Xavir's First Doctor's Appointment
Hello to everyone.
Today, after being a complete night owl, Xavier met with his pediatrician today. Actually, his pediatrician is on vacation, so he met his temporary pediatrician. The experience was a good one, at least for us parents. The sense both Rebecca and I carried away is we chose correctly.
After that, we returned home. I fed Xavier while Rebecca hit the sheets and slept three hours. I puttered around the house.
Later in the afternoon, the pediatrician called us. She had finally gotten all of Xavier's medical details from the NICU (it was held up because the attending doctor at the NICU did not like the original records; he thought they lacked much detail so he added it). She called to let us know a few things. In general, she thinks Xavier is doing well. She mentioned some of the things we discussed this morning and commentated on them in light of the released medical reports.
She did mention two things. One, she wanted us to make another appointment this week to keep following Xavier's liver issue. Very pragmatic, she said, "I can see the doctors there [at University Hospital] scratching their heads over this problem. He's a very complicated little man." She reminded us of the possibility of surgery (sooner than later) if they determine his gall bladder ducts are occluded. So, we return on Thursday for more blood draws.
She also cautioned us with "Even though he is out of the hospital, he is still fragile."
We fired up Xavier's wheels this evening, snapped on his no-see-um netting and strolled around the local park. Rebecca and I debated a while about the stroll, especially in light of the earlier discussion with the pediatrician. But, we decided that avoiding crowds is OK for now, but we don't want to raise a Martian (think H G Wells).
Rebecca said there aren't enough pictures of me on the blog and wanted to post this one.
Rebecca likes this photo. She says I look like a proud dad.
Thank you for your prayers. Victory is in the hand of our God!
Xavier's First Day Home
Greeting to you all.
As new parents on our first night and day of full-time parenting duty, sleep was a luxury for all of us. Xavier slept well in his bassinet while I did laundry and Rebecca took a cat nap on the couch. It wasn't until 3:00 AM that Xavier decided to get fussy. Of course, not until after Rebecca came upstairs to spell me and let me get some sleep. I finished feeding him, put him to bed, kissed my wife then turned in.
We tried hooking Xavier up to his pulse ox monitor, but after many attempts, we decided not tonight, we're too tired.
After a few hours sleep on Sunday, I got up and spelled Rebecca, letting her catch about four hours. Xavier and I retired to the basement where he slept much of the day while daddy puttered about the house.
Stacey and Donna, two of Xavier's nurses from the NICU called and spoke to Rebecca. They wanted to know how we did the first night, how Xavier did and did we have any questions. Once again, University Hospital demonstrates its exemplary care to its patients and patient families. We did have questions!
Xavier got to spend several hours in his crib this afternoon. He even watched the mobile for a while.
I finally got around to assembling Xavier's stroller. It lay unassembled in the nursery near the changing table. This afternoon, during a momentary lapse of coverage, Xavier shot a stream which, among other items, hit his stroller. I figured, since he marked it as his, I might as well bring it on-line!
The evening and night went similar to last night, except tonight we managed to figure out the pulse ox. Xavier is not sleeping on his NICU schedule. We were all hyped up that he would be well-trained on his sleeping and feeding schedules: every four hours. Well, not so much, at least so far.
We think it is because so many things are different. It's darker than he is used to (we've noticed when we turn on his bassinet light he clams down). It's quieter. He is handled by fewer people. The smells are different (it smells like Simulac everywhere now). The feel of his beds are different. Xavier is having to relearn some things. Hopefully he will acclimate quickly.
Always, thank you for your prayers and support.
Xavier Michael Comes Home!
Greetings to all, friends and family!
Glory to God! At 42 weeks 4 days, and nearly 12 of those weeks in the NICU, Xavier Michael came home today!
With faith and expecting to take him home today, we arrived to the NICU at 3:00 PM. Yesterday we arranged to have the Apria people (Apria is the firm who manages Xavier's oxygen outside the NICU) meet us to give us Xavier's mobile O2 tank and explain its use. Also, because Xavier Bradied Thursday, Apria supplied us with a portable heart and oxygen monitor (a mobile pulse ox monitor). We thought all the wires were being left behind, but not so much. We only attach Xavier to the monitor at night so we can get some sleep (at least that's the theory!) Also, the monitor will be used to collect information and data when the doctors prescribe room air tests and other tests to help determine when he can come off O2.
While we where packing up and waiting on the two different Apria people, and as the nurses and doctors worked on the discharge papers, we also finished checking off the boxes on the Discharge Worksheet. During this time, a good friend of ours stopped by to visit. Brenda was in the area for a conference and I do not think she knew we were checking Xavier out. Quite frankly, neither did we; we were not sure it was going to happen until it started happening!
With no more connection to him, the monitor which has showed Xavier's heart rate, oxygen saturation level, breathing rate, and being the ever-vigulant sentinel and the alarm of so many Bradys, desats and high-sats since May 13th, after 68 days, finally goes dark.
Weighing in at 1810 grams (4 grams short of 4 pounds), Xavier sits strapped in to his car seat (no car bed, Hallelujah!) waiting for mom and dad to say their farewells to all the NICU staff. Also, we were delayed by a tornado watch and people were asked not to leave the hospital just yet. Xavier is still a little too small for the harness. Stacey rolled up a wash cloth and threaded it behind Xavier's back and another to fill the space between his knees.
Xavier's address for the last 68 days. With the sense one has when moving from a home to another, we bid this little cubical goodbye.
The long-awaited day and the culmination of so much prayer. Xavier is home at last! Held by a proud and happy mom, shortly after this picture, we three huddled together in a family embrace, bowed our heads and thanked Father for His goodness to us.
Great is our God Who has led us this far and will lead us from here! Thank you all for your prayers.