I hope everyone had a great Christmas!! Ryan and I had such a good time with our families, it was so nice to be able to celebrate this year. Austin of course made out like a bandit!! After it was all said and done he had 2 washer loads of clothes!!
He is continuing to do so well. As of December 30th Austin is 3lbs 6oz and growing steadily. He is still on the CPAP but is alternating between that and the kenula. He’s still as strong and feisty as ever too! A few days ago I noticed he had something covering his knees and asked what it was for. His nurse said she put them on him because when he’s on his belly he’s been scooting himself on his knees and making them red so she put these thin plastic barriers (like band-aids) to protect his skin. He continues to amaze his nurses and doctors with how strong and determined he is. (Mom, does this remind you of anyone?? Haha I guess I’ll be figuring out what it was like for you to raise me!) He is also getting a bath about once or twice a week now. He really likes being bathed and doesn’t even cry! It’s kind of surprising because a lot of babies cry while they’re being bathed and a super-sensitive preemie you think would throw a fit. But his nurses say he likes it so that’s a really encouraging sign. He also is tolerating room temperature much better than when he was first born. When I would hold him before, he would have two or three warming blankets and big fuzzy blanket on top of him. But now he just has one or two regular blankets wrapped around him and his temperature is great. This is an important step because he has to be able to tolerate room temperature (he’s currently in a warm and humid isolette to keep his body temperature up) in order to be in an open bassinette. He then has to continue to do well in an open bassinette (among other things) to be able to come home. Austin is also becoming more alert. The last few times I’ve visited with him his eyes have been open and he’s been looking very intently at his surroundings. It’s so incredibly precious because along with his eyes being open he’s been smiling as well! I don’t care if it’s not a ‘true’ smile because it’s so stinkin’ cute!!!
Austin has a big appointment coming up on Friday. He will have his eyes examined to check on his retinas and blood vessels. He will have to have his eyes dilated and eyelids held open with tiny little prongs. While the exam is done quickly Ryan and I were told this isn’t really an exam that parents are comfortable being present for, understandably! So Friday we will find out if he has any sort of retinal detachment or if the blood vessels in his eyes are developing abnormally. Something else I learned in NICU is that too much oxygen could cause the blood vessels in his eyes to grow abnormally. Fortunately he has not needed a lot of oxygen so we’re extremely hopeful that his eyes are developing just as well as the rest of him has been.
Please keep Austin in your prayers on Friday. He is still fighting and needs so much prayer. I will post an update shortly after we get news on how he did during the exam. Thank you to all of you who have been following his progress for so long. Ryan and I sincerely appreciate everyone’s concern and Austin certainly needs all your prayers.
Happy New Year!!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Another Good Week!
Austin is continuing to do exceptionally well, his weight is up to 3 pounds one ounce as of December 21st!! When he was first getting on a regular feeding schedule, he was started with 2 1/2 ml every eight hours. Now he is up to 23 ml every 3 hours! His intestines are continuing to process everything as they should be and his heart murmur seems to be going away. He has been doing so well at getting through all of his challenges we can't help but be optimistic that he will continue to do as well as he has been. His next obstacle will be his vision test which will be done sometime next week or the week after. An eye doctor will visit Austin and determine if he has any retinal detachment. If this is the case they can do laser corrective surgery actually in his room to help prevent blindness. It's not a guarantee should he have any problems but at least he won't have to go to Riley. His nurses are also hoping that his lungs will be developed enough to take him off of his CPAP sometime this week. He was alternating between his nasal kenula (the other breathing aid he was switched to, I finally remembered what it was called...) and the CPAP but they decided to keep him on the CPAP because he wasn't struggling as much with it. We're really hoping that he's able to come off the nasal breathing aids because they're really starting to irritate his sensitive nose. Once in a while he would get a bit of a bloody nose because his skin was getting so irritated by the prongs so they traded the prongs for a mask that covers his nose. If you look at your thumbnail it will give you a good idea of how small the mask is. It is not as invasive as the prongs but he is still uncomfortable so we're hoping that he will soon be able to breathe well enough to not need any aid. (the breathing tube actually forces him to breathe and supplies oxygen whereas the CPAP and nasal kenula blow air pressure into his lungs to keep them inflated.) Last week a blood culture showed that Austin could be coming down with an infection. He was started on antibiotics and two or three days later another blood culture showed that it was negative for infection. Being in a warm, humid isolette with a picc line and i.v. (which leaves an open point of entry into his body) makes him extremely susceptible to infection so he was being closely monitored for any changes in his blood. Fortunately whatever was going on was caught and treated early enough and has not developed into an issue.
Ryan and I are fully aware that Austin does not have to be doing as well as he is. He has been able to avoid heart surgery, intestinal surgery, severe brain damage, and neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy. Each day that he progresses is not taken for granted and we are thankful every day that he has been able to do so well. Each day that we wake up, Ryan and I thank God for Austin's progress and every night that we go to bed we pray that he will continue to do well. Although he is not in the clear yet, Austin has already shown us how strong he is and we are starting to let ourselves think about bringing him home.
Ryan and I are fully aware that Austin does not have to be doing as well as he is. He has been able to avoid heart surgery, intestinal surgery, severe brain damage, and neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy. Each day that he progresses is not taken for granted and we are thankful every day that he has been able to do so well. Each day that we wake up, Ryan and I thank God for Austin's progress and every night that we go to bed we pray that he will continue to do well. Although he is not in the clear yet, Austin has already shown us how strong he is and we are starting to let ourselves think about bringing him home.
Monday, December 14, 2009
December 14
Austin had a small step backward today but his doctor and nurses are not very concerned. He was getting a little worn out on the new breathing aid so they put him back on his CPAP today. It is better news than being put on his ventilator and he is still breathing on his own so this is only minor. They will keep him on his CPAP for a little while and let him rest for a bit and then begin alternating between the two again. He's been eating regularly and digesting everything well so this is also a very good sign. They are slowly increasing the amount of food he is eating as well. When they first started he was receiving 3 milliliters of food. Then it was 5 and now it's 8 milliliters every 3 hours. He's gained some more weight and is up to 2 pounds 8 ounces! Austin has also not had any trouble so far with any kind of infection so his doctor and nurses are also pleased about this as well. He is continuing to make steps in the right direction and although he took a tiny step back, this is not a major concern and is only temporary.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Hello everyone!! I just wanted to give you a heads up that the posts may be kind of spaced apart for a little while. We’ve been able to connect to a public wireless connection from our house but for whatever reason with the change in weather we are not able to connect very well. :) So I’ve been able to get online whenever we have a decent connection or when I take my computer to the hospital.
So our little Austin is doing really really well!! He’s been receiving actual food since Tuesday and has been handling it like a pro! A concern is that his intestines will not be able to process the food and he will begin to have bowel and abdominal troubles that could need surgery. That would mean removing parts of his intestines resulting in him having to wear a bag on his abdomen. But once again God has intervened on Austin’s behalf and is allowing his intestines to function well and process his food correctly. He is doing so well that they have been increasing his food intake each day from every 8 hours on Tuesday, every 6 hours on Thursday, to every 3 hours on Friday! Another change that has happened recently is that they were alternating his breathing aids. His sensitive nose started to bruise from the CPAP tubes so they have introduced something else that will give his nose a break. (Once again…I do not know the name. It is just two small tubes that fit inside his nostrils kind of like oxygen tubes.) They were doing 6 hours on the CPAP and 3 hours on the tubes. On Sunday they stopped alternating between the CPAP and the tubes and if he keeps his breaths per minute up and his oxygen saturation at a good level, he will stay on it. This is a good sign because he is doing a little more on his own and still doing well.
