Sunday, May 11, 2014

My first Mother's Day! Sunday May 11th 2014

Went to church today and I felt like a mom.... Even though it isn't legal yet it still feels like he is mine! The sermon today was like a reality check for me. All the stuff moms do by going above and beyond no matter how gross the task may be.  I'm ready!
After church we get the camera and head to Monroe.  We arrive at the hospital and the checkin person at the desk was unsure if we needed to sign in but she opened the book and we see on our baby's check in there were only the names of the parents on the day he was born.  No other day and we didn't sign in on the Monday we came.  This means they haven't seen him again.  In a way good bc I don't want her to change her mind.  I just feel bad bc Wesley hasn't had many visitors. 
When we get to the room the NICU nurse in his room was very nice.  She turned off the bili light and said we are turning this off today so let me move it.  Yay no more blue light!  He had a little yellow hat on his head with Velcro on the sides which help secure the CPAP device on his tiny nose.  He was on his belly and looked so comfortable.  
I asked the nurse how he was doing and she said we are only allowed to tell you his status now and he is stable.  I asked if they ultrasounded his head and she said she can't tell me what they have done or any results.  This gave me a horrible feeling inside.  Joe and I both thought is the birth mother changing her mind?  "Is he still gaining weight?" I ask.  She said he did weigh more last night but he did have fluid on his abdomen.  She said I can't tell u why or what was done but it is better.  UGH! This is so frustrating!!!! I know it is for the nurse too.  So we have a seat and enjoy our visit.  Snapping pictures with the camera and my phone.  
He has a tiny little pacifier in his mouth and a tiny diaper that actually fits him.  Joe commented on how the diaper actually fits and said to the nurse "I guess you can't buy those diapers at the store" and she laughed and said no.  She handed us one and said we could keep it as a souvenir. 
It's the cutest thing ever!
A little while later the doctor came in and introduced hisself and apologized for not being able to give us details anymore.  He said once the mother signs the papers, then he can tell us everything.  He said he was going to give him an exam and we can watch and listen and figure out some things by that, but he can't specify anything to us.  
He flipped him over like he wasn't a fragile little baby... Wow I thought I guess he isn't like a little egg.  He looked so much better than on Monday.  You couldn't see his rubs as easily.  He changed his tiny diaper bc Wesley had pooped.  Glad things are moving through ;) he listened to his heart and belly and said he sounded good.  Yay! Nothing seemed to concern him and he flipped him back over and went out with the nurse to discuss things.
We enjoyed our visit and took more pictures.  The nurses switched shifts while we were there and they went outside to talk the cases over.  The new nurse came in and introduced herself.  She hadn't had Wesley on her shift.  We had a nice conversation and she told us how sorry she was to not be able to tell us much and how having a baby in NICU is stressful enough and to add the adoption stress is just even harder.  I asked her if they get a lot of surender sand she said they get a fair amount unfortunately.  How sad but it is good for those like us...
Before we left I told the nurse to feel free to call him Wesley when no one is around and she said she would and smiled.  She also said to call anytime.
Our way home we talked about possible reasons they couldn't tell us and it just stressed us out.  We left the extra phone at the clinic that we use to talk to them with. So when we got back in town we went to get it.  I txt their number and told them how thankful we were for their gift of a son and that we enjoyed our visit with him today.  They replied with this:
I can now sleep bc of this txt.  It has eased my mind and hopefully both signatures are done tomorrow and we can get more info on our baby boy!

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Saturday May 10 Wes is a week old!

Just called to check on Wes... This nurse is way nicer than last night.  Wesley is stable and doing well.  I asked what he weighed and it's 1# 11oz yay we are gaining ;) this makes me so happy!

Friday, May 9, 2014

Friday May 9th 2014. Today is NOT the day!

