I hope everyone had a GREAT christmas!! We sure did! It was amazing to have our little girl free of cords and wires! She is one spoiled little girl!! She has a mound of toys!! We layed her in her boppie the other night and took a picture of her with all her toys around her! My goodness!! If she only knew!!! She got this catepiller and if you touch his feet he either plays noises or music. Brielle caught on right away!! It was so funny! She was banging her hands down on is feet and watching the lights go! Amazing! She got her first 2 dolls from Grandma Cindy. Diapers, Vtech books, a ball game that shoots balls into the air, an activity table, clothes, blankets, her first fishing pole (thanks uncle Chase!), baby food, wipes, cereal, and numerous ornament! The list goes on and on!! Ayden was also blessed with quite a few gifts this year! He got alot of ornaments and a helicopter that is floated with a magnet, & a cherub that can sit in his memory cubby. We werent expecting anything for the little angel but it was well appreciated! Never forgotten!
Brielle is changing everyday! Its amazing to watch! Today for instance, she realized she had toes! She was sitting on my lap and all of the sudden looked down and was staring at her bare tootsies! I brought her hand to her toes and she was wiggling them and kept grabbing them. It was adorable! Her smiles are still endless and she is getting more babbly and giggly! She definately lets you know when she is NOT happy! Dont take that bottle out of her mouth or move her if shes content! (uh uhm dadddy). She screams bloody murder!! For heaven sakes! She doesnt do well being moved if she is sleeping. She will fall asleep on me and when we put her in her swing shes awake! But she goes to bed very well in her bassinett! She loves that bassinett! Thanks Great Aunt Nancy! Christmas day she was sooooo mad! Screaming and crying! We took off her jammies cuz she worked herself up so much she was hot, that worked for 2 minutes. I tried to settle her, dad tried, nothing! I finally said bring her up and put her in bed. It was only 6:45 but she was over tired and she zonked out! We took a nap this afternoon and I was sleeping on the couch and she was on the other couch and I woke up to her with her feet up on top of her wet wipe container kicking away and cooing and gigglying! No crying to say she was awake she thought she would just play til mom woke up. My baby is growing up! She isnt even that cuddly anymore since she realized she would rather sit and stand than lay! I guess it was gonna happen but come on your only 7 months girlfriend! She follows us around the room until she cant nomore! She knows who we are and where we are going and she loves to sit and watch TV with us.
Brielle has now been discharged from her at home nurses!! Her main nurse says she is looking wonderful and gaining weight well! (up to over 12lbs already!) We had to do her sleep test last night. We just put the oxy probe on her foot to read her oxygen and now the pulmonalogist in Milwaukee will read it and let us know if she needs oxygen at night. Its been a week and a half already so Im hoping she wont! We will See!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE watching Brielle and Josh interact. I have the best husband and Brielle has the best father! He is always making her laugh and smile and he is so good with her! Hes not hesitant at all to tell me to go back to bed during the late night feeding while he handles it. He loves to give her her baths. And boy o boy you should hear those two! Making duck sounds and giggling its so freaking adorable! My heart just melts! I always knew he would make a great dad watching him with the 3 nephews but its a whole new level now when its your own!
Brielle has her hernia surgery scheduled for Feb. 9th at 7:30am. She cant eat after midnight. Ya okay! Try telling her that! How on earth do you make a 7 month old not eat for almost 8 hours??????????? I will be waking her at 11:45 to eat and try to get 4 oz in her. Im sooooo not looking forward to that day!!!!!
Ticker
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
We are Cordless!
