More FB Updates...

I'm sorry I'm not actually blogging.  I will get this routine down here some day and I'm sure just as I do, Wyatt will gladly come home and it'll take me a while to get it down again.  :-)  

July 21

"I'm doing do awesome they took the tube out of my belly button!" -Wyatt

July 22

Notice anything different?!? Wyatt was taken off his ventilator and put on a cpap (way better!) and his stomach suction tube is smaller and set to gravity!! His central line in his chest is supposed to come out tomorrow as well!! God has given this little boy some big time fight and strength!! 

Daddy is suctioning all my spit bubbles away!!

July 23

Wyatt got his chest tube out so I got to hold him tonight. He's 11 days old and holding him brought out more emotions in me then I thought possible. I know this is the beginning of our NICU journey but I want him healthy and home with me and in my arms ALL the time. James will get to hold him tomorrow. I'm not sure we'll ever leave the hospital again! — with James Davis.

1 + 1 = 3

So Happy!!!

July 24

Oh NICU life- 2 steps forward and 1 step back. We got a call a little after 1 am from Wyatt's nurse practitioner. He was struggling some with his breathing and after a blood gas and X-ray they saw that he wasn't blowing off CO2 like he needed to so they re-tubed him and put him back on the ventilator. He also started having green vomit and so they stopped feeding him my breast milk for the night and will try again later. It was hard to hear but I'm reminded that God's in control and Wyatt is still doing good. His chest tube is still out. — with James Davis.

Attempting the rail to see Wyatt! So far so good, other then JD being nervous that I'm doing it by myself.

And Our Journey Continues...

I'm sorry I have not been posting what's been going on this last week on the blog.  I've just updated my facebook world.  It was much easier.  What I'm thinking I will do is copy and past our FB updates to here in order, otherwise I might not ever return to blogging.  :-)  I will also try to type up our actual birth story for our sweet Wyatt!  

The first thing I want to start with is an e-mail my husband wrote up.  It's not often he shares like this so here it is straight from Daddy's mouth (or fingertips- however you want to look at it...)

Last Wednesday my wife and I went to our weekly doctor’s appointment for her and our son Wyatt and the doctor was concerned with Casey’s health so they sent us to the hospital for 24 hour observation.  Later that day they decided to induce labor at 36 weeks. At 6:20am on Thursday our son Wyatt was born and immediately taken to the Parkland NNICU.  Casey’s recovery has been long and concerning, but she should get discharged later today.  Wyatt’s vitals were good following his birth and have remained stable since.  He was doing so well the doctor’s at Children’s decided to do the first surgery yesterday.  The operation went well without complications and today he is recovering with stable vitals.  In all honesty, Wyatt is doing miraculously well, which can only be attributed to God answering many of your and our prayers. Words can’t do justice to the appreciation I have for your prayers but thank you.  Please continue to pray for his recovery and potential future operations.

Below are some images of Wyatt’s first few days of life in chronological order with labels. Feel free to forward this on.

Seconds after birth two teams of roughly 15 doctors and nurses stabilizing Wyatt on the other side of the room.

 Wyatt all hooked up, breathing through a ventilator and silently crying.

Wyatt and his primary nurse Angela at Parkland NNICU.  Angela later changed her schedule to work on the day of Wyatt’s surgery to prepare him for the enduring road ahead, which was typically her day off.

 Wyatt was born long and thin at 18.5 inches and weighing 4 pounds 8.3 ounces with giant feet.

 Wyatt napping it up.

 Wyatt holding Casey’s finger.

 Some of the doctors and nurses from Children’s post-surgery transporting him back into Parkland NNICU.

Wyatt all doped up post-surgery.

Wyatt earlier this morning slowly recovering and beginning to move following surgery.

The road ahead for Wyatt is unknown, but our faith is in the Lord and His providence.  Thank you for your continued prayers.

_______________________________________________________

Now for all our FB post in order...

 July 11th

So, James Davis & I went into our weekly visit and my blood pressure is too high and I have too much protein in my urine. We are at Parkland, Dr. Lo is on her way to take out my cerclage and begin inducing me. Wyatt should be here by tomorrow. We appreciate any and all prayers for my and Wyatt's safety! — with James Davis.

