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THE SHERIFF TWINS
Sheriff |
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WILD MAN- DAY 51
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Apr 28, 2008 09:21pm (EST)
Yesterday marked Matthew's 50th day in the NICU. He has been pushing along and has been a wild man lately. He is exercising his lungs by crying more and working out his body by moving all around the isolette. I love to see him in action! He is still having some trouble with the apnea, but they are attributing it to him pulling off his CPap. He has been apnea free for the past 36 hours or so...let's keep our fingers crossed! He weighed in at 2 lbs, 15.5 oz last night....half an ounce shy of 3 lbs!
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Posted by Sheriff | Comments: (4) | Permalink
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CLEAN AGAIN
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Apr 25, 2008 09:01pm (EST)
Just returned from the NICU. I gave Matthew a bath tonight and he got a new house, too. He will definitely sleep well tonight.
He is doing well on the CPap. The nurses told me he is a wild man and slides all the way down to the end of his isolette. I love the fact that he is so alert and curious! I also realized tonight that he is the littlest guy in there. I always think of him as getting so much bigger when it reality he hasn't hit three pounds yet. He may be tiny, but I know he is working hard. We just need to get him breathing on his own (with the assistance of the cannula, of course)! Please keep your prayers coming!!
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Posted by Sheriff | Comments: (4) | Permalink
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LITTLE MAN
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Apr 24, 2008 10:20pm (EST)
I just returned from the NICU. Matthew was moved back to the CPap the night before last. After my visit, he "crashed" again so they are keeping him on the CPap until he is 1500 grams (3.5 lbs). We are fine with that- he needs to keep growing! They said that what he is doing is par for the course with little ones born early. He was after all less than a pound and a half, so he needs some time to get bigger and stronger. We are in no hurry. Please keep him in your prayers.
I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support that our family continues to receive. I truly feel that our community (both near and far) has wrapped its arms around us during these hard times. You have truly made us smile through our tears and left us amazed. Between countless prayers, phone calls, dinners, cards, gifts for the twins and Charlie, gift cards for gas/food/baby supplies, etc. we have been showered with love and generosity. We would have never expected such a show of support- it truly leaves us speechless and so thankful.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'd like to create a children's garden for Michael one day. I thought of him in a garden of his own and wrote this poem the other night. When I think about him, it is difficult but I also smile because I know he is watching, and I can't help but think he has an active role in our healing. When I held him, and when I hold Matthew, there is an amazing feeling of love and peace. Even though Michael is physically absent- his love continues to engulf me. As Michael's mom, I feel it is important to keep his memory alive. I hope to put this poem in his garden one day.
Michael’s Garden
In Heaven’s garden there is a little boy
running through the rows,
of strawberries and banana trees and
all the fruits we know.
He laughs and samples another piece,
God smiles and says, “Eat plenty.
In Heaven we never run out of anything…not milk, not fruit, not honey.
You are amongst the finest garden that Earth has never seen,
You can find everything you need- it’s luscious and perfectly green.”
The little boy laughed and smiled as he started back through the rows,
To think that it would be here in Heaven that he would live and grow.
All earthly wants diminished as the boy chose the plumpest peach,
Everything that sweet Michael needed was finally in reach.
God smiled at his son and Michael smiled, too,
In Heaven’s garden there is a little boy, perfectly content…perfectly new.
-MWS
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Posted by Sheriff | Comments: (4) | Permalink
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UPDATE...
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Apr 22, 2008 09:25pm (EST)
I just got back from a good visit with Matthew. His Auntie AB came along and he loved seeing her. She is a nurse so she changed his bed- it is nice and cozy for him now. I am sure he appreciated it!
Matthew had a few apnea spells today but they just required a few pats on the "hiney" as Charlie would call it. I am so glad that he had a relatively good day today. They are watching him closely and they think the caffeine will help- he just got the increased dosage tonight. I am glad the doctors can remain so calm and collected- it is hard to do the same as a parent. I trust their judgement- they see this a lot, it is just sometimes hard to "ride it out" in the passenger seat.
