Quote from Mandi's facebook 2/26 :
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday Update 2/27
Blakelee did great through the night. They are removing the tube from the tummy. Going back under the lights and going up to 12 ml on the feedings.
Quote from Mandi's facebook 2/26 :
Quote from Mandi's facebook 2/26 :
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday Night Update 2/26
The nurse just said the tummy is shrinking. They won't even do an x-ray tonight. If she is doing this well tomorrow morning they will take IV out of the belly button.
Blakelee will be on minimal O2 and no IV at all. If all continues as is they may upgrade her to Room 2 at the first of the week and hopefully just eat and grow for a couple months.
Thank you all for your prayers, they're working.
Blakelee will be on minimal O2 and no IV at all. If all continues as is they may upgrade her to Room 2 at the first of the week and hopefully just eat and grow for a couple months.
Thank you all for your prayers, they're working.
Birthday Girl
Hard to believe that Blakelee is one week old. I thought it would be fun to share with you a funny story from the morning she was born.
Let me set the stage. It had been a very tense 24 hours. Even though things had gotten so much better for Mandi once she got the epidural it almost made us more nervous because then she wasn't able to feel things changing. Then the doctor warned us that with such a tiny baby Mandi wouldn't need to be dilated to a 10 in order to have her. What????? Immediately the image of Mandi sneezing and birthing this babe came into my mind. We became hyper-sensitive to any move that Mandi made. We were constantly asking her, "Is anything wrong, different, strange?"
So there we were Saturday morning and Mandi gets a strange look on her face. We ask what is going on and she says that she feels "wet". Of course Grandma Ho and I run over there, through back the blankets to see what we can see. Poor Mandi didn't even have a chance to be modest. Before I can even get a good look at things Merralee says, "Ahhhh somethings coming." She goes running to the door, throws it open and yells down the hall that we need help in here. We were down the hall around the corner from the nurses station and I knew that probably no one had heard her, so I went running down the hall until I found a nurse and I yelled at her that we needed help, we were having this babe. I run back in the room followed by nurses and doctors who start checking Mandi.
Turns out we were a little over zealous in our evaluation. No, no baby was coming just then, her water had just started to break. We now believe that what Grandma Ho thought was the baby was pro. bably just Mandi's butt cheek. Good times, good times. That really got our blood pumping I tell you. We weren't too far off though because little Miss Blakelee made her appearance about 30 minutes later.
*If sharing this story doesn't get me blacklisted from updating this blog I'm not sure what's gonna do it.
Now for this morning's update, from Grandma Ho:
I talked with Blakelee's nurse Lisa this morning and she had a really good night. No A&B's since yesterday. They did put a feeding pump on her feeding tube, which will still feed her same 10 ml, just slowly over 30 min instead of draining all at once into her tummy. Her tummy has been a little swollen yesterday and today so they did an x-ray this morning to check for a POSSIBLE condition called necrotizing enterocolitis. Again they are just monitoring her for this but a swollen tummy is a symptom. Necrotizing enterocolitis is the death of intestinal tissue. It primarily affects premature infants or sick newborns. Necrotizing enterocolitis occurs when the lining of the intestinal wall dies and the tissue falls off. The cause for this disorder is unknown. However, it is thought that a decrease in blood flow to the bowel keeps the bowel from producing mucus that protects the gastrointestinal tract. Bacteria in the intestine may also be a cause. They will continue to monitor her tummy size and check with x-rays as needed. We're hoping it is nothing and she just inherited her Grandma Ho's belly!! Otherwise she is doing remarkably well and even as we have worried about our little one, we are grateful for our blessings as we overhear the problems of some of the other tiny ones that are there. As of last night she weighed in at 2lbs even. Baby Blakelee picked a wonderful mommy & daddy to come to and they are doing such a good job!!!!
