From Meg:
I do not have new pictures to add because they are with Jeremy, and it is way past my bedtime! However, we went in to see Kara as a family yesterday. We had 10 glorious minutes in our room before Kara was moved to a double occupancy room. We are working on thinking on what is true in this situation instead of mourning the loss of what "was". We are thankful that our roommate is a newborn (which means we can still use the potty and shower if we want). And we are thankful that even the "taste" of a single room was by God's design and will be used for his purposes.
Kara rested WELL in our arms yesterday and today. Apparently when we're not there she's quite a bit more fussy. Hooray! She loves Mommy and Daddy. She also loves clean diapers =) She is down to 5 mccg of morphine, but they will probably need to supplement with bolus (single doses) as needed since that's a drastic change from the 10. She is also all done with her "gatorade" (not really gatorade, but the supplemental nutrition in her IV that looked just like gatorade) which means all her calories will come from my milk + the extra calories they add to the milk. She will most likely need to have extra calories (i.e. powder formula) added to her milk for a long time due to her higher breathing rate.
We are rejoicing that we are all doing well. Continuing to ask God to transfer us to Evergreen (if that's His will), thanking God that Connor & Katie are doing well and for my parents who watch them, for the time He's given our family together and Jeremy & I on our own thanks to our gracious brothers & sisters in Christ who have been providing meals. That has been freeing up a lot of time, worry and stress. Thank you! We are also thankful for a gorgeous day today. Thank you, God!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Wednesay and Thursdays
I've been lax in updating and there is good news to report!
Wednesday morning Meg and I went to the hospital for the morning. Kara was doing very well and the doctors decided to extubate her. While a very easy thing to do it did leave Kara a little uncomfortable for the morning. It was good to hear her cry again, albeit raspy from the tube. The kept Kara's IV and morphine levels the same for the day
Thursday Meg and the kids went in to see Kara along with Mimi. The doctors were very pleased with how Kara was progressing and indicated she could be moved from the NICU to the 'floor.' Which is the term they use for general surgery recovery. At first to me it was like moving Kara from isolation to the general population. But I had to remind myself this isn't a prison and the only reason I'm anxious is because it is unknown (nurses, room, etc). Something to confess before the Lord.
She was moved another section of the hospital with a larger room. She is in a single room for now. There is a possibility she will be moved into a shared room. The room is a huge improvement over the NICU. We can eat in it. There's a restroom and shower. There's a bed so we can sleep there if we wish. I (Jeremy) will probably take advantage of that.
Taken Thursday night
Here next steps:
- Continue to ween off morphine (she's down to 10 micrograms)
- managing her discomfort with oral medication like Tylenol
- Start working on her feeding skills (almost as important as nun chuck skills ;)
- They will start giving her oral doses of milk soon
Praises:
- God is greatly to be praised because He is worthy
- for God's grace to us in Kara's recovery, she is progressing so well
- Meg and I can hold her now whenever we want. We just have to mind the cords ;)
- for the great care Kara has received.
- for the community of believers who have supported us through this
Prayer requests:
- Continued wisdom for the doctors and nurses in treating Kara
- for us to be content if God has us stay at Children's or go back to Evergreen
- Connor and Katie would be content as we balance time at home and hospital
- for Kara's continued recovery and adjustment to life after surgery
Wednesday morning Meg and I went to the hospital for the morning. Kara was doing very well and the doctors decided to extubate her. While a very easy thing to do it did leave Kara a little uncomfortable for the morning. It was good to hear her cry again, albeit raspy from the tube. The kept Kara's IV and morphine levels the same for the day
Thursday Meg and the kids went in to see Kara along with Mimi. The doctors were very pleased with how Kara was progressing and indicated she could be moved from the NICU to the 'floor.' Which is the term they use for general surgery recovery. At first to me it was like moving Kara from isolation to the general population. But I had to remind myself this isn't a prison and the only reason I'm anxious is because it is unknown (nurses, room, etc). Something to confess before the Lord.
She was moved another section of the hospital with a larger room. She is in a single room for now. There is a possibility she will be moved into a shared room. The room is a huge improvement over the NICU. We can eat in it. There's a restroom and shower. There's a bed so we can sleep there if we wish. I (Jeremy) will probably take advantage of that.
Taken Thursday night
Here next steps:
- Continue to ween off morphine (she's down to 10 micrograms)
- managing her discomfort with oral medication like Tylenol
- Start working on her feeding skills (almost as important as nun chuck skills ;)
- They will start giving her oral doses of milk soon
Praises:
- God is greatly to be praised because He is worthy
- for God's grace to us in Kara's recovery, she is progressing so well
- Meg and I can hold her now whenever we want. We just have to mind the cords ;)
- for the great care Kara has received.
