I thought I'd repost this video, as it was my greatest father experience to date.
Showing posts with label Premature Birth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Premature Birth. Show all posts
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Update (10:10pm, Wednesday)
First, thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement the past few days. To see well over 800 people leave a comment saying that they're thinking of us today is incredibly encouraging, and we deeply appreciate it (plus, that sets a new CFHusband record for number of comments under one post!)!
Gwyneth is doing well...up to 6lbs 3.5oz as of yesterday afternoon! Her O2 saturation and heart rate are good, but not great. Basically, her body is growing faster than her lungs, making them work a little too hard, as they are still underdeveloped. She is now on an incredibly small amount (so small, that I can't feel or hear it come out of the tank) of O2 (via a nasal cannula) for most of the day/night, just to give her lungs a little less to do on their own. She's also back on a med that she was taken off of a few weeks ago that should help as well. We've already noticed a visible difference since yesterday afternoon, which is good.
The docs say she looks great. It's important for her lungs to continue to develop, and for her to get this extra help from the O2 and meds because, if she's expending less energy breathing, she's using more energy eating and growing.
Tricia had her PET Scan this afternoon. Nothing too scary about it except for being told to clear your mind for a few hours while lying awake in a very small space... The results of the scan should show any tumors that might be forming in her body. I believe we'll hear about the results tomorrow.
She'll have a bronchoscopy and, hopefully, a successful biopsy of her lungs. If the biopsy is not successful, they will have to do a surgical biopsy, which means cutting her open, which she would is very apprehensive about (so, please, pray that the bronch biopsy is successful). I believe that we should have a fairly comprehensive diagnosis once the results of the scan, bronch and biopsy are all in, which may not be until Friday.
She was admitted early this evening, and is already sleeping in her hospital bed. She's bummed because she expected to be on her normal inpatient floor (which feels like home to us, and where they know her and her needs better), but there were no empty beds, so she's on am unfamiliar floor. I'm spending this first night with her, while Agnes (Tricia's mom) is with Gwyneth back at the hotel. You can pray that we all sleep well tonight and that Tricia will be moved to her favorite floor.
Tricia feels great, and, if the doctors weren't telling us that something was wrong, we would have no idea. Although she has EBV (mono), it's not the same as if you or I were to have what we know as mono. She has yet to be given an IV or anything else that she wouldn't have at home, and we haven't really been told what will happen over the next few days if she is diagnosed with something, which basically means that we're really not sure why Tricia isn't sleeping in her own bed tonight...at least, a little frustrating.
As I walked through the hospital lobby earlier this evening and entered the elevator, I thought to myself, for a brief second, that I should stop by the NICU on the way up to Tricia's room to see Gwyneth. Just a few minutes later, as I entered Tricia's room, I almost stopped myself because I didn't feel the gown on my back and gloves on my hands. And just now, as the nurse walked out of the room, I noticed how skinny Tricia's charts were (compared to the encyclopedia she ended up with by the end of her last stay). I can distinctly remember that last time I used the label "hospital" for one of my posts, thinking that it would be a long time before I added another post to that label... All that to say, it feels very strange being here now, especially considering how far Tricia and Gwyneth are removed, medically, from their last times as patients here.
We are praying with you that our stay will be short because the diagnosis will come back negative for anything major. We're also praying that God will show us why we are here this time...the last stay, while incredibly long and exhausting, still felt natural for us in a lot of ways. This visit simply does not.
In the meantime, we'll be patient and continue to know that we're exactly where God wants us, even if it makes no sense right now. Thanks again for your prayers, and thanks for your continued prayers over the next few days as we wait to hear the news.
Nate
Gwyneth is doing well...up to 6lbs 3.5oz as of yesterday afternoon! Her O2 saturation and heart rate are good, but not great. Basically, her body is growing faster than her lungs, making them work a little too hard, as they are still underdeveloped. She is now on an incredibly small amount (so small, that I can't feel or hear it come out of the tank) of O2 (via a nasal cannula) for most of the day/night, just to give her lungs a little less to do on their own. She's also back on a med that she was taken off of a few weeks ago that should help as well. We've already noticed a visible difference since yesterday afternoon, which is good.
The docs say she looks great. It's important for her lungs to continue to develop, and for her to get this extra help from the O2 and meds because, if she's expending less energy breathing, she's using more energy eating and growing.
Tricia had her PET Scan this afternoon. Nothing too scary about it except for being told to clear your mind for a few hours while lying awake in a very small space... The results of the scan should show any tumors that might be forming in her body. I believe we'll hear about the results tomorrow.
She'll have a bronchoscopy and, hopefully, a successful biopsy of her lungs. If the biopsy is not successful, they will have to do a surgical biopsy, which means cutting her open, which she would is very apprehensive about (so, please, pray that the bronch biopsy is successful). I believe that we should have a fairly comprehensive diagnosis once the results of the scan, bronch and biopsy are all in, which may not be until Friday.
She was admitted early this evening, and is already sleeping in her hospital bed. She's bummed because she expected to be on her normal inpatient floor (which feels like home to us, and where they know her and her needs better), but there were no empty beds, so she's on am unfamiliar floor. I'm spending this first night with her, while Agnes (Tricia's mom) is with Gwyneth back at the hotel. You can pray that we all sleep well tonight and that Tricia will be moved to her favorite floor.
