Today was a busy day! We started off the day with a visit from Auntie Cyndi and Kelli! They arrived just as my breakfast arrived, so we did a little catch up visit while I ate. Than we headed on down to see Emerson. When we got down to the nursery, we found out that Emerson was off the bili lights completely. YAY! Unfortunately, this did cause his temperature to drop, so he needed to stay in his isolette until his temperature regulated. So we ooo'd and ahhhh'd at him through the isolette :)
I was pretty tired, and part of my incision was bleeding from to much activity, so decided to take it easy and get a nap in until Grant was coming up at 2pm. My nurse also suggested putting an ice pack on the incision where it burned. She said that it was probably a hot spot. That did give me a little relief. Around 1:30, Denise arrived for a visit. We waited for Grant to arrive to head down. Emerson's echo cardiogram was scheduled for late morning, so I was also a little anxious to hear the results. Denise and I headed down to the nursery
about 10 minutes to 2 and I texted Grant to meet us down there.
When we arrived in the nursery, they were still doing the echo cardiogram. Emerson was fidgety through the procedure so it was taking a little bit longer than expected. He really doesn't like the nurses/doctors messing with him! LOL This was the first time Denise aka Grandma was seeing Emerson, so one of the techs performing the echo let her squeeze in by the isolette. They were just wrapping up the echo and Grant arrived. Dr. Boxwalla, the neonatologist, was there to go over the echo on video conference with the cardiologist at Detroit Childrens Hospital. The cardiologist and ultrasound tech went over the pictures from the echo, and than the cardiologist asked to see mom and dad. He confirmed that Emerson does have an atrioventricular canal defect and surgery would be needed at 6 months. We will monitor his feedings until than, and as long as he is consistently gaining weight the surgery would be ok at 6 months. If he seems like he has slowed down on weight gain, and we have tried to supplement and he still can not gain than the surgery may be needed earlier. The earliest they would operate is at 4 months old. We would need to make an appointment to see the cardiologist at two weeks from Emerson's discharge. The doctors at Detroit Childrens Hospital and Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital will be working together until Emerson's discharge in regards to medications, procedures, etc.
After the video conference with Detroit Children's, Dr. Boxwalla went over the heart defect with us again. I really like this doctor. He is so kind and compassionate, explaining things in full detail. He drew diagrams to explain everything to us which was helpful! We also asked him about the digestive issues that we thought might come up with Emerson with the down syndrome diagnosis. He explained those in detail to us as well, and reassured us that those issues would show in the first 48 hours, and Emerson is tolerating feedings and peeing and pooping just fine, so we can rule those out. There is one issue we may come across once his calories are higher. Part of the intestine may be smaller so its harder to digest food. If Emerson starts to have
consistent constipation issues this may be the problem, but we have a little bit of time before we can completely rule this issue out as well.
Even though we were hearing what we already knew. it was still hard to hear. It just made me really sad. I wish I could just make things all better for him. :( Dr. Boxwalla did mention that Emerson's platelets were a little low, not low enough for a transfusion yet. But they were keeping an eye on it. They were expecting this since I had low platelets through my entire pregnancy. Hoping those platelets come up for baby boy!
Jen arrived for a visit just as we were ending the talk with Dr. Boxwalla. So I headed back to the room while Grant and Denise continued to visit Emerson. I was in quite a bit of pain today, and one of my incisions started bleeding from to much activity. So we just visited in my room for a little bit before heading back down to see Emerson. The nurse came in so I told her about my new pains and she thought they were a hot spot so gave me some ice packs, which seemed to help! I took Jen back down to see Emerson, and of course we took a million pictures :)
Grant and I headed down one more time for Emerson's 8pm feeding, where I got to hold him :) I ended up getting pretty emotional since the doctors mentioned they were discharging me tomorrow. It seemed to soon to be away from him. :( I am on restrictions for two weeks so would be going home and coming back with Grant each day. I never imagined leaving the hospital without him :( Grant stayed with me a little while longer , reassuring me everything would be ok.
We ended the night on a positive note - I got a little bit of my first breast milk for Emerson! It was only a few drops, but it was something! Grant rushed it down to the nursery so the nurses could drop it in his mouth. That made me happy :)
Notes from MyPreemieApp
September 10, 2013 – Today Emerson Robert Goulet is 3 days old and weighs 2 lbs 15 ozs. The nurses taking care of Emerson Robert Goulet are Angela, Anne, Christi and Nicole.
Something happened for the first time. Feeding: Emerson got his first few drops of breast milk!
We made progress. Food Increased: Up to 8 CC's
Jaundice Improvement: No longer under bili lights
Another big event. Visitors: Cyndi, Kelly, Denise, Jen
Echocardiogram: Was performed while conferencing with Children's Hospital. The news we received was what we already knew.
Melissa is feeling Sad.
