Okay now I feel like the worst mother in the world today. This is the first time ever that I haven’t been in to see my little girl. I know it’s fine and the hospital don’t mind but I do. I feel really really bad.
I took my kids over to my sisters house today and they played ps2 and Xbox all day. It was good for Cassius as it felt like he was being included in something instead of just staying at home. By the time we got home and I cooked tea it was too late to go in. Plus with Cassius being sore I don’t like to leave him.
Tomorrow we are going to be in early afternoon so we can get a cuddle with her and give her lots of kisses.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
29th December 2008
My girl weighs 1120gms today. She lost 40gms overnight. That’s okay though as they are still trying to get her feeds right. They have put the catheter back in to her distal stoma (1 of her holes in her gut) and are pumping her number 2’s back down there so it can come out her bottom. They are still trying to get her bowel moving properly and it is taking quite a while to get it right.
She had an x ray today so we are still waiting to see what the doctors say about her limbs and bones. She had an iv drip in her hand which looked very sore which is probably the reason why she was in a shitty mood. My daughter Nimeesha was replacing the steri gel by the wash basin. She pretty much knows where everything is in the place just like us. We have kinda become part of the furniture now. It is going to be really sad when we actually get to take our baby home. The neonatal unit has become our life and the nurses are like a second family to us.
She had an x ray today so we are still waiting to see what the doctors say about her limbs and bones. She had an iv drip in her hand which looked very sore which is probably the reason why she was in a shitty mood. My daughter Nimeesha was replacing the steri gel by the wash basin. She pretty much knows where everything is in the place just like us. We have kinda become part of the furniture now. It is going to be really sad when we actually get to take our baby home. The neonatal unit has become our life and the nurses are like a second family to us.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
28th December 2008
Yay I finally got a cuddle today. Our baby is at 1160gms our little fatty. She was a bit smelly today so I gave her a bit of a sponge wash and put some vitamin k on her. While I was holding her I rubbed some alpha keri oil on her hands, arms and chest. She quite enjoyed that. The nurses said it’s good for us to do that so she can relax and it’s good for the parents and babies to bond. A couple of the nurses that haven’t seen her for a while came in to have a look at her. The couldn’t believe how much she has grown. People don’t understand where we have come from and just how little and fragile she was when she was born. If you pick up a normal ball point pen and look at that, that is exactly how small she was. We still have such a long road ahead of us and we are definitely not out of the danger zone with her. They are still sorting out her bowel and we have to make sure her heart is okay. There is also some concern noted about her having an x-ray due to short limbs. We will wait and see what the doctors say about that.
27th December 2008
We were hoping we would see our daughter a bit more today. Me, Antz and Nimeesha went in to the hospital. Nimeesha wanted to see where her big brother was. He had another x-ray to make sure the cast was on right and keeping his leg still. His cast went right up to his groin and it is bent at the knee. He was a bit sore last night so he had some codeine. We had to wait for the doctor to give us the okay to leave and sign a script for him. Nimeesha found the ps2 and ended up playing Dora, we went for a walk up to Newtown with Nimeesha and got us all some lunch and found the coin save shop. We got some Ben 10 colouring pencils and felts etc for Cassius and a Ben 10 toy as we know he is going to be so bored. He is a kid that is always outside on a bike or skateboard or with a rugby league ball. They told us he will be in a cast for about 12 weeks, so he will go back to school with it on.
We all took turns at seeing Trinity- Storm again and then we asked if we could take Cassius to see her. We found a little wheelchair and then took him up there. It wasn’t even visiting time for everyone only the parents but we were all allowed in. Cassius got sore so Mum and Nimeesha took him back to the kids ward and we stayed with baby a bit longer. We didn’t get her out for a hold because we weren’t sure when Cassius would be ready to go home. We said goodbye to baby and left the hospital with Cassius at about 5.30pm.
We all took turns at seeing Trinity- Storm again and then we asked if we could take Cassius to see her. We found a little wheelchair and then took him up there. It wasn’t even visiting time for everyone only the parents but we were all allowed in. Cassius got sore so Mum and Nimeesha took him back to the kids ward and we stayed with baby a bit longer. We didn’t get her out for a hold because we weren’t sure when Cassius would be ready to go home. We said goodbye to baby and left the hospital with Cassius at about 5.30pm.
26th December 2008
Boxing day. Now I know why they call it boxing day. You have so many boxes from toys lying around your house!! We did a quick clean up of the house and shipped all the other kids off to Antz’s dad’s house so they could go to the beach. We picked up my mum and then headed off to Wellington Hospital with our son Cassius. Antz carried him into the A & E department and we pretty much saw the nurse straight away. Mum went up to see baby while me and Antz waited with Cass. I took Cass in for an x ray and Antz went up to see baby. Mum came back and then we went in to see the doctor. Yep it was broken. He had a spiral fracture in his tibia. My poor son!! The nurse who saw us said that her son had a broken leg for 3 days before she went and got it checked. She said because there isn’t much muscle or tissue around that part so it doesn’t swell so it’s really hard to tell. Anyway we got him up to get it plastered and Antz met us there. They gave him the gas to suck on so it wouldn’t hurt. They and to admit him for the night to keep an eye on him to make sure he wasn’t too sore and that it didn’t swell. Mum said she would stay in with him so that was good. He hadn’t eaten all day so we went and got him some good old McDonalds for dinner which he had 1 bite out of his burger and that was him. We went and saw our daughter again before we left and said Mum will come and visit her before she goes to bed outside of normal visiting hours, they let us do that which was nice.
25th December 2008
Christmas Day, what a bloody headache!! Our day started at 7am, the boys were awake first and we had to wake Nimeesha the little princess up. You could hear the boys when they went downstairs trying to be quiet but we could hear them. Once we got up the kids started to open their presents. It took them forever to go through their stocking so we told them to ditch it and open their presents. They got so much I don’t even know where to begin. We were thinking of opening up our own toy store. They got presents from heaps of people and
we want to thank everybody who has helped us out with gifts, money, babysitting and everything else I can’t even mention. It means so much to us, we still have a long road ahead of us and we thank everybody.
By the time we did our rounds and got into the hospital it was about 4pm. We took our kids in with us and they were quite happy to help their little sister open up her presents. The neonatal unit gave all of the babies a stocking with a Christmas duvet and a little teddy bear and lollies. We get to eat the lollies of course. She has got quite a big collection of gifts now I don’t know where I am going to keep everything.
I had a very nice cuddle with her today after our visitors had left. Her papa Nooroa and her big brother Nooroa, big sister Elaine, cousins Alisha and Shanice all visited today. The girls got told off because they opened up her doors and were touching her. Her papa and myself had already told them not to but they didn’t listen.
After we finished in town we went back to Antz’s nanas house for another feed. The kids did their normal play outside on the front lawn with the rugby league ball. They were playing for about half an hour when Cassius and his brother Devante fell on the ground. Cassius screamed straight away that his leg was broken. Everybody laughed at him except for me. We ended up bringing him home where one of our friends had a look at his leg. We iced it and gave him some pain relief and kept it elevated on the pillow. By this time it was about 9 or 10pm, she said to us if we were concerned to take him to Wellington but if it was broken they couldn’t do anything until tomorrow. So we put him to bed with some pain relief and waited to see how he was in the morning.
we want to thank everybody who has helped us out with gifts, money, babysitting and everything else I can’t even mention. It means so much to us, we still have a long road ahead of us and we thank everybody.
By the time we did our rounds and got into the hospital it was about 4pm. We took our kids in with us and they were quite happy to help their little sister open up her presents. The neonatal unit gave all of the babies a stocking with a Christmas duvet and a little teddy bear and lollies. We get to eat the lollies of course. She has got quite a big collection of gifts now I don’t know where I am going to keep everything.
I had a very nice cuddle with her today after our visitors had left. Her papa Nooroa and her big brother Nooroa, big sister Elaine, cousins Alisha and Shanice all visited today. The girls got told off because they opened up her doors and were touching her. Her papa and myself had already told them not to but they didn’t listen.
