Missy's Moments

See Ya!

PICC line out- check

Clothes on- check

Room packed up- check

cute pose in car seat leaving (added bonus wave)- check

Sunday Jack Report

Sunday was a pretty low-key day for little man- He ate Pedilyte, it stayed down, he ate Pedilyte mixed with soy formula (stopping milk based just to make sure), it stayed down, ate some more it stayed down. Around 5 he ate 2 1/2 ounces of formula….. we held our breath….. it stayed down.

Around 9:00 he ate again- around 10 it all came back up

His expression says it all-

His PICC line was capped later this afternoon,  It’s still in but not hooked up to anything.

My guess is the docs will want to make sure he’s keeping enough down to maintain his weight and stay hydrated.

Home tomorrow?

We’d like nothing more, but only when the time is right.

It’s progress.

Saturday

I got some extra snuggle time with Jack during the wee hours of the morning today. Kayla slept and slept and slept while I had Jack duty. I tell ya you really have to twist my arm

 

“where are my heated blankets?!”

 

Wonder how Kayla is going to come up with heated blankets on demand once they are home…

 

Last night (Friday) they tried to give little man some formula to which his tummy said “no thank you” in a pukey kind of way. So back to Pedilyte.

Pedilyte stayed put about an ounce at a time all day on Saturday. He did great at 30ml and at 45ml but when they moved him to 60ml (2oz) His tummy again “ummmm NO”. In fact Grandma caught that one in my short 1/2 visit tonight.

 

Not sure where they go from there. When I left the nurse was going to call the doc.

Speaking of nurses- WOW – the nurses Jack has had have been wonderful and kind. There has really only been one that seemed to know it all want to intervene when things didn’t look by the book. For example – we sleep with Jack in the recliner. He is perfectly safe, comfortable and we feel more secure if he were to start to vomit. He doesn’t sleep in there all they time but it has made for some more peaceful evenings as he’s not opposed to a good snuggle. Any way there was a nurse on that night and I’m sure her intentions were good but she woke Kayla and Jack up all night. drats!

 

Anyway today was still better than previous-  That’s really all we can ask for (well maybe that and some sleep oh and maybe a snuggle with Grandpa.

Jack Jack Attack

Our sweet friend Marquia has called Jack “Jack Jack Attack” since about the day Kayla and Travis knew he was going to be a Jack. Well attacked I’m sure poor Jack has felt this week but God willing over the weekend Jack will start to wow those around him by his stunning charm (I think he gets that from me) and his strong little body turning this thing around.

I’m not one that believes in “jinxing” things so I will brag up the fact that he’s had a WHOLE OUNCE of Pedilyte in him now for 3 hours. I’m quite sure that is a record- the best part about that is even if it does end in a puke session the longer it’s in his tummy the more that can move through- even if it’s a tiny amount, it’s still more than nothing.

Jack has even more monitors on him today as they have started a new medicine and if it has no adverse side affects (irregular heart beats- you know just that) he’ll be on this medicine for 4-6 weeks to get that stubborn Pyloric Stenosis to heal. I guess this med has been used as an alternative to surgery but it takes a long time (weeks) to start to have an affect and change that muscle. It’s called Atropine for you smart medical people. There is a link HERE  that tells more about it how the medication works with Pyloric Stenosis. I can’t imagine using this as an only treatment if you have a infant that is vomiting constantly- weeks before seeing improvement- ummm NO Thank you! Anyway if there is going to be tachycardia (fast irregular heart rhythms) it will happen within the first few doses therefore he gets to have extra bling hanging from him.

If you look down you will see Jack (barely) perfectly happy in his new found friend- heated blankets. Up to the left of the picture is his TPN feed and his fluids. His crib changing table is in the middle and to the left is the monitor that shows his heart rate, pulse ox and respirations. Kayla is growing quite found of all these machines that assure her all systems are go.

On that same note did I tell you that our 2nd night here I checked Kayla’s breathing while she was sleeping? It really doesn’t matter how old they get… they are still your baby.  

Back to  Little Man- he has almost as many wires and leads and tubes now as the back of our TV- only I don’t want to cuddle our TV!

