Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker
Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

4 pounds of the cutest baby you'll ever see.... At Least thats what I think.

We did it! (I say we like I have anything to do with it) Bryce finally hit 4 pounds!!! He hit the 4 pound mark on Sunday! Today he is 4lbs. 1.8oz. and gaining like a champ. I am so proud of him! I have posted a couple new pics, you can see how fat he's getting, I love it! Also his flow and O2 on the Cannula has been turned down from 300 cc's to 200 cc's and from 35-40% O2 to 25%! This again is a big step in the right direction. The doctor that took care of Bryce in the beginning when he was real sick is coming on service for the month of July (Dr. Bean) and I am very excited about this because there is a potential for him to be the Doc to discharge us... Wouldn't that be something. He will have seen us at our worst and then at our best. It would be wonderful if it works out that way! Anyway tomorrow is another eye exam if they are worse tomorrow there is a possibilty we will have to go to Childrens' Hospital for the suregery. We'll see.

Oh last night I went to the March of Dimes web site, they are doing a fundraiser calling "Banding Together for Babies" and what I did was created a band with Bryce's name and some info the site asked for and I send the link to people I know who I think would be willing to make a donation to the March of Dimes in Bryce's name. I am posting on this site so that anyone I missed on email will have the option if they'd like. As you may or may not know The March of Dimes plays a HUGE part in saving the lives of preemies and sick babies. And also are trying to stop this premature birth epidemic with research and things like that so if you are trying to think of a good place to donate money at some point The March of Dimes is a great cause and if it weren't for their efforts many of these babies would not survive. Thanks in advance to everyone! The link to Bryce's band is:
http://www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity/b.asp?band_id=38069

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Scary night last night

Well I didn't update last night because I was pretty scared, stressed, nervous freaked out etc.... The reason why is because I had my first experience with Bryce turning blue on me and not coming to without the help of his nurse and the resuscitation bag.... He had just eaten and I was holding him on my shoulder and he was sleeping... all of a sudden his alarm went off showing a Brady, (no biggie he's had these before) his heart rate was in the 40's, so I took him off my shoulder and looked at him, (thats what they tell you to do because sometimes the machines are wrong) While I was looking at him his Sats alarm started going off, that too was in the 40's so I looked at him again....... Well by this point (which felt like forever but was only about 3 seconds) he was completely blue, and not breathing (even though he is on breathing assistance) So of course the brainiac that I am I started screaming "He's Blue!" He's Blue!" so of course the nurse comes, grabs him out of my hands and tells me "Don't just sit there and look at him!" and she puts him in his bed and tries to stimulate him to get him to start breathing, didn't work.... So then she had to get the green resuscitation bag and do a "blow by" which I guess gets him to snap out of it and start breathing again.... Well that worked and he is OK now "knock on wood".... But heres what I want to know....... How in the hell was I supposed to know what to do???? WAS I supposed to know what to do? I don't know but apparently the nurse didn't like what I was doing, which was basically just screaming and trust me I know that wasn't helping him in anyway.... But NOBODY has taught me anything about what to do when that happens! So basically I cried and left..... I know he's my son and I know I am at the hospital ALLOT BUT I don't know what to do when that happens, I have never been in this situation before PLUS I was in a hospital, they should be taking care of that stuff until I am trained in infant CPR and taught how to handle that kind of stuff..... Am I wrong???

Anyway that was just a little B--ch session sorry. Bryce tonight is 3lbs 15.8 Oz. ALMOST 4 Pounds! Exciting! And doing better than last night. Oh and he gets cuter every day!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Weight Loss

Well I just got home from a long day at the hospital. For the most part it was a pretty good day, but Bryce did lose some weight tonight, which is not good. He only lost 10 grams, but he should only be gaining not losing.... Hopefully he'll catch up tomorrow. Anyway tomorrow the eye doctor comes again so we will see what the status of the surgery is. He is still on .3 and 30 on Nasal cannual and handling it pretty well. Thats about it for today.....

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Nasal Cannula

Today was yet another bid day for Bryce (and me too). He was put on Nasal Cannula!!! This is a great step towards coming home.... He is on 3 liters and 35% O2, I know NOTHING about nasal cannula so I have no idea how high or low this is all I know is its a good step. Also we still have not had eye surgery. Dr. McCabe came in today and said Bryce's eyes are a little worse but still not bad enough for surgery. He will be back on Friday to check again.



