Post by Mary on Nov 19, 2005 14:08:13 GMT -5
[Ok, Mandy has given me the ok to post this up! I'm thrilled to share the news here for those who haven't heard it yet....]
Little Eliott was born via c-section. He and mom are both recovering now, with Eliott needing some extra TLC concerning one of his kidneys and a low platelets count. The hardest part for Mandy has been being separated from her new little guy while he gets the care he needs but at least now she is able to visit him and feed him (and bond him with and fall madly in love with him) and he is getting stronger and doing well.
There's a series of Livejournal posts in Mandy's journal from right after Eliott was born up until this morning that really tell the story well. Since not all of you are on Mandy's friend-list in LJ, I'll copy/paste the latest entry in her journal which sums up how everyone is doing. Please feel free to add your hugs, thoughts and prayers here for them.
Mandy included a link with photos of Eliott (which are truly amazing) but I'm going to put that link in a separate thread over in the photo board. Check it out.
from Mandy's LJ this morning:
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Hello everyone - this is Mandy updating (finally!), but it's gonna be a quickie, b/c I need to get a shower and get back up to the hospital to be with Eliott.
I've been spending as much time with him as I can the past 2 days. After I was discharged from the Garden Park on Thursday morning, we came home to drop off all the flowers (didn't want them sitting in the car all day) and to visit with Ethne for a few minutes, because I hadn't seen her much. She is doing very well, btw - she doesn't understand about Eliott, she has not been able to meet him, because of strict rules at the NICU, so she won't see her little brother in person until he comes home. I'm okay with that though...I'd rather she have time to really get to know him here at our house instead of at the hospital. She's been spending lots of time with her Nana (my mom), Grammy (Clay's mom) and her Aunt Giz (Liz, my sister). She's done great without me around, she's becoming a lot less dependant on me, which is kind of bittersweet, but I'm glad she's not having a problem with being away from me so much. She's continuing to learn new stuff and has increased her vocabulary while I've been away...she's saying words that I never even remember trying to teach her. I guess she's just picking it up from hearing other people say them. *shrug* I'm just glad this situation hasn't set her back...she's still thriving.
Now - about Eliott. We got to the NICU at Gulfport Memorial around noon on Thursday. We had to 'scrub in' when we entered the NICU and then actually got to go into the nursery. His little incubator bassinett/crib (whatever) was the first one on the left as you enter the door to the nursery. As soon as I saw him, I started to cry...really sob. I was sooooo happy to see him. He was 2 1/2 days old by this point and I hadn't seen him since he was transferred from Garden Park on the day he was born. He was under the phototherapy lights (jaundice) and had a mask over his eyes. His nurse came right over and turned the light off, took the mask off, bundled him up in a blanket with all his wires and handed him to me (I was sitting in a rocking chair). There was an 'oldies' radio station playing and Clay said, 'listen to this song' - I couldn't hear it really well, but did hear some of the lyrics, which sounded familiar. The song was 'Mother and Child Reunion' by Simon & Garfunkle. I thought it was pretty neat that it was playing as I was being reunited with my Eliott...that song will always be special and remind me of him now.
Eliott was due for a feeding and had only had small amounts of colostrum that I had expressed and formula. He was in for the GOOD STUFF from Mommy. We had no problem getting him to latch on! He nursed really well from both sides and then went back for seconds on the right side again! I was so pleased. He loves the boobie. I was able to nurse him 3 times that day and 3 times yesterday as well! He has only had to have formula twice since I got out of the hospital, but my milk is coming in now and I've been able to pump almost 8 ounces since I saw him last night, so hopefully that will get him by when I can't be there. He hasn't really gained any weight since he was born, but he's holding steady right around his birth weight. Yesterday he weighed in at 6lbs, 3 1/2oz and I'm sure he'll continue to gain. As far as his health status - he is currently not on any IV fluids or medications. They DC'd his antibiotics and IV last night, so right now, he's just hooked up to the heart, respiration and pulse oximeter monitors and is under the bilirubin light to get rid of his jaundice. He is supposed to have a bili level drawn today and if it is down low enough, they'll take him off the light too. He hasn't had any more blood in his urine and his platelet level was up to 166 on Wednesday (following 2 transfusions), but has since dropped to 125, then back up 129 on it's own. That's still a little lower than it needs to be, but not critically low like it was when he was born (39). We spoke to his neonatologist yesterday and he said that if he can get his platelets up and they stay up, that he may be able to come home Monday or Tuesday. They will do a repeat renal ultrasound to check on his left kidney and adrenal gland. The doctor said that he is pretty sure the adrenal gland is 'blown', and won't function again. The kidney, they are taking a wait and see approach. We will have to take him to see a nephrologist in New Orleans (as an outpatient) to follow up with that. He said the kidney could regain partial function, but that he expects that it will atrophy and need to be removed at some point. I hate that, but I have to keep reminding myself that a person can live with just one kidney...it just drives me nuts that we can't really DO anything to help his other kidney to work again.
