COMING SOON TO A DELIVERY ROOM NEAR YOU!!!
JULY 28, 2008
Now Showing!!!
June 02, 2008; 3:48 PM
4 lbs., 5 oz.; 19.25 in.
Day 1 (6/02/08)-Thomas arrives at 3:48 PM, weighing 4 lbs, 5 oz. and 19.25 in. long. Drs. Cucina and Graf were the surgeons performing the surgery. May the Lord bless them richly for their compassion and concern for our baby and his mother. How wonderful is the miracle of God's plan of life!
The development of his little lungs was the biggest concern. It was a blessing to hear him cry out after his removal. His Apgar score was 8 & 9, a really good sign. After the initial scrub down, he is sent to NICU (Neo-Natal Intensive Care) to receive further treatment. He needs no oxygen during his first day and is maintaining his core temperature nicely.
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Day 2 (6/03/08)-Thomas is developing nicely. He is fitted with an apparatus to help with the stress of breathing. He is also fitted with a tube from his stomach to the outside to remove excess air. The machines would be removed later that same day. He would also get his first bath today. His mother got to hold him for the first time today. As she held him, he opened his eyes and locked them on his mamma (except for the quick glances he gave his daddy over her shoulder). We also have video footage of him smiling at his daddy.
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Day 3 (6/04/08)-Thomas is under a special light to control his bilirubin counts. He likes his "sunshades." All machines are taken away. Only his IV remains. The tube in his nose is a feeding tube going to his stomach. He was given 4 cc of his mother's milk today and has quickly digested it. All that remains to master is sucking and swallowing.
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Day 4 (6/05/08)-Thomas is once again improving. All praise and glory to God for His steadfast faithfulness towards us! Thomas has successfully digested his mother's milk. He is now up to 9 cc per feeding and again is digesting everything! One of his nurses said that he wouldn't be surprised for Thomas to go home in just a week! Jara got to hold Thomas for a long time today. This will do more for his development than anything else the NICU staff can do. Do you think maybe the good Lord intends it to be this way? Barring any setbacks, Jara will be discharged from the hospital this evening. It will be hard to leave Thomas behind, but the promise of his coming home will be enough to allow us to rejoice with confidence and hope in the days to come.
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Day 5 (6/06/08)-Jara was discharged from the hospital this afternoon around 12 PM. The doctor was a bit concerned that her blood pressure was still high, but it has since leveled out nicely. Thomas is being put on an aggressive feeding plan. He's loving his mamma's milk. One concern that exists on him is the maintenance of his body temperature. He has been moved from a heated incubating table to see how he responds to the room temperature. Twice now his temperature has dropped. Once more and he will be placed back onto the heated table. I've been told this is not a setback, but his temperature maintenance is one of the criterion that he is evaluated by before going home. One bit of good news is that Thomas has taken his first bottle. This is a really good sign as he is not supposed to be able to suck and swallow until ca. 34-35 gestational weeks (He would have been 33 weeks tomorrow). More to follow...along with pictures.
Thomas has continued to do well through the evening. He is taking up to 15 cc. of breast milk. Initially he was having problems digesting this amount. Through the evening he not only digested the residual, but he also digested all of the subsequent feedings. His temperature has stabilized now, so the nurses are optimistic about his quick discharge from NICU I to NICU II.
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Day 6 (6/07/08)-You always hate to get a call from the hospital when your wee one is in NICU, but the nurse, Miss Peggy, wanted his mamma to know how well he was doing. He had his first "stoppy" nose, a good sign because the rattle and whistle is in his nose, not his lungs. He has also been upped to 25 cc. as his diet; he's had very little residual from the feeding. He is also developing his big boy cry. Jara and I visited him this afternoon after lunch. We had a great time with him. We changed 3 stinky diapers during the time we were there. I think he was trying to show daddy & mamma that he is a force to be reckoned with. We "tag teamed" his feeding also. Don't know that there is anything sweeter than seeing him nestled against his mamma while he sleeps. He knows we're there for him. If all continues to go well, Thomas will be on clear liquids this evening, and hopefully disconnected from his IV tomorrow morning.
