So, the saying is God doesn't give you more than you can handle, why do I feel he is overloading me? I'm good, God. I don't need any more tests to see what I can handle.
3 infections in 8 weeks.. just life in the NICU? WTF??
And why are the radiologists billing me instead of my insurance company? Don't they know I have no time to call them to figure this out..really? (deep sigh)
I'm sad!
Everything we've been thru to get pregnant, why would this happen the way it did??
So, if your son is sick, would you allow him to eat whatever he wants, when he wants? (interesting story of a Mom & son at RmCd house.. thank god that they are not here anymore)
Don't judge me.. I would NOT want you to walk in my shoes for a day!
Okay..those are my random thoughts.. just for tonight.. blahhhhhhhhhhh
Friday, September 30, 2011
But look at my new pictures with my binkie!! 9/30/11
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| Holding it!! |
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No hands, Mommy!! Love, Gracie!! xoxo |
Friday Afternoon Update 9/30 @ 2:00pm
It's been a long day so far! Gracie's bloodwork came back that she does have an infection (sometimes I forget what I write previously, soo sorry if I repeat myself). Anything above 1 is an infection; yesterday it was .14, so it was 'normal' & today it was 8.. far from 'normal'. So, she's being treated as we speak on antibiotics.
She's also had alot of d-sats today, so just to help her to breathe a little & relax til she feels better, they've re-intubated her..(which means they've put her back on the ventiliator). Yes, I am sad & disappointed. She was doing so good Mon-Wed, and now she's reintubated!! :( But I know and I pray it's for a short time, maybe til weekend is over.. just to really help her to RELAX, and get some sleep!! We know how we feel to be sick., I just want her to feel better.
We were going to go to N.Conway to our friend's condo for weekend, just to have a change of scenery, but I think for tonight we'll stick around here..(last day of month too, so we have to do billing..ugh!!) And maybe tomorrow afternoon head out there.. I was suppossed to meet up with an old friend there, that I haven't seen in 2 years, but not sure about that either.
Just be better, Gracie! Please!! I just hope she can get some well deserved rest..she shouldn't have to get this tired so little!! :(
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
She's also had alot of d-sats today, so just to help her to breathe a little & relax til she feels better, they've re-intubated her..(which means they've put her back on the ventiliator). Yes, I am sad & disappointed. She was doing so good Mon-Wed, and now she's reintubated!! :( But I know and I pray it's for a short time, maybe til weekend is over.. just to really help her to RELAX, and get some sleep!! We know how we feel to be sick., I just want her to feel better.
We were going to go to N.Conway to our friend's condo for weekend, just to have a change of scenery, but I think for tonight we'll stick around here..(last day of month too, so we have to do billing..ugh!!) And maybe tomorrow afternoon head out there.. I was suppossed to meet up with an old friend there, that I haven't seen in 2 years, but not sure about that either.
Just be better, Gracie! Please!! I just hope she can get some well deserved rest..she shouldn't have to get this tired so little!! :(
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
The downs of the NICU :( Fri., 9/30 @10:14a.m.
Good morning! Gracie is not having a good couple of days, it's been rough for her, which is rough for her Mommy!! I was thinking of Maxwell all day yesterday, as I saw my baby girl go thru some pretty awful d-sats (when she loses her breath), she usually comes right back on her own..but in the last 24 hours she's had to have more than 30 interventions to get her back to breathing. I'm so sad.. thank God, my dear friend, Heather answered my tearful phone call. She started the prayer circle for us. I'm still scared. :(
Today, the good thing is..she started finally sucking the binky!! (Watch out Abby!!, and Belle, too!!) Before we came in the nurses, took a picture of her sucking her thumb like crazy, then put the pacifier in & you have to hold it, or like me I put her hand to hold it..and I have a GREAT picture of her..but I didn't bring my little card to upload the picture!
Good/Bad News (10:24a.m.): Ok, sooo Gracie has an infection!! The good part of that is at least we know why she's been spelling so much.. the bad news is it's another infection! Please, please pray for her!! At this time they will give her antibiotics and get her to feeling better.. we should see a difference in 24-48 hours. I'm glad it came back something.. because it would be even shitter if we didn't know what it was!!
Okay.. need to go put her binky back in & set up her hand to hold it! On a sidebar note, Gary & I went to Olive Garden for dinner last night & Target.. retail therapy is always good! (I bought 3 packs of wipes for home, at $2.00 each & a 100oz of Tide (safe & free) detergent for all of the baby clothes we are getting from people for Gracie. (Thanks, Lisa!! And Thanks to Sissy & her daughter!!)
Thanks to Liz.. someone I've never met..but have always chatted thru emails..even wayyy before I was pregnant & just trying to get pregnant!! She knows just when to send me a really good email!!
I couldn't do this without all of my friends.. even those I don't know!! Julie, I'll post I swear of my 'thoughts'.. :) .. My mother in law always says I have good friends.. Thank YOU good friends!! (and my family, of course.. :)
Love you,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Today, the good thing is..she started finally sucking the binky!! (Watch out Abby!!, and Belle, too!!) Before we came in the nurses, took a picture of her sucking her thumb like crazy, then put the pacifier in & you have to hold it, or like me I put her hand to hold it..and I have a GREAT picture of her..but I didn't bring my little card to upload the picture!
Good/Bad News (10:24a.m.): Ok, sooo Gracie has an infection!! The good part of that is at least we know why she's been spelling so much.. the bad news is it's another infection! Please, please pray for her!! At this time they will give her antibiotics and get her to feeling better.. we should see a difference in 24-48 hours. I'm glad it came back something.. because it would be even shitter if we didn't know what it was!!
Okay.. need to go put her binky back in & set up her hand to hold it! On a sidebar note, Gary & I went to Olive Garden for dinner last night & Target.. retail therapy is always good! (I bought 3 packs of wipes for home, at $2.00 each & a 100oz of Tide (safe & free) detergent for all of the baby clothes we are getting from people for Gracie. (Thanks, Lisa!! And Thanks to Sissy & her daughter!!)
Thanks to Liz.. someone I've never met..but have always chatted thru emails..even wayyy before I was pregnant & just trying to get pregnant!! She knows just when to send me a really good email!!
I couldn't do this without all of my friends.. even those I don't know!! Julie, I'll post I swear of my 'thoughts'.. :) .. My mother in law always says I have good friends.. Thank YOU good friends!! (and my family, of course.. :)
Love you,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Thursday, September 29, 2011
My baby's daddy is coming back!! Thurs., 9/29 10:24a.m.
My baby's daddy is coming back to ME today!! Yea!! We've missed him.. maybe that's why Gracie is 'acting up'.. she's had quite a # of d-sats this morning.. geesh! We need her to breathe, please!! Please keep up those prayers.. and Gracie, you scare Mommy when your breathing goes below 10..
She's an active one.. look at her here! Soo precious!! she's crossing her legs, we are trying to break her of that..not a good idea from the OT stand point.. but hey, she's got very long legs, what's she suppossed to do with them?
Okay, my baby's daddy is back today.. then later this afternoon, we are going to Target (pampers wipes are on sale $2.00..wow..i'm going to stock up!!) and Olive Garden for dinner. That'll be nice!!
Love you guys!!
pattie & gary, gracie & max
So here's her Good Morning World picture!! She is cunning, isn't she?
From 1a.m. last night to 9a.m. this morning, she did NOT have 1 d-sat; now this morning (& it's only 10:30) she's had like 4.. soo I don't know what's happening, and I'm worried!! These are the up & downs of the NICU, and it's soo frustrating!!
Dr. Morrow, her doctor this am, is going to get some blood & make sure she's "not up to something".. that means hoping there's no infection or something.. Please, I hope not!! She's had the pic line out for 24 hours.. soo that's GREAT!!
Okay, my baby's daddy is back today.. then later this afternoon, we are going to Target (pampers wipes are on sale $2.00..wow..i'm going to stock up!!) and Olive Garden for dinner. That'll be nice!!
One last morning picture..in case you've forgotten how cute she is.. Meaghan, her nurse just put her on her belly.. & she likes that position..so maybe she'll breathe better!! I'll hold her later, and read her books when Daddy gets here.
Keep talking to God for us, please!!
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Hump Day with Grace & a break.. Wed., 9/28 @ 5:20pm
Hi, Gracie & I are checking in! Grace has had a marvelous day, again! Yea for her!! They took her pic line out, she is on 8cc's/hr of feedings.. Thank God! They tried to up her to 9cc's/hr, but she was throwing up too much (what's too much?? lol)..so they put her back to 8..which that's OK!!
She's such a wiggle worm.. Daddy thinks she's planning her escape..
She's such a wiggle worm.. Daddy thinks she's planning her escape..
So see how her upper body is wayy on the other side of her "nest"..her legs are on opposite side. Our little active girl.. that she's always been from day 1..active!
I got me some new friends!!! Kelly & Josh, who are Baby Will's parents! Baby Will is next door to Grace.. (yes, we know..Will & Grace).. the nurse practioner is already setting them up on a blind date..lol.. Well, Kelly & Josh invited me out to lunch today & a movie, and I went! Kelly grew up in S. Portland, so this is the couple to hang out with & find out where places are, what to do.. (even though most of our time is spent at the hospital)..still nice to know where some places are. We went to this little deli place called, "Down Home Cooking", and got some wraps. I had the special for today, chicken, bacon & cheese on a grilled wrap with ranch dressing..it was delicious!! We then went to see "Moneyball", with Brad Pitt..about Billy Beane & the Oakland A's... it was a really good movie.. half way thru, I felt a little 'normalcy', but also guilty that I wasn't with Gracie.. but it was certainly nice to be out & I haven't been to the movies in a long time. So, Thanks Kelly & Josh!! Plus, I can tell all of you, my followers, about the aggravations sometimes here... but you wouldn't really understand it.. I might ask some pondering questions about it later in another post.. but K&J understood it & they are as aggravated as I... (ahhh).. :) .
Here's the 2nd pic of the day of my girlie Girl.. actually.. when it does come to my baby shower.. I know women like to buy 'pink'..but how about some other colored clothing.. yellows, purples, browns.. I'm just sayin!! :) She's sticking out her tongue again..
She is cute, isn't she!! :) We love her!!
Going down to dinner now.. done by the Girl Scouts.. breakfast for dinner (cinnamon buns & a breakfast egg quiche like thing I think.. ) Thanks Girl Scouts!
Daddy's on his way back tomorrow.. that'll be nice!!
Love you daddy,
love,
pattie & gracie & max..
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
I'm tired! Tues. eve. 9/27/2011 @ 7:57pm
I'm so proud of her..she's doing great! I love being there all day with her. Her OT, Marisa came in today & did some of her excercises with her. Marisa said she did well with the excercises & her hips are becoming looser.. that's what we want. She also does an excercise to stretch out her lower back, and today she was very relaxed when Marisa did that one.. so that's good!!
Gracie had a couple of pukies, but not as many as last week.. she's doing good.
This picture is a picture of me holding her today.
She had her eyes opened for a good 15 minutes, just looking at Mommy..as I read to her. I think she heard the books I usually read, and was like..'hey I know those stories already."
She looks soo cute..doesn't she?? Resting her little hand.. she had one little throw up while I held her & I caught it with a cloth..so she was good! :)
Wow.. I just love her soo much!!