Anyhow, aside from the kidney problems, Eliott's condition seems to be improving...and like I said, we are hoping to have him home by Tuesday. Just gotta get those platelets up!! *prays*
Each time I have to leave him, it gets harder and harder to go. I just want to snatch him up and run away! If I wasn't recovering from this C-section, I would literally spend every minute of my day and night up there with him, but I have to eat and get some sleep or I'll never heal. I spend most of the late morning and afternoon hours with him and we've been coming home in the early evening to have dinner and spend some time with Ethne. After she gets to bed, Clay has been staying home with her and my Mom has taken me back to the NICU to have a couple more hours with Eliott. He nursed off and on for nearly 2 hours last night. I have some complaints about the way they handle feedings (set them on a schedule as opposed to demand) at the NICU, but I'm not going to get into that now. I just hate that I can't be there to pick him up and nurse him every 2-3 hours (when he acts hungry, not because the clock tells me to)...but hopefully soon, he'll be home and I can. I miss my little guy so much when I'm away from him...but I am so blissfully happy when we are together.
I am sooooo in love with him. It took me a couple days to recover from the shock that he was a HE and not a she...I just couldn't believe it, but I was thrilled. I can say this now that he's here...I really did want a little boy, but for some reason, I was just convinced I was having another little girl. I guess he just wanted to surprise me!! I know that Clay wanted a son as well, and now that he's here...I really feel complete, having a daughter AND a son. A few weeks ago, I posted about having fears that I wouldn't love this new baby as much as I love Ethne...but those fears are GONE. I love him just as much as I love Ethne...the love just keeps growing...and I could never choose between the two of them. He's only been in my life for 4 days, but I can't imagine him not being in my life now. He is a part of my heart, my soul...my reason for living. I love you so much, Eliott.
I wish that I had the time to address all of your comments. When I checked my email, I had 174 comment notifications from the posts that Clay had made! Holy cow. I did read thru all of them, but there is no way I can respond. I'll never catch up with all the personal entries you've made in your own journals either. I have seen some of them, but I'm so far behind on reading your journals, I know I've missed some. Please know that I appreciate all of your wonderful words, thoughts, prayers - and the gifts, the flowers - I never expected any of that, it melts my heart to know that I (we) mean so much to you guys. You have showered me with more love and attention than we have received from some of our own family members (aunts, uncles, etc), I am just amazed. I love you guys, I really do.
Clay sent out an email with a link to some photos of Eliott a couple days ago, but he forgot to come here and post it for everyone else to see. We've been so busy running back and forth to the NICU (it's about a 30-45 minute drive, depending on traffic), so we haven't had hardly any time to be online. It's only because Clay took Ethne to Wal-Mart for some much needed groceries that I've had a chance to update, but I've already spent too much time on here and I need to get that shower and be ready to leave for the hospital when they get back. I can't wait to see my little man!!
Here's that link...[see photo board for pics of Eliott Snowden]... (my darling baby BOY!)
Lots of love,
Mandy
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Congratulations once again, Mandy & Clay.
We are so happy for you!
