 |
| |
 |
Well......we are in a holding pattern. The hospital called around 6:00 pm and said
that the Neonatal ICU was too full at the time. They said it would be in the best
interest of Little Al and all the other babies in the ICU to not introduce another one
at this time. It is nice to know that they are attentive to all the details.
Holly, however, was not particularly enthused about the new time line, but she does
understand.
At this time, they may be able to get us in sometime tomorrow morning, if not, we
are looking at tomorrow night at 7:00 pm again, unless there is a hold up.
So, at this time, we do not know much else. Holly's parents arrived today and got
settled in, we then had a late lunch and observed Carlton's (Holly's dad) birthday,
which is today and would have been special if Little Al could have arrived today.
We will continue to rest and be ready to go whenever we need to.
Until tomorrow...
Ryan, Holly & family
We are doing nothing today, but sitting around waiting for the hospital to call.
Actually, Nana and the girls are baking lemon bars, but other than that, not much.
Ryan is trying to get some work done, even at 500 miles away.
Holly is wishing this boy would come out, today being the due date and all.
Once we get the call, we will update the website to let you all know that we have
went to the hospital. Now keep in mind, it could be days before any updates after
that.
Till later.....
Ryan, Holly & family
U OF M!, U OF M!, U OF M!!!!
Hi all! Well, Michigan is becoming a hot vacation spot for us. We hung around all
day today just waiting for "the call" and it came about 4:30. And...they said, again
they would have to hold off inducing. Since Little Al is safer and healthier in the
womb, it is the best thing for him to wait as long as possible. The waiting, however,
is wearing on Holly, and emotionally she's getting a little worn out, to say the least.
So, Erin went swimming a second time with Nana and Papa this afternoon, and now
we are going to go to supper and then miniature golfing at another park we found
that sounds pretty cool. We have to do something to make life normal, or I think we
will all go nuts just waiting...
So tomorrow...I just won't say it this time. Tune in tomorrow afternoon/evening
for another update. Thanks again to everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and
support. It means the world to us, especially when things are getting a little tough.
Love from us all...
Holly, Ryan, and the family
HA HA!!!
Fooled ya!
Sorry, I know we shouldn't do that, and we really weren't trying to fool you. We
just didn't get around to updating the website until now....
So.....
NO!, we are not in the hospital at this time, there is still no room in the NICU for
Little Al and he is not cooperating with mom in coming out on his own...
So....now a few words from mom....
Hi all! Thanks again for all the messages we got today. With all this waiting
around, it's fun to log on to see who has emailed us or logged onto our website.
We have over 1100 hits on our website total, 200 just today! Pretty cool.
Nana and Papa are having fun giving the girls swimming lessons every day, and
grandma and grandpa are having fun teaching them tons of new card games. Ryan
and I are just kind of waiting around for a phone call that seems like it will never
come!
Now...back to dad...
I do apologize for not updating sooner and I'm sure many of you may have thought
that the labor had started. Believe me, Holly & I would rather be there than here,
so we really would not try to trick anyone.
So...today, we didn't do much of anything, the highlight would have been grilling
out for dinner. Surprisingly, Michigan has some pretty good sweet corn and pork
chops! Holly has been napping each day to get rested up and I have been 'hangin'
out'.
So, until tomorrow, when hopefully....................
Thanks to all!
Ryan, Holly & family
GO BLUE!!!!!
1:10 pm CST
Had you asked us last Tuesday, as we were on our way up here, if we would still
be waiting around 10 days later for Little Al to be born, we would have said
emphatically, "NO!"
But here we are....10 days later and Holly is taking a nap, having yet to deliver
Little Al.
We did talk with the hospital this morning and they believe there will be an opening
later today, but there is no guarantee. So...we must wait....and wait....and wait. We
are coping our best and if it were not for having the whole family here already,
waiting with us, Holly & I think it would not be too bad. But trying to keep two
pre-teen girls and four grandparents from boredom can be a bit trying. However,
we are glad they are all here, for when the time comes, all the waiting will be
forgotten!
The girls just finished filling out two pages each with the following phrase on each
line, "I will not fight with my sister." I think you can derive the full story from
just that little of info. But at least for now their swimming privileges have been
restored.
The grandparents are relaxing in their own way, but I am sure they would rather
not be waiting around either.
Not much else to report from Ann Arbor, so hopefully later tonight I can report
that we are in the hospital!
