The Peanut Gallery

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Kennedy's Stay @ Queen of the Valley (8/13/08 - 8/30/08)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008
I was in such disbelief that something was wrong with my little girl. I never anticipated for this to happen. I did not have any inclination that something was going to go wrong. Once I arrived to my home for the next four days (Room 2021) my O.B. came in to see how I was doing. How did he think I was doing. He pulled my baby out FOUR WEEKS to early. He came in to explain to me how he mis measured her head. I could not even look at him. All I wanted to do was jump out of my bed and strangle him.

The first day took forever. All I wanted to do was see my baby. I made Brian run back and forth to the NICU every hour to see how she was doing. He told me that her lungs were underdeveloped and the doctors were giving her serfactin to help things develop more rapidly. I kept telling Brian I just hope we get Kennedy back tomorrow - I was obviously in denial.

I felt so left out. It seemed like the only person who should know what was going on with Kennedy (myself) had no idea. I learned that Kennedy was intibated from a nurse who came into the room and nonchalantly spilled the beans. I broke down in tears - intibated!!!! That meant she was unable to breath on her own. I wanted out of my bed and wanted to see my baby. But I was unable to get out of bed for 12 hours - doctors orders.

Thursday, August 14, 2008
At 5:30 am Brian and I received a visit from my day nurse. She came in to remove my catheter and get me out of bed - could she come in any earlier? Getting out of bed for the first time was not so bad, however, I did feel really light headed. I kept telling myself, "please don't throw up".

It was finally time....At 8:52 am Brian wheeled me to the NICU to see Kennedy!! I was so nervous - what was she going to look like? She was beautiful. Even with all her tubes and wires I thought she was the most precious baby in the entire world.
Satuday, August 16, 2008
My discharge day. I could not believe it - I had to go home without my baby. Instead of being able to walk down the hall when I wanted to see Kennedy, I now had to be a 2o minute car ride away. It was probably the most depressin day I had since having Kennedy. I was wheeled out of my room and down to the car empty handed. We passed two other people being discharged with baby's in tote, however, I was empty handed. Brian and I got in our car and the car seat was empty. We headed to my parents house to get a bite to eat before going back to the hospital to see Kennedy.

Kennedy was given three doses of Serfactin, however, her breathing was not improving. Dr. Furman order an ultrasound and chest x-ray of Kennedy's heart. It was discovered that Kennedy had a PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus) which is is a heart problem that occurs soon after birth in some babies. In PDA, there is an abnormal circulation of blood between two of the major arteries near the heart. Before birth, the two major arteries—the aorta and the pulmonary artery—are normally connected by a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus, which is an essential part of the fetal circulation. After birth, the vessel is supposed to close within a few days as part of the normal changes occurring in the baby's circulation. In some babies, however, the ductus arteriosus remains open (patent). This opening allows blood to flow directly from the aorta into the pulmonary artery, which can put a strain on the heart and increase the blood pressure in the lung arteries. Dr. Furman explained that there is medicine that can be administered in order to close the hole. However, if the medicine does not work a small surgical procedure could be performed in order to close the hole. I was crossing my fingers in hopes the medicine would do the trick and it did. Three days later Kennedy's PDA had closed.
Kennedy also got her PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) in. This line would allow the doctors and nurses to administer more medications to Kennedy without having to put so many IV's in her and it decreases the risk for infection. I was all for it. My poor little girl was being pocked left and right.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Kennedy was extibated!!!!! No more ventilator and her PDA had closed, it really felt like we were on the road to recovery! The doctor also ordered for feeding to begin. She was now placed a nasal cannula CPAP. Kennedy was placed on 5 cc feedings every 6 hours threw her gavage. It was so nice to see her with less tubes and wires. That night Mommy and Daddy finally got to hold our little girl. She was almost one week old and had never been held. It was the most amazing feeling to finally hold my baby. I was so close to her for nine months and to be unable to hold her for seven days was so unnatural.