Congratulations to Mommy-Mandy and her beautiful family on their new addition:
Eliott Snowden
born Wednesday, November 15 2005
at 2:58 AM
weighing 6lbs, 2 oz
and measuring 19 inches long
Eliott Snowden
born Wednesday, November 15 2005
at 2:58 AM
weighing 6lbs, 2 oz
and measuring 19 inches long
Little Eliott was born via c-section. He and mom are both recovering now, with Eliott needing some extra TLC concerning one of his kidneys and a low platelets count. The hardest part for Mandy has been being separated from her new little guy while he gets the care he needs but at least now she is able to visit him and feed him (and bond him with and fall madly in love with him) and he is getting stronger and doing well.
There's a series of Livejournal posts in Mandy's journal from right after Eliott was born up until this morning that really tell the story well. Since not all of you are on Mandy's friend-list in LJ, I'll copy/paste the latest entry in her journal which sums up how everyone is doing. Please feel free to add your hugs, thoughts and prayers here for them.
Mandy included a link with photos of Eliott (which are truly amazing) but I'm going to put that link in a separate thread over in the photo board. Check it out.
from Mandy's LJ this morning:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Hello everyone - this is Mandy updating (finally!), but it's gonna be a quickie, b/c I need to get a shower and get back up to the hospital to be with Eliott.
I've been spending as much time with him as I can the past 2 days. After I was discharged from the Garden Park on Thursday morning, we came home to drop off all the flowers (didn't want them sitting in the car all day) and to visit with Ethne for a few minutes, because I hadn't seen her much. She is doing very well, btw - she doesn't understand about Eliott, she has not been able to meet him, because of strict rules at the NICU, so she won't see her little brother in person until he comes home. I'm okay with that though...I'd rather she have time to really get to know him here at our house instead of at the hospital. She's been spending lots of time with her Nana (my mom), Grammy (Clay's mom) and her Aunt Giz (Liz, my sister). She's done great without me around, she's becoming a lot less dependant on me, which is kind of bittersweet, but I'm glad she's not having a problem with being away from me so much. She's continuing to learn new stuff and has increased her vocabulary while I've been away...she's saying words that I never even remember trying to teach her. I guess she's just picking it up from hearing other people say them. *shrug* I'm just glad this situation hasn't set her back...she's still thriving.
Now - about Eliott. We got to the NICU at Gulfport Memorial around noon on Thursday. We had to 'scrub in' when we entered the NICU and then actually got to go into the nursery. His little incubator bassinett/crib (whatever) was the first one on the left as you enter the door to the nursery. As soon as I saw him, I started to cry...really sob. I was sooooo happy to see him. He was 2 1/2 days old by this point and I hadn't seen him since he was transferred from Garden Park on the day he was born. He was under the phototherapy lights (jaundice) and had a mask over his eyes. His nurse came right over and turned the light off, took the mask off, bundled him up in a blanket with all his wires and handed him to me (I was sitting in a rocking chair). There was an 'oldies' radio station playing and Clay said, 'listen to this song' - I couldn't hear it really well, but did hear some of the lyrics, which sounded familiar. The song was 'Mother and Child Reunion' by Simon & Garfunkle. I thought it was pretty neat that it was playing as I was being reunited with my Eliott...that song will always be special and remind me of him now.
Eliott was due for a feeding and had only had small amounts of colostrum that I had expressed and formula. He was in for the GOOD STUFF from Mommy. We had no problem getting him to latch on! He nursed really well from both sides and then went back for seconds on the right side again! I was so pleased. He loves the boobie.
