September 28, 2012
-TWO MONTHS OLD TODAY!!!! I can't believe how far Colby has come! Our pumpkin hit 3 pounds 5 ounces (again)! Still doing 24 CCs of 27 calorie formula. His oxygen was at 26%, his pressure was at 6 and his bump rate was at 10.
September 29, 2012
-Ainsley, Grams, and I went to visit Colby after Grandma and Grandpa did. Lots of visitors today! Mommy brought him an Alabama onesie for him to wear during the Ole Miss game! It was a little big (it was really a lot big) but his nurse, Michelle, fixed that by flipping Colby over and taping the excess together! Then she let Ainsley hold him for the first time on the edge of the bed so Mommy could get some wonderful pictures! What a wonderful day!
-Daddy called and checked in on him later and his nurse for the evening, Brandi, said she had been trying to teach him to say "War Eagle!" Brandi didn't give Colby a chance to get into trouble tonight---she went ahead and bundled him up good so he couldn't grab his CPAP and pull it out. :)
September 30, 2012
-Mommy and Daddy took Ainsley to visit after lunch and he was doing good. Had just gotten a diaper change and was getting some food. He fussed a little bit and pulled his CPAP out once. His bump rate was at 5 and they were going to be lowering that to see how he did.
-When Daddy called to check in tonight and our pumpkin is AT 0 BUMP RATE!!!!! They took it to 0 at 4pm tonight (it is now 10:30pm) and he is doing well without it! This means that there is no longer a puff of air reminding him to breath on his own! There is still oxygen coming out of the tubes---but it is just a slow and steady stream for when he needs it!!!!! WOW! PRAYER!!!! Please pray that my baby boy does well with this and keeps taking more steps in the right direction!
Please allow me a few minutes of something other than an update to Colby... Our church had a Night of Praise this evening. (An evening of singing songs of praise and worship) I am in charge of the nursery and Kid Central (our school age children's ministry) and I usually find myself in one of the two rooms so I am not always able to sit in church each week. These evenings are very special to me and I really look forward to them---especially with everything going on in life right now. As the night is unfolding---I am being lifted up by the song choices and the messages I am hearing. And then they play one song (at this point I can't even tell you which one it was) and it just hits home. I have to sit down and let it out. Luckily I had friends all around me. Then I get to thinking about things---I am not crying because I am sad. I am crying because I am so blessed!!!!! I have the most wonderful and thoughtful husband. We have a beautiful little girl that has been such a joy for us. Our little man---who has had a rough start---has made such tremendous progress. We have our health. We have fabulous family and friends. All because of God's great love.
Thank you to our praise team that led us tonight! LOVED IT! And thank you SO MUCH to my ladies that worked the nursery so that I could relax and know all those babies were taken care of with much love! I am so thankful to have you guys on our volunteer team! You are the best!
God Bless all of you!
Brie
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Sept 25 - Sept 27 Update
Sept 25th
-Colby was doing good today!
-We visited him around lunch and he had been off his ventillator for 24 hours!!! Big Boy!
-Right before we went up to see Colby my mother sent me a picture of my new neice! My sister, Ali, had her baby girl today! Abrielle was 8 pounds even and 21 inches long.
-We checked in with Stephanie that night and she told us that he was doing well. He fussed a little around dinner time until he got fed. :)
Sept 26th
-Colby had lots of visitors today---both Grams and Grandma were off so they stopped by. He slept right through Mommy and Daddy's visit.
-Nightly check-in with Stephanie and here is the update I got:
---Oxygen: 30%
---Rate of 15 (this is the number of puffs it gives him per minute) The rest he breathes on his own!
---They want to work on this getting down to 0
---They were going to take his rate down to 10 2 hours before his gases to see how he was doing
---Pressure of 7
---They would like to get this closer to 5 if possible
---Still at 24 CCs but they are mixing 24 calorie formula with 30 calorie formula to get 27 calorie
Sept 27th
-Checked in with Elizabeth this morning and Colby was doing good.
---3 pounds 3 ounces
---Doing well with his feedings and he was having some tummy time
-Daddy and I went up for our lunch time visit and our little man was wearing clothes!!! LOVED IT!
-Elizabeth asked if wanted to hold him for a few minutes and of course we said "YES!!"
-Called to check in with Debbie tonight and he was doing well. His rate was down to 5 and she was going to take it to 0 two hours before his gases and see how those came back. PRAYER--Please pray that his gases continue to be good and that his little body continues to learn how to do all the things that they are starting to work with him on.
-Colby had 1 brady while being with Debbie tonight. A brady is a drastic drop in his heart rate. There are two types---an apnea brady is when his heart rate drops because they stop breathing. The other is when he still breathes but his heart rate drops which is what he did this time. Ms. Debbie just had to prod him a bit to get that back up.
We want to say thank you for all the continued prayers and thoughts!
Brie
-Colby was doing good today!
-We visited him around lunch and he had been off his ventillator for 24 hours!!! Big Boy!
-Right before we went up to see Colby my mother sent me a picture of my new neice! My sister, Ali, had her baby girl today! Abrielle was 8 pounds even and 21 inches long.
-We checked in with Stephanie that night and she told us that he was doing well. He fussed a little around dinner time until he got fed. :)
Sept 26th
-Colby had lots of visitors today---both Grams and Grandma were off so they stopped by. He slept right through Mommy and Daddy's visit.
-Nightly check-in with Stephanie and here is the update I got:
---Oxygen: 30%
---Rate of 15 (this is the number of puffs it gives him per minute) The rest he breathes on his own!
---They want to work on this getting down to 0
---They were going to take his rate down to 10 2 hours before his gases to see how he was doing
---Pressure of 7
---They would like to get this closer to 5 if possible
---Still at 24 CCs but they are mixing 24 calorie formula with 30 calorie formula to get 27 calorie
Sept 27th
-Checked in with Elizabeth this morning and Colby was doing good.
---3 pounds 3 ounces
---Doing well with his feedings and he was having some tummy time
-Daddy and I went up for our lunch time visit and our little man was wearing clothes!!! LOVED IT!
-Elizabeth asked if wanted to hold him for a few minutes and of course we said "YES!!"
-Called to check in with Debbie tonight and he was doing well. His rate was down to 5 and she was going to take it to 0 two hours before his gases and see how those came back. PRAYER--Please pray that his gases continue to be good and that his little body continues to learn how to do all the things that they are starting to work with him on.
-Colby had 1 brady while being with Debbie tonight. A brady is a drastic drop in his heart rate. There are two types---an apnea brady is when his heart rate drops because they stop breathing. The other is when he still breathes but his heart rate drops which is what he did this time. Ms. Debbie just had to prod him a bit to get that back up.
We want to say thank you for all the continued prayers and thoughts!
Brie
Monday, September 24, 2012
No ventillator!!!!
Jason called this morning and everything was going well. They had moved Colby's rate down and he had been doing well!
Afternoon Visit:
Jason and I got there around lunch to find Colby OFF his ventilator and on the CPAP machine (has the little tubes that go in his nose a bit and it has a contraption that goes over his head to hold it in place)!!!! My big boy!!!! I was so excited! Jason and I were talking to him and he started crying!!! I know that probably isn't the normal thing a parent gets excited about but that is the first time we have heard our baby able to use his lungs to cry and it was music to our ears! What a blessing! It made my day. I cried right along with him!!! They would be watching him to see how he did this time off the vent but the doctor seemed like they were going to try and make him be a big boy tonight. PRAYERS---Please pray that he does well with being off his ventilator!!!
Evening Check-Up:
Jason called around 8 to see how he was doing and Colby's gases still weren't where they would like for them to be but they had some things to try still.
Sandra called around 9pm to let us know that his pH level was up (which is good) but his carbon dioxide was still a bit too high. They tried bumping his rate up to see if that helped.
11:00 Call:
Doing another gas at midnight but he was holding steady. His oxygen is was at 25% and his rate is at 20 breaths per minute.
Afternoon Visit:
Jason and I got there around lunch to find Colby OFF his ventilator and on the CPAP machine (has the little tubes that go in his nose a bit and it has a contraption that goes over his head to hold it in place)!!!! My big boy!!!! I was so excited! Jason and I were talking to him and he started crying!!! I know that probably isn't the normal thing a parent gets excited about but that is the first time we have heard our baby able to use his lungs to cry and it was music to our ears! What a blessing! It made my day. I cried right along with him!!! They would be watching him to see how he did this time off the vent but the doctor seemed like they were going to try and make him be a big boy tonight. PRAYERS---Please pray that he does well with being off his ventilator!!!
Evening Check-Up:
Jason called around 8 to see how he was doing and Colby's gases still weren't where they would like for them to be but they had some things to try still.
Sandra called around 9pm to let us know that his pH level was up (which is good) but his carbon dioxide was still a bit too high. They tried bumping his rate up to see if that helped.
11:00 Call:
Doing another gas at midnight but he was holding steady. His oxygen is was at 25% and his rate is at 20 breaths per minute.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Took the big camera to the hospital today!