Tricia feels great, and, if the doctors weren't telling us that something was wrong, we would have no idea. Although she has EBV (mono), it's not the same as if you or I were to have what we know as mono. She has yet to be given an IV or anything else that she wouldn't have at home, and we haven't really been told what will happen over the next few days if she is diagnosed with something, which basically means that we're really not sure why Tricia isn't sleeping in her own bed tonight...at least, a little frustrating.
As I walked through the hospital lobby earlier this evening and entered the elevator, I thought to myself, for a brief second, that I should stop by the NICU on the way up to Tricia's room to see Gwyneth. Just a few minutes later, as I entered Tricia's room, I almost stopped myself because I didn't feel the gown on my back and gloves on my hands. And just now, as the nurse walked out of the room, I noticed how skinny Tricia's charts were (compared to the encyclopedia she ended up with by the end of her last stay). I can distinctly remember that last time I used the label "hospital" for one of my posts, thinking that it would be a long time before I added another post to that label... All that to say, it feels very strange being here now, especially considering how far Tricia and Gwyneth are removed, medically, from their last times as patients here.
We are praying with you that our stay will be short because the diagnosis will come back negative for anything major. We're also praying that God will show us why we are here this time...the last stay, while incredibly long and exhausting, still felt natural for us in a lot of ways. This visit simply does not.
In the meantime, we'll be patient and continue to know that we're exactly where God wants us, even if it makes no sense right now. Thanks again for your prayers, and thanks for your continued prayers over the next few days as we wait to hear the news.
Nate
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Answers
Wow! You people really know how to ask some questions.
There were a lot of the same questions asked several times, which makes it easier, and a ton of questions that I've already answered...if you asked a generic question about CF or organ donation/transplantation that I either don't answer here or only give a quick answer to, it means I've already answered it and you can very easily find a more detailed answer by using my "labels" feature over there on the right of your screen (start with "CF", "Organ Donation" and "Transplant"), by visiting CFF.org and DonateLife.net or by googling your question.
I'd love to answer every CF/organ donation/transplantation question in detail every time they're asked, but I just don't have the time.
To make it easier, I split these up into categories.
Organ Donation/Transplantation
> A second double lung transplant is an option for some, but hopefully we won't be considering that for many years to come.
> Tricia's new lungs will never have CF, although the rest of her body always will.
> The potential for rejection will always be a part of Tricia's life with her new lungs. She is on a very high dose of anti-rejection meds that keep her immune system from attacking and rejecting her new lungs. The first year is the biggest risk, and then the drugs should be reduced.
Blog
> I'll probably try to continue the "White Rose Blooming" segments, but maybe only on a monthly basis. Last Tuesday's was the last weekly one (as I've been alluding to every week).
> I will continue blogging when we return to the OBX (which stands for Outer BanX, BTW), but I guarantee it won't be nearly as often as I have been able to the past several months.
> I am going to continue to "Story Of Us" series...I've been waiting for a special day...look for the next segment later this week...
> I used one of the blogspot templates and just modified it to fit my style. I designed the header myself. Look for an all new look coming soon!
Gwyneth
> The docs told us to avoid sick people, lots of direct contact with lots of people and large crowds...which is basically what we do with Tricia.
> My ring has not fit her arm in about 7 weeks. I think I wear an 11/12?
> She is not on an apnea monitor. I know that a lot of parents of preemies have a really hard time sleeping when they bring them home for the first time, being scared that they'll stop breathing or have other issues (which is totally understandable). We figured, if they let her come home with us, and she has been breathing on her own for nearly two months, we don't have much to worry about, and along with the fact that we are already very accustomed to dealing with severe medical issues at home (which is a blessing and a curse), we've been sleeping very well.
> Gwyneth has very long eyelashes, just like her mother...you can see them in many of her pictures.
> Her eyes are doing well. She has another appointment next week to have them checked again. The doc said she might need glasses as she grows older.
> We've been using her real age (4 months) when people ask, but we also follow up by telling them that she's a preemie ('cause we can tell most don't believe us)...not sure why anyone would be touchy about that...
> As I've mentioned several times before, outside of adoption, Gwyneth will be our only child.
> All of Gwyneth's smiles are real (not sure what a not-real smile is...).
Tricia
> Tricia has a test in a few days that will help determine if she'll need the stomach wrap surgery. Her last test showed that she probably won't need it, so we're optimistic. If she does need it, it probably won't be scheduled until later in the summer.
> She blogs at times on Her Website...hopefully she'll be updating soon! (funny side note...she doesn't remember writing her last blog entry...)
> The ring Tricia wears on her right hand is something I gave her on Valentine's day. I "went to Jared". (I also "saved a bunch of money by switching to Geico" a few years ago, but that's a different story)
> Tricia only has about 12 of her 23 days of PT left before she should be released to go home to the OBX.
> She is breathing better and feeling better than she has in a few years, and she's (hopefully) only about half-way to feeling 100% at this point. Check out Alice's Blog (nearly 4 months post-TX) for an idea of what it feels like to be nearly 100% there!
> She plans on a stay at home mom (which by the way, is a $134,000/year job according to Salary.com). She is already strong enough to care for Gwyneth, which she loves to do.
Me
> I haven't been without facial hair for more than a day or two at a time since my junior year of high school.
> Have I ever doubted God? Yes!
> Was I tested for CF? Click Here.
