Since Michael started back at work on Monday, he hadn't gotten to see Aydan since Sunday, so last night he decided he wanted to drive up to Greenville for his 11pm feed so he could try feeding Aydan the bottle for that shift. So my parents stayed home with Ilana (who was already in bed), while Michael and I drove up there. Aydan did great and drank the whole bottle! Michael was so proud and said that it was definitely worth going - even though we didn't get home until a little after 2am, and he had to be up 2 1/2 hours later for work!
Aydan is doing great, though and they have decided to up his bottle feeds to once every other feed instead of once a shift! WAHOO!!!! That's one more step to coming home sooner! :) He is continuing to gain weight and weighed in at 4 pounds 15.8 ounces last night, which is up 2 1/2 ounces from the day before! God sure is blessing us with constant improvement with Aydan!!!
We're all doing good and getting ready to ring in the new year! Michael is off from today through Monday - so Ilana and I will get to spend some good quality time with him! We're celebrating New Year's Eve tonight at home with my family - eating lots of food (probably TOO much!), watching movies, and playing a game or two! :)
We sure hope all of you guys have a great and SAFE New Year's Eve and hopefully 2009 will be a blessed year for everyone!!!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
12/30/08
Aydan is now able to drink out of a bottle!! He took his first bottle yesterday and only drank about 7 cc's, but the nurse said it was probably because he had nursed at the feeding prior, and was probably just really worn out. So today when I visited him, I got to give him another bottle. He drank 40 cc's!!! The doctors were really impressed and said that instead of just one bottle a day, they'd do one bottle per shift (there are 2 shifts per day). When he does well with that, they'll change it to one bottle every other feeding and then eventually a bottle every feed!!! Yay!!!
As of last night, he was up to 4 pounds 13.2 ounces! He's just doing really well overall! :) Hopefully he'll be home in a couple weeks! We'll just have to continue praying!
As of last night, he was up to 4 pounds 13.2 ounces! He's just doing really well overall! :) Hopefully he'll be home in a couple weeks! We'll just have to continue praying!
Monday, December 29, 2008
12/29/08
Sorry it's been so long, everyone! Things have been really busy! Christmas was wonderful! Ilana loved opening presents and had to play with everything before she would go to the next gift. Michael spoiled me and got me a sewing machine! Yay! Now hopefully I can start sewing some stuff! :) Friday I woke up in lots of pain and it dawned on me that I had mastitis (I had it three times after having Ilana - so I knew right away what it was!). After spending 4 hours in urgent care, I finally got some antibiotics and went home to rest. Then Saturday night, my parents got here!
Anyway, things are going well! Aydan is now up to 4 pounds 12.2 ounces! He is out of the isolette/incubator and now in a regular bassinet - meaning he's regulating his temperature on his own now! He still has a few bradys once in awhile - which are when his heart rate goes down - but usually he can bring it back up on his own without the nurse having to rub his feet or hands.
He's doing wonderfully and is now up to almost 2 ounces per feeding (still through his feeding tube). I usually try to make it up there at least for one feeding a day so I can try nursing him at the same time - just so he can get some practice. Yesterday he nursed aggresively for the first time! He did an AMAZING job and Michael and I were so proud of him!!! He did such a good job that the nurse only gave him half of his milk through the feeding tube! Hopefully this continues and he's able to go off the feeding tube soon! :) We'll just have to pray!
Anyway, things are going well! Aydan is now up to 4 pounds 12.2 ounces! He is out of the isolette/incubator and now in a regular bassinet - meaning he's regulating his temperature on his own now! He still has a few bradys once in awhile - which are when his heart rate goes down - but usually he can bring it back up on his own without the nurse having to rub his feet or hands.
He's doing wonderfully and is now up to almost 2 ounces per feeding (still through his feeding tube). I usually try to make it up there at least for one feeding a day so I can try nursing him at the same time - just so he can get some practice. Yesterday he nursed aggresively for the first time! He did an AMAZING job and Michael and I were so proud of him!!! He did such a good job that the nurse only gave him half of his milk through the feeding tube! Hopefully this continues and he's able to go off the feeding tube soon! :) We'll just have to pray!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
12/24/08
Aydan is still doing fabulous! Not much is new, other than he's almost up to his birth weight at 4 pounds 8.2 ounces! I got to nurse him again today, which went a lot better than the first time! He's still not a pro and gets worn out pretty easily, but he'll try for a little while, which is great! :) Here are a few new pictures of Mr. Handsome!