 July 12th

Wyatt James Davis born 6:20am. 4 pounds 8.3 ounces. I'm great and Wyatt is doing really great so far!!! — with James Davis.

July 13th

Wyatt doesn't have any new updates yet, which is good. We are still waiting to hear from surgeons on when they think surgery can happen. I'm doing okay. The doctors are trying to keep my blood pressure down. But I'm just sleeping, eating and pumping. :). James has been amazing Nd taking great care of me and checking in on Wyatt. I got to go see him once yesterday afternoon.

July 14th

They gave him earmuffs bc he doesn't like the noises. Praising God for his health! He is strong!

 

July 15th

Wyatt 3 days old! Look at those toes and fingers!!! #nofilter 

 Wyatt is doing good. He's been stable since birth and if he continues today and tonight he should get to go in for his CDH repair tomorrow. I was able to help take care of him last night and this morning by changing his diaper and holding his long arms down while the nurse did some stuff. He opens his eyes if it's not too bright.

This morning I was finally able to have my epidural catheter removed and be transferred to a "regular" recovery room. My blood pressure is still high and my blood platelets are still low but coming up. God has been so good and in charge of each and every detail. :) Thank you everyone for all the prayers. We have felt them and see them in our healing!

Cuddle time at the hospital! JD is super tired so I'm sending him home tonight to get a good nights rest uninterrupted! We've got a big day tomorrow!!!

  

July 16th

It's surgery day for our sweet Wyatt. The time has been changed from this morning to 1:30 this afternoon. We are praying for patience in waiting, steady hands and discernment for his doctors and miraculous healing/recovery for our son. Thankful our God is good and faithful in all these things!!

This little boy right here is absolute proof of God, his miracles and how big and good He is!! We are so blessed and do thankful in so many ways. Thank you everyone for being our arms and feet all this time laboring in prayer for our family. God is so good. I cannot express that enough!!

 

Wyatt has gone back into surgery.

Wyatt is out of surgery and we are on our way back to parkland NICU. Everything went well. Praising God. Will update more details later.

Repair Day! 7-16-12

July 17th

I went down to see Wyatt this morning before they close the NICU for doctors rounds (9-12 daily). He's doing good. Last night he was completely limp due to his meds for surgery and some of that has worn off but he's still pretty out of it and limp but moving around some. He tried to open his eyes a little but just for s second. The nurse had just given him some more pain meds. We're just praying for speedy healing and for him to not feel any pain.
I'm finally being discharged this evening. My BP has been stable with no crazy 170 readings in the middle of the night 2 days. I'm mixed on going home- happy to be out of the hospital and get to be home, sleep in our bed and start our NICU season but so sad to not be right around the corner from our baby by Davis (that's what he is referred to as here). Thank you again for all your prayers and support. We feel loved, encouraged and are reminded of how big and in control our God is to us all!!

Post Surgery Day! He's still pretty out of it but doctors are encouraged by how good he really is doing compared to other cases!! He was even trying to open his eyes! Our hearts melt every time we look at him and leaving tonight was difficult but we trust the Lord and know he is in good hands.

 

Discharge Fun!!

Six day hospital stay battle wounds. 15 needle pokes in my left arm & hand, 2 in my right one of which was my "in" IV that bruised the crap out of me. This is what happens when your blood platelets are in the 20s instead of above 150 like they should be- you bruise easily! Wyatt is worth EVERY mark, poke, cut and pinch I got!!!

July 18th

James Davis and I came home yesterday to BOTH of our AC units not working. (We think some kids might have stolen our Freon.) We are so thankful for our good friends Brenna Ravenhill and Mason Whitehead for letting us come stay at their place. If I can't be in my home after a long hospital stay, I will say this is the next best place- I still feel like I am home here. Now if only Brenna were actually here with me so that I may enjoy her company!!! :-) JD is at our house now waiting on the AC guy. We'll go see Wyatt this afternoon. The night nurse said he had a really good night and is getting more and more alert again. :-)

Daddy and son!

 

Wyatt James Davis, Class of '34 - exactly 30 years after his daddy!! Whoop!!