The only other exciting thing that happened today, was I saw a helicopter land on the helicopter pad at the hospital.. no body though, (schucks!).. just picking up some equipment..here's my picture..I tried to zoom it & save it..but it didn't save..but if you look close enough you'll see it..straight ahead on the roof of the garage.. :)
It's there, I swear!! lol
I'm really tired tonight.. I could tell you my aggravating stories..but it'll just make you aggravated..lol.. I'll just call it a night.. maybe I'll write about them tomorrow. I did see one of my favorite people up here today, Dr. Peter Marro..he's a neonatalogist & very nice.. He is the twins primary Neo up here..and has been with Grace since she's been born. Next week, I'll be talking about him everyday, because he's on the daytime shift starting next week for 2 weeks..and he's a cutie patutie :)!!
Good night people!! Thanks for reading!!
Love you guys!! Thanks to my MOM for cooking supper for Gary tonight.. pork chops & rice, and apple sauce plus he has some for lunch tomorrow!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Good Morning Tuesday 9/27/2011 @ 12:20pm
Ok..so it's afternoon! I've been with Gracie this morning since 9:30, so it seems like morning to me. She is still doing great. She had a few pukies last night, maybe about 3-5, with 4 d-sats.. that's better than she has been doing. This morning, she scared her nurse, Lindsey at 7:30 a.m. (or maybe just did it to make sure she was awake), she had a big d-sat & a 'brady' (it's when the heart rate drops as well).. so she needed Lindsey's intervention. I told Lindsey, Gracie just wanted to say 'good morning', and she can't talk yet. But since then, nothing.. she does go down on her oxygen a little, but goes right back up. (hey, she's only 35w2days, 57days actual, and people want her to breathe all the time?? lol). Look how cute that face is... she definitely has momma's nose.
There's some talk with our insurance company to have her transferred to Children's in Boston. She's not completely stable just yet for a real road trip.. but maybe in a few weeks. Let's work on getting her completely on feedings here, and better breathing all the time. I've caught myself saying, 'we need to be advocates for Gracie', and it's not about us, but what's the best situation for Gracie. And I hope everyone just respects Grace's parents thoughts.. we just turned the corner with feedings here, and we want her to grow a little more, get better with feedings & breathing; then maybe when she's ready for a level 2 or continuing care, she can be transferred. What we don't want, is for her to have moved forward 5 steps, and then be transferred and now 2 steps back. She has enough good/bad days here. (And for those thinking, "it'll be closer for you & Gary".. Gary & I are OK!! we are in a routine..have a schedule developed for the whole month of October.. and we are GOOD! I'm with Gracie and Gary is working, he comes up for long weekends usually.). It's not about us, it's about Grace Lucia!! :)
I'm going to eat my willow tree chicken salad for lunch at 1:00, so I can watch days :) in the family room; with my chips & diet coke. (Thanks to my brother, John who got the Willow tree for me). Then I will hold Gracie.. we need to read together & sing!!
Hope everyone out there is doing well!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Grace is 3lbs. 3oz. as of this morning, yea!! Around here they take her weight everyday but it's the week long process that's the 'big picture'.. I like knowing everyday!!There's some talk with our insurance company to have her transferred to Children's in Boston. She's not completely stable just yet for a real road trip.. but maybe in a few weeks. Let's work on getting her completely on feedings here, and better breathing all the time. I've caught myself saying, 'we need to be advocates for Gracie', and it's not about us, but what's the best situation for Gracie. And I hope everyone just respects Grace's parents thoughts.. we just turned the corner with feedings here, and we want her to grow a little more, get better with feedings & breathing; then maybe when she's ready for a level 2 or continuing care, she can be transferred. What we don't want, is for her to have moved forward 5 steps, and then be transferred and now 2 steps back. She has enough good/bad days here. (And for those thinking, "it'll be closer for you & Gary".. Gary & I are OK!! we are in a routine..have a schedule developed for the whole month of October.. and we are GOOD! I'm with Gracie and Gary is working, he comes up for long weekends usually.). It's not about us, it's about Grace Lucia!! :)
I'm going to eat my willow tree chicken salad for lunch at 1:00, so I can watch days :) in the family room; with my chips & diet coke. (Thanks to my brother, John who got the Willow tree for me). Then I will hold Gracie.. we need to read together & sing!!
Hope everyone out there is doing well!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Monday, September 26, 2011
Cute pictures of Grace from the weekend!! YAWN!!
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| soo cute!! |
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| I love her eyes opened!! |
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| What a cutie when she yawns!! |
Last minute update about dinner. 9/26 @ 9:28pm
Hi.. just a quick update.. Dinner was "served" by Olive Garden tonight!! Wow.. it was yummy.. I love Olive Garden!
They brought to each individual person: salad, breadsticks & then lasagna; & cake. They served us.. it was a nice touch!
Thanks Olive Garden!
& RmCd house staff & volunteers..
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
They brought to each individual person: salad, breadsticks & then lasagna; & cake. They served us.. it was a nice touch!
Thanks Olive Garden!
& RmCd house staff & volunteers..
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Gracie's having a good Afternoon 4:02pm 9/26
Gracie is having a great day! Her occupational therapist, Marisa (ot) came in today & she was awake & cooperative. We did a few excercises with her, and it went well. A "manipulative medicine" doctor came in as well, and he did a few things with her..she actually had a d-sat with him..(he looked worried... not as worried as I was seeing her breathing drop to 20's.. but we got her back up to 100).
The doctor did rounds this am, and decided for right now they would leave the NG tube in (empties into her belly) because she's doing okay with it & the NJ tube has to be done downstairs in radiology, and we don't want to stress her out.. so Sorry, Gracie..no road trip for you.. but that's OK! :)
She's only had a few small throw ups..of course one came when I was holding her..so I smell like re-digested formula.. (yum!.NOT!). So, we definitely think the zantac is working! Her nurse today, Lindsey had her Friday & Saturday night, and definitely sees a big difference today with hardly any pukes & d-sats! Maybe she's taking the turn.. gosh I hope so.. Thank God!! :)
I'm heading back to RmCd house in a little while.. hope their internet is working. Last night we had turkey, ham, cheese & all the fixings for sandwiches. I believe the same is for leftover tonight. Just hope there's some good dessert around. :).
Tonight is a good day in NICU!! :) Til tomorrow,
love,
pattie & gary, gracie & forever, Max!
The doctor did rounds this am, and decided for right now they would leave the NG tube in (empties into her belly) because she's doing okay with it & the NJ tube has to be done downstairs in radiology, and we don't want to stress her out.. so Sorry, Gracie..no road trip for you.. but that's OK! :)
She's only had a few small throw ups..of course one came when I was holding her..so I smell like re-digested formula.. (yum!.NOT!). So, we definitely think the zantac is working! Her nurse today, Lindsey had her Friday & Saturday night, and definitely sees a big difference today with hardly any pukes & d-sats! Maybe she's taking the turn.. gosh I hope so.. Thank God!! :)
I'm heading back to RmCd house in a little while.. hope their internet is working. Last night we had turkey, ham, cheese & all the fixings for sandwiches. I believe the same is for leftover tonight. Just hope there's some good dessert around. :).
Tonight is a good day in NICU!! :) Til tomorrow,
love,
pattie & gary, gracie & forever, Max!
Monday in Maine 9/26/2011 - 10:07a.m.
Sorry I couldn't post yesterday, the internet was down at the RmcD house.. good thing i was tired & could go to sleep around 9pm. Yesterday was a great day for Gracie, she was visited by Uncle Ross. He got to hold her too!! Along with Daddy for the 1st time, and now Daddy says I'll have to fight him for holding her!! I knew he would love it...
The great news is that Grace is back up to 3lbs. 2 oz. as of yesterday; she is also officially 15.5" long!!
And she hasn't thrown up much. Only twice yesterday. Soo, we are hoping & praying this is it.. she needs to GROW!! And part of growing, is keeping her formula down. She is on zantac 3x's a day, so that should be helping now too. She had the NJ (feeding tube that bypasses the belly) in on Saturday, but apparently it was in the wrong spot.. so they took it out & put her back on the NG (feeding tube that deposits into the belly) tube as of Sat. eve. They are still going to put her back on the NJ tube. They have an order for radiology to come & get her, to have them put it in..because they can actually make sure it goes in the right place. This will help her to eat more, get to full feeds (which is about 8 1/2cc's/hour)..and grow. Which is definitely what we want! So, a road trip she will go on this afternoon or tomorrow to put the NJ tube in.
Just keep us in your prayers..I know you all are.. and we appreciate it soo much! We can't begin to thank everyone personally..so I pray for all of you.. that whatever it is you need, or our going thru can get as well.
Gary is back in Fairhaven.. financially, the past two months have been very tough for us. He is back to full swing at work, starting this week, and will come back up long weekends. I will keep him updated thru texts; and for right now I remain in Maine. This is where our little girl is, and this is where I feel the most like a Mommy!!
Love you guys!! (I'm chatty with the family next door to Gracie.. "Will's" room.. so that helps.. the mom & dad are staying at the RmCd house too.. very nice peeps!)
Love,
pattie, gary, gracie & max (forever)
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| Daddy holding Grace 9/26/2011
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Just keep us in your prayers..I know you all are.. and we appreciate it soo much! We can't begin to thank everyone personally..so I pray for all of you.. that whatever it is you need, or our going thru can get as well.
Gary is back in Fairhaven.. financially, the past two months have been very tough for us. He is back to full swing at work, starting this week, and will come back up long weekends. I will keep him updated thru texts; and for right now I remain in Maine. This is where our little girl is, and this is where I feel the most like a Mommy!!
Love you guys!! (I'm chatty with the family next door to Gracie.. "Will's" room.. so that helps.. the mom & dad are staying at the RmCd house too.. very nice peeps!)
Love,
pattie, gary, gracie & max (forever)
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Birthday Bash Saturday! 9/24 @ 6:33pm
HI! Gary & I were up early today, bed late..couldn't sleep :( .. we stopped & visited Gracie on our way back to Mass. It was 7:30 a.m., so she was looking at us like "what are you doing here?".. She had an okay night, a few throw-ups, and just a couple of d-sats. She looked beautiful so early in the morning! Her weight is the same, she's down to 2lbs. 15oz.. soo the 3lbs 4oz was probably fluid.. but she'll get back up there, we're sure of it!! She is on a diaretic to help with fluids.. & as of yesterday, she is taking zantac 3x's a day. So, maybe tomorrow we'll see less throwing up.. hope the zantac takes away her acid in her belly.. Most preemies have reflux & unfort, Gracie is one of them.. it's just the throwing up part that sux for her!! :(
We were then off to Em's & Ben's birthday bash.. & what a fun, but very tiring time we had. I miss them soo much!! Ben is turning 4 tomorrow, and Emily is turning 2 on 10/7.. she is getting so big..and was attached to Auntie Pattie.. I even went in the bubble bounce with her for a good 20 minutes, and bounced with her counting to 8..and she did pretty good counting to 8..big girl!! She was sad when I was leaving, cried a little, but then just turned & gave me a kiss...and she was off! :) It was soo good to see them, and play.. it'll be even better when they can meet Gracie.. I can't wait for that day!!
Today's doctor didn't go up on her feedings today, kinda wish they "pushed on" (as they say!) and went up .5cc's..but nope, he decided to give her a whole day to get used to the 5cc's/hr.. and they'll decide tomorrow. Continuity would be good here..it's pretty frustrating.. and I know they're frustrating; but if one doctor thinks she's a "puker", and is going to push thru with the feedings, then they should be all on the same page.. So, I hope they go up tomorrow at least the .5cc's.
