Koishi is 8 months old

Yuka visits from Japan

We are hosting a Japanese student for a week. Her name is Yuka. She is very nice and friendly. Her English is good, but sometimes she speaks quietly and it is hard to hear what she says. Here are some pictures we have taken.

Yuka brought gifts from Japan including this hand puppet that her mother made. どうもありがとお母さん。あかちゃんはこれが好きです。
We visited a farm. This dog, Maggie, was very fond of Yuka. 牧場でこの犬はゆうかさんが好きです。

The horse was gentle, but large and scary to Yuka.

We are posing with horns next to the bison.

We visited Temple Square in Salt Lake City. This picture was taken from the top of the Conference Center. ソルトレークの教会
I took a short video of playing with the baby.

Milestones

This month has brought some large milestones for our koishi. He slept in his own room for 3 nights in a row. The first night he slept his normal schedule while the next 2 he woke up ready to party at 3:30am. After that he was back in the bassinet in our room. This week we are trying the crib again since I am off of work and in theory can handle thee lack of sleep a little better. Although he got to be back with us last night cause he was breathing hard and vomitting.
Cereal, we tried it. One night he slept through the night again then thee next he woke up a lot.so we will probably wait a bit more, until he is sitting up a bit better.
Laughing and giggles are becoming more frequent. He usually wakes up with giggles and ear to ear smiles for us. We love every moment!
He had his first neonatal review. This is a state run clinic with every specialist he would need. They check his growth, motor skills, eating habits, general health, ears, eyes, social worker (if needed), speech therapist when needed, and many others for when he gets older. He will go at his adjusted (due date) age, about twice a year. His next one is in June. They are very pleased with his growth. On the preemie chart for higth, weigth, and head circumfrence he is in the high 20%. Motor skills are right where they need to be, the 3-4 month (adjusted). Over all they all think he is doing great!
He has outgrown the bath tub insert. We are using the inner cushion part on the big tub now and he is really starting to love splashing.

Over all great month! A year ago we learned we would be expecting our second son. Even though it has been a crazy ride we love every moment with him!

Akahige turns 32 soon and I will be 31 tomorrow. 10 years ago we celebrated our birthdays together for the first time.

Time is an amazing concept. I hope that I can make good use of all the time I am given.

Mind Dump

(written on my phone)

Akahige was our knight in shining armour last night. To know him means you know he hates fluids. He even dislikes swimming. He hates bug goo, baby bubbles, sloppy kisses, anything that may be messy he hates. When it comes to killing spiders he usually sprays them and walks away. (Now don't get all emotional for the spiders, I made a deal with them. They don't come into my home and I will try my best not to ruin theirs in my garden.) I like to make sure they are gone from my home asap and usually find a flat surface to squish them. So background set, on to the main event. We had just put koishi down for the night and I started applying lotion to my abused forearms and hands, when I peeked at Koishi slumbering. Noticing something odd just inches from his adorable face I looked closer and saw one of those clear spiders.grrr... I tell akahige as I frantically try to rub the lotion in. Before I could finish, akahige had come in and with a tissue squished the offending spider. Day saved!!!

I have been having a rough go at things for a couple weeks. I get really out of sorts when I am soo tired. It doesnt help that I have been working my butt off trying to see all my clients and a small grouping complains that I am not working enough. So frustrating! To help me get out of my funk I am trying to do one extra task a day. So far this week I have moved a little bit of furniture and hung pictures. I have made dinner twice, changed my bed linens, and cleaned my bathtub. I have caulked around the tub again and loaded the dishwasher. Today I hope to get my office bath cleaned and dinner made, maybe finish hanging pictures. I an also trying to table my disposition towards work. This is a bit harder. Before becoming a massage therapist I was a nanny and worked in a daycare. It is really hard to not be the one who is caring for Koishi. So I am struggling with making my work a choice and not feel like is a "have to". Right now I don't feel like it is my choice. I feel obligated to care for my clients and financally tied to it in order to help pay bills. I know I am not alone, most moms hate working, but I don't want to hate it.

Well that's my early morning mind dump. Watch out spiders akahige is in the house

2 Months old

Well our Koishi is 2 months old. Gestational age is 35 weeks. At this stage in ones pregnancy you are ready for the baby to just come already. Well we are feeling the same, we really would like him to come home already. The medical staff at McKay are awesome, really they are. We just are weary of not having him home with us.

High lights of the last two months.