Bryce is now 3lbs. 13 oz. and just the cutest thing! He nurses twice a day now, which is another good step towards home. He got 5 shots in the last three days (immunizations) so sad but he is so good about it, he only cries for a quick second and then he's fine. He's such a good boy. I am still trying to figure out what to do about when to go back to work or IF to go back to work and HOW to go back to work????? Any advice?? This is such a HUGE Dilemma for me right now, its making me crazy!

Oh another bit of good news, baby Jesse is now on VapoTherm and from what I have heard he is doing much better. VapoTherm is a REAL bog step for him, Congrats to Jesse and his family! And thanks to all who have prayed for him, like Bryce he too is a miracle baby and I totally believe that, prayer sis what has gotten Bryce and Jesse to where they are today! Thanks to everyone! Its been a while since I have updated some pics so here are some from the last few days, hope you all enjoy.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Eye Surgery

So it looks like there is still a possibiliy for the eye surgery for Bryce's ROP. Dr. McCabe came in today and checked Bryce's eyes again, they are getting a little worse every day, his right is especially bad. He will not do the surgery tonight but will come back Monday or Tuesday to chekc his eyes again. May need it by then, may grow out of it.... we'll see.
Bryce is now 3lbs. 8.8 oz., they are considering putting him on nasal cannula, but they want to wait until the possibility of surgery has gone away. That will be a HUGE step for us. Other than the eyes he seems to be doing well (knock on wood) he nurses once a day everyday and is doing well with that, next we will try a bottle and see how he does. I have some new opictures t download soon, I just haven't had the time lately.... They say time flies when you're having fun, but I'm not really having fun and I have no idea where the last 9 weeks have gone. I can't believe we are working on our third month in the NICU, I feel like I should just have my mail sent there, I am there more than home.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Been a While

I know, I know its been a while, BUT I have a perfectly good excuse... For the past 4 days we have been at dance rehearsal and recital so I have been getting home late.... Just wanted to say Great Job to all the dancers at LJF the recital was beautiful, see you next year!

Anyway Bryce is OK, he is now 3lbs. 2.6 oz. Getting big and soooooooooo CUTE! I just love him, I can't stand it. We are still in CCN and still on VapoTherm, 1 liter 38% O2. We were given some not so great news today, it seems as though Bryce now has "significant ROP" in both eyes. Yes this is the same ROP that I told you a few posts ago was gone.... Well its back and worse. Dr. McCabe the eye surgeon will be in this week to see Bryce and examine his eyes and discuss the plan.. May need surgery but I'm not sure yet. His feeds are up to 35ml every 4 hours now.. and so far so good. I went and visited our old neighbor in ICU Baby Jesse, his dad invited me in to see him, he is off the oscillator and on the conventional vent and is also in an incubator so I am thinking this may be a step in the right direction for him. He is a fighter so hopefully he can keep going and get better. Please keep him and us in your thoughts and prayers.

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Staying at the Hospital too late

Sorry for the delay again in posting, I have been staying at the hospital from 9 am til about 10-11 pm so its been late by the time i get home and by then I don;t feel like posting... Anyway, all is well in NICUland. We are still in CCN, still on 1 liter on VapoTherm, and today we graduated to a crib! Open air! Not sure how Bryce will handle his surroundings being out in the open so its just a trial right now, we'll see. He has to be able to maintain his temp and not desat or brady and for a little guy like him thats allot to ask. But I have faith in him, I know he can do it! We have TRIED to start breastfeeding, he sucks at it, (no pun intended) but really he has only had 1 good feed the rest have just basically been practice. They say he is still young and won;t have the coordination until he is 32-33 weeks (adjusted) so we'll just keep trying until he finally gets it! No rush though. He is now 2lbs. 15 oz. (almost 3!) I bet he'll hit 3 lbs tonight, I will get that weight at 11pm tonight so I will update tomorrow with that. We had Anne for a nurse today which was one of his IC nurses! I missed her it was sooooo good to have her again. So like I always ask please keep praying for him because I know for a fact that it is nothing short of a miracle that we even have him let alone how well he is doing (knock on wood), so please please please continue to pray for him. (Oh and maybe throw a little one in for me, I could use a little sanity at this point.) Thanks!

Sunday, June 3, 2007

CCN!!! Happy and sad news all at the same time.

