Hey guys! Whew! What an adventure we just had, huh? We had a baby, pneumonia, a pulmonary embolism, IVs, respiratory treatments, countless specialists, lactation consultants, nice nurses and crazy nurses. The little time we had to ourselves we spent sleeping and eating.
Now we're finally home, and onto the big challenge of adjusting to newborn life... sure I just went through something life-threatening, but this is the big time!
Melanie is a little night owl and spoiled rotten with being held so much, so we're being challenged a little bit in the middle of the night... but Brian and I are determined to get Melanie on a set schedule and hopefully soon, since he's going back to work on Monday. Cross your fingers for us!
Chunk and Tonka are adjusting as expected to Melanie. They want to lick her all over and sometimes I underestimate the length of their tongues and they get a few lickings before I'm able to push them away. Chunk is getting less and less interested in Melanie, but not all the time. Tonka hasn't had as much socialization because of all the activity around the house. But what we've seen has been very promising - Tonka's interested, but he seems more gentle than Chunk at investigating Melanie. Both dogs still aren't trusted unsupervised with Melanie, but we'll get there. And I guess all the months in my womb have acclimated Melanie to the weird doggy noises, so she's okay with them.
My supply has definitely come in and Melanie is a great encourager to keep it coming! We were so worried I wouldn't be able to provide for Melanie, with all the medical interventions and complications we suffered, so this is a pretty big deal.
And that's pretty much all I have energy/physician clearance to do - eat, sleep, feed & maintain personal hygiene. I'm on antibiotics, iron pills, prenatals, and cumodin (blood thinner). I have a breathing gadget I'm supposed to use to open up my lungs and extract fluids from too.
So with those limitations, I haven't "nested" yet still. :) Big surprise, right? But everyone else seems to have caught the bug around me. Dana and Ken started while I was in labor and Mom, Dad, Brian and Mom2 have been tearing the house up, doing honey-do projects and deep cleaning since I've been home. I feel lazy and plain shitty watching everyone work their tails off... but everyone told me that this is what they WANT to do, and that I'm doing exactly what I should be doing.
I do have fears about how I'm going to handle being just me and Melanie on Tuesday morning when Mom and Dad leave. I've been spoiled with having family with me since last Wednesday, taking care of me and Melanie, and I don't want to deal with all the responsibility myself. Well, I got to let them get back to their lives eventually... but there is a house right across the street for rent...
Well, I'm going to wrap things up right now with an open invitation to everyone to swing by the house and meet Melanie. Just give us a call and we'll be here!
Love to you all - and thanks for all the well wishes, encouragements, prayers, thoughts, etc. We had no idea how much you like us - you really LIKE US!!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday...Will this be Discharge Day?!
Katie's got the green light from the pulmonary Dr. to go home today. She's just waiting on clearance from the OBGYN and it's home sweet home for the 2 ladies in waiting. Melanie's kinda gotten used to the bottle and hasn't instantly taken to the breast but Katie is sticking to it!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
From Katie's dad...AND MORE PICS BELOW!
Katie has been moved back to the women's health wing where she and Melanie were reunited. There are smiles on every face now and spirits are high. The lactation nurse arrived to help with the first real attempt. More practice is anticipated. It looks like Melanie will be "rooming in" with Katie for the time being. The room is quite large and has a second visitor's bed which will be put to use.
We have hopes that Melanie may be released tomorrow (Tuesday 3/23). Not only is she perfect, but she's gorgeous as well.
Katie has not had a fever in days. She's in very good spirits although she is still getting respiratory treatments and trying to clear her lungs of fluids. Coughing is encouraged. The clot issue seems to have taken a back seat now and everyone seems quite pleased that it has been addressed. Antibiotics continue and the focus is on getting Katie's o2 levels up. No estimated release date on her at this time.
We have hopes that Melanie may be released tomorrow (Tuesday 3/23). Not only is she perfect, but she's gorgeous as well.
Katie has not had a fever in days. She's in very good spirits although she is still getting respiratory treatments and trying to clear her lungs of fluids. Coughing is encouraged. The clot issue seems to have taken a back seat now and everyone seems quite pleased that it has been addressed. Antibiotics continue and the focus is on getting Katie's o2 levels up. No estimated release date on her at this time.
Monday, March 22, 2010
You Go Girl(s)!!
