We are so pleased that Charlie's first bedtime story was Aunt Lala's gift to Sam - Barack Obama! They were both riveted.
December 31, 2008
The First Wave at Our House
Santa brought the solar system and an earth rug.
Dinosaur book from Janet - awesome!
Christmas Eve and Morning
Keith got first shift on Christmas eve.
Getting Ready for Santa
On Christmas Eve, Nona took Sam home from Pam and Ken's and got our house ready for Santa. Cookies, milk, carrots and cheese and making sure that the chimney was all clear.
Santa's Special for Sam and Charlie
While at Primary Children's, the Macy's Santa visited a few of the floors. I hunted him down and had him do a video message for Sam and Charlie which they then watched on Christmas Eve. I'll post that soon. It was pretty cute.
Fabulous in 2009!
Pictures are coming. I swear. But we have only been home for a week and my mom was here, Christmas happened, we went to the doctor again and I have been recovering from a week of hospital sleep (no sleep). It's funny, waking up every two hours for feedings seems like a luxurious schedule after being in the hospital.
The last week has been meals at Pam and Ken's for all the December birthdays (fabulous meals, by the way) and watching the snow slowing melt from the wicked Christmas day storm. My mom played with Sam and I took care of Charlie. Keith finally got back to work.
NOW I am ready to get life going again. Tomorrow we are going for a little hike with friends to celebrate the new year, Charlie's two week birthday and a whole new outlook.
2009 will be fantastic.
The last week has been meals at Pam and Ken's for all the December birthdays (fabulous meals, by the way) and watching the snow slowing melt from the wicked Christmas day storm. My mom played with Sam and I took care of Charlie. Keith finally got back to work.
NOW I am ready to get life going again. Tomorrow we are going for a little hike with friends to celebrate the new year, Charlie's two week birthday and a whole new outlook.
2009 will be fantastic.
December 26, 2008
Home For Christmas
Just a quick post.
We made it home for Christmas Eve. Completely exhausted and drained, but happy to home.
My mom stayed with me at the hospital for the sleep study which was a complete disaster on the 23rd. Charlie cried for 5 hours straight and none of the data was valid.
Anyway, our plan now is to keep Charlie as healthy as possible because if both nostrils get congested we may go through the same thing again. So, if you are around Charlie, don't be offended if I ask you to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
A baby's nose will increase by 125% within the first month, so we are hoping that solves the stenosis problem. As far as the small jaw, we don't have any data to determine if he has sleep apnea, so Charlie is sleeping on his side with little wedges and on an incline and is checked constantly.
Keith regained his health very quickly.
Christmas Eve and Christmas were great, but Sam was a little overwhelmed. More about that later.
Keith just went back to work for the first time in a week. Charlie is asleep and Sam and Nona just tried Sam's new skis in the backyard. I am looking forward to getting a little sleep (I had about 24 hours over 6 days).
More later.
We made it home for Christmas Eve. Completely exhausted and drained, but happy to home.
My mom stayed with me at the hospital for the sleep study which was a complete disaster on the 23rd. Charlie cried for 5 hours straight and none of the data was valid.
Anyway, our plan now is to keep Charlie as healthy as possible because if both nostrils get congested we may go through the same thing again. So, if you are around Charlie, don't be offended if I ask you to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
A baby's nose will increase by 125% within the first month, so we are hoping that solves the stenosis problem. As far as the small jaw, we don't have any data to determine if he has sleep apnea, so Charlie is sleeping on his side with little wedges and on an incline and is checked constantly.
Keith regained his health very quickly.
Christmas Eve and Christmas were great, but Sam was a little overwhelmed. More about that later.
Keith just went back to work for the first time in a week. Charlie is asleep and Sam and Nona just tried Sam's new skis in the backyard. I am looking forward to getting a little sleep (I had about 24 hours over 6 days).
More later.
December 23, 2008
Charlie's Update #2
Today is a better day. We saw the ENT early this morning (I was still in my pjs on the hideaway bed/chair) and he said that the pulmonologists from the Sleep Center would come by to examine Charlie and make a recommendation as to whether Charlie needs a sleep study. I thought, who knows when they will really show up, but they did show up around 10am! Yay!