AM Check-in:
-Called this morning before church and Wendy said he was doing well
-3 pounds 3 ounces
-Rate still at 25 and oxygen at 35%
-They had to give him another IV (this is the third one in two days) because he decided he wanted to kick this last one out!!!! Really?!?!?! He only has a couple more days of antibiotics but obviously he feels better! :)
Evening Visit:
-The three of us went up after dinner and visited for a little bit. Ainsley got to feed him a little "sucker" which she thought was very funny. (It was actually a big Q-tip like swab that was dipped in something (don't remember the name of the stuff) that babies liked to suck on and helped them learn to suck for bottle time)
-They are only measuring his head circumference once a week on Mondays now.
-They had his rate down to 15!!!! PRAISE!!! Whoo Hoo! Trying to get him ready to try and come off the ventilator again. I imagine they will try again in the next few days. PRAYER---Please pray that he does better with this attempt. He may not be able to stay off of it for good but the time he can spend off of it is really good for him! He needs to learn to be a big boy! ;) Of course, I keep thinking they are going to call me one day and say he pulled the cord out on his own! He is always playing with it.
-His nurse had him all swaddled tonight and he seemed to like it. He was very awake when we got there...he just looked so sweet. :)
Putting up lots of pictures tonight! Thank you for all your prayers. We have so much to be thankful for, there are so many blessings in our lives, there are so many miracles we see on a daily basis---I am just so humbled. We have a very loving God and I am in such awe of the work He does. AMAZING!!!
Brie
-Called this morning before church and Wendy said he was doing well
-3 pounds 3 ounces
-Rate still at 25 and oxygen at 35%
-They had to give him another IV (this is the third one in two days) because he decided he wanted to kick this last one out!!!! Really?!?!?! He only has a couple more days of antibiotics but obviously he feels better! :)
Evening Visit:
-The three of us went up after dinner and visited for a little bit. Ainsley got to feed him a little "sucker" which she thought was very funny. (It was actually a big Q-tip like swab that was dipped in something (don't remember the name of the stuff) that babies liked to suck on and helped them learn to suck for bottle time)
-They are only measuring his head circumference once a week on Mondays now.
-They had his rate down to 15!!!! PRAISE!!! Whoo Hoo! Trying to get him ready to try and come off the ventilator again. I imagine they will try again in the next few days. PRAYER---Please pray that he does better with this attempt. He may not be able to stay off of it for good but the time he can spend off of it is really good for him! He needs to learn to be a big boy! ;) Of course, I keep thinking they are going to call me one day and say he pulled the cord out on his own! He is always playing with it.
-His nurse had him all swaddled tonight and he seemed to like it. He was very awake when we got there...he just looked so sweet. :)
Putting up lots of pictures tonight! Thank you for all your prayers. We have so much to be thankful for, there are so many blessings in our lives, there are so many miracles we see on a daily basis---I am just so humbled. We have a very loving God and I am in such awe of the work He does. AMAZING!!!
Brie
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Catching Up Again
September 19th---Picture Day Today!!!!
-Mommy and Daddy met up at the hospital with Ms. Kim from Footprints Ministry and the photographer from Journey magazine! Journey magazine is doing an article on Footprints Ministry in their October edition and Ms. Kim suggested our little man as a NICU baby to talk about. :)
-Colby was going to have to get blood that day so they had to stop his feeding for a little while.
-Mommy didn't have a very long visit so we went back for a night visit but the nurses were having a meeting when we got there so we had to wait for about 30 minutes to see our little man. We did get to catch up with Logan's Mommy though (one of the other little babies in the NICU that we have met)
September 20th---Hit 3 pound mark!
-Ms. Debbie and Ms. Stephanie had him today/tonight and Colby was good for them. Still doing well with your feedings (22 CCs of the high protein formula)
-Ms. Debbie told me he hit the 3 pound mark!!!!! Whoo Hoo!! So excited to see him gaining weight and getting bigger! He doesn't look puffy so that seems more like it is good weight. :)
September 21st---Spit up today (first time for Mommy)
-Ms. Wendy and Ms. Jean had Colby today/tonight and he was just hanging out (not like he could do much of anything else!)
-He did have a few gases that were high on his carbon dioxide so they were watching that
-Colby spit up some of his lunch while we were there...I am sure he has done this but it was the first time for Mommy. I got to pick him up for a minute while Ms. Wendy changed his blanket under his head.
-Jean said he weighed 3 pounds 5 ounces!!!!
September 22nd---BAMA BOY!
-Doing well when we went up to see him. We took Ainsley with us and I was able to video her reading to Colby. It was very sweet! She finished washing up and went right over to open his bed and touch him! We have to watch her close to make sure she is careful---she just wants to hold him so bad!
-We went to the Alabama game and then stopped by on the way home. It was a little quieter so I was hoping that I could hold him.
-Ms. Kandy was his nurse this evening and she let me hold him.
-Weighed 3 pounds 3 ounces and Kandy told us they were feeding him 28 CCs!!!
-Still on his antibiotics for a few more days.
-Then Ms. Kandy went and got the sweetest looking BAMA cap!!! Hoping to get new pictures up tomorrow!
So excited about all of Colby's progresses lately! PRAISES!!!! Please keep praying for his infection and that these antibiotics will help it go away.
-Mommy and Daddy met up at the hospital with Ms. Kim from Footprints Ministry and the photographer from Journey magazine! Journey magazine is doing an article on Footprints Ministry in their October edition and Ms. Kim suggested our little man as a NICU baby to talk about. :)
-Colby was going to have to get blood that day so they had to stop his feeding for a little while.
-Mommy didn't have a very long visit so we went back for a night visit but the nurses were having a meeting when we got there so we had to wait for about 30 minutes to see our little man. We did get to catch up with Logan's Mommy though (one of the other little babies in the NICU that we have met)
September 20th---Hit 3 pound mark!
-Ms. Debbie and Ms. Stephanie had him today/tonight and Colby was good for them. Still doing well with your feedings (22 CCs of the high protein formula)
-Ms. Debbie told me he hit the 3 pound mark!!!!! Whoo Hoo!! So excited to see him gaining weight and getting bigger! He doesn't look puffy so that seems more like it is good weight. :)
September 21st---Spit up today (first time for Mommy)
-Ms. Wendy and Ms. Jean had Colby today/tonight and he was just hanging out (not like he could do much of anything else!)
-He did have a few gases that were high on his carbon dioxide so they were watching that
-Colby spit up some of his lunch while we were there...I am sure he has done this but it was the first time for Mommy. I got to pick him up for a minute while Ms. Wendy changed his blanket under his head.
-Jean said he weighed 3 pounds 5 ounces!!!!
September 22nd---BAMA BOY!
-Doing well when we went up to see him. We took Ainsley with us and I was able to video her reading to Colby. It was very sweet! She finished washing up and went right over to open his bed and touch him! We have to watch her close to make sure she is careful---she just wants to hold him so bad!
-We went to the Alabama game and then stopped by on the way home. It was a little quieter so I was hoping that I could hold him.
-Ms. Kandy was his nurse this evening and she let me hold him.
-Weighed 3 pounds 3 ounces and Kandy told us they were feeding him 28 CCs!!!
-Still on his antibiotics for a few more days.
-Then Ms. Kandy went and got the sweetest looking BAMA cap!!! Hoping to get new pictures up tomorrow!
So excited about all of Colby's progresses lately! PRAISES!!!! Please keep praying for his infection and that these antibiotics will help it go away.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Another BIG MILESTONE!!!
Today was a good day! Last night he weighed 2 pounds 14 ounces and was still eating well. His rate was at 28 and his oxygen was at 34% when Jason checked in this morning.
We went to visit him around lunch today. Mary Elizabeth was changing him and then feeding him. He was very antsy and wouldn't stay still! His SATs lowered of course because of it and he kept making faces like he was gagging on his lunch! He started kicking and moving his arm around and almost knocked his formula off the holder and onto himself! :) It was cute to watch but he just wouldn't settle down!
Mommy called back tonight to check on him and he WEIGHED 3 POUNDS!!!!! WHOO HOO!!! How exciting!!! What a big milestone for our pumpkin to reach! His oxygen was the same and they had come down to 26 on his rate. They have also moved him up to 22 CCs of formula and he is doing well with that! Stephanie gave me his run down because his evening nurse, Carol, was finishing up with him. She gave him a little bath tonight!!! Got ourselves a clean little 3 pound pumpkin!!!! :)
Mommy is so excited! We are so blessed with all the positive things going on with Colby right now! We just continue to pray that this infection goes away and that he is able to try and come off the ventilator again soon and that he lasts a little longer off of it than the last time!
Thank you for all of your prayers!
Brie
We went to visit him around lunch today. Mary Elizabeth was changing him and then feeding him. He was very antsy and wouldn't stay still! His SATs lowered of course because of it and he kept making faces like he was gagging on his lunch! He started kicking and moving his arm around and almost knocked his formula off the holder and onto himself! :) It was cute to watch but he just wouldn't settle down!