You read correct! Monday night we got a call from Childrens Hospital Milwaukee after I called Dr Kranik (pediatrician) telling him Brielle was off oxygen for 3 days now, Now what?? So he wanted us to go to Milwaukee to see a pulmonalogist. Well we didnt think it would be so soon, but they wanted us in Milwaukee (2 hours away) at 7:50 a.m. So I took off work and away we went! The doctor was MORE than pleased with her! She said she is a model 24 weeker! She is doing exactly what they would like to see! SO She said that we can stop using the oxygen and her monitor! We will do "spot checks" on her thru out the day and we will keep it until she is 1 years old. The purpose of keeping the oxygen and monitor is in case she gets sick Oxygen will be her best friend and help her thru the cold! I am MORE than comfortable with that! Better safe than sorry! Brielle will have a sleep study so to speak done to make sure that when she is sleeping she is being well oxygenated. That will probably be done tomorrow night. It is the same monitor she is wearing right" now but this one has a recorder in it and will be downloaded to the Milwaukee Dr for her to read the results. She doesnt have alarms at night so I am sure that she wont need oxygen at night! She did VERY good at the Dr today! We first had to do a chest xray and they put her in this like high chair seat and then they velcroed her arms up above her head and then her whole chest was velcroed to the back of the chair so she couldnt move. She did AMAZING! The 3 girls taking the xray just loved her (as everyone usually does) and said how well she was doing! She never cried until mommy tried to dress her. Go figure!! She had to have a blood gas drawn after we seen the pulmonalogist and she didnt even cry when she got her heal poked! She was a saint!! Even in the car!!
I have never known what a "term" baby feels like. Therefore, all the cords were normal and just a part of my day. Today felt alittle weird! I still find myself searching for the cord making sure its not pinched in her carseat base, or lifting her higher than normal so I didnt pull her monitor off her foot. Or this morning I changed her diaper and I was going to leave her there because I forgot I can take her with me room to room now. I can just dress her without having to put her monitor cord thru one of her pants legs and put a onesie on her from her legs up instead of over her head due to her oxygen. It is going to take me alittle while to get used to this new child of mine! But I have to say, it hasnt even been a full day and IM LOVING IT!!!
Brielle is getting big before my eyes! She is starting to rub her eyes when shes tired. She is mocking our sounds (like EHHS) She is having little giggles. All smiles! She is cool with being put in her bassinett to fall asleep instead of being rocked to sleep :( Sadest of all! She follows as we leave the room or dangle toys in front of her. Shes just all around growing up! Its amazing! I truly can say that I am blessed with one amazing miracle baby!! The more I hear it from doctors and therapists who have seen it all, the more I "Get it". Ive always known she is a miracle but I havent understood the great things that she is exceeding that even older gestation babies dont do.
I am pleased to have my xmas wish come true! I said I wanted a cordless baby for xmas and I GOT IT! My little angel is definately kicking his sister in the heiny!
I have never known what a "term" baby feels like. Therefore, all the cords were normal and just a part of my day. Today felt alittle weird! I still find myself searching for the cord making sure its not pinched in her carseat base, or lifting her higher than normal so I didnt pull her monitor off her foot. Or this morning I changed her diaper and I was going to leave her there because I forgot I can take her with me room to room now. I can just dress her without having to put her monitor cord thru one of her pants legs and put a onesie on her from her legs up instead of over her head due to her oxygen. It is going to take me alittle while to get used to this new child of mine! But I have to say, it hasnt even been a full day and IM LOVING IT!!!
Brielle is getting big before my eyes! She is starting to rub her eyes when shes tired. She is mocking our sounds (like EHHS) She is having little giggles. All smiles! She is cool with being put in her bassinett to fall asleep instead of being rocked to sleep :( Sadest of all! She follows as we leave the room or dangle toys in front of her. Shes just all around growing up! Its amazing! I truly can say that I am blessed with one amazing miracle baby!! The more I hear it from doctors and therapists who have seen it all, the more I "Get it". Ive always known she is a miracle but I havent understood the great things that she is exceeding that even older gestation babies dont do.
I am pleased to have my xmas wish come true! I said I wanted a cordless baby for xmas and I GOT IT! My little angel is definately kicking his sister in the heiny!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
St. NICU
I ran across this NICU christmas poem and thought I'd share.....