The pulmonologists were just wonderful. I wanted to kiss them because they were so helpful and stayed for an hour listening to our questions and analysis of the situation and then answering questions. They really worked with us and treated us with respect for our insight. It really helped turn around our outlook.
Medical Update
Caveat: I may not be using all the medical terms correctly, but the layperson will get the idea. Doctors, please correct me where this update is incomplete/incorrect.
So here are few definitions:
micrognathia: small jaw
choanal stenosis: Abnormal narrowing of the choana, the passageway from the back of one side of the nose to the throat
Charlie has been clearly diagnosed with both of these abnormalities. The question has been what caused the cyanosis (blue coloration of Charlie's skin due to lack of oxygen)? We think that it was probably caused by the stenosis combined with nasal congestion. Infants are obligatory nasal breathers and can't switch to mouth breathing if both nostrils are completely blocked, hence the severity of our problem. Since Charlie's nasal cavity has been vacuumed a couple of times, his oxygen levels have been more consistent and there have been no more cyanotic episodes. So, the general consensus today has been that if we have the vacuum equipment at home to keep Charlie's nasal passages clear from congestion, everything will be fine until an intervention is decided upon.
However, the micrognathia is also a "concern" of the ENTs because this can contribute/cause sleep apnea because a small jaw may push the tongue back into the airway. Although Charlie's cyanotic episodes did not happen while he was asleep and I was holding him upright and there have been no issues in the hospital since he was vacuumed, the ENTs are still concerned about all the possible issues that could come up with the micrognathia. It seems fairly clear that this a completely seperate issue from the cyanotic episodes that we witnessed though.
So, even though the pulmonologists think that the sleep study will not be very helpful for solving either the micrognathia or the stenosis questions, the ENTs want the study done. We really have no clue as to what the ENTs will say after the study.
So, one more night in the hospital and we hope to be home for Christmas eve. We have to put together Cookie Letter for Santa!!!!
By the way, Keith came down with horrible stomach flu/food poisoning this morning. Send him lots of of love. He has been such a rock for me as I try do deal with post partum/nursing/baby in hospital/concern for and missing Sam stuff. Fortunately, I think I am only days away from feeling good again (I remember it took about 10 days to sit and walk comfortably after Sam's birth) and on top of nursing, etc.
I'll post if anything changes.
The pulmonologists were just wonderful. I wanted to kiss them because they were so helpful and stayed for an hour listening to our questions and analysis of the situation and then answering questions. They really worked with us and treated us with respect for our insight. It really helped turn around our outlook.
Medical Update
Caveat: I may not be using all the medical terms correctly, but the layperson will get the idea. Doctors, please correct me where this update is incomplete/incorrect.
So here are few definitions:
micrognathia: small jaw
choanal stenosis: Abnormal narrowing of the choana, the passageway from the back of one side of the nose to the throat
Charlie has been clearly diagnosed with both of these abnormalities. The question has been what caused the cyanosis (blue coloration of Charlie's skin due to lack of oxygen)? We think that it was probably caused by the stenosis combined with nasal congestion. Infants are obligatory nasal breathers and can't switch to mouth breathing if both nostrils are completely blocked, hence the severity of our problem. Since Charlie's nasal cavity has been vacuumed a couple of times, his oxygen levels have been more consistent and there have been no more cyanotic episodes. So, the general consensus today has been that if we have the vacuum equipment at home to keep Charlie's nasal passages clear from congestion, everything will be fine until an intervention is decided upon.
However, the micrognathia is also a "concern" of the ENTs because this can contribute/cause sleep apnea because a small jaw may push the tongue back into the airway. Although Charlie's cyanotic episodes did not happen while he was asleep and I was holding him upright and there have been no issues in the hospital since he was vacuumed, the ENTs are still concerned about all the possible issues that could come up with the micrognathia. It seems fairly clear that this a completely seperate issue from the cyanotic episodes that we witnessed though.
So, even though the pulmonologists think that the sleep study will not be very helpful for solving either the micrognathia or the stenosis questions, the ENTs want the study done. We really have no clue as to what the ENTs will say after the study.
So, one more night in the hospital and we hope to be home for Christmas eve. We have to put together Cookie Letter for Santa!!!!