Tuesday was a really good day for me too because while Ryan was at work I stopped in to see Austin and his nurse surprised me by telling me I would be able to hold him! I absolutely love it when Ryan is there so that we can spend time together with him as a family but it was so special to have that time alone with him. He is so fascinating!! Even in his sleep he’s active!! His little legs move and twitch in his sleep and he repositions his arm or hand every once in a while. It’s funny to feel him moving like that on the outside! I also think he is a future snorer. He sleeps with his mouth gaping wide open and for being such a little guy he’s a heavy mouth breather already!! Haha! It was so cute to hear his tiny mouth working. (to put it into perspective, look at the tip of your pinky finger….it is too big to fit in his mouth.) Every so often he would smack his mouth and since his room was so quiet I could hear those small sounds. It was so precious I can’t even describe it!
Austin continued to do well this whole week. Although his breathing rate and heart rate would drop occasionally, he was able to correct it himself and this is all normal for babies as premature as he is. It is encouraging because this does not happen very often and he is able to correct it on his own instead of with help from a nurse. He also has been eating consistently so they have been decreasing his i.v. drip of protein, fat, and calories. Austin has been so stable that Friday afternoon he got his first bath! His nurse said that he seemed to really like it, he didn’t cry at all!
We are still taking each day at a time and trying not to get ahead of ourselves in this situation but it’s so much easier to get through the day when they go as well as they have been going!! Thank you so much for your continued prayers, Austin is an example of God’s grace and power. Ryan and I are so grateful that he is doing as well as he is and are looking forward to the rambunctious, creative child he will grow to be.
Oh! I’ve had some people ask for our address so if you want to email me at fweecha@msn.com I’d be happy to email you back with our address!
So our little Austin is doing really really well!! He’s been receiving actual food since Tuesday and has been handling it like a pro! A concern is that his intestines will not be able to process the food and he will begin to have bowel and abdominal troubles that could need surgery. That would mean removing parts of his intestines resulting in him having to wear a bag on his abdomen. But once again God has intervened on Austin’s behalf and is allowing his intestines to function well and process his food correctly. He is doing so well that they have been increasing his food intake each day from every 8 hours on Tuesday, every 6 hours on Thursday, to every 3 hours on Friday! Another change that has happened recently is that they were alternating his breathing aids. His sensitive nose started to bruise from the CPAP tubes so they have introduced something else that will give his nose a break. (Once again…I do not know the name. It is just two small tubes that fit inside his nostrils kind of like oxygen tubes.) They were doing 6 hours on the CPAP and 3 hours on the tubes. On Sunday they stopped alternating between the CPAP and the tubes and if he keeps his breaths per minute up and his oxygen saturation at a good level, he will stay on it. This is a good sign because he is doing a little more on his own and still doing well.
Tuesday was a really good day for me too because while Ryan was at work I stopped in to see Austin and his nurse surprised me by telling me I would be able to hold him! I absolutely love it when Ryan is there so that we can spend time together with him as a family but it was so special to have that time alone with him. He is so fascinating!! Even in his sleep he’s active!! His little legs move and twitch in his sleep and he repositions his arm or hand every once in a while. It’s funny to feel him moving like that on the outside! I also think he is a future snorer. He sleeps with his mouth gaping wide open and for being such a little guy he’s a heavy mouth breather already!! Haha! It was so cute to hear his tiny mouth working. (to put it into perspective, look at the tip of your pinky finger….it is too big to fit in his mouth.) Every so often he would smack his mouth and since his room was so quiet I could hear those small sounds. It was so precious I can’t even describe it!
Austin continued to do well this whole week. Although his breathing rate and heart rate would drop occasionally, he was able to correct it himself and this is all normal for babies as premature as he is. It is encouraging because this does not happen very often and he is able to correct it on his own instead of with help from a nurse. He also has been eating consistently so they have been decreasing his i.v. drip of protein, fat, and calories. Austin has been so stable that Friday afternoon he got his first bath! His nurse said that he seemed to really like it, he didn’t cry at all!
We are still taking each day at a time and trying not to get ahead of ourselves in this situation but it’s so much easier to get through the day when they go as well as they have been going!! Thank you so much for your continued prayers, Austin is an example of God’s grace and power. Ryan and I are so grateful that he is doing as well as he is and are looking forward to the rambunctious, creative child he will grow to be.
Oh! I’ve had some people ask for our address so if you want to email me at fweecha@msn.com I’d be happy to email you back with our address!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Sorry For The Delay!!!!
Sorry for the gap in updates this past week. Austin has been doing well these past few days. Sunday morning he was taken off the breathing tube and is doing great! His heart murmur is less noticeable which means that it is closing up as it should. He was given a second echocardiogram because Dr. G. was still hearing what he thought could be an open PDA valve. (the valve that connects the left and right side of the heart, it’s supposed to close before babies are born) The second echo showed a slightly open PDA so he was given medication to close it and it has been working as it should. Dr. G. says that it’s barely noticeable and that his medicine is working well so he will probably not have to have heart surgery. His lungs are also continuing to develop well. He was given a breathable and intravenous steroid to help them along. His progress is going well enough to discontinue his breathable steroid so that is a huge encouragement. He is also continuing to show no signs of bowel distress as of yet. Last Saturday when he was put back on his breathing tube they had to discontinue his feedings so he was put back on an i.v. drip of protein, fat, and other nutrients. This helps him maintain weight while receiving calories and nutrients. Anytime Austin’s intestines show signs of not functioning properly or he has to be put back on his breathing tube his feedings are postponed. He has been doing so well this week that Dr. G. has decided to start his feedings back up today so we will see how he does processing real food. Austin has also passed his birth weight! He lost a few ounces after he was born but has been slowly regaining it back. He was born at 2 pounds 4 ounces and is now at 2 pounds 5 ounces! We were told today that provided Austin continues to do well I can start holding him again. Since he was so unstable last week we weren’t even allowed to touch him let alone hold him. Yesterday morning was the first time I touched my son in over a week. I was able to reach my hand in and place it on his back, it felt SO nice to be able to connect with him!! Please don’t ever take for granted being able to kiss your kids!
These past few days have been a huge rollercoaster for Austin, Ryan, and me. Austin was struggling at the beginning of last week and then made very slow progress the rest of the week. It was extremely difficult for Ryan and I to stand by and not be able to do anything but look at him. On top of that it was really hard for me not being able to hold him anymore. I know that it’s in his best interest and I would willingly not hold him until he could come home if I knew it would help him get stronger but it still is really hard having just had a baby and not be allowed to touch him. Ryan went back to work last week so it was an adjustment for him getting back into the swing of things and dealing with everything else on top of that. I’m going back to work this week but will only be working Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I’m actually looking forward to doing something normal and having a distraction. It’s nice because I’m only working 3 six hour days so I’m not going to be overwhelmed trying to work full time and go to the hospital regularly too. When Austin is ready to come home I’ll be able to take the rest of my maternity leave to spend at home with him. Ryan will also be able to take a week of vacation time so we can both spend lots of time with our new guy.
When Austin is able to come home, Ryan and I will have to make a big effort to keep him from getting sick and away from germs as much as possible. For the first two years if he catches a cold, because of his lungs he could end up back in the hospital on a breathing tube again. So for at least the first two years we will not be taking him to the mall or grocery shopping. (Ryan’s not exactly sad about that, this is his ticket out of grocery shopping!) We won’t be able to have large groups of people over to see Austin right away, people will have to come in smaller groups. In addition to having only a few visitors at a time, we will have hand sanitizer right next to the door so people can sanitize right when they walk in. Ryan and I are supposed to wash our hands frequently as well. Also, since his lungs will still be quite sensitive we won’t have any candles burning or wear perfume or cologne. There are a few smokers on both mine and Ryan’s side so when they hold Austin they will have to change their shirts so he is not exposed to the smoke.