This morning his weight was 8lbs 3oz with a blanket and a diaper on. His birth weight was 7’15- he lost some after birth (normal) and went to 7’3, At 1 week he was back to his birth weight, 6 days later he was 9lbs and on Sunday when we got here (after a full day of vomiting) he was 9’3 so he’s down at least a pound. After Kayla told me that this morning I was even more grateful for the PICC line and to be able to get the TPN in.

Time to put the computer down and get a little snuggle time in.

BTW- he still hasn’t lost that ounce of Pedilyte so I’m thinking it’s time to try another 15ml.

Jack GI Study

Little man’s study results came back and there is nothing glaring- his esophagus looks normal- there was no reflux that showed. Basically Jack’s stomach isn’t emptying as fast as it should- in fact it sounded like it’s not even close to how fast it should empty. The Pyloric muscle is opening and passing the food through that is getting there so that means the procedure did what it should. In really professional medical terms his stomach is “pissed off”.

Jack went back to the OR around 3:30 to have a PICC line placed. The benefits to this is he will start getting TPN feedings to give his body what it needs nutritionally. The feedings are administered  with less risk in a PICC line.There will be no more pokes as everything then need can be accessed right there. We’ll even be able to put clothes on him as he’ll have less “stuff” on him.

At 5:45 he just came back to the room. The procedure went well. When we got up there the Doc came in to introduce himself and I knew him. I’ve had one of his kids in class and a couple of his other kids in extra programs. Anyway it was nice to see a familiar face. I think I did remind him that I’ve taken good care of his kids.

The plan- go through the weekend. Get his body some energy. Keep trying clear liquids (Pedilyte) , lots of prayer and re-evaluate throughout the weekend. Monday if things are not improving the surgical service calls a peds GI service to get fresh eyes.

So you heard me people- keep praying!

Delayed Update

The beginning of this started HERE.

Jack did great in surgery- it was a long, emotional morning but everyone was so sweet and helpful and so very understanding. Kayla and I in true to who we are  cried one minute and then laughed the next. My favorite line in pre-op was  this one

“and I was worried about a cold” … Kayla

Poor girl! She has done a great job keeping it together and knowing Jack needs her right now. I am so proud of her for putting aside her fears of unknowns and just stepping into a role that no Mom wants to step into.

This is how it’s gone down since Monday:

Monday afternoon- got up to room out of surgery around 1:00- Jack did great and there was no reason to expect problems.

4:00 first feed 15ml (1/2 oz)

7:00 feed 15 ml (both successful)

10:00 feed 30 ml (1oz)

1:00am feed 45 ml (1 1/2 oz) both successful)

4:00 feed 60 ml (2oz) seemed to be going alright until I heard what I thought was someone throwing a bucket of water of the floor- no buckets just Jack. His feeding came up and flew.

Tuesday- the whole day was spent trying small amounts and cleaning up bigger amounts. His surgeon (whom we like) kept reassuring us this was normal and that some kiddos take a couple of days. Well needless to say Jack wasn’t one of those cases that got to go home 18-24 hours after surgery. By evening Doctors suggested Pedialyte- and to leave the formula alone.

Wednesday- Jack is clearly hungry and NOTHING… I mean nothing has stayed down. Wednesday was by far the hardest day as Jack was miserable and frankly Kayla and I were exhausted and just wanted wonderboy to take a turn for the better. It is such a helpless feeling to know there is nothing you can do to fix it or make it better.

His Doctor on Wednesday started becoming very concerned about his nutrition (because at this point he’s basically had none) so they ordered a Home Parenteral Nutrition Program (TPN) About' target=_blank>TPN feed to run over a 24 hour period. With TPN nutrition there is a greater risk for tissue damage when run through a smaller vein (regular IV site) so after the nurse horrified us told us what to watch for things got started. After just over a hour Jack boy lost his IV site.

At 4:00 two IV team techs poked him twice and failed.

At 5:00 a peds flight nurse tried 2 places and had no success

At 6:00 the first doc from anesthesia came in and tried in both his legs… nothing.

7:00 She called a colleague who she said is more experienced and He tried once in his foot and looked and looked for another site. 

At around 8:00 on the 8th or 9th try a neonatal flight nurse was able to get a line in on his head. Our poor buddy.