It gets better and better--Katie's temperature is still stable and she's improved from the IV Heparin to the oral Cumidin meds. She will also be transferred back to the maternity ward to be reunited with her little room mate! Katie's supply still has not come in yet (this is normal considering what her body's been through). But Melanie will soon be able to offer her assistance in that area, no doubt! :)
Sunday, March 21, 2010
She takes a lickin' & keeps on tickin'!
I spoke with Katie herself today and she was the upbeat energetic Katie we all know and love. Those 10 beautiful minutes she had with Melanie did wonders for her and she also had the first good night's sleep she's had in a while. She still caughed through the night, but it wasn't the nagging cough that kept her up like nights prior. They are going to ask if Melanie can go home today since she is at 100% (Katie says she's around 60%). Temperature is still stable.
The blood transfusion went well. Katie said the bags looked like hot sauce to her! But she's got a good amount now and that will also help her to regain her strength. She said Brian is doing okay, just ready to have his girls home.
The blood transfusion went well. Katie said the bags looked like hot sauce to her! But she's got a good amount now and that will also help her to regain her strength. She said Brian is doing okay, just ready to have his girls home.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
What a difference a day makes!
I'm so happy to report that Katie's temperature has come down! And since Melanie was missing Mommy, the nurses brought her for a little field trip to Mommy's room. Seeing her girl again just really put the wind in Katie's sails. Katie received a blood transfusion at 3ish today because her hemoglobin was down. And in probably the most surprising turn, Katie's lactation nurse did some deeper digging and found research to contradict dr's fears that the meds Katie is starting would be dangerous to Melanie. So the breast pump was brought back into the room and although Katie is still not producing much, she is getting the process going. :)
Friday, March 19, 2010
Emotional toll
Just got a call from Dad. He gave me more details. All along, Katie has put on such a brave face and finally broke down tonight before she was transferred to the other wing. The nurses took a risk bringing Melanie to her, but did so that Katie could have a few more moments with her before being away from her angel for 5-7 days. Once finished with the Heparin (which serves 2 purposes: to keep the clot from moving and breaks down the clot) she'll have to take Cumidin (another blood-thinner) for 6 months. You cannot breastfeed on this medication. So they returned the breast pump and this was another difficult moment.
Dad says Katie's been running on adrenaline and will soon pass out. I'm not certain about the discharge prerequisites, but assume there will be a follow-up CAT Scan to see if the clot is gone and her temp will still need to stabilize. Another stressor on Katie and Brian's mind is the financial ramifications. When I asked about Brian Dad used the word "overwhelmed". He sits quietly, just staring and thinking with a troubled expression.
But the good news in all of this is that Melanie is super-healthy, managing well on her own and damn good looking! Formula is jam-packed with vitamins and minerals and Brian and Katie may qualify for WIC. And Melanie is not at a loss for TLC: she's got family to hold her and love on her around the clock! :)
Dad says Katie's been running on adrenaline and will soon pass out. I'm not certain about the discharge prerequisites, but assume there will be a follow-up CAT Scan to see if the clot is gone and her temp will still need to stabilize. Another stressor on Katie and Brian's mind is the financial ramifications. When I asked about Brian Dad used the word "overwhelmed". He sits quietly, just staring and thinking with a troubled expression.
But the good news in all of this is that Melanie is super-healthy, managing well on her own and damn good looking! Formula is jam-packed with vitamins and minerals and Brian and Katie may qualify for WIC. And Melanie is not at a loss for TLC: she's got family to hold her and love on her around the clock! :)
Results of Katie's CAT Scan
Our champ has a pulmonary embolism on one of her lungs, in addition to pneumonia in both lungs. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream. (Wikipedia) They are moving Katie to an adjoining facility under University Community's health system, and onto the Heart wing. She'll go on a heparin regimen to treat the clot. Katie's looking at another week's stay.
On the Melanie front, she's ready to go home. But for the time being, Melanie will stay in the NICU, where gentle nurses can provide for her needs. Katie is starting to become "blue" as Mom put it, facing the reality that she will most likely not be able to breastfeed and, of course, the distance from her girl.
On the Melanie front, she's ready to go home. But for the time being, Melanie will stay in the NICU, where gentle nurses can provide for her needs. Katie is starting to become "blue" as Mom put it, facing the reality that she will most likely not be able to breastfeed and, of course, the distance from her girl.