After we finished in town we went back to Antz’s nanas house for another feed. The kids did their normal play outside on the front lawn with the rugby league ball. They were playing for about half an hour when Cassius and his brother Devante fell on the ground. Cassius screamed straight away that his leg was broken. Everybody laughed at him except for me. We ended up bringing him home where one of our friends had a look at his leg. We iced it and gave him some pain relief and kept it elevated on the pillow. By this time it was about 9 or 10pm, she said to us if we were concerned to take him to Wellington but if it was broken they couldn’t do anything until tomorrow. So we put him to bed with some pain relief and waited to see how he was in the morning.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
24th December 2008
Christmas Eve!! Oh my gosh the shops are absolutely madness! We dropped the kids off at their grandparents in Tawa, we had to do a little bit of shopping as we haven’t had time. We went to Johnsonville which wasn’t as busy as Porirua. After Jville we went into town to look around the shops and have some lunch. We managed to come across a walking stick which we brought for our good mate Adrian. He is having an operation soon so we thought it might come in handy.
Our daughter was playing up and making her machines go up and down when we got there. She seems to do it when we ignore her or talk about her to the nurses. Naughty girl.
When we left to pick our kids up at their grandparents they had just opened up some presents, they were very spoilt. I can’t even remember what they got. Our house was soon becoming a toy shop.
Our daughter was playing up and making her machines go up and down when we got there. She seems to do it when we ignore her or talk about her to the nurses. Naughty girl.
When we left to pick our kids up at their grandparents they had just opened up some presents, they were very spoilt. I can’t even remember what they got. Our house was soon becoming a toy shop.
23rd December 2008
Baby was doing really well today. I didn’t have a hold as I was going to the dentist and didn’t want to miss the appointment. Her feeds at the moment are 3ml per hour over 3 hours, so that’s 9mls all together with 1 hour rest in between feeds. They are just monitoring how much is coming out into her stoma bag. She has got a catheter in one of the stoma holes to push her motions back down into her bowel so it will eventually come out her bottom. Sounds nice ay!! This needs to be monitored over the next few days.
22nd December 2008
Trinity had her 2nd eye test today. That was all normal for her age but she will be having more. Her eyes were rather sore so she didn’t open them up while we were there.
Her little friend baby Gracyn was making the move as we got there to the Hutt hospital. It was quite sad to see her leave as we have come to know her family quite well. It is good to find somebody that can relate to what we are going through, we will definitely be staying in touch with them.
Her little friend baby Gracyn was making the move as we got there to the Hutt hospital. It was quite sad to see her leave as we have come to know her family quite well. It is good to find somebody that can relate to what we are going through, we will definitely be staying in touch with them.
21st December 2008
Well we took another cake in today. This was because she was 1100gm. We said we wouldn’t believe she got to 1kg until she hit 1100gm. Today she was exactly that. We made a chocolate cake with jam and cream in the middle and chocolate icing with raspberries and blueberries on top.
Aunty Freda and Uncle Steve came to visit today and they gave her a pink stocking which had an angel necklace inside. Very nice, she’s a spoilt little girl. They also gave her a pink porcelain plate and cup set.
Daddy had a hold today and both of them fell asleep on the chair. Very funny. But that’s what he normally does with his kids anyway when they are babies.
Aunty Freda and Uncle Steve came to visit today and they gave her a pink stocking which had an angel necklace inside. Very nice, she’s a spoilt little girl. They also gave her a pink porcelain plate and cup set.
Daddy had a hold today and both of them fell asleep on the chair. Very funny. But that’s what he normally does with his kids anyway when they are babies.
20th December 2008
Wow only 5 days until Christmas!! MMMMMM Christmas food!!
Today we took in a bag of fruit for the nurses, strawberries, cherries, apricots, bananas etc.
What a surprise we got when we got to the hospital. Our little girl is in a different room! She has been moved from Room B to Room C. She is in the big girls room now. It’s actually quite quiet and dark in that room. She does have quite a bit of space so it makes it better visiting when we have the kids in there. But it feels kinda out of the way and we can’t see who’s coming and going now. I think the nurses put us there because it’s the naughty corner!! They said we’ve been there for far too long.
Today we took in a bag of fruit for the nurses, strawberries, cherries, apricots, bananas etc.
What a surprise we got when we got to the hospital. Our little girl is in a different room! She has been moved from Room B to Room C. She is in the big girls room now. It’s actually quite quiet and dark in that room. She does have quite a bit of space so it makes it better visiting when we have the kids in there. But it feels kinda out of the way and we can’t see who’s coming and going now. I think the nurses put us there because it’s the naughty corner!! They said we’ve been there for far too long.
19th December 2008
My baby girl is officially 7 weeks old (49 days) but if you go by the day she was born she is 7 weeks old tomorrow (Saturday).
Baby went over to the fluoroscopy department again today to have another contrast study done. Her bowels are still a bit blocked up so they are trying to figure out how to get everything out. We were hoping it all would’ve been fixed by now.
It was daddy’s turn for a cuddle today, just an ordinary one and not a kangaroo cuddle. He enjoyed holding her that way as well.
We took in a banana cake today (her official 1kg cake). The nurses are quick to rush off for a break when you mention there is cake in the staff room.
Baby went over to the fluoroscopy department again today to have another contrast study done. Her bowels are still a bit blocked up so they are trying to figure out how to get everything out. We were hoping it all would’ve been fixed by now.
It was daddy’s turn for a cuddle today, just an ordinary one and not a kangaroo cuddle. He enjoyed holding her that way as well.
We took in a banana cake today (her official 1kg cake). The nurses are quick to rush off for a break when you mention there is cake in the staff room.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
18th December 2008
Trinity weighs 1010gms today, she lost 40gms from yesterday.
No cuddle for me today as it was Daddy’s turn. He held her in his arms instead of a kangaroo cuddle as well. She was opening her eyes and trying to look at us. Apparently she can make out shapes and light and dark, so she can’t quite focus properly on us.
I’ve been a good mummy today and expressing every 3 hours. I need to do this for the next 48 hours to bring my milk supply back up. I’ve just been in the can’t be bothered mode so I wasn’t keeping up with it. Now I’m paying for it because I don’t have much milk anymore. She is still stocked up in her freezer though so it’s not a big drama for the next couple of days. I have a massive tooth abscess. I went to the dentist at the hospital today. They have given me antibiotics which I have to take for the next 5 days. After they’ve finished I have to go back and get my tooth pulled out. I could have a root canal but I’m not going to bother. The tooth is dead so I’d rather it just be pulled. So I haven’t been getting much sleep and im not eating much, that’s not helping my milk and the stress of Christmas can all get a bit much when you have a baby in the neonates and no $ to get things for the other kids. That’s my moan for the day anyway. As long as my baby is doing okay that’s all that matters.
No cuddle for me today as it was Daddy’s turn. He held her in his arms instead of a kangaroo cuddle as well. She was opening her eyes and trying to look at us. Apparently she can make out shapes and light and dark, so she can’t quite focus properly on us.
I’ve been a good mummy today and expressing every 3 hours. I need to do this for the next 48 hours to bring my milk supply back up. I’ve just been in the can’t be bothered mode so I wasn’t keeping up with it. Now I’m paying for it because I don’t have much milk anymore. She is still stocked up in her freezer though so it’s not a big drama for the next couple of days. I have a massive tooth abscess. I went to the dentist at the hospital today. They have given me antibiotics which I have to take for the next 5 days. After they’ve finished I have to go back and get my tooth pulled out. I could have a root canal but I’m not going to bother. The tooth is dead so I’d rather it just be pulled. So I haven’t been getting much sleep and im not eating much, that’s not helping my milk and the stress of Christmas can all get a bit much when you have a baby in the neonates and no $ to get things for the other kids. That’s my moan for the day anyway. As long as my baby is doing okay that’s all that matters.
17th December 2008
Another cuddle for me today, this time it wasn’t a kangaroo cuddle, I just held her in my arms. This was quite nice because I could look at her face and talk to her, oh and I got to kiss her. Near the end of my cuddle I had noticed that her feeding tube had come out, the little monkey has worked out how to get it out of her mouth.
She weighed 1050gms today, still keeping above 1kg.
She weighed 1050gms today, still keeping above 1kg.
16th December 2008
My little girl is doing exceptionally well. I had my first cuddle with her today since her operation. She is so snuggly and is more awake when we get her out.
They took the drip out of her arm today. It looked quite sore so I’m glad it’s out. They also took out her arterial line from her foot. This is good in a way, but it just means that they have to keep doing heel pricks if they want blood from her.
She is still sitting over 1000gms so I guess a cake will need to be made for the nurses.
They took the drip out of her arm today. It looked quite sore so I’m glad it’s out. They also took out her arterial line from her foot. This is good in a way, but it just means that they have to keep doing heel pricks if they want blood from her.
She is still sitting over 1000gms so I guess a cake will need to be made for the nurses.
