bar
Monday, January 23, 2012
One Month
Christian is one month old! He has spent 2 1/2 weeks of his little life in the hospital and 1 1/2 weeks at home. Here is what he has been up to...
sweet boy
my little bird
One Month Stats
(taken at 3 week check up)
Weight: 5 pounds 14 ounces- 15th percentile
6 pounds 5 ounces at 4 weeks
Length: 20 1/2 inches-91st percentile
Head Circumference: 13 5/8- 60th percentile
On our way to the pediatrician
Clothes: Christian is currently in a combination of preemie and newborn clothes. Because he is so tall, most preemie clothes are too short and since he is so skinny, newborn clothes are very baggy! He definitely has his dad's genes. :)
Playtime: Christian LOVES sitting in his bouncer as it rocks and plays music. He is starting to notice the animals on the mobile as well. He simply stares at them. He also used his play gym for the first time and loved looking at all the hanging animals. His best buddy is Bauer who tries to give him his bones and nudged his bouncer and play gum to make everything move! Christian also loves music and it always seems to calm him. We also love going on walks but C is usually asleep within minutes!
Sleep: This boy is unpredictable but he is sleeping in the pack n play bassinet in our room for a majority of 2-3 hour stretches. He loves to sleep on Mom and Dad's chest on his tummy.
Development: Christian is becoming more aware of his body. He loves to stretch out his arms and hands. He is looking at lights and toys more often. He will gaze in our eyes as well. :) We are awaiting to see his real smile instead of just his "gas smiles". Because he is a preemie, the doctor said that he could be delayed in some of his developments.
Friday, January 20, 2012
God's Timing
Since the Sunday last May that we found out we were pregnant, we have been counting down to this day. Today was Christian's due date. This was the day that I held in my mind, looked forward to, feared at times, and dreamed about. However, God had a different due date in mind.
One of the biggest lessons that I have learned through this whole process is that God's timing is not always the same as my timing but His ways are always for my good. From trying to get pregnant to gving birth to Christian, it always seemed that God had a different time table than I did. Kerry and I have discussed these past weeks the lessons and blessings that have come from Christian's early arrival to our family. If it had been on my time schedule, I would be worried about snow and travel during this record breaking Seattle snow event. On His schedule, God gave me rest at the moment I needed it the most and I had nurses 24 hours a day to help care for my newborn and allow me to recover. He has taught us the important of patience and ultimately trust in Him.
And the biggest blessing by far is that I get 5 whole extra weeks to gaze at, giggle with, snuggle with, and fall in love with my beautiful baby boy.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Final Week
December 26-January 1
We were so blessed to be moved into our own private room in the NICU on the 26th. This meant that we no longer had to make the trek back and forth between home and the hospital which was both physically exhausting and emotionally draining on us both.
We settled into our new digs and began the task of checking off items on our going home list! We loved seeing the stickers get added each day and counting down how many more we had to get. Kerry and I watched a CPR video, had a car seat check, learned how to give his vitamins and add the calories to his bottles, give C a bath and attended the weekly rounds meeting. Christian learned how to latch on his own, eat without a feeding tube, gain weight, continued to breath without oxygen support, and got a hepatitis B shot.
We were so grateful for the nurses' patience in teaching us and the support and encouragement they offered. We also loved the yummy meals that poured in from friends and family and the help with Bauer at home!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Tanning Bed?
December 23-24
When we arrived at the NICU this morning, this was the sight that we saw....
Christian's billirubin numbers had increased so his jaundice needed to be treated. He was placed under these lights and even got to sport an eyemask. We joked that he looked like he was working on his tan in a tanning bed! We were told that this treatment might be necessary so we were prepared to see the lights. However, we were not prepared to hear that while receiving the treatment, we would only be able to take Christian out of the incubator for a max of one hour a day. How could we go from holding and snuggling our little guy all day to be limited to one hour?! We were devestated. It is so unnatural to not be able to hold your baby.The doctors told us that typically babies are treated for 2-4 days before their numbers improved enough to be taken off of the lights. We began to pray for his numbers to decrease and, boy, our God is faithful! We came in the next morning, Christmas Eve, and he was not under the lights! The nurse said that strangely Christian's numbers dropped drastically which is unheard of. But WE know that our God is able to do more than we can imagine and miracles DO still happen! Not only did we get to celebrate the healing of his jaundice, but Christian also was taken off oxygen. To God be the glory!!!!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Christmas Came Early!