After a couple more attempts of Pedialyte and lots of rocking and even a chorus of Kayla signing the barney theme song it was close to midnight and they ordered a dose of Oxi to help Jack be more comfortable and he fell asleep and besides squeaks and squirms he stayed asleep until 8 this morning.

Now it’s Thursday (I think) and Jack just finished an upper GI study to see why nothing is staying in his little tummy.

Hopefully there will be a plan soon! REAL SOON!

Possible case scenario-

A PICC line to get feeds in.

A swallow study (if the GI doesn’t give answers)- a NG tube to get nutrients or formula in.

And the scenario I like best love most. That God just heals whatever it is and it just stops happening, Jack takes a bottle and Kayla and Him get to go home and live happily ever after (at least until he becomes a teenager)

Kayla getting some snuggles from Jack after his GI study this morning. His IV in his head caught us both off guard so now to help us deal with the stress we have started making antenna jokes…. hey ya got to do something. The NG tube you see will come out since the test is done and if they do need one there are smaller more comfortable ones for little man.

Jack Jack- Surgery

well let me just start at what we believe to be the beginning….

Jack is a pretty easy going baby. Seems as if the only thing Kayla’s little man has struggled with is eating.

All seemed well with the world and just like any child in our family Jack figured out eating is a good thing and once that happened he seemed to do great for Kayla- 3-4oz every 3 to 3 1/2 hours this last week. Last Tuesday he weighed in 9lbs and concerns about weight gain were part of his not so distant past.

On Wed and especially Thursday Jack was really fussy for Kayla- we figured it was because of change in his formula from Enfamil to Similac. She switched him because of WIC.

Anyhoo after a call to his ped on Friday it was decided he should go to the Similac Sensitive and things seemed to be going better. He’s spitting up seemed to increase a bit but then Friday night he slept well and feed well.

Saturday his spitting up seemed to increase a bit more and at one point Kayla even mentioned being a bit concerned to which I said “hun babies spit up- you’ll know if it’s vomiting-trust me it’s different”

Well that statement became all to true starting Sunday morning, throughout the day despite small feedings, holding him upright and frequent burping Jack’s vomiting was getting worse.

The ped we talked to around 4 said at 8 hours w/out a wet diaper and bring him to the ER.

Well the wet diapers started slowing down and at around 8ish we decided (after almost an hour of now continuous vomiting) it was time to go in.

May have been premature but both Kayla and I had a feeling something was up and my thoughts were why wait til he’s dehydrated – why wait til it’s worse when it already seemed awful.

So the little man needed an IV for dehydration, he got a blood draw to check electrolytes and an ultrasound of his abdomen revealed  Pyloric Stenosis – basically from what I understand his tummy has an entrance but his exit is closed so it all come back up.

The fix- surgery and quite honestly we’re going to need the doc to explain the repair again but what we do understand is this occurs in about 1 in 300 babies, more common in boys and firstborns and doesn’t usually reoccur once fixed

The surgeon also said it was good we came in when we did because catching it early can make for a faster recovery.

He has a GI tube to keep his little tummy clear from more vomiting and still the IV for hydration.

It’s just before 5am- Kayla has managed to dose off behind me and I’m on duty, watching our little man to make sure he’s as comfortable as can be.

I’m so very grateful for all the prayers that have already been lifted on Jack’s behalf and I’ll update later today after surgery.

 

ready set…..

“someone please give me some energy so I can go”

I have been so tired this week for a couple of weeks . Some of it is kid induced tired. Sam has had some tummy troubles this week and that made for a late night Wednesday.

I have had a hard time getting back onto a regular schedule since being back from Christmas break that doesn’t help.

We are knee deep in basketball and hockey oh and bowling and well they are finally showing new episodes of Grey’s and I have a good book actually a couple on my kindle right now.

There is a checkbook to be balanced.

School papers to be sorted….. anyone else think some of these assignments should be completed on the computer so we keep a forest or two.

Menu- do I have to? Can’t I rotate pizza, mac and cheese and spaghetti and throw in a gourmet crock pot thing to make me look good here and there.

