Miss Katie was very relaxed for her first bath. The only time she cried was when she got out and was getting dressed. She had quite the crowd of admirers and everyone was taking pictures and trying to hand her toys.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Grandma's November Updates
I wanted to remember all the progress Grandma made so I'm adding my facebook updates on her for the month of November.
Nov. 1
We've had a lot of questions about the MRI and just wanted to keep everyone informed. They didn't run it until this afternoon and then called in a specialist to review the results, examine her, and talk to us this evening. Basically she has had some very small strokes but they are VERY small and could have even happened before all of this. (Apparently around 80% of the population over age 60 has had these and are unaware, according to what I read online.) They said that there is nothing that would keep her from waking up and that the strokes themselves are so insignificant that even if they are from this illness they will not cause any problems once she wakes up. Their best guess at this point is that she is still asleep (in what they call a moderate coma state) because of the sedatives just taking so long to leave her system. Because her kidneys are not functioning well, she is on dialysis, which does clean her blood, but doesn't do a good job at cleaning out her cells and such, which is where the medicine is probably still hanging out. So just more waiting and more time. There is also a chance that she has had some brain deprivation of oxygen, but there's no way to tell for sure and if it was it wouldn't have been too severe, otherwise we'd see something from the MRI. So we're hoping that's a good sign. It's just a long process, apparently. Prayers for her to be able to wake up and become responsive are greatly needed and appreciated. Thank you all so much for everything you've done and especially for your prayers.
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Nov. 1
We've had a lot of questions about the MRI and just wanted to keep everyone informed. They didn't run it until this afternoon and then called in a specialist to review the results, examine her, and talk to us this evening. Basically she has had some very small strokes but they are VERY small and could have even happened before all of this. (Apparently around 80% of the population over age 60 has had these and are unaware, according to what I read online.) They said that there is nothing that would keep her from waking up and that the strokes themselves are so insignificant that even if they are from this illness they will not cause any problems once she wakes up. Their best guess at this point is that she is still asleep (in what they call a moderate coma state) because of the sedatives just taking so long to leave her system. Because her kidneys are not functioning well, she is on dialysis, which does clean her blood, but doesn't do a good job at cleaning out her cells and such, which is where the medicine is probably still hanging out. So just more waiting and more time. There is also a chance that she has had some brain deprivation of oxygen, but there's no way to tell for sure and if it was it wouldn't have been too severe, otherwise we'd see something from the MRI. So we're hoping that's a good sign. It's just a long process, apparently. Prayers for her to be able to wake up and become responsive are greatly needed and appreciated. Thank you all so much for everything you've done and especially for your prayers.
Mom's doctors say she is still getting better! It's still very much a SLOW process and most like still a long road ahead to complete recovery, which is what we have faith in. She is more responsive every day so they believe it is a good sign she is slowly coming out of the coma state. I am also doing well. They have given me 2 doses of steroids to assist the lung development of this little one. I am also on meds to stop contractions so all is quiet there now, as well. I've just been resting here in the high risk maternity ward at the hospital. It's actually not so bad. The kids can visit any time, they have this air flow mattress on my bed that pumps air to keep you from getting sore and is the first hospital bed I've ever found not to make me sore, and they really let you rest over here so you aren't woken up every two hours at night, which is nice. Don brought a bunch of DVDs and so we've been having mini dates watching movies. 
:) The goal is to make it to next Friday the 13th when I am 34 weeks. At that point they will do the C Section because the risk of infection outweighs trying to wait any longer. Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers on behalf of both my Mom and this new little one!
:) The goal is to make it to next Friday the 13th when I am 34 weeks. At that point they will do the C Section because the risk of infection outweighs trying to wait any longer. Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers on behalf of both my Mom and this new little one!
As I am laying here on hospital bed rest I received the best news! Mom is now focusing on faces, blinking, swallowing, and starting to follow commands! Prayers are being answered, my dear friends and family. Thank you so much!
6 more days! I'm scheduled for 10:00 am Monday, November 16th. As for Mom, she is still making progress, albeit slow. She is off the ventilator for hours every day. Her kidneys are still not functioning, yet, but that can take months, apparently. She responds sometimes to certain commands, but not consistently yet, which is also, apparently, normal. She has mouthed a few words (she has a tracheotomy, so until it comes out, she won't be able to speak). And Dad, Becca, and my two oldest daughters who are able to visit her say that when they look in her eyes, they can see Grandma is back. 
