Johnny, last night :)
12.04.2010
12.02.2010
Johnny Update-Day 6
What a difference 24 hours makes! I am doing much better. Still very tired, but I am getting the rest I need--John, too. I will be discharged this evening and plan to never step foot on this floor again as a patient. I wouldn't mind coming back to visit my nurses, though. They have been nothing short of amazing and I've developed close relationships with several of them. You do that when you spend enough time in one spot!
The best thing is John has learned how to care for my wound. It's not pretty--at all. I do NOT have the stomach for any gore--I have to cover my eyes when I see any of it in movies or on TV. So when I took a look at it yesterday with the mirror, I about lost it. I'm much better now, especially when the nurses tell me it's actually not that big or deep and that they've seen much worse. John watched the nurse do it last night and then did it this morning with supervision. He did awesome! I'm so proud of him--and just us in general. This is not easy. His main concern is that he's not causing me any pain. It's uncomfortable but as with everything he does, he took great care when he did it. He'll do it one more time with supervision this evening before I'm discharged and then we're on our own after that. We'll make it though. We are a team.
Johnny is doing really good! We just got back from an afternoon visit. Docs have decided to stop phototherapy since his Billy level has remained stable rather than rise. Their going to give him a chance to see if he can continue to work it out of his system on his own. They've also decided to stop the IV fluids. Their target is for him to eat 28cc every 3 hours and he had been getting 7cc of fluid every hour via the IV. Sometimes he'll take his full feeds, sometime he'll take only 1/3. I'm very excited to see if he's more interested in eating on a consistent basis now that he's not getting any IV fluids. At present, I'm pumping 60cc every session--double of what he consumes per feeding. Pumping is nowhere near as enjoyable as nursing is, but it is SO worth it for him. We'll defiantly work of latching once he comes home. That will be one of our main focuses.
We hope everyone enjoyed the video we posted--that was from our visit last night. He responds so well to our voices--we love that about him, among many, many other things :)
12.01.2010
Johnny Update-Day 4
Well...that was an interesting 24 hours.
The morning started off great with Johnny taking 35cc at the 3, 6 & 9 feedings. But then in the afternoon, he didn't take more than 10cc. The docs put in a feeding tube because they were going to start doing some feeds through that but decided to wait until this morning's labwork came back and to see how he did the rest of the night. He turned a corner at the Midnight feeding and chugged down a good 35cc during his night feedings.
He was a bit tired/lethargic during the afternoon and evening, most likely due to the jaundice. He sleeps pretty much all the time, as most newborns do! Any awake time and energy he has is used for feeding--if he hasn't lulled off back to sleep during the feed, he does so shortly after.
He is all sorts of adorable. The more I look into his sweet, angelic face, the more I see Lola. I love hearing John talk about him. He's so in love with his little boy. Just like Lola does in Daddy's eyes, Johnny too has a perpetual halo hanging over his head!
All we need is for the strong feedings to continue, for him to work out the jaundice and to start gaining weight--then, when all is proven and the doctors say he's ready, we'll be bringing our Johnny home.
NOW FOR THE INTERESTING PART...
I was discharged at 10 am yesterday morning. I spent the day bedside with my boy, pumping and cuddling. The plan was for me to go home for the night and of course, spend time with Lola. John, Lola, Mom & Dad came to get me. We sent Mom & Dad up to spend a good half-hour with Johnny and I came down to surprise Lola in the lobby. It was so awesome to see her--her reaction to me was priceless and felt like a million dollars. She was so caring and gentle to not jump or climb on me because of my "boo-boo". When I asked her where I had been she told me I had been in the hospital. And then when I asked who else was in the hospital and she told me Johnny was. It was an awesome half-hour spent catching up. Of course I feel like she's matured so much in the last 5 days. She's ready to be a big sister! Unfortunately she can't meet her little brother until we bring him home--no kids in neonatal care. I'm am so proud to be her Mommy--you can't not love life with her in your world.
We arrived home and I immediately had to come back to the hospital--I felt very sick--feverish, chills, aches, headache. All signs I might have a post surgical infection. I'll make a long story as short as I can--labwork showed no signs of post surgical infection, but my body had basically had it. I haven't rested like my body has needed me to, I've been pumping a ton but haven't kept myself hydrated and I have been walking around ALOT! I got an IV bag of fluids and rested all night.
On top of it, an OB resident came to examine me in the ER. Turns out part of my incision has opened and is draining quite a bit of fluid. Lovely. It will need to be repacked with gauze and freshly dressed twice daily for the next 3-4 weeks. Double lovely. I was re-admitted to the mother/baby floor of the hospital (I feel like this is my new home!) so I can rest and recoup. My body feels like I'm wearing clothing made of lead. Thankfully, we check into the sleep room at 2 pm, which John will surely be in tonight--I don't know yet if I'll stay overnight in this room, but that's fine by me if I do because I KNOW I need the rest.