All the Details
Hello, I am Katie's ghostwriter, here to give you the account of Melanie's birth and details about how she and Mommy are doing!
Katie was feeling under the weather with what she suspected as a sinus infection since Saturday, coughing and sneezing and had been commenting since Sunday that “the slightest thing makes me pee my pants!” More than the average pressure a pregnant woman feels, Katie was having great difficulty holding her bladder. She thought it was pee…now there’s some thought that maybe that was her water leaking since Sunday. At around 11:30 in the morning of 3/17, Katie noticed that this time the fluid was greenish in color. Katie drove straight to Labor of Love to get checked out.
Katie had been sick for the past few days leading up to this, running a fever, and the midwives suspected that Katie's water had been broken for over 3 days. Since her temperature was still elevated, it was also causing Melanie’s heartbeat to increase. For this reason (and because she’d had some spotting) it was decided to send Katie to the hospital. Although this was not at all what Katie had signed up for in the birthing plan, better safe than sorry—for both Mommy and baby.
Katie called Brian out of work to come pick her up at Labor of Love and a midwife agreed to act as Katie's doula until Mona arrived from Perry. When they arrived at the hospital, Katie was 2 cm dilated. Several hours of waiting did not change things so a pitocin drip was started to induce labor. Mona arrived and shared her birth coaching with the doula, Amy. Amy had Katie do some exercises on the big ball.
Because a baby should be delivered no more than 24 hours after the water breaks, the pitocin was increased. If things didn’t start moving though, a c-section loomed. Katie remained in good spirits, but her labor pains were at a 6 (dealing with terrible cold symptoms to boot). Katie wisely accepted the epidural at around 9:00 but even that was difficult—it took 2 tries to get it right! But the relief helped Katie to get some needed rest for the delivery ahead of her. It was not long after this that Katie transitioned and began pushing. At 12:29 Melanie was born. She weighed 8 lbs 3 oz. Other than a little fluid on her lungs, she presented as a healthy baby with a head full of brownish black hair! All the Pitts cried (Brian, Katie and Brian’s mom).
At first Katie was diagnosed with a respiratory infection. But later she was told she had pneumonia. She was also told that she might have to have a blood transfusion because the delivery had left her anemic. Katie managed to beef her blood supply up but her temperature continued to give her problems. For fear that she might pass on her illness to the baby, lab work was taken from Melanie. The results came back with a low white cell count so Katie was forced into a separation from Melanie and ordered to rest as much as possible, while receiving antibiotics. Melanie also had antibiotics via IV. Melanie was moved to the NICU to be monitored. Baby could continue to have (healthy) visitors as long as they sanitized first. Katie would need to be 24 hours fever-free to be with Melanie again.
When I spoke to Katie at noon today, she reported that Melanie is “all better” but Katie’s temp is still high (100.2). They’ve given Katie a breast pump so that she can start getting the supply going. Katie said she wasn’t pumping anything, but I told her this is normal. Not until the “breast fairy” visits you will you see any liquid---just colostrum. In the meantime Melanie is receiving formula.
So until Katie is fever-free for 48 hours, she must remain at the hospital. She is at University Community Hospital in Tampa. The hospital’s website has a web nursery but at last check Melanie hadn’t been entered yet. Katie needs to focus on resting to get better so please keep calls to a minimum and visits are discouraged (Katie doesn’t want to get anyone else sick). For us inquiring minds, she graciously put up pictures on this blog and has also checked in with Facebook. I will post what I find out! Katie sends her thanks for your thoughts, well wishes and prayers.
Katie was feeling under the weather with what she suspected as a sinus infection since Saturday, coughing and sneezing and had been commenting since Sunday that “the slightest thing makes me pee my pants!” More than the average pressure a pregnant woman feels, Katie was having great difficulty holding her bladder. She thought it was pee…now there’s some thought that maybe that was her water leaking since Sunday. At around 11:30 in the morning of 3/17, Katie noticed that this time the fluid was greenish in color. Katie drove straight to Labor of Love to get checked out.
Katie had been sick for the past few days leading up to this, running a fever, and the midwives suspected that Katie's water had been broken for over 3 days. Since her temperature was still elevated, it was also causing Melanie’s heartbeat to increase. For this reason (and because she’d had some spotting) it was decided to send Katie to the hospital. Although this was not at all what Katie had signed up for in the birthing plan, better safe than sorry—for both Mommy and baby.
