3 weeks old or 26 1/2 weeks gestation
Some of you have been asking for updates on our little man. Well, good news, Skyler is up to full feedings! 13 milliliters every 3 hours. He was getting nutrients and vitamins through IVs or a picc line before. But now they have taken out all his lines! At least, for now. He has to be happy about that. Now, all his medicine is given to him in his food. I'm so happy he is getting my milk; It will give him the antibodies he needs to fight infection and help him grow. He is already so strong for his size, and feisty-- Chris says he gets his feistiness from his mom :)--But the milk will make him even stronger! Plus, knowing he is getting it makes me feel closer to him. And it makes all the pumping very gratifying. It's nice to know I can help him in that way.
The swelling in his body, from the PDA medicine, has mostly gone down and he looks so much like Chris to me. He has his chin, nose and mouth. His mouth looks big to me so I'm hoping, when he smiles, it goes all the way to his eyes like his dad's.
He had two rounds of the PDA medicine for the opening in his heart. The medicine made it smaller but it didn't close. He may have to have surgery on it later on if it doesn't close on it's own. He also has a fistula or another little connection in his heart. The head NICU doctor said he has only seen it a couple times before in his career. It can cause his heart to work harder because it is pumping around extra blood, or it may have little to no effect at all.The fistula has nothing to do with being premature. He would have had it anyway but we just wouldn't have known about it.
For about 8 days, his chest x-ray has shown a cloudy picture and he has been volatile on his oxygen needs. I talked to the doctor yesterday and he said the cloudy x-ray meant inflammation in the lungs and that they are not inflating enough. The lung inflation issues they can fix with his ventilator settings. The inflammation comes from his lungs not being prepared for oxygen so early, and from the irritation of the ventilator over an extended period of time. They are worried that the inflammation can spread to other parts of his body, like his brain, causing damage. They are starting him on an extremely low doses of certain steroids to help solve that. Thank you for your prayers. I know they make a difference. In your prayers, it would be wonderful if you could pray that the inflammation will go down in his lungs and that his lungs will be protected. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Wow, what a big battle for such a small little soldier! Glad to hear that he is beating the odds. What a story to tell when he is older, right? He as great parents and lots of cheerleaders rooting him on. Go Skyler! Go Go Go Skyler woo! Chin up you guys, we'll keep those prayers comin'. :)
ReplyDeleteLeah, you are so strong and so amazing. I am sorry you have to go through this but I know you can handle it. I am so glad he is doing so well! We will keep him in our prayers. Remember all of those promises in his blessing when you get discouraged or down. Let me know if you need anything. We are rooting for you guys and little Skyler!
ReplyDeleteHi guys, this is Kristin Sweets mum....she has kept us updated on little Skyler and shared your blog with us. You are doing a great job. He must be "the tiniest witness" of our Savior's tender mercies, how blessed to be a part of that. We are cheering you on here in Reno.
ReplyDeleteBaby Skyler is still in every single one of our prayers. That's 5 people up in Washington wanting every success for your little guy. We'll make sure to pray that the inflammation will go down and his lungs will improve. Are you singing to him? Do you have a song that's just for him? I bet he adores your voice. Much love and hope to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteWe will be praying for those little lungs! Hope the steroids will help fix the problem.
ReplyDeleteChris and Leah, you don't know me but your Mom (Deni) prayed for my preemie miracle son. We use to work together. I will keep praying for you both and Skyler. You have an amazing family and with love, prayer, and strength you can get though this rocky road of preemie parenthood. Here is a poem I found while my son was in the hospital.
ReplyDeleteHow Preemie Moms are Chosen
by Erma Bombeck
Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen?
Somehow, I visualize God hovering Earth, selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.
“Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint…give her Gerard. He’s used to profanity.”
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles. “Give her a preemie.”
The angel is curious. “Why this one God? She’s so happy.” “Exactly,” smiles God. “Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel.”
“But does she have the patience?” asks the angel.
“I don’t want her to have too much patience, or she’ll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair.
Once the shock and resentment wear off, she’ll handle it.
I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother.
You see, the child I am going to give her has a world of its own. She has to make it live in her world, and that’s not going to be easy.”
God smiles. “This one is perfect. She has just the right amount of selfishness. ”
The angel gasps, “Selfishness! Is that a virtue?”
God nods. “If she can’t separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn’t know it yet, but she is to be envied.
She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says “momma” for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it.
I will permit her to see clear the things that I see – ignorance, cruelty, prejudice – and allow her to rise above them.
She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side.”
“But what about her Patron Saint?” asks the angel, his pen poised in the air. God smiles.
“A mirror will suffice.
Thank you so much Kelly I have enjoyed reading your comments!
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