Other
> My mom is doing well. You can read a few updates about her surgery/recovery on My Dad's Blog. Thank you for your prayers and kind thoughts.
> I used a tripod for a few of the pics I took in This Video.
> What do I do for a living and how I am able to spend so much time away from home/work? Click Here.
> As I've mentioned before, Tricia's trust fund is ONLY able to pay for anything involving Tricia's medical needs...it does not cover Gwyneth's medical needs (and we don't need it to) or any other personal expense (please, be careful what you assume).
> Meka the pug is doing great hanging out with Frank, Don and Ginger.
> The font I use for my videos is "Broken Ghost". I'll devote an entire post later on video making...
> I did find what I was looking for when I asked for help with jewelry (Here). Her name is Lisa Leonard and she is seriously good...plus, I read her blog every day because she has a cool family.
> Most of the CFHusband videos you see on this blog can be found at our YouTube Channel (which has been over there on the right of your screen for a few months...)
> I've posted a few photography tips on this blog and on my Photo Blog...I'll be posting more at some point there when I have some time.
I read every comment and every question, and again, if I didn't answer your specific question, it's for a very good reason.
Thanks!
Nate
There were a lot of the same questions asked several times, which makes it easier, and a ton of questions that I've already answered...if you asked a generic question about CF or organ donation/transplantation that I either don't answer here or only give a quick answer to, it means I've already answered it and you can very easily find a more detailed answer by using my "labels" feature over there on the right of your screen (start with "CF", "Organ Donation" and "Transplant"), by visiting CFF.org and DonateLife.net or by googling your question.
I'd love to answer every CF/organ donation/transplantation question in detail every time they're asked, but I just don't have the time.
To make it easier, I split these up into categories.
Organ Donation/Transplantation
> A second double lung transplant is an option for some, but hopefully we won't be considering that for many years to come.
> Tricia's new lungs will never have CF, although the rest of her body always will.
> The potential for rejection will always be a part of Tricia's life with her new lungs. She is on a very high dose of anti-rejection meds that keep her immune system from attacking and rejecting her new lungs. The first year is the biggest risk, and then the drugs should be reduced.
Blog
> I'll probably try to continue the "White Rose Blooming" segments, but maybe only on a monthly basis. Last Tuesday's was the last weekly one (as I've been alluding to every week).
> I will continue blogging when we return to the OBX (which stands for Outer BanX, BTW), but I guarantee it won't be nearly as often as I have been able to the past several months.
> I am going to continue to "Story Of Us" series...I've been waiting for a special day...look for the next segment later this week...
> I used one of the blogspot templates and just modified it to fit my style. I designed the header myself. Look for an all new look coming soon!
Gwyneth
> The docs told us to avoid sick people, lots of direct contact with lots of people and large crowds...which is basically what we do with Tricia.
> My ring has not fit her arm in about 7 weeks. I think I wear an 11/12?
> She is not on an apnea monitor. I know that a lot of parents of preemies have a really hard time sleeping when they bring them home for the first time, being scared that they'll stop breathing or have other issues (which is totally understandable). We figured, if they let her come home with us, and she has been breathing on her own for nearly two months, we don't have much to worry about, and along with the fact that we are already very accustomed to dealing with severe medical issues at home (which is a blessing and a curse), we've been sleeping very well.
> Gwyneth has very long eyelashes, just like her mother...you can see them in many of her pictures.
> Her eyes are doing well. She has another appointment next week to have them checked again. The doc said she might need glasses as she grows older.
> We've been using her real age (4 months) when people ask, but we also follow up by telling them that she's a preemie ('cause we can tell most don't believe us)...not sure why anyone would be touchy about that...
> As I've mentioned several times before, outside of adoption, Gwyneth will be our only child.
> All of Gwyneth's smiles are real (not sure what a not-real smile is...).
Tricia
> Tricia has a test in a few days that will help determine if she'll need the stomach wrap surgery. Her last test showed that she probably won't need it, so we're optimistic. If she does need it, it probably won't be scheduled until later in the summer.
> She blogs at times on Her Website...hopefully she'll be updating soon! (funny side note...she doesn't remember writing her last blog entry...)
> The ring Tricia wears on her right hand is something I gave her on Valentine's day. I "went to Jared". (I also "saved a bunch of money by switching to Geico" a few years ago, but that's a different story)
> Tricia only has about 12 of her 23 days of PT left before she should be released to go home to the OBX.
> She is breathing better and feeling better than she has in a few years, and she's (hopefully) only about half-way to feeling 100% at this point. Check out Alice's Blog (nearly 4 months post-TX) for an idea of what it feels like to be nearly 100% there!
> She plans on a stay at home mom (which by the way, is a $134,000/year job according to Salary.com). She is already strong enough to care for Gwyneth, which she loves to do.
Me
> I haven't been without facial hair for more than a day or two at a time since my junior year of high school.
> Have I ever doubted God? Yes!
> Was I tested for CF? Click Here.
Other
> My mom is doing well. You can read a few updates about her surgery/recovery on My Dad's Blog. Thank you for your prayers and kind thoughts.
> I used a tripod for a few of the pics I took in This Video.
> What do I do for a living and how I am able to spend so much time away from home/work? Click Here.
> As I've mentioned before, Tricia's trust fund is ONLY able to pay for anything involving Tricia's medical needs...it does not cover Gwyneth's medical needs (and we don't need it to) or any other personal expense (please, be careful what you assume).
