Solomon continues to do well!

The surgery really paid off! His kidney function has improved nearly 4 fold, and his blood is now going to all the right places. Every day presents a new challenge though, and for the past 2 days, it's been that he has a partially collapsed lung from spending so much time on his right side following surgery on his left. His vent settings have been upped to try and get the fluid that's accumulated on the lung out, and so far, it seems to be working. He's back on the billirubin light - nothing new - but his #s were not that far outside of normal. I told him he just likes to get a tan. Speaking of which, Solomon has georgous skin - it's just terribly sensitive given his prematurity. His doctor calls him scrappy still and had a relativley good report for me this morning. He's proven to all of us that he's both a miracle and a fighter, and I thank you all sooooooo much for keeping him, and us, in your thoughts and prayers.
I made it home from the hospital yesterday afternoon, which was more difficult than I thought emotionally. It's hard to leave Solomon here and to know that I'm going home with one fewer child than what I expected. It's hard, but we'll make it. I'm just greatful to God for giving me such a fighter in my son, Solomon.
Love,
Sami, Tracy and Solomon

We had surgery today!

It's been a crazy 48 hours. Yesterday the docs came to us with the news that little Solomon needed surgery on his PDA, a valve that normally closes in term babies so that the blood flows the right way. We'd tried treating with medicine, and the valve closed for a day, but opened back up the next day. The docs all recomended surgery since Solomon's kidneys werent' getting enough blood and his lungs were getting too much. He had the surgery this morning at 10 am, and came through like a trooper. They also put in a catheter so that they can give his poor veins a rest in the rest of his body. He lost a little blood and is getting a transfusion as we speak to help with that. Solomon is sedated, and sleeping peacefully at present. He'll be that way for the next couple of days and will be completely dependent upon the ventilator. He will hopefully be able to resume feedings tomorrow or the next day. In the meantime, he is being nurished via iv's. We've been told it'll be a very rough ride over the next few days, but after coming through this, the three of us feel we can survive anything.
I am doing better over all. My wound is healing wonderfully despite the horrible infection I had, and I hope to be discharged tomorrow. My wbc count is up, which has the docs puzzled, but hopefully all will resolve itself in time - and with a litle sleep. :)
Please keep praying for us, we desperately need it and appreciate all that you have done for us thus far.
Love,
Sami, Tracy and Solomon

Sorry it's taken so long!

I've tried to post 2 updates lately, and neither one went...and quiet frankly, I was too exhausted to try again until today. :)
Little Solomon is doing well and living up to his big name. His murmur went away for a day but has returned. We spoke with his doctor just now and he's not terribly concerned. He said the medicine could still work or Solomon could do it on his own. Let's pray for either!
He has his blood pressure under control, and his blood sugar is lowering slowly but steadily. He had a brain scan which showed no signs of hemoraghing. He's really a miracle, our Solomon. The doctors are even saying we can hold him soon.
Me... that's another story all together. We found the source of my fevers on Sunday night. Apparently when Rafe was delivered, some of his infection was transfered to the outside of my uterus. I wound up with an major infection there which lead to me being put on isolation until they could rule out MRSA (Staph). I've been on every antibiotic under the moon for the past two weeks, and am finally, THANK GOD, without fever. I'm just terribly exhausted now as my body tries to heal from the infection. I'm off isolation now as they've determined that the infection is endometritis. I have a neat little wound vac now that goes everywhere with me and will help me heal faster. They are even talking about me getting a picc line of my own so that I can get my antibiotics without blowing veins every day.
So, to end, please pray for us all. We all have an uphill battle ahead of us, but with God's help, we can do it. As always, we thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support.
Love,
Sami, Tracy and Solomon

We had another good night

Solomon slept well last night on his stomach. He needs a PICC line so they can stop having to take blood from his poor feet. They are a little bruised to say the least. He had lab work done yesterday and the only thing really off were his tryglicerides. No worries though, this happens, and they just take him off his lipids for a day or so. I sat with him twice today. I stayed so long the second time and they had to get a wheelchair to get me back to my room. I had gotten a little drowsy and they didn't want me walking back on my on. I feel like all I do is drink water and pump. LOL When I went to visit Solomon the second time this morning, he was on his back. He was soooo cute! His hands were clasped together and it looked like he was praying. That's what we all need to do!
Luv you all and thanks for your thoughts and prayers!
Sami, Tracy and Solomon

Pray for a PICC line, and a shrinking murmur!

Just had a visit with Solomon again and had a chat with his Doctor. Solomon's been doing well today. His billirubin was low enough to come off of the light today, and he's resting well on his stomach in the dark. He looked so calm, it was awesome to say the least. We tried a procedure yesterday to give them better access to Solomon's veins. They tried to put in a PICC line. It was not successful yesterday or today though, because the catheter (PICC) is bigger than his veins once you reach a certain point. If this continues, he will need a small operation. In addition, he has a heart mumur which is expected in kids his age. They used to treat it with indicen (medicine I used to stop contractions) but he's getting essentially ibuprofin instead. We will learn Sunday if it's worked. If not he'll have surgery to fix the murmur and put in a catheter if the PICC line continues to give trouble. The surgeries could be done though as a two in one which would be awesome. Once he gets the murmur taken care of, he'll be able to develop a little faster hopefully. The docs found it early since they wanted to explore doing a PICC line and thought they'd find trouble, so all in all, he's being prepared well for the next hurdles. The docs all say he's doing well, and he looks like it too. He has my nose - I have probably said that before, but will say it many many more times. :)

Solomon had a good night!

I just took a walk down to NICU - still not able to visit the little guy because my fever won't go away - but I got an update. He slept well through the night since they put him on his tummy and gave him a tiny tiny bit of sedative. His sugars were an issue again last night, but not like they have been - yesterday they would swing wildly from 34 to 200. I am told that 40ish is normal for an infant his age. Today, they are going as far down, jut getting a little too high at times. This is normal for for a preemie at his gestation though.
I want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I know I've been unavailable a lot as I've tried to fight this infection that was passed to me during the events of last week. I was told it could have been life threatening if we'd waited another day to deliver - both for Solomon as well as myself. I told Mama that I must hve pikced up some kind of exotic bug or something that no one's ever heard of which is why I can't seem to kick the infection no matter how many antibiotics I take. :)
Finally, a lot of people have asked about sending flowers for Rafe's burial. We would much more appreciate, and think Rafe would have agreed, donations to the March of Dimes in his honor.