[:::Dan!elle:::]

So he is still in the hospital-they had to transfer me to another hospital about 40 miles away. I got released last night but he has to stay. We spent last night in a little "hotel" like thing the hospital has and just came home for a bit to shower and get more clothes. He is doing ok-could be better. At first he was just on some oxygen through his nose, but the carbon dioxide levels in his blood are too high-which means that he's not exhaling as well as he should. So, last night they intubated him and also put 2 catheters into his belly button. One is just for IV fluids and to draw blood-the other is to give him TPN-total nutrition since he's not able to eat. His breathing has been too fast for him to eat anything by mouth. They check his blood gas level every few hours too see how he's doing. When they first started him on the ventilator he was getting 70% oxygen and the pressure was at 26. Before we left last night they had decreased the oxygen to 63% and the pressure to 24. This morning when we got there the oxygen had been decreased to 48%! Which is great because that means he's doing more on his own. His x rays are still showing imature lungs. We aren't able to hold him. We got to hold him right after he was born and the other night I got to do the "kangaroo care" where I hold him on my bare chest. Other than that, we haven't been able to. He's hooked up to so many things right now, which is making it really hard. I'm doing ok-it's really hard to see him like this. Dave, I think, is having a hard time. He doesn't say much, but I can just tell by the way he acts when we go see him. I will post my birth story soon, but probably won't be back on here for another day or so. Here's some pics.




This is from Sunday before he got hooked up to everything


This was taken just this morning.


I know how many of you want your baby's now, but I can honestly say that I wish I was still pregnant. I wish that I would have been able to protect him longer. It was hard being pregnant-in preterm labor and in and out of the hospital-but I would give anything right now for him to be able to come home-or just to be able to hold him.

[scorpioqueen]

{{{HUGS}}} Danielle, I can only guess at how hard it must be. Thoughts are with you and Dave and the baby right now and I hope he is able to come home soon!!!

{I'll check out the pics when I get home)

[calleo]

Oh Danielle, he's beautiful! It must be so hard for you two right now but it sounds like Evan's making good progress. Thank you for posting your pictures. What a tough little guy!

[Dreamsinpink2010]

So he is still in the hospital-they had to transfer me to another hospital about 40 miles away. I got released last night but he has to stay. We spent last night in a little "hotel" like thing the hospital has and just came home for a bit to shower and get more clothes. He is doing ok-could be better. At first he was just on some oxygen through his nose, but the carbon dioxide levels in his blood are too high-which means that he's not exhaling as well as he should. So, last night they intubated him and also put 2 catheters into his belly button. One is just for IV fluids and to draw blood-the other is to give him TPN-total nutrition since he's not able to eat. His breathing has been too fast for him to eat anything by mouth. They check his blood gas level every few hours too see how he's doing. When they first started him on the ventilator he was getting 70% oxygen and the pressure was at 26. Before we left last night they had decreased the oxygen to 63% and the pressure to 24. This morning when we got there the oxygen had been decreased to 48%! Which is great because that means he's doing more on his own. His x rays are still showing imature lungs. We aren't able to hold him. We got to hold him right after he was born and the other night I got to do the "kangaroo care" where I hold him on my bare chest. Other than that, we haven't been able to. He's hooked up to so many things right now, which is making it really hard. I'm doing ok-it's really hard to see him like this. Dave, I think, is having a hard time. He doesn't say much, but I can just tell by the way he acts when we go see him. I will post my birth story soon, but probably won't be back on here for another day or so. Here's some pics.




This is from Sunday before he got hooked up to everything


This was taken just this morning.


I know how many of you want your baby's now, but I can honestly say that I wish I was still pregnant. I wish that I would have been able to protect him longer. It was hard being pregnant-in preterm labor and in and out of the hospital-but I would give anything right now for him to be able to come home-or just to be able to hold him.[/b]

He's beautiful!! Congratulations!!!!

[~Paula~]

Aww poor baby!! I hope and pray he continues to improve and that the next update we get from you, he's perfect! I can only imagine how hard this is on you and your dh. He is so adorable though, he looks like a really good size to be so eary! He's just precious!
Again, my thoughts and prayers are with you guys! Take care!

