Rikr's baby adventure!
We went to the doctor today. Got first set of pictures. Steph is 15 weeks, but we don't know what it is yet.
I was bummed; I want to know. Steph said she didn't see a stem, but we'll know for sure next month.
Due date is Feb 5, 2008. I can't wait.

Lolanae
17 years ago
Glad to hear she is still making good progress. Your little one has a huge support force cheering for her.

ROzbeans
17 years ago
So it sounds like they'll probably let her go right around if she had went full term, right? In about 5 weeks I'm due and I think Steph was about a week ahead of me. You're a good man, Don, I know it must be hard but you guys are doing what's best for your baby girl and she'll come out of it, right as rain =)

Rikr
17 years ago
Here's my new update. I've been so entrenched in everything going on around me, I forget to post updates here. I read everyone elses updates and never think to put mine up. 
Since the last post, her 2nd time to try to bottle feed, she did a little better. I think like 5cc's she got. On her third bottle try, she had bad refluxing and she stopped breathing. They had to get the bag out to get her going again. She was choking too much. They laid off of the bottles for a day, and Steph started talking to the nurses asking why in the hell wont the doctor put her on reflux meds. They started to say that the reflux meds don't work all that well...blah blah. Well Steph talked to enough nurses that I think they all told the Doctor at different times, and he put her on zantac I think it was. She was doing better, not quite as fussy. Then 3 days later took her back off. She has been doing ok, as far as the nurses and doctor have said anyway. The next day she ate a full bottle. They went up to 2 bottles a day and she did ok with that. Yesterday they bumped her to 3.
Last night Alexis weighed in at 4 pounds 14 ounces. If she isn't 5 pounds today, she should be tomorrow. I went to have some one on one time with her last night to give her one of her bottles. She did ok. Not as much as she normally does. She spent more time staring at me than eating. She's still so tiny at 5 pounds, but when I think back to her lowest weight at like 1 pound 13 ounces till now, it's night and day. She's getting chubbier, and still has a lot of chub to go.
Stephanie told me today that they have upped her bottle times again. She gets two bottle feedings then she gets one through the tube, then two bottle feedings, then one through the tube, etc. The told her today that we need to bring the car seat up. They will put her in her car seat to see how she does for a few days. (Well not all day long, but you know what I mean.) This means she's getting close to coming home. I'm sure the next step is going to be 3 bottles one tube, then all feedings from a bottle. When she is taking 8 feedings every 24 hours, they will monitor her heart rate to make sure it doesn't drop. When that is all good they will let us know we need to stay the night up there. If the night goes well, we go home with her. It could be as early as mid week next week! ( I won't know for sure, but could be earlier, or later, but the bottom line is she's almost home. )
When I send my updates out to my family, I don't hold anything back. Whatever I'm feeling, I let them know. I never understood why people keep journals, until now. It is an amazing release. I think if I kept that all inside for this entire 2 months, I would have hanged myself with with the elastic in my underwear.
)
A couple of my family members say I should write a book about the experience. I'm somewhat interested in that. I would say that I don't realistically think it would actually be a book, but maybe I can make a community website. There's lots of them, but you never know the people that are searching for something, that might come across mine. Maybe it would help some family get through the process. If it did that with one person or family, then it would be a success. Maybe this will be my 2008 project. While Alexis didn't have some of the problems that many other children did, I still think I can offer something to someone. Alexis isn't out of the woods yet, so I'm not beating my chest in victory just yet, but I think she's close to the start of a "normal" childhood.
I just wanted to thank all of you for your support over the past couple of months. It means a lot to us.
-Don

Since the last post, her 2nd time to try to bottle feed, she did a little better. I think like 5cc's she got. On her third bottle try, she had bad refluxing and she stopped breathing. They had to get the bag out to get her going again. She was choking too much. They laid off of the bottles for a day, and Steph started talking to the nurses asking why in the hell wont the doctor put her on reflux meds. They started to say that the reflux meds don't work all that well...blah blah. Well Steph talked to enough nurses that I think they all told the Doctor at different times, and he put her on zantac I think it was. She was doing better, not quite as fussy. Then 3 days later took her back off. She has been doing ok, as far as the nurses and doctor have said anyway. The next day she ate a full bottle. They went up to 2 bottles a day and she did ok with that. Yesterday they bumped her to 3.
Last night Alexis weighed in at 4 pounds 14 ounces. If she isn't 5 pounds today, she should be tomorrow. I went to have some one on one time with her last night to give her one of her bottles. She did ok. Not as much as she normally does. She spent more time staring at me than eating. She's still so tiny at 5 pounds, but when I think back to her lowest weight at like 1 pound 13 ounces till now, it's night and day. She's getting chubbier, and still has a lot of chub to go.
Stephanie told me today that they have upped her bottle times again. She gets two bottle feedings then she gets one through the tube, then two bottle feedings, then one through the tube, etc. The told her today that we need to bring the car seat up. They will put her in her car seat to see how she does for a few days. (Well not all day long, but you know what I mean.) This means she's getting close to coming home. I'm sure the next step is going to be 3 bottles one tube, then all feedings from a bottle. When she is taking 8 feedings every 24 hours, they will monitor her heart rate to make sure it doesn't drop. When that is all good they will let us know we need to stay the night up there. If the night goes well, we go home with her. It could be as early as mid week next week! ( I won't know for sure, but could be earlier, or later, but the bottom line is she's almost home. )
When I send my updates out to my family, I don't hold anything back. Whatever I'm feeling, I let them know. I never understood why people keep journals, until now. It is an amazing release. I think if I kept that all inside for this entire 2 months, I would have hanged myself with with the elastic in my underwear.

