We went to visit our beautiful son cocooned in his NICU bed. He was sleepily moving around and exploring his world, all be it confined to a plastic bubble. He has a full head of black hair and much reddish skin is about the best thing I have seen, well, ever.
We waited on Emily's chance to meet him until settling on our short list of names, though his actual name sounds like a short list of names:
Luke Malachi Toews Miller
To be clear, we did not select this name just for Bryce to make a repeated Star Wars reference. It was just gravy. Delicious, Delicious, gravy, like the Poutine of his home and native land (one of them at any rate).
So that is enough surrealism for one day. We will share more in time.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
So here's how this happened
It was supposed to be another boring day at the hospital. It was supposed to be the same routine-- monitor, measure, medicate, repeat. It has been the routine for quite some time, and we were expecting it to continue for quite some time to come. Like days or weeks.
Instead we had a baby.
I am glad that after 2 days of necessary work at Drake demanding driving back and forth, the day ended up being today. Last night was not a great deal of fun for Emily with a goodly amount of discomfort in and around the torso. With this in mind, I was going to stay here in the city working on my system via a remote connection. When I arrived in the morning, our now routine was well underway. Blood draw. Doctor's rounds. Pills. Non-descript breakfast. We were just settling into our respective quiet activities when our OB resident walked in and said:
"So, the plan has been to keep you pregnant. I am here to change that."
Right. This was 9:10 or so this morning. We were getting on the slide and going down from there.
The numbers, while improved had been moving and in a downward trajectory which, left to their own devices, did not represent a good trend. This was not unexpected. The initial steroid treatment can produce a response that can mask the underlying syndrome. As that treatment wore down, the numbers began their backward slide. The morning blood draw confirmed the diagnosis to a certainty, as well as the general direction of the blood cultures and numbers.
So there we are. An initial physical exam was made and they were not able to establish with certainty which end was up (or more to the point, down) on then Blasto. An ultrasound showed him rather contentedly lounging across the womb lengthwise, there by making conventional childbirth ill advised. C section was the order of the day. Consultation with the Anesthesiologist recommended a spinal block as the best way to have the delivery, thereby allowing Bryce into the operating room. Immediately changing into scrubs and gear, we were off to the races. Pack up, down a few more meds, move to the pre-op area and by 11:50 or so we were in the room and getting started.
The baby was born at 12;14, 2 pounds 10 ounces and 10 weeks premature. The C section went well and Bryce was able to watch while the baby pop out and was handed to the waiting NICU group who took care of Blasto, got him set and on his way to the NICU (only after a number of photos from Pops). We had another 45 minutes or so of sewing up to do, and then another hour in post op, and we were ensconced in our room in the post-partum ward by 3:30.
So the snails pace of our last several days turned into a sprint at the end.
Bryce was able to visit him in the NICU by 5 and we were both down there this evening.
Blasto-come-baby is a healthy, robust, hairy individual already poking his away around the great big world. We are thrilled beyond words.
The story is far from over yet. There will be days and perhaps weeks of recovery for Emily, and further complications, while not likely, are possible. We are looking for a stabilization in blood pressure and the all important lab tests from Emily, and we trust that will come in time.
For baby, it is now the work of doing the development he was supposed to do in the next 9 weeks. There are challenges and potential pitfalls, but those seem broadly unlikely (but I guess that would be why they are called pitfalls, aren't they).
We hope to continue to update you here, though likely not with as great of frequency. Thank you each for your love, care and support here and throughout life. We feel it and appreciate it deeply.
With Love,
Bryce
Instead we had a baby.
I am glad that after 2 days of necessary work at Drake demanding driving back and forth, the day ended up being today. Last night was not a great deal of fun for Emily with a goodly amount of discomfort in and around the torso. With this in mind, I was going to stay here in the city working on my system via a remote connection. When I arrived in the morning, our now routine was well underway. Blood draw. Doctor's rounds. Pills. Non-descript breakfast. We were just settling into our respective quiet activities when our OB resident walked in and said:
"So, the plan has been to keep you pregnant. I am here to change that."
Right. This was 9:10 or so this morning. We were getting on the slide and going down from there.
The numbers, while improved had been moving and in a downward trajectory which, left to their own devices, did not represent a good trend. This was not unexpected. The initial steroid treatment can produce a response that can mask the underlying syndrome. As that treatment wore down, the numbers began their backward slide. The morning blood draw confirmed the diagnosis to a certainty, as well as the general direction of the blood cultures and numbers.
So there we are. An initial physical exam was made and they were not able to establish with certainty which end was up (or more to the point, down) on then Blasto. An ultrasound showed him rather contentedly lounging across the womb lengthwise, there by making conventional childbirth ill advised. C section was the order of the day. Consultation with the Anesthesiologist recommended a spinal block as the best way to have the delivery, thereby allowing Bryce into the operating room. Immediately changing into scrubs and gear, we were off to the races. Pack up, down a few more meds, move to the pre-op area and by 11:50 or so we were in the room and getting started.
The baby was born at 12;14, 2 pounds 10 ounces and 10 weeks premature. The C section went well and Bryce was able to watch while the baby pop out and was handed to the waiting NICU group who took care of Blasto, got him set and on his way to the NICU (only after a number of photos from Pops). We had another 45 minutes or so of sewing up to do, and then another hour in post op, and we were ensconced in our room in the post-partum ward by 3:30.
So the snails pace of our last several days turned into a sprint at the end.
Bryce was able to visit him in the NICU by 5 and we were both down there this evening.
Blasto-come-baby is a healthy, robust, hairy individual already poking his away around the great big world. We are thrilled beyond words.
