Lillian was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday, the 16th. Today is Saturday, the 20th and we're still here...
Thankfully Lillian was admitted when she was because she's been able to ride out this virus under the care of nurses and doctors! OMG. What an awful awful virus. Lillian seemed to be doing fine on Tuesday night and most of Wednesday. By Wednesday evening she took a turn. I think I had my first meltdown that night. She started getting really congested, but her oxygen saturation was still pretty good.
By Thursday my little girl was wheezing and coughing and could barely breathe! The nurse that I had that morning didn't like how hard Lillian was working to breathe, so she talked to the doctor and they put her on direct oxygen through nasal cannulas. Later that day, the doctor increased her oxygen input to 1 liter. Since then its been a roller coaster.
At 10 PM on Friday night, Lillian was working really hard to breathe. I called in the nurse and soon after she checked the baby, she had the doctor come in. First, they tried to do deep suction. With this, they hook up a hose with a little valve on it up to a vacuum suction. This is just a stronger suction and can get more gunk out than a typical nasal ball syringe. It helped, but he decided to give her a breathing treatment to see if it helped. The nurse and the doctor told me that breathing treatments are not typically done on newborns, especially newborns with RSV because most of the time they don't work. They gave her a 1/2 dose of albuterol and it's been working! She gets a breathing treatment every 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
Today she seems to be having a much better day! She started eating better yesterday too! Earlier today, the respiratory therapist tried to decreased her oxygen to .75 liters. She did great on it for the first 4 hours. He came back for her next treatment and decided to decrease it to .50 liters. Well, within 30 minutes, Lillian was wheezing again and was breathing really hard. So I called the nurse back in and had her take a listen. She agreed that Lillian was working way too hard for air. So she increased the oxygen back to .75 liters. Another 3 1/2 hours passed and the respiratory therapist came back for the next treatment. When he was done, he decreased Lillian's oxygen to .50 liters and said he felt she would do fine through the night. This was at about 6:30PM.
At 9:00PM tonight, I called the nurse for a bottle for Lillian (since her nose is so stuffy, she's having a hard time latching for breast feeding so I've been pumping and bottle feeding). The nurse came in and I told her that I was concerned that Lilly was once again working too hard to breathe. I am SOOOOO thankful that I have the nurse I have tonight! She works at Children's Hospital in Detroit in the ICU and asked me if she could do a deeper suction on Lilly. She said the nurses that work in this pediatric unit aren't comfortable performing this type of deep suction because they go pretty deep in the nose and down the throat to get out whatever gunk they can. I was nervous at first, but I figured, whatever they can do to get that crap out is worth a try! It was not fun watching her get this done, but oh my word! You can't even tell she's sick. She sounds great, looks great, and her numbers are awesome right now! Oxygen has been between 98 and 100 (still on .50 liters of oxygen) and her respiratory rate is in the 20's. Her heart rate has been around 137-140.
The therapist just came in to do her breathing treatment. She even thought Lillian sounded better. She was here last night with us too. Anyway, I'm going to go try and get some sleep before Lilly's next feeding or treatment.
Please keep my little one in your prayers. We're hoping to be home by Tuesday... we'll see!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Our first 10 days w/Lillian
Wow! What a crazy 10 days! We brought Lillian home from the hospital on February 8th. Today is February 16th and here I sit back at the hospital with my baby girl.
Brock started getting sick the day before we came home from the hospital last Monday. Last Thursday we had to take Lillian in to the pediatrician for them to check on her since her bilirubin was a little high the day after she was born. I decided to make an appointment for Brock to be checked out because he had a pretty nasty cough. He didn't have a fever and his ears and chest looked and sounded fine. So off we went, happy little family!
What a difference 25 minutes makes... on our way home, Brock was sitting in his car seat and was sitting there looking limp and had really watery eyes. We figured he was just tired. Once we got him in the house and took his jacket off, it was obvious that he had spiked a fever. Friday and Saturday he seemed to be getting worse. More congested and coughing a ton! By Friday Spike caught whatever Brock had. By Sunday, Lillian caught it... By Monday, I had it.
On Sunday I talked to the on-call pediatrician because I was getting worried about Lillian's congestion and runny nose. He said to keep an eye on her since she didn't have a fever and to bring her in if her breathing became labored.