> Meka the pug is doing great hanging out with Frank, Don and Ginger.
> The font I use for my videos is "Broken Ghost". I'll devote an entire post later on video making...
> I did find what I was looking for when I asked for help with jewelry (Here). Her name is Lisa Leonard and she is seriously good...plus, I read her blog every day because she has a cool family.
> Most of the CFHusband videos you see on this blog can be found at our YouTube Channel (which has been over there on the right of your screen for a few months...)
> I've posted a few photography tips on this blog and on my Photo Blog...I'll be posting more at some point there when I have some time.
I read every comment and every question, and again, if I didn't answer your specific question, it's for a very good reason.
Thanks!
Nate
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Update
We are loving having Gwyneth home with us! It's been amazing to see the timing of everything. Had she been discharged earlier, Tricia would have been too weak to do much with her. If she were discharged closer to when we are hoping to go home to the OBX, we wouldn't have all of this time to spend focused on her. God continues to bless us.
The trip home was very good. A video camera met us on our way out, and I've heard rumors that we were on ABC11 again, but I missed it and haven't found it yet on the website (I'll let you know if I do find it). Gwyneth was sleeping by the time we made it to the car, and she slept all the way home.
The whole first 24 hours was a little strange as both Tricia and I kept consciously looking/feeling for all of the monitor feeds that have been strapped to her for all of those weeks...it's incredible to be able to pick her up and carry her around anywhere we want to. When we got home, I sat in the glider with her and started crying.
She came home with several meds and a few breathing treatments. Everything is to help her as she continues to catch up with her development. She has what is called "Chronic Lung Disease", which basically means that her lungs are still underdeveloped (for a newborn 4+ weeks after the due-date), a very common thing for a micro-preemie. It sounds a lot worse than it is...she has a little trouble catching her breath when she's very active, and should grow out of it within a few years. It should have no affect on her continued development.
She has breathing treatments just like Tricia did with her CF, with some of the same drugs that Tricia has been on. She should hopefully be done with the breathing treatments soon. (and, because I know somebody's going to ask...again, Gwyneth does NOT have CF)
All that means that there is a little more to remember to do than with a normal infant. All of her meds are liquids that are mixed in with her food. She's eating ad lib, which is about every three hours. She was transitioned completely off donor breast milk and onto formula over her last few weeks in the NICU, and other than a little gas (which is also normal), she is doing great with her feedings.
I've been feeding Gwyneth throughout the night, letting Tricia get the sleep she needs to continue recovering, and for the most part, she is sleeping well and letting us get plenty of sleep. Agnes (Tricia's mom) is here for a while to help as we adjust to life as three, which has been a huge help. With Gwyneth's minimal medical needs, and Tricia's continued needs, it can be a little crazy to remember everything and maintain a sense of normalcy, but it's been going very well.
We had our first outpatient Pediatric appointment on Friday. It was just the two of us as Tricia was at PT. Everything continues to look great, and her doc (who was seeing her for the first time) said she looks very developed for her history. We have another peds appointment tomorrow, and an appointment with a pediatric pulmonologist later in the week....it's actually the same pulmonologist that followed Tricia when she was a child at CHOP.
There is always a chance that, if she gets sick or has a setback, she'll be back in the hospital, but every day improves her chances of not having that happen. We are still praying that we'll be able to go home to the OBX within the next 3-4 weeks when Tricia finishes up her PT.
A few highlights from our time home...
> I took her for a walk outside our hotel the afternoon we got home (she was wide awake) and showed her things like her first tree, her first sidewalk, her first cloud, her first helicopter, and her first hot tub. She was very impressed.
> Her first trip to Babies"R"Us. She basically wanted everything...slightly annoying, but she'll learn soon enough to do that kind of thing only around the grandparents.
> Her first episode of SportsCenter...I was sure to point out Mia Hamm and the NY Mets. I'm teaching her to spit at the TV with me whenever the NY Yankees and Dallas Cowgirls make an appearance.
That's basically it. My email is still not sending, so don't sweat if you haven't heard from me in the past few days...hopefully I can get it fixed tomorrow. I'll post some pics when I get a chance.
Thanks!
Nate
The trip home was very good. A video camera met us on our way out, and I've heard rumors that we were on ABC11 again, but I missed it and haven't found it yet on the website (I'll let you know if I do find it). Gwyneth was sleeping by the time we made it to the car, and she slept all the way home.
The whole first 24 hours was a little strange as both Tricia and I kept consciously looking/feeling for all of the monitor feeds that have been strapped to her for all of those weeks...it's incredible to be able to pick her up and carry her around anywhere we want to. When we got home, I sat in the glider with her and started crying.
She came home with several meds and a few breathing treatments. Everything is to help her as she continues to catch up with her development. She has what is called "Chronic Lung Disease", which basically means that her lungs are still underdeveloped (for a newborn 4+ weeks after the due-date), a very common thing for a micro-preemie. It sounds a lot worse than it is...she has a little trouble catching her breath when she's very active, and should grow out of it within a few years. It should have no affect on her continued development.
She has breathing treatments just like Tricia did with her CF, with some of the same drugs that Tricia has been on. She should hopefully be done with the breathing treatments soon. (and, because I know somebody's going to ask...again, Gwyneth does NOT have CF)
All that means that there is a little more to remember to do than with a normal infant. All of her meds are liquids that are mixed in with her food. She's eating ad lib, which is about every three hours. She was transitioned completely off donor breast milk and onto formula over her last few weeks in the NICU, and other than a little gas (which is also normal), she is doing great with her feedings.
