NICU
The last 5 days have been ones that I won't forget. I have loved holding my new son! It still doesn't seem real and I keep thinking I'm in a dream. Everyone in the NICU has been amazing. They are so perfect for their job.
Our first visit with him was Monday. As soon as the papers were signed we went in to be with him. We were with him for about 15 minutes before a good friend who works in the hospital came to visit. We all cried because we still didn't believe he was ours. We know we have a long road, but God wouldn't have given us this if he didn't think we were the perfect fit for Calvin. T got to be in the NICU and see his brother. One more thing of God's hands and his perfect timing. They told us that they were going into restricted visitors beginning Saturday. We were so glad T got to meet Calvin. Later on, grandparents came down and couldn't wait to get their hands on them. He loves to be held and cuddled. We spend about 5 hours with him on Monday. It was a long, but good day. We saw that his heart rate and breaths per minute were higher than normal. Oxygen level was good. Because of his breathing they had to put a feeding tube in him. He really hated that! He seemed to be really congested.
Tuesday: As soon as he got up this morning T asked how his brother was doing. That was the most special thing I have heard. I told him he was doing well, I had already called into the hospital to ask. Then T said...so he can come home? I said "no, not yet". Then we both cried. We waited for the hubby to get off work and went down in the evening. I wanted to spend some time with T during the day & get some adoption forms finished. We went down around 6 and met the other set of grandparents there. They couldn't wait to see him either and just had to get their hands on him. Both just held and rocked Calvin. We were able to spend a couple hours with him and then came home late that night. Calvin was stable, still had higher heart rate and breathing. He still seemed to be congested.
Wednesday: Today was a long day! Justin & I went down around 9 so we could be there for rounds. We heard the docs talk about what they felt they needed to do for him now. He was still congested and seemed to have a lot of gunk in his nose. They chose to try some drops to decongest his nose. We got to hold him & love on him. We met the Cardiologist and she explained the procedures and when they would typically do them. We loved her, she was great & explained everything well! We had lots of visitors, friends & family both. Grandparents came down again today. While they were there and we were getting ready to go home to see T, because we had been there all day, Calvin's heart rate spiked. All of a sudden the doctors & nurses came out of the woodwork. They told us what they were going to do and it sounded like a great plan. I was so scared & didn't want to watch, I went to the corner & hid in a chair behind my parents. I could still see the monitor so I could check on his vitals. Justin stayed right there. He watched patiently, I am sure he was praying hard for little Calvin. I know I was! They were able to get his heart back into rhythm and he seemed to settle down. We left an hour later, left him in good hands with grandma & grandpa.
Thursday, Christmas Eve: Justin had to work for a while so again we went down to visit with Calvin after he was done working. Great Grandpa (my grandpa) rode down with us. I am so glad he did, he got to see and talk to Calvin for a while. Then he played Go Fish with T. Calvin had done well that day, higher heart rate & breathing, but he was stable. I didn't get to hold him today because they were trying to keep him on his side to help with the congestion.
Friday, Christmas Day: We got up, opened gifts and then I sent a picture to my in-laws. They texted and said to take our time because they were with Calvin. I almost cried, I was so thankful someone was with him. I knew we were not going to be able to get to him for a while and when we did it would be short. While we were doing Christmas with my family, we got a call that Calvin's heart rate skyrocketed again! Grandma & Grandpa didn't like that at all! I was so glad they were there though & were able to sit with him and sing to him when it was over. They were not able to hold him again today. We also got a call about putting a pick line in to help getting him meds in a hurry if needed. We continued on with Christmas. Later we got another call saying they were going to transfer him tomorrow to a bigger hospital, one with heart surgeons. Justin & I finally finished up Christmas with family & went down to see Calvin. We spend about 3 hours with him & I even got to hold him. It was such a blessing. He calmed down while I was holding him. They started him on medicines and his heart rate & breathing were a little lower. He was still stable and seemed to be doing ok. We drove to Justin's parents house after yet another Christmas later that evening so we would be closer to Calvin when he was transferred.
Having a child in the NICU isn't easy. It is so hard to watch them suffer. It is hard on us as we just sit and wait. When I can hold him it does help the time go faster. It is hard on the son we have at home. 5 days in NICU was a long time. Some families had been there a lot longer than us. I don't know how they do it! Hospitals are not my thing, I don't really like them. hehe Being in the hospital and not even knowing what to do for your child is even less of my thing. All I want to do it take him home. T wants him to come home! This week has been full of joys, tears, excitement, fear, and strength. Adoption is a roller coaster ride, but so is the NICU. I was told it's ok to be a basket case. Which is good, cuz more than likely I will be for a while.