Melissa is looking forward to: Next feeding time with Emerson!
Melissa is grateful for: being able to be part of the video conferencing with Detroit Childrens Hospital. And for Dr. Boxwalla explaining everything in great detail for us. He is an amazing doctor!
I was pretty tired, and part of my incision was bleeding from to much activity, so decided to take it easy and get a nap in until Grant was coming up at 2pm. My nurse also suggested putting an ice pack on the incision where it burned. She said that it was probably a hot spot. That did give me a little relief. Around 1:30, Denise arrived for a visit. We waited for Grant to arrive to head down. Emerson's echo cardiogram was scheduled for late morning, so I was also a little anxious to hear the results. Denise and I headed down to the nursery
about 10 minutes to 2 and I texted Grant to meet us down there.
When we arrived in the nursery, they were still doing the echo cardiogram. Emerson was fidgety through the procedure so it was taking a little bit longer than expected. He really doesn't like the nurses/doctors messing with him! LOL This was the first time Denise aka Grandma was seeing Emerson, so one of the techs performing the echo let her squeeze in by the isolette. They were just wrapping up the echo and Grant arrived. Dr. Boxwalla, the neonatologist, was there to go over the echo on video conference with the cardiologist at Detroit Childrens Hospital. The cardiologist and ultrasound tech went over the pictures from the echo, and than the cardiologist asked to see mom and dad. He confirmed that Emerson does have an atrioventricular canal defect and surgery would be needed at 6 months. We will monitor his feedings until than, and as long as he is consistently gaining weight the surgery would be ok at 6 months. If he seems like he has slowed down on weight gain, and we have tried to supplement and he still can not gain than the surgery may be needed earlier. The earliest they would operate is at 4 months old. We would need to make an appointment to see the cardiologist at two weeks from Emerson's discharge. The doctors at Detroit Childrens Hospital and Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital will be working together until Emerson's discharge in regards to medications, procedures, etc.
After the video conference with Detroit Children's, Dr. Boxwalla went over the heart defect with us again. I really like this doctor. He is so kind and compassionate, explaining things in full detail. He drew diagrams to explain everything to us which was helpful! We also asked him about the digestive issues that we thought might come up with Emerson with the down syndrome diagnosis. He explained those in detail to us as well, and reassured us that those issues would show in the first 48 hours, and Emerson is tolerating feedings and peeing and pooping just fine, so we can rule those out. There is one issue we may come across once his calories are higher. Part of the intestine may be smaller so its harder to digest food. If Emerson starts to have
consistent constipation issues this may be the problem, but we have a little bit of time before we can completely rule this issue out as well.
Even though we were hearing what we already knew. it was still hard to hear. It just made me really sad. I wish I could just make things all better for him. :( Dr. Boxwalla did mention that Emerson's platelets were a little low, not low enough for a transfusion yet. But they were keeping an eye on it. They were expecting this since I had low platelets through my entire pregnancy. Hoping those platelets come up for baby boy!
Jen arrived for a visit just as we were ending the talk with Dr. Boxwalla. So I headed back to the room while Grant and Denise continued to visit Emerson. I was in quite a bit of pain today, and one of my incisions started bleeding from to much activity. So we just visited in my room for a little bit before heading back down to see Emerson. The nurse came in so I told her about my new pains and she thought they were a hot spot so gave me some ice packs, which seemed to help! I took Jen back down to see Emerson, and of course we took a million pictures :)
Grant and I headed down one more time for Emerson's 8pm feeding, where I got to hold him :) I ended up getting pretty emotional since the doctors mentioned they were discharging me tomorrow. It seemed to soon to be away from him. :( I am on restrictions for two weeks so would be going home and coming back with Grant each day. I never imagined leaving the hospital without him :( Grant stayed with me a little while longer , reassuring me everything would be ok.
We ended the night on a positive note - I got a little bit of my first breast milk for Emerson! It was only a few drops, but it was something! Grant rushed it down to the nursery so the nurses could drop it in his mouth. That made me happy :)
Notes from MyPreemieApp
September 10, 2013 – Today Emerson Robert Goulet is 3 days old and weighs 2 lbs 15 ozs. The nurses taking care of Emerson Robert Goulet are Angela, Anne, Christi and Nicole.
Something happened for the first time. Feeding: Emerson got his first few drops of breast milk!
We made progress. Food Increased: Up to 8 CC's
Jaundice Improvement: No longer under bili lights
Another big event. Visitors: Cyndi, Kelly, Denise, Jen
Echocardiogram: Was performed while conferencing with Children's Hospital. The news we received was what we already knew.
Melissa is feeling Sad.
Melissa is looking forward to: Next feeding time with Emerson!
Melissa is grateful for: being able to be part of the video conferencing with Detroit Childrens Hospital. And for Dr. Boxwalla explaining everything in great detail for us. He is an amazing doctor!
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