By the way, Keith came down with horrible stomach flu/food poisoning this morning. Send him lots of of love. He has been such a rock for me as I try do deal with post partum/nursing/baby in hospital/concern for and missing Sam stuff. Fortunately, I think I am only days away from feeling good again (I remember it took about 10 days to sit and walk comfortably after Sam's birth) and on top of nursing, etc.
I'll post if anything changes.
Charlie's First Update
When Charlie was a mere two days old, he had some breathing problems and turned blue a couple of times. We brought him to Primary Children’s Hospital here in Salt Lake where he was evaluated. After many, many doctors and seven hours in emergency triage, Charlie was admitted to the Infant Medical Surgical Unit. We have been here since then and Charlie and I are about to spend our third night tonight.
To make a long story short, his right nostril is narrowed by tissue and his small chin means that his tongue may be occasionally blocking air by falling back into his throat. We are waiting to see what the ENTs will recommend, but it is now unclear whether or not some kind of procedure will be necessary. The official diagnosis as of yesterday has now been abandoned and they may recommend a sleep study in the morning.
Except for the difficulty in trying to see the ENTs, Primary Children’s Hospital is amazing. We felt so fortunate driving over here, with my finger in Charlie’s mouth to keep him breathing, that we have such a wonderful place so close to home. The nursing staff is absolutely astounding.
A giant thank you to the Gould/Ward Farrington/Albury clan for taking such good care of Sam since Charlie’s birth.
Anyway, further updates will be on the blog. And I can't get my bethellen@beewrite.com to send messages from here. If I forgot anyone or have old email addresses, I'm sorry.
I can accept messages at the beewrite address though.
Good night….
BE
To make a long story short, his right nostril is narrowed by tissue and his small chin means that his tongue may be occasionally blocking air by falling back into his throat. We are waiting to see what the ENTs will recommend, but it is now unclear whether or not some kind of procedure will be necessary. The official diagnosis as of yesterday has now been abandoned and they may recommend a sleep study in the morning.
Except for the difficulty in trying to see the ENTs, Primary Children’s Hospital is amazing. We felt so fortunate driving over here, with my finger in Charlie’s mouth to keep him breathing, that we have such a wonderful place so close to home. The nursing staff is absolutely astounding.
A giant thank you to the Gould/Ward Farrington/Albury clan for taking such good care of Sam since Charlie’s birth.
Anyway, further updates will be on the blog. And I can't get my bethellen@beewrite.com to send messages from here. If I forgot anyone or have old email addresses, I'm sorry.
I can accept messages at the beewrite address though.
Good night….
BE
December 22, 2008
December 20, 2008
December 15, 2008
Monday Update - About 38 Weeks
Every week my OB is very surprised to see us. I am STILL pregnant, but I did have some cervical change in the last week - dilated to 4cm/90% effaced.
Also, because of decreased baby movement I had a fetal non-stress test today at the hospital. We were there for a long time because he wasn't moving, so the RN gave a few little buzzes on my belly to wake him up. He moved a little, enough to satisfy the medical people.
Then I had an ultrasound to check the fluid, which seemed fine, but they found that the cord is wrapped around Charlie's neck and at this point it is extremely unlikely that he can unwrap it. The L/D RN said that it is probable that I will have a normal birth anyway. I haven't talked to my OB about this yet, but will choose not to worry too much about this.
Anyway, I am still under instruction to have my regular weekly checkup next Monday. For crying out loud, I hope Charlie gets here before then.
Also, because of decreased baby movement I had a fetal non-stress test today at the hospital. We were there for a long time because he wasn't moving, so the RN gave a few little buzzes on my belly to wake him up. He moved a little, enough to satisfy the medical people.
Then I had an ultrasound to check the fluid, which seemed fine, but they found that the cord is wrapped around Charlie's neck and at this point it is extremely unlikely that he can unwrap it. The L/D RN said that it is probable that I will have a normal birth anyway. I haven't talked to my OB about this yet, but will choose not to worry too much about this.
Anyway, I am still under instruction to have my regular weekly checkup next Monday. For crying out loud, I hope Charlie gets here before then.
December 14, 2008
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