Hope all is well on the homefronts! Take care everyone and thank you for your
thoughts and prayers.
Ryan, Holly & family
WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO THE HOSPITAL!!!!!
The hospital called and they have an opening in the NICU!
It is 3:30 pm central time, we will update whenever we can!!!!
Wish us Luck!
Ryan & Holly
Well, we are finally at the hospital, getting things started. It is about 10:30 pm
central time and we are just 'hanging out'. Check in was pretty easy as we were
preregistered and in an hour we were in the room and the checkups had started.
Holly was dilated to 3 already and 100% effaced. That means Little Al was getting
ready to start on his own, so maybe the induction will progress a little more
quickly, but we will have to wait & see...
As it looks now, Holly should be pushing sometime tomorrow, so hopefully we can
let you all know sometime tomorrow just how Little Al is adapting to his new
surroundings.
Till tomorrow...
Ryan, Holly & family
GO WOLVERINES!!
Good morning all!,
Little Al, Holly & Ryan all got a good nights sleep, which was much needed!
However, Mom & Dad are still a little groggy, but Little Al is doing GREAT! In
fact, maybe a little too great, his oxygen saturation level should be in the 75 - 85%
range, he has been at 95% plus!
Most people have 95% or better, which is normal, but Little Al will only be at 75%
after his first surgery. This will not harm him as in the womb a baby is only at
50%, so a newborn is used to the lower rate. By Little Al having the normal rate
already, his organs would start to get used to it, but the doctors do not want that.
Also, because of the way his body works differently right now, not all of his body
would be getting the oxygen rich blood.
So...he has been placed in a 'tent' (a plastic top added to his bed) and a small
amount of nitrogen is being added to 'his environment'. This does two things,
one-helps to lower his oxygen saturation rate and two-helps get his oxygenated
blood to disperse more uniformly through out his body. Number two helps by
making him more comfortable, before he would have had the feeling that you get
when you have exercised for awhile and your muscles get fatigued from lack of
oxygen. There are many details that I am not including, they can be a little
overwhelming.
The nitrogen has also seemed to help regulate his vital signs. He is breathing is at a
much more regular rate and so his is heart beat. He still has an occasional apnea
episode (basically he holds his breath), but not as often as yesterday.
So, our little guy is doing great!
As of now, surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday, we believe in the afternoon.
I will keep you updated on this.
Until later today!
Ryan, Holly & family
GO BLUE!
Saturday, July 24th, 2004 evening
Today was a nice day here in Ann Arbor, sunny and about 75!
Holly was discharged from the hospital in the afternoon and is feeling fine.
Still a little tender and sitting is not much fun, but she is being a real trooper
and coping.
Little Al is looking great and with a few more sedatives and a little more
nitrogen he is resting comfortably. However, this makes him pretty much out
all the time, but he does still respond to familiar voices.
Everyone, but Holly & Ryan, are leaving in the morning. It has been a long,
almost, 2 weeks for the girls and Grandma & Grandpa Miller, so we are sure
they will be happy to get home. Nana & Papa Peterson have had a long week
too and plan on coming back up for the surgery, maybe Aunt Sasha will make it
then also!
We all went out for dinner together and afterwards went to see Little Al one
last time for those leaving. Then, and only at Papa's persistence, we found
the nearest Baskin Robbins and just had to have ice cream!
Surgery is still on for Wednesday, I will keep updating till then....
Ryan, Holly & family...
click to
enlarge
Here are some more pictures of our darling boy! That is dad's hand reaching in
the incubator. Today we hung out with Little Al for about four hours. He was
pretty out of it, but did open his eyes for mommy to see for a split second. He also
has a great grip, and would grab on every time we reached in to hold his hand!
As of now, we are not sure when exactly the surgery will be. We are hoping for
Wednesday still, but will not know for sure until later. Hopefully by the end of
the day tomorrow we will know for sure and can let you all know.
Nana, Papa, Grandma Jo, Grandpa Ed, Erin and Megan made the trek home today.
They all left this morning. That was hard on us, but now we are just relaxing
together. The support our parents and kids gave to us the last couple of weeks has
been priceless, and we appreciate it more than they will ever know!!
I guess that is all for now. Log on Monday to get the latest! We will hopefully be
able to give some more news about surgery, etc.
Until then....GO BLUE!!
Holly, Ryan, and family
