Saturday, January 31, 2009

Baby Stella from Daddy's point of view (details bringing everyone up to today)



Thanks everyone for all the prayers that have been prayed. We appreciate them so much and couldn't be where we are today without them.

This picture here was taken today with her cpap and sunglasses (for bright light).



So if you are looking for the details to where we have been up until where we are today, that is what I am hoping to across on this blog. It all started Thursday, Kristen had her doctor's appointment and they got concerned that she may have preeclampsia. With this concern they sent her down to the labor and delivery to be taken to a triag room to have some tests run to see if in fact she was having preeclampsia. That's when I got the call that she was going to be going to labor and delivery and she wanted me to come up there with her to keep her calm. So I got to the hospital as quick as I could to sit in a little bitty triag room for about 3 hours. I kept telling her, she will test out fine and will be home and I didn't want to miss my haircut appointment at 5. I also told her "we'll just wait and call our parents once we know what direction this is going in". Well as we know now I was wrong (Kristen says I am always wrong). Our great and wonderful doctor came in and said "We're having a baby" and then she said a few other things which is a big blur to me now and walked out. I said "What did she just say?". Next thing I know the room was full of people getting Kristen prepared to have a c-section. I asked the doctor if I would have enough time to call the grandparents and get them up to the hospital before Kristen went back and she informed me that Stella would probably be here by then. Forgot to mention that Kristen is 34 weeks at this "simple" doctor visit. Next thing I know baby Stella is born and weighs 4lb 3ozs. As soon as she is born, me and 2 nurses take her to the NICU (Sorry Kristen I had to leave you...they put a gun to my head) where she is now.


NICU is somwhere we will be visiting a whole lot since we were told she will be in there 2-3 weeks. On Thursday night Stella was put underneath a clear bubble to give her oxygen. Her main issues are making sure that she gets enough oxygen and making sure that her lungs are no longer wet and build up strength in them. If her lungs get too weak then she could possibly have to go to a ventilator. Friday the amount of oxygen they were having to give her was anywhere between 35-55% and she was breathing around 130 times a minute (she needs to be breathing 30-60 times a minute). Given this situation Friday afternoon they put her on a cpap with oxygen tubes blowing oxygen into her lungs to help open them up so she wouldn't have to try so hard to breathe. This morning we visited with her and her condition is somewhat improving. She now has only had to be taking in somewhere between 35-40% oxygen and her breathing per minute has reduced to mid 80's. I will continue to update on Stella and her condition in the coming days.


These past few days have been tough, but Kristen is back 100% and recovering well. She is on blood pressure medicine for a couple weeks and that should be it for her. It's been a blessing to have a wonderful wife to go through this with and such wonderful friends who care so much. We appreciate you all more than we could ever express.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Baby Stella











Well, I didn't think I would ever need a blog. I just enjoyed keeping up with everyone elses! My husband thought it would be nice to put updates on here about our new arrival...baby Stella. Since we have the BEST friends and family in the whole world who are concerned and want to know what Stella's condition is doing! So as of right now she came with NO warning into this world on thursday January 29th...so weird to say considering her birthday was suppose to be March 5th. She came into this world by God's glory and was 4pds 3 oz and 17in long! Would have been frightening #'s a long time ago but she has many friends that actually weigh less than her in the NICU with her. As of right now she is totally gorgeous!! I know your not suppose to say that about your own baby, but Jared and I truly think she looks like an angel. Shocker. She has blonde hair that looks wavy, although she still hasn't had her first bath we shall see how this turns out. She is in stable condition as of Friday night but we are asking everyone who reads this to say a prayer for her. We would love to see her condition improving everyday and know that we serve the very ultimate physician who performs miracles we can only imagine. The ultimate gift to us right now would be a prayer for our baby. All that matters right now is her health. Thank you so much to everyone being concerned, we couldn't ask for a better circle of friends! I will try to give an update everyday hopefully! But as of right now she will be in NICU for 2-3 weeks. We have not gotten to hold her yet but have fights over whose finger Stella gets to hold when we get down there!! My heart will melt the day I can love on my new lttle girl. But we rejoice that God has given us this opportunity to step back and realize how precious life is and continue to seek Him first. He is the reason for living and the giver of life and we are overjoyed he decided to give us Baby Stella.