Tomorrow, we are heading back early with our friend Ross. He will visit, and then Gary & he will return tomorrow evening. I will have time to upload all my pictures from the weekend, promise!!
Thanks to my email friend, Nichole! Who had twins in March..and has been a HUGE support for me!! I can ask her anything I want..especially with "adjusted" ages.. still trying to make sense of that..lol.. Thanks Nichole! We'll have to meet up in the Spring.. :) because once Gracie is home, her & I will be in hibernation!!
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
We were then off to Em's & Ben's birthday bash.. & what a fun, but very tiring time we had. I miss them soo much!! Ben is turning 4 tomorrow, and Emily is turning 2 on 10/7.. she is getting so big..and was attached to Auntie Pattie.. I even went in the bubble bounce with her for a good 20 minutes, and bounced with her counting to 8..and she did pretty good counting to 8..big girl!! She was sad when I was leaving, cried a little, but then just turned & gave me a kiss...and she was off! :) It was soo good to see them, and play.. it'll be even better when they can meet Gracie.. I can't wait for that day!!
Today's doctor didn't go up on her feedings today, kinda wish they "pushed on" (as they say!) and went up .5cc's..but nope, he decided to give her a whole day to get used to the 5cc's/hr.. and they'll decide tomorrow. Continuity would be good here..it's pretty frustrating.. and I know they're frustrating; but if one doctor thinks she's a "puker", and is going to push thru with the feedings, then they should be all on the same page.. So, I hope they go up tomorrow at least the .5cc's.
Tomorrow, we are heading back early with our friend Ross. He will visit, and then Gary & he will return tomorrow evening. I will have time to upload all my pictures from the weekend, promise!!
Thanks to my email friend, Nichole! Who had twins in March..and has been a HUGE support for me!! I can ask her anything I want..especially with "adjusted" ages.. still trying to make sense of that..lol.. Thanks Nichole! We'll have to meet up in the Spring.. :) because once Gracie is home, her & I will be in hibernation!!
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Friday, September 23, 2011
You know you're a mommy when.... Fri. 9/23 @7:29pm
I'm officially a mommy, I cleaned up Gracie's pukie..and while sitting there doing my crosswords, I can hear it coming out & run to her side! I'm quicker than "the nurse".. same one as yesterday, a little better today. I did say "little".. I won't bore you with the details!
So.. the doctor & NNP (neo nurse practioner) are happy with Gracie's feedings, and are just pressing on with increasing her feeds. They went to 5cc's/hour today & she did well with it. She does still throw up, brown coffee grind like substance, they don't think there's much formula in it. From the doctor's mouth, "she's going to be a puker"... "she's annoying".. I said, "arent' all women??" (geesh, working with all women sometimes we are annoying.. that's why I said it..and trust me sometimes they're all annoying over there.) I guess a lot of preemies, from what I've been reading are pukers..because of reflux...so Gracie is right along with them. That's okay Gracie, Mommy will always clean your pukie!!
I got to hold Grace today for a good 35 minutes, they had to come in to take an x-ray or it would've been longer. And this afternoon (like yesterday), she opened her eyes for a good 25 minutes this afternoon. So great.
An occupational therapist (OT) came in this afternoon & spent some time talking to us, and letting us know that Gracie will get 3x's a week of PT & OT. She also showed us a few excercises we can help Gracie do. (like her morning Pilates isn't enough?? lol). Just alot of lower extremeties, her upper extremeties - arms, shoulders seem to have pretty good movements; but they'll work on all of her.
I got another good picture of her opening her eyes..I promise more pictures to be posted Sunday. Tomorrow is Benjamin (my 4year old nephew) & Emily's (2year niece's) birthday party in Mansfield.. we are heading right from here.. can't wait to see them both. Can't wait for Gracie to meet her cousins hopefully in November.. and then she'll be able to come with us next year. Sunday, we are back with our friend, Ross who will come up to meet Grace for the first time!!
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
So.. the doctor & NNP (neo nurse practioner) are happy with Gracie's feedings, and are just pressing on with increasing her feeds. They went to 5cc's/hour today & she did well with it. She does still throw up, brown coffee grind like substance, they don't think there's much formula in it. From the doctor's mouth, "she's going to be a puker"... "she's annoying".. I said, "arent' all women??" (geesh, working with all women sometimes we are annoying.. that's why I said it..and trust me sometimes they're all annoying over there.) I guess a lot of preemies, from what I've been reading are pukers..because of reflux...so Gracie is right along with them. That's okay Gracie, Mommy will always clean your pukie!!
I got to hold Grace today for a good 35 minutes, they had to come in to take an x-ray or it would've been longer. And this afternoon (like yesterday), she opened her eyes for a good 25 minutes this afternoon. So great.
An occupational therapist (OT) came in this afternoon & spent some time talking to us, and letting us know that Gracie will get 3x's a week of PT & OT. She also showed us a few excercises we can help Gracie do. (like her morning Pilates isn't enough?? lol). Just alot of lower extremeties, her upper extremeties - arms, shoulders seem to have pretty good movements; but they'll work on all of her.
I got another good picture of her opening her eyes..I promise more pictures to be posted Sunday. Tomorrow is Benjamin (my 4year old nephew) & Emily's (2year niece's) birthday party in Mansfield.. we are heading right from here.. can't wait to see them both. Can't wait for Gracie to meet her cousins hopefully in November.. and then she'll be able to come with us next year. Sunday, we are back with our friend, Ross who will come up to meet Grace for the first time!!
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Rainy Thursday 9/22 @ 7:01pm
Hi! I got a great picture of Gracie today, but my laptop's battery is dying & the picture has to be downloaded to that computer.. I'll update it Sat. or Sunday. Anyway, I noticed today, that she keeps her eyes open for awhile now..must be a pattern she's getting into as she's getting bigger.
So, she is 8weeks as of yesterday (actual birthday), but she is 34w4days.. soo that's -6 weeks. So, 8 weeks actual, but -6weeks gestational. I'm just figuring that all out..lol.. very confusing!
Well, the top concern is her feedings. She's still on 4 cc's/hour, but as I explained yesterday about the feed tube, it's not going into her belly.. but she's still throwing up. Poor baby! So they had a GI specialist come in today to offer her advice. She really just said that some preemies it takes longer than others to get the whole stomach thing going, eating & emptying..apparently Gracie is one of those preemies. Otherwise she's doing great with her oxygen, and breathing. She's growing too. I just hope the switch flips soon & she is able to take more food & empty it correctly, without throwing up. :(
We had a nurse today that hadn't worked with Grace before.. (deep sigh!). It was like she kept checking back to see if she had 'thrown up' yet.. I was getting frustrated..so can you imagine how Gary was..very frustrated! At some points, she let Gracie d-sat with her oxygen level really low, and Gary had to ask her to suction her throat.. "of course she's d-sating, she needs to be suctioned;" says he. Soo..needless to say we sit there more worried for her, than we should be. Then Gracie was doing her usual pilates, and the nurse said, 'oh does she usually do this'.. I said, 'do what'..and she said, 'put her feet up in the air like this & move them around so much'.. Ughh YEA! I mean come on.. she's an active baby..and they like to see active babies.. that's a GREAT sign! Geesh... so here's hoping she's not with Grace tomorrow.
We read all her books to her today, and Mommy sang her songs to her.. I'm sure I saw her smiling. Back at the RmCd house at 4:30ish.. had dinner of spinach quiche & lasagna, salad & cupcakes.. :) yum!
Heard a woman here talk about her twins who are 6 weeks old, and probably ready to go home next week. I cried a little.. brought up my feelings for Maxwell & I don't understand why he was the one chosen.. makes me so sad!!
Tomorrow's a new day! Please pray that Gracie gets this eating thing down.. she needs to eat to grow!
Love you guys!
pattie & gary, gracie & maxwell
So, she is 8weeks as of yesterday (actual birthday), but she is 34w4days.. soo that's -6 weeks. So, 8 weeks actual, but -6weeks gestational. I'm just figuring that all out..lol.. very confusing!
Well, the top concern is her feedings. She's still on 4 cc's/hour, but as I explained yesterday about the feed tube, it's not going into her belly.. but she's still throwing up. Poor baby! So they had a GI specialist come in today to offer her advice. She really just said that some preemies it takes longer than others to get the whole stomach thing going, eating & emptying..apparently Gracie is one of those preemies. Otherwise she's doing great with her oxygen, and breathing. She's growing too. I just hope the switch flips soon & she is able to take more food & empty it correctly, without throwing up. :(
We had a nurse today that hadn't worked with Grace before.. (deep sigh!). It was like she kept checking back to see if she had 'thrown up' yet.. I was getting frustrated..so can you imagine how Gary was..very frustrated! At some points, she let Gracie d-sat with her oxygen level really low, and Gary had to ask her to suction her throat.. "of course she's d-sating, she needs to be suctioned;" says he. Soo..needless to say we sit there more worried for her, than we should be. Then Gracie was doing her usual pilates, and the nurse said, 'oh does she usually do this'.. I said, 'do what'..and she said, 'put her feet up in the air like this & move them around so much'.. Ughh YEA! I mean come on.. she's an active baby..and they like to see active babies.. that's a GREAT sign! Geesh... so here's hoping she's not with Grace tomorrow.
We read all her books to her today, and Mommy sang her songs to her.. I'm sure I saw her smiling. Back at the RmCd house at 4:30ish.. had dinner of spinach quiche & lasagna, salad & cupcakes.. :) yum!
Heard a woman here talk about her twins who are 6 weeks old, and probably ready to go home next week. I cried a little.. brought up my feelings for Maxwell & I don't understand why he was the one chosen.. makes me so sad!!
Tomorrow's a new day! Please pray that Gracie gets this eating thing down.. she needs to eat to grow!
Love you guys!
pattie & gary, gracie & maxwell
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Back in Maine Update Wed. 9/22/11 @ 7:50pm
I just got a mosquito bite on my way back into RmCd house.. :( .. it's right on my hand!! And Gary forgot my power plug for my laptop..argghh! Won't be able to get it til Saturday, just have to use his to write my updates.
Back in Maine about 6pm, lots of traffic.. stopped at the hospital to Miss Grace, and she was fast asleep on her belly. She has a new feeding tube as of today, this one goes thru her nose & bypasses her belly, goes right to her small intestines...suppossed to help so that she puts on weight & help her to stop regugertating. They also think the regugertates are making her d-sat.. soo we'll see what happens this way. We have questions though for them regarding this method. How long will they keep her feeding like this? Will this affect her future feedings in her belly? There must be more questions from my husband, I am sure!!
I had a nice breakfast date with my friend, Ross. And then a lunch date with my mama, that was nice too!!
Miss Gracie is 3lbs. 4oz as of today.. way to go Gracie! I'm glad to be back.. update tomorrow with a picture!
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Back in Maine about 6pm, lots of traffic.. stopped at the hospital to Miss Grace, and she was fast asleep on her belly. She has a new feeding tube as of today, this one goes thru her nose & bypasses her belly, goes right to her small intestines...suppossed to help so that she puts on weight & help her to stop regugertating. They also think the regugertates are making her d-sat.. soo we'll see what happens this way. We have questions though for them regarding this method. How long will they keep her feeding like this? Will this affect her future feedings in her belly? There must be more questions from my husband, I am sure!!
I had a nice breakfast date with my friend, Ross. And then a lunch date with my mama, that was nice too!!
Miss Gracie is 3lbs. 4oz as of today.. way to go Gracie! I'm glad to be back.. update tomorrow with a picture!