What a week it has been for the Day family. We have been asked by many of our friends and family members about the details of Christian’s early arrival and I have taken the time to compile an extensive description of what occurred and what we anticipate moving forward.
Thursday, Dec 15
We went in for our routine 35 week check up, expecting the usual 5-10 minute appointment. Little did we realize that our life was about to get turned upside down! I had been suffering with swelling for the past few weeks but to that point the doctor was unconcerned and my body had shown no other signs of distress. However, when they took my blood pressure they found that it was high and also discovered that I had protein in my urine. I was diagnosed with toxemia and preeclampsia, for which the only cure is delivery. They drew my blood and performed a stress test on the baby to determine whether we had to deliver that day or not.
I was immediately sent home on bed rest and was told that, based on the test results, I would receive a call in a couple hours telling me either to come back to have the baby that day OR to stay on bed rest and be reevaluated the next morning. I can’t tell you how thrilled we were to get the call that the test results were clear and that we had at least one more night to prepare before we would become parents. Kerry spent the day running errands, cleaning the house and packing our bags while I tried helplessly not to stress out.
Friday, Dec 16
We arrived back at the hospital for a 9:20AM appointment Friday morning and waited anxiously for the doctor who was running an hour late while delivering another baby. Unfortunately when he arrived he informed us that my blood pressure was even higher than before and that I had even more protein in my urine. A quick ultrasound also revealed that Christian was breech and would need to be delivered via C-section. I was immediately wheeled down to labor & delivery to wait for an open operating room. By 1:50PM we were walking back to meet our son, still in shock at the events that were unfolding.
The surgery went smoothly and at 2:07PM Christian James Day entered the world weighing 5lbs 7oz and measuring 20.5” long. He gave us a little scare when it took him a while to start breathing but we were finally met with the sweet sound of his cry. He spent his first couple minutes held by Kerry next to my head before father and son were taken upstairs to the Intensive Care Nursery (NICU) while I remained in surgery. It became quickly apparent from his moaning and labored breathing that Christian was experiencing respiratory distress. As such he was required to stay upstairs in the NICU while I was downstairs recovering.
Saturday Dec 17
Around 3AM, Christian’s oxygen saturation deteriorated to the point that he needed nasal cannula for breathing support. Throughout the day his stats continued to diminish, resulting in the nasal cannula being replaced with a CPAP machine, a pressurized oxygen device meant to help keep his lungs from collapsing. While this was helpful it was still insufficient to support Christian’s immature lungs. The doctor finally decided to intubate him and insert surfactin into his lungs (surfactin is a substance that mature lungs naturally produce that helps the lungs expand and contract with less effort). This finally made his breathing less laborsome and his vitals began to stabilize. After what seemed like an eternity since I had last seen my baby, I was wheeled to the NICU where I was able to observe but not hold him.
Sunday Dec 18
After a tumultuous first few days, Christian turned the corner on Sunday and started to show signs of improvement. He was still too unstable to be held for long but we were relieved to see him begin to recover.
That afternoon someone from my class dropped off Christmas presents that the students would have given me had I not given birth the day before Christmas break. It was a joy to be distracted momentarily with amazing little gifts and cards from my students.
Monday, Tues, Weds / Dec 19-21
The last few days have brought great relief as we have seen the prayers of so many begin to be answered. Christian has been taken off of the CPAP machine and moved back to the less burdensome nasal cannula and today he was taken out of the incubator and moved to a crib. He has been tolerating his feedings although he is still taking breast milk through a feeding tube while he tries to muster up the strength and energy to feed on his own. We are praying that he will have the nasal cannula removed in the next day or two, at which point the biggest challenge will be to get him eating on his own.
