1 Week Old

September 13, 2010 at 10:48 AM (Our Journey)
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Enzo is 1 week old today.  He was discharged from the NICU when he was five days old which was Friday and after taking my girls and Surro grandma to meet him, Enzo and his family made the drive home to Miami.  Lucy said they were at the doctor this morning and he weighs 5 pounds 9.5 ounces now!  He is a growing handsome boy.  Here are some more pictures from the day he was born:

 

 

I apologize for not being on here to fill in the rest of the details to Enzo’s birth. I plan on doing it but it is going to take me a little bit to find the time.  What I didn’t mention in the previous postings is that on the same night my water started leaking my husband also started feeling pain behind his belly button.  It got worse through that day but kind-of got sidelined when we had to rush to the hospital for me that night.  When we knew I was stable for the time being he was able to get into our family doctor who thought it could potentially be a few different things.  A strained muscle, an ulcer, stones, but her feeling was appendix.  He had his blood drawn and it showed an elevated white blood count.  She suggested he have a CT scan.  He came to the hospital where I was so if the scan indicated his appendix, he could have surgery there where I was located.  According to the ER, the scan results didn’t indicate appendix and his white blood cells were now within the normal range.  This was frustrating because he was clearly in pain and no solution was given.  He then met with a local general surgeon who did an exam and indicated that he thought it was the appendix but thought maybe a consult with a GI doctor might be a better first stop before jumping to exploratory surgery. 

We were relieved to have bought some time as I was desperate to have him with me during the induction that was scheduled to start the next day.  He rested in the hospital with me and the pain became more manageable through the four day induction.  We returned home Monday night after the birth and he returned to working some until the GI appointment on Friday.  We went to our daughter’s first golf match on Wednesday and it was blazing hot and then down poured on us and they had to call the match 7 holes in.  Our daughter hopped in the golf cart with us and we had a ridiculous ride back to the clubhouse in sideways rain, both my husband and I joking but hanging on to our lower tummies for dear life swearing that we were both experiencing placental abruptions.  Thursday I started pumping my milk to help supplement Enzo. 

Friday we went to the GI doctor who upon examination of my husband (who got dizzy and almost puked when the doctor pressed on the appendix) declared that my husband should go to surgery that evening.  I was still able to run to the other hospital for the kids to meet Enzo, drop off milk, and see them all again before heading home, dropping the kids off to grandpa and taking The Husband to the local hospital.  He was in surgery around 8 and done by 8:40.  It WAS his appendix and it was removed.  I was able to be with him in recovery and when they moved him to his room.  It was around 11 pm when I left him in his bed with his 70 year-old, Irish roommate who was pumped up on painkillers singing tavern songs and pretty much acting belligerent.  I wanted to cry, I hated leaving him there in so much pain, alone and with the annoying piano man.   I prayed his own pain medicine would knock him close to unconscious.  I was able to pick him up the next morning and we were home around 11:30 am. 

 I am so thankful for the timing on everything and how just surrendering the details over to God has in the end made this whole thing somewhat manageable.  Our friends have been providing meals which has taken a huge monkey off my back as everything unfolded and been such a huge blessing.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I think today has been the first day that I have been able to just breathe and actually rest from the events of the past two weeks.  I am doing well and feel very grateful.  As time permits this week, I’d like to finish up the birth story so I have it all documented before I forget it or it all turns into a blur.  Thanks for the all the well wishes and the prayers.

© Pocketbebe, 2010

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Enzo Arrived!

September 7, 2010 at 11:48 AM (Our Journey)

Enzo arrived at 2:12 pm on Labor Day (how fitting…), September 6, 2010.

He weighed 5 pounds 6.3 ounces and is 18 inches long!  He is doing fantastic and is just receiving a 7 day antibiotic in the NICU.  He is breathing and doing everything well on his own.  He is sooo adorable!  He was born at 34 weeks 4 days gestation.

I was released last night around 8 pm and after visiting Enzo in the NICU got to come home and sleep in my own bed!  I am doing great and will even be picking up my kids at school today.  I am hoping to get some pictures printed to have on hand for that but I’ve got to keep moving in order to do so.  The third day of induction was long and I didn’t sleep for almost 36 hours, the fourth day of induction Enzo decided to participate and things went very fast.  You’d think I’d have plenty of time to keep  you all updated but they keep you busy at the hospital.  Blood pressure checks every 15 minutes, monitoring, IV drips that keep you going to the bathroom every hour and requires you to unhook and carry cords with you.  It gets busy.  I will try to get the back details filled in as soon as I can and post more pictures asap.  Lucy says a transfer to Miami NICU may be in the works  and that Enzo is still doing great!  I can’t wait to write more!   Was this quick enough Jen and Heather?? LOL.

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Saturday, Sept. 4

September 4, 2010 at 10:54 PM (Our Journey, Surrogate Education)

There were more contractions today with the pitocin but nothing significant enough to kick real labor into process.  The fact that they were more consistent shows that pitocin receptors are being put in place and now recognizing signals.  It was explained to me that  Enzo basically is in charge of the environment of the uterus and unless he gives signals to the cervix to thin and dilate it won’t, especially since we are at a gestation where the receptors haven’t been fully developed yet.  So, while it feels like a failed induction it really isn’t and at least there was some progress in the contracting patterns today.

Tomorrow there is a plan with different medicine to soften the cervix and a technique to thin it.