 

 
 July 19th


I typed all this out last night but my app crashed, arg....
So Wyatt had an okay day yesterday. The doctors decided to let him decide when he needs pain meds instead of an automatic every 4 hours. They use his agitation level and his silent crying to determine. He made it 7 hours at one point then later in the evening they changed it back to every 4 hours because he was getting so agitated. He also had a blood transfusion. We were told this is very common after babies have surgery to need and it should help him feel better. While we were there he slept the entire time. He tried just a couple of times to open his eyes and he would hold our fingers but that's it. We willgo back up to Parkland again this afternoon.
As for the AC units, it wasn't punk kids- they really both did stop working at the same time, crazy huh?!? Our downstairs unit needs a new compressor and the upstairs one just needs some more freon. The guy couldn't do it yesterday but is coming out first thing this morning. So, we'll be home and cooled off soon! — with James Davis.

Cute (GIANT) Baby Feet!!

 July 20th


Once again, I had this ALL typed out on the ipad and my FB app crashed! So annoying!
Yesterday, James and I decided to wait until later in the day to go see Wyatt. Our goal was miss traffic completely- it worked so I think that is what we'll continue to do. We get there and check in with the receptionist- she calls down to the room to make sure it's a good time for us to come- this is normal but what wasn't normal is that they had us wait. JD said he'd waited once but I hadn't had to just yet. But then we kept waiting. One of the nurses saw us waiting and went to check on our sweet baby for us. She came back and said he had done something with his tube and they were getting it back into place. I'm thinking, okay, no biggie. Well, it was a biggie. They came over the speaker and called for something to Wyatt's room. (He is in a room that can be shared with 9 other babies.) Then we see his doctor SPRINT past us and into his room. My heart was so heavy and I will be honest, I was totally freaking out. I was just begging the Lord to keep him strong and to let him be okay. The nurse came back out to us and got us to the family room to wait. Between her and Wyatt's doctor, they did an excellent job keeping us updated. Apparently either little mister pulled his breathing tube out or it came out. That of course made all his vitals go crazy bad. They ended up getting a new tube in, upping his oxygen to 100%, putting him on nitrogen (nitro something maybe? more air basically) and were ready to put him on a more heavy duty breathing machine- but thankfully they didn't need it. He also got chest x-rays and an echocardiograhm and some sweets to take the pain away and the edge off. Once all this happened and he settled down we got to sit with him. Of course we got onto him and grounded him to his bed for scaring us like he did. And he is under strict orders to never, ever let that happen again! God was so faithful through all of this. I don't know what I would do if we didn't truly believe that God is in complete control of everything and if He didn't give us this strength. He really is so faithful and we ares so thankful. Wyatt is strong and a fighter because that's how he was created. We just pray for his continued strength as well as ours. Wyatt is doing really good now. All his numbers are back to where they had been and our awesome nurse, Angela, is hoping he gets off the nitrogen machine today. Thank you standing alongside us through all of this. :-) We are blessed by each and every one of your prayers. — with James Davis.


__________________________________________________________________


So here we are.  We're still on this ride and in this adventure.  God has been and is so good and we are so thankful for the journey He has given us.  I know it's made us so much closer to him, each other and given us strength and courage we never could have imagined.  We KNOW Wyatt is being used for great things already and will continue to be used to glorify and shine light on our loving God.  

here we go

So, James Davis & I went into our weekly visit and my blood pressure is too high and I have too much protein in my urine. We are at Parkland, Dr. Lo is on her way to take out my cerclage and begin inducing me. Wyatt should be here by tomorrow. We appreciate any and all prayers for my and Wyatt's safety!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Instead of Nothing New, We've Got Something New

Today (Tuesday) James and I had our weekly appointment with Dr. Lo.  We had a fabulous sonogram tech today.  She was vocal, telling us what she was doing the whole time and was very happy to try to let us see as much of Wyatt as we could and even clicked it into 3D for us even though he wasn't being the most cooperative (nothing new for us, he likes to hide his cute little face with his hands a lot).  She even printed out like 8 or 9 pictures.  I'm hoping we get her more often!  

Then we went in for our visit with Dr. Lo. Here's some of the basic information we got:

Blood Pressure:  124 over 82

This is a little high for me but as I am told, it is still in normal range.  It's nothing compared to my ER blood pressure and considering I'm still feeling some heartburn pain, I can imagine it being elevated a tad bit.  