We anticipate we will be discharged sometime between Christmas and New Years and, while spending your first holidays with a newborn baby in the hospital is not ideal, we could not ask for a better Christmas present. We serve a faithful and merciful God who does not abandon his children and we pray that these hardships in the midst of joy would be instrumental in bringing glory and honor to the name of Jesus.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13-14
Thursday, Dec 15
We went in for our routine 35 week check up, expecting the usual 5-10 minute appointment. Little did we realize that our life was about to get turned upside down! I had been suffering with swelling for the past few weeks but to that point the doctor was unconcerned and my body had shown no other signs of distress. However, when they took my blood pressure they found that it was high and also discovered that I had protein in my urine. I was diagnosed with toxemia and preeclampsia, for which the only cure is delivery. They drew my blood and performed a stress test on the baby to determine whether we had to deliver that day or not.
I was immediately sent home on bed rest and was told that, based on the test results, I would receive a call in a couple hours telling me either to come back to have the baby that day OR to stay on bed rest and be reevaluated the next morning. I can’t tell you how thrilled we were to get the call that the test results were clear and that we had at least one more night to prepare before we would become parents. Kerry spent the day running errands, cleaning the house and packing our bags while I tried helplessly not to stress out.
Friday, Dec 16
We arrived back at the hospital for a 9:20AM appointment Friday morning and waited anxiously for the doctor who was running an hour late while delivering another baby. Unfortunately when he arrived he informed us that my blood pressure was even higher than before and that I had even more protein in my urine. A quick ultrasound also revealed that Christian was breech and would need to be delivered via C-section. I was immediately wheeled down to labor & delivery to wait for an open operating room. By 1:50PM we were walking back to meet our son, still in shock at the events that were unfolding.
The surgery went smoothly and at 2:07PM Christian James Day entered the world weighing 5lbs 7oz and measuring 20.5” long. He gave us a little scare when it took him a while to start breathing but we were finally met with the sweet sound of his cry. He spent his first couple minutes held by Kerry next to my head before father and son were taken upstairs to the Intensive Care Nursery (NICU) while I remained in surgery. It became quickly apparent from his moaning and labored breathing that Christian was experiencing respiratory distress. As such he was required to stay upstairs in the NICU while I was downstairs recovering.
Saturday Dec 17
Around 3AM, Christian’s oxygen saturation deteriorated to the point that he needed nasal cannula for breathing support. Throughout the day his stats continued to diminish, resulting in the nasal cannula being replaced with a CPAP machine, a pressurized oxygen device meant to help keep his lungs from collapsing. While this was helpful it was still insufficient to support Christian’s immature lungs. The doctor finally decided to intubate him and insert surfactin into his lungs (surfactin is a substance that mature lungs naturally produce that helps the lungs expand and contract with less effort). This finally made his breathing less laborsome and his vitals began to stabilize. After what seemed like an eternity since I had last seen my baby, I was wheeled to the NICU where I was able to observe but not hold him.
Sunday Dec 18
After a tumultuous first few days, Christian turned the corner on Sunday and started to show signs of improvement. He was still too unstable to be held for long but we were relieved to see him begin to recover.
That afternoon someone from my class dropped off Christmas presents that the students would have given me had I not given birth the day before Christmas break. It was a joy to be distracted momentarily with amazing little gifts and cards from my students.
Monday, Tues, Weds / Dec 19-21
The last few days have brought great relief as we have seen the prayers of so many begin to be answered. Christian has been taken off of the CPAP machine and moved back to the less burdensome nasal cannula and today he was taken out of the incubator and moved to a crib. He has been tolerating his feedings although he is still taking breast milk through a feeding tube while he tries to muster up the strength and energy to feed on his own. We are praying that he will have the nasal cannula removed in the next day or two, at which point the biggest challenge will be to get him eating on his own.
We anticipate we will be discharged sometime between Christmas and New Years and, while spending your first holidays with a newborn baby in the hospital is not ideal, we could not ask for a better Christmas present. We serve a faithful and merciful God who does not abandon his children and we pray that these hardships in the midst of joy would be instrumental in bringing glory and honor to the name of Jesus.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13-14
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)