"God, Thank you for Mommy, Daddy, and sister Ilana!" :)
"God, Thank you for Mommy, Daddy, and sister Ilana!" :)Monday, December 22, 2008
12/22/08
All I have to say is God is GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aydan is now out of the NICU and in the regular nursery!!! It's just so amazing that he was born at 31 weeks and is now just a week old and already in the regular nursery! He is still in the incubator, but they are going to work on getting him to regulate his body temperature so he can be in a regular bassinet soon. He's still using the feeding tube, but they are going to start trying a bottle soon! I was able to try nursing him today - which wasn't successful, as he was tired and not hungry, but it was just awesome that I was able to try!! :)
Now that he's in the regular nursery, we're able to hold him anytime we want! Yay!! :) Anyway, we're just so excited with how well he's doing! God sure is answering prayers!!!
Now that he's in the regular nursery, we're able to hold him anytime we want! Yay!! :) Anyway, we're just so excited with how well he's doing! God sure is answering prayers!!!
12/21/08
All I have to say is that God is just awesome!! Aydan is improving so fast! He has gone from 9 cc's on Friday to 37 cc's today! That's almost an ounce and a half!! YAY Aydan!!! He's still on the feeding tube, and they normally try the bottle when they hit 33-34 weeks gestational age (which is normally when they get their sucking reflex). The nurse said that he is doing really well with sucking already, though - either his thumb (when he finds it) or a pacifier they give him (to help them learn to suck) - and the doctors may decide to try feeding him with a bottle sooner! So we're hoping that they'll try this week! I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that he will do just as amazing with the bottle! He has proven to be such a determined little fighter (he may look like Michael, but he's got my determination to prove people wrong! ;) haha!).
He is off the IV fluids now, and so is relying soly on breastmilk for nutrients. They will most likely be taking him off the bili ruben light tomorrow, too, because his jaundice levels are continually decreasing!
We are praying that with all the improvements he'll be home before the end of January (like they originally said) and maybe it'll be the first of January! :)
He is off the IV fluids now, and so is relying soly on breastmilk for nutrients. They will most likely be taking him off the bili ruben light tomorrow, too, because his jaundice levels are continually decreasing!
We are praying that with all the improvements he'll be home before the end of January (like they originally said) and maybe it'll be the first of January! :)
Saturday, December 20, 2008
12/19 & 20
Aydan's doing great!!! They continue increasing his feedings, and he's taking it really well! He's almost up to an ounce a feeding, which is terrific! Hopefully he'll start gaining weight and continue to improve, and maybe he'll be able to come home even sooner!!! That's what we're praying for, and we know God can make it happen (if it's His will)! Other than that, he's continuing to breathe well on his own and just overall improving everyday! We're headed back to Greenville tomorrow to stay until Christmas Eve, so I'm getting excited that I can spend a bunch of time with him! :)
We're all doing well, and trying to finish getting ready for Christmas. With me getting put on bedrest, and then going into labor, a lot of things were put on hold. We're hoping to finish Christmas shopping for Ilana (as we haven't even started!) in the next few days! I haven't done ANY sort of Christmas baking, and probably won't have time for any at all. :( I'll just have to do it late! Maybe New Years goodies instead! :)
Today we went to our friend's wedding and I must say Michael looked mighty handsome in his dress blues!!!
We're all doing well, and trying to finish getting ready for Christmas. With me getting put on bedrest, and then going into labor, a lot of things were put on hold. We're hoping to finish Christmas shopping for Ilana (as we haven't even started!) in the next few days! I haven't done ANY sort of Christmas baking, and probably won't have time for any at all. :( I'll just have to do it late! Maybe New Years goodies instead! :)
Today we went to our friend's wedding and I must say Michael looked mighty handsome in his dress blues!!!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
12/18/08
Aydan had a great day today!! They upped his feeding from 6 cc's to 9 cc's (it's still a very tiny amount, but the fact that they're giving him more is great!! :) He did lose some weight (which is to be expected the first few days, anyway) and is down to 4 lbs. 5 oz. He had no breathing episodes today, either! YAY!
We got to hold him again, which totally made my night! :) I held him for almost an hour!! He had his eyes open! This was the first time we'd seen him with his eyes open - as he's normally fast asleep and just doesn't have the energy to open them - so this was a great surprise for us! And the cutest thing happened when we were holding him - he started sucking his thumb!!! He sucked his thumb almost the whole time we held him! So that's great that he's able to suck - yet another accomplishment he's made the past couple days! :)
Other than that, he's doing good and seems to be improving! Although he's still not expected to come home until late January - but Michael and I are both praying for faster improvements, in hopes that he'll be able to come home sooner. With God, all things are possible, right? :)
Michael, Ilana, and I are all doing good and really enjoying our time we get to spend with Aydan. We've been staying at the Ronald McDonald House, which is for people with children in the hospital. It's basically like a hotel, but they also provide meals and food for you! It's been really nice! We head back home tomorrow because Michael is the best man in a wedding this weekend, but we'll still come up here everyday to see Aydan at least for a little bit!