There are many precautions that Ryan and I will have to take to make sure Austin stays well. While we are thinking ahead and making plans for when he comes home, we are still concentrating on each day as it comes. Austin has made quite a lot of progress but still has a long way to go. It has meant so much to Ryan and I that so many people have been praying for Austin and for us as well. He has made good progress, please continue to pray that he will keep moving forward.
These past few days have been a huge rollercoaster for Austin, Ryan, and me. Austin was struggling at the beginning of last week and then made very slow progress the rest of the week. It was extremely difficult for Ryan and I to stand by and not be able to do anything but look at him. On top of that it was really hard for me not being able to hold him anymore. I know that it’s in his best interest and I would willingly not hold him until he could come home if I knew it would help him get stronger but it still is really hard having just had a baby and not be allowed to touch him. Ryan went back to work last week so it was an adjustment for him getting back into the swing of things and dealing with everything else on top of that. I’m going back to work this week but will only be working Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I’m actually looking forward to doing something normal and having a distraction. It’s nice because I’m only working 3 six hour days so I’m not going to be overwhelmed trying to work full time and go to the hospital regularly too. When Austin is ready to come home I’ll be able to take the rest of my maternity leave to spend at home with him. Ryan will also be able to take a week of vacation time so we can both spend lots of time with our new guy.
When Austin is able to come home, Ryan and I will have to make a big effort to keep him from getting sick and away from germs as much as possible. For the first two years if he catches a cold, because of his lungs he could end up back in the hospital on a breathing tube again. So for at least the first two years we will not be taking him to the mall or grocery shopping. (Ryan’s not exactly sad about that, this is his ticket out of grocery shopping!) We won’t be able to have large groups of people over to see Austin right away, people will have to come in smaller groups. In addition to having only a few visitors at a time, we will have hand sanitizer right next to the door so people can sanitize right when they walk in. Ryan and I are supposed to wash our hands frequently as well. Also, since his lungs will still be quite sensitive we won’t have any candles burning or wear perfume or cologne. There are a few smokers on both mine and Ryan’s side so when they hold Austin they will have to change their shirts so he is not exposed to the smoke.
There are many precautions that Ryan and I will have to take to make sure Austin stays well. While we are thinking ahead and making plans for when he comes home, we are still concentrating on each day as it comes. Austin has made quite a lot of progress but still has a long way to go. It has meant so much to Ryan and I that so many people have been praying for Austin and for us as well. He has made good progress, please continue to pray that he will keep moving forward.
Monday, November 30, 2009
NO BRAIN BLEEDING!!!!
Today was an excellent day for Austin!! As soon as we got to the hospital this morning we were told that he did not have any bleeding in his brain!!! This means that several concerns such as brain damage and cerebal palsey are not as much of a concern as they once were. In addition to an ultrasound of his head, Austin also had an echocardiogram due to a slight murmur Dr. G. was hearing. We were told that this could be because of a valve called a PDA (again, I cannot remember what it stands for, sorry!!) which connects the right part of the heart to the left. It is open while babies are in utero and is supposed to close before they are born but with a preemie Austin's size it has not had the chance to close up yet. Sometimes they close up after a few days outside the womb on its own but other times it can stay open and can cause backflow into the lungs. This can be treated with medicine but if it is still not closing, the baby has to go to Riley (immediately) and have surgery to correct this. Dr. G. and the nurses were waiting to get the results from the echo back before giving him his first dose of medicine but when the results came back it showed that Austin's PDA valve had actually closed up!! So based on the results of the echo Austin has just a regular heart murmur that will close up on its own as he gets bigger!!
Oh it was so nice to hear all these things today!! After a scary day on Saturday it was so good to hear how well he's doing. He's gained a little more weight, so he's right around 2 pounds now. (it's normal for all babies to lose weight after they're born, it's just that preemies don't exactly have a whole lot to lose in the first place!) Austin has also gotten longer, he was 14 inches when he was born and grew 3/4 of an inch in just a week!! His blood results also came back and they were able to confirm that he does not have an infection. His intestines continue to look good which is another huge blessing!! (Just another surgery he is able to avoid.) His lungs are a little hazy in his X-Rays so they are giving him breathing treatments to help improve them.
As with most of the good news we've received, we are also given more to think about regarding setbacks. Premature babies his size and age are at risk for blindness and other problems. There is a possibility of retinal detachment but should he show any signs of that, he can have laser corrective surgery that will be done in his room and he won't have to be moved at all. He will probably have some degree of lung disease, but Dr. G. and his nurses are doing everything to minimize these problems. We were told today that if Austin continues to do well the only challenges he may face are asthma and glasses. And even asthma could be temporary so to speak. Lung tissue will regenerate itself somewhat around the age of 7 or 8 so it's possible if he has asthma that he will be able to outgrow it. Hopefully Austin will not have severe lung disease and will be able to outgrow it somewhat and be able to enjoy a normal life.
Ryan and I have much to be thankful for with Austin's progress. It is not with medicine and technology alone that Austin has been doing this well. God has been very good to our son and to us. Ryan and I pray for our tiny boy daily and we appreciate your consistent prayers as well. Please continue to pray for Austin's healthy growth and development as he still has such a long ways to go.
Oh it was so nice to hear all these things today!! After a scary day on Saturday it was so good to hear how well he's doing. He's gained a little more weight, so he's right around 2 pounds now. (it's normal for all babies to lose weight after they're born, it's just that preemies don't exactly have a whole lot to lose in the first place!) Austin has also gotten longer, he was 14 inches when he was born and grew 3/4 of an inch in just a week!! His blood results also came back and they were able to confirm that he does not have an infection. His intestines continue to look good which is another huge blessing!! (Just another surgery he is able to avoid.) His lungs are a little hazy in his X-Rays so they are giving him breathing treatments to help improve them.
As with most of the good news we've received, we are also given more to think about regarding setbacks. Premature babies his size and age are at risk for blindness and other problems. There is a possibility of retinal detachment but should he show any signs of that, he can have laser corrective surgery that will be done in his room and he won't have to be moved at all. He will probably have some degree of lung disease, but Dr. G. and his nurses are doing everything to minimize these problems. We were told today that if Austin continues to do well the only challenges he may face are asthma and glasses. And even asthma could be temporary so to speak. Lung tissue will regenerate itself somewhat around the age of 7 or 8 so it's possible if he has asthma that he will be able to outgrow it. Hopefully Austin will not have severe lung disease and will be able to outgrow it somewhat and be able to enjoy a normal life.
Ryan and I have much to be thankful for with Austin's progress. It is not with medicine and technology alone that Austin has been doing this well. God has been very good to our son and to us. Ryan and I pray for our tiny boy daily and we appreciate your consistent prayers as well. Please continue to pray for Austin's healthy growth and development as he still has such a long ways to go.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
He's Doing Better
Today is a better day for Austin. His intestines and lungs looked good in his X-Ray and his white blood count is going down. Dr. G. said they would continue to give him antibiotics and treat him as if he had an infection until his lab results come back and confirm that there is no infection. He thinks that Austin's problem yesterday was a clogged airway which is why he was able to bounce back so quickly. His nose had been irritated by the tubes from the CPAP (it blows air pressure into his lungs to encourage them to expand and make them stronger) and had bled a little bit. His nurse said she had suctioned some blood out of the back of his throat and Dr. G. thinks that there could have been a mucus clog in his airway and that's why he was having trouble getting enough oxygen therefore making him turn gray. When they put him back on the ventilator it cleared his air passages allowing him to return to a pink healthy color. This is MUCH better than an infection or intestinal problems! Austin is regaining his strength and has been breathing well with his ventilator. It has only been helping him for 35 breaths a minute and he has been breathing on his own for the rest. Dr. G. says that possibly tomorrow he will be taken off the ventilator and put back on the CPAP, so this is a very good sign.