Weight:  164.4 lbs.

Nope, not gaining right now.  That has everything to do with my pain and complete diet and eating schedule change.  And on a fun little side note, James decided to weigh himself today while we were alone and we weigh the exact same thing, 164.4lbs!  I found this to be kind of funny.  

Belly Measurement:  35 cm

Cervical Dilation:  1 cm

I'm not sure when you should begin to dilate but Dr. Lo didn't seem too alarmed.  She did say that it does confirm that she wants to keep my cervical cerclage stitch in right up until 37/38 weeks to hopefully keep Wyatt cooking as long as we can hold him in.  Makes me wonder if I will get put on bed rest???  I sure hope not, that would suck, but if it is what is best, I will follow orders as told!  

Wyatt's Growth:  They were looking for just 4 things-

Amniotic Fluid Index: 12.9cm (07.8-24.9) = GOOD

Biophysical Profile: 8/8 = GOOD

Breathing: 2 Tone: 2  = GOOD

Movement: 2 AFV: 2  = GOOD

and his heart rate is in the 150s, which is good as well.

We also mentioned not being called back by one of the nurses and I was very clear in the fact that I understood that I know she wouldn't know that if I had received a call back we may still have had to go to the ER, we will never know but I felt like something needed to be said.  Dr. Lo was very professional and just took in what we said and I felt like I was heard, so I am happy about that.  

With that, we told her what they did at the ER, what prescriptions they gave me and told her we had lab results for her if she wanted them.  She laughed when I told her how great the morphine was and said she probably would have given me a different prescription for home but neither were wrong, just different preferences by different doctors and to let her know if this one wasn't doing the trick.  She also said that there is one more option if I am still having pain and it's expensive but being pregnant it's worth it and most women go with doing it.  

Right before she left, James offered her the lab results and she was like, "yeah, okay, let me look at them really quick."  As she was going doing the list, she said everything looked good and then she got to the last result said, "Oh, this is high."  She ordered a repeat blood work up to see if it still registered high and it did.  Here is what that means...

All this pain might not be heartburn but gallstones.  Apparently,this can mask itself as heartburn.  So, on Thursday we get to make an appointment with a radiologist (for adults this time) and have a ultrasound done on my gallbladder.  If it shows what the blood work is showing, then my pain meds will change (but sadly my diet has to remain the same) and after Wyatt is born I would more than likely have to my gallbladder removed.  She said I could still eat and digest normally though.  

So there's our new news.  Yet another surgery in the works.  One of my thoughts is, maybe it can be shortly after Wyatt is born so that I can be in the hospital longer with him and do all my recovery at once.  Not that I really know how long it takes to recover from gallbladder surgery but it sounds like a good idea in my head.  

I'm not worried.  God has got this and we'll just keep praying He will continue to fill the cracks where we lack faith.  Thank you all for your continued support and prayers as well!  We feel them always. 

PS- James and I found out today that we are a "special" situation with our insurance changing and me being high risk so we don't have to prepay for our delivery.  They are going to wait until it's all said and done and then bill to insurance then we'll pay after.  Yippie!!!

35 Weeks and some Emergency Room Time

I bought some bistro paint pens... what do you think?!?

How far along? 35 Weeks

Total weight:  I'm still about 166 lbs.  

Maternity clothes?  Yes and Yes!  I have a couple of skirts and tank tops I can wear but shorts and pants must be maternity wear!    

Stretch marks?  I still get to say nope! :-)

Sleep:  This is not the week to ask me!!!  I will explain more below! :-) 

Best moment this week:  It's been a rough week but God has still been good.  Getting no bad news at the doctors office was good.  James and I getting Wyatt's dresser finally and his car seat/stroller travel system.  The morphine was awesome... see story below! 

Miss Anything?  NORMAL food and eating schedule!

Movement:  I'm telling you this boy can move and shake!  :-) 

Food cravings:  Everything that hurts me! 

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not "queasy" but sick- almost everything. 

Gender: A BOY!!!  Mr. Wyatt James Davis

Symptoms:  Heartburn!

Belly Button in or out?   It's an inny! 

Wedding rings on or off?  I'm in my wedding band only because it's a tiny bit bigger than my engagement ring.  