Today the birth parents are to sign over baby Wesley.  They can't change their minds, which is the biggest worry when trying to adopt. Just a couple more days until we get to see him.  The only update I have so far that he is doing well and no changes.  Although it may be boreing news it's still great news because nothing is going wrong!  Thank you al for the support and prayers.  Joe and I are just so shocked at the outpouring of love everyone is showing.  They always say good deeds will eventually get returned tenfold and I think we are finally experiencing that!
12 pm just talked to adoption agency and now the mother isn't signing her surrender until Monday.  The Dr. Also fudged and mentioned transferring the baby to shreveport to the birth mother and this upset her.  All I can do is pray and pray hard that nothing bad happens from this. 
9:30pm don't care for the night nurse on shift right now.  She is very blunt and doesn't sound as sweet as the other one flea flier in the week.  She seems all business.  She said Wes is stable and tolerating the feedings and still on oxygen.  Guess I will take that over something being wrong and her having to tell me that. 

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Thursday May 8th

Wesley is still doing great! He is 5 days old!  Breathing is great! They have increased his feeding today so hopefully he will start to gain weight soon.  They removed his umbilical line and I've heard that's good news.  Progress!!! His flow of oxygen is at 25% and his abdomen is looking good.  He still has a long ways to go but the Dr. says if all goes well he can leave at 34-36 weeks!  The birth parents sign the papers tomorrow and then he will soon be in out names.  Once they sign they can't change their mind which is the scariest part until they do sign.  Luckily the birth parents are giving no signals that they will back out.  It's hard not seeing him every night.  We hope to move him once he is stable and is ours.  We won't get to go see him until Sunday.  I call the hospital at least twice a day and dr calls once.  At least hearing updates of him doing well help ease my concerns for him.  

Wednesday May 7th

Called to check on Wes today and he is breathing great! The nurse says this with such enthusiasm it really brightens my day.  She said his glucose was a little high and they are monitoring it closely to make sure he doesn't need some temporary insulin.  This worried me but she said this is normal for preemies and it isn't permanent.  She also said at 4am his abdomen looked distended so they discontinued his feeding but resumed it at 3 pm and he looked fine.  Sounds like I have a little fighter!  I am so grateful for all my friends and family sharing news about Wesley and the prayers.  

Tuesday May 6th

All I thought about last night was the baby.  The baby we named Wesley Andrew.  
Remembering that tiny mout of his, breathing on his own.  Such a strong guy for only being 25 weeks gestation.  I called to check on him and they took radiographs of his chest because he was taking really deep breaths and his oxygen he was taking in was not enough.  They saw some fluid in his chest so they suctioned him out and placed him on a CPAP machine.  He is now breathing perfectly.  He is being fed milk as a constant trickle via feeding tube and still under the uv lights.  There was a difference in his blood type vs mothers so his body was attacking his red cells causing him to be jaundice.  I'm so glad my boy is doing so well :)

Love at first sight! May 5th pm

We found out that we could go see the baby, so we hopped in the car and headed for Monroe, La.  It was the longest 1.5 hr drive! Then when we finally arrived at 6:30pm we had to wait until 9pm for visitation.  My heart was racing sitting in the waiting room.  The thought of him being behind those walls.... My son!
9pm finally came and we were told to scrub in and put on a gown. We headed towards where he was.  I was never so nervous.  I see this tiny purple baby.  Something I've never seen before. 
He was under the UV lights which made him look real purple.  You could see all his vessels.  He has the tiniest feet and hands but long fingers.  Such a skinny little fella but a tough guy.  

We counted all fingers and toes present! When the NICU nurse said we could open the doors and touch him I was very curious what he would feel like.  


I went first and held his tiny hand.  He didn't like my cold fingers next to his warm sticky skin.  He started to wiggle so I removed my hand.  Then Joe reached in and he grabbed Joe's finger
I've never seen such a beautiful sight.  Is he really ours? Is this really happening? After Joe removed his hand he looked like a little boxer moving his arms around.  
http://youtu.be/Fi_D1LJIYlU
He looked like he was flexing his muscles for his daddy ;)
It was about time to say goodbye so I reached in one more time to touch his little head. 
Then we said goodbye.  That was so hard to do. At least the NICU nurse was very nice and said we could call any time to check on him.  I wish he were closer!  Thank you God for this little miracle.