I've been feeding Gwyneth throughout the night, letting Tricia get the sleep she needs to continue recovering, and for the most part, she is sleeping well and letting us get plenty of sleep. Agnes (Tricia's mom) is here for a while to help as we adjust to life as three, which has been a huge help. With Gwyneth's minimal medical needs, and Tricia's continued needs, it can be a little crazy to remember everything and maintain a sense of normalcy, but it's been going very well.
We had our first outpatient Pediatric appointment on Friday. It was just the two of us as Tricia was at PT. Everything continues to look great, and her doc (who was seeing her for the first time) said she looks very developed for her history. We have another peds appointment tomorrow, and an appointment with a pediatric pulmonologist later in the week....it's actually the same pulmonologist that followed Tricia when she was a child at CHOP.
There is always a chance that, if she gets sick or has a setback, she'll be back in the hospital, but every day improves her chances of not having that happen. We are still praying that we'll be able to go home to the OBX within the next 3-4 weeks when Tricia finishes up her PT.
A few highlights from our time home...
> I took her for a walk outside our hotel the afternoon we got home (she was wide awake) and showed her things like her first tree, her first sidewalk, her first cloud, her first helicopter, and her first hot tub. She was very impressed.
> Her first trip to Babies"R"Us. She basically wanted everything...slightly annoying, but she'll learn soon enough to do that kind of thing only around the grandparents.
> Her first episode of SportsCenter...I was sure to point out Mia Hamm and the NY Mets. I'm teaching her to spit at the TV with me whenever the NY Yankees and Dallas Cowgirls make an appearance.
That's basically it. My email is still not sending, so don't sweat if you haven't heard from me in the past few days...hopefully I can get it fixed tomorrow. I'll post some pics when I get a chance.
Thanks!
Nate
Thursday, May 15, 2008
White Rose Blooming (18 Weeks)
This post is scheduled to automatically publish at 2pm today.
Every Tuesday while you've been in the hospital, we have taken a picture with your pug so that everyone can see how much you are growing! You will be coming home with us this week, so this will be the last post about you in the hospital!
You are now 16 inches long, and you weigh 4lbs 10oz!
Your eighteenth week was a great week! You have finally grown big enough to be able to eat everything from your bottle, which also means that you had your feeding tube removed! This was your last big step before being ready to come home, and you are scheduled to be discharged sometime later this week!
We are so excited to have you home with us, and we've been very busy getting everything ready so that you will be happy and safe. Grandma K. will be hanging out with us for a while to help you feel at home, and I'm sure that you'll have more family coming to see you after you feel like you've settled in!
In the next week, we are looking forward to bringing you home and getting to know you even more by spending as much time as we can with you!
We love you!
Compare our Blessed White Rose at:
2 Weeks
3 Weeks
4 Weeks
5 Weeks
6 Weeks
7 Weeks
8 Weeks
9 Weeks
10 Weeks
11 Weeks
12 Weeks
13 Weeks
14 Weeks
15 Weeks
16 Weeks
17 Weeks
Every Tuesday while you've been in the hospital, we have taken a picture with your pug so that everyone can see how much you are growing! You will be coming home with us this week, so this will be the last post about you in the hospital!
You are now 16 inches long, and you weigh 4lbs 10oz!
Your eighteenth week was a great week! You have finally grown big enough to be able to eat everything from your bottle, which also means that you had your feeding tube removed! This was your last big step before being ready to come home, and you are scheduled to be discharged sometime later this week!
We are so excited to have you home with us, and we've been very busy getting everything ready so that you will be happy and safe. Grandma K. will be hanging out with us for a while to help you feel at home, and I'm sure that you'll have more family coming to see you after you feel like you've settled in!
In the next week, we are looking forward to bringing you home and getting to know you even more by spending as much time as we can with you!
We love you!
Compare our Blessed White Rose at:
2 Weeks
3 Weeks
4 Weeks
5 Weeks
6 Weeks
7 Weeks
8 Weeks
9 Weeks
10 Weeks
11 Weeks
12 Weeks
13 Weeks
14 Weeks
15 Weeks
16 Weeks
17 Weeks
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Tomorrow?
Thursday, May 15, 2008.
That's the day that Gwyneth Rose is tentatively scheduled to become the full responsibility of Nathan & Tricia Lawrenson.
She's a little freaked out too...
I'll keep you posted...
Nate
That's the day that Gwyneth Rose is tentatively scheduled to become the full responsibility of Nathan & Tricia Lawrenson.
She's a little freaked out too...
I'll keep you posted...Nate
40 Minutes of Sunshine
(written on 5.13.08)
So, I received an email from Jessica Claire a few months back telling me that she was following our blog and wanting to know if we'd be interested in having a photo shoot with her...
Don't know who Jessica Claire is? That's OK, because neither did we...until I checked out her blog and discovered that she's basically one of the best photographers in the world (according to popphoto.com, and I agree).
Anyway, Jessica has family in the RDU area and was in town this weekend for a visit...and, of course, we said "YES!" to her offer. This kind of opportunity doesn't come around very often!