Monday, December 15, 2008
15th December 2008
Her weight today was still the same, 1000gms. She had her eye test this morning so her eyes were a bit sore. The test needs to be repeated in a couple of weeks, the eyes were okay, nothing unusual for a prem baby.
She was back onto cpap today which she is tolerating really well. She is back on feeds again, which she is having 3ml continuously over 3 hours, then 1 hour rest then feed again. This is to get her tummy used to having food again.
Her morphine is completely turned off, so she is handling the pain really really well. The big thing I noticed was that she was on her back and she had been for 2 hours. Before the operation she used to hate being on her back, this is a big improvement for her.
The surgeon has done an excellent job and I can’t thank her and her team enough for what they have done for my little girl.
She was back onto cpap today which she is tolerating really well. She is back on feeds again, which she is having 3ml continuously over 3 hours, then 1 hour rest then feed again. This is to get her tummy used to having food again.
Her morphine is completely turned off, so she is handling the pain really really well. The big thing I noticed was that she was on her back and she had been for 2 hours. Before the operation she used to hate being on her back, this is a big improvement for her.
The surgeon has done an excellent job and I can’t thank her and her team enough for what they have done for my little girl.
14th December 2008
Trinity-Storm lost 40gms today making her an even 1000gms, still doesn’t count towards a cake though!! Her morphine was down even more today to 0.10ml instead of 0.20ml. They need to get it down so that she can be extubate back onto cpap again. If all goes well she will be back on cpap some time tomorrow. She is also due for her eye test tomorrow.
We took all the kids in for a visit today but we took them to Te Papa Tongarewa first to see the colossal squid. Here we were thinking it was a giant squid but there is a difference between the 2. The giant squid is longer, the colossal is heavier. The size of the eye ball was bigger than baby!
She didn’t open her eyes as much today she kept putting her hand over her eye, basically telling us to get out. Typical, she is going to be worse than her big sister Nimeesha.
We took all the kids in for a visit today but we took them to Te Papa Tongarewa first to see the colossal squid. Here we were thinking it was a giant squid but there is a difference between the 2. The giant squid is longer, the colossal is heavier. The size of the eye ball was bigger than baby!
She didn’t open her eyes as much today she kept putting her hand over her eye, basically telling us to get out. Typical, she is going to be worse than her big sister Nimeesha.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
13th December 2008
Wow what a great day today. My daughter sure is a trooper. She looked great, she was a fantastic colour, she was very alert and could hear us. Her morphine has been turned down and she is tolerating the pain really really well. She has been lying on her back all day, which is great because she used to hate it. Her breathing has improved from what we can see. Her chest isn’t going fast anymore it’s just going up and down nice and slow, which to us seems like she can breathe better. The biggest thing for us today was when she opened her eyes. This is the first time she has opened her eyes and looked around. She had them open for about 15 minutes. Normally she would just open them a little bit and then close them again, today she had them fully open and was looking everywhere.
Her weight today was 1040gms, now this doesn’t actually count because that’s an increase of 140gms overnight. So sorry nurses no cake for you just yet!! There is bound to be an increase in weight over the next few days because she is going to get all swollen again from her surgery. At least this time we are a bit more prepared for it.
Her weight today was 1040gms, now this doesn’t actually count because that’s an increase of 140gms overnight. So sorry nurses no cake for you just yet!! There is bound to be an increase in weight over the next few days because she is going to get all swollen again from her surgery. At least this time we are a bit more prepared for it.
12th December 2008
What a great night last night’s prize giving was. There were a few special guests there, like the chairman of New Zealand Rugby League Ray Haffenden, Melbourne Storm Coach Craig Bellamy and a few life members of NZRL, however the most important guest of all was “THE RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP” Who would’ve ever guessed that poor old Wellington Rugby League would get to have that at their prize giving. Anyway enough bragging.
My little girl had her surgery today. By the time she got over to theatre it was just after 2pm. Antz met her surgeon Toni Wilson, I’d already met her. We discovered she was a rugby league supporter so we knew she was in excellent hands. We were told it would take about 3 or more hours so we went down to Courtenay Central had lunch and then looked around the shops in town. At around 4pm we decided we should go back, then my cellphone rang, I did a bit of a panic, it was her surgeon and they had finished and she was back on the ward already. She
looked quite alert and was moving around when we talked to her. She has a drain in her chest to drain any excess blood or fluid that may be around the area they operated on. The cut is very small so the scar will be very minimal when she gets older. It will be interesting to see how much of an improvement she makes after the surgery has worn off.
My little girl had her surgery today. By the time she got over to theatre it was just after 2pm. Antz met her surgeon Toni Wilson, I’d already met her. We discovered she was a rugby league supporter so we knew she was in excellent hands. We were told it would take about 3 or more hours so we went down to Courtenay Central had lunch and then looked around the shops in town. At around 4pm we decided we should go back, then my cellphone rang, I did a bit of a panic, it was her surgeon and they had finished and she was back on the ward already. She
looked quite alert and was moving around when we talked to her. She has a drain in her chest to drain any excess blood or fluid that may be around the area they operated on. The cut is very small so the scar will be very minimal when she gets older. It will be interesting to see how much of an improvement she makes after the surgery has worn off.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
11th December 2008
Well I forgot to check my daughter’s weight today, woopsy bad mother, don’t tell CYFS on me… I managed to get a cuddle in which was for a couple of hours so that was nice. I talked to the surgeon, Toni, and signed the consent form. Baby will have her surgery some time in the afternoon so hopefully we might get another quick cuddle in. There are a few risks involved with the surgery but we just need to be hopeful. From talking to other parents that have had the same thing done with their baby, it has all been positive and the baby makes a drastic improvement, so that’s something to look forward to. The surgery is going to take about 4 hours, so we are in for a very very long day tomorrow. We are going to try and get a cake baked tonight to keep all the nurses happy. Our cakes have become a bit famous in the unit. Oh and they did say that once she hits 1kg that will be 5 cakes. Now I don’t know about that, that might be pushing it a bit. We will try.
No visit for Daddy tonight though as we are going to Wellington Rugby League prize giving at the Petone workingman’s club. MMMM fooooodddd!! Well it will be good to get out and socialise with some other adults for once. The nurses at the neonates don’t count as adults, just joking guys!! Corinne was going to tape up my mouth today as she said I’m a naughty mother!! Hahahaha watch out parents, she’s really the naughty one.
I will let you all know how her surgery goes but if I don’t get a chance to post on the blog, be patient and I will try and get it done on Saturday or Sunday.
No visit for Daddy tonight though as we are going to Wellington Rugby League prize giving at the Petone workingman’s club. MMMM fooooodddd!! Well it will be good to get out and socialise with some other adults for once. The nurses at the neonates don’t count as adults, just joking guys!! Corinne was going to tape up my mouth today as she said I’m a naughty mother!! Hahahaha watch out parents, she’s really the naughty one.
I will let you all know how her surgery goes but if I don’t get a chance to post on the blog, be patient and I will try and get it done on Saturday or Sunday.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
10th December 2008
My big girl is now 910gms - nearly at 1kg!! I think it might take a little while to get there because of her surgery.
When we arrived to see her today, Gracyn’s mum (Ang) had put some photos that she had taken of Trinity and Antz with tinsel around them. Thanks Ang, the photos are awesome. It makes it all seem a little bit more like Christmas.
Daddy got a cuddle today, hopefully I get 1 in tomorrow because of her surgery Friday we won’t get one for a while.
I’ve run into a few people over the week and they all ask me if baby is home yet, well I kinda get annoyed with the question and I want to ask them if they are stupid!! I know they don’t understand how little and fragile she is. We may be there for 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, who knows!! We won’t know how long until we get there. She is the only one that is going to determine the length of time. Because she is smaller than most babies born that early (nearly half the size) she is going to take a bit longer to do things. But she is a fighter so we will get there one day.
If I don’t update the blog it’s because I am limited for time so please be patient.
When we arrived to see her today, Gracyn’s mum (Ang) had put some photos that she had taken of Trinity and Antz with tinsel around them. Thanks Ang, the photos are awesome. It makes it all seem a little bit more like Christmas.
Daddy got a cuddle today, hopefully I get 1 in tomorrow because of her surgery Friday we won’t get one for a while.
I’ve run into a few people over the week and they all ask me if baby is home yet, well I kinda get annoyed with the question and I want to ask them if they are stupid!! I know they don’t understand how little and fragile she is. We may be there for 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, who knows!! We won’t know how long until we get there. She is the only one that is going to determine the length of time. Because she is smaller than most babies born that early (nearly half the size) she is going to take a bit longer to do things. But she is a fighter so we will get there one day.