Well, this brings us to yesterday, Monday the 15th. Both kids slept like crap through the night and were worse in the morning. I called the doctor and made an appt for both of them that same day. The pediatrician checked on Lillian first and said her breathing rate was slightly elevated and her temperature was 99.4 degrees. He said she sounded fine and just to bring her in if her breathing was labored. He decided to take a nasal swab and test her for RSV. Brock came out of this appt with amoxicillan to treat what the doctor said was the "beginnings of an ear infection and pneumonia." Grrrrrrrreat! Just what I needed to hear with a freaking newborn baby in the house! We got home at about 5pm and the doctor called me at 6:45pm to tell me that Lillian tested positive for RSV and he wanted me to bring her in on Tuesday to check her oxygen and check her breathing.
So here we are on Tuesday... I bring Lilly in to the doctor and dad stays home with Brock. The MA comes in to check Lilly's oxygen and sees that it is only at 86. The doctor comes in and can't believe how low it is. So he immediately says that the virus has moved into her lungs and we have to admit her to the hospital right away. He wouldn't even let me go home first! He had a nurse wheel us over to the hospital... guess that's the good thing about the medical center being attached to the hospital! Anyway, here we sit.
She's hooked up to monitors to monitor her heart rate and oxygen saturation. Her numbers look great and the nurses have reassured me that she is doing very well for having RSV. There's a little 17 month old girl across the hall that also has RSV and every now and then you can hear her screaming and crying through the doors and walls. So sad :-(
Anyway, the doctor just wants us to stay over night for observation. They said they will give her oxygen tonight if she needs it. They have a tube blowing air into her crib and that has helped to keep her oxygen saturation level above 90 since we got here. My concern is that if she turns her head and isn't getting that extra oxygen directly hitting her in the face, her level drops to 85 or 86. So I have to feed her and hold this tube up to her face. I just hope she gets better. I'm so worried about her.
Brock started getting sick the day before we came home from the hospital last Monday. Last Thursday we had to take Lillian in to the pediatrician for them to check on her since her bilirubin was a little high the day after she was born. I decided to make an appointment for Brock to be checked out because he had a pretty nasty cough. He didn't have a fever and his ears and chest looked and sounded fine. So off we went, happy little family!
What a difference 25 minutes makes... on our way home, Brock was sitting in his car seat and was sitting there looking limp and had really watery eyes. We figured he was just tired. Once we got him in the house and took his jacket off, it was obvious that he had spiked a fever. Friday and Saturday he seemed to be getting worse. More congested and coughing a ton! By Friday Spike caught whatever Brock had. By Sunday, Lillian caught it... By Monday, I had it.
On Sunday I talked to the on-call pediatrician because I was getting worried about Lillian's congestion and runny nose. He said to keep an eye on her since she didn't have a fever and to bring her in if her breathing became labored.
Well, this brings us to yesterday, Monday the 15th. Both kids slept like crap through the night and were worse in the morning. I called the doctor and made an appt for both of them that same day. The pediatrician checked on Lillian first and said her breathing rate was slightly elevated and her temperature was 99.4 degrees. He said she sounded fine and just to bring her in if her breathing was labored. He decided to take a nasal swab and test her for RSV. Brock came out of this appt with amoxicillan to treat what the doctor said was the "beginnings of an ear infection and pneumonia." Grrrrrrrreat! Just what I needed to hear with a freaking newborn baby in the house! We got home at about 5pm and the doctor called me at 6:45pm to tell me that Lillian tested positive for RSV and he wanted me to bring her in on Tuesday to check her oxygen and check her breathing.
So here we are on Tuesday... I bring Lilly in to the doctor and dad stays home with Brock. The MA comes in to check Lilly's oxygen and sees that it is only at 86. The doctor comes in and can't believe how low it is. So he immediately says that the virus has moved into her lungs and we have to admit her to the hospital right away. He wouldn't even let me go home first! He had a nurse wheel us over to the hospital... guess that's the good thing about the medical center being attached to the hospital! Anyway, here we sit.
She's hooked up to monitors to monitor her heart rate and oxygen saturation. Her numbers look great and the nurses have reassured me that she is doing very well for having RSV. There's a little 17 month old girl across the hall that also has RSV and every now and then you can hear her screaming and crying through the doors and walls. So sad :-(
Anyway, the doctor just wants us to stay over night for observation. They said they will give her oxygen tonight if she needs it. They have a tube blowing air into her crib and that has helped to keep her oxygen saturation level above 90 since we got here. My concern is that if she turns her head and isn't getting that extra oxygen directly hitting her in the face, her level drops to 85 or 86. So I have to feed her and hold this tube up to her face. I just hope she gets better. I'm so worried about her.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
SHE'S HERE!!
