Rebecca's Tale
Greetings to you all.
Since yesterday's blog entry was all about Xavier's entrance into the world, I thought I would tell Rebecca's side.
Picking up the tale after the insertion of the IV about 4:30 PM, another sterile drip was introduced. The anesthesiologist drew blood, one tube for a blood typing reference and the other vials Gwen, our nurse, thought the doctors would request. Rebecca was told not to eat or drink anything until the doctors got back to her.
As time went on, the pain in Rebecca's belly grew worse; it came in waves with its intensity. After a few hours, Rebecca had withdrawn so deeply within herself, I was unable to draw her out. This greatly concerned me, but so much else was happening I was attributing it to the confluence of all that was happening.
I found Gwen and asked if we could compare Xavier's NST from Friday (the 29 hour one) with his currently running NST. She pulled up the records and we examined the graphs. Truly, Monday's looked so much better than Friday. About 8:00 PM I decided to leave the hospital to go and at least get the trim painted in the nursery. Rebecca was quiet and withdrawn; she had no more sweat outbreaks, just the soreness in her belly which was not getting better. Nothing about Xavier's charts were concerning, and I was thinking Rebecca's stomach problem was some form of colic. She and I even discussed that at one point.
Before leaving, I asked if she would like me to read some Bible stories to her and Xavier. She said she would like that. I chose Elijah, starting from his Mount Carmel encounter with the prophets of Baal. We got up to just before Elijah crossed the Jordan with Elisha when the resident doctor entered the room with a nurse in tow.
This was about 8:30. With a stern air she told us "I think we need to deliver you tonight." After some further discussion, part of which was explaining why we couldn't wait another day, the doctor mentioned Rebecca had reached severe pre-eclampsia.
That stopped me in my tracks. I was dumbfounded at the speed this occurred. I think it also sobered Rebecca, who was already concerned there was something wrong with Xavier. What more could we say? It was like a kick in the gut, and this to Rebecca literally.
Soon, nurses filled the room. Antibiotic drips were added to the IV, a magnesium sulfide drip was added to the IV to help combat the destructive nature of the raising liver enzymes, and a whole host other drugs to prep Rebecca for the c-section. We were visited by two anesthesiologists to explain the procedures, check and double check Rebecca's allergies, previous surgeries, physical responses, etc.
We were scheduled for either the next slot in the OR or the third slot (there was already a c-section going on in the OR). During this time, the pain and discomfort in Rebecca's gut continued to increase; she was in dire pain and growing worse.
Rebecca was wheeled into the OR just before 11:00 PM. I dressed fully into my scrubs and would be allowed in after they prepped Rebecca and created the sterile field. I stood outside the OR door watching through a window. I watched as the anesthesiologist scrubbed and disinfected Rebecca's back and then inserted a needle into a spinal pocket just below mid-back. After several injections through the "tap", the needle was removed and Rebecca was laid down and her tummy scrubbed and disinfected.
About this time a doctor came out and I thought he was inviting me in. He told me it would be another :10 to :15 minutes and I could have a seat "over there." (what he nicely was telling me was to get myself behind the red line until they brought me in). When I was brought in, I sat at Rebecca's head. There was a blue drape drawn across her chest so neither she or I could see the surgery going on. The anesthetic was tested to ensure it took full effect and the doctors went to work.
About ten NICU doctors and nurses waiting for Xavier stood behind the operating table. Behind them a work station prepped to dry Xavier, keep him warm and keep him breathing. Meanwhile, Rebecca nearly fell asleep twice; at one point she could feel the doctors shifting her organs around, but no pain. Behind us stood one of the anesthesiologists. At 11:40, he told me to stand up and watch.
What an awesome sight; my vocabulary is woefully weak and no words I know can express what I witnessed! Watching my son be lifted from Rebecca's womb. I scanned Xavier as fast as I could, checking for his wholeness. Tears of indescribable joy flooded my eyes and wet my beard mask.
Rebecca and I had decided before the surgery that I would follow Xavier into the NICU while she was wheeling into a recovery room. As they brought Xavier through the room, they stopped so mom could see her son for the first time. Xavier opened his eyes for mommy! Rebecca recovered nicely, and quickly, though the mag sulfide still dripping into her veins had her a little loopy. She recovered in time to be rolled into the NICU before Xavier's pod was sealed.