Let me set the stage. It had been a very tense 24 hours. Even though things had gotten so much better for Mandi once she got the epidural it almost made us more nervous because then she wasn't able to feel things changing. Then the doctor warned us that with such a tiny baby Mandi wouldn't need to be dilated to a 10 in order to have her. What????? Immediately the image of Mandi sneezing and birthing this babe came into my mind. We became hyper-sensitive to any move that Mandi made. We were constantly asking her, "Is anything wrong, different, strange?"
So there we were Saturday morning and Mandi gets a strange look on her face. We ask what is going on and she says that she feels "wet". Of course Grandma Ho and I run over there, through back the blankets to see what we can see. Poor Mandi didn't even have a chance to be modest. Before I can even get a good look at things Merralee says, "Ahhhh somethings coming." She goes running to the door, throws it open and yells down the hall that we need help in here. We were down the hall around the corner from the nurses station and I knew that probably no one had heard her, so I went running down the hall until I found a nurse and I yelled at her that we needed help, we were having this babe. I run back in the room followed by nurses and doctors who start checking Mandi.
Turns out we were a little over zealous in our evaluation. No, no baby was coming just then, her water had just started to break. We now believe that what Grandma Ho thought was the baby was pro. bably just Mandi's butt cheek. Good times, good times. That really got our blood pumping I tell you. We weren't too far off though because little Miss Blakelee made her appearance about 30 minutes later.
*If sharing this story doesn't get me blacklisted from updating this blog I'm not sure what's gonna do it.
Now for this morning's update, from Grandma Ho:
I talked with Blakelee's nurse Lisa this morning and she had a really good night. No A&B's since yesterday. They did put a feeding pump on her feeding tube, which will still feed her same 10 ml, just slowly over 30 min instead of draining all at once into her tummy. Her tummy has been a little swollen yesterday and today so they did an x-ray this morning to check for a POSSIBLE condition called necrotizing enterocolitis. Again they are just monitoring her for this but a swollen tummy is a symptom. Necrotizing enterocolitis is the death of intestinal tissue. It primarily affects premature infants or sick newborns. Necrotizing enterocolitis occurs when the lining of the intestinal wall dies and the tissue falls off. The cause for this disorder is unknown. However, it is thought that a decrease in blood flow to the bowel keeps the bowel from producing mucus that protects the gastrointestinal tract. Bacteria in the intestine may also be a cause. They will continue to monitor her tummy size and check with x-rays as needed. We're hoping it is nothing and she just inherited her Grandma Ho's belly!! Otherwise she is doing remarkably well and even as we have worried about our little one, we are grateful for our blessings as we overhear the problems of some of the other tiny ones that are there. As of last night she weighed in at 2lbs even. Baby Blakelee picked a wonderful mommy & daddy to come to and they are doing such a good job!!!!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday 2/25 11:30am
Neonatologist says everything is GOOD!!
Brain ultrasound came back CLEAR, no bleeds. YAHOO.
They are taking her off the lights for the day.
Brain ultrasound came back CLEAR, no bleeds. YAHOO.
They are taking her off the lights for the day.
Update Friday Morning 2/25
Everything is good this morning. No A&B's in the night, YAY!!!. She is down to 1 1/2 liters of oxygen. Her digestion is a little slow. She is still on the lights.
They weighed her again last night and she is holding steady at 1lb 15oz.
Note to all you slackers who read this blog: We want some comments. Don't make me turn this blog private.
They weighed her again last night and she is holding steady at 1lb 15oz.
Note to all you slackers who read this blog: We want some comments. Don't make me turn this blog private.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
A word from Grandma Ho
Blakelee's Diaper
Well, back on the lights for a while but that's okay. Oxygen still good at 2 liters. If they ever take her up to 5 liters that's when they might put her back on the c-pap to force air but so far so good. Aunt Sherri & Uncle Steve stopped in to visit for a bit. Mandi going home to lay down for a bit. Surprising even how tired I get just sitting and I have to remind her she did just have a baby it's okay to rest. She is doing a great job with everything!!