Jolly Old St. Nicu
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and in each isolette
Little creatures were squirming and getting all set;
Machinery sat by their bedsides with care,
In hopes that good breathing skills soon would be there.
Day shifters were home all snug in their beds,
As visions of overtime danced in their heads;
While preemies on ventilators, and some on CPAP,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap…
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
The residents woke up to see what was the matter.
Away from the sink I flew like a jet
To make sure all was well at my baby’s isolette.
Some bilirubin lights with their powerful glow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to babies below,
When, there before my wondering eyes, it would seem,
Was an oversized stroller and a medical team.
With a handful of needles with which they could stick you,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nicu.
More rapid than eagles his specialists came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“Now, Nurses! Now, Residents! Now, Neonatologists!
On, Social Workers! On, Respiratory and Occupational Therapists!
From the front of the unit! To the end of the hall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
Up to each baby’s cribside they flew,
With the stroller full of toys, and St. Nicu too.
And then, in a twinkling, they stopped at each bed
And tucked in the babies and got them all fed.
As I looked at my baby, and was turning around,
Down our aisle St. Nicu came with a bound.
He was dressed in red scrubs, and I could instantly tell
That his clothes had an obvious hospital smell;
A bag of stuffed animals was flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
A little red pen he held tight in his teeth,
And a stethoscope encircled his neck like a wreath.
He was chubby and plump, with a few extra pounds,
And I laughed when I saw him there doing his rounds.
A turn of his clipboard and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke few words, but came straight to my side,
And running down his face was a tear he had cried.
And laying his hand on the back of my head,
He gave me a nod, and slowly he said:
“Each night you come here you’re aware of the danger,
But your baby is loved by the One in the manger.”
Then the medical team gave a thumbs-up and smiled
And St. Nicu placed an animal next to my child.
But I heard him exclaim, as they rolled out of sight,
“Merry Christmas, tiny baby, and have a wonderful night!”
Jolly Old St. Nicu
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and in each isolette
Little creatures were squirming and getting all set;
Machinery sat by their bedsides with care,
In hopes that good breathing skills soon would be there.
Day shifters were home all snug in their beds,
As visions of overtime danced in their heads;
While preemies on ventilators, and some on CPAP,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap…
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
The residents woke up to see what was the matter.
Away from the sink I flew like a jet
To make sure all was well at my baby’s isolette.
Some bilirubin lights with their powerful glow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to babies below,
When, there before my wondering eyes, it would seem,
Was an oversized stroller and a medical team.
With a handful of needles with which they could stick you,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nicu.
More rapid than eagles his specialists came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“Now, Nurses! Now, Residents! Now, Neonatologists!
On, Social Workers! On, Respiratory and Occupational Therapists!
From the front of the unit! To the end of the hall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
Up to each baby’s cribside they flew,
With the stroller full of toys, and St. Nicu too.
And then, in a twinkling, they stopped at each bed
And tucked in the babies and got them all fed.
As I looked at my baby, and was turning around,
Down our aisle St. Nicu came with a bound.
He was dressed in red scrubs, and I could instantly tell
That his clothes had an obvious hospital smell;
A bag of stuffed animals was flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
A little red pen he held tight in his teeth,
And a stethoscope encircled his neck like a wreath.
He was chubby and plump, with a few extra pounds,
And I laughed when I saw him there doing his rounds.
A turn of his clipboard and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke few words, but came straight to my side,
And running down his face was a tear he had cried.
And laying his hand on the back of my head,
He gave me a nod, and slowly he said:
“Each night you come here you’re aware of the danger,
But your baby is loved by the One in the manger.”
Then the medical team gave a thumbs-up and smiled
And St. Nicu placed an animal next to my child.
But I heard him exclaim, as they rolled out of sight,
“Merry Christmas, tiny baby, and have a wonderful night!”
