I'm feeling so much better today!
Last night I got to eat my very first bottle! It was so yummy. I drank it up while mommy held me. I started to choke a little bit once, and mommy tried to give me back to my nurses. They laughed at her and told her that she had to learn to take care of my silly chokes. Sorry mom, just makin' sure you were awake! Oh and all of you that were waiting, you can start doing the poop dance now! I have been going to the bathroom on my own since they started increasing my feeds. I told you guys I'd learn!
They are also trying to take my off my c-pap machine now. They are saying I'm a big girl now and need to breathe like one too! I think I can do it, I just need a little cheerleading.
Lastly, I get a new house. It doesnt have to have a roof anymore! That's right, I'm in a big girl bed! It's about time! Afterall, I am the oldest baby in the NICU!
Thanks everyone for your prayers.
I love you all,
Riley
We're HOME!!!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Feeling Better
It's me again, Little Miss Riley, updating on my status. Yes I am still in the hospital... but I am feeling better than I was two weeks ago. The doctors tapped my spine for fluids (Mommy calls it a Spinal Tap) and I was such a big girl, I did very well for the test! I think I should get a green sucker!
I was an even bigger girl and proved to them that I could come off my ventilator! I am back on my C-pap, and I hope to be off of that soon too!
I do have to tell you that I am retaining a lot of water!!! Almost 14 ounces in water! I can't even open my little eyes because I am so swollen! You may gain 14 ounces in water and not think that was a big deal or even notice, but I notice even an ounce of water weight. Hopefully this goes away soon!
Thank you all so much for the prayers! I can tell that they were working! I know that I am a fighter, but I don't know if I could fight all of this on my own! Keep them coming for me and for my family.
I'll update soon!
Love,
Riley
I was an even bigger girl and proved to them that I could come off my ventilator! I am back on my C-pap, and I hope to be off of that soon too!
I do have to tell you that I am retaining a lot of water!!! Almost 14 ounces in water! I can't even open my little eyes because I am so swollen! You may gain 14 ounces in water and not think that was a big deal or even notice, but I notice even an ounce of water weight. Hopefully this goes away soon!
Thank you all so much for the prayers! I can tell that they were working! I know that I am a fighter, but I don't know if I could fight all of this on my own! Keep them coming for me and for my family.
I'll update soon!
Love,
Riley
Friday, April 17, 2009
Too sick to update...
Riley isnt feeling too well, so Aunt Katie is updating...
Riley was supposed to have a spinal tap yesterday but was unable to handle it. They got the needle in her but she started alarming too badly so they couldn't get any fluids out. They have started treating Riley for meningitis since they cannot do the spinal tap to rule it out.
Last night around midnight Riley pulled her ventilator out. Becky said "You can tell Grandpa is watching over her, she acts just like him!" We can only hope that she continues fighting like she is!
Riley is very upset when people try to talk, use light, or move around her "house". She cries if Jen or Keith try to touch her, even. That used to be the only thing that would calm her down! She also is having a hard time even getting her vital signs taken, she is just too upset. They've even raised the number of breaths the ventilator is giving her, because shes been so upset she forgets to breathe.
She's been given several blood/platelet transfusions over the last few days because her body (and the blood tests) are using more blood than she can produce. We're hoping that all this will end soon and she'll be our happy little baby again.
On a lighter note, Riley has become a "poster baby" at the hospital. Her picture is hanging outside of the NICU to show parents that even pre-mature babies need loved too! She is sleeping with her Snuggie that Jen held so that they could have a parent-child bonding even before Jen and Keith were able to hold her. All of her doctors and nurses have been saying that even when they aren't on duty, they still call and see how Riley is or stop by, because she's such an amazing little girl. We really appreciate that! Thank you for all your hard work, dedication, and love!
Please continue to keep Riley in your prayers! Sorry if your phone calls aren't answered when trying to get updates. Jen and Mom have been spending most of the day at the hospital with Riley and cannot have phones with them!
Riley was supposed to have a spinal tap yesterday but was unable to handle it. They got the needle in her but she started alarming too badly so they couldn't get any fluids out. They have started treating Riley for meningitis since they cannot do the spinal tap to rule it out.
Last night around midnight Riley pulled her ventilator out. Becky said "You can tell Grandpa is watching over her, she acts just like him!" We can only hope that she continues fighting like she is!
