41 days old- Joc's first holding

I think I was more excited for Joc to hold Chance than he was. Joc was pretty nervous and I don't blame him. Seeing all the wires and tubes hooked up to Chance AND moving all those to you to hold is quite the ordeal. But it's so worth it!

Chance weighed in at 2 lbs and 7.5 oz. My little guy is getting bigger and bigger.

Events this week-
Wedn is his GI study and prob Thurs is his 2nd ROP eye exam. Prayers both turn out great!

Also, end of this week they're going to see how he does on cpap again. There's no use in trying it now because he has two stressful exams coming up. But if Chance wants to tell them what to do and pulls out his own tube, they'll go ahead and move to cpap instead if putting his tube back in.

39 days cuter!

All is well with my soul. My little guy is so cute I can't stand it. GI study is scheduled for Wednesday. Here's a few pics that'll melt your heart!

38 days old- adios drain tube!

Chance's drain tube was removed this morning. He had a neon yellow bandaid covering the small hold left on his side. They put the gi study down for next tues or wedn. Since he had NEC, he is at a higher risk for the intestines to have narrow areas, blockage, etc. He'll go down to radiology and they put him on this board and turn him this way and that and back again to watch the die move. He's going to love that!! Then, they'll take him back to his room and take x rays at different times. Please pray it's 100% problem free!! It's a really good sign that he's pooping though!

Lol, sorry Chance but we've cheered for you every BM you've done!!!

They may try pre-weening tomorrow on the vent with his rate. Inching slowly towards cpap again. He's up to 2 lbs. 4 oz.

He amazes me every day how strong and courageous he is at 38 days old.

I heard this verse yesterday and fell in love...
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4

My friend Lisa took this picture of Chance today as they were retaping his tube. Isn't he so handsome?!?! And I snapped a pic of him sucking on his paci. It didn't last long!

5 weeks 2 days old

Chance had a restful day!  The drain tube is hanging on by a tread so once it falls out completely, the doctors can proceed with the upper GI.  We enjoyed a couple hours of kangaroo time today!  I look forward to that time every day.  He was laying higher on my chest than he has any previous holding.  High enough where I could rest my chin on his precious little head.  And high enough where I could press my nose up close and smell him.  He had another dose of lasix today to help get off excess liquid that's hanging on around his lungs. 

Prayer requests of late:

• GI study to come back showing no perforations in his bowels or intestines 
• Feeding to begin SOON and for his body to be receptive 
• Another eye exam coming up soon and for the results to be clear of ROP

• Healing of his lungs and to be able to get on cpap soon

   
Another prayer request is for a baby named, Eleanor Joy, who was born yesterday at 26 weeks old.   
 

5 weeks- Merry Christmas!

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD" (Luke 2:11)

Things have been pretty steady with Chance. He's 2 lbs. 4 oz. GI study still planned for later this week. Praying all goes well and he can begin feedings.

This is definitely not how I imagined our picture perfect 1st Christmas as a family but our Lord has different plans.

We've been surprised with many generous and uplifting gifts. A family whose baby went thru the nicu delivered such a sweet receiving blanket yesterday. And today when Joc and I walked in,we'd just missed a special visitor from the North Pole! But, look at all the loot he left for our lite guy ;-) my favorite ones are the preemie clothes especially the mommy loves me one!

After all the talks of taking cute Christmas pics, we managed to leave out house this morning without the nice camera. (Totally Joc's fault)!!! So we had to improvise who our phone camera. They will have to do...

I'm thankful for our Lord this morning. Without His birth, God only knows what this world would be like. I'm thankful for my sweet little family and I can't wait for the day my little baby boy can come home.

Joc has been sick so he'll hold Chance later this week.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Love,

Joc, Ash, and Chance 

34 days old

My mom came with me to the hospital today to see me hold Chance for the first time. He had a good day! The surgeons are now inching out his drain tube and he'll go down next Wedn. or Thurs for the GI test.  Then, he can begin feedings!  


Here's a video of Chance looking all around
 

33 days old- back on vent

Things change very fast and quite often in preemie world. It's been just over a month and I don't think its anything we will ever get used to.

Chance was really having a tough time breathing late last night. So, he's back on the vent. It's not that surprising to us, we were told there was a 50/50 chance he'd have to go back on. He made it a couple days but just tuckered out.