Mommy called back tonight to check on him and he WEIGHED 3 POUNDS!!!!! WHOO HOO!!! How exciting!!! What a big milestone for our pumpkin to reach! His oxygen was the same and they had come down to 26 on his rate. They have also moved him up to 22 CCs of formula and he is doing well with that! Stephanie gave me his run down because his evening nurse, Carol, was finishing up with him. She gave him a little bath tonight!!! Got ourselves a clean little 3 pound pumpkin!!!! :)
Mommy is so excited! We are so blessed with all the positive things going on with Colby right now! We just continue to pray that this infection goes away and that he is able to try and come off the ventilator again soon and that he lasts a little longer off of it than the last time!
Thank you for all of your prayers!
Brie
Monday, September 17, 2012
Mommy redeems herself with another diaper change!
(This was supposed to have posted a week or so ago and I forgot to hit the "Publish" button so...it is posting it a little out of date!
Ms Debbie had Colby today and he was giving her a little trouble today. :)
-He was at 16 CCs and they were set to move him up 1 CC every 6 hours if he was doing well
-At his 9am feeding his oxygen SAT dropped and he bradied (which means his heart rate dropped considerably and then went back up) which is not a normal thing for him. He also seemed to have a little spit-up.
-Ms. Debbie tried to slow the formula at his 12 noon feeding to see if that helped...his heart rate didn't seem affected but his oxygen SAT did drop during that feeding as well.
-Mommy got to redeam herself by changing a diaper! It was still a little difficult with the wires and the fact that the diaper was on upside down but he didn't poo-poo or tee-tee on me this time! Whoo Hoo!
PM Check-In with Shelby:
-Rate at 15
-Oxygen at 33%
-
Ms Debbie had Colby today and he was giving her a little trouble today. :)
-He was at 16 CCs and they were set to move him up 1 CC every 6 hours if he was doing well
-At his 9am feeding his oxygen SAT dropped and he bradied (which means his heart rate dropped considerably and then went back up) which is not a normal thing for him. He also seemed to have a little spit-up.
-Ms. Debbie tried to slow the formula at his 12 noon feeding to see if that helped...his heart rate didn't seem affected but his oxygen SAT did drop during that feeding as well.
-Mommy got to redeam herself by changing a diaper! It was still a little difficult with the wires and the fact that the diaper was on upside down but he didn't poo-poo or tee-tee on me this time! Whoo Hoo!
PM Check-In with Shelby:
-Rate at 15
-Oxygen at 33%
-
Catching Up...
So sorry that it has been awhile since we posted...life back at work has been much busier! I will do quick highlights of the days that I have missed! :)
Sept 14
-Having a good day--they were still trying to wean him off the ventilator so they were working on getting his settings down
-Had a short visit with lunch and they were going to start multi-vitamins later that evening
-Mommy came back after work and got to hold him for a little bit!!! We had some skin to skin time where Ms. Debbie put him up on my chest/neck area. It was so sweet! She took some pictures for me. I couldn't see him and he was moving around a little bit...he would move his head and I would ask Ms. Debbie if his ventilator was still sitting right, he would make a noise and I would look at her with big eyes and she would have to tell me he was fine. He monitor would go off but I couldn't see it to tell what was beeping so I would start thinking I was doing something wrong! It was the most wonderful yet nerve-wracking thing!
Sept 15
-Doing good when we checked on him that morning and he weighed 2 pounds 13 ounces! Just keeps gaining weight! Must like his food!
-Went up for an evening visit and took Nana, Grams, and Ainsley with us. When we got up there we found out that they had taken Colby off his ventilator for a few hours that morning! He lasted almost 3 hours before having to go back on. He was really tuckered out and didn't even open his eyes!
Sept 16
-Doing good! Weighed 2 pounds 14 ounces!!! Just keeps going! PRAISES!
-Daddy and Ainsley visited little brother and he was being a wiggleworm! It was near feeding time so he probably needed a diaper change. Ainsley sang to him and told him some nursery rhymes.
Sept 17
-When Jason checked in this morning Colby had a high band count which could mean an infection. When that test comes back high they run another one (CRP) and if it is high---that usually means an infection. Colby's CRP was low so we are waiting on the cultures to see what is going on but they went ahead and started him on antibiotics just in case. That meant they had to put an IV back in his little arm. :( But hopefully this will help. If I understood the doctor right...this could be part of why Colby only lasted a few hours off the ventilator on Saturday. PRAYER--that we have caught this right at the beginning and it won't bother him for too long.
-He weighed 2 pounds 13 ounces (looks like an entire ounce but it was only a loss of 10 grams)
-He was 16 3/4" long!!! My pumpkin is growing so much! (That is 3 3/4" in 7 weeks!) PRAISES!
-His eye exam last Wednesday was looking good so far---PRAYER--Please continue to pray that his eyes develop fully and correctly.
Thank you to everyone that has kept our family in your thoughts and prayers. It continues to humble me when I hear stories of how people are praying for us. We are so appreciative of your love for our family! Please feel free to leave a comment on here...I am hoping to print this and make a book for Colby to have one day so he can see how many people cared and prayed for him. He can see how he affected others...even at such young age and with all that he was going through.
Brie
Sept 14
-Having a good day--they were still trying to wean him off the ventilator so they were working on getting his settings down
-Had a short visit with lunch and they were going to start multi-vitamins later that evening
-Mommy came back after work and got to hold him for a little bit!!! We had some skin to skin time where Ms. Debbie put him up on my chest/neck area. It was so sweet! She took some pictures for me. I couldn't see him and he was moving around a little bit...he would move his head and I would ask Ms. Debbie if his ventilator was still sitting right, he would make a noise and I would look at her with big eyes and she would have to tell me he was fine. He monitor would go off but I couldn't see it to tell what was beeping so I would start thinking I was doing something wrong! It was the most wonderful yet nerve-wracking thing!
Sept 15
-Doing good when we checked on him that morning and he weighed 2 pounds 13 ounces! Just keeps gaining weight! Must like his food!
-Went up for an evening visit and took Nana, Grams, and Ainsley with us. When we got up there we found out that they had taken Colby off his ventilator for a few hours that morning! He lasted almost 3 hours before having to go back on. He was really tuckered out and didn't even open his eyes!
Sept 16
-Doing good! Weighed 2 pounds 14 ounces!!! Just keeps going! PRAISES!
-Daddy and Ainsley visited little brother and he was being a wiggleworm! It was near feeding time so he probably needed a diaper change. Ainsley sang to him and told him some nursery rhymes.
Sept 17
-When Jason checked in this morning Colby had a high band count which could mean an infection. When that test comes back high they run another one (CRP) and if it is high---that usually means an infection. Colby's CRP was low so we are waiting on the cultures to see what is going on but they went ahead and started him on antibiotics just in case. That meant they had to put an IV back in his little arm. :( But hopefully this will help. If I understood the doctor right...this could be part of why Colby only lasted a few hours off the ventilator on Saturday. PRAYER--that we have caught this right at the beginning and it won't bother him for too long.
-He weighed 2 pounds 13 ounces (looks like an entire ounce but it was only a loss of 10 grams)
-He was 16 3/4" long!!! My pumpkin is growing so much! (That is 3 3/4" in 7 weeks!) PRAISES!
-His eye exam last Wednesday was looking good so far---PRAYER--Please continue to pray that his eyes develop fully and correctly.
Thank you to everyone that has kept our family in your thoughts and prayers. It continues to humble me when I hear stories of how people are praying for us. We are so appreciative of your love for our family! Please feel free to leave a comment on here...I am hoping to print this and make a book for Colby to have one day so he can see how many people cared and prayed for him. He can see how he affected others...even at such young age and with all that he was going through.
Brie
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Colby making big boy steps today!
Ms Debbie had Colby today and he was giving her a little trouble today. :)
-He was at 16 CCs and they were set to move him up 1 CC every 6 hours if he was doing well
-At his 9am feeding his oxygen SAT dropped and he set off the brady alarm(which means his heart rate dropped considerably and then went back up) which is not a normal thing for him. He also seemed to have a little spit-up.
-Ms. Debbie tried to slow the formula at his 12 noon feeding to see if that helped...his heart rate didn't seem affected but his oxygen SAT did drop during that feeding as well.
-Mommy got to redeem herself by changing a diaper! It was still a little difficult with the wires and the fact that the diaper was on upside down but he didn't poo-poo or tee-tee on me this time! Whoo Hoo!
-BIG NEWS for today---They took out his PICC line (but again...didn't want him to know about it so he wouldn't act up! ) this morning so when we got there the machine that has been holding his fluids was gone! I got so excited! He doesn't have anything poking him now! Just his oxygen monitor around his foot and his monitors that are stuck on his chest! PRAISES!!!
PM Check-In with Shelby:
-Rate at 15
-Oxygen at 33%
-Pressure is 20 over 5 (which is down from 21 over 5!!!)
-He weighed 2 pounds 11 ounces (gained enough grams to put him over into the next ounce!)
-His next blood gas is at 10pm but he seemed to be doing good so far
-Doing good on his feedings still. He is up to 17 CCs and this time Shelby tried giving him his dinner with the pump. (Pumps are used to put in medicine, blood, or platelets and you can set the amount of time you want it to take to put the amount in.) So--Shelby set it to give him his dinner over a 30 minute period so it wouldn't go in too fast and that seems to have helped the issues he was having earlier.
