Monday, July 27, 2009

UPDATE- JULY 27th at 11pm

Just got back from an evening with Carter. He is looking so much better. His swelling is going down and he looks great. He was a little sedated because he had his MRI tonight, so hopefully we can get some information tomorrow. Tomorrow night is bath night!!! Carter was squirming when Tracy changed his diaper tonight. We are so thankful to all the doctors and nurses that are taking care of our boy.

Jacob went with us tonight to Jefferson. He isn't able to go back and see his big brother. He slept with Grandma for a bit then I went and sat with him and fed him. He is so peaceful and doesn't cry all that much....I know I just jinxed us!!!

Below are some new photos of the boys from today.







UPDATE- JULY 27, 2009 at 11:45am

This morning I dropped Michelle off at the airport. She had a little layover and came over for a couple hours to see Jake and gave Tracy and I the opportunity to sleep!!! Thanks Michelle. While driving back from the airport, I called in to see how Carter was doing. His nurse was taking another baby down for some test so I spoke to the other nurse and she told me that the Speech Therapist had been in to try and bottle feed him. Don't know how successful they were, but this is another good sign! She did say that he was awake a looking all around him. They have scheduled an MRI for today/tomorrow. This will hopefully give us better knowledge of what damage, if any, has been done. We are getting ready to take Jake to the doctor again. Just a little check up. Will report later on what we find out about Carter.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

UDATE: JULY 26, 2009

Carter had the last of his aEEG nodes removed and has had his feeding tube moved from his mouth to his nose. He is having some trouble digesting the formula and they are cutting back on the amount. He is also very swollen and Lasix is going to be given to help with this.

Jacob has had an uneventful day, mostly sleeping, eating and an occasional poopy.

 

 

 

 

Saturday, July 25, 2009

UPDATE: July 25, 2009 at 2:15pm

Carter has had his breathing tube removed and he looks good. We were also told his EEG will be coming off later today/tonight so we will get to hold him!

More later....

UPDATE- JULY 25, 2009 10:30AM

Called in this morning to check on Carter. Looks like his is still not having any more seizures since he came off the Versed at 6pm last night. Great sign. The doctors are doing rounds in a little bit and they will see if his oxygen volume is enough to take him off the ventilator. Nurse Nicole told me that he now has some clothes on and is not being heated by a machine. Keep Praying!!!!


Jacob had a pretty good third night at home. He slept for a while and woke up for his 1:30 feeding. After the feeding Tracy got a little worried because he was sleeping and making a gurgling sound. We guess he was having a little spit up and couldn't get it out. I woke up for his 5am feeding and he did great. He feel back to sleep after about an hour in the recliner on daddy's chest. He is having some great poopies and the little guy can let one rip!

Trisha, Tracy's sister is coming up today with her three kids, Madison, Trenton and Alexie. They are very excited to meet their cousin Jacob. Grandma Wolstoncroft is going to watch Jacob and the kids while the Tracy, Trisha and I go visit Carter.

Below are some photos from yesterday when Tracy and I were able to change Carter and feed him. There is also two of Jacob.







Friday, July 24, 2009

UPDATE: July 24, 2009

Carter is showing great improvement. He has not had another seizure and is slowly being taken off the seizure meds and will totally be off of them tonight at 6pm. There is also the chance that he will be taken off the breathing tube tonight or first thing in the morning. Brain activity is increasing. Tracy and I were able to change his diaper and she fed him through his tube and I took his temperature. Things are looking good. Keep praying!!!

Jacob is doing very well and is a great sleeper, DURING THE DAY! He has been feeding well. Tracy is doing better but still a little sore.

Keep checking back for more updates.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

UPDATE - July 23, 2009

Sorry I have taken so long to update everyone on what happened and what is going on. I'll start from the beginning and get you up to speed on the situation.