24 HOURS & counting!
24 hours. 1 whole day. 1440 Minutes. 86,400 Seconds. YUP thats how long Brielle was OFF her OXYGEN!!!!! Its been exactly that plus 11 minutes. Im sooo excited I couldnt wait to post!! BUT Im hoping I dont jinx her!! I was alittle stand offish last night to not turn her back on while we went to bed, so we turned up her alarm settings so that when she hit 85 she would alarm us instead of her normal 79. She didnt have any alarms!! I woke up for work at 5am and ran to the oxygen tank thinking Josh turned her back on since her sats were 98! NOPE a big ZERO on the tank setting!!!!! I was so excited! We are house bound and Im actually okay with it. After she got sick the last time and we seen how much it affected her oxygen needs, it forces us to stay home that much more! Xmas will be tough since we love to go to all the houses we are invited to, but its about Brielle. And she cant get sick!! Period!
I was talking with a my bestie today as a customer walked by hacking her lungs up! She said "UGH go home! I dont want what you have!!" I said "EXACTLY!" I have to shelter my preemie and not go anywhere because everyone else is inconsiderate by going out when they are sick. But yet we are punished! We are the ones that have to stay home and cant go anywhere for fear of "Germs" It makes everyday life that much harder! I cant just run to Walmart quick for a gallon of milk for fear of...Yup you guessed it...SICK PEOPLE! And what is it about people coughing and not covering their mouths? Or Sneezing and not covering their nose?? And the worst part of it, I go somewhere and then come home to my preemie that cant leave her bubble and I could still be carrying the "GERMS" They are everywhere!!!!!!! OKay Vent OVER! hehe
I was talking with a my bestie today as a customer walked by hacking her lungs up! She said "UGH go home! I dont want what you have!!" I said "EXACTLY!" I have to shelter my preemie and not go anywhere because everyone else is inconsiderate by going out when they are sick. But yet we are punished! We are the ones that have to stay home and cant go anywhere for fear of "Germs" It makes everyday life that much harder! I cant just run to Walmart quick for a gallon of milk for fear of...Yup you guessed it...SICK PEOPLE! And what is it about people coughing and not covering their mouths? Or Sneezing and not covering their nose?? And the worst part of it, I go somewhere and then come home to my preemie that cant leave her bubble and I could still be carrying the "GERMS" They are everywhere!!!!!!! OKay Vent OVER! hehe
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Cordless....Soon Enough!
Well its once again been a pretty boring week! The at home nurse was here again today!! Brielle is now up to 11 lbs 5oz! She is gaining weight well! And the weird part of it is, she is 6 months (3 months adjusted) and still only taking 3oz a feeding. But I spoke with Dr. Kranik about my concerns and he said that she is gaining right where she should so its no concern to him. So I say OK. We are slowly trying to get her off the O2. The cold she has in November set us back. Im not in any huge hurry to get her weaned off, but I am. I am ready to have that cordless baby!! When I pick up my neice, Johanna, it is so weird to me that I can just walk and not worry about tripping over cords, and I can go freely from room to room. Someday! Someday.....
Tomorrow Brielle goes in for her 2nd RSV shot. She DOES NOT like this one for some reason! She cries harder with this one shot than she did with the 4 shots. I made it for 5:15 so daddy can be there. Mama is a wimp! There I said it!
The smiles at this house are ENDLESS!! And I more than love it!! I do not mind 2am feedings when I get that huge smile from her! She is starting to giggle and coo. Its adorable!! Yesterday the dogs were about to be put up for sale. Scratch that..FREE! I yelled at them to be quiet and I was holding Brielle standing on my legs. I looked back at her as she was locked on my eyes and said "AHHHHHH THEY ARE DRIVING ME CRAZZZZYYYY!!" And she gave me the biggest smile and coo and giggle!!! I couldnt help but laugh and everything seemed alright! She truly is the joy in my life!!! I often wonder what I did with my time now before she was here! Daddy says hes ready for #2. I say HES CRAZY!! Im content right now with my little girl!! Shes growing up so fast Im afraid if I turn my back I will miss something!!