• June 20th- Koishi joins us.
• July 4th- He has to have heart surgery to close his PDA valve.
• July in addition to recovery from heart surgery he had pneumonia and croup. Had to stay on Vent longer then wanted because of the croup to help keep his airway open.
• July 11th- met Great Grandpa and Grandma Hales, and Great Uncle Brad through the window in Pod 1.
• July 12th- met Nana Carter. Taken of the vent and he is much happier. He is now on vapotherm. (Stages of oxygen assistance= vent (pipe down throat), vapotherm (heated and humidified in nose), wall (humidified slightly, last stage before no assistance)
• July 16th- 30 weeks gestation. 2lbs 10oz and has outgrown all of his hats that were made for him. He is now in Pod 2.

• July 20th- 1 month old, first bath! PIC line is removed and he can wear clothes and have real baths.

• July 21st- Met Grandpa and Grandma Phillips
  
• July 23rd- Aoitonbo has a mastitis infection. Koishi meets his Auntie Nan and Granny Nielson. Pappy Nielson was home sick.
• July 24th- Koishi's food and pooping volumes increase.
• July 30th-Met "Uncle" Ronnie and "Aunt" Rebecca
  
• July 31st- 32 weeks and off of vapotherm.
• August 1st- Refluxing more, back on vapotherm. Heart beat is unstable while his oxygen level is high. Nurses say limited holding because he is overstimulated.
• August 2nd- first Eye exam determined that his retinas aren't fully developed and will have to have another visit next week. Stress from the exam really caused his heart to freak out.
  
• August 4th- In Pod 3. EKG and Eco ordered because his heart isn't beating at a stable rhythm. Nurses kept saying it was a brady. Nurse Practitioner finally noticed and didn't like what she saw. Akahige and Aoitonbo had been saying that something was off for over a week. Glad to see some tests being run finally.
• August 5th- limited holding (still claiming heart issue is over stimulation and bradycardia.) Tests show nothing to be worried over.
• August 6th- Aoitonbo has a meltdown on one of the nurses and she is allowed to resume holding. Heart beat is considered his new normal. He stabilizes more while being held, so snuggles for the win.
  
• August 7th- Nurse informed us that he had a HUGE blowout today. Covered his crib and scared her half to death. Still laughing!!
• August 8th- Stabilized his body temperature enough to be moved into an open crib!!! He also met the weight requirements of 1800 grams. He is getting so big! Becoming really interested in putting things in his mouth. Tried to stuff his whole fist in many times throughout the day. More tests for a Dr from Primary Children's to double check his heart.
• August 9th- Eye exam retina's are fully developed but have some scaring from being over exposed to oxygen. Another exam next week.
• August 10th- Officially doubled in weight! Can really notice around his chin, cheeks, toes, and thighs. SQUEAL!!!!
• August 11th- Doing great at regulating his own temp, maybe a bit on the warm side.
• August 12th- Akahige's office throws Koishi his first baby shower. Lots of cute clothes, a burp rag, blanket, and generous gifts of $$ to help pay for his big ticket items.
  
• August 13th- Koishi is really sick. Running the full spectrum of tests. So far the only area showing an increase in white blood cells is his urine. Has air in his intestines and can be dangerous. Nurse Practitioner is mentioning life threatening conditions and the high possibility of him going to Primary Children's Hospital. He is on antibiotics, iv nutrition, and back in an incubator.
  
• August 14th- Had to have a PIC line placed today. Nothing new growing in the cultures. Drs still watching his intestines.
• August 16th- Eye exam, left eye is clear right eye needs to be looked at again in 2 weeks.

• August 17th- starting to show small signs of feeling better. Moving a bit more and squeaking. He is also showing signs of hunger, trying to nom anything that gets close to his mouth. Anything but his pacifier...

• August 20th- off of his antibiotic and starting to eat more. He keeps his eyes open longer. He is officially 2 months old today. His heart rhythm has smoothed out a little more since he started getting better. Second baby shower at old 6th ward, very generous friends gave Koishi more clothing, blankets, bedding, changing pad, a booster chair, toys, bath supplies, and $$ to go towards big ticket items.
  
• August 21st- Trying non-nutritive breast feeding once more. He becomes tired easily. He is swollen and was given a water pill to help decrease the water in his body. He is also on a diuretic to help stabilize fluid levels.
  
• August 22nd- He had his PIC line removed, received his 2 month immunizations, and felt good enough to prank his night nurse. He pulled out his feeding line in the middle of a feed and sprayed milk all over his incubator. Nurse said she hasn't seen that big of a mess in years. This meant a bath and crib change. So he is in an open crib again. Here is hoping that it lasts longer!
• August 23rd- Nurse practitioner said that we can start trying nutritive breast feeding. *fingers crossed* that he is interested. His bones are looking thin so he has extras going into his food to help them be stronger.
  