I have a box of creative memories stuff to list on Craigslist (anyone interested?)… seriously I’ll email you the list of stuff and prices (when I get around to making the list and the prices but you would be helping me out if your interested b/c it would force my hand)

What about the shutterfly book I want to make- oh I really should start that this weekend. That can’t take to long can it?

My quiet times need to be a little longer and in more in depth and I thought about adding a bible study again after Christmas and we were done with prenatal classes. This is one area I don’t beat myself up in- as soon as I feel like there’s to much for Jesus then there’s to much. period

So I have something  to report that I DID DO….. I finally went to a movie by myself. I had to talk myself there, almost caved and went to get Mexican food to read that kindle book but decided that I needed to try it. Guess I wasn’t really concerned about walking in alone- that doesn’t bother me it was more the idea of taking an afternoon and making it mine. But I did it.

and I loved it… so much so I have my next movie picked out for a Friday afternoon. My plan is to have a monthly date with myself. I’m kind of fun and cheap.

oh and I blogged- I blogged thinking I’d finish my coffee before deciding which task was first or last. To sort laundry or not that is the question.  plus I liked the idea I saw here and it’s not tuesday but like everything else I get around to it.

look at this cute guy I hung out with last night- we hung out at midnight and 3:30ish (wonder if that’s why I’m a little tired?) There’s a whole lot of cute there and indeed a good reason to be tired. have you smelled a newborn lately- even when he’s covered in A & D and spit up he’s heavenly

 

oh geezzz I forgot we have pizzas to sell for hockey…. anyone hungry? they’re good cheap

 

my attempt to just write

birth story (from Grandma’s view)

 Walking through Kayla’s pregnancy with her has been by far one of my greatest journeys filled with great joy, great unknowns, great anxiety and fear, unbelievable excitement, a journey of trust … in deed bringing 2011 to an end by welcoming Jack is a gift to be treasured.

Holy moly you say- women have babies everyday- this is not some great mystery or weird medical condition- why all the emotion- why all the mushy blah blah blah…. does grandma missy need to get a grib…. well maybe, maybe not. I’m OK with mush so here goes it- the story.

**if you’re a guy who gets weirded out by TMI then STOP here - considered yourself warned- it’s a birth story.

(back story)

On August 4th when Kayla was just under 20 weeks pregnant. Well into the 2nd trimester I received a call from Kayla- she was sobbing and bleeding. The kind of bleeding they tell you isn’t good. I left work frantic, scared for my girl. No parent can imagine the pain of losing a child but on my way to pick her up I begged God  …. I mean I BEGGED and pleaded for Her and for my grandson. I was so scared of the unknown reality that Kayla might be facing.

(and yes we already knew that he was a boy)

Well the doctors and nurses were wonderful and wasted not one minute getting an ultrasound machine in the room and within minutes there was the sight of that flashing that was Jack’s heartbeat. I just remember choking a sob of relief and I think from that moment forward lifting Jack and Kayla to the Lord and knowing that I had to trust just as i had to breath …. I just had to and I did. Giving that worry and fear to God over and over and over again gave me glimpses of the joy that this baby was going to bring to our family. I must confess it was a struggle not to loose myself in the what if’s but I knew I had to keep pointing Kayla toward that same trust. I rested in Psalm 139 so often and it brought comfort to know that Jack was not unknown to God.

So I’ll fast forward through all the preparations, the bed-rest, the risk of early delivery from 26 weeks, the baby shower, the pre-natal classes and the wait……. there was not a lack of dull moments but Kayla rolled with it- she did great. She started growing into her roll as Mom from the beginning of her pregnancy.

(the rest of the story)

On Tuesday Dec. 27th (her due date) Kayla woke up contracting, sick, unable to keep anything down. I blogged about it it that day. Later that day she slept a lot- largely because of the  zofran an anti-nausea med they gave her when I brought her in. Thinking back I think she was contracting because of the nausea and vomiting (flu) and that the nausea and vomiting was not because of the contractions.

Wednesday (the 28th) she went to work and had irregular contractions but nothing to write home about.