A couple of my family members say I should write a book about the experience. I'm somewhat interested in that. I would say that I don't realistically think it would actually be a book, but maybe I can make a community website. There's lots of them, but you never know the people that are searching for something, that might come across mine. Maybe it would help some family get through the process. If it did that with one person or family, then it would be a success. Maybe this will be my 2008 project. While Alexis didn't have some of the problems that many other children did, I still think I can offer something to someone. Alexis isn't out of the woods yet, so I'm not beating my chest in victory just yet, but I think she's close to the start of a "normal" childhood.
I just wanted to thank all of you for your support over the past couple of months. It means a lot to us.
-Don
Den
17 years ago
Awww...that is just supper Don. Daddy must be feeling a lot of relief, and joy at the prospects of having his little girl at home. I'm so glad for you all and will continue to keep you in my prayers. Good luck with the coming week, and gratz again on the wonderful news.

ROzbeans
17 years ago
I think you should start a blog of your experience, Don. What you're going through is not uncommon and I'm sure there are lots of parents who'd take comfort in sharing their experience with someone who can relate. =) Good luck on her being home soon!

Lolanae
17 years ago
YAY! Glad to hear Alexis is doing well. =)))
I agree on writing a blog of your experiences with this all. Stories like yours will help educate and give hope to families that have premies and NICU babies.
I agree on writing a blog of your experiences with this all. Stories like yours will help educate and give hope to families that have premies and NICU babies.

Beli
17 years ago
I've been reading this thread on and off hungry for updates. I'm really glad she's getting stronger all the time.
I agree with the blog sentiments or some way to record your feelings. I was born with a disability and when my parents discovered this, my father sat down and wrote me a letter about his feelings and his determination to help me overcome. He stuffed it into an envelope with written instructions not to open it until I was 19 years old. It was left in my baby book and boy, I was dying to know what was in the letter and somehow I waited until my 19th birthday like a good girl before opening it. I didn't know what to expect, but I saw his raw feelings and the enormous amount of love that was pouring out the day he wrote it. I see the same sentiments as you write about your daughter, how you just want to shoulder her burdens and not let her suffer in any way. The letter was almost like looking at a photograph -- a snapshot in time. It's worth doing.
(BTW, my mom had no clue what he wrote all that time either. She knew about it, but he didn't tell her what was in it.)
I agree with the blog sentiments or some way to record your feelings. I was born with a disability and when my parents discovered this, my father sat down and wrote me a letter about his feelings and his determination to help me overcome. He stuffed it into an envelope with written instructions not to open it until I was 19 years old. It was left in my baby book and boy, I was dying to know what was in the letter and somehow I waited until my 19th birthday like a good girl before opening it. I didn't know what to expect, but I saw his raw feelings and the enormous amount of love that was pouring out the day he wrote it. I see the same sentiments as you write about your daughter, how you just want to shoulder her burdens and not let her suffer in any way. The letter was almost like looking at a photograph -- a snapshot in time. It's worth doing.

(BTW, my mom had no clue what he wrote all that time either. She knew about it, but he didn't tell her what was in it.)

Rikr
17 years ago
My baby girl finally came home today! We had to stay at the hospital for 24 hours before they would let her go. She's a fussy and often times cranky. (She likes to hear herself talk) And we had the pleasure of finding out that she IS a NIGHT OWL! With the NICU being open 24 hours a day, her schedule got a little twisted. It's going to take some time to fix her schedule.


She's come a long way and we still have some uphill battles ahead of us I'm sure. Like her hearing. She keeps failing one side on her hearing test. Could be fluid or something else not sure. Lots of doctors visits and lots of follow-ups. I cant wait till I can hear her voice calling my name.


She's come a long way and we still have some uphill battles ahead of us I'm sure. Like her hearing. She keeps failing one side on her hearing test. Could be fluid or something else not sure. Lots of doctors visits and lots of follow-ups. I cant wait till I can hear her voice calling my name.

Den
17 years ago
OMG!!! She's gotten so big! What a cutie!! Congrats on having her home and with you all the time now, and that she's doing so much better! *hugs*

ROzbeans
17 years ago
Wow she does look big! Congrats on finally being able to bring your baby girl home, don! /HUG

Lolanae
17 years ago
WAHHHHOOOOOO!
She's sooo gorgeous! I'm so happy that you guys got to bring her home. Good luck with everything!
She's sooo gorgeous! I'm so happy that you guys got to bring her home. Good luck with everything!

Rikr
17 years ago
Thanks guys.
!


Eve
17 years ago
Awesome news! And I agree, she's getting so big!

Lessa
17 years ago
woot grats hun!

Temprah
17 years ago
Awesome news, congratulations!!!!! And wow yes she does look so big compared to the other pics.

Rikr
17 years ago
One more pic.....

Den
17 years ago
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! I can almost smell her sweet baby breath, what an angel


Lolanae
17 years ago
Got to love how peaceful they look!
How's life been with her at home? All is going well I hope!
How's life been with her at home? All is going well I hope!
Lunna
17 years ago
awwwww what a sweet photo! So cute!

Laschae
17 years ago
Aww so sweet. So glad to hear she's finally home!