Sooo... Solomon's doc said this morning he was doing good, but not excellent. Well, we weren't having any of that! He gave me permission to do Kangaroo Care today, which is skin to skin contact between parent and child. Solomon still has several IV's, so I was surprised that he gave permission, particularly given that he has a major line going into his left arm which is very sensitive. However, once they put my son in my arms, he began to perform like a champion! His heart rate soared, his oxygen sat got better, and he began to breath double and tripple over the vent. He did so well, they let me hold him for 2 hours and joked that I should just move in to the NICU and hold him all the time. I already am looking forward to our Kangaroo time tomorrow! And yes, before you ask, they took pics of me holding him which I hope to get developed this weekend and will post online.
As always, thank you tremendously for your love, prayers and support!
Love,
Sami, Tracy and Solomon
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
We had another good day!
Solomon had another good report card today. He's off his bp meds completely, and is doing well in that department. His blood gasses are better so they are starting to ween his settings on the vent, and he's been responding well to that. Solomon's big goals for now are:1. Start feeding tomorrow2. Ween off the vent, and3. Decrease the inflamation that's showing on his lungs after the surgery (nothing unexpected, but a must fight nontheless).
He's officially nicknamed Scrappy now. His doctor called him that the other day, and I kind of like it. It describes him very well. Solomon's still on a little bit of sedative, but that's mostly because he's ready to wiggle around too much while he still needs to heal. They have cut the dose in half, and hope to continue to do so until he's off completely.
I changed his diaper again today, and he's doing well in that department. He is still getting rid of the merconium which helps with his billirubin numbers. They are low enough now to come off of the light, but the docs want to give him another day.
I swear the boy is growing! He looks much longer than when he was born. I hope to get pics up this week...I promise. They will measure him again tomorrow night. The doc says he still has some fluid in him and that I should expect him to lose weight for a few more days before beginning to gain towards the end of the week. He's officially 780 grams right now (1 lb, 11.5 oz) but the docs are using 700 grams as his true weight (minus fluid) which means he's gained 20 grams in 2 weeks. Now that he's past the PDA surgery and starting to see the benefits, he should begin to gain faster as he goes back on breast milk and continues his IV nutrition.
I am doing better too. My hospice nurses came for the first time today...what a riot they are. My "torture" was better today (changing the vac on my wound) thanks to good drugs which I had to promise my doc to only use when the nurses were treating me. I got a hair cut and feel like a new woman.
As always, thanks for your love, care, prayers and support. We don't know how we'd make it without your encouragement.
Love,
Sami, Tracy and Solomon
He's officially nicknamed Scrappy now. His doctor called him that the other day, and I kind of like it. It describes him very well. Solomon's still on a little bit of sedative, but that's mostly because he's ready to wiggle around too much while he still needs to heal. They have cut the dose in half, and hope to continue to do so until he's off completely.
I changed his diaper again today, and he's doing well in that department. He is still getting rid of the merconium which helps with his billirubin numbers. They are low enough now to come off of the light, but the docs want to give him another day.
I swear the boy is growing! He looks much longer than when he was born. I hope to get pics up this week...I promise. They will measure him again tomorrow night. The doc says he still has some fluid in him and that I should expect him to lose weight for a few more days before beginning to gain towards the end of the week. He's officially 780 grams right now (1 lb, 11.5 oz) but the docs are using 700 grams as his true weight (minus fluid) which means he's gained 20 grams in 2 weeks. Now that he's past the PDA surgery and starting to see the benefits, he should begin to gain faster as he goes back on breast milk and continues his IV nutrition.
I am doing better too. My hospice nurses came for the first time today...what a riot they are. My "torture" was better today (changing the vac on my wound) thanks to good drugs which I had to promise my doc to only use when the nurses were treating me. I got a hair cut and feel like a new woman.
As always, thanks for your love, care, prayers and support. We don't know how we'd make it without your encouragement.
Love,
Sami, Tracy and Solomon
Sunday, November 30, 2008
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
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
Friday, November 28, 2008
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
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
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
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
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
Saturday, November 22, 2008
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
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. :)
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