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Day 7 (6/08/08)-Thomas is now up to 30 cc of food in his bottle. His sucking/swallowing mechanisms are coming along nicely. He's more receptive to his mamma holding him & even nursed briefly. He had one small setback with his temperature dropping, but it quickly stabilized. I'm no expert, but I'd guess he's cold natured like his mamma. He is now up to 4 & 1/2 pounds in weight. The IV fluids have been taken away, but the IV port is still in his arm to allow for his IV antibiotics to be administered. His night nurse said yesterday not to be surprised if he had graduated to NICU II, the final step before going home.
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Day 8 (6/09/08)-Thomas is technically one week old now. He is doing well. Last night he took as much as 22 cc of milk through the bottle. His feeding has been increased, temperature is doing well, and is definitely filling out his 19.25 inch frame. He's such a strong little man. His determination to thrive has been amazing and inspiring to watch. I am so proud to call him my son. I wish all of you could see the recognition that comes across his face when he hears my or mamma's voice. He's smiled for his "Big Daddy." He seems to know just how to interact with whoever he comes into contact with. The nurses all adore him. He's still in NICU I, and his IV is still attached. If he keeps up the positive progress, I'm sure it won't be long before he's home. I'm not going to be posting much anymore. I figure that we will put significant events up until he is "full term." Keep an eye out for more pictures. They roll in by the dozens. Pray for Thomas, then read Psalm 121 and rest in the security of Thomas' God. May He be praised forever!
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Day 9 (6/10/08)
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Day 10 (6/11/08)-Thomas has graduated from NICU I to NICU II. They move babies up when they reach the stage where there is no serious threat to their health. They classify the babies in NICU II as "growers & feeders." That's what we were hoping for with Thomas. Unfortunately, he's still not comfortable taking all of his food by mouth. It won't be long before he's ready to play catch up with his peers.
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Day 11 (6/12/08)-Thomas' IV was finally removed today. He finished his last antibiotic round and seems to be doing well.
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Day 12 (6/13/08)-He's growing! Thomas now weighs a whopping 4 lbs., 10.2 oz. He's taking more milk by mouth, but he's still not at the point that he will not lose weight given his food by mouth. He took his own feeding tube out today. They replaced it briefly with one in his mouth, much to his chagrin. I think he appreciates them moving it back to his nose now. Believe me, he "nose" the difference.
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Day 13 (6/14/08)
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Day 14 (6/15/08)-Happy Father's Day!!! This daddy sure enjoyed spending time with his little buddy, and vice versa. Notice that smile in the last picture. You know, Father's Day takes on a whole new meaning when you can go from "you fathers" to "us fathers."
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Day 15 (6/16/08)-Good news: Thomas is beginning to take his bottles by mouth in a "big boy" way! He's had 5 consecutive bottles by mouth. If he can go 24 hours straight taking the bottles by mouth, his feeding tube will be removed. One more victory in his little, inspiring life. Here's another family portrait (just wish we had Chloe to fill it out...).
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Day 16 (6/17/08)-Ding Dong, the feeding tube's gone... Thomas no longer has his feeding tube. He's been taking all of his bottles by mouth with as much as 60 cc in each one.
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Day 17 (6/18/08)-Thomas was placed in a car seat for the first time today. It's a test they do to make sure that his oxygen level doesn't drop too low. He stayed for 1 1/2 hours and did just fine. He no longer has the oxygen monitor on his foot. Additionally, if he keeps doing better, we will be sent to "Wee Care." This is a room beside NICU where families go before they are discharged. Won't be long before all three of us are Colquitt bound!!!
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Day 18 (6/19/08)-Thomas *ahem* joined the ranks of God's people today. For any who are wondering what I'm talking about, I refer you to Genesis 17:9-11. He's doing well following his procedure. Again, I'm so impressed by his character as he's handled everything so well. Must take after his mamma...
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