-They are still moving up 1 CC every 6 hours so at midnight he will go to 18 CCs and at 6 am he will go 19 CCs. Noon he should be at 20 CCs and at midnight Friday night he should be at 21 CCs where they have maxed him out at if he gets that far and is still tolerating his food ok.
-Shelby has him hanging out on his side right now. He wasn't happy at first but seems to like it now.
-His head circumference is still 25 1/4 " so that is good news.
Good day today---we are so blessed to have so many of these! Our God is so good and we are so amazed each day by the miracles we are seeing in Colby and all the other babies in this NICU!!! Please say an extra prayer for these wonderful nurses and doctors tonight...I just don't know how I would have been able to handle this without their obvious love for these babies, all the support they give the parents, how sweet they are to the siblings. To all of you that read this blog---you are the best!
Brie
-He was at 16 CCs and they were set to move him up 1 CC every 6 hours if he was doing well
-At his 9am feeding his oxygen SAT dropped and he set off the brady alarm(which means his heart rate dropped considerably and then went back up) which is not a normal thing for him. He also seemed to have a little spit-up.
-Ms. Debbie tried to slow the formula at his 12 noon feeding to see if that helped...his heart rate didn't seem affected but his oxygen SAT did drop during that feeding as well.
-Mommy got to redeem herself by changing a diaper! It was still a little difficult with the wires and the fact that the diaper was on upside down but he didn't poo-poo or tee-tee on me this time! Whoo Hoo!
-BIG NEWS for today---They took out his PICC line (but again...didn't want him to know about it so he wouldn't act up! ) this morning so when we got there the machine that has been holding his fluids was gone! I got so excited! He doesn't have anything poking him now! Just his oxygen monitor around his foot and his monitors that are stuck on his chest! PRAISES!!!
PM Check-In with Shelby:
-Rate at 15
-Oxygen at 33%
-Pressure is 20 over 5 (which is down from 21 over 5!!!)
-He weighed 2 pounds 11 ounces (gained enough grams to put him over into the next ounce!)
-His next blood gas is at 10pm but he seemed to be doing good so far
-Doing good on his feedings still. He is up to 17 CCs and this time Shelby tried giving him his dinner with the pump. (Pumps are used to put in medicine, blood, or platelets and you can set the amount of time you want it to take to put the amount in.) So--Shelby set it to give him his dinner over a 30 minute period so it wouldn't go in too fast and that seems to have helped the issues he was having earlier.
-They are still moving up 1 CC every 6 hours so at midnight he will go to 18 CCs and at 6 am he will go 19 CCs. Noon he should be at 20 CCs and at midnight Friday night he should be at 21 CCs where they have maxed him out at if he gets that far and is still tolerating his food ok.
-Shelby has him hanging out on his side right now. He wasn't happy at first but seems to like it now.
-His head circumference is still 25 1/4 " so that is good news.
Good day today---we are so blessed to have so many of these! Our God is so good and we are so amazed each day by the miracles we are seeing in Colby and all the other babies in this NICU!!! Please say an extra prayer for these wonderful nurses and doctors tonight...I just don't know how I would have been able to handle this without their obvious love for these babies, all the support they give the parents, how sweet they are to the siblings. To all of you that read this blog---you are the best!
Brie
Starting work has me behind! :) 9-12-12
AM Check-In: Angela
-Gases were looking good
-Rate was at 15
-Pressure was at 23 over 5 (I think that is right)
-Oxygen was at 30%
-He weighed 2 pounds 10 ounces (he had gained 10 grams but it didn't change the ounce amount)
-His head circumference was still at 25 1/4 so that is looking good
-He was tolerating his food well
Lunch-time visit:
-Mommy started back to work today so we had a short but nice visit.
-He was doing well
-Angela had his swaddled and on his side for his lunch and he seemed to like it
PM Check-In: Stephanie
-Being a wiggle worm tonight! Lifting head a little and his arm
-Stephanie said he seemed like he was trying to crawl off the bed so she had to give him some ativan
-They had moved his feedings to 18 CCs but he spit up a little bit so they were back down to 15 CCs for the next feeding
-Stephanie had him at room air but she didn't tell him that because she didn't want him to know and start acting up :)
-His rate was at 15 and his pressure was at 21
-Gases were looking good
-Rate was at 15
-Pressure was at 23 over 5 (I think that is right)
-Oxygen was at 30%
-He weighed 2 pounds 10 ounces (he had gained 10 grams but it didn't change the ounce amount)
-His head circumference was still at 25 1/4 so that is looking good
-He was tolerating his food well
Lunch-time visit:
-Mommy started back to work today so we had a short but nice visit.
-He was doing well
-Angela had his swaddled and on his side for his lunch and he seemed to like it
PM Check-In: Stephanie
-Being a wiggle worm tonight! Lifting head a little and his arm
-Stephanie said he seemed like he was trying to crawl off the bed so she had to give him some ativan
-They had moved his feedings to 18 CCs but he spit up a little bit so they were back down to 15 CCs for the next feeding
-Stephanie had him at room air but she didn't tell him that because she didn't want him to know and start acting up :)
-His rate was at 15 and his pressure was at 21
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Back on the ventilator...
Got a call from the hospital this morning around 7:30 and they let us know that Colby had been put back on his ventilator around 7am. He lasted about 10 hours breathing on his own which is a big deal at this stage. He was doing good at the beginning and holding his own. As the night progressed and the morning came---he carbon dioxide percentages were going up a little higher than they would have liked. (He was breathing in ok and getting a good amount of oxygen but he wasn't able to breathe hard enough to get all the carbon dioxide out. Even after being but back on the ventilator for just an hour and a half---his blood gases were looking good again. They are hoping to try to take him off again in a few days and see how he does this time.
Afternoon Visit
Jason and I stopped by around lunch and he was out like a light! He didn't wake up the entire time we were there...he barely moved! That is very odd for our child---he is always moving! Last night tuckered him out a lot! All his SATs were doing really well and his blood gases were as well.
Phone Call with Dr. Whittington
Got a call from the doctor after we left with an update of the changes they were going to be working on today.
-They were switching all his meds over from IV meds to oral meds---this means that the medications will be mixed in with his formula instead of going in through his IV. They are adding Vitamin D to his list of meds to help strengthen his bones. They are also adding some extra sodium to his diet since one of his meds tends to have an affect on his sodium amounts. They were also switching his formula from a 20 calorie to a 24 calorie and he had gone up to 15 CCs yesterday. If he can tolerate all these new things---change in formula and the meds in his formula instead of in his IV---without it upsetting his tummy, they will probably take the IV out of his little arm!!!! YEAH!!! PRAISES!! PRAYER---that he will be able to tolerate all these changes like a big boy and they will be able to remove his IV so he will have one less thing sticking in him!
-He had an eye exam on the 5th and it was normal and looking good so far. He has another one tomorrow with Dr. Parma. PRAYER---Please pray that he eyes continue to grow correctly and that he will not have any eye issues!
-He had an ultrasound on his kidneys a little while ago and they were a little swollen. They will do another ultrasound tomorrow to check on them but Dr. Whittington said this was normal for preemies and it can go away on it's own. PRAYER---please pray that when they do the next ultrasound that they find his kidneys are getting back to a normal size.
-His head growth is normal so that is good. His bleed is still dissipating so that is going in the right direction. PRAISES!!! PRAYER---pray that this bleed continues to be absorbed and that there are no complications.
Thank you to all our prayer warriors who also prayed for Cadence. I have found out that she has pneumonia and has had a fever for quite some time. Please pray that for wisdom for the doctors and nurses so that they will know what to do to help this precious little girl. Pray for comfort and peace for her parents and family. Thank you so much!
Hope to have an update later this evening on Colby...
Afternoon Visit
Jason and I stopped by around lunch and he was out like a light! He didn't wake up the entire time we were there...he barely moved! That is very odd for our child---he is always moving! Last night tuckered him out a lot! All his SATs were doing really well and his blood gases were as well.
Phone Call with Dr. Whittington
Got a call from the doctor after we left with an update of the changes they were going to be working on today.
-They were switching all his meds over from IV meds to oral meds---this means that the medications will be mixed in with his formula instead of going in through his IV. They are adding Vitamin D to his list of meds to help strengthen his bones. They are also adding some extra sodium to his diet since one of his meds tends to have an affect on his sodium amounts. They were also switching his formula from a 20 calorie to a 24 calorie and he had gone up to 15 CCs yesterday. If he can tolerate all these new things---change in formula and the meds in his formula instead of in his IV---without it upsetting his tummy, they will probably take the IV out of his little arm!!!! YEAH!!! PRAISES!! PRAYER---that he will be able to tolerate all these changes like a big boy and they will be able to remove his IV so he will have one less thing sticking in him!
-He had an eye exam on the 5th and it was normal and looking good so far. He has another one tomorrow with Dr. Parma. PRAYER---Please pray that he eyes continue to grow correctly and that he will not have any eye issues!
-He had an ultrasound on his kidneys a little while ago and they were a little swollen. They will do another ultrasound tomorrow to check on them but Dr. Whittington said this was normal for preemies and it can go away on it's own. PRAYER---please pray that when they do the next ultrasound that they find his kidneys are getting back to a normal size.