Thursday Morning Update 2/24
I was only able to talk with Grandma Ho for a minute this morning. Everything is still looking really good. They did the head ultrasound this morning and should get those results this afternoon. One of the biggest concerns with such a tiny baby is a bleed in the brain. Stimulation and activity can cause them to have a bleed. That is why they try not to touch her anymore than they have too. Pray for good results.
Blakelee has been taken back down to 2 liters on the oxygen. She has been turned on her tummy to help with her O2 stats.
I believe Merralee said that she is on 6mil for each feeding right now. When she was weighed last night she was 1lb 15 oz. She must get the losing weight gene from Russell's side of the family because our side of the family has never had a problem gaining weight. They tell us that it is normal to lose weight at first. They will start weighing her every night now.
Blakelee has been taken back down to 2 liters on the oxygen. She has been turned on her tummy to help with her O2 stats.
I believe Merralee said that she is on 6mil for each feeding right now. When she was weighed last night she was 1lb 15 oz. She must get the losing weight gene from Russell's side of the family because our side of the family has never had a problem gaining weight. They tell us that it is normal to lose weight at first. They will start weighing her every night now.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Wednesday Afternoon Update 2/23
Everything is still stable.
She is on 4 liters of oxygen to hold of the A&Bs. (Apnea & brachycardia - low breath & heart rate). Blakelee is still just on the nasal cannula, which is fantastic.
I thought that 4 liters sounded like a lot but Grandma Ho says that the nurses don't act like it is. She did say that it has been upped from 2 liters to 4 though.
I know that Grandma Ho mentioned it on Facebook and I didn't put it on here. The doctor said that there is always a certain honeymoon stage with these babies. So even though she is doing so well we know there will be bumps in the road. We are just so grateful for the blessings so far and continue to pray for many more.
We are already so in love with little Blakelee and are praying for her constantly. Mandi we are so proud of the way you are handling all of this. Russell I am so grateful that Mandi has you, thank you for being so good to her. You are already a terrific dad.
Love,
Aunt Gina
She is on 4 liters of oxygen to hold of the A&Bs. (Apnea & brachycardia - low breath & heart rate). Blakelee is still just on the nasal cannula, which is fantastic.
I thought that 4 liters sounded like a lot but Grandma Ho says that the nurses don't act like it is. She did say that it has been upped from 2 liters to 4 though.
I know that Grandma Ho mentioned it on Facebook and I didn't put it on here. The doctor said that there is always a certain honeymoon stage with these babies. So even though she is doing so well we know there will be bumps in the road. We are just so grateful for the blessings so far and continue to pray for many more.
We are already so in love with little Blakelee and are praying for her constantly. Mandi we are so proud of the way you are handling all of this. Russell I am so grateful that Mandi has you, thank you for being so good to her. You are already a terrific dad.
Love,
Aunt Gina
Wednesday Morning Update 2/23
Report coming from Grandma Ho.
Babe did well through the night. Did have a couple a+b times where she forgets to breath then they give caffeine. They expected she would have more of these than she has had. So still doing great. She will normally have these when she gets tired doing something she shouldn't be doing.
Both eyes are open today a little here and there.
Babe did well through the night. Did have a couple a+b times where she forgets to breath then they give caffeine. They expected she would have more of these than she has had. So still doing great. She will normally have these when she gets tired doing something she shouldn't be doing.
Both eyes are open today a little here and there.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Tuesday Morning Update 2/22
Grandma Ho reports that they were able to talk with the neonatologist this morning. He says Blakelee is doing excellant for a 26 weeker. She is basically breathing air with as much oxygen as we do. He also said that the steroids that were given to Mandi along with Mandi's stress during labor were good for the babe's lungs. She is still under the lights.
Another Monday Update 2/21
Just got an update from Grandma Ho (Hogan, but isn't it funner to say Ho?)