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Tues Eve. Update 9:06pm 9/20
Hi everyone! Gracie started back at 4 cc's/hour at around 10:30ish, and at 1:00 she was doing good. So we are keeping our fingers crossed. She was not having any d-sats & no regurges.. we miss her.
We were able to go by Maxwell's plot tonight. We try to visit him at least once, while we are in town.. it is soo surreal. We are standing in front of this little spot, with his name (a name we carefully decided on two years ago). His middle name after my grandmother, (remember her house I owned was on Hathaway Street), it makes me re live her death all over again, she will have passed 10 years on Sunday 9/25. Wow.. I know she is just loving on Maxwell though, and that makes it a little better.
Just across Maxwell's plot, is another grandmother.. Mamie Howland. (Max's godmother, Heather's Mom). She went too young, with a terrible disease.. I'm glad that we can visit Maxwell & stop by to say "hi" to Mamie as well. She would be very happy to also have Maxwell in heaven.
Well, we need to continue to remain positive for Grace. We so want her home! Plan on going up tomorrow afternoon.. will stop by hospital on the way, so I'll update tomorrow evening.
thanks everyone for your support.
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & maxwell
We were able to go by Maxwell's plot tonight. We try to visit him at least once, while we are in town.. it is soo surreal. We are standing in front of this little spot, with his name (a name we carefully decided on two years ago). His middle name after my grandmother, (remember her house I owned was on Hathaway Street), it makes me re live her death all over again, she will have passed 10 years on Sunday 9/25. Wow.. I know she is just loving on Maxwell though, and that makes it a little better.
Just across Maxwell's plot, is another grandmother.. Mamie Howland. (Max's godmother, Heather's Mom). She went too young, with a terrible disease.. I'm glad that we can visit Maxwell & stop by to say "hi" to Mamie as well. She would be very happy to also have Maxwell in heaven.
Well, we need to continue to remain positive for Grace. We so want her home! Plan on going up tomorrow afternoon.. will stop by hospital on the way, so I'll update tomorrow evening.
thanks everyone for your support.
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & maxwell
Tuesday Update for Gracie Tues., 9/20/2011 - 2:19pm
Hi! I called about Gracie this morning, and they started her back on her feedings at 4.0cc's an hour. She had been taking it for a few hours, and had no regugerations..so that's good! She got her blood last night & looks pink, which is good! Her nurse today, says she's doing good... she was sleeping on her back, mouth open. Love her!!
Going to mom's for dinner tonight.. Thanks to Heather & Linda for the invites as well. Mom was first :).
Gary will check on Gracie later, so we'll update!
I know..boring update from Fairhaven, ah?? lol
bye,
love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Going to mom's for dinner tonight.. Thanks to Heather & Linda for the invites as well. Mom was first :).
Gary will check on Gracie later, so we'll update!
I know..boring update from Fairhaven, ah?? lol
bye,
love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Monday, September 19, 2011
Monday Evening post from Home 9:04pm-Mon.
I know I'm writing again.. feeling a little aggravated, again with the 'uncomfortableness' of being home. I know.. I want Gracie to come home when she's strong & can breathe on her own, but it's really hard to be here without a baby! :(
We got home, and after my last entry, we got a phone call from 'the nurse' who was on with her today. She said that they were giving her a blood transfusion, and was stopping her feeding...they'll go back with it tomorrow. We knew yesterday her red blood cell had been low, but thought her body might be making its own, so didn't want to mess with it.. but she needed it..so she's getting it. 'the nurse' also said she had a few d-sats (this is when her oxygen levels drop & she needs intervention).. oh my! this is what I mean, with the d-sats..I can understand..but if 'the nurse' is taking a longer time to get in the room, oh wonder she is d-sating. Anyway, I know we like our favorites, and we just ned to give other people a chance..
Soo, ironically, my friend Paula stopped by tonight; and we were able to have a good chat. And she brought lasagna for dinner & it was good!
Tomorrow, going into the office for a few hours, then dinner at ma's with lemon squares for dessert!
Gary just checked in with the evening nurse; someone who has worked with Gracie alot in the last 7 weeks.. feel better! She's doing good. Less d-sats tonight & resting comfortably!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
We got home, and after my last entry, we got a phone call from 'the nurse' who was on with her today. She said that they were giving her a blood transfusion, and was stopping her feeding...they'll go back with it tomorrow. We knew yesterday her red blood cell had been low, but thought her body might be making its own, so didn't want to mess with it.. but she needed it..so she's getting it. 'the nurse' also said she had a few d-sats (this is when her oxygen levels drop & she needs intervention).. oh my! this is what I mean, with the d-sats..I can understand..but if 'the nurse' is taking a longer time to get in the room, oh wonder she is d-sating. Anyway, I know we like our favorites, and we just ned to give other people a chance..
Soo, ironically, my friend Paula stopped by tonight; and we were able to have a good chat. And she brought lasagna for dinner & it was good!
Tomorrow, going into the office for a few hours, then dinner at ma's with lemon squares for dessert!
Gary just checked in with the evening nurse; someone who has worked with Gracie alot in the last 7 weeks.. feel better! She's doing good. Less d-sats tonight & resting comfortably!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
15" long... Mon., 9/19/2011 @ 5:21pm
Hi, everyone! We are back in Fairhaven & getting a visit from Paula tonight..that'll be nice, ironically I was just saying I wanted to see her (she's my friend) when we got back in to town, but I wasn't sure if I was going to have the time. Glad it turned out as such.
Gracie is doing good again this morning. She is up 3lbs. 2oz & 15" long.. yea!! We were surprised she went up 2oz, but we'll take it.. she went up to 4.0cc/hr today as well; and a one big regurgatation before we left, and apparently one more when we checked back around 3:00. Sometimes, I think when it's a nurse who doesn't work with her much, I think because they don't know her well, they tend to not go in as much..and then when they do.. I don't know.. I know it sounds like I'm grasping..but every nurse works so differently. And the more the ones we are used to work with her & get to know her.. well we like them better :).
Anyway.. we are a little nervous leaving her, of course..but I had to come home to get some Fall clothes for these chilly days up in Maine. We are back in Maine, on Wednesday evening.. soo we will stop & see her before we go back to RmCd house. From that point, I think I will be up there til she comes home.. with a weekend get away (for change of scenery) to North Conway at end of September. Gary will be coming back to Fhvn. for work. I'm comfortable with that.. RmCd house is definitely my 2nd home.
Thanks for all the thoughts & prayers!!
Love,
pattie, gary, gracie & maxwell
Gracie is doing good again this morning. She is up 3lbs. 2oz & 15" long.. yea!! We were surprised she went up 2oz, but we'll take it.. she went up to 4.0cc/hr today as well; and a one big regurgatation before we left, and apparently one more when we checked back around 3:00. Sometimes, I think when it's a nurse who doesn't work with her much, I think because they don't know her well, they tend to not go in as much..and then when they do.. I don't know.. I know it sounds like I'm grasping..but every nurse works so differently. And the more the ones we are used to work with her & get to know her.. well we like them better :).
Anyway.. we are a little nervous leaving her, of course..but I had to come home to get some Fall clothes for these chilly days up in Maine. We are back in Maine, on Wednesday evening.. soo we will stop & see her before we go back to RmCd house. From that point, I think I will be up there til she comes home.. with a weekend get away (for change of scenery) to North Conway at end of September. Gary will be coming back to Fhvn. for work. I'm comfortable with that.. RmCd house is definitely my 2nd home.
Thanks for all the thoughts & prayers!!
Love,
pattie, gary, gracie & maxwell
Sunday, September 18, 2011
I'm 3lbs Today!! Sun. 9/18/2011 @ 5:51pm
Yes, I know.. I only have one eye open.. I was watching my mommy, she was calling me her favorite phrase, "sweet pea".. am i a pea?? Ohh..maybe she wants me to pee.. Ok, ok, I'm working on it. If they would just leave me alone and let me sleep; instead coming in, and taking my temperature, or changing my diaper, or putting me in these warm blankies, so my hands aren't out. I love having my hands out!! Don't they know that yet?
Grace is doing well.. we are soo proud that she is 3lbs. She had a really good poop today too.. her nurse, Mari, who has been wonderful with her today & yesterday & Friday, got to change her poop, and she not was quite done yet. It took the three of us to clean her up!
Tonight is length check night.. she was 14.9" long last week, I'm sure she reached the 15"!
Love to all, & Thanks Mari!!
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Nice Surprise Sat. 9/17/2011 @ 7:16pm
It was a nice surprise today, when we walked in to see Gracie this morning, she was off the cpap and on the nasal canular!! Big girl...now you can really see her face.. sure, it happens after I just posted a few pictures of her on facebook! She's soo cute! The nurses are saying she looks like Mommy... okay, maybe just a little! :)
She had such a great day!! Definitely getting bigger, and hopefully more good days are ahead! She started on 3.5cc/hr of feeds today; she weighs 2lbs. 15oz. (so maybe the big 3lb day will come tomorrow).. She is really starting to fill out & look more like a baby.. you know what I mean.
I got to hold her today too..for about 45 minutes & her oxygen levels remained in the high 90's & 100; she had a fantastic day!
Gary & I came back to the RmcD house for lunch, and I had the rest of last night's pumpkin soup.. OMG..soo good! So the recipe is a potatoe & leek soup, with a can of pumpkin & a can of tomatoes, all blended..add 2 c cream at the end..anyone want to try it?? My MIL is trying it, but she's in NY, i told her to get it down pat so when she comes down in Nov. to see the baby she can make some for my freezer.
Dinner tonight was salad & spinach & cheese quiche!! Very good! Cupcakes for dessert. We sat in one of the tv rooms downstairs & watched a little Lifetime.. and now will watch a movie on xfinity!
Got to go to bed early tonight, need to wake up at a decent hour to have breakfast before we go visit Gracie girl. Love her soo much! Now, I'm startingto feel like a mom!
We also ran into our friend, Sue, from Labor & Delivery. It was sorta ironic, we were going down there to see if she was around, & pushed the elevator button to 2..just, and I mean just as we were stepping off, there she was.. pushing the button to go up! Conicidence?? Godincidence, I think!! We were able to catch up with her..that was nice!
My heart goes out to a little boy, 8 weeks old, Michael from OH..who passed away this morning.. very sad for his parents!!
Loves to Abigail for always thinking of Max & Gracie! To the Hooley's too ..
Love, pattie & gary, maxwell & gracie
She had such a great day!! Definitely getting bigger, and hopefully more good days are ahead! She started on 3.5cc/hr of feeds today; she weighs 2lbs. 15oz. (so maybe the big 3lb day will come tomorrow).. She is really starting to fill out & look more like a baby.. you know what I mean.
I got to hold her today too..for about 45 minutes & her oxygen levels remained in the high 90's & 100; she had a fantastic day!
Gary & I came back to the RmcD house for lunch, and I had the rest of last night's pumpkin soup.. OMG..soo good! So the recipe is a potatoe & leek soup, with a can of pumpkin & a can of tomatoes, all blended..add 2 c cream at the end..anyone want to try it?? My MIL is trying it, but she's in NY, i told her to get it down pat so when she comes down in Nov. to see the baby she can make some for my freezer.
Dinner tonight was salad & spinach & cheese quiche!! Very good! Cupcakes for dessert. We sat in one of the tv rooms downstairs & watched a little Lifetime.. and now will watch a movie on xfinity!
Got to go to bed early tonight, need to wake up at a decent hour to have breakfast before we go visit Gracie girl. Love her soo much! Now, I'm startingto feel like a mom!