They took a urine sample and blood sample to check for an infection. They went ahead and started him on antibiotics to stay on top of the game. The preliminary culture takes 24 hours to get a result but can take as long as 48 hours for something to show up. He may need another blood transfusion today as well. I guess babies start making a good amount of blood supply at 3 months and they may be taking his blood for samples and tests faster than he can make it.

He's up to 2 lbs 3.3 oz today!

Continued prayers for our little guy!

Heart is heavy today.

32 days old

Chance is moving along! The nasal cpap they had him on wasn't staying on right. He's just too small so they had to put a new fancy (not) one on to fit correctly. It covers his oh so cute face but its what he needs right now. I think he looks like a triceratops and Joc said he looks like the snorks!!

Never the less, he is adorable either way!! I've been enjoying our kangaroo time daily!!

They're letting the drain slowly work it's way out. Basically it's a little straw in his side. So, once it comes out or stops outputting, he can go in for the GI.

Joc is holding on Sunday and we're planning to take his Christmas pics and more ring pics to show his growth. I don't think Joc's ring can fit over his hands anymore.

Also, they changed his bedding today to cute Christmas themed bedding. That'll make a perfect background for his pics!

P.S. I look a little disheveled for whatever reason. Thanks Shannon!!!! ;-)

31 Days old and OFF THE VENT!!!!!!

Boooo!! - He was wide awake this morning when I arrived.  The nurses were in there re-taping his tube and when he heard my voice, he moved his head to try and see me!! 

Today was a BIG day for Chance!  He got off the ventilator and onto the cpap.  So, he finally got that annoyingly, uncomfortable tube OUT!  Prayerfully he can remain on the cpap and off the vent.

Also, the surgeon came in and removed his drain.  They taped gauze over it.  They're waiting for it to dry out before doing the GI.  Then, if all is well, feeding will begin. 

Things are looking up everyday for out little guy! 

Today he's 2 pounds and 2.9 ounces.

Here's a couple pictures before putting on the cpap.  He was breathing all by himself with oxygen blowing in his face!  The tube in his mouth sucks out abdomen contents- set to gravity now.

This is what the cpap looks like.  Sorry it's so dark.  The lights were down and I wanted him to settle.  More will come later.

And... here's Maverick waiting to type an email and Bella excited to see me :-)

 

Happy 1 Month Little guy!

My baby is 1 month old today!!!! He sure has been through a lot in his short little life. God has pulled him through and I know he has much more in store. ;-))))

The upper GI has been delayed. The surgeon wants the drain output basically dry before proceeding. They're watching it day to day at this point. Feedings have to be delayed as well until exam. There's still talk about moving him to the cpap shortly. There's a chance that once he's moved to the cpap he could tire out after a few days and have to go back on the vent. They see that more often than not in little guys like Chance.

He had an eye exam today to check for Retinopathy of prematurity or ROP. It's an eye disease where the blood vessels don't develop how they should and could lead to detachment of the retina if left untreated. They do laser surgery before getting to that point when needed.
Anyways, he's in the clear at this point! Yippee!!! Now they monitor closely with re-examinations to make sure he stays I'm the clear.

He's now 2 lb. 1.3 oz and 13.5 inches.

**stay tuned for some absolutely adorable Christmas themed 1 month pics!!!! Have to wait on photographer Joc to help take the pics!

29 days old

I'm waiting for the RT to come back from lunch so I can do our Kangaroo time! I also downloaded Jewel's lullaby cd to play for a bit while I hold.

Dr. Chaka is the new doc for the next two weeks. Very sweet. She said our 2 main goals for the next two weeks while she's here are to get him on the cpap and start feedings!

She ordered the upper GI for tomorrow. Prayers!

Here are some pics from yesterday's holding and a couple of him awake this morning. They re-taped his tube this morning and the tapes pulling down his skin near his right eye. He looks a little scary!

4 weeks old

Joc and I were talking on our to church yesterday how fast 1 month has flown by. Chance will be 1 month old on Wedn., Dec 19!

His lungs still look a little hazy so another dose of lasix today. The RT said he was more happy during the time I was holding him yesterday than he was all day!

The doc said he's much more stable so I can start Kangaroo care daily!! Yay for us. Now Joc can hold him too. He still hasn't held his little boy ;-(

He's still scheduled to get the upper GI sometime later this week.

I spy Bella!!!