The forecast for yesterday was "partly cloudy with a 20% chance of rain". It was raining and cold when we woke up. It was raining and cold when we left to drive to meet Jessica.
As we pulled up to the shoot location, the clouds parted and the sun came out. For 40 minutes, the weather was perfect.
As we entered Elmo's Diner for a late breakfast, the sun disappeared...it never showed it's face again for the rest of the day.
And, we all got to spend some time with Gwyneth later that morning as well! That's what I call a perfect Mother's Day/Birthday gift for Tricia.
Here's Jessica with Gwyneth...
Thanks, Jessica! The Photos (amazing!) and the time spent getting to know you (also amazing!) are such a wonderful gift!
Nate
So, I received an email from Jessica Claire a few months back telling me that she was following our blog and wanting to know if we'd be interested in having a photo shoot with her...
Don't know who Jessica Claire is? That's OK, because neither did we...until I checked out her blog and discovered that she's basically one of the best photographers in the world (according to popphoto.com, and I agree).
Anyway, Jessica has family in the RDU area and was in town this weekend for a visit...and, of course, we said "YES!" to her offer. This kind of opportunity doesn't come around very often!
The forecast for yesterday was "partly cloudy with a 20% chance of rain". It was raining and cold when we woke up. It was raining and cold when we left to drive to meet Jessica.
As we pulled up to the shoot location, the clouds parted and the sun came out. For 40 minutes, the weather was perfect.
As we entered Elmo's Diner for a late breakfast, the sun disappeared...it never showed it's face again for the rest of the day.
And, we all got to spend some time with Gwyneth later that morning as well! That's what I call a perfect Mother's Day/Birthday gift for Tricia.Here's Jessica with Gwyneth...
Thanks, Jessica! The Photos (amazing!) and the time spent getting to know you (also amazing!) are such a wonderful gift!Nate
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Gwyneth's Mother
Tricia...I am proud of you beyond words. You dreamed and prayed for a miracle baby, and you sacrificed nearly everything to give Gwyneth life. You amaze me with your beauty and grace through every situation. Gwyneth and I are most certainly blessed by God to call you wife and mommy, and I pray we do so for many years to come.
("In My Arms" by Plumb)
As I take the day off from blogging and spend time with my two girls, I encourage you (blog readers) to spend some time today with your family.
Thanks.
Nate
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Gwyneth Update
This is your preemie...
This is your preemie on sedation and morphine...
Any questions?
Seriously, though, Gwyneth is doing great! That last pic was taken just after her surgery yesterday. She is continuing to eat well, and is doing great after the surgery. Basically back to "normal" this morning.
We've obviously chosen not to share the specifics of Gwyneth's surgery for personal reasons, but again, it was something that was relatively minor and something that we've known about for several weeks. They were simply waiting to operate until just before she was ready to go home. She should have no lasting issues.
We never made it to the baby stuff today, so we'll try again tomorrow!
Thanks!
Nate
This is your preemie on sedation and morphine...
Any questions?Seriously, though, Gwyneth is doing great! That last pic was taken just after her surgery yesterday. She is continuing to eat well, and is doing great after the surgery. Basically back to "normal" this morning.
We've obviously chosen not to share the specifics of Gwyneth's surgery for personal reasons, but again, it was something that was relatively minor and something that we've known about for several weeks. They were simply waiting to operate until just before she was ready to go home. She should have no lasting issues.
We never made it to the baby stuff today, so we'll try again tomorrow!
Thanks!
Nate
Today
Today, among other things, we are going to do some baby shopping. I believe a Stroller and Car Seat are the two main items on the list.
But first, we're going to go check in with Gwyneth. She decided to extubate herself about an hour after surgery yesterday, and she has been breathing on her own since. She began feeding again at 8 this morning and continues to do great! She's still in the NICU, which is fine with us as we feel more at home there anyway after 3 months there...while the nurses in the step-down unit are just as great, it just doesn't feel the same.
Right now we're looking at mid-week to bring Gwyneth home!
Thanks!
Nate
Friday, May 9, 2008
Back in the NICU
Gwyneth's surgery went well, and she is back in the NICU and we're waiting to go see her. She'll be intubated for at least a few hours as she wakes up, and then probably moved back to step-down tomorrow.
I've heard good news about the Johnson family as well. A little bruised up, but nothing too serious from what I've been told.
Thanks for your prayers!
Nate
I've heard good news about the Johnson family as well. A little bruised up, but nothing too serious from what I've been told.
Thanks for your prayers!
Nate
Happy Baby
Still waiting for Gwyneth to go into surgery. My parents are hanging with her now in the pre-op room, and Tricia and I are getting ready to head over there now.
This was Gwyneth this morning, sans feeding tube!
Nate
This was Gwyneth this morning, sans feeding tube!
Nate
Surgery at 11am
Gwyneth will be taken to the OR today around 11am for her surgery. It should last an hour, and then she'll spend about 24 hours back in the NICU before returning to the step-down unit for a few more days where hopefully she'll do well enough to come home.
If you could, also pray for the Johnson family this morning. I was told that they were in a car accident back on the OBX and that at least one of the children has been taken to the hospital. The Johnson's are friends of ours from church, and Tricia has spent a lot of time with their adopted kids in Kid's Church and Youth Group.
I'll give you an update when I know more.
Thanks!