We also ran into our friend, Sue, from Labor & Delivery. It was sorta ironic, we were going down there to see if she was around, & pushed the elevator button to 2..just, and I mean just as we were stepping off, there she was.. pushing the button to go up! Conicidence?? Godincidence, I think!! We were able to catch up with her..that was nice!
My heart goes out to a little boy, 8 weeks old, Michael from OH..who passed away this morning.. very sad for his parents!!
Loves to Abigail for always thinking of Max & Gracie! To the Hooley's too ..
Love, pattie & gary, maxwell & gracie
Friday, September 16, 2011
Snug like a bug.. Friday, 9/16/2011 @ 8:35pm
Just me & Gracie checking in!! Here she is swaddled and on her c-pap! Look closely at the picture and you'll see velcro strips on the tube & resting on her cheeks, this is so the breathing tubes rest in her nose easier, and she won't pull them out.
I got to hold her just a little while today, her breathing was going down a little. And this is my honest blog, sooo.. I was annoyed at my husband for chirping in my ear the whole time I was holding her, because her 02 was going down a little. Geesh! I'm trying to get him to "enjoy the moment" with her.. let the nurses worry about the #'s. If the nurses, which eventually happened, told me that it was best that we put her back in, I did it. But I talked to her, and whispered songs to her, and enjoyed the 10 minutes I had holding her. Ten minuts is better than none..like it's been in the last few weeks.
Her feeding is up to 3.0cc/hr.. and she is doing well with it. She's a beautiful, smart princess!!
Dinner was good tonight.. soup! Pumpkin soup was delish, black bean & chicken tortellini.. time to get those crock pots out & make corn bread & soup! Thanks volunteers who cook us a warm comfort meal nightly!!
Love my followers!!
Pattie & Gary, Gracie & Max
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Up day for Gracie Thurs. 9/15/2011 @ 10:41pm
Gracie is having a great day! 2 poops & counting.. :) (glad she can get it all out..lol) She is up to 2.5cc/hr on her feeding, with no throw ups.. so I'm sure the plan tomorrow will be to go up another .5.. that's great!
An infectious disease doctor came in this afternoon to check her out, but she's going with everyone else's call that this infection was pneumonia, and nothing else. She will be on antibiotics probably for another 3 days or so. She looks better, she looks great with her cpap on. The tubes in her nose are a little smaller, so the tubes are pinned to her hat (she's going to be a hat girl..or not!), so she can't pull on them.
Gracie did manage to pull her feeding tube out of her mouth though today.. lol..she's a puller! But she's eating good, and having few d-sats. She loved hearing Daddy's voice, and he read the book that Auntie Heather & gang gave her.. "On the night you were born", very cool story!
Today's the 15th, so unfort for me & Gary that means billing..my dearest friends will know how much I love doing billing the last day (eyes rolling), but I didn't get to much stressed about it. It is what it is.
We are here now til Monday, and then I do think I have to go home for a change of clothes (fall instead my summer capri's), and some other stuff, but we will both be back next Wed night. Then the following week, I'll be here again for 5 or 6 days in a row. I really am not minding being here by myself.. I'm getting used to it, it is certainly where I have to be.. near my daughter, Grace; because I'm a MOM.. :)
Love you guys! Welcome back, Daddy!! We love & missed you!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & forever Max!
An infectious disease doctor came in this afternoon to check her out, but she's going with everyone else's call that this infection was pneumonia, and nothing else. She will be on antibiotics probably for another 3 days or so. She looks better, she looks great with her cpap on. The tubes in her nose are a little smaller, so the tubes are pinned to her hat (she's going to be a hat girl..or not!), so she can't pull on them.
Gracie did manage to pull her feeding tube out of her mouth though today.. lol..she's a puller! But she's eating good, and having few d-sats. She loved hearing Daddy's voice, and he read the book that Auntie Heather & gang gave her.. "On the night you were born", very cool story!
Today's the 15th, so unfort for me & Gary that means billing..my dearest friends will know how much I love doing billing the last day (eyes rolling), but I didn't get to much stressed about it. It is what it is.
We are here now til Monday, and then I do think I have to go home for a change of clothes (fall instead my summer capri's), and some other stuff, but we will both be back next Wed night. Then the following week, I'll be here again for 5 or 6 days in a row. I really am not minding being here by myself.. I'm getting used to it, it is certainly where I have to be.. near my daughter, Grace; because I'm a MOM.. :)
Love you guys! Welcome back, Daddy!! We love & missed you!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & forever Max!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Our Smart Gracie.. quick update @ 10:43pm Wed eve
Just a cute story from tonight..Gary always calls to check on Gracie's night around 10ish..he called tonight & nurse told him that she heard the ventiliator alarm go off in Gracie's room, so she went in there..and Grace had turned her head & 1/2 way pulled out the ventiliator tube.. guess she didn't want to be on the vent anymore. So doctor came in & she was doing good breathing without the vent, so they put her back on cpap with short prongs (not to irritate her throat). Hope this stays!! :)
You go girl!! Smart like her Daddy!! :) Cute like her Mommy!!
We love you Gracie!!
mommy & daddy & max
p.s. I'm sure Max helped her pull it out!!
p.s.s. Guess Mommy holding her today really did good for her soul! Mine too!
You go girl!! Smart like her Daddy!! :) Cute like her Mommy!!
We love you Gracie!!
mommy & daddy & max
p.s. I'm sure Max helped her pull it out!!
p.s.s. Guess Mommy holding her today really did good for her soul! Mine too!
Two Blessings Wed. 9/14/2011 @ 4:12pm
Hi, all!! Two blessings today.. my good friend Heather came up to visit us. She came in last night, got in around 10, which means we were chatting up late. Finally, dozed off around 1:30a.m.
We were up by 8:15ish..and saw Gracie, who looked good. And the 2nd blessing was I got to hold her for awhile. Sooo great to have held her. I hadn't held her in almost two weeks. She just nestled right in my arms, as Heather said, "she just melted right into my body".. soo cute!! We got some cute pictures.. I'll post one.
Her white blood cell count is still up a little; but her cultures are all coming back negative, so their going with the infection is the pneumonia. If I hold my hand to her chest/back, I can actually hear/feel the breathing; so still on antibiotics. And as of 10a.m. she went up to 2.0 on the feedings. She didn't throw up at all while we were there, but had two throw ups last night. I don't know, seems she has more of those spells in the evening, I asked if that was a 'preemie' thing & they said, "it's a Gracie thing".
Her nurse today was Nancy. Someone new..and she was great with me & Gracie.
Heather & I went to applebee's for lunch & had their awesome spinach & artichoke dip & a good burger :). For dinner at RmcD house is chicken, broccoli & ziti in alfredo sauce..sounds delish...and I saw some cupcakes down there. lol.
Thanks for the extra prayers.. hope she continues to fight this infection.
Hi, to my friend Dave D. .. my old walking partner..I miss you!! Hope you are good..and thanks for keeping up with your daily reads to my blog :).
Daddy comes back tomorrow..we are very excited to see him!! He won't recognize Grace.. maybe me too.. I've been walking to & from the hospital.. :)
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
We were up by 8:15ish..and saw Gracie, who looked good. And the 2nd blessing was I got to hold her for awhile. Sooo great to have held her. I hadn't held her in almost two weeks. She just nestled right in my arms, as Heather said, "she just melted right into my body".. soo cute!! We got some cute pictures.. I'll post one.
Her white blood cell count is still up a little; but her cultures are all coming back negative, so their going with the infection is the pneumonia. If I hold my hand to her chest/back, I can actually hear/feel the breathing; so still on antibiotics. And as of 10a.m. she went up to 2.0 on the feedings. She didn't throw up at all while we were there, but had two throw ups last night. I don't know, seems she has more of those spells in the evening, I asked if that was a 'preemie' thing & they said, "it's a Gracie thing".
Her nurse today was Nancy. Someone new..and she was great with me & Gracie.
Heather & I went to applebee's for lunch & had their awesome spinach & artichoke dip & a good burger :). For dinner at RmcD house is chicken, broccoli & ziti in alfredo sauce..sounds delish...and I saw some cupcakes down there. lol.
Thanks for the extra prayers.. hope she continues to fight this infection.
Hi, to my friend Dave D. .. my old walking partner..I miss you!! Hope you are good..and thanks for keeping up with your daily reads to my blog :).
Daddy comes back tomorrow..we are very excited to see him!! He won't recognize Grace.. maybe me too.. I've been walking to & from the hospital.. :)
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Gracie's check in 9/13/2011 @ 4:37pm Tues.
Hi!! Gracie, we think, has pneumonia!! :( .. they stopped her feedings last night at midnight, because she had two big spells with throwing up & then 3 hours later had 6cc's in her belly. They took an x-ray of chest & belly, and her right lung was a little cloudy, so they're assuming pneumonia, and none of her cultures have come back with anything as of yet. We certainly didn't want her to get this, but I'm thinking the cultures may come back negative..she'll be able to keep the picc line in & just on antibiotics so it'll kick the pneumonia's butt!! :).
I was with her all day today... and I sang to her, and read stories to her. She loved having mommy all to herself!! She didn't have many d-sats today & I think she gets them more at night than during the day. She was on her belly most of the day, which is her favorite position.
Weird words/observations from today: I saw this girl in the cafteria today with her little baby..looked petite, and the baby (boy) was crying.. in good ol'fashion, this elderly woman sitting about 4 seats away looked at the woman & rudely said, "you don't feed him". The woman said, "I took him home at 5 lbs. 5oz, he's just petite." And she laughed it off! So, when I was leaving cafeteria I stopped in to see the little boy, and talk to the girl a little, just wondered if he was preemie; but she had said 'no', that he was just petite. At 3 mos now, he's 9lbs 2oz. soo.. then she says, "His dad is African American".. I said, 'yea'..like so? I should've said, "my baby's daddy is caucasian"..lol
lmao!! Or I couldve said .. "like Eddie Murphy, I love black people"... lmao!! Just a weird thing for her to say.. :)
Tonight's menu is lasagna & salad.. not in a really big mood for lasagna..but hopefully it's really good!! :)
Lots of the nurses & peeps that come in Gracie's room think her hair is blonde.. i dont see it..lol..
Love you guys! Prayers for my Gracie to fight this pnemonia please!
Welcomes to Heather..who's coming up for a girly talk & visit with Gracie.. :) can't wait..we have alot to catch up on!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
I was with her all day today... and I sang to her, and read stories to her. She loved having mommy all to herself!! She didn't have many d-sats today & I think she gets them more at night than during the day. She was on her belly most of the day, which is her favorite position.
Weird words/observations from today: I saw this girl in the cafteria today with her little baby..looked petite, and the baby (boy) was crying.. in good ol'fashion, this elderly woman sitting about 4 seats away looked at the woman & rudely said, "you don't feed him". The woman said, "I took him home at 5 lbs. 5oz, he's just petite." And she laughed it off! So, when I was leaving cafeteria I stopped in to see the little boy, and talk to the girl a little, just wondered if he was preemie; but she had said 'no', that he was just petite. At 3 mos now, he's 9lbs 2oz. soo.. then she says, "His dad is African American".. I said, 'yea'..like so? I should've said, "my baby's daddy is caucasian"..lol
lmao!! Or I couldve said .. "like Eddie Murphy, I love black people"... lmao!! Just a weird thing for her to say.. :)
Tonight's menu is lasagna & salad.. not in a really big mood for lasagna..but hopefully it's really good!! :)
Lots of the nurses & peeps that come in Gracie's room think her hair is blonde.. i dont see it..lol..