-His head growth is normal so that is good. His bleed is still dissipating so that is going in the right direction. PRAISES!!! PRAYER---pray that this bleed continues to be absorbed and that there are no complications.
Thank you to all our prayer warriors who also prayed for Cadence. I have found out that she has pneumonia and has had a fever for quite some time. Please pray that for wisdom for the doctors and nurses so that they will know what to do to help this precious little girl. Pray for comfort and peace for her parents and family. Thank you so much!
Hope to have an update later this evening on Colby...
Monday, September 10, 2012
We have a BIG BOY on our hands now!
AM Check-In
Having a good day with Heather so far. His rate was at 20, his oxygen was at 50%, and his pressure was at 24 over 5 (down from 26 over 5). He weighed 2 pounds 9 ounces and was doing good on his feedings. The nurse practitioner was going to be talking to the doctor about removing the ventilator.
Evening Visit
-Had his rate down to 10!!!
-Oxygen and pressure still the same
-He was very mad when Heather had to get blood for his blood gas check and you could hear him squeak a bit because he got very mad! We took the big camera in tonight and got some good pictures---will try and get those up tomorrow! Were hoping to take him off the ventilator in a few hours (after his food had time to digest).
PM Check-In
Talked with Stephanie and our little man is breathing on his own!!!! He is on a CPAP and it has two little pieces of plastic that go in his nose and puff air in. It is there to help remind him to breathe. It has rates and pressures and other numbers very similar to the other machine. PRAISES---So excited our little man is being such a big boy and breathing on his own!!!
Sometimes babies will have an issue with feeding when they are switched over because of the extra air in their tummy. PRAYER---Please pray our Colby doesn't have any issues with his feeding. He needs his formula to keep growing strong!
His heart rate never dropped and although he can cry now, he has to learn to do that. Stephanie did hear a little whimper tonight though. :) It isn't a usual thing for parents to want to hear but my baby crying means good things!!!
They will do a gas tonight around midnight to see how his little body is doing with the changes. PRAYER---pray that he is tolerating the changes well and they can continue to move down on his rates and pressures.
Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers! Please continue to pray for our little man!
Also---please pray for Cadence Doster, the two year old daughter of a co-worker and friend of mine and she has been taken to Children's Hospital in Birmingham. Not sure what is going on...hope to have more details from Meredith soon. On top of that, Meredith (the Mommy) just gave birth to Cadence's little sister---Ellie---a few days ago.
Having a good day with Heather so far. His rate was at 20, his oxygen was at 50%, and his pressure was at 24 over 5 (down from 26 over 5). He weighed 2 pounds 9 ounces and was doing good on his feedings. The nurse practitioner was going to be talking to the doctor about removing the ventilator.
Evening Visit
-Had his rate down to 10!!!
-Oxygen and pressure still the same
-He was very mad when Heather had to get blood for his blood gas check and you could hear him squeak a bit because he got very mad! We took the big camera in tonight and got some good pictures---will try and get those up tomorrow! Were hoping to take him off the ventilator in a few hours (after his food had time to digest).
PM Check-In
Talked with Stephanie and our little man is breathing on his own!!!! He is on a CPAP and it has two little pieces of plastic that go in his nose and puff air in. It is there to help remind him to breathe. It has rates and pressures and other numbers very similar to the other machine. PRAISES---So excited our little man is being such a big boy and breathing on his own!!!
Sometimes babies will have an issue with feeding when they are switched over because of the extra air in their tummy. PRAYER---Please pray our Colby doesn't have any issues with his feeding. He needs his formula to keep growing strong!
His heart rate never dropped and although he can cry now, he has to learn to do that. Stephanie did hear a little whimper tonight though. :) It isn't a usual thing for parents to want to hear but my baby crying means good things!!!
They will do a gas tonight around midnight to see how his little body is doing with the changes. PRAYER---pray that he is tolerating the changes well and they can continue to move down on his rates and pressures.
Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers! Please continue to pray for our little man!
Also---please pray for Cadence Doster, the two year old daughter of a co-worker and friend of mine and she has been taken to Children's Hospital in Birmingham. Not sure what is going on...hope to have more details from Meredith soon. On top of that, Meredith (the Mommy) just gave birth to Cadence's little sister---Ellie---a few days ago.
Tonight's the night
Just a quick update to get all of our prayer warriors going.
Colby is going to get to be a big boy tonight and try to breathe without the ventilator. They had the machine down to 10 breaths per minute for part of the day and he has done well so his doctors and nurses agree that it is time to try. Sometime in the next hour they are going to take the tube out of his lungs and put him on a CPAP machine. It will still help him along but he will be breathing all on his own.
Please pray that his little lungs will do what they are supposed to do and he will start breathing on his own.
Our GOD is an AWESOME GOD!!!
Colby is going to get to be a big boy tonight and try to breathe without the ventilator. They had the machine down to 10 breaths per minute for part of the day and he has done well so his doctors and nurses agree that it is time to try. Sometime in the next hour they are going to take the tube out of his lungs and put him on a CPAP machine. It will still help him along but he will be breathing all on his own.
Please pray that his little lungs will do what they are supposed to do and he will start breathing on his own.
Our GOD is an AWESOME GOD!!!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
BEST DAY EVER! (So far)
AM Check-In
Jason called in and checked on Colby this morning with Brooke and he was doing good. His oxygen was at 50% and his rate was still at 20. Brooke had swaddled him a bit this morning and he was liking it so far! They had to remove his arterial line because his vein gave out and they decided to spread out his gases a little so they don't have to prick his heel as often.
Evening Visit with Mommy, Daddy, and Ainsley
-We took Ainsley to see Colby this evening and she sat next to his bed and sang him songs and told him some nursery rhymes. It was so sweet! That lasted for about 5-10 minutes and then she wanted to play with my phone. :)
-Brooke was telling us that she really thought Colby was ready to try and come off the ventilator! He is breathing over the machine a bit now and his rate has been doing well. She was going to talk with the nurse practitioner and see what her thoughts were. His blood gases looked good and they both agreed to try but when the nurse practitioner looked at his pressure she decided to try and lower it a bit before taking him off the ventilator. So, that is our plan for the next few days and hopefully we will be able to try coming off the ventilator this week sometime! PRAYER---Please pray that our little man is up for the challenge of breathing on his own and that he puts on his big boy diapers this week! :)
-Mommy was talking with Colby while Brooke was changing him (Mommy passed on trying to redeem myself tonight!). He poo-poo'd some more after Brooke took off his diaper but she is more used to working around those wires and she did much better than mommy would have! :)
-Brooke finished up with Colby and went to do something else...then she came back with some gowns and said, "Ok, let's do this!"! It took me a minute to figure out she meant we were going to get to hold Colby! Of course I almost started crying but she said I wasn't going to be able to hold him if I started crying so I stopped! :) I put on my gown while she got all his wires straightened out and got him all swaddled up for me. I sat down while she handed him to me and Jason had to hold the oxygen tubes for me. Ainsley got moved over in her chair and wanted to touch him everywhere! She touched his head and then his hand. She was so sweet with him---what a GREAT BIG SISTER!!! She did get upset that she couldn't hold him though. :)
-Then it was Daddy's turn to hold his little boy for the first time! I held his oxygen tubes for him and Sheila and Brooke did such a wonderful things and helped to keep Ainsley's attention so we could have a few minutes with our boy! They were soooo sweet with her! Brooke got her some paper and a pencil so she could draw.
Sheila mentioned on our way out that Brooke must be our favorite nurse now since she let us hold Colby for the first time. To any of our nurses that read this---we love you all! We are so blessed to have each of you taking care of our pumpkin. We feel so comfortable with him in your hands and can't begin to express our appreciation for the love and attention you have shown our little man. Our hearts are in your hands and God has placed all of you in our lives for a reason and I am forever grateful! God Bless you for what you do each day!
This has been such a wonderful day---our God is amazing and I am humbled by the blessings He is placing on us. PRAISES for all the fantastic news today! I just can't say it enough! PRAYERS--that our little man has a good week and that if they are able to try and take him off the ventilator that it goes well!!!! It would be such a big move for him and we hope he is up for it!
Please keep praying---God hears us!
Brie
Jason called in and checked on Colby this morning with Brooke and he was doing good. His oxygen was at 50% and his rate was still at 20. Brooke had swaddled him a bit this morning and he was liking it so far! They had to remove his arterial line because his vein gave out and they decided to spread out his gases a little so they don't have to prick his heel as often.
