Let's just say, I'm new to this world of blogging. I am not even sure if I'll send out the web address - but thought I'd try it out and see how it goes.
Saela Catherine Green was born on 8-22-07 at 8:24 pm. She must have wanted to be a Leo like her mom because a few more hours and she would have been a Virgo. She weighed 7 # 1 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long. Saela has had quite an adventure for her first two days of life. After birth she began grunting which turned out to be caused by a partially collapsed right lung. The first attempt at reinflating her lung was unsuccessful. Due to how hard she was working just to breathe she was transferred to the Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (RNICU) at the hospital across town for more intensive monitoring and care.
Early the next morning Saela was intubated (a tube was put down her windpipe) to help ease her work of breathing. Throughout the day on 8/23 Saela's lungs seemed to improve and the staff was able to decrease her O2 concentration. However, at the same time she was becoming agitated by sights, sounds, and touch. Overnight, she had a fever (suspected pneumonia-for which she was receiving antibiotics) and her chest x-ray looked worse. Her O2 concentration was raised back to 100%. Her blood pressure was also dropping so she was given a blood transfusion and a medicine to keep her blood pressure elevated.
Today, 8/24, seems to be a better day for Saela. She had a catheter put into her bladder and it turned out she was making urine - she just wasn't able to get it out - so that eased our minds a bit regarding her kidney function. Her temperature is slowly coming down and she is tolerating external stimuli much better than yesterday. I was able to meet her neonatal intensivist for the first time today and he said she looked much better than he had anticipated after the night's events. He was very optimistic, informative, and reassuring. He has started to wean the medicine that is being used to decrease her oversensitivity to stimuli. If he can successfully put in a special catheter that monitors her blood, he will also try to wean her from the ventilator.
As for Steve and I, we are hanging in there. We have had little sleep since Monday night as my water broke at 11:05 pm on Tuesday, August 21st (I highly recommend a H2O proof mattress as a precautionary measure for anyone having kids). This is not something we nor probably most parents that are in any NICU ever anticipated. We are eternally grateful for all of the love, support, and prayers that have been extended to us by our family and friends.
Being on the other side of the fence so to speak has been an eye-opener for me - but perhaps I'll leave that blog for another day.
Thank you again for all of your love and support.
Love,
Steve, Brenna, Saela, Jax & Jilly
Saela Catherine Green was born on 8-22-07 at 8:24 pm. She must have wanted to be a Leo like her mom because a few more hours and she would have been a Virgo. She weighed 7 # 1 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long. Saela has had quite an adventure for her first two days of life. After birth she began grunting which turned out to be caused by a partially collapsed right lung. The first attempt at reinflating her lung was unsuccessful. Due to how hard she was working just to breathe she was transferred to the Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (RNICU) at the hospital across town for more intensive monitoring and care.
Early the next morning Saela was intubated (a tube was put down her windpipe) to help ease her work of breathing. Throughout the day on 8/23 Saela's lungs seemed to improve and the staff was able to decrease her O2 concentration. However, at the same time she was becoming agitated by sights, sounds, and touch. Overnight, she had a fever (suspected pneumonia-for which she was receiving antibiotics) and her chest x-ray looked worse. Her O2 concentration was raised back to 100%. Her blood pressure was also dropping so she was given a blood transfusion and a medicine to keep her blood pressure elevated.
Today, 8/24, seems to be a better day for Saela. She had a catheter put into her bladder and it turned out she was making urine - she just wasn't able to get it out - so that eased our minds a bit regarding her kidney function. Her temperature is slowly coming down and she is tolerating external stimuli much better than yesterday. I was able to meet her neonatal intensivist for the first time today and he said she looked much better than he had anticipated after the night's events. He was very optimistic, informative, and reassuring. He has started to wean the medicine that is being used to decrease her oversensitivity to stimuli. If he can successfully put in a special catheter that monitors her blood, he will also try to wean her from the ventilator.
As for Steve and I, we are hanging in there. We have had little sleep since Monday night as my water broke at 11:05 pm on Tuesday, August 21st (I highly recommend a H2O proof mattress as a precautionary measure for anyone having kids). This is not something we nor probably most parents that are in any NICU ever anticipated. We are eternally grateful for all of the love, support, and prayers that have been extended to us by our family and friends.
Being on the other side of the fence so to speak has been an eye-opener for me - but perhaps I'll leave that blog for another day.
Thank you again for all of your love and support.
Love,
Steve, Brenna, Saela, Jax & Jilly
5 comments:
Steve and Brenna,
Congratulations.
A beautiful baby girl, how awesome. Good job on the blog. You are all in my prayers. It's a hard spot to be in as a parent and feeling so helpless. I pray for continued progress and going home soon. God Bless and my He hold you in the palm of His hand and give you the strength and comfort you need.
Love, Phyllis and Gary
Steve and Brenna:
Wow, I viewed the pictures and she
looks so sweet and healthy. I pray she continues to improve.
Your blog is a great idea. You
write so eloquently. Stay strong
as I know she will be home before
you know it. Just know the whole
family is pulling for all of you.
Love you, Lin
Brenna,
You don't know me, I'm Jason Engle's little sister, Ann. I grew up with Stevie. Anyway, I simply wanted to let you know I am praying for you all. I know the Lord will be able to hold Saela when you can't and my prayer is she will feel his touch. May the Lord be with you.
Ann
Brenna Gal:
Thanks for the update. You are
wonderful. Prayers continue their
way to Lansing, MI.
Get some rest - Love you, Aunt Lin
SAELA CATHERINE: How great to
chat with you. Man you have had
so many tests you won't need any
for many, many years. You sound
well on the mend and we are all
so happy to hear that.
I don't know about that Mom's milk, according to commercials it
is soy, soy.(:)
Take care and continue the great
progress so Mom & Dad can get
some sleep. There will "Plenty"
of days to put them through their
paces. (:) Rest well sweetheart, Love you, Aunt Lin &
Scruffy Dog
Post a Comment