A picture speaks a thousand words

Friday, March 11, 2011
Cayleigh Jean is 22 days old

Tonights blog isn't going to be long, it isn't going to be in depth with a play by play of the days events. Instead, I am going to let photographs speak volumes. I am going to remember every moment, not with words, but with pictures. I will tell of some of the days events for our remembering when she's older and we look back on this blog.

Today is the day that a huge earthquake hit Japan which was followed by a huge tsunami. When I woke up at 7:30 to pump I logged onto Facebook to read feedback and be inspired by the prayers of others and scriptures, songs and support we get from friends and family. My brother posted something about a tsunami hitting San Fran this morning and I called to my husband. Meanwhile, I checked online (google) and then on the National Weather Service website and saw that the effects of the tsunami were to be hitting San Fran at 8:15 am. By this time it was 7:47 am. My baby is in San Francisco. Tell me what you would do.

Me? I prayed. Right then, right there. I posted a caps lock status (which, I hope gets attention) and asked for others to pray as well. I prayed some more. Nic came in the room and I told him about what I read. He told me not to panic and that he was going to check the news. He came back upstairs and said it was serious. He picked up the phone and called UCSF. We asked about evacuations they may be doing or if we would be able to get to her (we can evacuate her ourselves!). They said to relax, they are on the 15th floor and the hospital is up high on a hill. and, it is. But still, I prayed and continued to pray. And at 8:15 I called the hospital again myself to check on Cayleigh.

I spoke to the nurse, she said the weather was fine. Said that Cayleigh had somes A's & B's at the 'same time as last night'. Around 1-2 am. Apnea & Brachicardia - which is like low O2 and low heartrate. When she gets this she turns blue. It is terrifying. TERRIFYING. I've been witness to this. I lay hands on her and just pray in tongues. The nurses are very calm and care for her, suctioning her nose and mouth and rouse her slightly with moving her and whatnot. It always ends up ok after (what seems like an HOUR) a few seconds - but its terrifying, in case I hadn't mentioned that. She tells me they've reduced her from the 15 ml a half hour back to the 10 ml (which, I didn't know they'd tried to increase her thankyouverymuch). I say ok and I tell her my mom and dad would be up to see her this morning and that we'd be up later on. (they were going to watch the kids for us).

My mom tells me, after they've left the hospital, that the nurse told her the EEG test showed no seizures *PRAISES* She also tells me they have started her secretion reducing medicine.
We end up leaving at 3:30 and just catch the very beginning of the traffic at the SF Bay Bridge. Thankfully we make it there by like 5. We get there and notice her heartrate is up in the 190s. Nic and I are a bit alarmed. She also has on two small 'boot's that are plastic. They are, apparently, preparing her legs and she will be wearing them until the casts are ready. There is also a small pink harness. The nurse tells us that she had the harness on but when they put it on her she had a pretty severe A & B. I ask why, she said that they might not have suctioned her very good before they put it on her. Well, then, DUH- do it.

I'm very frustrated this evening. Nic and I had a wonderful time holding her for almost 2 hours total and she was perfect the entire time. Heartrate came down to the 170s and her O2 was good. It is very possibly what heaven feels like when you hold your infant babies head on your chest so she can hear your heart, and you rock her and you sing to her. It is a beautiful thing.

The nurse told us she didn't have a fever or any other symptoms associated with the higher heartrate. Another nurse, Annie (who isn't our nurse but we like) tells us that she would probably be irritated too with those plastic boots on her feet and that probably is why her heartrate is a little higher. I think Nic probably agrees with me that we think its a result of this new medicine.

Cayleigh had another A&B right before I last held her when I came back into the room with Nic (during their shift change the parents cant be in the room apparently. we were booted out to the waiting room) and it terrified me like it always does. Nic says I do a little hop (jump) and get all paniced. Yeah, I probably do. The A&Bs are from secretions plugging her up. I hate it. I want her to 'wake up' as I think it and for her throat to start swallowing. I keep praying for it and I won't stop - ever. She's my sweetheart. She is perfect in my eyes, its that stupid secretion that is messing things up. *sigh* And when the night nurse was at the baby next to us' crib about to get ready to start a new IV (but had to wait on another nurse to start that) she took her sweet time getting over to Cayleighs crib while her O2 and heartrate were nearing 70. WAY too low. It made me upset and I asked her "How low does it have to get to get you to come over here quickly"

She seemed slightly offended. I didn't care in the least. When my baby has low stats you jump. That's how I see it. Thankfully, the day nurse briefly trained Nic and I on suctioning her. She warned that if a nurse isn't coming quick or is busy at another baby we want to be able to do it ourselves too. She said to tell whoever is Cayleighs nurse that she said it was ok. I like her. I don't know her name, I don't know most of their names, but I liked her.

So, I guess I did blog a bit - but here are a bunch of pictures because I think these speak so much more than I do...and better.

Before I go, please pray that Cayleigh starts swallowing. Pray that Cayleigh doesn't have anymore A's & B's. I mean it - even when she gets to school she can get a C and I'd be good with it. I promise.

Thank you so much and please don't ever forget to pray for her. Though I don't deserve you guys she does - and she needs our prayers. so bless you all and thank you. If you think of it, please add her to your prayer list at church on Sunday.