Tomorrow is another milestone day for Austin, Ryan, and myself for a few reasons. He will be one week old tomorrow which means he has made it through the most critical week. Aside from his setback on Saturday he did really well. Tomorrow is also the day he will have an ultrasound done of his brain to check for any bleeding. They wait 7 days unless there is indication of brain bleeding earlier on, which he has not been showing signs of. Brain bleeding is most likely within the first 3 or 4 days and is not a concern after 5 or 6 so unless there is any reason to check earlier, they wait until day 7 to make sure it won't happen later. Minimal bleeding is not much of a concern but mild to massive bleeding can cause many problems both short and long term. There could be learning problems, motor skill issues, neuromuscular problems like cerebal palsey, and even death in severe cases of bleeding. Fortunately Dr. G. said that Austin has not been showing any indication so we're just hoping and praying that his ultrasound report comes back clear.
Please keep Austin, Ryan, and myself in mind tomorrow morning. The news we receive will determine how our little boy will be able to live the rest of his life. We should have the results sometime by early afternoon so I will try and get it posted as soon as I'm able to. Ryan and I want to give a sincere thank you to every single person who has gotten on this website to check on Austin, it means so much to us that there are so many people concerned with his progress. Thank you so much for all your prayers and concern!!
Tomorrow is another milestone day for Austin, Ryan, and myself for a few reasons. He will be one week old tomorrow which means he has made it through the most critical week. Aside from his setback on Saturday he did really well. Tomorrow is also the day he will have an ultrasound done of his brain to check for any bleeding. They wait 7 days unless there is indication of brain bleeding earlier on, which he has not been showing signs of. Brain bleeding is most likely within the first 3 or 4 days and is not a concern after 5 or 6 so unless there is any reason to check earlier, they wait until day 7 to make sure it won't happen later. Minimal bleeding is not much of a concern but mild to massive bleeding can cause many problems both short and long term. There could be learning problems, motor skill issues, neuromuscular problems like cerebal palsey, and even death in severe cases of bleeding. Fortunately Dr. G. said that Austin has not been showing any indication so we're just hoping and praying that his ultrasound report comes back clear.
Please keep Austin, Ryan, and myself in mind tomorrow morning. The news we receive will determine how our little boy will be able to live the rest of his life. We should have the results sometime by early afternoon so I will try and get it posted as soon as I'm able to. Ryan and I want to give a sincere thank you to every single person who has gotten on this website to check on Austin, it means so much to us that there are so many people concerned with his progress. Thank you so much for all your prayers and concern!!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Disappointing Setbacks...
This morning around 6 am Austin took a few steps backwards. His little body became too tired to support himself and he stopped breathing as well as he should have. His skin turned gray and his stomach appeared a little bloated as well. Ryan and I were notified around 7:30 am after they got him stable and we were at the hospital before 8 am to talk with the nurses and Dr. G. We were told that he had an infection and was being given 3 different antibiotics and was also put back on the breathing tube. Also there could be some possible intestinal issues (it's called NEC and I apologize but I forget what it stands for) and if it gets worse he would need to be flown to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis for surgery. He would have to have portions of his bowels removed and redirected in order to correct this issue but it would also present other challenges for him for the rest of his life. He could have to have a bag worn on the outside of his stomach and he would also have a problem getting enough nutrition as his food would be processed out much quicker than it should be. Fortunately Dr. G. told us that the chances of Austin developing serious NEC and needing surgery are low but it is a concern. They did confirm that he has a bit of an infection but they were able to catch it early and have been treating him with antibiotics so hopefully this is a minimal setback for him.
Even though we were expecting a bad day like this, it was still extremely disappointing to actually see him go through it. His little body is going through enough on a good day, it's so hard to watch him struggle like this. We were told that Austin will probably be on the ventilator for another day or so to let his body rest. We're hoping that he is able to bounce back quickly and continue to do as well as he has been.
Today was a reminder that Austin needs our prayers very much still. He is not in the clear by a long shot and has quite a ways to go before we can relax more than just a little. Thank you for supporting the three of us this far, please continue to remember us in your prayers!!
Even though we were expecting a bad day like this, it was still extremely disappointing to actually see him go through it. His little body is going through enough on a good day, it's so hard to watch him struggle like this. We were told that Austin will probably be on the ventilator for another day or so to let his body rest. We're hoping that he is able to bounce back quickly and continue to do as well as he has been.
Today was a reminder that Austin needs our prayers very much still. He is not in the clear by a long shot and has quite a ways to go before we can relax more than just a little. Thank you for supporting the three of us this far, please continue to remember us in your prayers!!
Friday, November 27, 2009
I Got To Hold Austin!!!!
Thursday morning we met with Dr. G. and he gave us such an amazing report!! Austin has gotten through a very big hurdle and is not in life or death danger. We have our baby!!!! He continued by telling us that he is thrilled and impressed with Austin's progress and has a lot of hope for him to continue to do well. His jaundice levels were doing so well they even turned off his bily light. Then Dr. G. said that this was the morning I would finally be able to hold him!! Oh I was so excited, I had been looking forward to this since he was born Monday morning! He was very fussy as the nurses lifted him out of his isolette, he does not like to be touched much or moved a lot but once he was laid on my chest he settled right in and fell asleep. It was the most precious experience I have ever had!! Every once in a while he would make those little baby sounds that babies make only his were so tiny and muffled they were more like squeaks. This was really special for Ryan as well because he was able to touch more than just Austin's little hand. He was able to lay his whole hand on his back and feel him breathe. It was such a special bonding time for our brand new family, we were able to have some private time with our son and just talk to him. Ryan and I have had such an immediate love for our new baby but this was time for us to be able to feel like parents.
Today Austin's report was just as good as yesterday's but they had to put his bily light back on. This is only minor and not uncommon. We have been warned to expect setbacks and so far this has been his only one. Everything else has been forward steps so we have no reason to be discouraged. He has been receiving real food and has gained an ounce since yesterday. (He's lost 5 ounces since he was born due to being under the light and losing the fluid that made him a little swollen.) I was able to hold him again today and his nurses have said that unless he is having some major setbacks that I should be able to hold him for 1 or 2 hours every day and as he improves I'll be able to hold him 2 or 3 times a day. It appears that Austin loves having me hold him as much as I love to hold him. He falls into such a deep sleep that when the nurse takes him from me to put him into his isolette he doesn't even wake up! He even stays asleep as they get him all positioned and his tubes rearranged.
Ryan and I have been doing very well this week. I was discharged on Tuesday but we were able to stay in a 'family support' room that night. It is set up like a hotel room and is just down the hall from the NICU so it was nice not to have to leave the hospital right away. We did go home Wednesday however and have been surprisingly not stressing like I had thought we would. Part of this is due to the fact that every single one of Austin's nurses are exceptional and treat him so tenderly and carefully that we know he is in excellent care. Another reason I believe we are doing so well is that I know people have been praying for Ryan and I as much as they have been praying for Austin. It has been so nice to be at home and not be overly stressed because we are not at the hospital all the time. Ryan and I sincerely appreciate everyone's support through this and would not be so sane if it were not for the love and prayer from those who love us.