The next morning, the high-risk doctor visited. She praised Rebecca for doing everything right for so long. Xavier is functioning perfectly like a 32 weeker, even though he looks like a 26 weaker. She said we carried the baby up to the last possible moment. We also learned Rebecca's pre-exclampsia was extremely severe, and approached a level called Hellp Syndrome (yes, two els), which is deadly. This is yet another miracle to praise our great God for, that Rebecca was in the hospital. Had she not been there, things may have gone badly and she may not have lived another day.
Rebecca's mag sulfide drip continued through Tuesday to help control her liver enzymes. More blood was drawn for labs, another IV catheter was put in, more blood drawn. Over the next 48 hours her concerning liver enzymes trended down and her kidney's settled down to normal.
Prayers are the conduits of God's power and the tide-changers of history. Thank you all for your labors before Heaven's Throne.
Happy Birthday, Xavier Michael!
Hello to you all. Rejoice with us in welcoming Xavier Michael into the world!
Today (or almost today; late last night actually) is the long-anticipated day! Here are some of his stats:
- born at 11:41 PM May 13, 2013 (sorry to those I texted the wrong time to)
- weight: 1 pound, 9 ounces (the ultrasound estimate was 4 ounces over)
- length of 33.5 cm or 13.2 inches
- what little hair he has, when it dried, is blonde like mom's
Xavier is strong and breathing on his own (though he has a CPAP in place for the next few days. His need for oxygen is minimal; his last adjustment was nearly down to 21%.
He cried (more of a complaint) strongly right out of the womb.
He has all of his parts, he looks well-formed all over (He's already had a physical and everyone is well-pleased). Ten fingers, ten toes, fingernails, toenails, little ears, little nipples (it was part of his exam to look for and at them)
Rebecca is doing well. She came through like a trooper. The surgery was uncomplicated; they were able to let her see Xavier before he was taken to the NICU. Later, they wheeled her bed in so she could see and touch her son.
The numbness of the spinal is wearing off and she has a magnesium sulfide drip going. We will learn later today if there will be any lingering effects of the pre-eclampsia (she was in a lot of pain the last few hours before delivery). We are also testing frequently for pneumonia symptoms (don't want that!)
Thank you all so much for your prayers, especially these last hours before and during Xavier's birth. What a miracle! I have spent nearly four hours in the NICU watching our son, not wanting to leave.
I will close today's entry by chronicling one of the many miracles we've seen. I mentioned previously that your prayers are conduits for miracles and you all have had a big part in Xavier's life already.
Yesterday afternoon, when Rebecca was still feeling colicky and before we knew or even considered pre-eclampsia, Gwen, our day nurse, came in to draw blood. She told me as we walked down the hall together that she was going to draw an extra vial because she knew the doctors would order it anyway. I thought nothing more of this, as it seemed a reasonable assumption to make, and Gwen is quite a competent nurse.
About 8:30 PM the resident doctor walked in to announce the need to deliver Xavier because Rebecca had gone severe pre-eclampsic. It was what she said next I think exposed the miracle. She said "it's a good thing you decided to have that extra blood drawn." The meaning was the doctors may not have ordered the tests for pre-eclampsia except Gwen had already drawn the blood for labs.
Many of you wrote or told us you were praying for the doctors and staff that they would be on their game. God definitely hears and answers our requests. Glory to God! Thank you, Jesus!
After getting Xavier out of the womb, the NICU team goes to work cleaning him up and getting him warm and stable.
Xavier Michael at about one minute old outside Mommy's womb. It doesn't look like it, but he likes the freedom.
Daddy gets a closeup of his son after his clean up. Daddy was so awestruck when they drew him from the womb tears wet his beard mask.
Now in his room in the NICU, Xavier is breathing well on his own, but the CPAP is still necessary for a few days because of his size and developmental stage. Little does he suspect what other gadgets he must endure before everyone leaves him alone to sleep! You can see his umbilical cord; it has another purpose to serve.
This is about an hour and a half later, after his little surgery to insert really tiny tubes into his umbilical, one in the vein and one in an artery. With these in place, blood draws can be done without poking him, some meds and food can be administered. These two tubes are now Xavier's umbilical to his pod.
