Archive for: March, 2012

One Month

Mar 30 2012 Published by under fourth week

Jack continues to grow and develop. Today the nurse told Breanna his weight: 2 pounds 11 ounces. Happily, we have become used to the daily doctor update being fairly… boring. The only item of concern is the soft spot on his head. Likely not a real issue, but the plan is for another head ultrasound tomorrow to make everyone comfortable.

Today, we rushed down to the hospital after lunch so Breanna could get there in time to hold him. After dropping Breanna off, the older kids and I ran down to the store and bought some “approved” (foil) balloons to celebrate Jack’s first month since his birth.

This month moved quickly. I don’t think I even got a good glimpse of it as it rushed past. Yet, at the same time, it feels like a different year and a far off  place since Breanna first laid down in that hospital bed on the second floor. Many of us, myself especially, released a long held sigh of relief.

The next day filled with anticipation and waiting. Then Jack arrived, and I barely got a glimpse of him as he was rushed past. But he was in good hands. He always was, and he always will be.

I probably still have no idea the vast numbers of people praying for him. Every so often I see a glimpse when a near forgotten friend, or friend of a friend, sends us a note to encourage us. Many have asked how they can help. Many more have helped a LOT already. From vehicle, to clothes, to books and things on the way, the gifts keep coming. Thank you so much! I e-mailed about our mission account today. Last I knew it had numbers surrounded in parentheses. I squinted one eye when I opened the reply. Then I couldn’t believe it. It’s almost back to normal!

Today was a good day. Thanks to so many of you. And thank you God for an amazing first month with Jack, and the anticipation of You carrying him through the months to come.

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2-10

Mar 26 2012 Published by under fourth week

Jack’s doing fantastic! Last night he weighed in at 2 lb 10 oz!
Friday he finished off his antibiotic course and so was able to have his PICC line removed -one less tube!
Jerry got to hold Jack for the first time, also on Friday.
Saturday Jack got to meet his Aunt Gweni (Jerry’s sister) and Uncle John.

He also got to make my Grandpa Dan’s day a little better…Grandma passed away on Wednesday night. Jack’s second 🙂 middle name is Daniel after Grandpa and my Dad.

Today big sister Olivia got to hold Jack for the first time and he stayed awake with wide eyes to gaze at her!

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Third Week (in pictures)

Mar 26 2012 Published by under Third Week

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Twelve Milliliters and Half an Inch

Mar 17 2012 Published by under Third Week

Finally recovering from a week long cold, I made it back in to the Neonatal ICU to see Jack. Breanna and I went with Kathi, Breanna’s mom. I really enjoyed seeing the change in how he looks. Jack’s putting on the baby fat and filling out. We’ll upload more pictures tomorrow.

The doctor told us he is now “feeding” on 12 milliliters of milk each day, with almost no residuals left in the stomach at the next feeding. They are adding extra calories to the milk to help with weight gain. Most of his nutrition comes from the milk now, and not the IV.

He had a second head scan and the bleeding they measured in the first scan has decreased and appears to be closing like expected. His heart murmur also is completely normal for his stage of development and should be closing.

Breanna changed his diaper, took his temperature, and measured him to be half an inch longer. Then she held him for a long while while both of us watching tried hard to stay awake.

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2 Weeks Old

Mar 15 2012 Published by under Second Week

Today is Jack’s 2 Week Birthday! He weighs just over 1 kilo (2.2 pounds). He is being fed 10ml of breast milk every four hours (through that little stomach tube).

He had a PICC line put in, and his umbilical arterial line was removed (so now his umbilical lines are completely disconnected).

He will be on antibiotics for two weeks for cholangitus that was causing liver dysfunction.

He had his first “bath” yesterday, which made him very unhappy!

A friend from Jerry’s days in PNG took the other kids to the art museum, and we were able to go out for lunch and get a few things we needed.

We’re currently staying in a hotel near the hospital that provides two free nights a week for us. The older siblings get to swim in the pool and Isaiah loves to ride the hospital shuttle! We’ll put pictures up tomorrow when we get back to the other house.

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A little setback

Mar 13 2012 Published by under Second Week

Jack’s doctor told me that his regular lab work came back. His numbers were high and showed some liver dysfunction. They will put him on antibiotics.

They also did an ultrasound of his liver and consulted with an infectious disease doctor.

We have really appreciated the communication from the medical staff here. If we don’t see Jack’s doctor each day, she will call us and give us his updates over the phone. We can also call in anytime and after verifying our identity, they tell us his status.

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Breanna Discharged

Mar 06 2012 Published by under Second Week

I was told to expect to stay in the hospital after the c-section and Jack’s birth. I got two extra days in because my blood pressure was still high. But with Jack just around the corner in the NICU, I wasn’t too bummed about it. A bit of juggling with the meds, and the blood pressure stayed down enough to win my freedom. It’s great to be with the rest of the family, but was hard to leave Jack at the hospital! Thankfully, we’re provided with two free nights in a hotel around the corner from the hospital, since mom and dad’s house is almost an hour away.

 

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Off the ventilator

Mar 04 2012 Published by under First Week

Breanna gets to change Jack's diaper for the first time.

A day after he was born, Jack was taken off the ventilator and put on CPAP (a steady flow of pressurized air). His oxygen level remained solid, and the following day he was off of CPAP and breathing completely on his own!
Breanna, after getting the strength needed to be up and walking, participated in her first “hands on” time and change his diaper.

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Only stepping forward

Mar 03 2012 Published by under First Week

Everyone assured us that setbacks would happen immediately for a baby so small. We expected the first two or three days to be tough. But they weren’t

Thursday proved to be the hardest, probably the anticlimax, the sudden collapse of reality into our consciousness, and a bunch of other reasons. Breanna also had to deal with being in a bed, in a room, on a floor, apart from her baby.

I had the blessings of jet lag, and got up well before the sun to take a peek at Jack. I had mixed emotions looking at the little guy with small tubes and wires running everywhere. Small to me, but they appeared monstrously large on him. It felt strange to even try to talk to him.  But I could pray, and probably thousands others were praying for him as well.

He didn’t hit any setbacks. And, through God’s strength, he progressed quicker than we thought.

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