Love you guys! Prayers for my Gracie to fight this pnemonia please!
Welcomes to Heather..who's coming up for a girly talk & visit with Gracie.. :) can't wait..we have alot to catch up on!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Monday, September 12, 2011
The downs of the NICU 9/12/11 Monday @ 4:46pm
Hi, everyone! Well last night's report on Grace was that she had d-sat 4x's in a row, and that's not like her. When we got to the hospital this morning, they were doing cultures on her.. seems like baby girl has another infection :(. We are hoping it's not from the picc line.. but won't know for another 24-48 hours. They did confirm her white blood count was up & usually that means infection. She was very lethargic, again not her.. so they started on a round of antibiotics, and hopefully within the time frame, they'll know what it is & either keep her on antibiotics for 7-10, or 14 days; depending. If everything comes back negative, well at least she got the antibiotics for 48 hours. Geesh!! Poor little girl.
So, I've decided to stay in Maine while Gary goes home.. I miss him already, as I'm sure Gracie does to. We had lunch together, and he took off around 1:30. I read all of Gracie's books to her (most books from Peter & Paula); and then sang some songs to her. Tomorrow I'll walk over there for rounds, hoping to get there for 10:00 a.m.ish.
I've already done a load of laundry back at the RmcD house and then will go down for dinner around 6pm. Then just watch Days of Our lives on the laptop & maybe a movie on netflix.. I'm not liking netflix though, it's got very old movies!
Anyway, keep praying for us!! :) Gracie is 14.9" long & 2lbs. 10oz. She will be getting bigger in the next few weeks, she's 33w1day ..and we should see some true growthing spurts in next few weeks. She's still doing great on feedings, at 2.5cc today & going up to 3.0 tomorrow.
Thanks, Dalila :) Love you girl.. always pulling, praying & there for us!!
Love,
Pattie & Gary, Gracie & Max
So, I've decided to stay in Maine while Gary goes home.. I miss him already, as I'm sure Gracie does to. We had lunch together, and he took off around 1:30. I read all of Gracie's books to her (most books from Peter & Paula); and then sang some songs to her. Tomorrow I'll walk over there for rounds, hoping to get there for 10:00 a.m.ish.
I've already done a load of laundry back at the RmcD house and then will go down for dinner around 6pm. Then just watch Days of Our lives on the laptop & maybe a movie on netflix.. I'm not liking netflix though, it's got very old movies!
Anyway, keep praying for us!! :) Gracie is 14.9" long & 2lbs. 10oz. She will be getting bigger in the next few weeks, she's 33w1day ..and we should see some true growthing spurts in next few weeks. She's still doing great on feedings, at 2.5cc today & going up to 3.0 tomorrow.
Thanks, Dalila :) Love you girl.. always pulling, praying & there for us!!
Love,
Pattie & Gary, Gracie & Max
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Sun. Update 9/11 @ 9:45pm
Gracie had a great weekend! She hasn't had many spit ups, and as of this morning, she is 2 lbs. 10 oz. & up to 2.0cc/hour of formula. Way to go girlie!! She had a visit from Vevo & Vavo today, and Uncle Johnny! Vevo & Vavo beamed with excitement on seeing their granddaughter; Uncle Johnny too!! Of course they thought she was cute.. and very long!! :)
Margo (her nurse), got her all dressed up & read for her visit.. here she is!! Thanks for all the prayers. Good day today in the NICU!
Love,
Gracie, Mommy & Daddy & my younger brother Max too!
Margo (her nurse), got her all dressed up & read for her visit.. here she is!! Thanks for all the prayers. Good day today in the NICU!
Love,
Gracie, Mommy & Daddy & my younger brother Max too!
Gracie's listening.. Sun. 9/11 @ 9:01a.m.
Gracie is listening!! At the 10pm check in, she hadn't spit up!! Yea, Gracie.. hopefully this is a good sign that she's eating & digesting well. I'm sure they'll go up today to 2.0cc/hr of formula. We will be in the hospital by 10, for rounds.
Today's a special day, Vevo & Veva (i dont even know how to spell their names..lol) are coming up to see & meet their granddaughter for the first time. I think my dad will be a little emotional, and that's okay.. we always are! But as much as people visiting may think she's small, to us she's getting bigger every day. Uncle John will be here as well, as he is the chauffeur! :).
I'll check in later this afternoon.. Have a good day all! Be kind to people, not just today cuz it's 9/11..but everyday..you never know what the other person is going thru!!
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max (forever in our hearts!
Today's a special day, Vevo & Veva (i dont even know how to spell their names..lol) are coming up to see & meet their granddaughter for the first time. I think my dad will be a little emotional, and that's okay.. we always are! But as much as people visiting may think she's small, to us she's getting bigger every day. Uncle John will be here as well, as he is the chauffeur! :).
I'll check in later this afternoon.. Have a good day all! Be kind to people, not just today cuz it's 9/11..but everyday..you never know what the other person is going thru!!
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max (forever in our hearts!
God we remember.. 9/11- Sunday
First of all, I just looked at some video of 9/11/01 this morning on Facebook..and just want to remember all those lives that were taken unjustly. That morning, my mother, Aunt Pat & I had gone to 7:30 church service at St. Mary's, and then were at Just Ray's breakfast restaurant in North Fairhaven. Unfort, my grandmother "Mom" was dying, and we had gone to church to pray for her and then breakfast. By the time we got to the restaurant, we saw the commotion that a plane hit; by the time I got back home, I saw the 2nd plane hit. What a sad day!! What kind of people plan something like this? Please remember all the lives that passed that day...
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Gracie heard her Momma! Sat update 9/10-1:42pm
Gracie's a good listener. She had a poop during the night, and hasn't spit u much. The plan is to leave her at the 1.5cc/hr, for another day..just let her sail thru the day & that way they can get a better feel on how she's taking the new stuff. She hasn't had many spit ups or d-sats. They are going to try to ween her off the ventiliator. She is on the lowest setting anyway, 21 (is room air)..and she only goes up to about 25.. soo when she breathes, she breathes good!!
We walked to the hospital from the RmcD house..good 4 blocks, so walked there & then back for lunch. Now heading to a grocery store for a few light things, then will go see Gracie again; then back for a nap before dinner. Nice house manager on this weekend at RmcD house, very chatty.. so I'm chatting! She is making pasta with marinara sauce & meatballs, salad, & garlic bread for dinner. Sounds good! We brought up leftover chinese and had that for lunch. Need to buy bread so we can make pb & j for lunch tomorrow and Monday.
I'll update tonight! I'm feeling better than I did in the couple of days; I'm reading a book on "surviving the death of your baby", called "Empty Cradle, Broken Heart". Yes, we do have Gracie..but I had a traumatic delivery & lost Max, and I think it's the whole process/delivery & end of pregnancy that gets me more upset sometimes. So hoping this books just helps me to grieve & learn.
Happy Saturday! Enjoy the weather..
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
We walked to the hospital from the RmcD house..good 4 blocks, so walked there & then back for lunch. Now heading to a grocery store for a few light things, then will go see Gracie again; then back for a nap before dinner. Nice house manager on this weekend at RmcD house, very chatty.. so I'm chatting! She is making pasta with marinara sauce & meatballs, salad, & garlic bread for dinner. Sounds good! We brought up leftover chinese and had that for lunch. Need to buy bread so we can make pb & j for lunch tomorrow and Monday.
I'll update tonight! I'm feeling better than I did in the couple of days; I'm reading a book on "surviving the death of your baby", called "Empty Cradle, Broken Heart". Yes, we do have Gracie..but I had a traumatic delivery & lost Max, and I think it's the whole process/delivery & end of pregnancy that gets me more upset sometimes. So hoping this books just helps me to grieve & learn.
Happy Saturday! Enjoy the weather..
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Friday, September 9, 2011
Miss Gracie Girl needs to eat!! fri eve. 8:00pm & pic
Miss Gracie girl needs to eat!! She is very intolerant to her feedings. They gave her new formula today, 1/2 digested one (yuck..and it smells yuck too..). Good thing she can't taste it, or she would definitely spit it back up! But we need prayers to help her eat. She's back on 1.5cc/hr., and she has had a few spit ups.. but they are continuing with the feedings. They've checkd her belly & it's very clear, there is no blockages or anything. hmm.. Miss Gracie!! I gave her a talking to before we left the hospital.
She weighs 2 lbs. 8 oz. So she's doing well in height & weight, but needs to keep feeding to gain! She is on a 24 hour study with abuterol, to see if that helps her breathing a little. Her lungs are still immature & while she's on the ventiliator (she's still on, a week as of today); she sometimes holds her breath or "clamps down" on her breathing.. a motion that she uses all her muscles to stop her breathing, and then she d-sats. So they're hoping the albuterol will help her get that extra breath, to remind her to keep breathing, and have less d-sats! We'll see.
Let's all keep my princess in our prayers to eat & breathe, please!!
Love to all,
Miss Gracie, her mom & dad & her sweet brother, Max!!
Friday Eve. in Maine 9/9/2011 @ 7:54pm
Hi, everyone.. thanks for the thoughts & concerns & support from the past few days. I had a good cry; by myself & with my friend Dalila. Also got my hair colored & cut.. so I look like a different woman! I feel good too!!
Today was a longgg day, we left Fhvn. at about 10:30a.m., and should've been here by 1pm..but didn't get here til 4!! Ughhh.. we took a slightly different route & will NEVER go that way again.. we were in so much traffic, a 1/2 mile for an hour!! :( It was horrible...there was a main water break on rt. 1 & the traffic was horrendous!
We chcked in with RmCd house..love our room this time..just a good feel to it..very cottage like, with a private bath..room 254! We are here til Monday, maybe myself a little later.. we'll see!
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max (forever our angel!)
Today was a longgg day, we left Fhvn. at about 10:30a.m., and should've been here by 1pm..but didn't get here til 4!! Ughhh.. we took a slightly different route & will NEVER go that way again.. we were in so much traffic, a 1/2 mile for an hour!! :( It was horrible...there was a main water break on rt. 1 & the traffic was horrendous!
We chcked in with RmCd house..love our room this time..just a good feel to it..very cottage like, with a private bath..room 254! We are here til Monday, maybe myself a little later.. we'll see!
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max (forever our angel!)
Thursday, September 8, 2011
I'm having a bad couple of days..but Grace is well.. 9/8 @ 3:44pm
Gracie started her feeds again last night, 1.0cc & she did throw it up a little; so they gave her zantac (for reflux) & it went really well. After the zantac, she had no apnea or throwing up spells. She's stronger than I am.. I've been crying for two days, and I know Gary means well & is trying to say everything to support me..but I'm sad! I'm overwhelmed with house & bills & money stuff at home; I'm sad about the pregnancy, thinking of the birth, my water breaking, just everything!
I'm trying to stay strong for Gary, but I just can't. I'm tired of hearing tell me that I'm such a strong woman.. I don't want to be strong anymore.
