1.20.13-1 Month Old

Misael is ONE Month old!!

This past month has been eventful to say the least.  We faced some of the most difficult times of our lives. I will say, that while this was heart wrenching for us I know it does not compare to other struggles parents have to face. I work with kiddos who have congenital heart defects and I know this does not compare to what the parents go through but to us it was stressful and scary.

Since we have been home, we have been getting into the groove of things. At first everything was easy. I couldn't believe it. Misael was hardly awake. We fed him ever 2.5-3 hours and he went right back to sleep. He was probably awake 30 minutes in a 24 hour period.  I mean you could set your clock to him.

We really tried breastfeeding everyday and did bottle at night, but Misael was not a fan of the breast. He would get very irritated and agitated quickly, especially since the milk wouldn't come out as fast as he would like.  I kept trying because I was determined but it also was  hurting so bad.  We finally just decided to bottle feed Misael. I am an exclusive pumper. I pump the breast milk out and Misael eats it from a bottle. There are definite pros and cons of this but I am happy that I am able to feed him breast milk.  One of the good things is that Jose gets to feed him and bond with him. I am thankful that he helps with the night feedings on the days he is off. He usually does the first two and I do the second two. The bad thing is after I feed Misael I have to pump which takes about 30 minutes above and beyond with doing the actual pumping and washing of equipment.  We unfortunately have been battling a case of thrush for the past 2.5 weeks and that alone has almost been enough to do me in.  There has been medicine involved, washing before and after pumping, sterilizing, etc.

In terms of sleeping Misael went through (and still is) a phase where he was wide awake and/or uncomfortable from about 10 pm to 2 am. Then it switched to 2 am to about 530-6 am.  We have really started trying to establish a routine in the past 4-5 days and it has helped.  During the day we don't let Misael sleep in his crib. We try to keep him up as much as possible.  We play with him, put him in his swing, in the co-sleeper on the couch, or in the bouncer.  We also go about with life and be noisy during the day. At night we put him in his crib, do night feedings in the dark with a hall light on, and no noise. We have had to make some changes though...the big one being I let Ipolito sleep with me on the nights Jose is at work because he is entirely too noisy. At least if he wants to play or talk it is on the other side of the house. Ipolito is also not an early sleeper (I think this is in part due to the fact he has a 3-hour nap at the sitter and in my opinion he doesn't need it) and does not like to sleep until 1145-1200.

With Ipolito at this time I was not in a good place. I had postpartum depression and was extremely overwhelmed.  This time that is not the case. Sure I get overwhelmed and tired but I am in a totally different place plus it is not all of the time like before.  Generally it is on my last night of Jose's work stretch.

At one month here are some Misaelisms.

• Weight: 8 lbs 1 oz (started off at 6 lbs 4 oz at birth and 11 days of life was 5 lbs 12oz)
• Height: 20.5 inches
• Diaper size: Newborn
• Clothes: Newborn (I am wearing the heck out of the newborn clothes too-better to get full usage out of them)
• Sleeps: 3-4 hours at night. The 4 hours is an every now and then kind of thing.  Plus at times he still is awake during a stretch at night.  During the day we are awake more.
• Likes his head turned to the left. This is a work in progress because we have noticed in the past week his head is getting flat on that side. The pedi suggested exercises and a crib aquarium.  We really try to position him on the other side during the day because we can control it.  
• Has an umbilical hernia
• His chest tube scars are healing nicely
• Has two wonderful dimples & a super cute smile
• Loves his big brother-Ipolito loves him as well and loves to touch him but unfortunately he gets so excited that sometimes he is a little rough. 
• Went through a growth spurt at 3 weeks 

We look forward to the next month and what it has in store.

One month old

1 month

Misael Leonardo

 

12.29.12

12/29/11 Misael update: On our way HOME!! Thank you Jesus! Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers! We can't even begin to express our gratitude for everything!

