Day 1 - Day 12

Day 1
Where do we start!!!! Thursday, May 21st I am in labor at 26 weeks 2 days! Too early!!!!
They hooked me up to all kinds of drugs and wires and let me know quick that I was not going anywhere until this baby was born...maybe 2 weeks!
We will see!

Day 2
Well the magnesium sulfate has worked, some!
4 contractions an hour, so that is better than it was!
Ultrasound came in today and it looked good, NICU nurse came in to let us know what to expect with a baby this early!
Bad night...contractions all night! Not looking good!


Day 3

In labor...BAD!
8 cm's @ 8:30 am...this baby is coming regardless what we say! And, they want me to have a vaginal birth!!!! What? I have had 3 csections....ok I will! Man, we were so freaked out and scared!
3 pushes later and 11:10 am and Carter James is born! He is so tiny and I was so scared. The nurses worked on him for a while and let me see him and off the NICU he went.
Then, took a nap...I passed out. The nurse came in and I woke up and she was in my face and I freaked out! It was kinda funny!
My legs are finally getting back their feeling and we are off to see him for the first time...well my first time...Dad has been there 3 times!
He is so tiny and everything is so scary right now because it is just so unknown territory right now.
Went to visit again tonight and he continues to fight everyone and continue to do what he needs to do at this age. The nurses like his size..2 lbs 2oz for his age . He is still on the vent but have turned it down a bit..he is a strong little man.


Day 4

He had a good night...they think he has an infection in his airway and are waiting the results of that test. They are going to try to take him off the vent today at some time...hope that works. I started pumping today and have been very successful...that is so good because they encourage it for the baby.
Baptized today @ 11 am by Fr. Cutis Mallet...he was so awesome and so good to us...We love him!
He is off the vent...took him off at 5pm and Martin (nurse practioner let us know that he kinda of acted up a bit but then started behaving..hard-headed already!
He has a cpap with 40 % oxygen and they will see how he does.


Day 5

He had another good ngiht....still on 40% of oxygen with the cpap....His glucose was a little high but that is totally normal with preemies...they think they hear a heart murmur and will hopefully check it with an ultrasound.
Time to go home today...kinda of sad but I know that this is the most amazing place for him right now and they are so wonderful hear!


Day 6

Glucose looked better today and his gases look good..I know medical terminology! Just means that his levels in his oxygen are looking good. They turned down his cpap to 32% tonight because they think they were hyperventilating him....he was being blown up!
Having a couple of episiodes were he drops his heart rate real low..machines start beaping and then you just have to wake him up to remind him to breathe and then he is fine...scary when he does it though.
He ate today for the first time....a whole 1 ml of breastmilk..hope he likes it!
Another milestone...he took his light off and his glasses today so no more sunbathing....cpap down to 23% and will continue to eat every 3 hours...
he has had a good day!
Had the ultrasound of his heart and the murmur is no longer there but they want us to be prepared that it could return....we know that we will have good days and bad but we love to celebrate him on the good ones.
They might take him off the cpap tomorrow if he is behaving and not acting like a wild boy!!!!
Please continue to pray...


Day 7

Well, he had some more little episodes with his heart (called Brady) but had a great night other than that.
Had a little bit of residuals of milk come back through his tube today but they will moniter that before they increase his feedings.
I was visiting today and him and his heart decided to act up so I had to remind him to breath and place my hand on him...he did it twice while I was there...I hate when he does that!
He weighs 1lb 13oz today..totally normal to lose some along the way but he needs every once he can get.
CPAP is OFF!! My little man only has a little nose canula in his nose...he is so big!
They took another line out of his belly so all they have in there is his IV...he even sleeps on his belly now and LOVES it!
I helped his nuse change his sheets today and it felt so good to be a part...his eyes are beginning to open!!!! He is doing so well all considered but still taking day by day!


Day 8

His oxygen flow is 21%...same that you and I breathe!!! Gave him so caffeine to his system to help at times...is that my boy our what?
They are continue to wean him off of his flow of oxygen and they have increased his feedings to 2 ml..he likes that milk!!!
He had 2 new visitors....Alex and Mary Claire! She was so funny and kept saying that everything was so tin...which I would of had a video camera. Alex took it wonderfully...just like a big brother and the nurse gave him a diaper to bring to school to show his friends...and we got one too...even Nanny..oh yeah! she was his other visitor and she was able to touch him...it was so good!
His glucose was a little high again so they are adjusting his IV fluids to see what he needs..they may have to give his so insulin if they can not bring it down.


Day 9

I held him today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The nurse asked me and I practically ran up front to get a gown...he was so little and we did not want to overstimulate him so I held him for only 15 minutes but what a 15 minutes it was...I sang to him and just held him and rocked...It was so completely wonderful!
They have increased his feedings to 3 ml (they are just filling up that little tube)...glucose still higher than they like.
Kevin went offshore today and was not thrilled but had to go...he calls often:)
His 6pm feeding was 4ml!!!!!
His GiGi and PaPa were able to see him tonight..they increased more of his feedings to 5 ml and was doing what he does best....sleeping on his belly!
Called @ 9:30 to tell him nighty night and I would see him in the am!


Day 10

Happy 1 week birthday Carter!
Wow, now he is drinking 6 ml of milk...I think he likes it! Still doing well on his oxygen and his glucose looked real good today!!!! It went down like 70 points...we like that!
PaPa and GiGi went home today...so we will see if my other babies behave for me while Kevin is at work...lets's cross our fingers.
We will check on his later...oh and he has a new shirt on today! We love that he is wearing clothes...well kinda of clothes.
5 pm visit was good! He now has an IV in his arm and no more tubes in his umbilical cord....eating 6 ml now but had some residuals withnthat feeding but they think it is the stress of all that they did to him today.
Tomorrow we get to Kangaroo him (skin to skin contact)....so excited for that!!!!


Day 11

Kangaroo Day!
We arrived at the NICU and man it was a busy day! Lots of new babies so the nurses had their hands full...one of those days we will experience where nurses are running around and machines going off.
Then the nurse set me in my chair with my baby and Kevin and I chatted while we fed and loved on little Carter for almost 2 hours.
He is up to eating 8 ml and now weighs 2lbs!!!!
Hope to bring the kids after mass if the craziness in the NICU slows down...going to try to upload some pics.
Another visit from the big kids tonight! They were excited to seee him....he is doing well tonight and will increase feedings to 9 ml @ midnight.
Kinda of a busy and sad day in the NICU and one we will probably see again in the next 3 months. They lost a baby today and was so sad to go in tonight and see yhat area empty....we are so fortunate and thankful for our little daily progress. We pray for the baby's soul and for the family as it has to be a horrible night. Please join us in prayer for them.


Day 12

Another good day in the NICU and a quiet day which I am happy about. They have been doing alot of things on him daily and today was just a day to relax. He is now up to 2lbs 1oz and they are so excited about that..they wanted him up to his birthweight bu 2 weeks so he is trucking ahead. Kevin and I were able to visit last ngiht and chat while we held him and fed him...we love those times.
The NICU lost another baby yesterday...2 in 2 days. Please pray for their family.