We got to hold him again, which totally made my night! :) I held him for almost an hour!! He had his eyes open! This was the first time we'd seen him with his eyes open - as he's normally fast asleep and just doesn't have the energy to open them - so this was a great surprise for us! And the cutest thing happened when we were holding him - he started sucking his thumb!!! He sucked his thumb almost the whole time we held him! So that's great that he's able to suck - yet another accomplishment he's made the past couple days! :)
Other than that, he's doing good and seems to be improving! Although he's still not expected to come home until late January - but Michael and I are both praying for faster improvements, in hopes that he'll be able to come home sooner. With God, all things are possible, right? :)
Michael, Ilana, and I are all doing good and really enjoying our time we get to spend with Aydan. We've been staying at the Ronald McDonald House, which is for people with children in the hospital. It's basically like a hotel, but they also provide meals and food for you! It's been really nice! We head back home tomorrow because Michael is the best man in a wedding this weekend, but we'll still come up here everyday to see Aydan at least for a little bit!
12/17/08 - Update
We got to hold Aydan!!!!!! It was such a great day!!! I held him for awhile, and then we switched and Michael held him. When we hold him, we have to wear gowns, just for an added protection for him.
Ilana was with us, and she stood next to the chair when we held him and she was just in awe of him. She would just stare at him, and then when I was holding him again, she stared at him again and said "I wuv baby Aydan, Mommy!" She's going to be a good big sister!!
He's doing really well, and his breathing episodes have decreased! He got a bath, too! The nurse said that she thinks he will have curly hair, because when she gave him his bath, his hair got all kinky! :) She said he's having a great day and feeding through his tube every 3 hours. It's only a teeny tiny amount, but it's better than through the IV! :) Oh, and even though he's pretty small, he's sure got chubby cheeks!!
Ilana was with us, and she stood next to the chair when we held him and she was just in awe of him. She would just stare at him, and then when I was holding him again, she stared at him again and said "I wuv baby Aydan, Mommy!" She's going to be a good big sister!!
He's doing really well, and his breathing episodes have decreased! He got a bath, too! The nurse said that she thinks he will have curly hair, because when she gave him his bath, his hair got all kinky! :) She said he's having a great day and feeding through his tube every 3 hours. It's only a teeny tiny amount, but it's better than through the IV! :) Oh, and even though he's pretty small, he's sure got chubby cheeks!!
12/16/08 update
Aydan is completely off the ventilator and breathing on his own! He still has a few episodes where he'll forget to breathe, but they say that's completely normal, and all they have to do is just rub his foot and he'll start breathing again. He's also taking milk through the feeding tube, too! Yay! That's great progress!! We were hoping to hold him today, but he just wasn't quite stable enough yet... We're hoping tomorrow!!!
Monday, December 15, 2008
12/15/08 Update on Aydan
Aydan is doing well for being less than 24 hours old!! Because of him being so small, he is in an incubator to help regulate his temperature, has an IV for fluids, and is hooked up to several different machines, including a ventilator to help him breathe - as he's not quite able to breathe on his own, yet. He's doing well and is just absolutely beautiful!!!
We haven't gotten to hold him, because he's just not quite stable enough, but we were able to touch him! We're hoping we can hold him tomorrow!!
Ilana got to see him tonight, and wasn't too sure about him - I think because he had all these wires everywhere!
In his incubator
Look at his sweet face!
His head full of hair!
Teeny little feet!
We haven't gotten to hold him, because he's just not quite stable enough, but we were able to touch him! We're hoping we can hold him tomorrow!!
Ilana got to see him tonight, and wasn't too sure about him - I think because he had all these wires everywhere!
In his incubator
Look at his sweet face!
His head full of hair!
Teeny little feet!
We just love him!!!!
Baby Aydan is born!
Two days before Thanksgiving (at 28 weeks pregnant), I went into preterm labor, which landed me in the hospital for a long and boring 4 days! They finally let me go home, but on strict bedrest. No cooking, cleaning, getting up or doing ANYTHING except go to the bathroom and take a quick 5 minute shower. It was horrible to go from being the one who does most of the household stuff, plus take care of Ilana, to being able to do absolutely nothing but lay on the bed or couch.