Blakelee is a little jaundice so they have turned on the lights. They have upped the oxygen a little and given her a little caffeine to help her breathing.
She is still doing very very good.
Blakelee is a little jaundice so they have turned on the lights. They have upped the oxygen a little and given her a little caffeine to help her breathing.
She is still doing very very good.
Monday Morning Update 2/21
I think that I might have left out some information in the last posts.
They believe the placenta was infected and that is why all of this happened. The placenta looked really bad and smelled worse. It had started to tear apart.
After the baby was born she was only on the ventilator about 2-3 hours. They put her on a c-pap machine to force a little air into the lungs. She is doing so well this morning that they have removed the c-pap and she is on just a regular nasal cannula. Wow, she is doing so amazing. They also started to feed her yesterday.
They believe the placenta was infected and that is why all of this happened. The placenta looked really bad and smelled worse. It had started to tear apart.
After the baby was born she was only on the ventilator about 2-3 hours. They put her on a c-pap machine to force a little air into the lungs. She is doing so well this morning that they have removed the c-pap and she is on just a regular nasal cannula. Wow, she is doing so amazing. They also started to feed her yesterday.
More Baby Pictures
Ohhhhh, Aunt Gina just got to go see her. Yay, yay, yay. I went with Russell and let me tell you he is one proud daddy. He was so cute telling me everything about his baby girl. Her name is Blakelee.
Here are some new picture. Lots of black hair and just perfect.
Here are some new picture. Lots of black hair and just perfect.
Update #2 2/19
She is here. 10:07 and she weighs 2lbs 2 oz. Mandi is doing great. We don't know much about baby right now.
We will post a picture as soon as we can.
We will post a picture as soon as we can.
Mandi Update 2/19
Ok, instead of trying to call a gazillion people to keep them updated about Mandi and babe we are going to try and update this blog for everyone.
Let's talk about how we got here. Mandi went to the Roosevelt hospital Thursday night about midnight because her back hurt so bad. When she got there she was dilated to a 1. By morning she had progressed to a 3. They sent her by Air Med to the U of U hospital. She was in a lot of pain but no contractions were showing. In the late afternoon they gave her an epidural and that was such a relief for her.
Mandi is just 26 weeks along and they estimate the baby weighs between 1.5 and 2 pounds. They think that she probably has an infection and if so it would be better for the baby to be out in the world. About midnight last night things calmed down. She hadn't dilated past a 5 in several hours so we left her to go get some sleep. They turned the epidural off so that she would be able tell if anything changed.
About 6 this morning we got the call that she had dilated to a 6 and the docs had decided that she is just going to have to have this babe today. It is almost 10am now. She is dilated to a 7 and although leaking fluid the water hasn't broken completely. She is on pitocin now and moving right along. I can tell that Mandi is nervous but is doing so well and being so brave.
I will try to update often but who knows. Please pray for them. This baby is tiny.
Let's talk about how we got here. Mandi went to the Roosevelt hospital Thursday night about midnight because her back hurt so bad. When she got there she was dilated to a 1. By morning she had progressed to a 3. They sent her by Air Med to the U of U hospital. She was in a lot of pain but no contractions were showing. In the late afternoon they gave her an epidural and that was such a relief for her.
Mandi is just 26 weeks along and they estimate the baby weighs between 1.5 and 2 pounds. They think that she probably has an infection and if so it would be better for the baby to be out in the world. About midnight last night things calmed down. She hadn't dilated past a 5 in several hours so we left her to go get some sleep. They turned the epidural off so that she would be able tell if anything changed.
About 6 this morning we got the call that she had dilated to a 6 and the docs had decided that she is just going to have to have this babe today. It is almost 10am now. She is dilated to a 7 and although leaking fluid the water hasn't broken completely. She is on pitocin now and moving right along. I can tell that Mandi is nervous but is doing so well and being so brave.
I will try to update often but who knows. Please pray for them. This baby is tiny.
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