If I don’t update the blog it’s because I am limited for time so please be patient.
9th December 2008
My bubba girl weighed 880gms today - a big weight gain of 50gms.
No cuddles for me again today, well I wasn’t going to be there for long enough. I’ve been trying to sort out our travel allowance from the ministry of health - what a fricken nightmare. It will be Easter by the time they sort it out.
I met the surgeon today that will be doing her operation - what a lovely lady. She said that baby will most likely go over to theatre to have it done and not in the neonates. It will be done on Friday but we don’t know what time. I have to meet her on Thursday morning to go over what will happen and give my consent.
No cuddles for me again today, well I wasn’t going to be there for long enough. I’ve been trying to sort out our travel allowance from the ministry of health - what a fricken nightmare. It will be Easter by the time they sort it out.
I met the surgeon today that will be doing her operation - what a lovely lady. She said that baby will most likely go over to theatre to have it done and not in the neonates. It will be done on Friday but we don’t know what time. I have to meet her on Thursday morning to go over what will happen and give my consent.
8th December 2008
Baby weighed 830gms today - same as yesterday.
She was rather unsettled today as she had her echo scan done which took a long time, after that she had physic and a heel prick to check her bloods, so as you can imagine she wasn’t a happy chappy.
As she was unsettled and having a lot of things done I didn’t get to have a cuddle with her. I was kinda upset as well because she had a nurse that has never worked with her before and I was trying to tell her what she liked and what she didn’t like but I’m just a mum so I know nothing apparently! I wasn’t even allowed to touch her so I just left and went home rather annoyed.
When Daddy went in he was rather annoyed too until “Uncle Darcy” turned up and sorted everything out and made us all feel happy again.
She was rather unsettled today as she had her echo scan done which took a long time, after that she had physic and a heel prick to check her bloods, so as you can imagine she wasn’t a happy chappy.
As she was unsettled and having a lot of things done I didn’t get to have a cuddle with her. I was kinda upset as well because she had a nurse that has never worked with her before and I was trying to tell her what she liked and what she didn’t like but I’m just a mum so I know nothing apparently! I wasn’t even allowed to touch her so I just left and went home rather annoyed.
When Daddy went in he was rather annoyed too until “Uncle Darcy” turned up and sorted everything out and made us all feel happy again.
7th December 2008
830gms today - gain of 10gms.
Trinity-Storm had a big cuddle with Daddy today - it was about 2 - 3 hours!! So I sat in the corner with my laptop trying to sort out all of her photos to print out.
The kids were all with Adrian and Brenda at the beach so we weren’t in a hurry to leave and get back home.
Baby was going to have her formal echo scan for her heart done tomorrow so I was going to try and get in there for that. It’s a bit hard when you can’t get exact times for things.
When we left we met up with Adrian, Brenda and the kids at the lagoon. We decided we would go there and use the free bbq’s instead of our own. While we were there we ran into Antz’s cousin Doug and his wife Selina. As they are both doctors we didn’t have to explain all of the medical terms to them.
Trinity-Storm had a big cuddle with Daddy today - it was about 2 - 3 hours!! So I sat in the corner with my laptop trying to sort out all of her photos to print out.
The kids were all with Adrian and Brenda at the beach so we weren’t in a hurry to leave and get back home.
Baby was going to have her formal echo scan for her heart done tomorrow so I was going to try and get in there for that. It’s a bit hard when you can’t get exact times for things.
When we left we met up with Adrian, Brenda and the kids at the lagoon. We decided we would go there and use the free bbq’s instead of our own. While we were there we ran into Antz’s cousin Doug and his wife Selina. As they are both doctors we didn’t have to explain all of the medical terms to them.
6th November 2008
820gms today - weight gain of 60gms.
Baby looked well today - we didn’t have a cuddle tonight because we had to get back for Christmas in the park. We couldn’t miss the carols and fireworks otherwise the kids will never forgive us.
Miss Nimeesha came with us for a visit - her brothers were with their cousin JJ for his birthday. She did her usual when we got there, run around like she owned the place, following one of the nurses around asking what she was writing, what was that medicine for, what’s that baby’s name, who is that milk for, blah blah blah…
She’s going to know just about as much as us when we finally leave the place.
Baby looked well today - we didn’t have a cuddle tonight because we had to get back for Christmas in the park. We couldn’t miss the carols and fireworks otherwise the kids will never forgive us.
Miss Nimeesha came with us for a visit - her brothers were with their cousin JJ for his birthday. She did her usual when we got there, run around like she owned the place, following one of the nurses around asking what she was writing, what was that medicine for, what’s that baby’s name, who is that milk for, blah blah blah…
She’s going to know just about as much as us when we finally leave the place.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
5th December 2008
760gms today -weight loss of 50gms. Baby was having physic done when we arrived so she was desaturating and complaining about being touched. Some of her weight loss could hopefully be the fluid from her lungs.
My milk supply is starting to diminish. I better go and see the lactation consultant and ask if I can get some medication to boost it back up. I know I don’t express as often as I should, it’s really hard to try and do it every few hours when I’m in and out all of the time.
The cardiographer was supposed to do another echo scan of baby’s heart but he didn’t come. He needs to check the PDA duct and assess for surgery. But it’s more than likely she will have it done.
My milk supply is starting to diminish. I better go and see the lactation consultant and ask if I can get some medication to boost it back up. I know I don’t express as often as I should, it’s really hard to try and do it every few hours when I’m in and out all of the time.
The cardiographer was supposed to do another echo scan of baby’s heart but he didn’t come. He needs to check the PDA duct and assess for surgery. But it’s more than likely she will have it done.
4th December 2008
I had another cuddle today - I’m starting to get the hang of these and so is she. They are rather relaxing and she settles down quite quickly and gets herself comfortable. I must admit I’ve nearly fallen asleep a few times!
Today she weighs 810gms so still the same as yesterday. I was told today that she has a bit of fluid or water in her lungs. She has been started on some medication to try and flush this out.
Because of the open duct in her heart it can restrict quite a lot of things which is probably causing her lung problem.
Today she weighs 810gms so still the same as yesterday. I was told today that she has a bit of fluid or water in her lungs. She has been started on some medication to try and flush this out.
Because of the open duct in her heart it can restrict quite a lot of things which is probably causing her lung problem.
3rd December 2008
Baby had an echo scan done for her heart today. It showed her PDA duct was still open. She will need an operation to tie it up and close it. This is apparently quite common for premature babies and is a routine operation. They may be able to do the operation in the neonatal unit as it’s less hassle and easier for baby.
I had another cuddle with my girl today. Daddy didn’t have a shower (POO!!) after work so he didn’t want to make her smell him. Hahahaha more cuddles for me.
I had another cuddle with my girl today. Daddy didn’t have a shower (POO!!) after work so he didn’t want to make her smell him. Hahahaha more cuddles for me.
2nd December 2008
Day 32 already - time has gone quickly although it seems like we’ve been at the neonates forever.
Baby weighs 850gms today - weight gain of 40gms.
I didn’t get to have a cuddle with her today, I would have run out of time before I had to get the tamafreakies from school.
She is doing well today and just needs to keep sleeping so she can grow and come home.
Baby weighs 850gms today - weight gain of 40gms.
I didn’t get to have a cuddle with her today, I would have run out of time before I had to get the tamafreakies from school.
She is doing well today and just needs to keep sleeping so she can grow and come home.
1st December 2008
Well we are finally into our Christmas month and I haven’t even thought about shopping for the kids. We seem to run out of time to do a lot of things lately, including updating her journal. People we have run into don’t want to ask how baby is because they think something has happened to her. We hardly get a spare 5 minutes to ourselves. I’m at the hospital during the day and Antz is going in after work. So as you can tell our time is very strained and I will be glad when the holidays begin so I don’t have to fit in visits around school hours.
Anyway my daughter has reached 800gms today - my little chubba girl!!
I visited her today on my own and I got another cuddle, yay for Mummy. Daddy and big sister Nimeesha visited after work and big sister got to hold up the syringe for her feed. She talked about it non-stop when she got home.
Anyway my daughter has reached 800gms today - my little chubba girl!!
I visited her today on my own and I got another cuddle, yay for Mummy. Daddy and big sister Nimeesha visited after work and big sister got to hold up the syringe for her feed. She talked about it non-stop when she got home.
30th November 2008
Yay today we got to have a sleep in for once. We went in to see baby in the afternoon after dropping the kids off at Kilbirnie pool with Rachel and Julia.
