Saturday, March 29, 2008
Ellie's Progress
Ellie has made a lot of progress this week. We are so proud of our little girl, she is working so hard. She was breathing on her own most of Monday and Tuesday, with about 50% oxygen going up through tubes in her nose. On Wednesday they intubated her, and the ventilator was breathing for her. They also placed a tube in through her side into her left lung to drain air bubbles that were forming. They gave her a dose of surfactant, a type of steroid, to help her lungs mature. They took her off the ventilator, and she was breathing with the help of about 40% oxygen. On Thursday her status remained about the same, her oxygen flow varied a bit. They did however put her under photo therapy lights to treat her jaundice. On Friday, she no longer needed photo therapy. She was also breathing room air, which means that she was breathing all on her own. They fed her for the first time, and she did really well. They clamped her lung tube, since the air bubbles seemed to be decreasing in her lungs. Today, she was put back onto photo therapy. She has had some trouble digesting the breast milk, but they are continuing to feed her a teaspoon every three hours. The lung tube has been unclamped as a precautionary measure, but nothing seems to be coming out, which is a really good sign. They will xray her lungs in the morning. As soon as the lung tube comes out, we can hold her...so we hope that come out tomorrow. She weighs 3lbs 1 ounce now, which is a little scary. All the nurses reassure us that it is perfectly normal for a premie to lose weight. So hopefully the breast milk will start fattening her up real soon. Her color looks great, and she is much more active and alert. We'll keep everyone posted on her progress. Pray for the best!
The Day of Ellie's Birth
For those who don't already know the events leading up to Ellie's birth, this would be a good starting point. Everything was going as normal on Monday. I went to my doctor's appointment at 2pm, and everything seemed fine. Ava and I then went downtown and met Jeffrey for a frozen yogurt. I still felt fine, hadn't done any heavy lifting or strenuous activity all day. Ava and I said goodbye to Jeffrey and headed home. We pulled up at the house, and I got out of the car. As soon as I stood up, blood started rushing down my legs, and it just kept coming. Ava was still in her carseat, and I was on the verge of panicking. I called over two construction workers I saw down the road, and dialed 911. The construction workers helped me get Ava out of the car, call Jeffrey, and they coached me through what the dispatcher was telling them to do. They had me lay down on the side of the road, take off my pants, and check to see if the baby was coming out. She wasn't. The placenta had hemorrhaged, which my doctor suspected would eventually happen with my condition. The ambulance arrived after about 5 minutes. The loaded me up with no hesitation, and wanted to get the hospital. They wanted to leave Ava in police custody, but I told them Jeffrey was 5 minutes away, so the firemen and construction workers stayed with her, bless their soles. Ava was very brave, but confused.
After what seemed like an eternity in the ambulance, I got to the hospital, and they rushed me to triage. The nurse said one of three things would likely happen. 1)The bleeding would slow, and I would remain on bed rest in the hospital until I delivered. 2)The bleeding would stop, I could go home on bed rest or 3) and what she made seem very unlikely, they would deliver Ellie that night. Because my bleeding was so severe, they were forced to do an emergency c-section right away. I began bleeding at 4pm, and she was born at 5:41pm. That's how quickly everything happened. Jeffrey made it into the O.R. right as they were stitching me up. It was very scary being in there alone, but seeing my beautiful Ellie put me at ease. I am very thankful for all the kindness that was shown to me from complete strangers, and for the staff at the hospital. Ellie and I were in the best care possible in Northern California. Although I wish she was still in my tummy, I know that Ellie will grow strong and get out of the hospital before we know it!
After what seemed like an eternity in the ambulance, I got to the hospital, and they rushed me to triage. The nurse said one of three things would likely happen. 1)The bleeding would slow, and I would remain on bed rest in the hospital until I delivered. 2)The bleeding would stop, I could go home on bed rest or 3) and what she made seem very unlikely, they would deliver Ellie that night. Because my bleeding was so severe, they were forced to do an emergency c-section right away. I began bleeding at 4pm, and she was born at 5:41pm. That's how quickly everything happened. Jeffrey made it into the O.R. right as they were stitching me up. It was very scary being in there alone, but seeing my beautiful Ellie put me at ease. I am very thankful for all the kindness that was shown to me from complete strangers, and for the staff at the hospital. Ellie and I were in the best care possible in Northern California. Although I wish she was still in my tummy, I know that Ellie will grow strong and get out of the hospital before we know it!
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