Tomorrow Brielle goes in for her 2nd RSV shot. She DOES NOT like this one for some reason! She cries harder with this one shot than she did with the 4 shots. I made it for 5:15 so daddy can be there. Mama is a wimp! There I said it!
The smiles at this house are ENDLESS!! And I more than love it!! I do not mind 2am feedings when I get that huge smile from her! She is starting to giggle and coo. Its adorable!! Yesterday the dogs were about to be put up for sale. Scratch that..FREE! I yelled at them to be quiet and I was holding Brielle standing on my legs. I looked back at her as she was locked on my eyes and said "AHHHHHH THEY ARE DRIVING ME CRAZZZZYYYY!!" And she gave me the biggest smile and coo and giggle!!! I couldnt help but laugh and everything seemed alright! She truly is the joy in my life!!! I often wonder what I did with my time now before she was here! Daddy says hes ready for #2. I say HES CRAZY!! Im content right now with my little girl!! Shes growing up so fast Im afraid if I turn my back I will miss something!!
Monday, December 6, 2010
6 month shots
Brielle had her 6 month check up today. 2 shots in each leg! Poor baby! She did surprisingly well!!!! Daddy took off to go with me since her 4 month shots were NO fun! But on the way there, my tire ended up coming off the rim. SO I had to call my mom and have her come get us and lend me her car while Josh ran home literally to get his truck and go back to fix my tire. UGH I tell ya!! Love Mondays!!! Anywho....Dr. Kraink is very pleased with her!!! She handled her cold very well! And is recovering well!!! She is 10lbs 14oz and 21.5" long. She is 40% for weight 5% height and 10% head circm. He said she is creating her own curve but its staying at a steady curve so he is pleased!!
We were at the mall Friday finishing up some shopping and sat down in cafe court to eat dinner. A lady came up to us asking "Is this Brielle?" I said "Yes" thinking I dont recognize her. She explained that her mom, Peggi, worked with Josh and she had been following our blog since before Brielle was born and she recognized me in the pictures from the blog and then seen Brielle. So Shanna and her family sat down and had dinner with us! It was SO nice to meet a face that has been following our blog and being a part of our "Family." There are so many kind people that we have not met that follow our journey. This is one reason I have made the decison to continue the blog. Since I havent met alot of the people I cant keep everyone updated on whats happening. I wish I could meet alot of people I have met thru this journey. I cant express our thanks to everyone we know and dont know that have prayed, cried, laughed, and smiled with our family!! Never in my wildest dreams did I expect our life to take this crazy turn!! I never thought I'd be sitting here writing about my life!! Now its kinda addicting hehe.
We had Brielles birth to 3 xmas party on Saturday! It was fun!!! Here is a picture with santa and her!
We were at the mall Friday finishing up some shopping and sat down in cafe court to eat dinner. A lady came up to us asking "Is this Brielle?" I said "Yes" thinking I dont recognize her. She explained that her mom, Peggi, worked with Josh and she had been following our blog since before Brielle was born and she recognized me in the pictures from the blog and then seen Brielle. So Shanna and her family sat down and had dinner with us! It was SO nice to meet a face that has been following our blog and being a part of our "Family." There are so many kind people that we have not met that follow our journey. This is one reason I have made the decison to continue the blog. Since I havent met alot of the people I cant keep everyone updated on whats happening. I wish I could meet alot of people I have met thru this journey. I cant express our thanks to everyone we know and dont know that have prayed, cried, laughed, and smiled with our family!! Never in my wildest dreams did I expect our life to take this crazy turn!! I never thought I'd be sitting here writing about my life!! Now its kinda addicting hehe.