Today Austin's report was just as good as yesterday's but they had to put his bily light back on. This is only minor and not uncommon. We have been warned to expect setbacks and so far this has been his only one. Everything else has been forward steps so we have no reason to be discouraged. He has been receiving real food and has gained an ounce since yesterday. (He's lost 5 ounces since he was born due to being under the light and losing the fluid that made him a little swollen.) I was able to hold him again today and his nurses have said that unless he is having some major setbacks that I should be able to hold him for 1 or 2 hours every day and as he improves I'll be able to hold him 2 or 3 times a day. It appears that Austin loves having me hold him as much as I love to hold him. He falls into such a deep sleep that when the nurse takes him from me to put him into his isolette he doesn't even wake up! He even stays asleep as they get him all positioned and his tubes rearranged.
Ryan and I have been doing very well this week. I was discharged on Tuesday but we were able to stay in a 'family support' room that night. It is set up like a hotel room and is just down the hall from the NICU so it was nice not to have to leave the hospital right away. We did go home Wednesday however and have been surprisingly not stressing like I had thought we would. Part of this is due to the fact that every single one of Austin's nurses are exceptional and treat him so tenderly and carefully that we know he is in excellent care. Another reason I believe we are doing so well is that I know people have been praying for Ryan and I as much as they have been praying for Austin. It has been so nice to be at home and not be overly stressed because we are not at the hospital all the time. Ryan and I sincerely appreciate everyone's support through this and would not be so sane if it were not for the love and prayer from those who love us.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving...and a happy one indeed! Dr. G said that Austin is doing great and this is his best day so far. He's off of the ventilator and breathing on his own with the help of a Cpap. I believe he will only have to use the Cpap for a couple of weeks. Kristin got to hold Austin for the first time and hear him cry. Austin was so happy that his Mommy was holding him and Daddy was with him too. What a great thanksgiving for this new family! Thank you for your continued prayers!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Austin Is Doing So Well!!
This morning Ryan and I were able to be in Austin's room as his team of nurses and the neonatologist discussed his progress and the plan for the day. Everything sounded extremely positive and we are SO excited about his progress!! He will be receiving a blood transfusion today but that's standard for little babies like him. They have to take blood from him and run several different labs and want to help him reestablish his blood supply since he no longer has help with that from me. He is breathing very well, they have dropped the ventilator to 40 breaths a minute to 20. He is currently taking 65 to 75 breaths a minute so everything else is him being a big strong boy and doing it for himself!! He has lost a little bit of weight (about 100 grams) but his neonatologis, Dr. G., said that all babies lose a little bit of weight at first because they are swollen with fluid and as they spend more time out of the womb that swelling decreases. He was a noticeably swollen in some areas like his fingers and toes but today you could see he has knuckles!! He also has not been able to eat anything but has been on a drip to help increase his fat supply. Probably either tomorrow or Thursday he will finally be able to be introduced to actual nourishment so he hopefully should start gaining some weight back soon.
This would have been enough to make my day but then it just got a little bit better! His skin is not as tough as a baby who is farther along so he is very sensitive when the doctor or nurses have their hands on or next to him. He actually gets pretty crabby when he is touched so I started getting a little nervous about our 'Kangaroo Care' time. This is when Austin will be laid on mine or Ryan's chest for skin to skin contact, this is very necessary for babies to thrive. I wondered if it upset him so much to be touched if he would get to anxious laying on me. The nurse said that while he doesn't like to be touched by other people, he already knows me and knows my voice, how I smell, and is very aware of when I am close to him. She said that she's seen the numbers on the monitor improve for babies when they are placed on their mom's skin. Being a curious person I stuck my hand in his isolette (after sanitizing of course...) and touched my index finger to his open palm. As soon as he felt my finger, his hand closed around it and we watched his monitor numbers jump!!! His oxygen levels went up and his breathing got even better!! It was such an amazing feeling to kinow that just by feeling my hand next to him could make such a difference!! I know it's not much for me to do but it made me feel like I could actually do SOMETHING for him right now instead of just look at him.
He's less than 48 hours old right now and has been doing so much better than we expected at this point. Please continue to pray that any setbacks are minor and easily recovered from!!! Thank you so much to everyone who has been thinking about us during this time and praying for Austin's safety. He is evidence of God's strength and grace and Austin needs that now more than ever!!!
This would have been enough to make my day but then it just got a little bit better! His skin is not as tough as a baby who is farther along so he is very sensitive when the doctor or nurses have their hands on or next to him. He actually gets pretty crabby when he is touched so I started getting a little nervous about our 'Kangaroo Care' time. This is when Austin will be laid on mine or Ryan's chest for skin to skin contact, this is very necessary for babies to thrive. I wondered if it upset him so much to be touched if he would get to anxious laying on me. The nurse said that while he doesn't like to be touched by other people, he already knows me and knows my voice, how I smell, and is very aware of when I am close to him. She said that she's seen the numbers on the monitor improve for babies when they are placed on their mom's skin. Being a curious person I stuck my hand in his isolette (after sanitizing of course...) and touched my index finger to his open palm. As soon as he felt my finger, his hand closed around it and we watched his monitor numbers jump!!! His oxygen levels went up and his breathing got even better!! It was such an amazing feeling to kinow that just by feeling my hand next to him could make such a difference!! I know it's not much for me to do but it made me feel like I could actually do SOMETHING for him right now instead of just look at him.
He's less than 48 hours old right now and has been doing so much better than we expected at this point. Please continue to pray that any setbacks are minor and easily recovered from!!! Thank you so much to everyone who has been thinking about us during this time and praying for Austin's safety. He is evidence of God's strength and grace and Austin needs that now more than ever!!!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Kristin's Update For 11/22 and 11/23
Saturday evening I stopped thinking that we would make it into December and wondered how many more days we had left. I was having another rough night and could not stop contracting. We were still trying to stop labor at this point so the doctors were trying everything they knew how to do but nothing was working. They even started talking about putting me back on the Magneseum Sulfate drip. I can't pretend and say that I was all for it because I knew I needed to do it. I will say that I was terrified but after I had some time to go over it in my head for a little while, I decided that it was the only option we hadn't tried yet. If I refused the Mag drip and he was born early with complications I knew that I would not be able to live with myself. I would always wonder 'What if....'
After a long night with little rest due to frequent and uncomfortable contractions, Sunday morning rolled around and I was expecting to go back on the Mag drip. Around 9 or 10 in the morning Dr. Wallace came in to assess my condition and I was bracing myself to hear that she wanted me back on the i.v. Instead she told me that they were just not able to stop my contractions and that we were going to have to go ahead and proceed with labor. My heart sunk and I just started sobbing. At least up until that point I knew that Austin was safe. Once he was delivered, I could no longer protect him from what he would need to face in order to survive.
Once Dr. Wallace decided to proceed with my labor she approved an epidural for me. THANK GOD!!!! Around 11 am I was given an epidural and was very quickly comfortable. 10 minutes after the epidural kicked in my contractions registered on the monitor that they were doubling in intensity and coming 2-4 minutes apart. And I was able to relax through it all!! I actually was able to take a pretty long nap which was really nice since I didn't sleep much the night before due to being so uncomfortable. At some point I began to notice quite a bit of pressure where Austin was getting postioned and that became almost as painful as my earlier contractions. It became a constant painful pressure that intensified with each contraction and was unable to relax at all between contractions. I told my nurse that part of the struggle was the pain and part of it was also the fact that I was trying so hard to resist the urge to push against the pressure. So I was given a second type of medication which allowed me to relax enough again to take another nap! They were able to give me another dose but warned me they needed to be careful because eventually it would lose its effectiveness and they would have to take me off of both that and the epidural and let my body process it out before they could reissue the epidural. Well that didn't sound like a whole lot of fun to me so I decided that once the second dose wore off that I would just suck it up and deal with it until Austin arrived! It was a gamble because while they were not doing anything to prevent my labor, they did not want to do anything to speed it up because the more time Austin had inside was the best for him. Sometime during the evening I was fully dilated and we were just waiting on my water to break because they were not going to do it and speed up Austin's arrival.