[ashtree06]

Congratulations! I am glad to hear that he is making some progress with his breathing, and he is absolutely beautiful! I will pray that he will be able to come home very soon!!!

[jjjmommy]

Be strong Danielle. I am now resolved to do everything I can to keep my little one inside for a little while longer. I will no longer complain about PTL so long as they can stop it. I hope that Evan gets to come home real soon. He is precious.

[jhkharris]

I just said a prayer for you and your little guy. I don't know how hard it would be not to be able to hold him whenever you want. I hope you can bring him home soon.

[peacoxx]

I will keep you all in my prayers, i know this has to be extremely difficult, but God is good and all things will work out for the good.

You are definitely right about not rushing having the babies. I have to remind DH all the time that although i want Junior here NOW that it's not the time. He's always saying, he'll be fine bla bla, and I tell him, that he should cook for a few more weeks (i mean of course we are having a c/s) but i don't want to go into preterm labor. I hate to see babies hooked up to anything, even if it's harmless. There is definitely a reason why it is not recommended before a certain time, and sometimes it's uncontrollable.

I know it's a sensitive subject so i hope i haven't hurt anyones feelings. I would love to have the baby now too, but i don't want to have to go through what Danielle is going through if I don't have to ya know?

Evan is still precious though! A cutie just like his big brother.

[*Ashley*]

Congratulations Danielle, he is just beautiful. I am glad that he is making progress and I hope and pray that he will be home soon. I will keep him and your family in my prayers for a speedy recovery. I am sorry that you had to go through all of this but I know he will get better soon and you will be able to hold him in your arms and take him home.

[Brittanie]

Oh, poor little Evan! I can't imagine how hard it is for you to see your son connected to all of that, because it's hard for me to see! My thoughts and prayers with Evan, and the two of you as well.


I've been telling Rielle that she'd better stay in there a little longer, so hopefully she'll listen!

[SusieQ2]

He is beautiful! Look at all of that gorgeous hair! I'm glad that his breathing has improved. I hope that he will be able to come home soon so that you can hold him in your arms for as long as you want. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[giorgia]

Don't feel guilty danielle. We all know everything you went through was really tiring and you did what you could to keep baby baking as long as possible. Now you just have to be strong and let him feel all the love you have for him, when you get a chance to hold him. Good luck to all the family, everything will be ok!!

[*tacii]

He's gorgeous! Congratulations! I know the NICU is a hard place to be and how difficult it is seeing your baby in that setting. Hang in there and take it one step at a time. The NICU really is a 1 step forward, 2 step backwards process, but he's getting the best care possible and he'll be home with you guys in no time! Rest up as much as you can. Sounds like he'll be off the ventilator in no time.

[mikala101505]

congrats and you guys are in my prayers. he's a cutie and he has lots of hair! hope he gets to come home soon.

[mrsroseblack]

He's really beautiful... he has gorgeous skin and I love all that dark hair.

to you. I realize we are being impatient and this will help me to bide my time and be thankful that my baby is baking a little longer. I'm sorry you can't hold him or bring him home... that breaks my heart. He will be home soon though and you will be able to do whatever you want with him.

We're here for you!!!

[texasmelgal]

He is so beautiful!! I'm glad he's doing better on his breathing. he'll be home in no time. Big hugs!!

[Lunagrace]

Danielle, he is just so beautiful. I know this is rough right now. You are all in my thoughts. Please do not be hard on yourself for any thoughts or feelings you had before his arrival. He is making good progress and will be home in no time. You and your husband will hold him as much as you want so soon. Be strong and if you need a place to vent, you know we are here for you, Sweetie.

[trivos]

He is so gorgeous! I know this must be hard. You guys are a beautiful family! I will be praying that he will continue to make quick progress so you can bring your little man home.

[sarah*]

he is absoloutley beautiful you are really strong too!! its excellent his down to 48% i hope he continues to get stronger and you can take him home asap