No cuddles with baby today. She is growing heaps and looks really well at the moment. She is a nice healthy colour. We are out of the so called danger zone now as we have reached 1 month old. Well there are always things that can happen and it’s good to get this far with only minor set backs.
No cuddles with baby today. She is growing heaps and looks really well at the moment. She is a nice healthy colour. We are out of the so called danger zone now as we have reached 1 month old. Well there are always things that can happen and it’s good to get this far with only minor set backs.
29th November 2008
Another good visit today. Daddy got a cuddle this time. Baby kept slipping down his chest. Well he doesn’t have any bumps for baby to nest into.
Antz’s aunty from Rotorua was down visiting so we took her in to meet baby.
Today is my son Devante’s birthday. He is 11 years old today. It is also my nephew Jacob’s birthday and he is 14. Tomorrow is my nephew Noah’s 5th birthday, but today was his birthday party. Nimeesha stayed at his house last night and Devante ditched us this morning and went with Caleb and Ethan. Cassius did his usual and went to flag and then went off to waka ama.
I felt sorry for my son because I haven’t had time to go and get his birthday present. He was supposed to go to his dad’s for the weekend but he is in the Hutt hospital having an operation. I’ll just wait and see what he gets from everybody else and then get him something. He didn’t completely miss out though because they lit 1 of the cakes for him and Jacob when they were at Noah’s birthday.
Antz’s aunty from Rotorua was down visiting so we took her in to meet baby.
Today is my son Devante’s birthday. He is 11 years old today. It is also my nephew Jacob’s birthday and he is 14. Tomorrow is my nephew Noah’s 5th birthday, but today was his birthday party. Nimeesha stayed at his house last night and Devante ditched us this morning and went with Caleb and Ethan. Cassius did his usual and went to flag and then went off to waka ama.
I felt sorry for my son because I haven’t had time to go and get his birthday present. He was supposed to go to his dad’s for the weekend but he is in the Hutt hospital having an operation. I’ll just wait and see what he gets from everybody else and then get him something. He didn’t completely miss out though because they lit 1 of the cakes for him and Jacob when they were at Noah’s birthday.
28th November 2008
Wow what a great visit we had today. I got my very first cuddle today. It’s what they call a kangaroo cuddle. You hold baby on your skin so they can feel your warmth and they get used to your smells etc. I almost cried I was so happy. She was so tiny that you could hardly see her. She was so cute though, she could smell my milk so her little mouth as sucking away. I got to hold her for about 1 and a half hours. I didn’t want to put her back in.
Her feeds are slowly going up, they are going up by 1ml every 12 hours. She’s going to be a little fatty in no time.
Oh and we heard her cry properly for the first time. It was so cute. The nurse said she is
rather loud for her size. Gee I wonder who she takes after.
Apparently her and Gracie are the noisiest in the room. Won’t be
long and they’ll be wanting to kick her across the hall to the
other rooms.
Her feeds are slowly going up, they are going up by 1ml every 12 hours. She’s going to be a little fatty in no time.
Oh and we heard her cry properly for the first time. It was so cute. The nurse said she is
rather loud for her size. Gee I wonder who she takes after.
Apparently her and Gracie are the noisiest in the room. Won’t be
long and they’ll be wanting to kick her across the hall to the
other rooms.
27th November 2008
My little girl is tolerating CPAP quite well. She was a bit unsettled today though so Corinne has put her back onto morphine. Her nana and GanGan are visiting her today. We have told everybody that if they want to see her they have to check with us first. The nurses will turn people away unless we say it’s okay. We can’t have too many visitors at once and we need her visits spread out. People have to realise she gets very tired and she’s not a little dolly for them to play with. We need her to grow and for her to grow she needs sleep. So don’t be offended if we turn you away.
26th November 2008
Today was a good day. Baby weighed 760gm. I made sure I got in there nice and early so I could spend a lot of time with her.
She came off the ventilator today and went onto CPAP!! It was quite good to watch it, I thought it would be scary but it wasn’t. She coped really well with the whole thing and seemed to settle down quite quickly.
She looked like such a big girl now. Hopefully it won’t be long and we can have a cuddle with her.
She came off the ventilator today and went onto CPAP!! It was quite good to watch it, I thought it would be scary but it wasn’t. She coped really well with the whole thing and seemed to settle down quite quickly.
She looked like such a big girl now. Hopefully it won’t be long and we can have a cuddle with her.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
25th November 2008
Today was a very quick visit with my girl. By the time I got there it was 11.30am and the doctors were putting a longline into her arm. That was going to take about 40 minutes, so I thought I’d go and stock up her milk supply.
The longline was getting put in her arm which would mean she would now have 2. It is apparently to make it easier to give her fluids and medications, because she needs so much.
By the time I was finished and the doctors had finished I got about 10 minutes with her. She looked really comfortable and Darcy said they were going to try and put her on CPAP tomorrow and give me a cuddle. Fingers crossed for that as I haven’t had a cuddle yet.
The longline was getting put in her arm which would mean she would now have 2. It is apparently to make it easier to give her fluids and medications, because she needs so much.
By the time I was finished and the doctors had finished I got about 10 minutes with her. She looked really comfortable and Darcy said they were going to try and put her on CPAP tomorrow and give me a cuddle. Fingers crossed for that as I haven’t had a cuddle yet.
24th November 2008
My baby girl looked so much better today. She hardly desaturated at all during our whole visit. Darcy (our good male nurse) reckons that it was because he was looking after her. Whatever Darcy!!
Big news today, she had her first taste of breast milk. She is starting off on 1ml every 4 hours!! Yay!! It will take about 24 hours to see if she can tolerate it. But she’ll just keep having it anyway.
Hopefully her having this will line her tummy and then she can go onto CPAP. Overall she’s had a good day and is getting stronger and bigger all the time.
Big news today, she had her first taste of breast milk. She is starting off on 1ml every 4 hours!! Yay!! It will take about 24 hours to see if she can tolerate it. But she’ll just keep having it anyway.
Hopefully her having this will line her tummy and then she can go onto CPAP. Overall she’s had a good day and is getting stronger and bigger all the time.
23rd November 2008
Our kids ditched us again today and went to their aunty and uncle’s house.
My daughter was looking a bit like her old self today. She wasn’t as puffy and looked a bit more comfortable. They’d changed her breathing tube because apparently it was in the wrong place. Now we know why she was a bit pissed off for the last couple of days. You can always tell when she is unhappy, she screws her face up like Cassius. Everybody reckons she looks like her dad, poor baby!! Eventually she might grow out of it.
My daughter was looking a bit like her old self today. She wasn’t as puffy and looked a bit more comfortable. They’d changed her breathing tube because apparently it was in the wrong place. Now we know why she was a bit pissed off for the last couple of days. You can always tell when she is unhappy, she screws her face up like Cassius. Everybody reckons she looks like her dad, poor baby!! Eventually she might grow out of it.
22nd November 2008
Today it was just me and Antz visiting our little girl. Well it is Saturday so Cassius had his flag game. After that him and Nimeesha decided they were going to waka ama with their cousins, so Devante went to Adrian’s.
Trinity-Storm was still quite puffy and swollen around her face. But the nurses told us this was all quite normal and was from her surgery.
She was still a bit unsettled but not quite as much as yesterday.
The doctors are hoping that her tummy will settled down so she can start some milk and try to go onto CPAP.
Trinity-Storm was still quite puffy and swollen around her face. But the nurses told us this was all quite normal and was from her surgery.
She was still a bit unsettled but not quite as much as yesterday.
The doctors are hoping that her tummy will settled down so she can start some milk and try to go onto CPAP.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
21st November 2008
Well me and my Mum went in to see my little bubba today. When we got there we met up with her nurse before we went into her room. She said that from now on until baby gets bigger and is stable she can’t have any people touching her other than me and her daddy. She gets very unsettled and her brain starts getting over stimulated and she can’t handle it and doesn’t know how to cope. So for now as well, we are going to limit her visitors until she is better.
Trinity-Storm also has an infection and they don’t know where it has come from. So the less people that visit the better. She was very puffy and swollen everywhere, she didn’t look like my little girl at all. Her morphine was still up but she was still very uncomfortable. When they did a suction some blood came out which was from her lungs. So she was given some medication to try and settle it down.
It’s hard to see her in pain like that knowing there’s nothing we can do for her. Here’s hoping she has a better night and improves tomorrow.
Trinity-Storm also has an infection and they don’t know where it has come from. So the less people that visit the better. She was very puffy and swollen everywhere, she didn’t look like my little girl at all. Her morphine was still up but she was still very uncomfortable. When they did a suction some blood came out which was from her lungs. So she was given some medication to try and settle it down.