A little after midnight the second medication began to wear off and the pressure was becoming quite painful again and I told my nurse what I was feeling, including the urge to push against the pressure and asked when I might be able to have another dose. She brought Dr. Wallace in and after a quick assessment she told me that we were going to go ahead with the delivery. It seemed like as soon as she said 'delivery' that my room filled with about 6 or 7 more nurses and everyone was busy getting something ready. 10 minutes later Austin arrived and was placed inside an isolette and had 5 nurses working on stabalizing his tiny body.
Even though God gave me a lot to deal with this past week I feel like he showed my small son an enormous amount of love and mercy and let his lungs function better than we expected. The neonatal nurses were supplying him with a certain level of oxygen but then lowered it because his lungs were functioning well enough to handle more than they expected him to. He has continued to do well in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Even in the first 24 hours they have started weening him off of his breathing tube by gradually lowering his ventilator support in an effort to adapt his lungs to supporting more of his oxygen intake. He also has been placed underneath a bily light to make sure he does not become jaundiced. Because he is under direct light he has to wear special tiny sunglasses to protect his eyes. The isolette is kept warm and humid in order to protect his super sensitive skin from becoming dried out. Because his skin is so sensitive at this early age he can only tolerate wearing a diaper and we are not allowed to stroke his skin. Ryan and I are able to touch his hands but rubbing them even lightly would irritate his skin. There are so many sad things about his situation but Austin is able to give us hope that his tiny body is going to be ok. Every time we have spoken with his nurses they always comment on how active he is. He is so precious to watch! He almost always has a foot, an arm, or his fingers moving. I am so proud of my little tiny boy, he is fighting so hard to breathe on his own. Austin has many challgenges ahead of him but we are hopeful that he is strong enough to be able to handle them.
After a long night with little rest due to frequent and uncomfortable contractions, Sunday morning rolled around and I was expecting to go back on the Mag drip. Around 9 or 10 in the morning Dr. Wallace came in to assess my condition and I was bracing myself to hear that she wanted me back on the i.v. Instead she told me that they were just not able to stop my contractions and that we were going to have to go ahead and proceed with labor. My heart sunk and I just started sobbing. At least up until that point I knew that Austin was safe. Once he was delivered, I could no longer protect him from what he would need to face in order to survive.
Once Dr. Wallace decided to proceed with my labor she approved an epidural for me. THANK GOD!!!! Around 11 am I was given an epidural and was very quickly comfortable. 10 minutes after the epidural kicked in my contractions registered on the monitor that they were doubling in intensity and coming 2-4 minutes apart. And I was able to relax through it all!! I actually was able to take a pretty long nap which was really nice since I didn't sleep much the night before due to being so uncomfortable. At some point I began to notice quite a bit of pressure where Austin was getting postioned and that became almost as painful as my earlier contractions. It became a constant painful pressure that intensified with each contraction and was unable to relax at all between contractions. I told my nurse that part of the struggle was the pain and part of it was also the fact that I was trying so hard to resist the urge to push against the pressure. So I was given a second type of medication which allowed me to relax enough again to take another nap! They were able to give me another dose but warned me they needed to be careful because eventually it would lose its effectiveness and they would have to take me off of both that and the epidural and let my body process it out before they could reissue the epidural. Well that didn't sound like a whole lot of fun to me so I decided that once the second dose wore off that I would just suck it up and deal with it until Austin arrived! It was a gamble because while they were not doing anything to prevent my labor, they did not want to do anything to speed it up because the more time Austin had inside was the best for him. Sometime during the evening I was fully dilated and we were just waiting on my water to break because they were not going to do it and speed up Austin's arrival.
A little after midnight the second medication began to wear off and the pressure was becoming quite painful again and I told my nurse what I was feeling, including the urge to push against the pressure and asked when I might be able to have another dose. She brought Dr. Wallace in and after a quick assessment she told me that we were going to go ahead with the delivery. It seemed like as soon as she said 'delivery' that my room filled with about 6 or 7 more nurses and everyone was busy getting something ready. 10 minutes later Austin arrived and was placed inside an isolette and had 5 nurses working on stabalizing his tiny body.
Even though God gave me a lot to deal with this past week I feel like he showed my small son an enormous amount of love and mercy and let his lungs function better than we expected. The neonatal nurses were supplying him with a certain level of oxygen but then lowered it because his lungs were functioning well enough to handle more than they expected him to. He has continued to do well in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Even in the first 24 hours they have started weening him off of his breathing tube by gradually lowering his ventilator support in an effort to adapt his lungs to supporting more of his oxygen intake. He also has been placed underneath a bily light to make sure he does not become jaundiced. Because he is under direct light he has to wear special tiny sunglasses to protect his eyes. The isolette is kept warm and humid in order to protect his super sensitive skin from becoming dried out. Because his skin is so sensitive at this early age he can only tolerate wearing a diaper and we are not allowed to stroke his skin. Ryan and I are able to touch his hands but rubbing them even lightly would irritate his skin. There are so many sad things about his situation but Austin is able to give us hope that his tiny body is going to be ok. Every time we have spoken with his nurses they always comment on how active he is. He is so precious to watch! He almost always has a foot, an arm, or his fingers moving. I am so proud of my little tiny boy, he is fighting so hard to breathe on his own. Austin has many challgenges ahead of him but we are hopeful that he is strong enough to be able to handle them.
Welcome Austin
Austin is absolutely beautiful! We're told that the next 48 hours are critical and that he is doing as well as can be expected. He is receiving the best care from the neonatal intensive care team. He has nice skin color, dark hair, and blue eyes. His little head was slightly bruised from being in the birth canal, but that isn't uncommon and will go away soon. Mommy and Daddy are trying to get some much needed sleep, but were so very happy to have been able to visit with Austin after his arrival this morning. We thank you for your continuous prayers for Austin. Keep it up!
Austin Ryan Surber Has Arrived!
11/23/09 12:50 a.m. - Austin is here! He arrived at 12:49 a.m. weighing 2 lbs 4 oz. Kristin and Ryan did a great job. The Dr.s are still working on Kristin and they wisked Austin directly to NICU. More soon.....
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Austin will soon be here!
11/22/09 7:45 pm Kristin went into labor around noon and is now close to delivering Austin. Won't be long. Stay tuned.....
Day 7
Kristin had a rough night as contrations were pretty steady every 5 minutes. Dr. increased her medications to try and reduce the contractions, but said she may have to be put back on the magnesium sulfate. Kristin also had another ultrasound last night and found that baby Austin has moved up slightly from her cervix, which helps relieve some pressure. Some good news is that baby Austin is doing good in her womb. Thank you for your continued prayers!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Setbacks
So Thursday and Friday were the best two days we've had since we've been here. There were only a few contractions, I was only hooked up to the fetal and contraction monitors, and everything seemed very hopeful. Around 9:00 Friday night I started experiencing several noticable contractions very close together. I met with the doctor and she decided to increase my dosage of Procardia as well as the frequency of when I take it. So instead of 10 mg every 6 hours I am taking 20 mg every 4 hours in an effort to keep the contractions at bay. I also was put back on i.v. fluids (just fluid, not medication) as well as a more restricted bed rest, meaning no shower priviledges and a catheter for now. This is a really disappointing setback since we were hopeful we were past such a touch and go time. Our hope of making it another month is back to making it day to day again. It's very nervewracking for everyone because we are still in a very undetermined place. Austin's chances of surviving without complications has gone up since we arrived almost a week ago but not drastically. Although we are both more stable than when we arrived initially we are not at a point where we can breathe easily yet.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Update From Kristin
I want to start off by thanking everyone for their thoughts and prayers; I know that we would not have made it this far without them. This past week has been a nightmare and a rollercoaster of emotions for everyone involved. What I almost dismissed as an overreaction has turned into the most important struggle I have ever had to deal with personally.