Nate
If you could, also pray for the Johnson family this morning. I was told that they were in a car accident back on the OBX and that at least one of the children has been taken to the hospital. The Johnson's are friends of ours from church, and Tricia has spent a lot of time with their adopted kids in Kid's Church and Youth Group.
I'll give you an update when I know more.
Thanks!
Nate
Thursday, May 8, 2008
BIG NEWS!!!
This afternoon, I got a call from the nurse practitioner that Gwyneth has been feeding completely from the bottle all day and that the feeding tube has been removed! A small surgery (that we have known was needed for several weeks) has been scheduled for Gwyneth tomorrow morning, and she could be discharged as early as the first of next week!!!
We are very excited and a little stressed. We're ready to have Gwyneth home, but we have a lot to do to really get ready. We'll be talking with somebody tonight at the hospital to find out what exactly we need to do/get.
Please, pray with us that the surgery will go well tomorrow and that Gwyneth will continue to feed completely from the bottle over the next several days so that she will be discharged sometime next week.
Also pray that Tricia will feel prepared physically and emotionally...she's still regaining her strength and will certainly not be able to do everything that she'll want to do as she continues to rehab from the past several months.
And, pray that our weekend will give us enough time and energy to prepare for Gwyneth!
Thanks!
Nate
48 Hours
Lots of good things have happened in the past 48 hours....
First, Tricia and Gwyneth got lots of hang time together...Gwyneth enjoys it more than she appears to in this first picture.
Tricia's bronch on Tuesday went well, although it took longer than we had anticipated (about 4 hours altogether with blood labs, x-rays, etc.). The doctor said the initial results (from what he could see through the bronchioscope) looked good. We learned on Wednesday that she is showing no signs of infection or rejection at this point, which is really good news!
And, Tricia talked her doc into removing her trach! She has had the trach since Jan 8, so she is very excited as it will help her breathe a little more easily, help keep her gag reflex under control and possibly allow her to eat and drink more (after another swallow study). It should take a few weeks to heal up, and then she'll be dressing free! Needless to say, she's very happy!
Because we got the blood work and x-rays done on Tuesday, we didn't have to be at clinic all day on Wednesday. Instead, we slept in, I got some cleaning and laundry done, and Tricia was able to go to PT and then her clinic appointment in the late afternoon. At clinic, they removed her pic line from her arm, which makes her pic/IV free for the first time since late December, which, of course, also made her happy.
Gwyneth continues to do well. She is definitely eating more from her bottle. We haven't been given a date for discharge yet, but we know it is getting closer. Tricia should hopefully be released to go home in early June, so we're praying that Gwyneth will be discharged by then as well so we won't have to wait up here for her.
And, I've been told that the next part of our ABC11 story should be airing this Monday! I'll let you know for sure and give you the link when it becomes available. From what I can tell, this should be the best part yet!
Anyway, that's about most of what I can remember that I wanted to tell you.
Thanks!
Nate
First, Tricia and Gwyneth got lots of hang time together...Gwyneth enjoys it more than she appears to in this first picture.
Tricia's bronch on Tuesday went well, although it took longer than we had anticipated (about 4 hours altogether with blood labs, x-rays, etc.). The doctor said the initial results (from what he could see through the bronchioscope) looked good. We learned on Wednesday that she is showing no signs of infection or rejection at this point, which is really good news!
And, Tricia talked her doc into removing her trach! She has had the trach since Jan 8, so she is very excited as it will help her breathe a little more easily, help keep her gag reflex under control and possibly allow her to eat and drink more (after another swallow study). It should take a few weeks to heal up, and then she'll be dressing free! Needless to say, she's very happy!
Because we got the blood work and x-rays done on Tuesday, we didn't have to be at clinic all day on Wednesday. Instead, we slept in, I got some cleaning and laundry done, and Tricia was able to go to PT and then her clinic appointment in the late afternoon. At clinic, they removed her pic line from her arm, which makes her pic/IV free for the first time since late December, which, of course, also made her happy.
Gwyneth continues to do well. She is definitely eating more from her bottle. We haven't been given a date for discharge yet, but we know it is getting closer. Tricia should hopefully be released to go home in early June, so we're praying that Gwyneth will be discharged by then as well so we won't have to wait up here for her.
And, I've been told that the next part of our ABC11 story should be airing this Monday! I'll let you know for sure and give you the link when it becomes available. From what I can tell, this should be the best part yet!
Anyway, that's about most of what I can remember that I wanted to tell you.
Thanks!
Nate
White Rose Blooming (17 Weeks)
Every Tuesday while you're in the hospital, we'll take a picture with your pug so that everyone can see how much you are growing!
You are now 16 inches long, and you weigh 4lbs 7oz!
Your seventeenth week was another good week! You've finally made it all the way to 2000 grams, which means you are big enough to come home! All you need to do is learn how to eat everything from your bottle.
Your mommy is getting much stronger and is able to spend more and more time with you every day. You continue to eat more from the bottle every day as well, and we can see how much you are changing and growing.
In the next week, we're praying that all of your final checks and tests show that you have developed just like you're supposed to, and that you will continue to learn how to eat more and more from your bottle!
We love you!
Compare our Blessed White Rose at:
2 Weeks
3 Weeks
4 Weeks
5 Weeks
6 Weeks
7 Weeks
8 Weeks
9 Weeks
10 Weeks
11 Weeks
12 Weeks
13 Weeks
14 Weeks
15 Weeks
16 Weeks
You are now 16 inches long, and you weigh 4lbs 7oz!