Evening Visit with Mommy, Daddy, and Ainsley
-We took Ainsley to see Colby this evening and she sat next to his bed and sang him songs and told him some nursery rhymes. It was so sweet! That lasted for about 5-10 minutes and then she wanted to play with my phone. :)
-Brooke was telling us that she really thought Colby was ready to try and come off the ventilator! He is breathing over the machine a bit now and his rate has been doing well. She was going to talk with the nurse practitioner and see what her thoughts were. His blood gases looked good and they both agreed to try but when the nurse practitioner looked at his pressure she decided to try and lower it a bit before taking him off the ventilator. So, that is our plan for the next few days and hopefully we will be able to try coming off the ventilator this week sometime! PRAYER---Please pray that our little man is up for the challenge of breathing on his own and that he puts on his big boy diapers this week! :)
-Mommy was talking with Colby while Brooke was changing him (Mommy passed on trying to redeem myself tonight!). He poo-poo'd some more after Brooke took off his diaper but she is more used to working around those wires and she did much better than mommy would have! :)
-Brooke finished up with Colby and went to do something else...then she came back with some gowns and said, "Ok, let's do this!"! It took me a minute to figure out she meant we were going to get to hold Colby! Of course I almost started crying but she said I wasn't going to be able to hold him if I started crying so I stopped! :) I put on my gown while she got all his wires straightened out and got him all swaddled up for me. I sat down while she handed him to me and Jason had to hold the oxygen tubes for me. Ainsley got moved over in her chair and wanted to touch him everywhere! She touched his head and then his hand. She was so sweet with him---what a GREAT BIG SISTER!!! She did get upset that she couldn't hold him though. :)
-Then it was Daddy's turn to hold his little boy for the first time! I held his oxygen tubes for him and Sheila and Brooke did such a wonderful things and helped to keep Ainsley's attention so we could have a few minutes with our boy! They were soooo sweet with her! Brooke got her some paper and a pencil so she could draw.
Sheila mentioned on our way out that Brooke must be our favorite nurse now since she let us hold Colby for the first time. To any of our nurses that read this---we love you all! We are so blessed to have each of you taking care of our pumpkin. We feel so comfortable with him in your hands and can't begin to express our appreciation for the love and attention you have shown our little man. Our hearts are in your hands and God has placed all of you in our lives for a reason and I am forever grateful! God Bless you for what you do each day!
This has been such a wonderful day---our God is amazing and I am humbled by the blessings He is placing on us. PRAISES for all the fantastic news today! I just can't say it enough! PRAYERS--that our little man has a good week and that if they are able to try and take him off the ventilator that it goes well!!!! It would be such a big move for him and we hope he is up for it!
Please keep praying---God hears us!
Brie
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Making Mommy look like an amateur!
Morning Check-In
Talked with his nurse, Brooke, this morning and Colby was having a good morning. His rate was at 20 and his oxygen was at 70%. He weighed 2 pounds and 9 ounces---lost an ounce which isn't always bad. He had just eaten and was sleeping when I called.
Morning Visit
-Jason and I went to visit this morning and Brooke had placed one of the bean bag things that they wrap around him on his head and over his eyes so it blocked out a little more light. He seemed to like that and was sleeping well.
-Of course Mommy had to move it off his face so I could watch him and I ended up waking him up!
-A few minutes later his SATs went down a bit so I tried talking to him and tried to hold him hand...he didn't want anything to do with me. He started to get agitated and was squirming and pushing himself up a little with his arms and then he tried to turn his face into the bed---which of course he can't do because he is attached to a ventilator!! I freaked out a bit for messing with him so I put the bean bag thing back over his eyes!
-It was almost time to change his diaper so I was able to do it. I got him cleaned and went to put the new diaper on and he started to poo-poo! I got the diaper under him and waited for him to finish, then went to clean him again and he started poo-pooing again! At this point the diaper is actually turned sideways and then Colby starts to tee-tee!!!! Brooke had to step to the other side of the bed to help me finish getting him clean and put a fresh diaper on him!!! It was so sweet of Colby to make Mommy look like an amateur at changing diapers!!!
-I also got to suction his mouth out and wash out his little mouth and face!
-Colby's potassium was still a touch low so they were giving him a little bit more with his formula.
-He was still at 70% oxygen and his rate was 20.
PM Check-In
-Called and talked with Brandon to see how Colby was doing and we are having a good night!
-He had a good blood gas at 8pm so they went down on his pressure by 1!! PRAISES!!
-His rate is still at 20 but his oxygen is down to 50%!!!! PRAISES!!!
-His feeding is still going well and they are adding potassium to his feedings because he is still a little low on it. His potassium is now at 3.3
-He weighs 2 pounds 8 ounces tonight.
We have been so blessed to be able to do these little "normal" parent things over the last few days! Such an amazing feeling to finally be doing some of these things for our little man! God is so wonderful and I am humbled at the miracles I am witnessing with Colby and these other NICU babies! Thank you for all the prayers and please keep them coming!
Brie
Talked with his nurse, Brooke, this morning and Colby was having a good morning. His rate was at 20 and his oxygen was at 70%. He weighed 2 pounds and 9 ounces---lost an ounce which isn't always bad. He had just eaten and was sleeping when I called.
Morning Visit
-Jason and I went to visit this morning and Brooke had placed one of the bean bag things that they wrap around him on his head and over his eyes so it blocked out a little more light. He seemed to like that and was sleeping well.
-Of course Mommy had to move it off his face so I could watch him and I ended up waking him up!
-A few minutes later his SATs went down a bit so I tried talking to him and tried to hold him hand...he didn't want anything to do with me. He started to get agitated and was squirming and pushing himself up a little with his arms and then he tried to turn his face into the bed---which of course he can't do because he is attached to a ventilator!! I freaked out a bit for messing with him so I put the bean bag thing back over his eyes!
-It was almost time to change his diaper so I was able to do it. I got him cleaned and went to put the new diaper on and he started to poo-poo! I got the diaper under him and waited for him to finish, then went to clean him again and he started poo-pooing again! At this point the diaper is actually turned sideways and then Colby starts to tee-tee!!!! Brooke had to step to the other side of the bed to help me finish getting him clean and put a fresh diaper on him!!! It was so sweet of Colby to make Mommy look like an amateur at changing diapers!!!
-I also got to suction his mouth out and wash out his little mouth and face!
-Colby's potassium was still a touch low so they were giving him a little bit more with his formula.
-He was still at 70% oxygen and his rate was 20.
PM Check-In
-Called and talked with Brandon to see how Colby was doing and we are having a good night!
-He had a good blood gas at 8pm so they went down on his pressure by 1!! PRAISES!!
-His rate is still at 20 but his oxygen is down to 50%!!!! PRAISES!!!
-His feeding is still going well and they are adding potassium to his feedings because he is still a little low on it. His potassium is now at 3.3
-He weighs 2 pounds 8 ounces tonight.
We have been so blessed to be able to do these little "normal" parent things over the last few days! Such an amazing feeling to finally be doing some of these things for our little man! God is so wonderful and I am humbled at the miracles I am witnessing with Colby and these other NICU babies! Thank you for all the prayers and please keep them coming!
Brie
Sept 7th---BIG NEWS!!!!
Good Morning! Had a great day yesterday!
AM Check-In:
-Colby's nurse, Emily, told us that he weighed 2 pounds 10 ounces
-His oxygen was at 60%
-His rate was at 20
-His potassium was a little low so they were going to give him some---either in an IV or orally
-He was also going to get a heart echo graph to check on his PDA
Noon-Time Visits---with Mommy, Grandma, and Grams
-Rate and oxygen still holding steady
-Colby's feeding got upped to 14 CCs today!
-They were giving him his potassium through an IV
-Mommy got to change his diaper and he was very wet
-Emily sat him up a little bit for a visit with us!!! He opened his eyes and looked around while we talked to him!
-I also got to "hold" Colby for the first time!!! PRAISES!!!! WHOO HOO!!! It was the sweetest thing! Got pictures that I am putting up today!
PM Check-In:
-Rate at 20
-Oxygen at 70%
-His potassium was rising---it went from 2.9 to 3.2 and they like for it to be between 3.5-5.0 so he was getting closer
-He was squirming around so Brandon had given him some sedation and was hoping to get his oxygen down a bit
AM Check-In:
-Colby's nurse, Emily, told us that he weighed 2 pounds 10 ounces
-His oxygen was at 60%
-His rate was at 20
-His potassium was a little low so they were going to give him some---either in an IV or orally
-He was also going to get a heart echo graph to check on his PDA
Noon-Time Visits---with Mommy, Grandma, and Grams
-Rate and oxygen still holding steady
-Colby's feeding got upped to 14 CCs today!
-They were giving him his potassium through an IV
-Mommy got to change his diaper and he was very wet
-Emily sat him up a little bit for a visit with us!!! He opened his eyes and looked around while we talked to him!
-I also got to "hold" Colby for the first time!!! PRAISES!!!! WHOO HOO!!! It was the sweetest thing! Got pictures that I am putting up today!
PM Check-In:
-Rate at 20
-Oxygen at 70%
-His potassium was rising---it went from 2.9 to 3.2 and they like for it to be between 3.5-5.0 so he was getting closer
-He was squirming around so Brandon had given him some sedation and was hoping to get his oxygen down a bit
Friday, September 7, 2012
Sept 6th Update
Good Morning Everyone! We checked in with his nurse pretty late last night so I didn't have a chance to update the blog before I went to bed. We had a pretty good day yesterday!!!
AM Check-In with Elizabeth:
-75% oxygen
-32 rate---this is doing well! Making progress on moving this down!
-He weighed 2 pounds 10 ounces
-Overall he was having a good morning!
Mommy and Emily's visit:
-Colby's oxygen SAT was in the high 90s so Elizabeth took his oxygen down 2% (down to 70%) which was good. He kept his oxygen SAT steady after that too so Mommy was happy.