Over the weekend I noticed some sporadic lower abdominal cramping and didn't really consider it an issue until later Sunday evening. Being a weekend night I decided to wait until Monday morning to call the doctor's office to ask about my symptoms and when I was seen at my appointment I was told I was in pre-term labor and was already at 4 cms. I was then told I would need to go directly to the hospital where I would need to stay put until I actually delivered. 'What?! How can this be happening?! I've been having a perfectly normal pregnancy, how could I be so close to losing everything for no reason?! The whirlwind began as I met Ryan at the hospital and was taken to the maternity ward. We were met at my room by two waiting nurses who got me into a gown and off of my feet as quickly as I could move. I was then given the first of two steroid shots to stimulate lung development in my tiny little baby should he happen to be born in the next 72 hours as well as an i.v. drip of magnesium sulfate to stop labor and contractions. Shortly after getting settled into my room a neonatologist and neonatal nurse met with us in my room to fill us in on what we could possibly be facing. On Monday afternoon my new family's outcome looked pretty desperate. We were told that should Austin be delivered this week he would have a 50/50 chance of even surving at all, and then should he survive he could face many challenging physical and emotional obstacles both temporarily or permanently. We were told that he could possibly be blind, have a brain hemorrhage which could leave him brain damaged; he could have temporary or permanent lung challenges, and also face neuromuscular issues such as cerebral palsy. It was so much to process so quickly. Ryan and I used to tease each other about if Austin would be a basketball player like his dad or a swimmer like his mom and just banter about which of our dominant features might stand out in our son. Sitting in with the doctors and nurses that afternoon was like running into an emotional brick wall at full speed. Now it wasn't a question of if our son would be athletic in our favorite sport or enjoy our favorite academic subject but if he would be able to see or be mobile without a wheelchair should he survive at all.
I would describe Monday as more of an emotional day rather than a physical day, the physical challenges came later. Monday was when this was all set into motion and still very brand new to us and our families. As difficult as it was to hear that our baby's future was pretty bleak, it was also very difficult to tell the grandparents-to-be. They have had hopes and visions for this baby before Ryan and I ever imagined being parents ourselves. It was a very difficult day for all of us to process and I don't think any of us slept very well that night. By 9:30 pm I was emotionally spent and pretty tired from my i.v. medication and I expected to fall into a drug-aided sleep. Sleep was not to come that night. Between needing my nurse every single hour through the entire night in order to relieve myself and my reeling mind, it was not a restful night. The next day the goal was to begin dropping my Mag. drip in order to be weaned off the i.v. and start an oral medication to prevent contractions. Shortly after they lowered my input of i.v. medication my body began to have terrible side effects of the medicine. Usually the side effects make themselves known within the first few hours but mine delayed to the next morning. While lying in bed I began having a very strong contraction so I alerted my nurse. As she sat with me I began to feel pressure in my lower cavity as well as the baby dropping slightly. My nurse left the room to go page my doctor and my contraction intensified and I felt that I would probably deliver my baby that afternoon. The nurses came in ready to wheel me into a delivery room but while they were discussing their next move my contraction suddenly started to decrease and then stopped altogether. All three nurses kept staring at the computer and then back at me until one of them started smiling and in a relieved voice said 'That's definitely not supposed to happen! We thought you were gonna have the baby right now!" So later that afternoon as a precaution I was moved into a labor and delivery room that already had portable NICU equipment set up. It was really odd getting settled in to my new room with such unusual equipment. It made everything that much more real and much more intimidating although it was nice to know that it was the best place to be in case something did happen quickly.
Tuesday afternoon and most of the day Wednesday were extremely rough due to the Magnesium drip. It was a necessary medication to be on in order to help save Austin but it has such rough side effects for the mom that it can only be administered for a short while and the recipient must be closely monitored for kidney or lung failure. It's a very intense drug. Its purpose is to relax the uterine muscles and stop contractions therefore prolonging labor but it does not relax just the uterine muscles. My entire body was affected and the longer I was on the i.v. the more paralyzed I felt. During my hardest afternoon on Wednesday my hands would not cooperate enough to hold a styrofoam cup half full of Coke. Whenever I needed to shift positions I would need two nurses in order to adjust me. One would pull me towards her and the other would roll me. Once I was positioned the one behind me would slide her arm underneath my hip and pull it out slightly at a tilt so I wouldn't roll backwards. Also affected were my eyes. Not only were my eyelids very heavy most of the time but I wasn’t able to focus on moving objects. If someone were walking past me or standing in front of me talking a lot with their hands or moving their head a lot they looked more like changing shapes rather than faces. My breathing was somewhat affected by the i.v. drip as well. Not only did it feel like I had heavy books sitting on my chest I was unable to take deep breaths in so I felt like I was somewhat suffocating at times. I was nervous whenever I would take a drink because I did not have the lung capabilities to cough fluid out if I started to choke. In addition to everything else I was experiencing with the drug it made me severely dizzy. Even laying down I constantly felt like I was about to faint and my arms and face felt tingly the whole time.
All afternoon on Wednesday we had a countdown for when I would be able to get off the i.v. drip and start the oral medication. I had to start the pill called Endocin and have it get through my system before I could be taken off the medication so when it was time be done with the i.v. drip Dr. Wallace came in to approve the i.v. removal and to also go over a new option with us. She discussed a possible amniocentesis to remove some excess fluid in order to do some genetic testing and to take some pressure off of my cervix. I was in no way up for the procedure that evening but was definitely enthusiastic about doing it the next day once I'd had a chance to recover from the medicine. We were told I would need about 1-2 hours in order for my kidneys to process the medicine out of my system but after only 30 minutes I was able to sit up and carry on a conversation. That was a huge blessing to feel so good so quickly after feeling so awful for so long. Once I was able to hold a conversation Ryan, my parents and myself were able to discuss the amniocentesis procedure for the next morning. The general feeling that evening was that this was the first sign of real hope that we'd had this whole week. Of course there were risks involved with the procedure such as more contractions and possible labor, but it's not like we were avoiding those risks in the first place!
So first thing, like 5:30 in the morning, I was woken up and we got ready for the amniocentesis. Dr. Wallace came in, got the procedure done and as soon as she said it was over there was a collective feeling in the room like we had just gotten past an important hurdle. We all felt as if Austin could be given at least another month instead of just a few days to a week. On Monday we weren't even sure if we could make it to Thursday or Friday but now we're extremely optimistic that Austin can wait until at least after Christmas.