Your seventeenth week was another good week! You've finally made it all the way to 2000 grams, which means you are big enough to come home! All you need to do is learn how to eat everything from your bottle.
Your mommy is getting much stronger and is able to spend more and more time with you every day. You continue to eat more from the bottle every day as well, and we can see how much you are changing and growing.
In the next week, we're praying that all of your final checks and tests show that you have developed just like you're supposed to, and that you will continue to learn how to eat more and more from your bottle!
We love you!
Compare our Blessed White Rose at:
2 Weeks
3 Weeks
4 Weeks
5 Weeks
6 Weeks
7 Weeks
8 Weeks
9 Weeks
10 Weeks
11 Weeks
12 Weeks
13 Weeks
14 Weeks
15 Weeks
16 Weeks
Monday, May 5, 2008
Gwyneth Rose Update
So, now that Gwyneth is up past 2000 grams (4lbs 6oz), the only other major hurdle she needs to clear is to be able to eat everything from her bottle consistently. (She also needs to come down on a few of her meds, but that should come with the rest of it.)
She has already been fed three times from the bottle today, eating most of the bottle each time, so we are definitely seeing improvements. She'll keep her feeding tube until she's eating everything.
She becomes very agitated (as she has been doing for several weeks) about an hour before feeding time (she is fed every three hours). Her cries sound just like any other newborns, except not quite as loud. But, most of the time, she is either sleeping or just hanging out and checking things out (mostly the ceiling).
Gwyneth continues to hold her body temp incredibly well, often becoming too warm (which is why you see so many pics of her waving around). We continue to be amazed and incredibly thankful for the progress that Gwyneth is making!
Thanks!
Nate
As a side note, I kindly ask, again, that you withhold unsolicited baby advice based on what you see and read on the blog. If you're seeing/reading it here, it's because we've chosen to share it with you...if the baby is un-swaddled in the NICU, you can assume that it's OK with us and the medical staff...if I mention that she was sucking her thumb for ten seconds, don't assume that she'll be sucking her thumb for the rest of her life...etc. It's very frustrating to have people appear to assume that we're uneducated, irresponsible parents, and it certainly doesn't encourage us to want to continue sharing as much as we have been sharing. We understand that it's "good intentions", but it's still frustrating (and, we realize that might not understand why and that reading this may hurt a few feelings). If you see/read something that you don't like, please, leave it up to our family and/or doctors to correct us...I promise that they will.
As always, those discouraging comments/emails are such a drop in the bucket compared to the encouraging and positive comments/emails we receive, it's easy to stay focused on the good. And for that, we continue to be incredibly thankful!
She has already been fed three times from the bottle today, eating most of the bottle each time, so we are definitely seeing improvements. She'll keep her feeding tube until she's eating everything.
She becomes very agitated (as she has been doing for several weeks) about an hour before feeding time (she is fed every three hours). Her cries sound just like any other newborns, except not quite as loud. But, most of the time, she is either sleeping or just hanging out and checking things out (mostly the ceiling).
Gwyneth continues to hold her body temp incredibly well, often becoming too warm (which is why you see so many pics of her waving around). We continue to be amazed and incredibly thankful for the progress that Gwyneth is making!
Thanks!
Nate
As a side note, I kindly ask, again, that you withhold unsolicited baby advice based on what you see and read on the blog. If you're seeing/reading it here, it's because we've chosen to share it with you...if the baby is un-swaddled in the NICU, you can assume that it's OK with us and the medical staff...if I mention that she was sucking her thumb for ten seconds, don't assume that she'll be sucking her thumb for the rest of her life...etc. It's very frustrating to have people appear to assume that we're uneducated, irresponsible parents, and it certainly doesn't encourage us to want to continue sharing as much as we have been sharing. We understand that it's "good intentions", but it's still frustrating (and, we realize that might not understand why and that reading this may hurt a few feelings). If you see/read something that you don't like, please, leave it up to our family and/or doctors to correct us...I promise that they will.
As always, those discouraging comments/emails are such a drop in the bucket compared to the encouraging and positive comments/emails we receive, it's easy to stay focused on the good. And for that, we continue to be incredibly thankful!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
2 Kilos!!!
This is what 2,060 grams of baby sweetness looks like...
Now, all she needs is to be eating completely from the bottle and Gwyneth Rose be on her way out the door!!! We'll be talking with the staff tomorrow about what the plan is to get her there.
Nate
PS. EDIT - Tricia walked 1.5 miles, not 1/5 of 2 miles at the walk yesterday...my bad...
Now, all she needs is to be eating completely from the bottle and Gwyneth Rose be on her way out the door!!! We'll be talking with the staff tomorrow about what the plan is to get her there.Nate
PS. EDIT - Tricia walked 1.5 miles, not 1/5 of 2 miles at the walk yesterday...my bad...
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Thumbsucker
Busted!
Seriously, though...for about ten seconds, she had her thumb firmly planted in her mouth sucking like a champ. I had turned away for a few seconds and actually heard it before I saw it...got this pic just as she was pulling it out.
Can you say "genius"?
Nate
Seriously, though...for about ten seconds, she had her thumb firmly planted in her mouth sucking like a champ. I had turned away for a few seconds and actually heard it before I saw it...got this pic just as she was pulling it out.
Can you say "genius"?
Nate
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