<3 span=""> They will hopefully be able to move her to a facility in Newark sometime this week. They are just waiting for a bed to open up. In the meantime they are wanting to move her out of ICU since she really doesn't need to be there anymore. Continued prayers are appreciated that she will continue down the road to full recovery as quickly as possible. Thanks so much!
<3 span=""> They will hopefully be able to move her to a facility in Newark sometime this week. They are just waiting for a bed to open up. In the meantime they are wanting to move her out of ICU since she really doesn't need to be there anymore. Continued prayers are appreciated that she will continue down the road to full recovery as quickly as possible. Thanks so much!
I just got a call that Mom is having a bit of a setback this morning. Her temp went back up to 101 and then after treating it, dropped to 95. Her stomach is bloated, as well, so they are doing X-Rays to see if anything is going on there. Please say prayers for her.
Update: The scans on Mom came back showing there was nothing wrong with her abdomen except air. The feeding tube had shifted and they think that let extra air in. So they are sucking the extra air out and that should take care of it. They have her back on antibiotics for the fever this morning, although she has been normal temperature the rest of the day, so that is great. They have run some cultures to see where the infection originated, but it sounds like so far they have it well under control. All in all everything is looking good. Just a couple of minor setbacks. Hopefully she can move forward from them quickly and continue to improve rapidly. Thanks so much for the prayers!
I'm always afraid I'm going to bore people with too many updates on Mom, but when I go a couple of days without posting, I get messages asking how she is doing. So here's another update. :) Mom has developed an allergic reaction to something. She's broken out in a nasty red rash. Thankfully it isn't bothering her. They have asked her on several occasions if it hurts or itches and she shakes her head no. They are giving her steroids to make sure she can still breath well in case it is affecting that and benadryl to try and treat it. She has been more awake and responsive today than any day so far since she first became sedated. She's following simple commands and mouthing words here and there. She is still on the ventilator today (She was off during the day before this rash happened), but that is probably because the allergic reaction/medications are making her more tired/weak. Her kidneys are still not functioning normally but we are seeing an increase in their functioning, which is great. Thank you so much for your concern and prayers.
:) Mom has developed an allergic reaction to something. She's broken out in a nasty red rash. Thankfully it isn't bothering her. They have asked her on several occasions if it hurts or itches and she shakes her head no. They are giving her steroids to make sure she can still breath well in case it is affecting that and benadryl to try and treat it. She has been more awake and responsive today than any day so far since she first became sedated. She's following simple commands and mouthing words here and there. She is still on the ventilator today (She was off during the day before this rash happened), but that is probably because the allergic reaction/medications are making her more tired/weak. Her kidneys are still not functioning normally but we are seeing an increase in their functioning, which is great. Thank you so much for your concern and prayers.
November 14
Mom's kidneys seem to be beginning to heal! They are not at full function, yet, but they are regaining function and the kidney doctor says it looks like they are healing. :) Her rash is also starting to look a little better. She has been off the ventilator most of the day and breathing fine on her own. Tonight she kept mouthing to Dad that she wants to come home.
:) Her rash is also starting to look a little better. She has been off the ventilator most of the day and breathing fine on her own. Tonight she kept mouthing to Dad that she wants to come home.
November 20
Well, it looks like Mom is getting transferred to a specialty care facility in Charleston tonight. We were really hoping she could get transferred here to the Columbus area so we could all be together and Dad could stay with us and have a shorter drive. But apparently insurance will only pay for the facilities in state. 
:( As for how she is doing, all of her numbers look great. Her kidneys are continuing to heal more each day with her creatin numbers getting lower and lower all on their own. She has been less responsive and very sleepy the past few days. I can't remember the exact reasoning, but they said it could have to do with this particular solution they have been giving her that is high in sodium, which apparently can make you sleepy. They switched it out for something else and the doctor said it could take a few days for her to become more responsive again. They did another EEG (brain scan) on her and it has given the best results yet, so that is good. We're really hoping this facility can help speed along her recovery and get her home as soon as possible.
:( As for how she is doing, all of her numbers look great. Her kidneys are continuing to heal more each day with her creatin numbers getting lower and lower all on their own. She has been less responsive and very sleepy the past few days. I can't remember the exact reasoning, but they said it could have to do with this particular solution they have been giving her that is high in sodium, which apparently can make you sleepy. They switched it out for something else and the doctor said it could take a few days for her to become more responsive again. They did another EEG (brain scan) on her and it has given the best results yet, so that is good. We're really hoping this facility can help speed along her recovery and get her home as soon as possible.