As of 11 pm Friday night 6/1/07 Bryce is stable enough to go to CCN. (continuing care nursey.) Which is still in the NICU but its a different room than what he was in. They moved him overnight. This is GREAT news! He is still sick, but obviously getting better to be able to be moved there. The sad news is that his primary nurse's who I LOVE will not be his Nurses anymore :( except when they work in CCN. I miss them already. But I have to tell myself this is a big step for us, and its one step closer to home! In other news he is now 2lbs. 11.6oz. (as you can see from the scale pic) and seems to be holding his own so far (knock on wood) He is still on VapoTherm 1 liter and 60% O2.

Friday, June 1, 2007

Slacking on the updates.....

Sorry about the delay in updates, I am trying to get myself prepared for going to back to work, and spending as much time in the hospital and home as I can in a 24 hour day! Why can't they make days longer?? I feel like time is just FLYING by, Bryce is almost 2 months old! It feels like I just had him yesterday (only I can walk now). Well anyway, things have been OK the past few days. Bryce now weighs 2lbs. 9.2 oz. FAT! I love it! His arms and legs aren't really wrinkly anymore because he has fat to fill them out! Its so cute! He is almost eating an ounce of milk now (22 mls.) (30 mls. is an Oz.) and seems to be taking it fine. They turned him down to 1 liter of pressure on the VapoTherm. Next is nasal cannula! He has been off the steroids now for about 2 days, so far so good, he can relapse but hopefully he won't. He had his ultrasounds on the 30th, and the grade 1 IVH's are almost resolved and the Thelamic Echos are GONE!!! This is exciting news! His renal ultrasound was not as great, his left kidney is enlarged and has fluid around it?? Not 100% sure what if anything this means, but they will follow it for now. And he is now considered a "feeder and a grower"! One of the Fellows(doctors) called him this and said it with a smile so it must be good! They have moved us to a different pod, we are now in Pod 2, it seems to be quieter in there.... Its pretty good except for the fact that I keep almost going into Pod 3... I'll get used to it! Keep up the praying please, it IS why we have been so lucky!

Go Patriots!!!

Go Patriots!!!
Finally Football season!


Cute

Look at my muscles!

Look at my muscles!

No Oxygen!

No Oxygen!
So who does he look like????

VAPO THERM!!!!! Yipee!!!

VAPO THERM!!!!! Yipee!!!
Look at me I'm on VapoTherm now! You can see my fat cheeks!

July 5, 2007

July 5, 2007
First day no oxygen...

Apnea study

Apnea study
On Monday 7/2/07We participated in an Apnea study for UMass Medical School, it is a study to try to prevent apnea in preemies.


Colee holding Bryce

Faythe Holding Bryce

We're home!

Fist time trying out the carseat before going home

Cute!

Cute!



Daddy and Bryce

Daddy and Bryce
Finally I remembered to take a picture!

Sleeping...

Sleeping...

Just to get an idea of how small Bryce is, that is my hand and its almost twice the size of him. This pic is from last week.

2lbs. 11.6oz.

Coming out for my first tubbie!

Coming out for my first tubbie!

My first Tubbie

My first Tubbie
Anne (bryce's nurse) Putting him in the tubbie for the first time

The Mommy Massage!

The Mommy Massage!
Ahhh... This is the life!

Mmmm... Fingers!

Mohawk!!!!

Mohawk!!!!
Anne not only gave Bryce his first tubby, but she also gave him his first Mohawk!

I'm only the cutest baby EVER!

I'm only the cutest baby EVER!

Mad??? What gave you that idea?

Mad??? What gave you that idea?

Peek-A-Boo

Peek-A-Boo
So in this game what comes after you put your hands over your eyes???

Bryce trying to pull out his breathing tube

Bryce trying to pull out his breathing tube
Is this thing really NECESSARY??

Bryce holding onto a toy instead of his breathing tube and pulling it out!

Mom pretty sure you should have someone else take the picture and not try to do it yourself!

Just Me and My Mom!

Just Me and My Mom!
May 8, 2007

Even on bad days I'm still so Cute!

Please NO MORE PICTURES!

Please NO MORE PICTURES!
Would you stop with the camera already!

Clean blankets, clean bum what more can a boy ask for??

Boy am I tired!

Boy am I tired!

Changing my Bed

Changing my Bed
Mom gets to pick me up while my nurse changes my bed

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Happy Birthday Mommy!
First time I ever got to hold Bryce

Best birthday gift a mom could have aked for.