She held up pretty well while Brian and I held her. She had a couple of dsats but overall she held up pretty good. I would like to think she was happy to be with her Mom and Dad.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Kennedy was improving by leaps and bounds everyday. Kennedy pretty much had company around the clock. My Mom and I visited Kennedy from 9:00 to noon and then Brian and I went once he got off work at 3:00 and stayed to 11:00. Kennedy was making friends with all the nurses. She was the hit of the NICU. They all loved her. We had nurses fighting over who would take care of her each day and night. It was such a great feeling to know that so many people wanted to be involved in Kennedy's recovery.

On Thursday, August 21, 2008 Kennedy got to put on her first shirt. It was so nice to see her with some clothes on. She looked so adorable with this stripped vest that some volunteers make for the NICU. I got to change my first diaper on Saturday, August 23, 2008. It was one of the hardest things to do inside her incubator. There is limited space and cords and IV's everywhere. We received more bad news on Sunday, August 24, 2008. Dr. Furman let us know that Kennedy was Anemic. She had a low red blood cell count. For some reason her body was not able to produce more on her own. He advised us that there was a medication called Epogen they could give her to stimulate her bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. Of course being the person I am, I asked what would happen if this medicine did not work? He informed me that this was very unlikely, however, if the medication did not work Kennedy would need a blood transfusion. Kennedy began Occupational Therapy on Monday, August 25, 2008 to help her with her range of motion and to teach her how to nipple. She was really struggling with nippling. She would tire out really fast on was unable to suck on the bottle for more then a minute or two. On Tuesday, August 26, 2008 the O.T. advised me to put Kennedy up to my breast while she was being fed to see if she would initiate nippling. She didn't - but it was great to have her so close to me. Brian and I also were taught how to give Kennedy a bath that night. It was so cool to be involved in these things since we really are limited on what we can do because of her situation. She loved the bath….she had her eyes wide open most of the time. Wednesday, August 27, 2008 was great. Brian and I hung out until midnight because we had two of our favorite night nurses working – Tess and Mel. We held Kennedy, chatted, and laughed all night long.

Thursday, August 28, 2008
Kennedy's umbilical cord fell off, with a little help from Brian and I. We were holding Kennedythe night before and happened to get it snagged on one of our shirts. When we went to put her back in her incubator it was bleeding and hanging on by a thread. I felt horrible with the thought that I caused pain to my little peanut. My mom and I got to the hospital around 9:30 am to see Kennedy. When we walked in she looked horrible. I asked the nurse what happened to Kennedy. She was very yellow. She looked really bad. I explained to the nurse that she did not look like this ten hours ago. I also was informed that Kennedy's blood pressure has been sky high. She had a blood pressure of an adult man. Her mean was 115 - I looked around the room at the monitors for the other six babies and realized Kennedy's was three times higher then everybody elses. The nurse called the on-call Dr. because Dr. Furman was on vacation. The Dr. ordered some blood work-ups. He also had some genetic tests taken and sent away for analysis. Gentics.....what is that for???? I thought Kennedy was doing better and now they are performing extensive gentic tests on her...............
(above is the last picture of Kennedy at Queen of the Valley - you can see how yellow and moddled she looks)

Friday, August 29, 2008
Brian took Friday off to come to the hospital and hang out with Kennedy and me for the day. She looked even worse today. She was very yellow and moddled (blotchy). I was so confused....what was going on with her. She was doing so well and it seemed like we were going to be taking her home in a couple of weeks. Brian and I talked to the on call Dr. about Kennedy. He explained to me that they were concered that Kennedy might have a genetic nuerological problem. Brian and I then discussed transferring Kennedy to another hospital - one that has a specialized nuerological team.

1 comments:

aunt suzie said...

we are so happy to see a picture of our beautiful great (or is it grand) niece, kennedy. and oh how beautiful she is. I must say I do think she takes after the rossi side of the family (but I am biased). because of your sharing we feel much closer to her & to you. we continue to pray for your little peanut & you & brian every day. we love you, aunt suzie & aunt debbie.