Riley is very upset when people try to talk, use light, or move around her "house". She cries if Jen or Keith try to touch her, even. That used to be the only thing that would calm her down! She also is having a hard time even getting her vital signs taken, she is just too upset. They've even raised the number of breaths the ventilator is giving her, because shes been so upset she forgets to breathe.
She's been given several blood/platelet transfusions over the last few days because her body (and the blood tests) are using more blood than she can produce. We're hoping that all this will end soon and she'll be our happy little baby again.
On a lighter note, Riley has become a "poster baby" at the hospital. Her picture is hanging outside of the NICU to show parents that even pre-mature babies need loved too! She is sleeping with her Snuggie that Jen held so that they could have a parent-child bonding even before Jen and Keith were able to hold her. All of her doctors and nurses have been saying that even when they aren't on duty, they still call and see how Riley is or stop by, because she's such an amazing little girl. We really appreciate that! Thank you for all your hard work, dedication, and love!
Please continue to keep Riley in your prayers! Sorry if your phone calls aren't answered when trying to get updates. Jen and Mom have been spending most of the day at the hospital with Riley and cannot have phones with them!
Monday, April 13, 2009
I have an infection...
Hi Everyone,
I need you all to do a favor for me. Ready? Ok. Please say a prayer for me and ask all of your friends to pray for me. Here's why:
The doctors say I have an infection that I can't fight off but they aren't sure what it is. They are giving me three different broad spectrum antibiotics to fight it off, and once they find out for sure what it is, they will discontinue two of the antibiotics.
My platelet count is too low for them to do tests to find out what I might have. (I like to keep folks guessing, ya know?) They gave me a blood transfusion yesterday and are giving me platelets today. They stopped feeding me yesterday (and I was looking so forward to a chocolate bunny and Peeps for Easter) and put me back on a ventilator. As long as I'm on the ventilator, they won't let me eat. Bummer!
Please remember my whole family in your prayers. My Mommy and Daddy are very worried about me. Mommy is staying with me most of the time.
I'll update everyone when the doctors tell us more.
Love,
Riley
I need you all to do a favor for me. Ready? Ok. Please say a prayer for me and ask all of your friends to pray for me. Here's why:
The doctors say I have an infection that I can't fight off but they aren't sure what it is. They are giving me three different broad spectrum antibiotics to fight it off, and once they find out for sure what it is, they will discontinue two of the antibiotics.
My platelet count is too low for them to do tests to find out what I might have. (I like to keep folks guessing, ya know?) They gave me a blood transfusion yesterday and are giving me platelets today. They stopped feeding me yesterday (and I was looking so forward to a chocolate bunny and Peeps for Easter) and put me back on a ventilator. As long as I'm on the ventilator, they won't let me eat. Bummer!
Please remember my whole family in your prayers. My Mommy and Daddy are very worried about me. Mommy is staying with me most of the time.
I'll update everyone when the doctors tell us more.
Love,
Riley
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Snuggle Bug gets crabby!
For a week now I have had no food! They feed me, and then they don't.... they feed me, and then they don't! Would they just make up their minds!?!?!? At my age (33 weeks) I can associate sucking with food; but no matter how hard I suck on that pacifier, I do not get one drop of food!!! I overheard them saying that the EARLIEST that they would feed me would be Friday. And here is why.....
Yesterday the doctors did a CT-scan and found that my intestines were dilated. This has been happening for a little while now, and when my intestines are dilated it absorbs the fluid in my stool, leaving dry stool in my intestinal tract. In other words... I am REALLY constipated. The doctors decided to give me an enema to help me out. Well it worked for a little bit, because I was able to push out some little poopletts that looked like dried rabbit pellets. This enema will take a few hours to work its way out of my system and so the doctor is going to wait until Friday to feed me.
Well even though I am not eating anything, I am still retaining water... in fact, 5 ounces of water. I gained so much water weight the other day, mom said I couldn't open my little eyes. The doctor did give me lasiklis (the meds that make you pee a whole bunch!) to help me lose some of the water. They will not do another treatment of this because my potassium levels have been going up, the last time they checked my blood work. I am filling out nicely though, without the water (mommy says I am starting to have little rolls on my arms). At my last weigh in, I weighed 3 pounds 5 ounces.
The other thing the doctors are going to try not to do to me is another blood transfusion. I am building up cells on my own now, and they are afraid that if I get a blood transfusion, I will have too much blood cells in me at a time.