- for the community of believers who have supported us through this
Prayer requests:
- Continued wisdom for the doctors and nurses in treating Kara
- for us to be content if God has us stay at Children's or go back to Evergreen
- Connor and Katie would be content as we balance time at home and hospital
- for Kara's continued recovery and adjustment to life after surgery
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Katie Running Dialogue
While I was on my bed the other day, Katie came in, got a step (to start to climb on the bed). While she was doing this, and as Jeremy came in and got on the bed, here is what she said (verbatim... we wrote it down to put in her journal, but I figured I should share as well):
*I will pick it up (the step)
*I am carrying it
*I'm a strong Katie
*I will turn it like (yike) this
*My finger is stuck!
(after on the bed):
*Mommy, where are your legs? (yegs - they were under the covers if you're wondering)
*Be careful of the edge, Daddy!
*I will come over to see Daddy.
Later, as I tried to tickle her feet, she said:
*Oh, no I don't, I'm focusing on my toes.
*I will pick it up (the step)
*I am carrying it
*I'm a strong Katie
*I will turn it like (yike) this
*My finger is stuck!
(after on the bed):
*Mommy, where are your legs? (yegs - they were under the covers if you're wondering)
*Be careful of the edge, Daddy!
*I will come over to see Daddy.
Later, as I tried to tickle her feet, she said:
*Oh, no I don't, I'm focusing on my toes.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Tuesday a.m. update
We are going in to see Kara this evening, but called to get an update. Here is the latest:
*looking to extubate in the next 48 hours (wow!)
*breaths per minute is down to 30 (yesterday 35)
*morphine is down to 18 (yesterday 20)
*Kara had her most awake/alert period thusfar
*milk consumption (still through tube) is up to 10mL/hr (from 8)
And now - naptime for Mommy!
*looking to extubate in the next 48 hours (wow!)
*breaths per minute is down to 30 (yesterday 35)
*morphine is down to 18 (yesterday 20)
*Kara had her most awake/alert period thusfar
*milk consumption (still through tube) is up to 10mL/hr (from 8)
And now - naptime for Mommy!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Shampooed and Styled
I (Meg) got to go in to see Kara for a few hours this morning and wanted to share the latest updates. In short - she is still steadily moving forward and improving.
* She had a hair wash (yippee!!). Her hair was getting a bit nasty, especially after the I.V. that was in it.
* I got to lotion her - I put lotion on her almost every day. She currently has nothing in her left hand (as in no I.V.s or bandaids or anything)
* Her morphine drop is down to 20 Mccg (as of 10 a.m.) and she is doing well on that
* Her ventilator breaths per minute is down to 35 (they will go down approx. 5 per day down to a level of 20 before extubation)
* Her chest tube was removed this morning and because it was removed...
* I got to actually hold her (without a pillow underneath her). Hooray, hooray! She definitely likes to be held tight and did NOT like to be held vertically... guess that'll take some getting used to on her part.
We're thanking the Lord that Connor and Katie seem to be adjusted to the normalcy of Mommy or Daddy leaving to go to the hospital. Jeremy went back to work today. Right now the plan is for him to take Wednesdays off, and we'll go into the hospital together for a longer time Wed. morning. He will go in on his own a few different times (morning/evening) during the week. He had a good first day back.
Random blessing note: Children's volunteers provide free haircuts and massages for parents, so I am taking advantage of both (I am terrible about getting regular haircuts) on Wednesday. As we say around our house often (usually for sunshine), "Thank you, God!"
* She had a hair wash (yippee!!). Her hair was getting a bit nasty, especially after the I.V. that was in it.
Before:
After:
* I got to lotion her - I put lotion on her almost every day. She currently has nothing in her left hand (as in no I.V.s or bandaids or anything)
* Her morphine drop is down to 20 Mccg (as of 10 a.m.) and she is doing well on that
* Her ventilator breaths per minute is down to 35 (they will go down approx. 5 per day down to a level of 20 before extubation)
* Her chest tube was removed this morning and because it was removed...
* I got to actually hold her (without a pillow underneath her). Hooray, hooray! She definitely likes to be held tight and did NOT like to be held vertically... guess that'll take some getting used to on her part.
We're thanking the Lord that Connor and Katie seem to be adjusted to the normalcy of Mommy or Daddy leaving to go to the hospital. Jeremy went back to work today. Right now the plan is for him to take Wednesdays off, and we'll go into the hospital together for a longer time Wed. morning. He will go in on his own a few different times (morning/evening) during the week. He had a good first day back.
Random blessing note: Children's volunteers provide free haircuts and massages for parents, so I am taking advantage of both (I am terrible about getting regular haircuts) on Wednesday. As we say around our house often (usually for sunshine), "Thank you, God!"