It’s hard to see her in pain like that knowing there’s nothing we can do for her. Here’s hoping she has a better night and improves tomorrow.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
20th November 2008
Wow day 20 already! Time has seemed to pass us so quickly these last 20 days. But it seems as though we’ve been at the neonates for the last 2 months.
I rang the neonates today to see how my little girl was. I wasn’t expecting to hear anything bad. She had a rough night and day and had started weeing blood. They are thinking this is either a blockage or an infection. They’ve started her on antibiotics for it so at least they can get it early. She was also going up and down with her oxygen and at one point she needed 100%. She’s never needed that much so she’s obviously not a happy little girl.
When Antz got home from work we went in as soon as we could. James (bro in law) came and got our kids for us and Gwen (sis in law) was sorting out tea for them, so that was one less thing for us to worry about. Thanks guys.
When we got there her Aunty Rachel (my sister) was there with her. She wanted to wait for us to come and didn’t want to leave her on her own because she was so unsettled.
She was very jumpy and wouldn’t settle down. Her levels were going up and down quite a bit. She didn’t like any of the nurses touching her and would keep desaturating if they did. She responds okay to us and liked it when her daddy sang to her. She had been given a dose of antibiotics so her suction had been turned off. She was a different shad of colour compared to yesterday and looked generally unwell.
We stayed for a few hours and Paula, 1 of the neonate nurses, managed to settle her before we left. I felt a bit upset leaving her tonight because she looked so ill. I will ring them before I go to sleep to see how she is.
My poor little baby girl.
I rang the neonates today to see how my little girl was. I wasn’t expecting to hear anything bad. She had a rough night and day and had started weeing blood. They are thinking this is either a blockage or an infection. They’ve started her on antibiotics for it so at least they can get it early. She was also going up and down with her oxygen and at one point she needed 100%. She’s never needed that much so she’s obviously not a happy little girl.
When Antz got home from work we went in as soon as we could. James (bro in law) came and got our kids for us and Gwen (sis in law) was sorting out tea for them, so that was one less thing for us to worry about. Thanks guys.
When we got there her Aunty Rachel (my sister) was there with her. She wanted to wait for us to come and didn’t want to leave her on her own because she was so unsettled.
She was very jumpy and wouldn’t settle down. Her levels were going up and down quite a bit. She didn’t like any of the nurses touching her and would keep desaturating if they did. She responds okay to us and liked it when her daddy sang to her. She had been given a dose of antibiotics so her suction had been turned off. She was a different shad of colour compared to yesterday and looked generally unwell.
We stayed for a few hours and Paula, 1 of the neonate nurses, managed to settle her before we left. I felt a bit upset leaving her tonight because she looked so ill. I will ring them before I go to sleep to see how she is.
My poor little baby girl.
19th November 2008
Weight today is 720gms. So she has gone down 10gms which is to be expected.
Her colostomy bag had some more stuff in it today and some gas. Yay, good news. Dr Pringle was pleased with her progress and she was looking a lot better. Her tummy was nice and soft so that’s an improvement.
Her daddy went and visited her after work and she is enjoying her daddy time. He sings to her and has little chats.
She got a new roommate today so the room is fast filling up. There are so many people out there that are having premature babies.
Her colostomy bag had some more stuff in it today and some gas. Yay, good news. Dr Pringle was pleased with her progress and she was looking a lot better. Her tummy was nice and soft so that’s an improvement.
Her daddy went and visited her after work and she is enjoying her daddy time. He sings to her and has little chats.
She got a new roommate today so the room is fast filling up. There are so many people out there that are having premature babies.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
18th November 2008
My baby weighed 730gms today.
When I got to the hospital they told me that because it had been a week and there was nothing in her colostomy bag, she had to go to the fluoroscopy department to have some treatment. So she got packed up again into her little spaceship and off we went over to the new hospital. The doctor put some dye stuff into her stoma - well into the part of the bowel that was sticking out. It was rather fascinating to watch on the x-ray screen. The doctor said it may not work and we would have to go back and do it again. When Jackie the neonates specialist went to put her nappy on all the me conium started oozing out of her gut. It was rather exciting. I took photos of it so if anybody wants to see them then let me know!!
Antz got there just as we had finished out by the time we got back to the neonates she had made a big mess, so he didn’t miss much at all. Because her bed needed to be changed Jackie asked Antz to hold baby up while she changed her bed. He said it didn’t really feel like he was holding much. But it was still rather exciting as it was the first time he got to hold her. I’ll get my turn one day!!
Anyway when we left the hospital we were relived and felt more at ease because we knew she would start feeling better soon.
When I got to the hospital they told me that because it had been a week and there was nothing in her colostomy bag, she had to go to the fluoroscopy department to have some treatment. So she got packed up again into her little spaceship and off we went over to the new hospital. The doctor put some dye stuff into her stoma - well into the part of the bowel that was sticking out. It was rather fascinating to watch on the x-ray screen. The doctor said it may not work and we would have to go back and do it again. When Jackie the neonates specialist went to put her nappy on all the me conium started oozing out of her gut. It was rather exciting. I took photos of it so if anybody wants to see them then let me know!!
Antz got there just as we had finished out by the time we got back to the neonates she had made a big mess, so he didn’t miss much at all. Because her bed needed to be changed Jackie asked Antz to hold baby up while she changed her bed. He said it didn’t really feel like he was holding much. But it was still rather exciting as it was the first time he got to hold her. I’ll get my turn one day!!
Anyway when we left the hospital we were relived and felt more at ease because we knew she would start feeling better soon.
17th November 2008
Today was Antz’s first day back at work so I had to get up and the kids off to school and kindy. I caught the shuttle into town and back. That was good except the lady is a bit of a crazy driver.
It was weird going to see my baby on my own. But the time goes really quickly when you’re in there.
Baby weighed 700gms today and she was started on physic for her chest secretions. Other than that there were no other changes.
It was weird going to see my baby on my own. But the time goes really quickly when you’re in there.
Baby weighed 700gms today and she was started on physic for her chest secretions. Other than that there were no other changes.
16th November 2008
Weight today is 720gm. I’m pretty sure that will decrease over the next day or so.
We took our kids to the Wellington Christmas parade today and then headed into the hospital. The kids were grumpy, tired and hungry by the time we got there so they only had quick visits.
She had a few visitors today, Tam (Antz’s friend) and his wife Sharita. Sharita is a nurse so I didn’t really have to explain any of the machines and tubes to her.
Uncle Steve and Aunty Freda also came to visit with Shanice and Alisha. I don’t think that the nurses believed Antz and Steve were brothers! Trinity is about the size of Steve’s hand. She tried to grasp onto his finger but his finger was too big.
Her day was pretty up and down as her lungs weren’t working that well. Fingers crossed for change tomorrow.
We took our kids to the Wellington Christmas parade today and then headed into the hospital. The kids were grumpy, tired and hungry by the time we got there so they only had quick visits.
She had a few visitors today, Tam (Antz’s friend) and his wife Sharita. Sharita is a nurse so I didn’t really have to explain any of the machines and tubes to her.
Uncle Steve and Aunty Freda also came to visit with Shanice and Alisha. I don’t think that the nurses believed Antz and Steve were brothers! Trinity is about the size of Steve’s hand. She tried to grasp onto his finger but his finger was too big.
Her day was pretty up and down as her lungs weren’t working that well. Fingers crossed for change tomorrow.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
15th November 2008
Well Trinity-Storm’s brothers Cassius and Devante and big sister Nimeesha were supposed to come and visit today, but they had other ideas. They decided to ditch us and go to the beach with their Aunty Julia. Little buggers!! L But the plan for tomorrow is to go the Wellington Christmas Parade and then visit her. Then the day isn’t too long for them - only a quick visit is what they need. It’s a bit hard for them when there isn’t much for them to do and it all get’s a bit boring when their baby sister is just lying there. They are probably feeling a bit neglected at the moment as we don’t really spend much time together anymore. Family and friends have been great, especially Adrian and his family. He has been picking up my boys most days from school and having Nimeesha. And it’s great having dinner ready for us when we come home. All the little things really makes a difference for us because by the time we get home we just want to sleep. I do need a house maid though so any volunteers please feel free to come forward!! J
They took out the umbilical line today - obviously from her belly button. This could only stay in for a couple of weeks - any longer and it can cause infection. In a way it’s a good thing, but now the only way they can take bloods is by doing a heel prick. She only has 1 heel available because the other heel is all taped up due to the long line.