We had Brielles birth to 3 xmas party on Saturday! It was fun!!! Here is a picture with santa and her!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
6 Months old & 3 Months at home!
So Brielle is 6 months old (well Yesterday). Adjusted age of 2months 1week 5days. hehe. Hows that for exact?? (By the way the top of my blog tells ya her age! Im not bored!!) Anywho.....She weighed in at 10lbs 14oz!! Monday she goes for her 6 month shots :( & we will find out her height. Its hard to believe its been 6 months already! I think with everything going on (3 months in the NICU, 3 months home) it just flew by!!! Its hard to believe that xmas is right around the corner!! I feel like this year just passed us by!! We basically spent spring, summer, and some of fall in the hospital. And now we are pretty much housebound again til April til flu and cold season is over. O The life of a preemie! But we wouldnt change a thing! We love our little girl with all our hearts! She is our miracle, sweetie pie, pumpkin, little stinker, little fighter, beautiful girl that lights up our life!
Brielle is ALL SMILES! Its soooooooooooo great to talk to her and have her respond with a smile!!! A dream come true!! When she first came home, I told her she can just smile and stay that small! Well now that she smiled, I told her she can just sit and then HAULT! But Im sure when that happens it will be, just crawl then stay! Then walk then stop growing! etc etc
We had Birth to 3 come to the house today. All 3 girls were VERY pleased with her progress!! Her ankles and legs have loosened up! They dont see any signs of cerebral palsy!!!! We still have one more month til its "officially" when the signs show up but the physical therapist said she doesnt see any signs she would be worried about!! She said the brain is an amazing thing!!! They put her on her tummy and she held herself up great using her arms and then they took a toy and had her follow it around to her sides and she did! And she didnt tip over!! They said thats what a 4 month old should be doing! So she is considered to be a 10 week old so she is above where she should be! Same with the fact that she loves to stand and she will collapse and bring herself back up. Her ability to control her head! To gaze and look at people when they talk to her! They were very impressed! I was too! I was on cloud 9 when they left! Its always nice to hear from a therapist that your child is defeating all odds! She has definately proven everyone wrong! It was so hard 6 months ago to know what Brielles future would be like! I think she is paving the way and showing us that she is going to be the miracle 24 weeker that she has destined to be since day 1! Mommy and daddy are soooo proud of you!! And I know Ayden is too!! Everynight when I see the bright star in the sky, I know thats Ayden smiling down saying "Go little sister Go!!!"
Brielle is ALL SMILES! Its soooooooooooo great to talk to her and have her respond with a smile!!! A dream come true!! When she first came home, I told her she can just smile and stay that small! Well now that she smiled, I told her she can just sit and then HAULT! But Im sure when that happens it will be, just crawl then stay! Then walk then stop growing! etc etc
We had Birth to 3 come to the house today. All 3 girls were VERY pleased with her progress!! Her ankles and legs have loosened up! They dont see any signs of cerebral palsy!!!! We still have one more month til its "officially" when the signs show up but the physical therapist said she doesnt see any signs she would be worried about!! She said the brain is an amazing thing!!! They put her on her tummy and she held herself up great using her arms and then they took a toy and had her follow it around to her sides and she did! And she didnt tip over!! They said thats what a 4 month old should be doing! So she is considered to be a 10 week old so she is above where she should be! Same with the fact that she loves to stand and she will collapse and bring herself back up. Her ability to control her head! To gaze and look at people when they talk to her! They were very impressed! I was too! I was on cloud 9 when they left! Its always nice to hear from a therapist that your child is defeating all odds! She has definately proven everyone wrong! It was so hard 6 months ago to know what Brielles future would be like! I think she is paving the way and showing us that she is going to be the miracle 24 weeker that she has destined to be since day 1! Mommy and daddy are soooo proud of you!! And I know Ayden is too!! Everynight when I see the bright star in the sky, I know thats Ayden smiling down saying "Go little sister Go!!!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)