12.28.12

12/28/12 Misael update: continuing to do well. He is working on feeds and we increased them to goal today. He has taken them by mouth all day just hoping this continues so we can go home sooner. Please continue to pray he eats well and takes everything my mouth. Please also pray for our continued courage, endurance, and strength. Thank you everyone.

12.27.12

12/27/12 Update: Misael is one week old tonight! He has had an eventful week to say the least. Today we started bottle/breast feeding. He takes his whole bottle by mouth so far. Please keep praying he continues to do so, so that we may home. He will get his IV out tonight because it isn't any good & we don't need it. Tomorrow he will have his NG (feeding tube) removed as long as he is eating well. The major hurdle standing between us and home is his feeding. Again please pray he continues to take his feeds well and learns to breastfeed like a champ. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!

12.26.12

12/26/12 Misael update: our last chest tube was taken out today. We started non-nutritive breast feeding & increased our feeds. He is completely off of oxygen and on room air. We got to hold him! We are working on feeding now. Again, thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. We are forever thankful.

12.25.12

12/25/12 Update: Misael has come off of the bubble CPAP and is now on heated nasal cannula. His tummy is full of air and poo so he was uncomfortable this morning. It is better now. He also has discovered his hands and the paci. His chest tube is clamped and should come out tomorrow. Then we will be able to hold him. I can't wait! We were able to spend some time with Ipo and had lunch with him down in the cafeteria. He also got to play in the snow. All in all a good Christmas.

12.24.12

12/24/12 update: one of the chest tubes was discontinued today! Hopefully the next one will come out tomorrow. Our oxygen has been weaned to 24% and is still being weaned. The amount of feeds was increased today as well. We saw Ipolito today and he went with his Papi to run errands. Then he cried when J took him back to Grandma's. J said that was sad and hurt. I know what he means. I am fine until I see Christmas trees downstairs or talk about Christmas or see Ipolito. We are truly in God's hands. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. We appreciate them.

12.23.12

12/23/12 Update: Misael's chest tubes were put to water seal with hopes of them coming out tomorrow. His oxygen was weaned from 47% to 25%! He Is still on the bubble CPAP. We increased his feeds again today. He also spent some time with his Tia Cristal & Tio NoNo. We didn't get to see Ipo today and that almost broke my heart but I talked to him & he is doing well. Jose and I are hanging in there but I imagine tomorrow will be hard because we will be here and not with our family. Ipo will be well taken care of but we will miss seeing him open gifts from his cousins. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

We just heard Misael cry for the first time since the night he was born! I won't lie...I teared up! He must be feeling better. His nurse even came running asking if that was him.

12.22.12

12/22/12 Update on Misael: he is still on his bubble CPAP & his oxygen requirements are lower. We were able to turn off his IV fluids and increase his feeds. He has been pretty quiet today because he has been getting morphine for the pain of his chest tubes. He is as cute as ever and he had nice visits with his big brother, Grandma, Abuela, Tia Mari, Nancy, his Mama, & Papi. Jose and I are not leaving his side for more than about 20 minutes. We really want one of us here at all times. Hopefully I will be discharged tomorrow morning and this will become my new home. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers!

12.21.12-Update

Well the little guy did well with his first chest tube placement and the pneumothorax resolved but the X-ray showed one on the right. So guess what? He has a chest tube on the right as well. I guess he is trying to be like Mama by collecting chest tube scars. Thanks for the prayers. We have the best doctors and nurses working with Misael

12.21.12 - Complication

Please pray. I just received a call that Misael has a pneumothorax and they have to put a chest tube in him. He may have to be intubated as well (a breathing tube). This is harder than I ever imagined.

12.21.12

Dos update: he is still hanging out in the NICU on bubble CPAP. We have been able to decrease the amount of oxygen he is on from 28% to 26%. The next 24-48 hours is the time for him to prove himself. He still may need some surfactant and we need to work on feeds after he is off oxygen. We were told he would be there at least a week. Ipo met him for the first time and it was so precious!