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Good Lord's Day
We had a wonderful family day today. Waffles with peanut butter and syrup (Sunday tradition), church, then time at the hospital with Kara. Our expectations and planning have gotten better. Whereas last week it was very stressful to have Connor & Katie at the hospital, this week was great. The kids "gelled in and out" well, patted Kara's head, and played on the floor in her room for a while. (The difficulty is that all the "fun" things are outside of Kara's room). We also found a quieter location to eat snack (NICU waiting room is very loud and hectic). Jeremy really cared for the kids so I could have more time with Kara and then we 3 headed home and Jeremy is still at the hospital.
Changes - Kara is down from 30 to 25 McCg of morphine. Woo hoo! Does a parent's heart good to see that. Her chest tube has been water sealed (did we mention she has a large chest tube to drain post-surgery?). If she does o.k. with it sealed - they will check via x-ray -, then they will remove the tube. That will be one less thing between us and Kara when we hold her!
Kara is up to 6 mL per hour of Mommy's milk, she's digesting quite well. We anticipate chest tube out soon, extubation in the next few days, and continued weaning off morphine for the next week or so.
Changes - Kara is down from 30 to 25 McCg of morphine. Woo hoo! Does a parent's heart good to see that. Her chest tube has been water sealed (did we mention she has a large chest tube to drain post-surgery?). If she does o.k. with it sealed - they will check via x-ray -, then they will remove the tube. That will be one less thing between us and Kara when we hold her!
Kara is up to 6 mL per hour of Mommy's milk, she's digesting quite well. We anticipate chest tube out soon, extubation in the next few days, and continued weaning off morphine for the next week or so.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Kara Update - Saturday Evening
Jeremy & I got to go in to see Kara together for a few hours today. It was her BEST day yet. What a blessing! Jeremy got to hold Kara. She was still laying on a pillow and had all her cords everywhere... but still, Jeremy was so happy to get his baby girl in his arms.
While she was in his arms, it was the first time we've seen her completely relaxed and asleep. (Or at least a natural sleep where her mouth was totally relaxed and open).
Then, later she had some other "firsts" - those of you who've had newborns will relate, if you haven't - sorry if it's a bit "T.M.I."
* First hiccups (since in utero... she had tons in utero ;)
* First time with eyes open (about 25 minutes. WOW! And her respiratory rate remained stable. Until now any "awake" meant distress)
* First bowel movement with Mommy's milk - yay, Kara! That means you can have more milk and less I.V. feeding. She is being fed through a tube in her nose. Once her breathing is more stable, they will start to work on getting her to coordinate sucking and breathing.
* First 12 hours without extra morphine. Since this is the case, they can now lower her continuous morphine drip. She is at 30 mcCg right now, and the max they lower per day is 5. She needs to be off the ventilator and morphine before we are transferred out of Children's NICU, so we estimate at least another week.
* Oxygen is now at 21 (room oxygen! No supplemental). So the ventilator pressure and supplemental oxygen are both at the lowest level, now the breaths per minute just needs to be lowered until the Drs. think it's low enough before extubation.
Please join us in thanking God for the blessing of holding our baby and seeing her beautiful BLUE eyes (we weren't quite sure until today). We are so thankful for the support of our family and friends. We are a bit strained and feel like we have to think through every hour of our time, but we are not more tired than any other family with a 10 day old. When one of you tells us you are praying for us, we are reminded that it is God's strength that is holding us up and we no longer "wonder" at how we're doing so well, we just thank God for His sufficient grace.
While she was in his arms, it was the first time we've seen her completely relaxed and asleep. (Or at least a natural sleep where her mouth was totally relaxed and open).
Then, later she had some other "firsts" - those of you who've had newborns will relate, if you haven't - sorry if it's a bit "T.M.I."
* First hiccups (since in utero... she had tons in utero ;)
* First time with eyes open (about 25 minutes. WOW! And her respiratory rate remained stable. Until now any "awake" meant distress)
* First bowel movement with Mommy's milk - yay, Kara! That means you can have more milk and less I.V. feeding. She is being fed through a tube in her nose. Once her breathing is more stable, they will start to work on getting her to coordinate sucking and breathing.
* First 12 hours without extra morphine. Since this is the case, they can now lower her continuous morphine drip. She is at 30 mcCg right now, and the max they lower per day is 5. She needs to be off the ventilator and morphine before we are transferred out of Children's NICU, so we estimate at least another week.
* Oxygen is now at 21 (room oxygen! No supplemental). So the ventilator pressure and supplemental oxygen are both at the lowest level, now the breaths per minute just needs to be lowered until the Drs. think it's low enough before extubation.
Please join us in thanking God for the blessing of holding our baby and seeing her beautiful BLUE eyes (we weren't quite sure until today). We are so thankful for the support of our family and friends. We are a bit strained and feel like we have to think through every hour of our time, but we are not more tired than any other family with a 10 day old. When one of you tells us you are praying for us, we are reminded that it is God's strength that is holding us up and we no longer "wonder" at how we're doing so well, we just thank God for His sufficient grace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)