I'm trying to stay strong for Gary, but I just can't. I'm tired of hearing tell me that I'm such a strong woman.. I don't want to be strong anymore.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Wed. Evening Update 9/7/2011 @ 9:40pm
Hey, everyone.. had a nice dinner out at Olive Garden with my friend, Lisa. Thanks, Lisa!! We talked about everything, about her, about me.. about work, things just in general, so to take my mind off things. It was a nice night out!! Gary went out with Ross too for dinner, he had fun too! We've spent a lot of time together in the last few months, so I think it's well deserved to go out seperately once in awhile. "Girl talk" is always a good thing. :)
I saw my ob down here today..that was an emotional time for me; as usual, just made me start thinking of everything & how it happened. Definitely, not part of the birthing plan we had in our minds. But my ob is a wonderful, caring man. He checked on us while we were staying at Maine Medical Center, once a week, and then once the babies arrived. He's always been great with us. He truly cares about his patients. He tells me my wound is healing nicely; we still have another two weeks of changing the gauze & pads on it.. ugh! :( I'll be glad when that's over. Gary's the one who changes it, but it's still annoying.
Update on Grace: She passed her belly u/s test with flying colors. Her GI tract is working fine. Today, they started her feeds at 1.0 cc's, and as of right now she was doing pretty good with that start. (grant it she hasn't eaten since last Friday, so I'm sure she's liking the taste of it). The plan was to go up .5cc's tomorrow.. we'll see. I think they can go up another 1cc, but hey, I'm not saying a word. We don't want stress her out!
We miss her! Will probably head out early Friday morning for Maine. My parents might come up on Sunday to meet Grace. We'll be there til Monday.
Thanks for the continued support!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
I saw my ob down here today..that was an emotional time for me; as usual, just made me start thinking of everything & how it happened. Definitely, not part of the birthing plan we had in our minds. But my ob is a wonderful, caring man. He checked on us while we were staying at Maine Medical Center, once a week, and then once the babies arrived. He's always been great with us. He truly cares about his patients. He tells me my wound is healing nicely; we still have another two weeks of changing the gauze & pads on it.. ugh! :( I'll be glad when that's over. Gary's the one who changes it, but it's still annoying.
Update on Grace: She passed her belly u/s test with flying colors. Her GI tract is working fine. Today, they started her feeds at 1.0 cc's, and as of right now she was doing pretty good with that start. (grant it she hasn't eaten since last Friday, so I'm sure she's liking the taste of it). The plan was to go up .5cc's tomorrow.. we'll see. I think they can go up another 1cc, but hey, I'm not saying a word. We don't want stress her out!
We miss her! Will probably head out early Friday morning for Maine. My parents might come up on Sunday to meet Grace. We'll be there til Monday.
Thanks for the continued support!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Feels like a fall day on Wed. 9/7/2011 @ 11:49am
Feels like fall..thought maybe we'd be experiencing Indian Summer..no such luck! :( Tonight, I'm going to catch up with a friend for dinner; G will also be going to dinner with his friend. Think that'll be nice to do something seperate, and I get some girl time with my friend, Lisa.
I think I need long pants on today, my capri's are leaving my ankles in the cold. I feel chilly!
I called to check on Gracie this am. She had a good night, very uneventful.. we'll take those nights. Today, they hope to start feedings. They hadn't confirmed it yet, but are thinking they'll start with 1.0 cc's, and take it sloowww, maybe up it every 24 hours. At least 12 would be okay. We will head back on Friday til Monday.
Going thru bills, and mail at home. Thinking about all we've been thru.. I'm exhausted!
Have a good day!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
I think I need long pants on today, my capri's are leaving my ankles in the cold. I feel chilly!
I called to check on Gracie this am. She had a good night, very uneventful.. we'll take those nights. Today, they hope to start feedings. They hadn't confirmed it yet, but are thinking they'll start with 1.0 cc's, and take it sloowww, maybe up it every 24 hours. At least 12 would be okay. We will head back on Friday til Monday.
Going thru bills, and mail at home. Thinking about all we've been thru.. I'm exhausted!
Have a good day!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Back in Fhvn. Tuesday eve @ 7:20pm
HI, we're back in Fairhaven. I'm feeling better from my last comment. The reality is Grace is doing okay! She had her belly ultrasounds today & so far (won't get the exact reading til tomorrow), everything looks good. Her GI tract looks fine, no blockage. Therefore, with Gracie we need to just feed her going forward, slowly! She is still little people!!
As far as me staying up at MMC by myself, I will or may next week. This week I had to come home for a doctor's appt tomorrow. But next week, if I feel up to it I'll stay an extra couple of days when Gary comes home to work. The reality is that we will make that decision together. We leave for the most part 2-3 days only, and then go back. I think a nurse may have meant well today, but the way she suggested that I stay was not cool, at all!! Not to us anyway, she made me nervous that something was wrong.
Anyway.. all is well. We are home for 2 days, then back on Friday til Monday.
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
P.S. Going to see my 'home' OB tomorrow for a f/u.. glad to see him but going to an emotional afternoon.
As far as me staying up at MMC by myself, I will or may next week. This week I had to come home for a doctor's appt tomorrow. But next week, if I feel up to it I'll stay an extra couple of days when Gary comes home to work. The reality is that we will make that decision together. We leave for the most part 2-3 days only, and then go back. I think a nurse may have meant well today, but the way she suggested that I stay was not cool, at all!! Not to us anyway, she made me nervous that something was wrong.
Anyway.. all is well. We are home for 2 days, then back on Friday til Monday.
Love you guys,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
P.S. Going to see my 'home' OB tomorrow for a f/u.. glad to see him but going to an emotional afternoon.
Tuesday Update on Grace @ 11:46a.m.
So, Gracie is doing well this am. Life in the NICU they say is one step forward, two steps back. I just want her healthy to go home!!
She is still not on feedings, today their going to do the belly test. In layman's terms (which are best suited for me), they'll give her some liquid down her feeding tube, in a few hours do an xray of her belly & a few hours after that another xray to follow the fluid thru, to rule out any blockages. Maybe they'll find that she has reflux (which most preemies have), and they can treat it. Probably won't know any test results til tomorrow.
She lost a few oz, as expected. But she's doing good. Resting with little dsats.
We'll be leaving here today around 1-1:30, and then back on Friday. So only home for two days.
Thanks for the continued prayers!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
She is still not on feedings, today their going to do the belly test. In layman's terms (which are best suited for me), they'll give her some liquid down her feeding tube, in a few hours do an xray of her belly & a few hours after that another xray to follow the fluid thru, to rule out any blockages. Maybe they'll find that she has reflux (which most preemies have), and they can treat it. Probably won't know any test results til tomorrow.
She lost a few oz, as expected. But she's doing good. Resting with little dsats.
We'll be leaving here today around 1-1:30, and then back on Friday. So only home for two days.
Thanks for the continued prayers!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
My thoughts on RmcD house..
I feel much more comfortabler staying at the RMcD house this time, about 4 weeks in. We have stayed there 3x's/weeks in the last month. The fee to stay there is a recommendation of $10.00/night. Not bad. Breakfast & lunch are on your own, but most nights (except weekends & probably holidays), a 'guest chef' comes in to make dinner, buffett style for everyone. That's really nice, but most of the time it's pasta (a baked ziti), and I can only eat so much pasta. One of the first times we were here, a family came in and maine stuffed haddock. It was very good.
One of the good things is there's no tv in the rooms. I like that. I can use my laptop, or Gary & I watch something on xfinity tv. And I think couples who are up here for a length of time, can chat & catch up on sleep.
One of the good things is there's no tv in the rooms. I like that. I can use my laptop, or Gary & I watch something on xfinity tv. And I think couples who are up here for a length of time, can chat & catch up on sleep.
Debating... Tues., 9/6/2011 @ 11:28a.m.
Hi, All. We've checked out of Ronald Mcdonald; and our at hospital. Today's debate is whether I stay, while Gary goes home to work, or I go with him. Our favorite nurse, Margo is in today; and she practices in a holistic way. She says that it would be just good "healing" for Gracie if a parent was here, but in no way was judging us or would judge us. This week, I have to go home because I have my six week post pardum appointment with my OB down in New Bedford; but then I'm thinking next week I will/should stay with Grace, while Gary goes home for 2-3 days to work.
I know I can stay by myself, I'm a big girl. But I think of the financial part of it, and do I want to stay alone? I would only be going from the RmCd house to the hospital. There's a shuttle and it's only 4 blocks away; so a walk here & there would only help my incision & wound.
I guess the fear is that I'm scared. Going thru labor alone, and then thinking if anything happened to Grace while I was here alone frightens me. Any thoughts??
Thanks all!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
I know I can stay by myself, I'm a big girl. But I think of the financial part of it, and do I want to stay alone? I would only be going from the RmCd house to the hospital. There's a shuttle and it's only 4 blocks away; so a walk here & there would only help my incision & wound.
I guess the fear is that I'm scared. Going thru labor alone, and then thinking if anything happened to Grace while I was here alone frightens me. Any thoughts??
Thanks all!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Monday, September 5, 2011
Happy Labor Day! Mon. 9/5/2011 @ 11:55a.m.
Let's try this again! I just wrote out my post, and then my screen went white & I lost it!! :(
Gracie is doing good! She is resting comfortably on the ventiliator & out breathing the vent. She got blood yesterday, so she looks more her color, a little pink. She is getting more hair :) too! Gracie is 2lbs. 9 oz. today; but a little of that is fluid, so we expect her to go down tomorrow; and that's okay. She is also 14 3/4" long. Tall girl! They weigh her nightly & measure her length weekly.
We came in this am and her arm was all bandaged up & on a board, so she can't move it.. and they did that to add an iv line. She is a wiggler so I imagine she can't stand that. :(
Right now, she is doing good with everything except feedings. So, the plan is to put a pic line back in today, and then tomorrow check out her belly with some xrays & a solution to see if everything is digesting as it's suppossed to be. We, of course, think they pushed last week's feedings a little too quick. If everything goes well with the belly, they may start her on feedings again tomorrow or Wednesday. This time, with our suggestion, they will go slower with the feedings. She does well with up to 4.0cc's, then they rush to get her to 5.0cc's, in 6 hours, and maybe she wait 12 or 24 hours. So, I think we're all on the same page with going a little slower this time around.
She still has some apnea spells, but that's to be expected, because she is a preemie. Around the 34weeks-35weeks, (which is 2 weeks), her brain would be more developed and she shouldn't have many apnea spells.
My original due date was October 30th, so she probably wouldn't be heading home til around that time, maybe a little sooner; hopefully not after!! Just keep those good thoughts & prayers coming!
Thank you to Glenna who left a froggy on Maxwell's gravesite. We wondering who did that. Happy Birthday to you today!
Thanks for all the support & prayers. For the first time, in as long as I can remember, we/I am missing the Our Lady of Angels procession today back home. Please Our Lady, keep our little Gracie in your healing hands!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max (forever in our hearts)
Gracie is doing good! She is resting comfortably on the ventiliator & out breathing the vent. She got blood yesterday, so she looks more her color, a little pink. She is getting more hair :) too! Gracie is 2lbs. 9 oz. today; but a little of that is fluid, so we expect her to go down tomorrow; and that's okay. She is also 14 3/4" long. Tall girl! They weigh her nightly & measure her length weekly.
We came in this am and her arm was all bandaged up & on a board, so she can't move it.. and they did that to add an iv line. She is a wiggler so I imagine she can't stand that. :(
Right now, she is doing good with everything except feedings. So, the plan is to put a pic line back in today, and then tomorrow check out her belly with some xrays & a solution to see if everything is digesting as it's suppossed to be. We, of course, think they pushed last week's feedings a little too quick. If everything goes well with the belly, they may start her on feedings again tomorrow or Wednesday. This time, with our suggestion, they will go slower with the feedings. She does well with up to 4.0cc's, then they rush to get her to 5.0cc's, in 6 hours, and maybe she wait 12 or 24 hours. So, I think we're all on the same page with going a little slower this time around.