-He had just eaten lunch so he was a little sleepy
-He did peek an eye open a time or two to play peek-a-boo!
-He was moving around a good amount at one point...he was pushing himself off his tummy!
Daddy's visit:
-Making good progress on his ventilator today
--65% oxygen
--28 rate
-Colby got very mad at one point and was moving around a lot and pushing himself up with his legs again! One of the nurses stepped over and suctioned his little mouth a little and that seemed to settle him down again.
PM Check-In:
Talked with Debbie last night and his settings were still the same from Daddy's visit. He was doing good with his antibiotics and formula. She hadn't weighed him when we talked so I will find that out this morning! She said he was being a sweet baby last night! Yeah!
So many things to be thankful for over these last few days! Thank you for all your prayers! Our God is wonderful and can do amazing things!
AM Check-In with Elizabeth:
-75% oxygen
-32 rate---this is doing well! Making progress on moving this down!
-He weighed 2 pounds 10 ounces
-Overall he was having a good morning!
Mommy and Emily's visit:
-Colby's oxygen SAT was in the high 90s so Elizabeth took his oxygen down 2% (down to 70%) which was good. He kept his oxygen SAT steady after that too so Mommy was happy.
-He had just eaten lunch so he was a little sleepy
-He did peek an eye open a time or two to play peek-a-boo!
-He was moving around a good amount at one point...he was pushing himself off his tummy!
Daddy's visit:
-Making good progress on his ventilator today
--65% oxygen
--28 rate
-Colby got very mad at one point and was moving around a lot and pushing himself up with his legs again! One of the nurses stepped over and suctioned his little mouth a little and that seemed to settle him down again.
PM Check-In:
Talked with Debbie last night and his settings were still the same from Daddy's visit. He was doing good with his antibiotics and formula. She hadn't weighed him when we talked so I will find that out this morning! She said he was being a sweet baby last night! Yeah!
So many things to be thankful for over these last few days! Thank you for all your prayers! Our God is wonderful and can do amazing things!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Sept 5th Update
Before I get started I wanted to mention again another NICU family---The Green's---that we are following along with. You can check out their Facebook page "Caring for Cara Green" to see this miracle that God has given this family. Cara was born at 29 weeks and was due the day before Colby. She weighed 1 pound at birth but is already breathing on her own!!!! WOW!!! PRAISE!!! To hear her cry is the sweetest thing! PRAYER---I am asking that everyone also say a prayer for Cara today---The Green's found out after Cara had her head ultrasound that she has a level 4 bleed. Please pray for this to bleed to be absorbed and not have any lasting affects on this sweet girl. Thank you so much!!!!
AM Update
Jason checked in with Wendy Wednesday morning and here are the highlights:
-Colby weighs 2 pounds 9 ounces
-44 rate (This means the machine breaths for him 44 times in a minute)
-65% oxygen
-He is still doing good on his feedings
Noon-time Visit
-When we went in, Colby was getting his eye drops for Dr. Parma's (his eye doctor) visit
----This did not make him very happy at all!!!! :) PRAYER---Please pray that the doctor continues to see Colby's eyes growing the way they are supposed to.
-Colby was on his back when we got there and his SATs were doing ok
-He was tolerating his feeding still and we are now at full feedings. This means he is no longer getting Lipids and TPN in his IV---he is just getting the nutrients from the formula and seems to be doing well with this!!! PRAISE!!!!!
-He was still tee-teeing well
-Wendy was going to give him some tummy time as soon as Dr. Parma made his rounds and visited with Colby.
-Colby isn't looking swollen anywhere so it looks like that 2 pounds 9 ounces might actually be him! He is getting so big!
Evening Update
I called to check on him last night and his nurse said he was being a really sweet boy!
-70% oxygen
-40 rate
-His blood gases were looking good so she was going to ween him a little bit more from those numbers
-Still doing well with his formula feeding!!! PRAISE!!! This is what will help him keep growing and getting stronger! PRAYER--that this keeps doing well for him.
-There weren't any notes in his book from Dr. Parma. the nurse said they usually only call/leave notes if something isn't going the way they want it to. So---no news is good news for now.
Very proud of my little man!
Brie
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Need Prayers Please!!!!
AM Check-In
When Jason called to check in this morning our pumpkin and he was doing good. He had gained 70 grams so he weighed 2 pounds 8 ounces. His oxygen was at 60%---down just a little bit. His rate was at 50. He was doing well with his 13 CCs of formula and he had started his antibiotics.
Mommy Late Morning Visit
Mommy and Grandma went to visit Colby around lunch time and he was doing well. He was sleeping when we got there. He had started getting some breathing treatments to help his lungs as well---albuteral and flowvent.
Daddy After Work Visit
Daddy went to visit after work and found out Colby had an interesting afternoon after mommy left. It seems that he felt he wasn't getting enough attention lately so when the doctor was making his rounds---Colby decided it would be fun for all if he spiked his heart rate to 238 beats per minute (keep in mind he is usually around the 150s-160s)!!! To make it even more interesting---he kept this up for about an hour! The doctors and nurses were all fussing over him trying to figure out what was going on.
They did x-rays, an EEG, took blood for some cultures, along with a couple other tests to see if they could figure out a reason for this. They were also about to start an EKG when he decided to return to more normal numbers. He missed his 3 o'clock feeding due to this "spell" but they are prepared to do more tests if it should happen again. They have also stopped the breathing treatment for now.
Due to this---his ventilator got some adjustments to help him. They are still confused as to what could be the cause. PRAYER---Please pray that this was a one time thing and that if there is something that needs to be "fixed" that God gives these doctors and nurses the wisdom to find the trigger to this rapid heart rate.
PM Check-In
Daddy just called to check in and they were feeding Colby again. His rate was at 48 and she was adjusting his oxygen percentage down to 60%! Moving in the right direction again with that! He was tee-teeing well so that is good! Back to feeding again---still at 13 CCs. Ms. Debbie says he was having a good night and she wasn't anticipating any other issue but that they were ready with the tests in case he decided to misbehave again! :)
Our little man is so special to us and we are awed by his group of prayer warriors and so thankful to all of you for your continued support and love!
Brie
When Jason called to check in this morning our pumpkin and he was doing good. He had gained 70 grams so he weighed 2 pounds 8 ounces. His oxygen was at 60%---down just a little bit. His rate was at 50. He was doing well with his 13 CCs of formula and he had started his antibiotics.
Mommy Late Morning Visit
Mommy and Grandma went to visit Colby around lunch time and he was doing well. He was sleeping when we got there. He had started getting some breathing treatments to help his lungs as well---albuteral and flowvent.
Daddy After Work Visit
Daddy went to visit after work and found out Colby had an interesting afternoon after mommy left. It seems that he felt he wasn't getting enough attention lately so when the doctor was making his rounds---Colby decided it would be fun for all if he spiked his heart rate to 238 beats per minute (keep in mind he is usually around the 150s-160s)!!! To make it even more interesting---he kept this up for about an hour! The doctors and nurses were all fussing over him trying to figure out what was going on.
They did x-rays, an EEG, took blood for some cultures, along with a couple other tests to see if they could figure out a reason for this. They were also about to start an EKG when he decided to return to more normal numbers. He missed his 3 o'clock feeding due to this "spell" but they are prepared to do more tests if it should happen again. They have also stopped the breathing treatment for now.
Due to this---his ventilator got some adjustments to help him. They are still confused as to what could be the cause. PRAYER---Please pray that this was a one time thing and that if there is something that needs to be "fixed" that God gives these doctors and nurses the wisdom to find the trigger to this rapid heart rate.
PM Check-In
Daddy just called to check in and they were feeding Colby again. His rate was at 48 and she was adjusting his oxygen percentage down to 60%! Moving in the right direction again with that! He was tee-teeing well so that is good! Back to feeding again---still at 13 CCs. Ms. Debbie says he was having a good night and she wasn't anticipating any other issue but that they were ready with the tests in case he decided to misbehave again! :)
Our little man is so special to us and we are awed by his group of prayer warriors and so thankful to all of you for your continued support and love!
Brie
Monday, September 3, 2012
Fantastic News today!!!
It never ceases to amaze me how we have a rough day and we ask for prayers from our friends and family and within a few days---those prayers are answered. Our God is wonderful and I just have to remind myself daily to give Him those things I worry over...I know He will take care of everything.
AM Check-In
Jason checked in with his nurse this morning, Kim, and she told us Colby was having a good morning. His rate was still at 50 and his oxygen was at 62%. His head circumference was almost 25---we are a little concerned about this getting too big too soon. And he was going to be going to 12 CCs of formula at noon!!!!
Afternoon Visit
We were able to visit with Dr. Whittington (hope I spelled that right!) and here are the highlights:
-Dr. showed Jason where Colby's head was charting on the growth chart and said we should expect some growth and he thought Colby was doing ok at this point.
-Colby had an ultrasound of his head this morning and the notes said "Level 3 bleed resolving"!!!! PRAISE!!!! PRAISE!!! This is fantastic news and definitely answered prayers! We need the bleed to keep being absorbed!