Thursday (the 29th)  Kayla called me and said her back hurt but it was constant. Not come and go like contractions are described.  She mentioned she “thought” she was having contractions but couldn’t tell through the back pain that didn’t go away. She was at work and was not going to leave or go in until that boy was coming out and none of us were really convinced that this was labor anyway. She was 2 days overdue and after thinking he’d come early we figured we’d end up waiting till the inducement date (10 days over).

She kept me updated all day- possible contractions, constant back pain. My 4 labors weren’t like this and what she described didn’t convince me or her it was labor but we decided when she got off work we’d go do laps at the mall and see if that gave us clearer answers.

7ish- we arrived at the mall. I hesitated bringing bags with us for fear of “jinxing” labor.

I sent my friend a text  (not sure if I told Kayla this) and said “I’m bringing her to the mall to walk and we’re not stopping till she’s in pain and begging me to stop”

I was feeling a little ruthless (in a loving way) and I knew walking would only help things if it truly was labor.

Well Grandma needed chap stick  so bath and body works called my name, then it was The Gap, Herberger's, Penney’s, Gymboree, basically any place with a baby section… we’d walk… we’d stop… Kayla would catch her breath grab her back and I’d say “let’s keep going”.

Well by 9pm I was convinced but Kayla was still walking and talking through contractions and the nurses told us not to come until she could no longer walk or talk through them. Now granted her walking and talking slowed or even paused but yet she wasn’t  the out of control crazy woman in labor  that I was waiting for to emerge- but it was worth a shot…. I told her to call the nurses and let them know we were coming in.

I told her- “don’t talk through the contractions – make it believable”  yep I said that. I think I had the crazed labor brain and I was on mission baby jack.

my mission was clear and I’m not one to waiver (that’s only 1/2 true)  So in we went- I even snapped a picture to which Kayla said-

“mom if they send me home it’s your fault for taking the picture”

hehehe we BOTH  were a little crazed.

notice she’s holding her back… ouch

 

so around 9:20ish we got into a room (purgatory- not quite a labor room) and they hooked her up to the monitors. I have to admit when I saw the contraction number shoot up to 120ish I was like “cool- those numbers hurt- we’re in like flynn” of course I didn’t say that out loud I just told Kayla to breath and now that she was in a bed that back labor was indeed stopping any walking or talking.

A first year resident came in and checked her. (I only add that fact b/c of where we are going with this). She was at 2cm and according to her most likely not ready to stay and that “they could give her some morphine to make her more comfortable”

*I may have panicked at this moment   but I waited for the nurse to come back in (you know the one who knows what’s really going on)

So I ask the nurse “so if they give her morphine do they just watch her and see if she progresses?”

The nurse who I liked up to this point says “no we’ll give it to her and then send you guys home until she’s further along in her labor”

 ummmm excuse me? I can’t bring my drugged up laboring daughter out of here- one of us is bound to loose it and I’m not sure at this point which one it will be.

Ok I didn’t say that but I wanted to- my face most likely said it for me.

I did tell the nurse my “concerns” and during my conversation with the nurse Kayla interrupted to say she thought she felt more of her mucus plug (her concern was the mess)  to which the nurse simply said “your ok there’s a pad over the sheet”.  I mean let’s face it- there’s some weird stuff going on down there especially at the end of pregnancy.

So after the nurse and I promptly IGNORED Kayla and her concerns about the mess, we continued our conversation my pleading about why we should just stay. Kayla even had some good arguments in the mist of her contractions which seemed to be getting worse.

At that point the chief resident came in (and I was sure she was smarter than the 1st year resident) but she had  the same song and dance as Dr. 1 year.

I guess it doesn’t matter how old your child is because even  though Kayla is a grown adult  who was about to give birth my mama bear kicked in and I began the first stage of the fight-

well Kayla had a WHOPPER of a contraction and I didn’t know if it was so much the contraction that caused the “out of control crazy woman in labor effect ” or the idea of getting sent home but regardless I paused from my fight to try to talk her through it.

The doc agreed to check her (we wanted a second opinion) and then check her again in a hour and if progress was made we could stay. I told Kayla- we’ll just walk another hour. That was all it took with Eric to keep me so I was sure we could do this.

Poor Kayla was contracting one after another….