(Will update more as we go, and as I remember everything from this crazy ride called life.)

Micro Preemie Part 2

(little late but uploading this now to give you an idea of first week in Preemie parenting)

Mile Stones

To help others understand the difference of a full term baby and a micro preemie. This is what I know and what I have been told. This is not an official medical stand. The info for full term is pulled from this site http://www.whattoexpect.com.

1st week
Normal = By the end of this week, your little bundle of joy is a bigger bundle and is probably peeing and pooping like a pro. Those survival reflexes you've heard about are getting put to good use these days: Your baby is rooting, sucking like there's no tomorrow, grasping your finger, blinking, startling whenever there's a loud noise, crying, and even assuming the fencing pose. Your baby can focus on objects that are eight to 14 inches away now — just the right distance to see you during a feeding.
Our Micro = He may come off the ventilator but don't expect it to last. He has Strep B so he will be on antibiotics for the next 10 days. He may not tolerate feedings and will be heavily supplemented with IV's. His eyes are fused but he may open them by the end of the week. His heart has an extra valve that needs to close so he will be heavily medicated and fasting from feedings. This medication may not work and he could be looking at heart surgery. We can visit him any time except 2:30 to 4. We may not be able to hold him every time or even touch him. If we are sick or have allergies we can't see him at all until we feel better. He is a little petri dish and can pick up any bug that we wouldn't even know we have. We have to scrub for 3 minutes before even entering the NICU and if we get to hold him we have to wear a gown. All things brought in have to be cleaned and electronics (camera's & cell phones) have to be cleaned by special wipes at every visit. We have to use hand sanitizer every time we want to put our hands into his incubator. He will be asleep all the time and he needs to sleep as much as possible. His nervous system is not developed and easily overstimulated. You can't stroke his body without causing his system to freak out. So when you touch him it has to be constant and firm, cupping his head and feet to keep him contained.

Micro Preemie Part 1

I am not an expert on micro preemies. I wouldn't even know where to begin. But this post is to let others know what we have learned in the last 3 weeks. And in the weeks to come.

June 19th 10:30 PM= I was in sad shape. I was bleeding, never a good sign when you are pregnant. We went to the hospital and I was admitted. Monitored throughout the evening and into the next morning.

June 20th AM= Dr's decided I had a combination of placenta abruption and incompetent cervix. (We knew the IC was always a possibility. The Dr's had been watching for signs that it would fail this whole pregnancy and there was never any indication that it would. The possibility of the IC from our last pregnancy 7 years ago also gave us realistic expectations that we could have a NICU baby. We have been constantly asked if we are excited after trying for 7 years for this pregnancy and our response has always been get us to the end of June and we will be. This was the safe zone where his chances of survival would be increased greatly.) Had ultrasound and baby was breach and not close to birth canal.

June 20th Noon= Bed-rest was mentioned and Akahige made the trip home to get things to keep me entertained for a few weeks or months, whatever the case would be, because I wasn't leaving the hospital until the baby came. While he was away, they decided to put me on extreme bed-rest. I had a catheter put in, my bed was tilted so the head was lower then the feet, and I was put on my side.

June 20th 2:30 PM= Akahige returned just as my water broke. 10 minutes after my water broke I was prepped for emergency c-section. I had time for a blessing and then was wheeled into surgery. Akahige was awesome and stayed with me the whole time.

June 20th 3:05 PM= Our son was born, 26weeks and 2 days gestation. Weighing in at 1lb15oz and 14 in. long. He is rushed off to be taken care of and I remained on the table for another 20 minutes as they replaced my innards and stapled me up.



June 2oth 4ish= I was wheeled into recovery where I sat for another 30 to 40 minutes. There we decided on his name and Akahige went to check up on him. As they wheeled me to my room, they took me to NICU where I could see my son for the first time. (It was over an hour after his birth when I got to see him, but I did not get to hold him, or touch him.) I stayed in my room for another 2 hours as they monitored me and my epidural pain. Later that evening I was able to visit him via wheelchair and hold him little hand through the incubator, falling in love with his cuteness.



June 21st= I actually got to hold him, wrapped in a pile of blankets. By this time he was off of the ventilator and put on regular oxygen. He had his IV's going through his stomach and into his artery. His eyes where still fused causing him to make the cutest scrunchy faces.



Rest of the week was a blur of figuring out pumping and sleeping while visiting him as much as possible. I was in the hospital until Friday, June 24th. Akahige was a trooper and stayed each night with me sleeping on the most uncomfortable, squeaky chair. He would go home once a day to shower and I would try to nap in that time. By the end of the week I had skin time with my baby and it helped his vitals stabilize a lot.