Around 12:35am Saturday, Tracy's water broke. I immediately called into the Dr. Peden's office to let them know. I was told that Dr. Peden was on call that night and that she would call right back. She did, and while on the phone with her Tracy said to me "I feel the cord." I told Dr. Peden and she told me to call 911 and get an ambulance and to get her to Lankenau as soon as we could. The EMTs arrived so fast and one of the EMTs knew how to handle a prolapsed cord. He immediately told Tracy what to do while he was walking up the stairs. For those that don't know, a prolapsed cord is potentially fatal. It cuts off the blood and oxygen supply to the baby. He was able to hold the cord and push the baby's bottom off the cord. He had to continue to do this until they arrived at Delaware County Memorial Hospital. That meant even going down our steps inside the house. DJ and Kelly, THANK YOU SO MUCH. Tracy had to have an emergency C-Section. Carter James arrived at 1:14 am and Jacob Cole arrived at 1:15. I was not present, but in the halls roaming trying to get information. Finally a Dr came out and told me the situation: Carter had not gotten a lot of oxygen during the ordeal and was born with a very low heart rate and was not breathing. They had to ventilate him. Jacob on the other had was doing well. A decision was made to send Carter to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital to do Cool Cap Therapy. They cool the brain to prevent any further damage from occurring with the hopes that Carter's brain can rewire itself to help with any damage that may have happened. The Jefferson NICU Transport team came and got him and this is where is still is. Grandmas Sturgis and Wolstoncroft came up and were joined by Aunt Trisha a little later. I'll fast forward a little bit....

Tracy and Jacob were discharged on Tuesday. Tracy was able to make it down to Jefferson to see Carter for the first time. He had been taken off the Cool Cap and was being hooked up to an EEG. He had been having some seizures and he was being medicated to help control them.

Yesterday/Today we received some promising news. Carter had not had and still has not had any more seizure activity since 4am Wednesday. He is still on the ventilator but he is also breathing above the vent, which means that he is taking more breaths on his own!!! His brain electrical activity has increased and has started going through sleep/wake patterns. Both very positive things. He is also responding more to touches. He has opened his eyes. They will be doing an MRI sometime soon to get a better look at possible damage.

Jacob had his first Dr. appointment on Wednesday as well and looks to be in fantastic health!


So this is where we are. Tracy and I would like to thank everyone for their support and concern. You are all helping to keep us strong in this difficult time.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

UPDATE July 9, 2009

Hello everyone. Tracy went to the Hospital today to have a Non-Stress Test, and Ultrasound and a visit with Doctor McConnell. We arrived to a packed Perinatal Office. Were were scheduled for the Non-Stress Test first, but they did the Ultrasound first. Both boys are growing very well. Baby A is 5 pounds, 5 ounces and Baby B is 5 pounds, 8 ounces. No wonder Tracy is very uncomfortable. The Doctor that did the Ultrasound canceled the Non-Stress Test because he could see the babies breathing well and thought that it would be a waste of time. Our visit to Dr. McConnell went well also. No change in the C-Section date unless Tracy decided to have contractions again or her water breaks.

We did get a photo of Baby B today. Below I am posting a great photo of both babies. Baby B's is from today and Baby A's is from June 16th Ultrasound.

Baby A on June 16



Baby B on July 9

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

July 1 UPDATE

Hello all. Tracy just got back from seeing Doctor Peden. Things are going very well. Tracy has been on bed rest since she got home from the hospital. Dr. Peden is allowing her to go out for small trips! Tracy is very happy that she can go outside again. She was beginning to feel trapped. Next week she will be free to do whatever she wants. If labor comes, then we will be having the babies!!!

Our niece Alexie has come up to visit and help out around the house. She has been very, very helpful and has made life easier on both of us.

Now to the big news. Tracy has been scheduled for a C-Section on JULY 29 at 8:30am. Both Dr. Peden and Dr. Belden will both be there for the delivery. We are both excited that a date has been set. Keep checking back for new posts.