Happy or Moody most of the time:  I've been kind of cranky this week but I still have been happy and joyful!  

Looking forward to:  Wyatt being here and no more heartburn! 

_________________________________

This week has defiantly been one with it's ups and downs.  As I wrote about last week, I've had a bit of heartburn- I think Saturday night was bad, Monday night wasn't the best, Tuesday was fine, Wednesday was bad, Friday was the worst.  James came home Monday from work with some Tums for me to take.  I ate a couple of them and absolutely nothing helped.  So, I took a couple more.  I was thinking maybe I just need the max dose.  But nope, nothing.  Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep.  I'd start by laying down with James some but felt bad for moving around so much so I'd move to the couch.  He needs his sleep, he's got a 40 mile drive at 6am and work to do.  Then the couch would get uncomfy so I'd move to the recliner upstairs, James' desk chair and back to the couch.  Once I'd finally fall asleep on the couch for a while and wake up, I'd try our bed again.  (We have a really comfy bed and I miss it when we don't get to sleep in it!).  I think it was about 3 or 4 once I got back into bed and could sleep.  As you can imagine, my Tuesday was a bust.  I spent the day back on the couch napping on and off all day long.  I barely ate or drank anything for fear of being in that kind of pain again.  I tried all the things friends posted on Facebook but nothing was helping in any way.  

Tuesday night was fine and so was Wednesday morning.  Again, I hadn't eaten or had much to drink at all.  James and I had an appointment with Dr. Lo right after lunch.  We told her about the heartburn and she suggested the 150mg of Zantac, twice a day and if that didn't help, let her know.  Of course, on the way home, we stopped.  It was glorious!  I felt so much better.  I even had some couscous for dinner and strawberry ice cream for dessert.  Hmmmm... well, that lasted for a whole 6 hours.  A pill that should last 12-24 hours just lasted me 6.  Great!  So, I took another Zantac... nothing.  It did nothing.  I basically was up all night again!  Torture.  (By the way, I am fully aware that this is what life can/will look like soon with a new baby in the house.  I can handle the sleeplessness but not the sleeplessness and immense pain!)  So, once again, I'm roaming around the house trying to find places to get comfy and try to get some rest.  Again, about 4 or so, I get back into bed and fall asleep.  

Thursday morning I call Dr. Lo's office to say, "Zantac doesn't work!  Please, I need something stronger!"  I speak to the nurse.  She gives me a list of foods to avoid and other over the counter medications I am allowed to take and says she'll talk to the doctor and get back to me.  Well, I didn't hear from her.  Thursday wasn't bad.  I avoided napping so that hopefully, I'd be sooo tired that no matter pain or not, I would be able to sleep.  I stuck to the list of foods I can have and stayed super clear of the ones on the list of high acidic foods.  And Thursday night, I slept great.  

Friday during the day was okay as well.  Again, I tried to stick to the right foods, sitting up and not laying down for a while after eating.  All the while, still taking my Zantac twice a day.  Friday night was the worst.  I was in so much pain and so tired from the week that I was inconsolable.  I was up and down and no where worked.  The only thing that even lightened any pain was James rubbing my back.  He was awesome but he couldn't do it all night long.  Showers helped some.  I think I ended up taking 3 long showers, just letting the water hit my neck and back.  (That doesn't include the one I take to actually get clean before bed!)  I was sobbing and my mind was going crazy.  I think at one point I even tried to lay down with Ronix... Poor James didn't get much sleep.  He probably got the most rest while I was in the shower.  I toyed with the idea of going to the ER all night long.  I didn't know what to do.  Finally about 6 am, I could not take it any more.  I was beyond reasoning, I felt horrible for keeping James up all night, I couldn't sleep, usually by this point the pain had stopped enough for me to be able to lay down and go to sleep and nothing.  It was as bad as it was at 9pm the night before.  I called into Dr. Lo's office.  I felt horrible waking up Dr. Santiago (Dr. Lo's partner- she was on call this weekend) but I had to know what to do.  She said this much pain and lack of sleep warrants a trip to the ER to get some relief.  So, James and head on over to the closest one.  I'm still hysterical at this point because I feel like James is thinking I'm crazy (he wasn't, I just wasn't comprehending anything properly) and I didn't want him to be upset with me.  