Our beautiful daughter, Lillian Estelle was born Saturday, February 6, 2010!!! I don't have much of a birth story because it happened so fast! I had my 38 week appt on Friday, the 5th. I went in at 11:30 for an ultra sound and then saw my OB right after. During my cervical exam, she told me that I was 2-3cm dilated and still 50% effaced. We joked about going into labor that night, but I never thought it would be real! I had planned to spend the rest of the day at my moms house with Brock because Spike had planned on installing Lillian's flooring.
Mom and I went to her house after my appt and just hung out. At about 6pm, I laid down and took a nap. I woke up at 6:30 and from the living room, shouted to my mom in the kitchen asking her if dinner was almost ready because Brock needed to eat and go to bed. As soon as I finished asking her that, I had my first contraction. I started timing them and they were 20 minutes apart. I had 3 that were back to back, but they stayed at about 20 minutes apart for about 2 1/2 hours. My mom ended up driving me home.
Brock and I got home just before 9pm. Spike put him to bed as soon as we got home. As soon as 9pm hit, I started having contractions 5 minutes apart! I timed them for an hour, then called the doctor. Since it was my 2nd pregnancy and my contractions went from 20 minutes apart to 5 minutes apart in such a short amount of time, he said to go to the hospital and get checked out. Thank goodness I had my bag pretty much packed and had Brock's ready to go too! Spike and I frantically finished packing and left the house at about 10:30. By 10:15pm they were back to back. Ridiculous! I was in so much pain!
So we drop Brock off at my sister-in-law's for the night. I didn't think we were going to make it to the hospital. Thank goodness we did!!! By the time I was admitted, it was 11:45pm. They checked me and I had already progressed to 7cm dilated! Holy cow!! All I cared about was making sure it wasn't too late to get an epidural. I couldn't imagine giving birth without it, especially considering how much pain I was in!
The doctor arrived about an hour later, checked me and said I was 8cm dilated and 90% effaced! They paged anesthesiology and they got there within minutes! Just in time!!!
Our little princess was born at 2:40am!! I did like 2 or 3 practice pushes, one real big push, and out she came!!! So fast! She is 8 lbs, 5oz, and 21 inches! Almost identical to Brock who was 8lbs, 6oz, and 21 1/4 inches!! LOL!
I had a 2nd degree tear, which the doctor said was normal. Even though I still tore this time, it wasn't as bad as it was with Brock and I already feel great! We are so happy that she is here :-)
I will try to get some more pictures up as soon as I can! Brock was super cute when he met her for the first time. When we asked him where Lilly was, he lifted his shirt and pointed to his belly :-) Spike came to visit us at the hospital this morning and Brock was so excited to see her. He gave her some kisses, tried to tickle her, and even showed us where her nose was :-) So cute! He's going to be such a good big brother!!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Quick updates
Sorry it has been a few weeks since I posted! Here are a few updates in case you care ;-)
BROCK
His 15 month check-up:
24 lbs
33 inches long
Everything is going well with our little man! The doctor joked that she was going to take his chart and show it to the medical students because his stats are "textbook." At his last appointment his weight was so low compared to his height, I was a little worried. She told me that once he started walking and running around, he would even out. And he did! His weight is still int he 45 percentile, and his height is in the 85-90 percentile.
I love our pediatrician! She's so cute. She even took a little time to talk to me about my concerns with bringing another baby into the mix! She definitely made me feel a little more at ease with the feelings I've been having about how I am going to split my time between both kids and not let Brock feel left out. She reminded me that newborns sleep and eat all day. We don't really need to entertain them that much in those first few weeks. She recommend that I have someone watch Lillian for an hour each day so Brock and I can have some alone time :-) I like that! I put him to bed every night, so that won't change. He'll still have mommy read him his stories and tuck him in!
Brock's running around like a mad man! He can't really stay still very long. He is starting to say a few more words and has starting pointing to things he wants. He also seems to point at things and say "dis?" Like he's asking, what is this? Its so cute!
New Words:
Lele = Leche (milk in Spanish)
Dis = This
Lilly = mommy's belly
Vroooom = when he's playing with his cars
Weeeee = also when he's playing with his cars
Num Num = Yummy
He loves to give kisses and even offers his puckered lips to strangers... kind of weird, but cute at the same time! Thankfully strangers haven't bent down to him or they'd get a kick in the face! LOL!