The nurse is siphoning off some blood for another glucose test. He was a little low, so a tiny drip bag was set up to feed him some of the good stuff. The drip is through an IV in his right hand.
Everything is done and Xavier is set to have his pod closed. He has his heat lamp, humidifier and all his wires, tubes and little hat. He is snugged in to his little sleeper and has two soft pillows to keep him from rolling around. All of his gadgets are hooked up and beeping. "Can I get some sleep now?" he was complaining during all this or perhaps, "Dudes! Give it a rest!"
It was surreal, a scene from some sci-fi film. The sides of the pod were raised, then the top began to descend. As it began its slow drop, the doors around the heat lamp closed, and the humidifier kicked in. After about 20 seconds, the dome locked into place.
A view of Xavier's room for the next two months. No dinosaurs here, and no pastel yellows and greens. The wall behind has a whimsical "Twinkle, twinkle little star" sentence surrounded by little smiley stars. I thought this fun because the mobile we bought plays "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
This was a wonderful grace. Rebecca had recovered enough and they wheeled her bed into the NICU. She got to see him and interact with him a little before they fitted him into his sleeping snuggy.
Rebecca pets Xavier. His body still has some of its lanugo, especially his arms.
This is a diaper like the one Xavier wears in the picture above. His first diaper was too big, so they found a smaller size. Even it is too big at the moment. Just before the dome sealed the pod, I got to change Xavier's diaper. It was my first and not as easy as it looks. As I snugged up one side, Xavier felt the need to create more amniotic fluid; we didn't change him again, however. :)
May Be Nearer Than We First Expected
Hello to everyone.
Today began with Xavier's NST. It went so well, they only monitored him for thirty minutes instead of the scheduled hour. His Dopplers looked good as well; I don't know if there were any lack of absences today, but definitely no reversals. Thank you, Jesus.
Rebecca's IV was removed this morning because it would no longer back flush. A new one will be put in later in the week, or that was the plan at this time; it changed later on in the day.
Also this morning, the doctors laid out their plan for the moment. If Xavier continues to do well this week (allow me to translate doctorese: if he is not delivered this week), then they will schedule his delivery sometime in his 34th week. That will be the last week of May or the first days of June. Week 34 is a good week for the baby, most of his important development will be complete or nearly so. The driving reason for this date, we are told, is to minimize the risk of a stillbirth. It is likely a C-section will be the means of delivery.
That is the plan as we understand it and as of this morning. However, in thinking over our history, things change, and they change frequently. Also, I have learned that a turnover of doctors may also mean a change in the plan. That, too, has been our history over the past weeks.
Xavier's afternoon's NST did not have the clean results of this morning. It is on-going and will be the rest of the evening and probably into tomorrow. (it's 6:30 as I write this and the NST began about 2:30). He has had many decels during this run. Nothing as troubling as Friday evening, but still several frequent and deep decels, enough to concern the doctors. Currently, he is doing well, but there are still some decels in his recent tracings.
At 3:00 this afternoon, Rebecca called me and asked when I would be coming in. When I said I planned on leaving about 3:30, she mentioned she hoped it would be sooner. Still learning my wife, I asked for clarification "Do I need to be there sooner?" She answered "Yes."
Rebecca has been feeling colicky since yesterday and this afternoon about the time the NST began she broke out in a couple of sweats. This, in combination with the frequency of the decels, had her thinking there is something wrong and Xavier would need to be delivered today.
Shortly after I arrived, a nurse came in to insert an IV catheter. She spent a good :15 minutes examining veins, then chose one on Rebecca's left arm. Sadly, that tap failed, resulting only in staining the bed sheets with some blood.
Later, James, the same anesthesiologist who tapped Rebecca Friday, came in. He uses a local nerve-blocker so the insertion of the catheter isn't painful, Rebecca only feels pressure. It took James four tries to get a good insertion (his first was good for two vials of blood, however). Rebecca is once more on a sterile water drip. Though she has not had any sweats since I arrived, her stomach is still achy.
I had planned to have dinner with my wife, then begin painting the nursery. The nursery may have to wait a day or two.
Always, thank you for your prayers; they are the conduits of miracles. God is with us and He is walking us through.