All will be fine. It's just going to take time for us all to heal physically--and we will!
The morning started off great with Johnny taking 35cc at the 3, 6 & 9 feedings. But then in the afternoon, he didn't take more than 10cc. The docs put in a feeding tube because they were going to start doing some feeds through that but decided to wait until this morning's labwork came back and to see how he did the rest of the night. He turned a corner at the Midnight feeding and chugged down a good 35cc during his night feedings.
He was a bit tired/lethargic during the afternoon and evening, most likely due to the jaundice. He sleeps pretty much all the time, as most newborns do! Any awake time and energy he has is used for feeding--if he hasn't lulled off back to sleep during the feed, he does so shortly after.
He is all sorts of adorable. The more I look into his sweet, angelic face, the more I see Lola. I love hearing John talk about him. He's so in love with his little boy. Just like Lola does in Daddy's eyes, Johnny too has a perpetual halo hanging over his head!
All we need is for the strong feedings to continue, for him to work out the jaundice and to start gaining weight--then, when all is proven and the doctors say he's ready, we'll be bringing our Johnny home.
NOW FOR THE INTERESTING PART...
I was discharged at 10 am yesterday morning. I spent the day bedside with my boy, pumping and cuddling. The plan was for me to go home for the night and of course, spend time with Lola. John, Lola, Mom & Dad came to get me. We sent Mom & Dad up to spend a good half-hour with Johnny and I came down to surprise Lola in the lobby. It was so awesome to see her--her reaction to me was priceless and felt like a million dollars. She was so caring and gentle to not jump or climb on me because of my "boo-boo". When I asked her where I had been she told me I had been in the hospital. And then when I asked who else was in the hospital and she told me Johnny was. It was an awesome half-hour spent catching up. Of course I feel like she's matured so much in the last 5 days. She's ready to be a big sister! Unfortunately she can't meet her little brother until we bring him home--no kids in neonatal care. I'm am so proud to be her Mommy--you can't not love life with her in your world.
We arrived home and I immediately had to come back to the hospital--I felt very sick--feverish, chills, aches, headache. All signs I might have a post surgical infection. I'll make a long story as short as I can--labwork showed no signs of post surgical infection, but my body had basically had it. I haven't rested like my body has needed me to, I've been pumping a ton but haven't kept myself hydrated and I have been walking around ALOT! I got an IV bag of fluids and rested all night.
On top of it, an OB resident came to examine me in the ER. Turns out part of my incision has opened and is draining quite a bit of fluid. Lovely. It will need to be repacked with gauze and freshly dressed twice daily for the next 3-4 weeks. Double lovely. I was re-admitted to the mother/baby floor of the hospital (I feel like this is my new home!) so I can rest and recoup. My body feels like I'm wearing clothing made of lead. Thankfully, we check into the sleep room at 2 pm, which John will surely be in tonight--I don't know yet if I'll stay overnight in this room, but that's fine by me if I do because I KNOW I need the rest.
All will be fine. It's just going to take time for us all to heal physically--and we will!
11.29.2010
Johnny Update-Day 3
So angelic in Daddy's arms...
Today is John Michael's third full day of life--and it's been an exciting one! We attempted nursing for a bit last night and this morning and at his noon feeding today, he took 15 cc of mommy's milk in a bottle. He took it slow, but he took it all and did a great job--even let out a hearty burp halfway through which the nurse said was great and something she rarely sees a preemie do. We thought it was awesome!
He's going to be on an every-three-hour feeding schedule. We'll try nursing every other session but the most important thing is that he gets as much of my milk as possible, whether it's through me or the bottle.
I was at his bedside this morning during rounds--something John said was really cool. I didn't understand what he was talking about until I got to experience it myself. We are at, in my opinion, the absolute best hospital we could be. It's a teaching hospital, so senior residents do pretty much everything and they are overseen by the neonatologist fellows. Watching the resident in charge of John Michael's care give her report to the fellow was like watching a master artisan demonstrate their craft to an enthralled audience--I being the entrhalled audience. Wow, they know their stuff.
Since all he needs to do is learn how to eat and grow, he's going to be moving out of the NICU tonight up to the transitional nursery. The great thing is if I want, I can sleep at his bedside in the rocker up there (not allowed in the NICU--no passed out parents in rockers!). However, it looks like we're going to qualify for a sleep room with a full sized bed in it because we live far enough away from the hospital. And if that wasn't nice enough--because I'm nursing--as a courtesy from the hospital, they're going to allow me to continue to order meals free of charge as if I was still an in-patient. Thank you, UCMC!
Everyone has been wondering when he might be able to come home--and the ultimate answer is whenever the doctors say he's ready to go. They think that will most likely be 7-10 days from now. We're going to be extremely patient and know hiccups may happen that may push that date back a bit--but we're ever so hopeful that he will continue to thrive, eat well and gain weight so he can join us at home soon.