November 28
I realized that it's been a while since anyone in my family has posted updates on Mom. She is in Charleston now and settled in to the Specialty Care hospital. Her kidneys are continuing to heal. Her creatin levels are 2.0 and 1.1 or lower is normal, so she's almost there. :) The rest of her numbers are good and she is doing well. They had some concerns mid week about her stomach again. It was bloated as it had done before and so they were concerned it could be a leak in her intestines. So they did an exploratory surgery and thankfully her intestines are fine. It was actually the feeding tube that had malfunctioned. They thought maybe there was a small bit of infection, too, in her stomach, but they cleaned that out and she has not shown any other signs of infection so far so they think all is well there. She had been completely off the ventilator but they have her back on since her body is working hard to recover from the surgery and they want to make it as easy for her as possible. In a few days, though, they should be getting her off again. She is a bit less responsive since the surgery, since she is on heavy pain killers, which is be expected. She has been able to answer yes/no questions, but they aren't sure exactly what she understands at this point. She's been through a lot, though, and they said she could be confused/fuzzy and have memory loss for months, so we will continue to have patience and pray. Monday the team of specialists will be gathering together to evaluate her some more and Wednesday they are having a big meeting with Dad and Rebecca with all her specialists to let us know how they will be progressing from this point, therapy wise, and what to expect. Sigh.......Patience is hard.
:) The rest of her numbers are good and she is doing well. They had some concerns mid week about her stomach again. It was bloated as it had done before and so they were concerned it could be a leak in her intestines. So they did an exploratory surgery and thankfully her intestines are fine. It was actually the feeding tube that had malfunctioned. They thought maybe there was a small bit of infection, too, in her stomach, but they cleaned that out and she has not shown any other signs of infection so far so they think all is well there. She had been completely off the ventilator but they have her back on since her body is working hard to recover from the surgery and they want to make it as easy for her as possible. In a few days, though, they should be getting her off again. She is a bit less responsive since the surgery, since she is on heavy pain killers, which is be expected. She has been able to answer yes/no questions, but they aren't sure exactly what she understands at this point. She's been through a lot, though, and they said she could be confused/fuzzy and have memory loss for months, so we will continue to have patience and pray. Monday the team of specialists will be gathering together to evaluate her some more and Wednesday they are having a big meeting with Dad and Rebecca with all her specialists to let us know how they will be progressing from this point, therapy wise, and what to expect. Sigh.......Patience is hard.<3 span="">
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Thanksgiving
My sister Becca, Alexis, Emily, and Ashley all worked together to prepare a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner for us this year. Even though we're all still worried about Grandma, we have to admit we have a lot to be thankful for. She is making slow progress and is still with us. And we have a beautiful new baby who we are all in love with. It was such a nice, peaceful day.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Grandpa Meets Katie
Grandpa has been by Grandma's side the whole time she has been sick and in a coma. But we did talk him into coming up for one night to spend Thanksgiving with us, since I am still not able to travel, yet. So today he met Katie for the first time. He said it reminded him of holding Rachel and Susan as babies, who were also premature. We were so happy to have him with us.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Sweet Newborn Days
We are soaking up every second with this little sweet pea. We are all hibernating, so no one catches anything that could passed on to her. It's a cozy time with lots of relaxing, snuggly PJ days. She is still having a bit of trouble with nursing, but we're getting it. It just takes her a bit to remember how to latch on properly. I want to be sure she is growing, but do not want to take her to doctor and expose her to waiting room germs. So we are putting her in little baskets or shoeboxes and putting her on a little kitchen scale. She is slowly, but steadily gaining. I am feeling pretty good, but I bleed heavily and so I have to rest a lot. Other than that we are just enjoying the sweet newborn snuggles.
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Family Halloween Party - 5 Days Before Thanksgiving
We were planning our annual family Halloween party right before Halloween like we do every year. Then Mom got sick and plans changed. We celebrated Halloween at Grandma and Grandpa's house with plans to go home November 3rd and have the party a few days late and prepare for baby. That was the day my water broke early and I ended up n the hospital. So 3 days after I got home we finally had our family Halloween party. It is not something I recommend attempting 5 days after major abdominal surgery, but I am blessed to have a family who took care of absolutely everything for me. All I had to do was plan it on paper. So they enjoyed carving their pumpkins that had been sitting on the counter since the beginning of October, trick or treating one more time in the house with crazy dressed up characters portrayed by Daddy, Mommy, Aunt Becca, and Alexis, playing fun games together, and eating yummy treats like a bunch of fancy caramel apples Daddy made with the kids. It was a fun night to enjoy being together. The next morning everyone packed up the Halloween decorations and put up the Thanksgiving decorations.
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