They gave Matthew a bottle for the first time today. He only took 5 cc's but it's a start! They said I can give him one tomorrow if all goes well.
Please coninue to keep our little guy in your prayers. We definitely feel their power.
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Posted by Sheriff | Comments: (5) | Permalink
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SUPPORT
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Apr 22, 2008 12:14pm (EST)
Thanks for all of the support. They are trying to have him "ride it out on NC." I spoke with the doctor and was not thrilled by our conversation. Not because I don't trust their judgement, but more so because it is just scary stuff. He is increasing his caffeine dose to see if the extra stimulant will help with the apnea. He didn't seem too concerned with Matthew having to be "bagged" last night. I, of course, have a tougher time with this.
Matthew hasn't had a "major" episode since last night. The crazy thing is that his stats are quite high on this high flow cannula- he just crashes out of nowhere.
Luckily, one of my favorite nurses (she helped us a lot with Michael) was there and all it took was her saying, "Are you okay?" I, of course, lost it. I have been strong, but the thought of him in distress is very hard. She is a great advocate for us and is going to keep a close eye on the situation and talk to the doctors for us. She thought the breaks from the CPap were a great idea if he seems to be having a rough go on the cannula. Thank goodness for sympathetic and pro-active nurses!
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Posted by Sheriff | Comments: (4) | Permalink
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UGH...
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Apr 21, 2008 09:21pm (EST)
Matthew had a great first day on the cannula and, of course, when I got there he crashed. I was in the bathroom for most of it, but came at the tail end right after he started breathing again. The nurses acted like it is all just part of it and simply coincidental that it has happened three Monday nights in a row, but to me it is far from coincidence. They have tried the cannula for the past three Mondays after a week on CPap. He does well on the cannula for about 10 hours and then he gives out. A nurse this morning suggested that we do 4 hours on CPap and then four on cannula...I thought that was a great idea, but the doctor wasn't necessarily a fan. I am praying he does well tonight. I am going to push for that option if it looks like he is at all struggling. Please keep him in your prayers! He is up to 26 cc's of milk every three hours...aside from the breathing issues (which are major, of course), he is doing really well and is just as cute as can be!
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Posted by Sheriff | Comments: (6) | Permalink
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A NEW HOUSE...
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Apr 19, 2008 04:12pm (EST)
Jason and I just got back from the NICU. Matthew is doing well...he slept most of the day. Jason held him for about an hour and I helped the nurse set up a new isolette for him. They change his "house" once a week. It feels good to help care for him even if it is as simple as making his bed or posting photos on his new incubator. He has pictures of Charlie and Michael looking over him. Jason and I are giving him his first "real bath" tomorrow night. They said he'll love it. I know we will, too.
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Posted by Sheriff | Comments: (5) | Permalink
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EYES WIDE OPEN
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Apr 18, 2008 09:16pm (EST)
Matthew is just getting stronger by the day. He is still on CPap and his feedings have remained the same --24cc's every 3 hours. He will get weighed again on Sunday- I'm hoping he hits the 3 lb mark this week! I just came back from seeing him- he kept his little eyes open the whole time and just checked everything out. He's a little cutie pie.
I was fortunate enough to have four very good friends drive from NY and MD to come and see me today for the day. We all taught together in MD and have stayed pals for the past several years. It was great to cry and laugh with good friends. Two of them are pregnant now and are due this summer. It is brave to come hang out with a friend who has lost a child and has one in the NICU when you are carrying a little one yourself. They put themselves aside and came to support me- it meant a lot. It has been a long time since I was able to think about anything but my boys- all four of them! It's important for a mom to recharge her batteries in the comfort of loving friends. I feel very lucky to have such a supportive group of people helping us through these tough times.
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Posted by Sheriff | Comments: (2) | Permalink
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