Life Is Good: Week 1

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Week 1

Week 1...Hooray we've made it 1 week! Everything is going well. Ryan is doing great, and as I said before, he's adjusting well. He still has his moments when nothing satisfies/soothes him other than a visit to his Mommy. Yesterday he and Nana went to the zoo and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. A bird landed on his head! I can't wait to take him to the zoo myself! I expect today they are going to do some gardening.

Evan is doing great. I think he must be growing because my belly just rolls all over the place. He's very active. He is looking good with each monitoring and so far he's been *cooperative* in all but one monitoring session. For that one he just wouldn't stay still, but the nurse returned about an hour later and...success. Evan will be 26 weeks gestation on Saturday!

I'm feeling well. This week has passed fairly quickly which I guess is good considering laying in bed can make time drag by at times. I'm still crocheting a blanket for Evan. I try to do at least one row a day. I figure if I make it 10 weeks that will add 70 more rows making the blanket a perfect size for our new baby boy. I watch TV, listen to music, and watch movies. I'm trying to develop a routine for each day. I'm allowed up and out of bed to visit the bathroom and I have showering privileges too. I take advantage of that privilege every other day. Laying in this hospital bed hasn't been that bad. I am staying pretty comfortable. I've only had one day so far where my back was aching. The only big complaint I have is heartburn. It has gotten sooooo much worse. On the bright side...if there's any truth to heartburn and hairy babies then Evan won't be lacking. Today I was started on Pepcid twice a day. I'm glad. The heartburn is the worst at night, so if I can have relief at night I'll sleep better.

As far as medications...I'm taking Procardia 2 times a day, antibiotics, and more antibiotics, colace, Synthroid, Ambien at night and now Pepcid. I have an ongoing order for Brethine in the event I start having contractions. Thankfully that hasn't been an issue.

I guess that's about all for now. Everyone, Wade, Ryan, Nana and the rest of the family is adjusting to our new situation and challenges. I won't say it's easy on anyone, but it's amazing how in the time of need God equips you with everything you need.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your prayers, visits, phone calls and well-wishes. God is good! Keep praying. We're still hoping and praying for another 10 weeks so we can deliver a healthy baby boy and take him home with us!

Julie

1 comment:

twin power mommy ♥ said...: Just so you know, i had to put my blog on private.
If you'd like to continue to read, please send me a message on FB and leave me your email address.
I'll add you to the list of readers :); March 31, 2010 at 10:51 PM

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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