Katie called Brian out of work to come pick her up at Labor of Love and a midwife agreed to act as Katie's doula until Mona arrived from Perry. When they arrived at the hospital, Katie was 2 cm dilated. Several hours of waiting did not change things so a pitocin drip was started to induce labor. Mona arrived and shared her birth coaching with the doula, Amy. Amy had Katie do some exercises on the big ball.
Because a baby should be delivered no more than 24 hours after the water breaks, the pitocin was increased. If things didn’t start moving though, a c-section loomed. Katie remained in good spirits, but her labor pains were at a 6 (dealing with terrible cold symptoms to boot). Katie wisely accepted the epidural at around 9:00 but even that was difficult—it took 2 tries to get it right! But the relief helped Katie to get some needed rest for the delivery ahead of her. It was not long after this that Katie transitioned and began pushing. At 12:29 Melanie was born. She weighed 8 lbs 3 oz. Other than a little fluid on her lungs, she presented as a healthy baby with a head full of brownish black hair! All the Pitts cried (Brian, Katie and Brian’s mom).
At first Katie was diagnosed with a respiratory infection. But later she was told she had pneumonia. She was also told that she might have to have a blood transfusion because the delivery had left her anemic. Katie managed to beef her blood supply up but her temperature continued to give her problems. For fear that she might pass on her illness to the baby, lab work was taken from Melanie. The results came back with a low white cell count so Katie was forced into a separation from Melanie and ordered to rest as much as possible, while receiving antibiotics. Melanie also had antibiotics via IV. Melanie was moved to the NICU to be monitored. Baby could continue to have (healthy) visitors as long as they sanitized first. Katie would need to be 24 hours fever-free to be with Melanie again.
When I spoke to Katie at noon today, she reported that Melanie is “all better” but Katie’s temp is still high (100.2). They’ve given Katie a breast pump so that she can start getting the supply going. Katie said she wasn’t pumping anything, but I told her this is normal. Not until the “breast fairy” visits you will you see any liquid---just colostrum. In the meantime Melanie is receiving formula.
So until Katie is fever-free for 48 hours, she must remain at the hospital. She is at University Community Hospital in Tampa. The hospital’s website has a web nursery but at last check Melanie hadn’t been entered yet. Katie needs to focus on resting to get better so please keep calls to a minimum and visits are discouraged (Katie doesn’t want to get anyone else sick). For us inquiring minds, she graciously put up pictures on this blog and has also checked in with Facebook. I will post what I find out! Katie sends her thanks for your thoughts, well wishes and prayers.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Nevermind!
Those back pains aren't braxton hicks - I just started getting real braxton hicks this afternoon (or maybe it's just quiet & still enough for me to recognize them). Yup, My big 'ol belly gets hard as a rock. Funny how it influences me to sit up straight, instead of slouching!
...So what are those back pains about, do you think?
...So what are those back pains about, do you think?
Pregnancy Update
This post seems a bit negative and whiny and I'm sorry about that folks! But the fact of the matter is, pregnancy and preparing for Melanie isn't always going to be fun. I have been struggling to enjoy my pregnancy lately - with having so much on my plate, so many to-dos, so many body changes, and so many emotions flying around. It's a bit overwhelming to prepare for Melanie's arrival and it all seemed to need to be addressed these past few weeks.
I went to a chiropractor last Wednesday because of all the pain I was experiencing in my lack and pelvic region. The chiropractor said my left leg was a full inch shorter than my right - a huge sign that my pelvis was misaligned. So she twisted and popped me and realigned me. I noticed pain relief right away though, and already scheduled another appointment. Yup, I got suckered in. But it's also a fact that having your pelvis realigned by a chiro helps align the baby correctly and should make natural labor quicker and less painful. And my chiropractor said she's on call to align me anytime - even when I'm in labor. I thought that was very nice of her.
A lot of the pelvic pain is gone, but my sporadic back pain still comes and goes, especially when I'm stressed out (which I'm working on trying to alleviate). So I'm guessing those are my braxton hicks. For the most part, it's doable, but sometimes the pain is so severe it mimics my heartbeat and throbs up and down my spine & into my head. Yeah, those AREN'T fun! :)
My belly button is officially making its way on becoming an outie and I do have a few belly stretch marks. At first I was kinda upset about my belly changes, until I remembered that I never was a belly-show-off-er anyway. So who's to know if I have stretch marks or not! One thing that is visible that is bothering me is the fact that I no longer have ankles - I have cankles. I wake up with cankles and by the end of the day, it kinda hurts to bend my ankles because they are so swollen. The woes of a desk-job, what can you do, right? I'm just doing my best to cover them up with long pants and elevate my legs as much as possible.