The story is far from over yet. There will be days and perhaps weeks of recovery for Emily, and further complications, while not likely, are possible. We are looking for a stabilization in blood pressure and the all important lab tests from Emily, and we trust that will come in time.
For baby, it is now the work of doing the development he was supposed to do in the next 9 weeks. There are challenges and potential pitfalls, but those seem broadly unlikely (but I guess that would be why they are called pitfalls, aren't they).
We hope to continue to update you here, though likely not with as great of frequency. Thank you each for your love, care and support here and throughout life. We feel it and appreciate it deeply.
With Love,
Bryce
Unto us ....
And unto us a child is borne. 2 pounds 10 ounces baby boy borne at 12:14 pm via c section. Baby is good, all things being equal and mama is doing well. We are thrilled. Now begins act II: waiting to be able to know how he develops on our way home a likely 6 week process, even with all going well.
And he shall be called.... tune in after Emily has met him in the flesh on the outside, probably later today.
And off we go
We are one our way to a c section now. More explanation soon. Today is a birth day. Cake to follow.
Monday, November 23, 2015
First long day
Greetings friends. After last night's fun move back to labour and delivery observation due to my not decreasing blood pressure, we are all happy to say that bp is normal again. The ob put me on Magnesium Sulfate again to prevent seizures (due to the high pressure) and that and multiple introvenus meds made for a dopey night and much of the day.
This morning and afternoon I was delighted by visitors! Too bad I was strapped to the bed with electrodes picking up Blasto's every heartbeat and movement. Unfortunately because of the magnesium sulfate even Blasto was dopey. By 6 pm I had been strapped for 6 hours ( 3 in am and 3 in pm) and Blasto was still sleeping so they set us free. Bryce came, I had a shower and everyone felt human again.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers. We're just waiting now to figure things out. Hopefully once again out of the woods.
Emily
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Baby by numbers; the origins of "Blasto"
9:45 PM November 22, 2015
It seems like we are having a baby by the numbers. Our lives (all three of them) are sort of being steered by them now.
Like the quarter hourly blood pressures.
The thrice daily blood tests.
And the all important hours, days and minutes of time that Blasto remains right where the kid needs to be. The more the better.
We find ourselves in the power of the numbers at the moment. Blood pressure has climbed above the thresholds that we are wanting to see, and they are not coming down, despite the best efforts of everyone here. And if that remains true the 1 shall become 2 all too soon. Like as soon as over night. Which is OK, just not what we would choose. Having 3 days to wrap our heads around the possibilities of how things might end up working here helps a great deal.
The blood pressure calls the game, but the blood analysis tells the score. Liver enzymes (which tell the liver function) want to be low. Platelets (which help with clotting) want to be high as possible. These numbers are moving, but only slowly which makes the difference between concern and crisis. This is what will, ultimately, tell when the time has come for Blasto to come into the world.
Then is the trivia numbers. Like the more than a liter of pee put out in the last 2.5 hours by the lady of the hour (we measure everything around here). And the 140-150 beats per minute ticking on the monitor behind us with Blasto's pulse, assuming the kid isn't actively kicking, punching, or generally hiding from the all hearing ear. Blasto is a squirmer, which delights us (for now). We even overheard hiccups the other day-- pretty cool.
We have heard that some explanation of the nick name Blasto is in order. You will no doubt be relieved that this is not the child's name, though we are still considering "Helium Unicorn" as nominated by cousin Nora. Blasto is what we arrived at when finding out that the pregnancy was a practicality. When the egg and sperm first implant into the uterus, it is called a "Blastocyst", a generic term for lump of cells (we offer apologies to those for whom this congers images of cancers; not our intent). We decided that we, not wanting to anticipate anything gender wise, would decide to call the one growing in our midst "Blasto". Besides, its a great playground nick name.
More soon
With much love,
Bryce, Emily, & Blasto
It seems like we are having a baby by the numbers. Our lives (all three of them) are sort of being steered by them now.
Like the quarter hourly blood pressures.
The thrice daily blood tests.
And the all important hours, days and minutes of time that Blasto remains right where the kid needs to be. The more the better.
We find ourselves in the power of the numbers at the moment. Blood pressure has climbed above the thresholds that we are wanting to see, and they are not coming down, despite the best efforts of everyone here. And if that remains true the 1 shall become 2 all too soon. Like as soon as over night. Which is OK, just not what we would choose. Having 3 days to wrap our heads around the possibilities of how things might end up working here helps a great deal.
The blood pressure calls the game, but the blood analysis tells the score. Liver enzymes (which tell the liver function) want to be low. Platelets (which help with clotting) want to be high as possible. These numbers are moving, but only slowly which makes the difference between concern and crisis. This is what will, ultimately, tell when the time has come for Blasto to come into the world.
Then is the trivia numbers. Like the more than a liter of pee put out in the last 2.5 hours by the lady of the hour (we measure everything around here). And the 140-150 beats per minute ticking on the monitor behind us with Blasto's pulse, assuming the kid isn't actively kicking, punching, or generally hiding from the all hearing ear. Blasto is a squirmer, which delights us (for now). We even overheard hiccups the other day-- pretty cool.
We have heard that some explanation of the nick name Blasto is in order. You will no doubt be relieved that this is not the child's name, though we are still considering "Helium Unicorn" as nominated by cousin Nora. Blasto is what we arrived at when finding out that the pregnancy was a practicality. When the egg and sperm first implant into the uterus, it is called a "Blastocyst", a generic term for lump of cells (we offer apologies to those for whom this congers images of cancers; not our intent). We decided that we, not wanting to anticipate anything gender wise, would decide to call the one growing in our midst "Blasto". Besides, its a great playground nick name.
More soon
With much love,
Bryce, Emily, & Blasto
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