 minutes. After an hour, I called James into the room and we decided to call the doctor. Talked to the midwife and she did not think I was in labor. I told her my water had not broken and the contractions were not unbearable and still felt like the previous BH I had previously. She said to take a walk and if things change (I would know if it was real labor) to call back. It was raining, so I vacuumed - Mom & Dad were arriving that night. I did not have an appetite and did not eat much the rest of the day, just in case.
Sunday was more of the same. BH but nothing unbearable. Went antique shopping with Mom & Dad hoping the walking would get things moving. Felt a little uncomfortable when we got home, but again nothing that was truly unbearable. Went to bed and woke up the next morning for my appointment. (In hindsight, I think I had an idea we would be having baby soon - I have a very small breakfast of cheerios and apple juice).
This is from Sunday night and is the last belly shot I have.
Thursday, January 6
Birthday Boy
Tuesday was the husband's birthday. It was little different this year since we have a newborn. No fancy dinner out in Buckhead or downtown (actually he has requested Murphy's in Va Highlands). We're still planning to go, it might just be a bit delayed. We did get out for an hour or so to grab a quick bite. And he did get Apple TV which was one of 3 things he said he wanted for Christmas/Birthday. So hopefully he was a happy boy.
Happy Birthday my love!!! Sorry it wasn't as exciting as previous ones.....
Happy Birthday my love!!! Sorry it wasn't as exciting as previous ones.....
They are coming
The updates, that is....I have finally uploaded pictures to the computer. Now, I just have to start on the updates. It may take a day or two since I really enjoy snuggling this cute little guy (and occasionally he gets fussy so I don't get a break between feedings). Here's a picture to tie you over....
 |
| Chillin' in the Boppy |
Monday, January 3
Getting Settled
We're still getting settled around here....Birth story, pictures and first 2 weeks update to come I promise! Hope you all had a great New Year!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)