December 20, 2012

Baby Was born at 2305 & weighed 6 lbs 4 oz. He did well for a few hours and then developed respiratory distress and low saturations. He was transferred to the NICU at Cooks. Please keep him & us in your prayers.

Birth Story Part II

Right before Jose arrived at the hospital I heard some nurses talking outside saying they were ready for me and my nurse said, "But her husband isn't here!" I must admit I almost lost it! I would not be having a baby without Jose there.  Luckily, he walked in right then.

We ended up waiting for a couple of hours though because they wanted my lab work to come back first. As we got closer I had to drink some bictra and it actually didn't taste that bad.  Once we got the go ahead I left with my nurse to the OR and Jose stayed back with my mom and sister to wait until they finished getting me ready.

As they wheeled me into the OR I thought...Oh here we go. I should be meeting my little guy soon! Then I thought, Oh dear....what will this be like?!  As soon as I was wheeled into the OR they put me on the surgical table. It was super cold in there too!! I gave consent for the spinal and was put into position.  They told me what would happen and I must say, the spinal was pretty uncomfortable and painful.  I kept feeling pain in one hip. Finally the anesthesiologist had to come place the spinal (the CRNA was doing it at first).  He got it on the first try.  Then they laid me down and started getting to work (ie placing the foley, positioning me, etc). After a few minutes they started testing how numb I was and up to what point.  They also had to place me in trendelenburg (head down) and put oxygen on me. Once I was nice and numb up to my chest Dr. Tabor came in. I made sure then they didn't forget about Jose and next thing you know he was in there.  It was very odd to be staring up at a ceiling and a big blue drape in front of me.  I was comforted in knowing Jose was there. I kept praying to myself as well.  The NICU team came in then and introduced themselves to me and asked if he had to go to the NICU would I want him there or at Cooks.  Of course I chose Cooks because of insurance reasons.  I had also contacted on of the Neos I worked with to let her know I was in labor, ahead of time, and she passed on to the on-call doc at Harris and Cooks to be on the look out for me. Dr. Tabor asked me before he started if I was ready to meet my little boy.  I sure was.  Of course I started getting nervous, anxious, etc and started shaking really bad in my shoulders and arms.  It was weird because I could hear the clamps but I never heard them get started.  All of a sudden I heard, "Wow, he has lots of hair"  Then all of a sudden I felt lots of pressure and heard the second sweetest cry ever.  Then Misael was whisked away to the warmer to be tidied up, weighed, assessed, etc.  He got a clean bill of health with APGARS of 8 and 9.  Jose was able to take pictures and tell me all about him.  They brought him to me and I was instantly in love all over again with a little boy.

We thought he looked just like Ipolito but was super duper hairy, short, and chunkier.  Misael Leonardo was 6 lbs 4 oz (10 oz lighter than his brother) and 18.5 inches long (3 inches shorter than Ipolito).  Once I was closed up they took me back to my room with my baby in tow.  My mom and sister were waiting and he was passed around.  I was still shaking pretty badly so they gave me some demerol and that helped tremendously.  We soon noticed Misael had at least one dimple.  After everyone held him I started trying to breast feed but he was not interested.  About an hour later (after trying and trying to get him to eat) I noticed he was nasal flaring.  I mentioned it to the nurse and she said, "You're right." She took him just to assess him and then decided to try to feed him a bottle.  After a few minutes she said, " I just want to get a sat on him real fast." Ok...I thought....she told me it was 86%.  That isn't normal.  All I could think of was it's his heart!  I tried not getting all worked up and soon she told me she was going to call the NICU to assess him.  A nurse came into assess Misael and told me his sats were low 85-87% and they were going to watch him in the NICU for an hour.  After that hour they would decide what to do. Again I was asked if I wanted him there or at Cook's.  An hour later I was informed he was going to Cook's because he was in respiratory distress and on bubble CPAP.  I remained calm and Jose went with Misael over to Cooks.

