Sunday, August 16, 2009

Vent Session

It's amazing how fast we are starting to move from understanding to downright bitter that we are not able to hold our daughter. It has almost been a month and she has only been held twice. Rest assured that starting tomorrow we will start to push really hard for us to start to hold her. We find it offensive that we are not allowed to hold her or even pick her up to do her cares when they have to find an extra nurse to do that anyway. Messing with medicine, giving her shots, fixing monitors, yes the nurses can do and should do that as we are not qualified. But who is more qualified to hold their own baby and care for her than her parents? Our nurses seem to understand this and want to let us, but they are nervous to let us do that as they think the doctors will be upset if they see us hold her.

As far as her status goes, things are moving, but moving slowly. She is still being sprinted on the nasal cannula, now going on three days. They were giving her 2 hours a shift on the cannula now moved to 3 hours a shift. They want to evaluate every 3 days, so unless they increase the evaluation time or increase the rate of time spent on the cannula, she will be on the CPAP for another month. Hopefully, that will not be the case since she really seems to like the nasal cannula. When we were in today (stayed for 3 hours) she was sleeping like an angel for almost all of that and her breathing looked at ease.

She is up to 3.5 mL an hour on her feeding. We are noticing her rooting reflex now when she is awake, so we want to start dry feeding so Michelle and Karsie can bond as they have not been able to do. For any of you keeping score, Karsie is about 6 lbs. now. We also want her to do one of her feeds by bottle so she keeps her sucking and swallowing reflex, but we're sure that will depend what her respiratory rate is (and of course if the doctors okay it).

Stitches still look good.

Wish us luck tomorrow as we are planning on setting up a family conference with the doctors and plan on bringing up all of our concerns. We want to hold her and we think we have been patient enough as the doctors don't seem too concerned anymore about the stitches (at least they are more confident in the foam support).

4 comments:

  1. Praying you all get to hold her again real soon! Good luck with your conference. I will pray that God gives you the right words to say/questions to ask with confidence. And that you get the answers you are looking for! :)
    -Sarah B

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  2. Good luck on your meeting tomorrow!! I really hope you get to hold your beautiful daughter SOON!

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  3. oh, i so hope the doctors will be more than happy to allow you to hold your precious karsie more. i'm no medical expert, but isn't it well known that babies do so much better healthwise and mentally when they are allowed as much skin-to-skin contact as possible? i understand your situation is a little different, but i can't imagine the longing in your heart to just hold your sweet little baby. i'll be praying specifically for that.

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  4. I hope the conference goes well, and everyone comes to understand exactly what the issues are, and how to meet all the challenges - as a united team.

    At the center is Karsie.
    Ideally, hand in hand surrounding her, are Michelle & Kevin, doctors, family members, nurses, caregivers, friends and so on.
    All will hopefully lend their strengths and expertise in their roles in making Karsie well.

    I pray no-one sees themselves as at the top of a pyramid, more important in Karsies care than the others.
    I pray everyone sees themselves as they are, standing in a circle around her, there to do their part.

    I pray everyone shares their expertise and opinions and feelings, so that everyone in that circle around Karsie - can dance in synch together to her unique tune of life.

    If everyone in that circle puts Karsie first, and understands the importance of everyone elses expertise....including being loved! Then, I think the team will heal and treat and love and support and cure and bless that child, all the more effectively!

    I pray, her circle of loving caregivers works in harmony and understanding, to get her well and home as soon as possible! I pray her circle shrinks down to her parents and family and friends....and her 'experts' diminish into the background sooner rather than later!

    But for now, bless the experts, and thank you Lord for their roles in keeping Karsie here, and may they be so effective they are not needed for long!
    And Lord, I pray Michelle & Kevin can hold their baby soon?
    Jen.

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