---There was no note about the shadow or cyst but the doctor said Colby would have to have an MRI before he came home to check that issue out. An MRI sees a little deeper in but they can't do that right now.
-At 9pm tonight Colby will be going to 13 CCs of formula and that will be the most right now. They will be switching his formula to one with more calories soon. The one he is on now is 20 calories. :) Mommy is very excited about this! PRAISE!!!
-His blood test came back a little suspicious so they are starting him on antibiotics and doing a blood culture to make sure there isn't an infection. The doctor doesn't really think there is but wants to check to make sure. They will also do another spinal tap to check his spinal fluids for an infection. PRAYER---Please pray that the results come back negative on both cultures!
-They are also going to do another heart ultrasound to check on his PDA...they want to make sure this is doing ok. There is some concern that this has opened up again. PRAYER---Please pray that this closes on it's own very soon!
We took Ainsley up for a visit today and Colby waived to her, opened his eyes to see her, and Ainsley sang a few songs for him. His oxygen SAT hit 100 while she was singing! SO SWEET!!!! Then she wanted to leave! :)
We are going to be recording our voices for him---Jason and I will be reading books/talking and we are going to have Ainsley sing to him or tell him some nursery rhymes! I am really excited about this!
Thank you to everyone out there that reads our blogs and thinks about and prays for our family. We really appreciate all you do!
Brie
AM Check-In
Jason checked in with his nurse this morning, Kim, and she told us Colby was having a good morning. His rate was still at 50 and his oxygen was at 62%. His head circumference was almost 25---we are a little concerned about this getting too big too soon. And he was going to be going to 12 CCs of formula at noon!!!!
Afternoon Visit
We were able to visit with Dr. Whittington (hope I spelled that right!) and here are the highlights:
-Dr. showed Jason where Colby's head was charting on the growth chart and said we should expect some growth and he thought Colby was doing ok at this point.
-Colby had an ultrasound of his head this morning and the notes said "Level 3 bleed resolving"!!!! PRAISE!!!! PRAISE!!! This is fantastic news and definitely answered prayers! We need the bleed to keep being absorbed!
---There was no note about the shadow or cyst but the doctor said Colby would have to have an MRI before he came home to check that issue out. An MRI sees a little deeper in but they can't do that right now.
-At 9pm tonight Colby will be going to 13 CCs of formula and that will be the most right now. They will be switching his formula to one with more calories soon. The one he is on now is 20 calories. :) Mommy is very excited about this! PRAISE!!!
-His blood test came back a little suspicious so they are starting him on antibiotics and doing a blood culture to make sure there isn't an infection. The doctor doesn't really think there is but wants to check to make sure. They will also do another spinal tap to check his spinal fluids for an infection. PRAYER---Please pray that the results come back negative on both cultures!
-They are also going to do another heart ultrasound to check on his PDA...they want to make sure this is doing ok. There is some concern that this has opened up again. PRAYER---Please pray that this closes on it's own very soon!
We took Ainsley up for a visit today and Colby waived to her, opened his eyes to see her, and Ainsley sang a few songs for him. His oxygen SAT hit 100 while she was singing! SO SWEET!!!! Then she wanted to leave! :)
We are going to be recording our voices for him---Jason and I will be reading books/talking and we are going to have Ainsley sing to him or tell him some nursery rhymes! I am really excited about this!
Thank you to everyone out there that reads our blogs and thinks about and prays for our family. We really appreciate all you do!
Brie
Sunday's Info--Colby likes football :)
Sorry about the delay in getting you Sunday's info. Here are the highlights:
AM Check-In
-When we checked in he was having a good morning and holding steady at a rate of 50 and is oxygen at 75%
-Rhonda told us that after we left on Saturday (during our visit he was very wiggly and wouldn't settle down) she changed his diaper (which was very full) and turned him over on his back and he got happy! His SATs stayed more level and he relaxed and went to sleep! :)
Afternoon Visit
-He got 10 CCs of formula at 6pm! Doing so well with his feedings!!!
-Mommy got to change his diaper---very full at 18 CCs!
-He had both of his eyes open for most of our visit.
-His oxygen SAT was all over the place so Mommy tried talking to Colby to get it to rise and it didn't work this time. I was so sad. Then Daddy started talking to him and telling him all about the Alabama football game and Colby's SAT went right up!!!
PM Check-In
-He was down to 68% oxygen!!!
-Gases were good but not good enough to adjust the ventilator
-He will go up to 11 CCs at 3am!!!
-He weighed 2 pounds 5 ounces!
-He was tee-teeing very well and having a good night overall!
We are so blessed to see all the little baby steps that we are seeing! I know that we have a long road ahead of us but we are so excited for all the positives!
Brie
AM Check-In
-When we checked in he was having a good morning and holding steady at a rate of 50 and is oxygen at 75%
-Rhonda told us that after we left on Saturday (during our visit he was very wiggly and wouldn't settle down) she changed his diaper (which was very full) and turned him over on his back and he got happy! His SATs stayed more level and he relaxed and went to sleep! :)
Afternoon Visit
-He got 10 CCs of formula at 6pm! Doing so well with his feedings!!!
-Mommy got to change his diaper---very full at 18 CCs!
-He had both of his eyes open for most of our visit.
-His oxygen SAT was all over the place so Mommy tried talking to Colby to get it to rise and it didn't work this time. I was so sad. Then Daddy started talking to him and telling him all about the Alabama football game and Colby's SAT went right up!!!
PM Check-In
-He was down to 68% oxygen!!!
-Gases were good but not good enough to adjust the ventilator
-He will go up to 11 CCs at 3am!!!
-He weighed 2 pounds 5 ounces!
-He was tee-teeing very well and having a good night overall!
We are so blessed to see all the little baby steps that we are seeing! I know that we have a long road ahead of us but we are so excited for all the positives!
Brie
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Already the first of September!
Wow...it seems that it was just yesterday that I was in the hospital but our little man is 5 weeks old today!
First I would like to ask all our prayer warriors to also include a new born named Cara in your prayers. She was born at 29 weeks and weighs 1 pound!!! Her story can followed on Facebook (look for "Caring for Cara Green"). We met her parents Kristy and Jason today and were able to talk with them for a little bit. Cara is already showing signs that she is a tough cookie! :)
Our pumpkin had a pretty steady day today. Here are some of the bullets:
AM Check-In
When we checked in this morning with Rhonda, he was having a pretty good morning. All his SATs were holding steady and they hadn't made any adjustments to his oxygen or rate.
Afternoon Visit
-Rate still at 48
-Oxygen at 78%
-Colby had gained a little bit of weight so they wanted to make sure he gets rid of any water weight--they upped his diuretic just a little bit ( .9cc to 1.1cc) and he was having good diapers so that will help.
-He had his eyes open most of the time we were there and was squirmy, too.
-They are also going up on his feeding every 9 hours instead of every 12 hours!!!! PRAISES!!! Mommy is so excited! At 3pm Colby got 7 CCs and at midnight he will be getting 8 CCs!!!! This is back to where we were with feeding before the infection set in---8 CCs will be the highest amount yet!!! Whoo Hoo! PRAISE!!!! PRAISE!!!!
Evening Check-In
Talked with Sheila tonight and got an update on our little man! He is have a good night. His rate and oxygen % are holding stead. His blood gases have looked good but not strong enough to make any adjustments on the ventilator. He seemed to be moving/jerking around a little tonight so she gave him some meds to calm him down a bit. I pray my baby has a quiet night and gets some good rest!
Thank you to everyone for their continued prayers and support!
Brie
First I would like to ask all our prayer warriors to also include a new born named Cara in your prayers. She was born at 29 weeks and weighs 1 pound!!! Her story can followed on Facebook (look for "Caring for Cara Green"). We met her parents Kristy and Jason today and were able to talk with them for a little bit. Cara is already showing signs that she is a tough cookie! :)
Our pumpkin had a pretty steady day today. Here are some of the bullets:
AM Check-In
When we checked in this morning with Rhonda, he was having a pretty good morning. All his SATs were holding steady and they hadn't made any adjustments to his oxygen or rate.
Afternoon Visit
-Rate still at 48
-Oxygen at 78%
-Colby had gained a little bit of weight so they wanted to make sure he gets rid of any water weight--they upped his diuretic just a little bit ( .9cc to 1.1cc) and he was having good diapers so that will help.
-He had his eyes open most of the time we were there and was squirmy, too.
-They are also going up on his feeding every 9 hours instead of every 12 hours!!!! PRAISES!!! Mommy is so excited! At 3pm Colby got 7 CCs and at midnight he will be getting 8 CCs!!!! This is back to where we were with feeding before the infection set in---8 CCs will be the highest amount yet!!! Whoo Hoo! PRAISE!!!! PRAISE!!!!
Evening Check-In
Talked with Sheila tonight and got an update on our little man! He is have a good night. His rate and oxygen % are holding stead. His blood gases have looked good but not strong enough to make any adjustments on the ventilator. He seemed to be moving/jerking around a little tonight so she gave him some meds to calm him down a bit. I pray my baby has a quiet night and gets some good rest!
Thank you to everyone for their continued prayers and support!
Brie
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