My baby was transported across the street in an isolette with his father by his side. Of course being a pediatric nurse and NP all I could think was the worst possible scenarios.  It was his heart...it was his lungs...etc.  I was a nervous wreck.  I sent a text message out to my closest family and friends asking them to pray.  I must say it was agonizing.  My nurse was amazing though.  She stayed with me and made sure I was informed of the latest happenings from Cooks.  I updated by Jose as well and was told the Neo from Cooks was going to come over and talk with me as soon as Misael was stable.  I was originally told he might be there a couple of days but when the doctor came and spoke to me she told me he would probably be there a week!  A WEEK?!

I was told that Misael, while classified as late term premature, was a great weight (probably due to my gestational diabetes) but his lungs weren't mature enough.  He was requiring bubble CPAP and a little oxygen.  His xray looked like this was all due to premature lungs not his heart. We were not ruling this out yet because of my history so he would be getting an echocardiogram in the morning.  If this was his lungs I was told he would not have any lasting effects. By the time I took him home he would be a normal baby.  Looking back on this I think I was in a haze.  I couldn't believe this. This isn't how this was supposed to be happening.  This was supposed to be a joyous time for us all.  Right now, I was scared out of my mind and all alone (I had Jose go to Cooks and my family had left).  I wanted Jose with Misael though.  I didn't want him alone.

As people started to wake up I started getting calls and texts. My mom was beside herself with worry, as was I.  Again, this isn't how this was supposed to be happening. I should have been dreaming of Ipolito and Misael meeting for the first time, not what I was living through.

All during my remaining time at Harris I had great nurses who were understanding.  I was also able to be taken over to Cooks as many times as I wanted and for as long as I wanted. The only time I came back was to take meds, eat, and sleep.  I was discharged from Harris on Sunday, December 23. I went right over to Cooks where I vowed to stay until my baby was discharged.  I always said, if my child was in the hospital I would be right by their side and I was.  Jose and I were always with Misael with the exception of about 20-30 minutes here and there.

Next up...daily updates I had posted to facebook.

Birth Story Part I

I gave birth to Misael Leonardo Flores on 12/20/12 at 2305 via cesearean section. He weighed 6 lbs 4 oz and was 18.5 inches long.

For two days before I had been having regular contractions that felt "different" I refused to go to Maternal Observation though because I was tired of going and I didn't want to be told I wasn't in labor.  I had a doctor appointment on Thursday so I figured I would just find out then.  I also could feel my cervix in a different place and it felt like he was knocking on the door to get out.

So on Thursday I went to the OB. My appointment was for 4 and of course I had to wait a super long time. I wasn't taken back until 5 pm and had my activity testing as always then he came in and did the sono to measure fluid, etc and started talking to me. He decided to check me and told me it sounded like I was in labor. He checked and I was 100% effaced and 2-3 cm dilated.  He told me to go to Maternal Obs (ughh) and he would check me again in a couple of hours. If I was more dilated we would go forward with having a baby if not, then I come back when I am in true labor.  Meanwhile I had eaten a cookie waiting for him because I figured it would hold me for a long time in case something happened.

I immediately called Jose who had just started his work day (it was about 10 till six).  He said he would tie up loose ends and swing by our house to finish packing the bags. This is what we had dreaded because he works about 1  hour away and coming back this way during traffic was going to be HELL. He actually made it in record time and was able to pack the bags.  Ipolito was luckily with my brother-in-law and his family since I had the doctor appointment.

I called my mother and she came up to the hospital and my oldest sister did as well. They actually beat Jose. When the doctor came back a couple of hours later I had changed and was more dilated.  This was really happening! Immediately they started preparing me for a c-section.  I had to give myself a bath with some special soap, got an IV, and had to put on this weird jiffy pop popcorn hat.  Once that was done we just had to wait on Jose to get there and for our turn in the OR.  Jose arrived shortly after 8 pm and he looked excited/nervous!!!

Part II to come!