I have to include the token C-5 photo!!!
Tommy's New Quarters
Tommy is continuing to make great progress. He is living it up in his new quarters. The isolette is completely enclosed with two openings on either side. It has a blanket that covers the outside so he can sleep in almost total darkness. I think it also keeps it quieter inside for him. There are lots of noisy alarms and stuff that go off from time to time when his or other babies' vital signs go outside of specified parameters. I really like it, but now I can't lean over him and talk to him as easily. You kind of have to talk through one of the openings to make sure he can hear you. But, you can still touch and love on him just the same. We visited at 8am, 12pm and 8pm today. Tricia slept during the 12pm visit--he was crying when I got there for that visit, but right when I put my hand in there and gave him some love, he quieted right down and went back to sleep. There is no doubt that he knows our touch and voices, and that is such a neat thing. You feel so helpless as a parent during these times because you totally have to rely on the nurses to do everything, but the little things you do like getting him to calm down, or changing his diaper make it feel like you are at least doing something helpful for him. Tommy is getting 1/2 of a teaspoon of breastmilk over a 2 hour period. They put the milk into a syringe which is connected to the feeding tube that is in his nose. Then, a machine slowly pushes the plunger on the syringe over the two our period--pretty neat!
The doctors are going to re-do his ultrasound on his brain on Thursday. We pray that the blood is gone or is at least not worse. I can't believe that it can be too bad they way he has been progressing so well.
Tricia
Tricia is hanging in there. She continues to make big improvements. She hasn't taken any pain meds since about 1am this morning, so that tells you a lot. She hates taking meds!! Her vision is still messed up, so that is worrying her a bit. She has been getting headaches off and on, and that has worried her that her blood pressure is on the rise, but we think that the headaches are most likely a result of her eyes straining and not her blood pressure. We'll see how her pressure is tomorrow at her Dr. appt. She is still using a wheelchair to get in and out of the hospital, but she is walking in the hotel room and down to the lobby, so that is good.
The Altus Kids
Robby has responded well to the antibiotics--he seems like he is back to normal, so that is a blessing for us and especially my mom. We have a webcam at home, and I figured out how to get our new video camera we got for Christmas to double as a webcam, so we got to see the kids tonight. That was just great. Isn't technology wonderful?? It kind of reminds me of how I felt when I was deployed--we treasure the ability to talk on the phone and see the kids over the computer. And now they are seeing the pictures on this website too, so they like that. When Tommy gets moved over to the other side of the NICU, there are some windows over there. I might be able to talk the nurses into letting the kids peer though those windows to see him. Kaitlyn especially wants to see her baby brother!!
Thats it for now. We'll be visiting Tommy again in the morning and then will be home to Altus a little after lunchtime tomorrow.
Here are some pictures we took tonight...enjoy, and thanks for all the prayers and support!
This is Tommy's new home. He seems to like it a lot better. Nice and quiet!! I think we might tape up some pictures of the family on the side when we get back.
Here is the inside of Tommy's home. Notice Daddy's wedding ring on his hand. I couldn't quite get it over his nuckles, but I think I could have if I pushed a bit harder. He hates his feeding tube and oxygen going into his nose--he even pulled his tube part-way out tonight while we were there--such a little stinker! His very stylish shades are to block his eyes from the billyruben light...we take them off and turn the light off when we visit. He likes to peek at mommy and daddy when we are there. He is such a cute little guy! I think we'll keep him! You can also see the line going into his bellybutton. They take glood from there and put meds into him as required. I think that will be comming out this week sometime, as they can't use it forever. They also stick his feet and get blood out that way too. I read that a 2 pound baby has about 3 ounces of blood--they said that amount is about the same as one adult-sized gulp of water!! Yikes!
HUGE BLESSING ! A Matching Grant !
10 years ago