11.28.2010
Johnny, Meet your family.
Daddy warned Johnny early this morning that it was going to be a busy day for him and oh was it! Our baby boy meet all his grandparents and several aunts and uncles. What a lucky little guy! (We didn't get pics of Nonna & Papa or Uncle Johnny & Auntie Mary--but I'm looking forward to getting some from Uncle J's camera and Nonna & Papa are going to still be here for a week--he arrived at the perfect time.)
Mom came for a visit this morning to meet Johnny and then went home to watch Lola so everyone else could come up for a visit. Watching her meet him was amazing--pictures speak so much emotion...
For the past few weeks, she kept saying how all she wanted to do was kiss his cheeks :)
Uncle Ronnie
Auntie Silvia
TiTi--a huge surprise for her, no doubt, getting to meet her new nephew this week during her visit. We are thrilled how it all worked out.
Papa & Mimi--nothing is better than watching a grandparent and a grandchild together--the grandparents are usually acting like a giddy child on Christmas morning.
We have loved watching Lola develop a special and unique relationship with each of her Grandparents--we can wait for Johnny to experience that with them as well.
Mom came for a visit this morning to meet Johnny and then went home to watch Lola so everyone else could come up for a visit. Watching her meet him was amazing--pictures speak so much emotion...
For the past few weeks, she kept saying how all she wanted to do was kiss his cheeks :)
Uncle Ronnie
Auntie Silvia
TiTi--a huge surprise for her, no doubt, getting to meet her new nephew this week during her visit. We are thrilled how it all worked out.
Papa & Mimi--nothing is better than watching a grandparent and a grandchild together--the grandparents are usually acting like a giddy child on Christmas morning.We have loved watching Lola develop a special and unique relationship with each of her Grandparents--we can wait for Johnny to experience that with them as well.
11.27.2010
{mommy+daddy+johnny}
Daddy had some special moments with Johnny after he was born last night and again this morning. Around noon, he took me to meet our little boy for the first time. It was SO worth the wait.
Getting to hold him for the first time...wow.
I'm in major love.
How handsome is our Johnny?!
Daddy & Johnny have a special bond--this morning he came back from a visit and told me how he held his hand--and then I got to see it :)
Buddies already.
Getting to hold him for the first time...wow.
I'm in major love.
How handsome is our Johnny?!
Daddy & Johnny have a special bond--this morning he came back from a visit and told me how he held his hand--and then I got to see it :)
Buddies already.
Johnny's Arrival
This adventure started on Thanksgiving night, with my water breaking at 11:15 pm. We hightailed it to the hospital ASAP and arrived at Midnight. I could have had him via elective c-section by 1 am, but oh no, I had to give having him the ol' fashioned way a shot. I really wanted to give it a try--so I did--all day long--until I was screaming (literally) for a c-section at 7 pm. It was all worth it and he arrived at 8:28 pm weighing in at a VERY healthy 6 lbs. 8 oz.
He spent the first few hours of his life with a breathing tube, but only as a precaution--he never needed it and has been breathing great all on his own. We're going to attempt his first feed tomorrow and I'm praying he can do the typical suck/swallow/breathe that full-term newborns can.
He spent the first few hours of his life with a breathing tube, but only as a precaution--he never needed it and has been breathing great all on his own. We're going to attempt his first feed tomorrow and I'm praying he can do the typical suck/swallow/breathe that full-term newborns can.
Baby Johnny
Our son, John Michael Hernandez, was born yesterday evening! The story of how he made his entrance is a pretty good one and when I have the energy to type more, I'll surely share it.
He arrived at 35 weeks, so he is in the NICU--but he's doing great. I will post pictures tomorrow. Of course, we think he's adorable. If you can believe it, I've yet to meet him. I was put under while he was delivered via c-section and shortly after he was brought to the NICU--so for now I've just seen the pictures John took of him on our camera. All I care about is his health. We are completely bonded at the heart so I can wait until tomorrow :)
We are deliriously happy he is here, after all we went through to keep him cookin' as long as possible. All the prayers our friends & family offered for us made sure we made it far enough. We can't wait for you all to meet him!
He arrived at 35 weeks, so he is in the NICU--but he's doing great. I will post pictures tomorrow. Of course, we think he's adorable. If you can believe it, I've yet to meet him. I was put under while he was delivered via c-section and shortly after he was brought to the NICU--so for now I've just seen the pictures John took of him on our camera. All I care about is his health. We are completely bonded at the heart so I can wait until tomorrow :)
We are deliriously happy he is here, after all we went through to keep him cookin' as long as possible. All the prayers our friends & family offered for us made sure we made it far enough. We can't wait for you all to meet him!
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