She still has some apnea spells, but that's to be expected, because she is a preemie. Around the 34weeks-35weeks, (which is 2 weeks), her brain would be more developed and she shouldn't have many apnea spells.
My original due date was October 30th, so she probably wouldn't be heading home til around that time, maybe a little sooner; hopefully not after!! Just keep those good thoughts & prayers coming!
Thank you to Glenna who left a froggy on Maxwell's gravesite. We wondering who did that. Happy Birthday to you today!
Thanks for all the support & prayers. For the first time, in as long as I can remember, we/I am missing the Our Lady of Angels procession today back home. Please Our Lady, keep our little Gracie in your healing hands!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max (forever in our hearts)
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Posting from Maine Sun. 9/4/2011 @ 4:33pm
Hi, everyone! Gracie is doing great.. she is still on the ventiliator but she's doing just fine on it. She needs it because she is little & she needs to rest. Why let her stress to breathe? She is only 31 days old, and 32 weeks today. And you wonder why I'm confused???
She looked very different to me today, and we've only been gone 3 days. She is really filling out. Her weight today was 2 lbs. 6 oz. Wow!! So I took today's picture, but I left the gadget to upload it at home, so you will all have to wait til Wed for the picture.
Keep the prayers & good thoughts coming. Tomorrow they'll hopefully start on feedings again, but maybe not so fast this time. We did voice our concerns to the doctor, one of our favorite guys, Dr. Peter Marro is on today. Gracie reacts well to him, so that's good.
We are staying at the Ronald McDonald house today & tomorrow, then leaving Tuesday evening for home. Then I think back on Friday thru Sunday. This is our life for now! I feel more comfortable staying here than I did the first time we stayed. We are in a room on the 1st floor, very nice; with private bath outside of the room (which is okay). The only thing is the laptop doesn't work that well (the internet) down there.. but we can just come upstairs & sit in the living room. No late night tv for me.. but that's okay, I should be catching up on sleep anyway!
That's the story from Maine...
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
She looked very different to me today, and we've only been gone 3 days. She is really filling out. Her weight today was 2 lbs. 6 oz. Wow!! So I took today's picture, but I left the gadget to upload it at home, so you will all have to wait til Wed for the picture.
Keep the prayers & good thoughts coming. Tomorrow they'll hopefully start on feedings again, but maybe not so fast this time. We did voice our concerns to the doctor, one of our favorite guys, Dr. Peter Marro is on today. Gracie reacts well to him, so that's good.
We are staying at the Ronald McDonald house today & tomorrow, then leaving Tuesday evening for home. Then I think back on Friday thru Sunday. This is our life for now! I feel more comfortable staying here than I did the first time we stayed. We are in a room on the 1st floor, very nice; with private bath outside of the room (which is okay). The only thing is the laptop doesn't work that well (the internet) down there.. but we can just come upstairs & sit in the living room. No late night tv for me.. but that's okay, I should be catching up on sleep anyway!
That's the story from Maine...
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Books! Sat eve. 9/3/11 @ 8:46pm
Auntie Lisa in Vegas sent Gracie some books in the mail, Sandra Boynton.. ABC's, and moo, ba, la la la.. one of my favorites among others. Thanks Auntie Lisa. We read to Grace every time we are there, anywhere from 2-6 books.
What can I say? I'm not really sure how I'm feeling. We visited Maxwell today, we have been visiting every time we're home, at least once.. it brings up all kinds of crazy feelings for me. The "reality" part that I'm going to a cemetary to visit my son. We were there as the sun was setting tonight, the wind was blowing the leaves around, and it was just so peaceful. Is that how it is? He must be so peaceful! Just sucks!!
We are getting are stuff ready & packed to leave in the morning. We want to be out by 8:00 a.m., the earlier we leave the earlier we'll be seeing Gracie.
Gary did call to the doctor that was on this afternoon, and just about the same was said. Ventiliator today, maybe start up feedings again tomorrow; maybe while she's on ventiliator to help her.
We'll try to get in to the Ronald McDonald house tomorrow, so I'll have my laptop & write from there tomorrow evening.
As always, thanks for the continued prayers & thoughts!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & maxwell (forever in our hearts)
What can I say? I'm not really sure how I'm feeling. We visited Maxwell today, we have been visiting every time we're home, at least once.. it brings up all kinds of crazy feelings for me. The "reality" part that I'm going to a cemetary to visit my son. We were there as the sun was setting tonight, the wind was blowing the leaves around, and it was just so peaceful. Is that how it is? He must be so peaceful! Just sucks!!
We are getting are stuff ready & packed to leave in the morning. We want to be out by 8:00 a.m., the earlier we leave the earlier we'll be seeing Gracie.
Gary did call to the doctor that was on this afternoon, and just about the same was said. Ventiliator today, maybe start up feedings again tomorrow; maybe while she's on ventiliator to help her.
We'll try to get in to the Ronald McDonald house tomorrow, so I'll have my laptop & write from there tomorrow evening.
As always, thanks for the continued prayers & thoughts!!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & maxwell (forever in our hearts)
Happy 1st month, Grace!! 1:32pm 9/3/2011-Sat.
Gracie is 1 month old today!! Wow!! Happy 1st month old!! She is doing okay, resting on ventiliator.. with possible feed later. Gary has spoken to the NP this am, and let them know our concerns regarding 'pushing' the feeds. And we would like her off the vent soon. She outbreaths the ventiliator, anyway.
The plan for her today is to just rest & breathe on the ventiliator. They took blood for white cell count & we'll know how they came back later. They may start a feeding later this evening.
We will be leaving Fairhaven tomorrow morning, and one of our favorite Neo Dr. Peter Marro will be on. So we will discuss a 'plan' with him. If we get any more info later, I will post!
Just trying to keep sane as I clean the house :)
Happy Labor Day weekend all..
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
The plan for her today is to just rest & breathe on the ventiliator. They took blood for white cell count & we'll know how they came back later. They may start a feeding later this evening.
We will be leaving Fairhaven tomorrow morning, and one of our favorite Neo Dr. Peter Marro will be on. So we will discuss a 'plan' with him. If we get any more info later, I will post!
Just trying to keep sane as I clean the house :)
Happy Labor Day weekend all..
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Friday, September 2, 2011
TGIF! Friday, 9/2/2011 @ 1:49pm
Happy Friday!! Got to hang out with Ben & Emily today (my niece & nephew); Ben is going to be 4 in a few weeks, and Emily 2 a few weeks after that. They picked me up & I'm amazed at how many 'big' words Ben has in his conversations! Emily hugged me, wanted to hold my hand the whole time.. she is getting soo big!! I miss them & love them so much!! We had a good day!!
Gracie update: :( .. she's having a bad day.. I know i'm suppossed to expect bad/good days because we are in the NICU, but she was doing so well. She was up to 5.0cc's of feeding yesterday, and I think they pushed her too much on feedings. She spit up quite a bit last night, and this morning had quite a few apnea spells, so they put her back on the ventiliator. :( . I know she's little & they want to 'challenger' her to feed more, but maybe they did it too soon/too fast.
Gary just checked in this afternoon & she is resting comfortably, breathing fine & they are waiting on the Doctor and whether they will continue feeds today or not.
I hope she's okay!! I miss her!!
Please keep the prayers coming!! Thank you!!
Have a safe & fun Labor Day weekend. We'll head back to Maine til Tuesday!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Gracie update: :( .. she's having a bad day.. I know i'm suppossed to expect bad/good days because we are in the NICU, but she was doing so well. She was up to 5.0cc's of feeding yesterday, and I think they pushed her too much on feedings. She spit up quite a bit last night, and this morning had quite a few apnea spells, so they put her back on the ventiliator. :( . I know she's little & they want to 'challenger' her to feed more, but maybe they did it too soon/too fast.
Gary just checked in this afternoon & she is resting comfortably, breathing fine & they are waiting on the Doctor and whether they will continue feeds today or not.
I hope she's okay!! I miss her!!
Please keep the prayers coming!! Thank you!!
Have a safe & fun Labor Day weekend. We'll head back to Maine til Tuesday!
Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & max
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Thurs. Update on Gracie 9/1/11 @ 12:49pm
Finally got thru to Margo & Grace is doing Wonderful!! She is back on the high flow nasal canula as of last evening.. yea!! She doesn't like the cpap!! She has not had many spit up's & she is on 4.5cc's of formula as of this morning, and they are up (ing) it to 5.0 in 6 hours vs. 12. Wow!! I was a little nervous, but Margo assured me that "she's doing fine with it". So, by tonight she will be at 5 cc's of formula, which means the TPN will be coming out!! I hope she takes it well!!
We're back there either on Saturday with a visit with my parents (let's try that again) or if that doesn't work, Sunday we will be leaving to visit. I'm sure Gracie will look a little fuller on Sunday, I will definitely post a picture!!
On a sidebar: Target.com has a new website (their own, I guess); and I've been on the phone holding for 25 minutes for a return! WOW!! And I thought it was bad years ago being an AT&T customer service rep, can you imagine the sh**t people are giving these customer service reps, after holding for 25 minutes?? Wow!!
Thanks everybody for wanting to read about our little Miss Gracie!!
Love you!
pattie & gary, gracie & max :)
We're back there either on Saturday with a visit with my parents (let's try that again) or if that doesn't work, Sunday we will be leaving to visit. I'm sure Gracie will look a little fuller on Sunday, I will definitely post a picture!!
On a sidebar: Target.com has a new website (their own, I guess); and I've been on the phone holding for 25 minutes for a return! WOW!! And I thought it was bad years ago being an AT&T customer service rep, can you imagine the sh**t people are giving these customer service reps, after holding for 25 minutes?? Wow!!
Thanks everybody for wanting to read about our little Miss Gracie!!
Love you!
pattie & gary, gracie & max :)
Home Alone Thurs., 9/1/2011 @ 10:59a.m.
Good morning! For those who've asked or wondering, Gary picked up the papers I threw off the couch last night; then put them on top of the dining room table. We shared a hug, I stopped crying & we agreed to stop snapping & need to be "ok" between the two of us. He was a little sad when he read last night's blog. I was too.. it's just that same old feeling, "i don't like being home". Without Gracie, without Max; with the thoughts that I'm not pregnant. Too much!!
I have tried calling the NICU twice this morning to check on Gracie, and her nurse was at breakfast & now on rounds. The good thing is we trust her nurse today, 100%, it's Margo!! She is wonderful with Grace. So, we know she is in good hands. I will call again in 20-30 minutes, then have an update for you all later.
I'm doing church business this am,and went to pick up some things at church; and (for those close friends that know Shawn..lol,) I was swearing like a trooper in front of him.. oops!! Sorry Shawn!! I have to do our own financial business too! (that's not fun :(
Hope you all are loving your children one more minute today!!
Love,
pattie, gary, gracie & maxwell (forever in our hearts)
I have tried calling the NICU twice this morning to check on Gracie, and her nurse was at breakfast & now on rounds. The good thing is we trust her nurse today, 100%, it's Margo!! She is wonderful with Grace. So, we know she is in good hands. I will call again in 20-30 minutes, then have an update for you all later.
I'm doing church business this am,and went to pick up some things at church; and (for those close friends that know Shawn..lol,) I was swearing like a trooper in front of him.. oops!! Sorry Shawn!! I have to do our own financial business too! (that's not fun :(
Hope you all are loving your children one more minute today!!
Love,
pattie, gary, gracie & maxwell (forever in our hearts)
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