We get to the ER and thankfully no one is there.  They heard 35 weeks pregnant and chest pains and got me back right away to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack.  I think immediately there were like 4 different people in the room hooking me up, sticking me with needles and asking me questions.  I had an IV line put into my arm, an EKG to check my heart (which was fine), the oxygen thingy put on my finger and blood pressure band on my arm (which was super HIGH for me, mine is always great).  It was a whirl wind but all worth it in the end.  I got some prescription heartburn meds put through the IV.  They said it usually takes about an hour or so to feel a difference.  I think at about 30 - 45 minutes after that, they asked about my pain and I said it's not much better so they came in with some morphine.  I don't think I've ever had morphine before but let me tell you, I can see why people get addicted!  It was awesome.  She wasn't even finished giving it to me and all my pain went away.  I could lay down and rest.  In fact, I had to lay down right away because my head was like whoa!  And I had some totally crazy images pass through too.  

Anyway, they kind of argued with us about sending up by ambulance to their other location so that Wyatt could be monitored.  They had already taken his heart rate- it was great, as usual and we weren't concerned.  Apparently this ER is not equipped to handle deliveries.  I didn't have any signs of labor so James and I signed an "Against Medical Advisement" to not be transported over.  The doctor gave me a prescription of Lansoprazole to be taken once a day with the Zantac, hydrocodone for any more pain, some anti nausea medicine because the hydrocodone can make you feel sick, and some Nitrofurantn for the beginning of a UTI they found in my urine sample.  Oh my!  We went ahead a filled the heartburn and UTI meds but not the other 2.  If the prescription works like it should and I watch what and how I eat, I should not need the heavy narcotics.  And so far, I haven't needed them.  I have however taken some Tylenol here and there.  Some of the side effects include headaches and such.  

Saturday, after the ER, James and I came home- I slept, he went and got my prescriptions filled and worked some.  I got up here and there to get some food and water in me.  James would make me sit on the couch and sleep sitting up so that I didn't lay down too soon.  He loves and cares about me but I also think he doesn't ever want to go through a night like that again.  I got up up mid afternoon so that I would be able to sleep that night.  And boy, did we both sleep!  It was so amazing.  Yesterday (Sunday) we still just kind of laid around taking it easy most of the day.  I took a shower and had really good intentions of getting ready but I ended up back in bed.  Finally we got up and went to Ikea to get Wyatt's dresser and BuyBuy Baby for his stroller/car seat travel system.  We got that for free.  I'm a gift card hoarder and I had like $200 saved up to Bed Bath & Beyond (thanks to a couple of years of my mom, James' mom and g-ma) so we just used that.  I like to use them on "rainy days" and that was perfect!  

James was hungry so we stopped by Fudrucker's (a hamburger place).  He ate a yummy looking turkey burger with sweet potato fries while I had some graham crackers and cantaloupe.  Talk about a sucky dinner compared to his but my heart didn't hurt so it was worth it.  

By the time we got home though, something was wrong... I had a low grade fever.  Where in the heck did this come from?  It's not often I get a fever and I hadn't had one since I'd become pregnant.  It only got up to 100.2 and it was gone by the time we went to bed at about 9:30.  I was freaking out that this was going to be emergency room visit #2 for the weekend.  I think I stuck that thermometer in my mouth every 5 minutes.  I also didn't want to call the on call doc again.  I already felt bad enough doing it at 6am on a Saturday morning and I knew we'd have to go on down to Parkland for this trip, if needed.  But like I said it's been gone since 9:30 last night and it's now 9 in the morning.  

That's a long weekend story!  I'm just happy we seem to have the heartburn under control and Wyatt is doing well.  I just wanted to leave you with a song that's been stuck in my head for a couple of weeks.  If you remember the show Ally McBeal, it's kind of been my "theme song".  I like to sing it and think about fighting for the Lord and how no matter what my path or story looks like, I am going to fight for Him and his glory and find joy in all situations.  He will not give me more then I can handle.  I could listen to this song all day long!  God is good no matter what!!! 

James and I go in tomorrow to see Dr. Lo tomorrow morning for our weekly check up!  Then I think I'm going to work with James and/or hanging out with a long time friend I haven't seen in forever!  :-)