I was able to nurse him 3 times that day and 3 times yesterday as well! He has only had to have formula twice since I got out of the hospital, but my milk is coming in now and I've been able to pump almost 8 ounces since I saw him last night, so hopefully that will get him by when I can't be there. He hasn't really gained any weight since he was born, but he's holding steady right around his birth weight. Yesterday he weighed in at 6lbs, 3 1/2oz and I'm sure he'll continue to gain. As far as his health status - he is currently not on any IV fluids or medications. They DC'd his antibiotics and IV last night, so right now, he's just hooked up to the heart, respiration and pulse oximeter monitors and is under the bilirubin light to get rid of his jaundice. He is supposed to have a bili level drawn today and if it is down low enough, they'll take him off the light too. He hasn't had any more blood in his urine and his platelet level was up to 166 on Wednesday (following 2 transfusions), but has since dropped to 125, then back up 129 on it's own. That's still a little lower than it needs to be, but not critically low like it was when he was born (39). We spoke to his neonatologist yesterday and he said that if he can get his platelets up and they stay up, that he may be able to come home Monday or Tuesday. They will do a repeat renal ultrasound to check on his left kidney and adrenal gland. The doctor said that he is pretty sure the adrenal gland is 'blown', and won't function again. The kidney, they are taking a wait and see approach. We will have to take him to see a nephrologist in New Orleans (as an outpatient) to follow up with that. He said the kidney could regain partial function, but that he expects that it will atrophy and need to be removed at some point. I hate that, but I have to keep reminding myself that a person can live with just one kidney...it just drives me nuts that we can't really DO anything to help his other kidney to work again. Anyhow, aside from the kidney problems, Eliott's condition seems to be improving...and like I said, we are hoping to have him home by Tuesday. Just gotta get those platelets up!! *prays*
Each time I have to leave him, it gets harder and harder to go. I just want to snatch him up and run away! If I wasn't recovering from this C-section, I would literally spend every minute of my day and night up there with him, but I have to eat and get some sleep or I'll never heal. I spend most of the late morning and afternoon hours with him and we've been coming home in the early evening to have dinner and spend some time with Ethne. After she gets to bed, Clay has been staying home with her and my Mom has taken me back to the NICU to have a couple more hours with Eliott. He nursed off and on for nearly 2 hours last night. I have some complaints about the way they handle feedings (set them on a schedule as opposed to demand) at the NICU, but I'm not going to get into that now. I just hate that I can't be there to pick him up and nurse him every 2-3 hours (when he acts hungry, not because the clock tells me to)...but hopefully soon, he'll be home and I can. I miss my little guy so much when I'm away from him...but I am so blissfully happy when we are together.
I am sooooo in love with him. It took me a couple days to recover from the shock that he was a HE and not a she...I just couldn't believe it, but I was thrilled. I can say this now that he's here...I really did want a little boy, but for some reason, I was just convinced I was having another little girl. I guess he just wanted to surprise me!! I know that Clay wanted a son as well, and now that he's here...I really feel complete, having a daughter AND a son. A few weeks ago, I posted about having fears that I wouldn't love this new baby as much as I love Ethne...but those fears are GONE. I love him just as much as I love Ethne...the love just keeps growing...and I could never choose between the two of them. He's only been in my life for 4 days, but I can't imagine him not being in my life now. He is a part of my heart, my soul...my reason for living. I love you so much, Eliott.
I wish that I had the time to address all of your comments. When I checked my email, I had 174 comment notifications from the posts that Clay had made! Holy cow. I did read thru all of them, but there is no way I can respond. I'll never catch up with all the personal entries you've made in your own journals either. I have seen some of them, but I'm so far behind on reading your journals, I know I've missed some. Please know that I appreciate all of your wonderful words, thoughts, prayers - and the gifts, the flowers - I never expected any of that, it melts my heart to know that I (we) mean so much to you guys. You have showered me with more love and attention than we have received from some of our own family members (aunts, uncles, etc), I am just amazed. I love you guys, I really do.
Clay sent out an email with a link to some photos of Eliott a couple days ago, but he forgot to come here and post it for everyone else to see. We've been so busy running back and forth to the NICU (it's about a 30-45 minute drive, depending on traffic), so we haven't had hardly any time to be online. It's only because Clay took Ethne to Wal-Mart for some much needed groceries that I've had a chance to update, but I've already spent too much time on here and I need to get that shower and be ready to leave for the hospital when they get back. I can't wait to see my little man!!
Here's that link...[see photo board for pics of Eliott Snowden]... (my darling baby BOY!)
Lots of love,
Mandy
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Congratulations once again, Mandy & Clay.
We are so happy for you!
;D
♥