So if so many things are looking up, why did I title this stop on my journey "snuggle bug gets crabby"? Well I haven't been fed and mom and daddy have been noticing me crying a lot more. In fact, I was so agitated the other day when dad was in to see me, one of the nurses came over to check on me because I was crying so loud! I am learning what I want, and how to get it.... if only I could have it!
Well I have to go! I am very tired from all this whining!
Love you all!
Riley
Yesterday the doctors did a CT-scan and found that my intestines were dilated. This has been happening for a little while now, and when my intestines are dilated it absorbs the fluid in my stool, leaving dry stool in my intestinal tract. In other words... I am REALLY constipated. The doctors decided to give me an enema to help me out. Well it worked for a little bit, because I was able to push out some little poopletts that looked like dried rabbit pellets. This enema will take a few hours to work its way out of my system and so the doctor is going to wait until Friday to feed me.
Well even though I am not eating anything, I am still retaining water... in fact, 5 ounces of water. I gained so much water weight the other day, mom said I couldn't open my little eyes. The doctor did give me lasiklis (the meds that make you pee a whole bunch!) to help me lose some of the water. They will not do another treatment of this because my potassium levels have been going up, the last time they checked my blood work. I am filling out nicely though, without the water (mommy says I am starting to have little rolls on my arms). At my last weigh in, I weighed 3 pounds 5 ounces.
The other thing the doctors are going to try not to do to me is another blood transfusion. I am building up cells on my own now, and they are afraid that if I get a blood transfusion, I will have too much blood cells in me at a time.
So if so many things are looking up, why did I title this stop on my journey "snuggle bug gets crabby"? Well I haven't been fed and mom and daddy have been noticing me crying a lot more. In fact, I was so agitated the other day when dad was in to see me, one of the nurses came over to check on me because I was crying so loud! I am learning what I want, and how to get it.... if only I could have it!
Well I have to go! I am very tired from all this whining!
Love you all!
Riley
Monday, April 6, 2009
No Food....
As I said on April 1st... the doctors are not feeding me. They are going to wait 7-10 days to feed me again. I am still not able to have a bowel movement and they are keeping a close eye on my digestive system. But if you think about it, in reality, I would still be inside of mommy and have no reason to poop. Yet, now that I am here, I need to learn how to poop on my own and digest my food without mommy's help!
On the up side of things, I am almost 3 full pounds! (2 pounds 15 ounces!) I also have been growing a little. I am now 15 inches long, and my head also grew!!! WOOHOO!
I am also getting visitors again! Thank you for coming to see me, and for all the support thus far! I really appreciate all my gifts, prayers, and kind words. I know that mommy and daddy really appreciate the support too!
Well I have to go! I will check back a little later!
Love,
Riley
On the up side of things, I am almost 3 full pounds! (2 pounds 15 ounces!) I also have been growing a little. I am now 15 inches long, and my head also grew!!! WOOHOO!
I am also getting visitors again! Thank you for coming to see me, and for all the support thus far! I really appreciate all my gifts, prayers, and kind words. I know that mommy and daddy really appreciate the support too!
Well I have to go! I will check back a little later!
Love,
Riley
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
2 Stepping
Well I seem to be dancing before I can even walk! In my last report, I said that I was doing well and I was getting fed again. Today... I am stepping back and the doctors are not going to feed me because my stomach is not looking good again. I am going to have a couple more tests to find out what is going on.
Also, the doctors called mommy today on her road trip to tell her that they were going to give me another blood transfusion. Appearantly my blood cells that fight infections are low and they want to boost them. Hopefully this will help me!
I seem to do so well for a while, and I take two steps forward. Then I end up getting sick or I can not eat and I take the two steps back. Who knows... I may be dancing with mommy in the country clubs when I break out of this hospital!
All I can ask for right now is prayers. I am still growing and getting stronger, but for those who are wondering- I am still not able to poop on my own. I am waiting to see that ever eventful poop dance everyone has been promising!
Well, I have to go!
Love,
Riley
Also, the doctors called mommy today on her road trip to tell her that they were going to give me another blood transfusion. Appearantly my blood cells that fight infections are low and they want to boost them. Hopefully this will help me!
I seem to do so well for a while, and I take two steps forward. Then I end up getting sick or I can not eat and I take the two steps back. Who knows... I may be dancing with mommy in the country clubs when I break out of this hospital!
All I can ask for right now is prayers. I am still growing and getting stronger, but for those who are wondering- I am still not able to poop on my own. I am waiting to see that ever eventful poop dance everyone has been promising!
Well, I have to go!
Love,
Riley
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