A day ago there was hope that the pitocin would just do the job because I have an experienced uterus.  The uterus wasn’t fooled into changing from the state it is actually supposed to be in and while that is frustrating, it is just going to take a little longer.  Hopefully tomorrow will be the day but if it isn’t, it is just another day of priming the cervix and we will be back to the pitocin drip for twelve hours on Monday. This will continue until Enzo comes or gives indication that he is no longer safe and needs to be removed in surgery. 

I think it is easy for some to say just have a c-section and be done with this.  First, I think America has way too lax of an attitude about surgery and the complications that can come with surgery.  Thankfully most OB doctors still view surgery as a last resort in most cases.  I didn’t get to choose whose care I was placed under here at the hospital but it is clear they don’t subscribe to elective c-sections and aren’t going to rush Enzo and I into anything that isn’t medically necessary.  Sure I would like this to be over with, Enzo in his mom and dad’s arms, me back home to my family but I’m not going to increase my risk unless Enzo is at risk, which at this time nothing indicates that he is.  I think we are doing a fine job of walking the line between being proactive and involved without creating unnecessary drama.  Even if this were my own baby I wouldn’t be signing myself up for a c-section and thankfully amidst nonprofessional pressure neither is Lucy urging me to.

Has being in the hospital this past week been hard? Yes.  It has been hard for both Lucy and I to be away from our kids and family. It is hard to keep work responsibilities running smooth when your limited to a certain location. It is hard to not be the one who takes care of the things you normally take care of.  It is hard to make decisions, critically think through things, and quickly educate yourself on your own situation.  It is hard to not have privacy. It is hard to be told when you can eat and not eat.  It isn’t the end of the world but it does emotionally get to me in my weak moments.  This is the time for me to practice what I preach and live out my faith; trust HIM with the details. I smile when I write that because my girlfriends do such a good job of reminding me of that and living it themselves daily.  I can’t wait to do two things with you ladies when Enzo arrives, go for drinks and worship with you.

I’m sleepy and my body tired from contracting today so I am off (ha ha, like I’m changing locations from where I’m at now) to bed.  Antibiotic IV at 2:00 am, monitoring and another antibiotic at 6, first cervix softening medication at 6:30.  Not sure if there will be an ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid tomorrow morning or not.  We shall see.

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10 PM Friday, Sept. 3

September 3, 2010 at 9:18 PM (Uncategorized)

For everything there is a reason and what that reason is…I don’t have a clue.

We didn’t report anything today because there is nothing to report.  A very small primer dose of pitocin was started at 8 am and then the regular beginning dose began at noon.  It was increased up to the maximum dose for the maximum time until it had to be decreased.  Sometimes when they decrease the pitocin the uterus will kick into gear in a weird reflex response, mine quit contracting period.  I did not progress past 1 cm (which is what I was when I arrived here Sunday night) but the cervix did thin out to 60%, but hardly.  I’ve been taken off everything except the antibiotic and we will be starting over again tomorrow.

If you don’t hear from me, that means there is nothing good to report. 

Wish I had more to share!

Here is to a better tomorrow.

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La Fuente Rompío – The Fountain Has Broken.

September 2, 2010 at 6:37 PM (Our Journey, Surrogate Education)
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Tomorrow is 34 weeks (full term is 40) and this textbook baby carrying mama is having her first brush with prematurity.  At noon tomorrow Enzo will be encouraged with a pitocin drip to make his way out to greet his family.  

Sunday night I was helping my oldest daughter with her homework when out of the clear blue sky I felt a little gush.  I was shocked because I thought I had just peed in my pants and well, I haven’t done that in awhile.  I quickly resigned myself to the fact that while I’d kept the hemorrhoids and constipation at bay it was now my pregnancy lot to pee in my pants for the next seven weeks.  I changed, sat down, AND DID IT ALL OVER AGAIN!  Then HELLO! I realized I was continuously dripping out amniotic fluid and I felt the beginning of cramping that would soon lead to contracting.  Surro Grandma was called in and The Husband and I headed to the hospital while Lucy and Ricky headed north to meet us.

We picked between the two hospitals close to my house with a level 2 NICU and I was checked in and given a steroid injection for Enzo’s lungs though he was on the cusp of maybe not even needing it.  A little later I had an ultrasound and the fluid level was very good despite the leak.  We chose not to stop the contractions with medication.  I flipped on my side, they stopped on their own.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and today I have been on hospital bed rest and Lucy has been pumping a bit earlier than expected to get her milk supply going. I have been receiving constant IV fluids, antibiotics because of the open rupture, and fetal monitoring.  I received the second and last dose of steroids 24 hours after the first dose.  I receive an ultrasound each morning to check the amniotic fluid levels and they have risen above what it was when I was first admitted by a little bit each day.  Enzo is utilizing the IV fluids to keep himself floating nice and safe.  They think Enzo may weigh around five pounds.  

The decision to induce labor has been made amongst many sets of different risks to both Enzo and I, and it is a decision that both Enzo’s family and I feel very good with.  We are excited about tomorrow.   

Bed rest has been nothing close to a spa vacation but here are some pictures of Lucy and I making the most of the days.

If you want to receive the up to the minute details on how things go tomorrow you need to make your way over to the tool bar and subscribe to the blog via your email.  Do this even if you already think you subscribe because I know most of my subscribers are on the old service and I know you don’t receive the new posts right away, sometimes it takes over 24 hours.  I know because I am subscribed through both the old and new service.  If you are already on the new service it will tell you and you have the advantage of seeing the posts the second I hit publish.  We will keep you updated!

Wish us luck, say some prayers, and keep on working those rosary beads Grammy C, “Holdernute, we’re headed for the rhubarb patch!”  

© Pocketbebe, 2010

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