My little girl has an attitude and doesn’t like the nurses touching her or looking at her. What a good girl! Her dad reckons it’s the Maori in her, Whatever!! He said if it was the raro in her she would’ve got up and walked out of there by now.
Our daughter weighed 680gm today and we’ve come to the conclusion that it is all fluid retention. Once they sort out her tummy problems then we can get a better idea of how her weight is really increasing.
They took out the umbilical line today - obviously from her belly button. This could only stay in for a couple of weeks - any longer and it can cause infection. In a way it’s a good thing, but now the only way they can take bloods is by doing a heel prick. She only has 1 heel available because the other heel is all taped up due to the long line.
My little girl has an attitude and doesn’t like the nurses touching her or looking at her. What a good girl! Her dad reckons it’s the Maori in her, Whatever!! He said if it was the raro in her she would’ve got up and walked out of there by now.
Our daughter weighed 680gm today and we’ve come to the conclusion that it is all fluid retention. Once they sort out her tummy problems then we can get a better idea of how her weight is really increasing.
14th November 2008
Big weight gain - 620gm!! I don’t think that’s right she can’t have gained 70gms overnight. We will see tomorrow what her weight is to get a better idea.
Her iv drip was changed back to her other arm. Because her veins are so little it doesn’t last long so it needs to be constantly changed. Her little hand was swollen from the previous one and I know it’s gotta hurt. She takes after her mummy, poor baby!!
She was rather unsettled since they changed it and I think she was starting to feel the effects from her surgery. She’s gotta be sore, I’m still sore from my surgery and that was 14 days ago. It feels like somebody has kicked me repeatedly in the stomach. Ouch!!
The sacrifices we mothers make for our children!
We thought we better leave our girl to settle hoping they increase
her morphine.
Her iv drip was changed back to her other arm. Because her veins are so little it doesn’t last long so it needs to be constantly changed. Her little hand was swollen from the previous one and I know it’s gotta hurt. She takes after her mummy, poor baby!!
She was rather unsettled since they changed it and I think she was starting to feel the effects from her surgery. She’s gotta be sore, I’m still sore from my surgery and that was 14 days ago. It feels like somebody has kicked me repeatedly in the stomach. Ouch!!
The sacrifices we mothers make for our children!
We thought we better leave our girl to settle hoping they increase
her morphine.
Friday, November 14, 2008
13th November 2008
My baby girl is still very sleepy today. Nothing much in her colostomy bag, well you can call it a poop bag!! She will start on some medication to try and get it moving.
Her Nana, GanGan, cousin Caleb and big sister Nimeesha visited her today. Her GanGan has been proudly showing off pictures of her to his customers when he does his deliveries. I don’t think people realise how little she is until the see the picture of her by the pen!!
But she now weighs 550gm so fingers crossed she doesn’t stay little for long.
Her Nana, GanGan, cousin Caleb and big sister Nimeesha visited her today. Her GanGan has been proudly showing off pictures of her to his customers when he does his deliveries. I don’t think people realise how little she is until the see the picture of her by the pen!!
But she now weighs 550gm so fingers crossed she doesn’t stay little for long.
12th November 2008
Not a lot of change from yesterday. She is still pretty sleepy and is still having morphine. You should see the size of the bloody syringe!!!
I spend a lot of my time expressing milk for her (which is all us mums are good for) and she hasn’t even had any of it yet.
Her freezer drawer is full - there’s enough milk to feed all the babies in the neonates. Gotta watch Gracie’s mum, Angela, I’m sure she’s swapping labels on me!!! :)
I spend a lot of my time expressing milk for her (which is all us mums are good for) and she hasn’t even had any of it yet.
Her freezer drawer is full - there’s enough milk to feed all the babies in the neonates. Gotta watch Gracie’s mum, Angela, I’m sure she’s swapping labels on me!!! :)
11th November 2008
My little girl had her operation today. We got to the hospital around 10am, we picked up my Mum along the way. By the time we got there she was in a little plastic bag looking thing designed to keep babies warm. They transported her over to theatre in a moveable incubator called “the spaceship”. It was really quite hard to see her that way and I couldn’t really get too close or I was gonna lose the plot. Antz almost did and 1 of the nurses was going to get the brunt of it.
She eventually went to theatre and was in there for a couple of hours, it seemed like forever. But we do what we do best and ate to bide our time.
When she eventually came out of theatre she looked a lot calmer than when she went in, I think it must’ve been the morphine!!
She takes after her dad!! Little junky!! She was pretty zonked out and they said she would stay like that for the next couple of days.
Dr Pringle was pleased with the operation and told us the results would be back within 48 hours as to why she was blocked up.
Dr Pringle is amazing!!!
She eventually went to theatre and was in there for a couple of hours, it seemed like forever. But we do what we do best and ate to bide our time.
When she eventually came out of theatre she looked a lot calmer than when she went in, I think it must’ve been the morphine!!
She takes after her dad!! Little junky!! She was pretty zonked out and they said she would stay like that for the next couple of days.
Dr Pringle was pleased with the operation and told us the results would be back within 48 hours as to why she was blocked up.
Dr Pringle is amazing!!!
10th November
Trinity-Storm had another contrast study for her abdomen today. It showed that a stoma has formed so my little baby girl is going to need surgery to get a colostomy bag put in. Dr Pringle the surgeon will create an opening to allow her colon to empty the contents into the bag. Sounds nice huh!!!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
9th November 2008
Trinity-Storm has lost 10gms and is at 480gms. She has been taken off the continuous suction and is just having it done 4 hourly now. Everything else remains the same.
8th November 2008
My baby now has a name!!! Her name is Trinity-Storm. Daddy was determined that she was going to have Storm in there somewhere so I picked Trinity. Although she still gets called Thumbelina and Peanut!!
She had her final heart scan today and everything is normal!! What a relief.
She has started on antibiotics because she has a small infection. Other than that everything is still the same.
She had her final heart scan today and everything is normal!! What a relief.
She has started on antibiotics because she has a small infection. Other than that everything is still the same.
7th November 2008
My little baby girl has now put on more weight and is at 480gms. Yay my baby gonna be a Buddha soon.
Today wasn’t a very good day for my little girl though. They tried to extubate her onto what they call CPAP. This stands for continuous positive airways pressure. What that means is that baby does most of the breathing on her own and this gives a boost if she needs it. Well she didn’t cope with that at all and had to be put back onto the breathing tube. She went all white
and was in a state of shock for quite sometime. It was rather scary to see her like that.
Today wasn’t a very good day for my little girl though. They tried to extubate her onto what they call CPAP. This stands for continuous positive airways pressure. What that means is that baby does most of the breathing on her own and this gives a boost if she needs it. Well she didn’t cope with that at all and had to be put back onto the breathing tube. She went all white
and was in a state of shock for quite sometime. It was rather scary to see her like that.
6th November 2008
Baby has gained weight again and is now up to 470gms.
She had another heart scan today. Everything else remains the same except for one of her lungs has slightly collapsed from the pressure of her enlarged tummy.
She had another heart scan today. Everything else remains the same except for one of her lungs has slightly collapsed from the pressure of her enlarged tummy.
5th November 2008
Baby’s weight has gone down to 430gm, which is okay because babies lose weight after they are born anyway.
The nurses and doctors have inserted what is called a longline into her right foot. This is for food, medicines etc and a much easier way to get blood from her.
Everything else is still pretty much the same.
The nurses and doctors have inserted what is called a longline into her right foot. This is for food, medicines etc and a much easier way to get blood from her.
Everything else is still pretty much the same.
4th November 2008
Her weight is still 46ogm - so no change there.
She was started on a blood transfusion today for her low red blood cells. This made me realise how important the people are that donate blood. Without it my daughter wouldn’t be able to get what she needs.
She had another heart scan today - still waiting for results.
They also did an x-ray on her abdomen to try and work out what is happening in her tummy.
Her phototherapy for her jaundice finished today - Yay!! I hated it because the blue lights made me get headaches and I couldn’t sit by her for very long.
Not much else has changed.
She was started on a blood transfusion today for her low red blood cells. This made me realise how important the people are that donate blood. Without it my daughter wouldn’t be able to get what she needs.
She had another heart scan today - still waiting for results.
They also did an x-ray on her abdomen to try and work out what is happening in her tummy.
Her phototherapy for her jaundice finished today - Yay!! I hated it because the blue lights made me get headaches and I couldn’t sit by her for very long.
Not much else has changed.