Michael became a "single" parent pretty much - but was absolutely amazing at it! Since he was working, we had to have some friends watch Ilana during the day, which we soon learned was starting to affect her. She had fun, but it's hard to take a two year old who is used to being on a routine and schedule and is at home most of the time, and switching up her routine and taking her from friend to friend and her not get to see Mommy or Daddy for a good 7-8 hours or so. Michael decided it'd be best to take leave from work so he could take care of her, plus all the household stuff, and be able to care for me. Thankfully he was approved to take leave from work until Christmas - which helped out tremendously!! Unfortunately, plans soon changed...
Saturday at 7:30 pm (12/13/08 - 30 weeks and 5 days pregnant), my water broke! We quickly got our stuff together, dropped Ilana off at a friends and then headed to our local hospital. They ended up transferring me to a hospital about an hour away by ambulance because our local hospital didn't have a NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Once we got to the new hospital contractions went from 5-7 minutes apart to about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes apart, but still weren't the strongest. After about 9 hours, the contractions decreased to every 10-20 minutes,
and then almost became nonexistant by Sunday evening. The doctor's said that since I was so early, they didn't want to push the labor. Monday morning (31 weeks pregnant), they decided to induce me, since I was already 8 cm dilated and my water had broken - they were afraid of infection.
The Pitocin was given around 10:45-11am, and kicked in close to 11:30am. I had contractions every minute for about 5 minutes and then they quickly got even closer - about 5-10 seconds apart. And these were EXCRUCIATING!!! My pain with Ilana wasn't even that bad, and so after 15 minutes of it, I asked for some IV meds. At 11:45 she came in to give them to me, and was starting to hook them up, when I felt the urge to push. I started pushing while they tried contacting all the docs and NICU people, and he was out 10 minutes later at 11:58! It was
crazy because it was so packed in there - literally 15 doctors, nurses, and NICU people. They took him as soon as he was out, and all the NICU doctor's assessed him and let me have a look at him before they whisked him away (we didn't get to hold him, though! :(). Literally 2 minutes after I pushed him out, the IV meds started to kick in (of course it had to be AFTER I give birth!), and I was passed out asleep by the time they all left the room!
He was 4 pounds 9 ounces and 17 1/2 inches long!!! A LOT bigger than anyone expected - which was most definitely God answering prayers!!!
Michael became a "single" parent pretty much - but was absolutely amazing at it! Since he was working, we had to have some friends watch Ilana during the day, which we soon learned was starting to affect her. She had fun, but it's hard to take a two year old who is used to being on a routine and schedule and is at home most of the time, and switching up her routine and taking her from friend to friend and her not get to see Mommy or Daddy for a good 7-8 hours or so. Michael decided it'd be best to take leave from work so he could take care of her, plus all the household stuff, and be able to care for me. Thankfully he was approved to take leave from work until Christmas - which helped out tremendously!! Unfortunately, plans soon changed...
Saturday at 7:30 pm (12/13/08 - 30 weeks and 5 days pregnant), my water broke! We quickly got our stuff together, dropped Ilana off at a friends and then headed to our local hospital. They ended up transferring me to a hospital about an hour away by ambulance because our local hospital didn't have a NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Once we got to the new hospital contractions went from 5-7 minutes apart to about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes apart, but still weren't the strongest. After about 9 hours, the contractions decreased to every 10-20 minutes,
and then almost became nonexistant by Sunday evening. The doctor's said that since I was so early, they didn't want to push the labor. Monday morning (31 weeks pregnant), they decided to induce me, since I was already 8 cm dilated and my water had broken - they were afraid of infection.
The Pitocin was given around 10:45-11am, and kicked in close to 11:30am. I had contractions every minute for about 5 minutes and then they quickly got even closer - about 5-10 seconds apart. And these were EXCRUCIATING!!! My pain with Ilana wasn't even that bad, and so after 15 minutes of it, I asked for some IV meds. At 11:45 she came in to give them to me, and was starting to hook them up, when I felt the urge to push. I started pushing while they tried contacting all the docs and NICU people, and he was out 10 minutes later at 11:58! It was
crazy because it was so packed in there - literally 15 doctors, nurses, and NICU people. They took him as soon as he was out, and all the NICU doctor's assessed him and let me have a look at him before they whisked him away (we didn't get to hold him, though! :(). Literally 2 minutes after I pushed him out, the IV meds started to kick in (of course it had to be AFTER I give birth!), and I was passed out asleep by the time they all left the room!
He was 4 pounds 9 ounces and 17 1/2 inches long!!! A LOT bigger than anyone expected - which was most definitely God answering prayers!!!
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