Our first visit with him was Monday. As soon as the papers were signed we went in to be with him. We were with him for about 15 minutes before a good friend who works in the hospital came to visit. We all cried because we still didn't believe he was ours. We know we have a long road, but God wouldn't have given us this if he didn't think we were the perfect fit for Calvin. T got to be in the NICU and see his brother. One more thing of God's hands and his perfect timing. They told us that they were going into restricted visitors beginning Saturday. We were so glad T got to meet Calvin. Later on, grandparents came down and couldn't wait to get their hands on them. He loves to be held and cuddled. We spend about 5 hours with him on Monday. It was a long, but good day. We saw that his heart rate and breaths per minute were higher than normal. Oxygen level was good. Because of his breathing they had to put a feeding tube in him. He really hated that! He seemed to be really congested.
Tuesday: As soon as he got up this morning T asked how his brother was doing. That was the most special thing I have heard. I told him he was doing well, I had already called into the hospital to ask. Then T said...so he can come home? I said "no, not yet". Then we both cried. We waited for the hubby to get off work and went down in the evening. I wanted to spend some time with T during the day & get some adoption forms finished. We went down around 6 and met the other set of grandparents there. They couldn't wait to see him either and just had to get their hands on him. Both just held and rocked Calvin. We were able to spend a couple hours with him and then came home late that night. Calvin was stable, still had higher heart rate and breathing. He still seemed to be congested.
Wednesday: Today was a long day! Justin & I went down around 9 so we could be there for rounds. We heard the docs talk about what they felt they needed to do for him now. He was still congested and seemed to have a lot of gunk in his nose. They chose to try some drops to decongest his nose. We got to hold him & love on him. We met the Cardiologist and she explained the procedures and when they would typically do them. We loved her, she was great & explained everything well! We had lots of visitors, friends & family both. Grandparents came down again today. While they were there and we were getting ready to go home to see T, because we had been there all day, Calvin's heart rate spiked. All of a sudden the doctors & nurses came out of the woodwork. They told us what they were going to do and it sounded like a great plan. I was so scared & didn't want to watch, I went to the corner & hid in a chair behind my parents. I could still see the monitor so I could check on his vitals. Justin stayed right there. He watched patiently, I am sure he was praying hard for little Calvin. I know I was! They were able to get his heart back into rhythm and he seemed to settle down. We left an hour later, left him in good hands with grandma & grandpa.
Thursday, Christmas Eve: Justin had to work for a while so again we went down to visit with Calvin after he was done working. Great Grandpa (my grandpa) rode down with us. I am so glad he did, he got to see and talk to Calvin for a while. Then he played Go Fish with T. Calvin had done well that day, higher heart rate & breathing, but he was stable. I didn't get to hold him today because they were trying to keep him on his side to help with the congestion.
Friday, Christmas Day: We got up, opened gifts and then I sent a picture to my in-laws. They texted and said to take our time because they were with Calvin. I almost cried, I was so thankful someone was with him. I knew we were not going to be able to get to him for a while and when we did it would be short. While we were doing Christmas with my family, we got a call that Calvin's heart rate skyrocketed again! Grandma & Grandpa didn't like that at all! I was so glad they were there though & were able to sit with him and sing to him when it was over. They were not able to hold him again today. We also got a call about putting a pick line in to help getting him meds in a hurry if needed. We continued on with Christmas. Later we got another call saying they were going to transfer him tomorrow to a bigger hospital, one with heart surgeons. Justin & I finally finished up Christmas with family & went down to see Calvin. We spend about 3 hours with him & I even got to hold him. It was such a blessing. He calmed down while I was holding him. They started him on medicines and his heart rate & breathing were a little lower. He was still stable and seemed to be doing ok. We drove to Justin's parents house after yet another Christmas later that evening so we would be closer to Calvin when he was transferred.
Having a child in the NICU isn't easy. It is so hard to watch them suffer. It is hard on us as we just sit and wait. When I can hold him it does help the time go faster. It is hard on the son we have at home. 5 days in NICU was a long time. Some families had been there a lot longer than us. I don't know how they do it! Hospitals are not my thing, I don't really like them. hehe Being in the hospital and not even knowing what to do for your child is even less of my thing. All I want to do it take him home. T wants him to come home! This week has been full of joys, tears, excitement, fear, and strength. Adoption is a roller coaster ride, but so is the NICU. I was told it's ok to be a basket case. Which is good, cuz more than likely I will be for a while.
The amount of strength that you ALL have shown, is such an inspiration! You are right...God knew that you guys were the perfect fit for Calvin!! Praying for everyone involved in his care!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Katie! All this strength comes from God himself. There is no way I could do this on my own.
ReplyDelete