3rd November 2008
My baby now weighs 460gm, Wahoo!!!!
She had a scan for her head and heart today and the results for her head were normal and we have to wait as the one for her heart was unclear. They have to do a repeat scan.
Baby is still jaundice so is still under the lights for this.
Her tummy is still large so she has been put on continuous suction to try and alleviate this.
She had a scan for her head and heart today and the results for her head were normal and we have to wait as the one for her heart was unclear. They have to do a repeat scan.
Baby is still jaundice so is still under the lights for this.
Her tummy is still large so she has been put on continuous suction to try and alleviate this.
2nd November 2008
I managed to get myself out of bed and showered so I could go and visit my baby girl. I had to go down in the wheelchair as I wasn’t up for walking just yet.
I couldn’t believe how small my baby was, it was so unreal to believe that a human being could survive being born at that size. She had all of her fingers and toes and everything else was normal just really really little.
My baby had tubes coming out of everywhere and it was all rather frightening. But the nurses in the neonatal ward are fantastic and they explained what everything was for and how it was helping her.
She was a little bit jaundice so she had on some cool little shades and was noody sunbathing.
Her tummy is really round and large and at this stage it is the main concern for her. Everything else is stable and she is doing fantastic.
I couldn’t believe how small my baby was, it was so unreal to believe that a human being could survive being born at that size. She had all of her fingers and toes and everything else was normal just really really little.
My baby had tubes coming out of everywhere and it was all rather frightening. But the nurses in the neonatal ward are fantastic and they explained what everything was for and how it was helping her.
She was a little bit jaundice so she had on some cool little shades and was noody sunbathing.
Her tummy is really round and large and at this stage it is the main concern for her. Everything else is stable and she is doing fantastic.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
1st November 2008
Well I was woken up at 6am to have an iv drip put into my arm. My veins aren’t very good so it took a bloody long time. I wanted to punch the doctor because she didn’t do it properly and I had said to her right from the start to put it in my hand. But no doctors know better!! Yeah right!! Anyway I tried to go back to sleep but didn’t really happen as doctors kept coming in to see me to let me know what was going to happen.
Just after 8am my brother in law Steve turned up with my father in law who had just got off the plane from Rarotonga. You can imagine how shocked he was to find out I was in the hospital. It was only a week ago that I was waving goodbye to him at the airport. They only stayed for about 10 minutes and then left as more doctors were coming in.
At 8.30am the midwife from the delivery suite came and said “Right come on let’s go!” I jumped out of bed absolutely shocked it was happening so quickly and we walked downstairs to the delivery suite. My Mum arrived soon after and got changed into her theatre gear. By this time my midwife Kuki had also arrived. We walked down the corridor into the theatre where I was greeted by what seemed like a million doctors and nurses in blue outfits wearing masks. I got straight up on the bed ready for the epidural. I have had an epidural before with Devante back in 1997 so I knew how unpleasant it was. It wasn’t until then that I actually realized what was going on and I started to cry. The doctors were telling me to relax, easy for them to say!! I finally got myself together enough for the epidural which hurt like bloody hell. Straight away I could feel my legs go warm and the doctors turned me around lay me down and then did their thing.
I was absolutely petrified that I was going to feel everything and it must have shown on my face. The anesthetist doctor must’ve noticed because he said to me “It’s okay love, they’ve already cut you so you aren’t going to feel anything if you can’t feel it now.”
I don’t know how long the actual procedure took but all I remember is hearing my precious little baby cry. At that point I completely lost it and couldn’t stop bawling. I thought the doctor had said it was a boy, but then the nurse said I had a little daughter. I couldn’t believe it. They brang her over to show me her before they whisked her off to the neonatal unit.
My baby girl was born at 10.05am and weighed only 440gms and measuring 25cm long.
I went into recovery at about 11.15am and Antz arrived soon after at around 11.30am. Him and mum went upstairs to see baby but they were getting ready to put her lines in so they came back downstairs. Antz doesn’t like to see those sort of things done to people he cares about hence the reason why he didn’t come in with me.
I didn’t get to see my daughter until the next day as I had to stay in bed and I got sick that night.
Just after 8am my brother in law Steve turned up with my father in law who had just got off the plane from Rarotonga. You can imagine how shocked he was to find out I was in the hospital. It was only a week ago that I was waving goodbye to him at the airport. They only stayed for about 10 minutes and then left as more doctors were coming in.
At 8.30am the midwife from the delivery suite came and said “Right come on let’s go!” I jumped out of bed absolutely shocked it was happening so quickly and we walked downstairs to the delivery suite. My Mum arrived soon after and got changed into her theatre gear. By this time my midwife Kuki had also arrived. We walked down the corridor into the theatre where I was greeted by what seemed like a million doctors and nurses in blue outfits wearing masks. I got straight up on the bed ready for the epidural. I have had an epidural before with Devante back in 1997 so I knew how unpleasant it was. It wasn’t until then that I actually realized what was going on and I started to cry. The doctors were telling me to relax, easy for them to say!! I finally got myself together enough for the epidural which hurt like bloody hell. Straight away I could feel my legs go warm and the doctors turned me around lay me down and then did their thing.
I was absolutely petrified that I was going to feel everything and it must have shown on my face. The anesthetist doctor must’ve noticed because he said to me “It’s okay love, they’ve already cut you so you aren’t going to feel anything if you can’t feel it now.”
I don’t know how long the actual procedure took but all I remember is hearing my precious little baby cry. At that point I completely lost it and couldn’t stop bawling. I thought the doctor had said it was a boy, but then the nurse said I had a little daughter. I couldn’t believe it. They brang her over to show me her before they whisked her off to the neonatal unit.
My baby girl was born at 10.05am and weighed only 440gms and measuring 25cm long.
I went into recovery at about 11.15am and Antz arrived soon after at around 11.30am. Him and mum went upstairs to see baby but they were getting ready to put her lines in so they came back downstairs. Antz doesn’t like to see those sort of things done to people he cares about hence the reason why he didn’t come in with me.
I didn’t get to see my daughter until the next day as I had to stay in bed and I got sick that night.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
31st October 2008
Due to unexplained ultrasounds I was sent to Wellington Hospital for another ultrasound. I was 26 weeks and my baby was very small for gestation. The doctors said it could be for a number of reasons but the main concern was my placenta. After about 10 minutes of scanning from Dr Jeremy Tuohey we were told to wait in the waiting room. I could tell the news wasn't going to be good. The wait seemed to take forever. It was myself, my partner Antz, my mother and my daughter Nimeesha (miss 4 turning 21). Once Jeremy came back in I knew from the look on his face that it was bad news.
He basically said we had 2 options, 1. leave baby in to grow or 2. deliver baby. My placenta was only working at about 10% and he didn't know why. Baby was getting lack of oxygen, blood and everything needed to grow, hence the reason why she was so small. If we left her inside me she would most surely die. If we deliver baby there was also risk of her dying. The doctor left us to ponder over what he'd just told us but to us the choice was obvious. We were told of the risks involved with her being delivered so early and being so small, it was a number of things including spina bifida, blindness, deformities etc. They also told me that the chance of her surviving was only 50% and she may not even make it out of theatre. I had an injection of steroids to help strengthen baby's lungs and then we were off home to pack my bags and tell everybody we needed what was happening.
By 2pm I was back at Wellington Hospital and admitted to Ward 12. Everything was happening so fast. That night I was given a tour of the neonatal unit and shown where my baby would go and what to expect. It was all rather scary because the smallest babies in there were only 700gms. My baby was going to be smaller so there were definetely a lot more risks involved.
He basically said we had 2 options, 1. leave baby in to grow or 2. deliver baby. My placenta was only working at about 10% and he didn't know why. Baby was getting lack of oxygen, blood and everything needed to grow, hence the reason why she was so small. If we left her inside me she would most surely die. If we deliver baby there was also risk of her dying. The doctor left us to ponder over what he'd just told us but to us the choice was obvious. We were told of the risks involved with her being delivered so early and being so small, it was a number of things including spina bifida, blindness, deformities etc. They also told me that the chance of her surviving was only 50% and she may not even make it out of theatre. I had an injection of steroids to help strengthen baby's lungs and then we were off home to pack my bags and tell everybody we needed what was happening.
By 2pm I was back at Wellington Hospital and admitted to Ward 12. Everything was happening so fast. That night I was given a tour of the neonatal unit and shown where my baby would go and what to expect. It was all rather scary because the smallest babies in there were only 700gms. My baby was going to be smaller so there were definetely a lot more risks involved.
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