MOM
I am just ending week 37! I am so happy I have made it this far. I still have Braxton Hicks contractions every single time I try to move. They have started to feel a lot stronger and last a lot longer. Last week I had my Group B Strep test and it came back normal. I have my next appointment tomorrow! I can't believe that in as little as 2 1/2 weeks, our little princess will be here! So scared but excited at the same time!
HOUSE
All I can say is that its getting there... Spike has worked his tail off to try to get the fish tanks situated. There is so much work involved, I feel so bad for him. He told me earlier this evening that he plans to have the fish tank that is currently in what will be Lillian's room emptied out and broken down by Sunday. He plans to get the rest of my office furniture out of the room by Tuesday or Wednesday. Thursday and Friday his plan is to tear up the carpet and lay down the hardwood floor in her room. Once the floor is done, all we have to do is put in her crib and dresser and start decorating. Thankfully we already have everything we need (except blinds). So if baby girl can hold off until after Superbowl Sunday, then I will be so happy :-) I've been having a feeling that I am going to have her next week... I hope not! I can't wait to get pictures up of what her room is going to be when its done! I love everything we picked out and can't wait to see it all come together :-) YAY! So please pray that she holds off until after the Superbowl!! LOL!
BROCK
His 15 month check-up:
24 lbs
33 inches long
Everything is going well with our little man! The doctor joked that she was going to take his chart and show it to the medical students because his stats are "textbook." At his last appointment his weight was so low compared to his height, I was a little worried. She told me that once he started walking and running around, he would even out. And he did! His weight is still int he 45 percentile, and his height is in the 85-90 percentile.
I love our pediatrician! She's so cute. She even took a little time to talk to me about my concerns with bringing another baby into the mix! She definitely made me feel a little more at ease with the feelings I've been having about how I am going to split my time between both kids and not let Brock feel left out. She reminded me that newborns sleep and eat all day. We don't really need to entertain them that much in those first few weeks. She recommend that I have someone watch Lillian for an hour each day so Brock and I can have some alone time :-) I like that! I put him to bed every night, so that won't change. He'll still have mommy read him his stories and tuck him in!
Brock's running around like a mad man! He can't really stay still very long. He is starting to say a few more words and has starting pointing to things he wants. He also seems to point at things and say "dis?" Like he's asking, what is this? Its so cute!
New Words:
Lele = Leche (milk in Spanish)
Dis = This
Lilly = mommy's belly
Vroooom = when he's playing with his cars
Weeeee = also when he's playing with his cars
Num Num = Yummy
He loves to give kisses and even offers his puckered lips to strangers... kind of weird, but cute at the same time! Thankfully strangers haven't bent down to him or they'd get a kick in the face! LOL!
MOM
I am just ending week 37! I am so happy I have made it this far. I still have Braxton Hicks contractions every single time I try to move. They have started to feel a lot stronger and last a lot longer. Last week I had my Group B Strep test and it came back normal. I have my next appointment tomorrow! I can't believe that in as little as 2 1/2 weeks, our little princess will be here! So scared but excited at the same time!
HOUSE
All I can say is that its getting there... Spike has worked his tail off to try to get the fish tanks situated. There is so much work involved, I feel so bad for him. He told me earlier this evening that he plans to have the fish tank that is currently in what will be Lillian's room emptied out and broken down by Sunday. He plans to get the rest of my office furniture out of the room by Tuesday or Wednesday. Thursday and Friday his plan is to tear up the carpet and lay down the hardwood floor in her room. Once the floor is done, all we have to do is put in her crib and dresser and start decorating. Thankfully we already have everything we need (except blinds). So if baby girl can hold off until after Superbowl Sunday, then I will be so happy :-) I've been having a feeling that I am going to have her next week... I hope not! I can't wait to get pictures up of what her room is going to be when its done! I love everything we picked out and can't wait to see it all come together :-) YAY! So please pray that she holds off until after the Superbowl!! LOL!
