Monday, June 14, 2010

Hospital Day 8 - 24 + Weeks

Another goal met! Yesterday, Sunday, I was 24 weeks, which is considered a sort of turning point. Medically speaking, our baby has hit viability! I knew I'd become fonder of that term eventually. I was so excited for yesterday, mainly because Ryan and Stella were coming to visit and a busy day was planned. They arrived at 9am, and I couldn't have been happier to see them! Stella immediately crawled in bed with me to snuggle, wrapped her little arms around me and said, "mmmmm, I love you Mommy." Ryan's birthday was Friday, and I had gotten him cards from both of us, so we sort of celebrated his birthday... not the best party, but better than nothing. The nurses started my first steroid injection, and I received the 24 hr follow up one this morning. They also started round of IV antibiotics or the "cocktail" that based on studies is believed to promote latency in this situation... meaning helping my body hang in there carrying baby longer. They hope the steroids will help his lung development. Some doctors give another round between 28-30 weeks, but I don't know if they will do that in my situation because the baby has already undergone an amount of stress existing with such low fluid for so long. Guess, we'll see when I get there! :-) Ryan and I met with one of the Neonatologists and she spent a good hour with us, further explaining things and getting to know us. That afternoon, we went on a tour of the NICU. Wow, so many mixed feelings from that. I had such varying emotions as we entered the areas with all the babies. They currently have 72 babies!!!! It is obviously a state of the art facility and seeing everything they have to offer was comforting... knowing we have access to the best. But, bottom line, I hate that we're here, yet, I love that we're here. Classic glass half empty vs half full. The charge nurse, Martha, was great, she just celebrated her 36th year on staff. She showed us a tiny baby girl who was just born a couple days ago at 26 weeks and weighed 1 lb 15 oz... Of course, I've never seen such a sight. I couldn't see much of her body, because of the way they had her wrapped and covered, but I could see part of her belly with the iv lines and her TINY legs and feet... smaller than the smallest baby doll Stella has. Looked like she was fairing well, but on a lot of support, which is to be expected at that gestation and size.

Ryan and Stella had to leave around 5pm to get back on the road, so it was a short trip, and it was terrible saying goodbye. My dad will be bringing her back up to St. Louis with him on Thursday, and she will stay until Sunday. Ryan will join us Saturday after work, so we'll have more time than this past weekend. All in all, my first week of hospitalization is completed, so one down, ten to go if I make it to 34 weeks!!! How's that for a countdown!

A friend's pastor visited the other day and shared one of my favorite passages from the Bible, an excerpt from Paul's letter to the Ephesians, that continues to remind me how the love of Christ enfolds us and the arms of God surround us. "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-20

With Love,
Kristin

4 comments:

  1. Wow, Krissy! What a huge milestone for you this weekend. I can not even imagine the emotions you are feeling, with so much going on. You are simply amazing, and you are such an encouragement to me. My entire family is praying for you, Ryan, Stella, and your little boy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What great news! So glad to hear that everything is going well. Glad you were able to have some Stella snuggle time :) and able to celebrate Ryan's birthday. I'm sure that was a great feeling. Praying that this week flies by and that all goes well!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kyle and I are both praying for you - I always email your updates to him :) I can tell that your heart is more settled and that your trust isn't wavering. So proud of you. Hang in there! Love you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. i can't imagine what it felt like to see that tiny baby in the NICU. I'm so encouraged by your faith and believe with all my heart that your baby boy is going to be a miracle story, fully healthy and perfect. I'll continue to pray and most especially that this next 10 weeks passes peacefully and quickly!

    ReplyDelete