Over the weekend I noticed some sporadic lower abdominal cramping and didn't really consider it an issue until later Sunday evening. Being a weekend night I decided to wait until Monday morning to call the doctor's office to ask about my symptoms and when I was seen at my appointment I was told I was in pre-term labor and was already at 4 cms. I was then told I would need to go directly to the hospital where I would need to stay put until I actually delivered. 'What?! How can this be happening?! I've been having a perfectly normal pregnancy, how could I be so close to losing everything for no reason?! The whirlwind began as I met Ryan at the hospital and was taken to the maternity ward. We were met at my room by two waiting nurses who got me into a gown and off of my feet as quickly as I could move. I was then given the first of two steroid shots to stimulate lung development in my tiny little baby should he happen to be born in the next 72 hours as well as an i.v. drip of magnesium sulfate to stop labor and contractions. Shortly after getting settled into my room a neonatologist and neonatal nurse met with us in my room to fill us in on what we could possibly be facing. On Monday afternoon my new family's outcome looked pretty desperate. We were told that should Austin be delivered this week he would have a 50/50 chance of even surving at all, and then should he survive he could face many challenging physical and emotional obstacles both temporarily or permanently. We were told that he could possibly be blind, have a brain hemorrhage which could leave him brain damaged; he could have temporary or permanent lung challenges, and also face neuromuscular issues such as cerebral palsy. It was so much to process so quickly. Ryan and I used to tease each other about if Austin would be a basketball player like his dad or a swimmer like his mom and just banter about which of our dominant features might stand out in our son. Sitting in with the doctors and nurses that afternoon was like running into an emotional brick wall at full speed. Now it wasn't a question of if our son would be athletic in our favorite sport or enjoy our favorite academic subject but if he would be able to see or be mobile without a wheelchair should he survive at all.
I would describe Monday as more of an emotional day rather than a physical day, the physical challenges came later. Monday was when this was all set into motion and still very brand new to us and our families. As difficult as it was to hear that our baby's future was pretty bleak, it was also very difficult to tell the grandparents-to-be. They have had hopes and visions for this baby before Ryan and I ever imagined being parents ourselves. It was a very difficult day for all of us to process and I don't think any of us slept very well that night. By 9:30 pm I was emotionally spent and pretty tired from my i.v. medication and I expected to fall into a drug-aided sleep. Sleep was not to come that night. Between needing my nurse every single hour through the entire night in order to relieve myself and my reeling mind, it was not a restful night. The next day the goal was to begin dropping my Mag. drip in order to be weaned off the i.v. and start an oral medication to prevent contractions. Shortly after they lowered my input of i.v. medication my body began to have terrible side effects of the medicine. Usually the side effects make themselves known within the first few hours but mine delayed to the next morning. While lying in bed I began having a very strong contraction so I alerted my nurse. As she sat with me I began to feel pressure in my lower cavity as well as the baby dropping slightly. My nurse left the room to go page my doctor and my contraction intensified and I felt that I would probably deliver my baby that afternoon. The nurses came in ready to wheel me into a delivery room but while they were discussing their next move my contraction suddenly started to decrease and then stopped altogether. All three nurses kept staring at the computer and then back at me until one of them started smiling and in a relieved voice said 'That's definitely not supposed to happen! We thought you were gonna have the baby right now!" So later that afternoon as a precaution I was moved into a labor and delivery room that already had portable NICU equipment set up. It was really odd getting settled in to my new room with such unusual equipment. It made everything that much more real and much more intimidating although it was nice to know that it was the best place to be in case something did happen quickly.
Tuesday afternoon and most of the day Wednesday were extremely rough due to the Magnesium drip. It was a necessary medication to be on in order to help save Austin but it has such rough side effects for the mom that it can only be administered for a short while and the recipient must be closely monitored for kidney or lung failure. It's a very intense drug. Its purpose is to relax the uterine muscles and stop contractions therefore prolonging labor but it does not relax just the uterine muscles. My entire body was affected and the longer I was on the i.v. the more paralyzed I felt. During my hardest afternoon on Wednesday my hands would not cooperate enough to hold a styrofoam cup half full of Coke. Whenever I needed to shift positions I would need two nurses in order to adjust me. One would pull me towards her and the other would roll me. Once I was positioned the one behind me would slide her arm underneath my hip and pull it out slightly at a tilt so I wouldn't roll backwards. Also affected were my eyes. Not only were my eyelids very heavy most of the time but I wasn’t able to focus on moving objects. If someone were walking past me or standing in front of me talking a lot with their hands or moving their head a lot they looked more like changing shapes rather than faces. My breathing was somewhat affected by the i.v. drip as well. Not only did it feel like I had heavy books sitting on my chest I was unable to take deep breaths in so I felt like I was somewhat suffocating at times. I was nervous whenever I would take a drink because I did not have the lung capabilities to cough fluid out if I started to choke. In addition to everything else I was experiencing with the drug it made me severely dizzy. Even laying down I constantly felt like I was about to faint and my arms and face felt tingly the whole time.
All afternoon on Wednesday we had a countdown for when I would be able to get off the i.v. drip and start the oral medication. I had to start the pill called Endocin and have it get through my system before I could be taken off the medication so when it was time be done with the i.v. drip Dr. Wallace came in to approve the i.v. removal and to also go over a new option with us. She discussed a possible amniocentesis to remove some excess fluid in order to do some genetic testing and to take some pressure off of my cervix. I was in no way up for the procedure that evening but was definitely enthusiastic about doing it the next day once I'd had a chance to recover from the medicine. We were told I would need about 1-2 hours in order for my kidneys to process the medicine out of my system but after only 30 minutes I was able to sit up and carry on a conversation. That was a huge blessing to feel so good so quickly after feeling so awful for so long. Once I was able to hold a conversation Ryan, my parents and myself were able to discuss the amniocentesis procedure for the next morning. The general feeling that evening was that this was the first sign of real hope that we'd had this whole week. Of course there were risks involved with the procedure such as more contractions and possible labor, but it's not like we were avoiding those risks in the first place!
So first thing, like 5:30 in the morning, I was woken up and we got ready for the amniocentesis. Dr. Wallace came in, got the procedure done and as soon as she said it was over there was a collective feeling in the room like we had just gotten past an important hurdle. We all felt as if Austin could be given at least another month instead of just a few days to a week. On Monday we weren't even sure if we could make it to Thursday or Friday but now we're extremely optimistic that Austin can wait until at least after Christmas.
Amniocentesis Done!
Kristin had the amniocentesis procedure done this morning. It was rough on her, but all went well. They were able to take lots of fluid off, which will help Mommy and Baby Austin be more comfortable and hopefully, stop contractions. She's feeling much better with each new day and baby Austin is doing good too! Ryan and Kristin have been through so much this week - emotionally and physically. But, your prayers have kept them strong and encouraged. So, please keep praying!!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Hopeful
Kristin has been taken off the Magnesium Sulfate, which was administered to stop contractions. The Dr. has diagnosed her with Incompetent Cervix (weakened cervix). Pressure on her cervix from baby Austin causes the cervix to open before Austin is ready to be born. The Dr. cannot treat her with a procedure called a cerclage (basically sewing the cervix closed so baby can stay in) because she is already 4 or 5 cm dilated. She also has excess amniotic fluid and the Dr. plans on drawing some fluid off, which will releive some pressure and help reduce any contractions or tightening that is occurring. Everything else on the ultrasound seems to be good. Baby Austin has a strong heartbeat and is one tough little dude! Thank you for your prayers, and please keep it up!!
News -3
Kristin was able to get some much needed rest last night. The Dr. is going to try and take her off the Magnesium Sulfate and put her on a pill that she can take orally, which should help her feel better. She's so very weak and groggy at the moment. She also had another contraction a few minutes ago, but nurse Nancy said nothing to worry about. The Dr. will try to drain some amniotic fluid, which should make her feel more comfortable and hopefully help keep baby in the womb longer. More later........
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Austin Update
Kristin wasn't doing so well today. A few more contractions. She's 5 cm dilated, but the contractions have stopped for now. Keep praying for little baby Austin to stay put for now!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Austin Ryan Surber
Monday afternoon 11/16/09 the Dr. admitted Kristin into the hospital because she was going into labor. The baby is not due until March 7. They put her on meds to stop the contractions and it seems to have worked for now.
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