Monday, January 11, 2010
34-week appt
I knew it! My doctor put me on bed rest for 2 weeks :-( I'm still getting Braxton Hicks contractions pretty regularly. Especially when I stand up or try to move around at all. She didn't do the fetal fibronectin test this time because once we hit 34 weeks, they don't stop labor. She (and I) hope I make it to at least 36 weeks because at 37 weeks, the baby will be considered full-term. When she did my cervical exam, she said that my cervix is soft and I am barely a fingertip dilated. She also took me off of work until I deliver. I'm a little sad about this, but I know that the baby's health is first. Today I am 35 weeks and a day. It was my first day off work too... I like not stressing about work, but now I'm stressing that I can't move and my house is a pig sty! Its frustrating being home all day with nothing to do and not being able to clean up or really play with Brock. That's the hardest part. All he wants to do is play with me all day and I just have to lay on the couch and watch him play with his toys :-(
My low back and pelvis hurt soooooooo bad. It hurts to switch sides at night when I'm trying to sleep. I dread going to sleep every night because I'm in so much pain.
I can't believe that in as little as 5 weeks, I could have this baby! So scared. Not sure I'm ready to handle a newborn and a toddler... guess I don't really have a choice, do I? LOL.
Spike was able to install our hardwood floor this weekend in our bedroom! He's working on his fish tank right now and we're both hoping he is able to start Lillian's room by Sunday or early next week. I just hope its done before she is born! So she better hang out in my belly until 40 weeks!
Sorry this post was all over the place!
My low back and pelvis hurt soooooooo bad. It hurts to switch sides at night when I'm trying to sleep. I dread going to sleep every night because I'm in so much pain.
I can't believe that in as little as 5 weeks, I could have this baby! So scared. Not sure I'm ready to handle a newborn and a toddler... guess I don't really have a choice, do I? LOL.
Spike was able to install our hardwood floor this weekend in our bedroom! He's working on his fish tank right now and we're both hoping he is able to start Lillian's room by Sunday or early next week. I just hope its done before she is born! So she better hang out in my belly until 40 weeks!
Sorry this post was all over the place!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Last month of the year...
Whew! December was a busy busy month! I have lots of pictures and a quick update.
I am now 34 weeks along in the 2nd pregnancy. I have been having braxton hicks contractions for almost a week now. I've sort of put myself on bed rest for the last 5 days because I get them really bad whenever I stand up. The first day I had them, they were 1-2 minutes apart from when I woke up at 8am to Noon. I called the doctor and she wanted me to go in, but I thought I would just drink more water and rest. Eventually then slowed down to every 30 minutes, but since I woke up on Saturday, I get them whenever I stand up or move around. I have an appointment tomorrow, so I will try to update on here. I'm nervous that the doctor will keep me on bed rest until I have the baby... which will totally suck because I have Brock here with me all day while Spike is at work. The last 2 appts I had, the doctor did a fetal fibronectin test which is used to predict preterm labor. Both times it was negative, so I'm hoping if she does it again tomorrow it will also be negative! I couldn't imagine having Lillian right now! Anyway, enough about me! Here are some pictures from the last few weeks!
I am now 34 weeks along in the 2nd pregnancy. I have been having braxton hicks contractions for almost a week now. I've sort of put myself on bed rest for the last 5 days because I get them really bad whenever I stand up. The first day I had them, they were 1-2 minutes apart from when I woke up at 8am to Noon. I called the doctor and she wanted me to go in, but I thought I would just drink more water and rest. Eventually then slowed down to every 30 minutes, but since I woke up on Saturday, I get them whenever I stand up or move around. I have an appointment tomorrow, so I will try to update on here. I'm nervous that the doctor will keep me on bed rest until I have the baby... which will totally suck because I have Brock here with me all day while Spike is at work. The last 2 appts I had, the doctor did a fetal fibronectin test which is used to predict preterm labor. Both times it was negative, so I'm hoping if she does it again tomorrow it will also be negative! I couldn't imagine having Lillian right now! Anyway, enough about me! Here are some pictures from the last few weeks!
My belly at 32 weeks:
Brock decorating the tree with his football & basketball!
Silly Brock sticking 2 pacifiers in his mouth!
My boys on Christmas Eve
All the ladies on Spike's side (L-R: Spike's youngest sister, his niece, me, Spike's mom, Spike's step-mom, and his oldest sister)
Brock getting lovin' from my mom. His "Welling"
LOL! My niece Lenna taking a break from opening gifts! Not even 2 seconds later, her brother swiped the pillow from beneath her head!
My youngest sister and I sportin' our Spartan gear :-)
The ladies on my side! ) (L-R: My 2nd oldest sister, my oldest sister, my, my baby sister)
We are also still working on all of the remodeling around here. Spike's going to be ripping up the carpet in our bedroom and installing hardwood flooring this weekend. He's hoping to get Lillian's carpet ripped up and her flooring installed next weekend! I hope!!
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