In case some of you are reading all this and thinking, "She might have preclampsia!" No worries! I don't. There is no protein in my urine, and the midwives think it's just regular swelling/back pain/blood pressure. But they are keeping a close look at me, since I am 36 weeks now.
I got a huge list of exercises/vitamins/preparations to start that I'm slacking on. Hey! THERE'S the procrastinating Katie you've all been missing! LOL. Seriously, I need to get on the (exercise) ball. I'll start soon - just as soon as I finish up a few things. I do feel there isn't enough time in the day - especially the work days - to do all I'm supposed to do plus all we normally do.
Melanie's room is going to be organized real soon. I hope to have it decently prepped for the baby shower. I just bought some baby laundry detergent to wash ALL the clothes we got, so I'm working on that right now - got a load in the washer! Don't worry, Mom, I set aside the baby clothes that need a good scrubbing. :)
Our baby shower is next Saturday - I can't wait to see all my friends and family! It's a Gone With the Wind theme and most of my family is even dressing up as GWTW characters! Oh it's going to be so much fun! I hope the weather works out - it's been chilly lately, hasn't it?
Okay, that's all for now because I got projects to finish! Love to you all!
Katie
I went to a chiropractor last Wednesday because of all the pain I was experiencing in my lack and pelvic region. The chiropractor said my left leg was a full inch shorter than my right - a huge sign that my pelvis was misaligned. So she twisted and popped me and realigned me. I noticed pain relief right away though, and already scheduled another appointment. Yup, I got suckered in. But it's also a fact that having your pelvis realigned by a chiro helps align the baby correctly and should make natural labor quicker and less painful. And my chiropractor said she's on call to align me anytime - even when I'm in labor. I thought that was very nice of her.
A lot of the pelvic pain is gone, but my sporadic back pain still comes and goes, especially when I'm stressed out (which I'm working on trying to alleviate). So I'm guessing those are my braxton hicks. For the most part, it's doable, but sometimes the pain is so severe it mimics my heartbeat and throbs up and down my spine & into my head. Yeah, those AREN'T fun! :)
My belly button is officially making its way on becoming an outie and I do have a few belly stretch marks. At first I was kinda upset about my belly changes, until I remembered that I never was a belly-show-off-er anyway. So who's to know if I have stretch marks or not! One thing that is visible that is bothering me is the fact that I no longer have ankles - I have cankles. I wake up with cankles and by the end of the day, it kinda hurts to bend my ankles because they are so swollen. The woes of a desk-job, what can you do, right? I'm just doing my best to cover them up with long pants and elevate my legs as much as possible.
In case some of you are reading all this and thinking, "She might have preclampsia!" No worries! I don't. There is no protein in my urine, and the midwives think it's just regular swelling/back pain/blood pressure. But they are keeping a close look at me, since I am 36 weeks now.
I got a huge list of exercises/vitamins/preparations to start that I'm slacking on. Hey! THERE'S the procrastinating Katie you've all been missing! LOL. Seriously, I need to get on the (exercise) ball. I'll start soon - just as soon as I finish up a few things. I do feel there isn't enough time in the day - especially the work days - to do all I'm supposed to do plus all we normally do.
Melanie's room is going to be organized real soon. I hope to have it decently prepped for the baby shower. I just bought some baby laundry detergent to wash ALL the clothes we got, so I'm working on that right now - got a load in the washer! Don't worry, Mom, I set aside the baby clothes that need a good scrubbing. :)
Our baby shower is next Saturday - I can't wait to see all my friends and family! It's a Gone With the Wind theme and most of my family is even dressing up as GWTW characters! Oh it's going to be so much fun! I hope the weather works out - it's been chilly lately, hasn't it?
Okay, that's all for now because I got projects to finish! Love to you all!
Katie
Friday, March 5, 2010
Our Five Year Anniversary!
To celebrate, we've gathered pictures of the two of us over these last 5 years. Enjoy!
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