Doctor Chief Resident went to check her and before she was all the way “there” she just  simply said “well she’s ruptured- that’s your ticket in”

I just cried (I do that when I feel stress)  I said “honey your going to do this…. your going to meet your baby” what a sweet moment that was (at least for me- can’t say Kayla was to terribly excited at this point in the labor process as I’m sure she felt as if her insides were exploding)

Well my new best friend (the chief resident)  that discovered her water was broke asked “will you be interested in an epidural for pain”

I quickly (and with enthusiasm) yelled “YES”  forgetting they weren’t asking me….opps

Thankfully Kayla was interested too…

Kayla did great- as soon as she knew Dr. Happy was on his way with numbing stuff she focused on just getting through one contraction at a time. The poor girl felt as if her hips were falling apart and she’d ask me to do the “hip squeeze” that we learned in class.

this is not us but this is what it looks like-

My arms would shake from squeezing so tight and it seemed to be the only thing that helped her. Selfishly I can’t imagine having to do that all night and I say Kudos to those of you that have or can! WOW

I remember Kayla saying yes please and no thank you to the doctors and nurses that were prepping her for the epidural. I proudly thought “yep that’s my girl- good manners” LOL

Well a hour later and 2 more centimeters dilated Kayla was comfortable and it was just a matter of her body doing what it was supposed to do while the medicine Dr. Happy gave her kept her from feeling any of it. Kayla’s best friend from jr. high was there and decided to take a little snooze but before we all tucked ourselves in for the night (it was about 11pm) we snapped a couple of pictures…

Marquia  came to visit briefly and cheer Kayla on..(Bobbie, Marquia and Kayla)

As a side note: Marquia had a baby in September and when I found out she was pregnant I teased her mom a bit…. “Your going to be Grandma Kate…. hehehe “ Kate was very gracious just a month or two later when I got the same news….

waiting…..

well while we waited I could not sleep- I wanted to remember those moments. So I grabbed some paper and a pen and just started to write.

Around 3am Bobbie (her friend- I clarify b/c my mom is also Bobbie) was sleeping, the room was dark, the doc had just checked Kayla and she was close- dilated to a 8. I sat in the chair next to my daughter, all the while just marveling at the sound of Jack’s heartbeat in the room. That’s all we heard and it just kept beating strong and sure and I Praised God- Thanked Him for carrying them through to this moment. It was such a peaceful sound and the feeling of complete joy filled me from head to toe. I wrote-

“here I am with my first born- I remember so clearly holding her and looking at her tiny face when they laid her in my arms for the first time. There was not many things I was sure of at time but I was sure that for the first time I felt like I had done something right, I was in complete awe that  precious little baby had grown inside of me and now I was about to watch her experience the birth of her first born. There is not a way to put words to what I am feeling at this moment I just know that this is a gift and once again I am awed at the Greatness of our Creator and the different paths that led us to this day and I pray this memory will stay imbedded in my head just as it stayed the day I had her.”

Shortly after I wrote that Kayla started feeling pressure, I called for the nurse and they had the doc come in to check her. Jack was already on his way down It was just a bit before 4am and they said on the next contraction she could push.

Poor Kayla- here she is- pushing and the nurse (who I LOVED) kept praising Kayla telling her she was doing great and I looked over and said “she gets it from me”….it was funny. Inappropriate but funny.

Just 28 minutes later Jack Brandon Gustafson entered the world-

Travis meeting Jack for the first time….

This Grandma gig…. yep I think it’s workin for me (and I think Rick may be diggin it a bit to )

stay tuned- I have a feeling I may give Jack and Kayla updates once in a while….

nothing done

last night-

kitchen counters were filled with stuff

pizza crumbs all over the stove

laundry baskets were filling up again

clutter is piling up again (everywhere)

lunches were to be made for today

there is always stuff to be done it seems

but last night was a perfect night to me-

Sam cuddled up next to me, Eric was in the recliner, Kayla and Jack were on the couch all snuggled up, Rick was watching the hockey game downstairs. The dog- well I don’t really care but I’m sure she was curled up somewhere in the mix.

I hope I have another night soon where I get nothing done

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." ~Zephaniah 3:17

this picture was taken last week by Liz Traff- Jack came to meet my co-workers sweet friends at work. Has nothing to do with last night but I sure love this picture.