Life Is Good: Baby Check

Monday, February 1, 2010

Baby Check

16weeks4days

Today we had a more medical check on Baby Elmo. I called the doctor this morning because over the weekend I began having some cramping/contraction-like pains that have been very irregular, but considering my history I felt it best to call and check with the doctor. I spent a couple of hours being monitored and after everyone felt all is well with me and the baby I was given the instructions to go home and continue what I've been doing...taking it easy...aka bedrest.

Tomorrow I start my weekly P17 injections. All I can say about those are OUCH! If you've ever had them you know. If you've never had them just take my word for it. These are another "preventive" measure that we're taking to prevent preterm labor.

I have an appointment with the Perinatologist in a week. I'm really looking forward to that appointment. I have a load of questions to ask him. I have another appointment with my OB the week following, but it's just a regular check up.

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Ryan went with us for our monitoring. He was the cutest! He, of course, was very concerned with everything they were doing to his mommy...the monitor, the sounds, the blood pressure cuff, the thermometer...it was all concerning. I think if he could have his way no one would have been allowed to touch his mommy without checking with him first. He has learned what Baby Elmo "sounds" like and when he started hearing the heartbeat he started talking about "Baby Elmo". No only did we think that was cute so did the nurse. Baby Elmo was very, very active today and kicked the monitor a lot! Can we say WILD?! Daddy might want to rethink his wish for a "calm, mild-mannered" baby boy. Ryan didn't know what to think about all the extra noise coming from the monitor and held his ears after a while. After the initial activity ended Daddy and Ryan went for an adventure around the hospital hallways in search of some juice. They came back with Ryan's choice...chocolate milk...something he doesn't generally care much for but thoroughly enjoyed today. Anyway...our experience was great today...all the way around...just a good day.

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Brandy Danielle

Brandy is our firstborn, our precious angel baby girl. Her entry into this world wasn't without excitement. At 26 weeks I started preterm labor with contractions 5 minutes apart. With 10 weeks of strict bedrest, most of which were in the hospital, she made it to 36 weeks.
Brandy was diagnosed with "possible/probable" heart defect around 28-30 weeks gestation. After her birth she was whisked away to the NICU for monitoring and after a few days her defect was formally diagnosed and labeled...atrial septal defect and a cleft mitral valve.
Brandy, upon indications of failure to thrive and pulmonary hypertension, underwent her first of 2 open-heart surgeries at 4 months of age. A week after her surgery on the day of her anticipated discharge home Brandy coded for 13 minutes...a stoke.
From that point on Brandy's life was full of doctor's visits, endless crying, pain and suffering. She underwent another heart surgery, fundoplication and g-tube surgery, treatment for infantile spasms, and a mountain of tests and procedures. Her brain damage was extensive.
Upon counseling of our wonderful, most amazing heart surgeon, Dr. Christopher Knott-Craig, and many hours of prayer, we finally called in hospice and called off all of the extensive medical interventions and surgery needs that would prolong her suffering while possibly prolonging her life. Brandy, our precious baby girl...our angel...passed out of our arms and into the arms of her Saviour, Jesus at the tender age of 17 months.

Ryan Andrew

Ryan, our micro-preemie miracle, is a ball of life. After nearly a year of trying to conceive imagine our delight when we finally knew he was on the way. My pregnancy with Ryan was uneventful at first. It seemed perfect and with all of the precautions for preterm labor being taken and monitored we entered this pregnancy with cautious anticipation covered over by a whole love of naive excitement.
At 20 weeks we discovered our "Baby Peanut" was going to be a little boy. We began to make plans and began dreaming about the day we would meet our son.
Almost 2 weeks later everything changed in our lives. It wa a whirlwind of fear and emtions as I began to bleed, was sent for monitoring in L&D and eventually had an appointment with my OB only to find out that it was serious. I had incompetent cervix with hourglassing membranes. The doctor admitted me to the hospital immediately and an emergency cerclage was placed. The statistics were grim, but the hope was to keep our son inside for at least 10 more weeks. We only made it 10 more days.
Early in the evening of February 11, 2007 our son, Ryan, came into this world in emergency fashion at only 23 weeks 5 days gestation. He weighed 1 pound 8 ounces and was 12 ½ inches long. He was so tiny. All I could think of was “oh my goodness is he really that tiny? And is there any way he could actually make it?” I tried to hold on to hope, but in all honesty I had never met anyone with a baby born that early and that small that ever made it.
Ryan did make it! It was a long, hard road, but in the end he spent 90 days in the NICU. He was on a ventilator for 2 months. Finally on one fine glorious day in May we bundled up our 4 pound 4 ounce baby boy and went home...May 11, 2007.
Ryan is now a spunky, lively, strong-willed little boy. His laughter is contagious and his spirit is compelling. He is our miracle. There are no words strong enough to share our delight and joy that God has blessed us with this little boy.

Evan Alexander