the Last Mile

Here we are. We have made it through the toughest part. Ruthie is "out of the woods" so to speak. She is no longer in critical condition. We are still in the Intensive Care Unit but she is no longer a critical patient. She looks fine. Well, I mean she doesn't appear sick. She looks nice and chunky. She has no tubes sticking out of her. (right now anyway... they may have to put her feeding tube back in. We're not sure how she'll eat the next few days.) Jimmy said it best today when we talked on the phone. We have been running a marathon and we are on the last mile.

Ruthie is a champion. Two weeks ago, she had a nurse named Barb. Barb took care of Ruthie several days. Then, she went on vacation for 2 weeks. Today was her first day back and she was nearly in tears at the accomplishments Ruthie had made. Barb's been a nurse in the newborn ICU for years and years...She won't tell us how long exactly.... She said today she's never seen anything like it. Ruthie is a real over-achiever!

Now, the last mile... Feeding. She has been given her food (milk) through a feeding tube since she was born. We have now started her on a bottle. She has to work for her food. She can now breath on her own. But, not only does she need to breath, but she has to eat too. It is interesting thing... she has to get into a pattern of eating and breathing at the same time. It generally takes a preemie weeks to learn this vital skill. Ruthie has been working on it for about a week and a half. She is doing well. She is taking about 85 % of what she needs. If we can get her endurance up and she's taking all her food without tiring out, we can go home. We want to go home but we want to take home a little girl who knows how to eat. The last thing I want is to be back here in two weeks because Ruthie can't eat correctly. We need to set her up for a win. So, we're letting her set the pace in this last mile.

Thank you everyone for your continued prayers and support. Here's the latest picture of tube-less Ruthie.

Hello from Baby Camp!

First, THANK YOU for all your cards, emails, financial support, facebook comments, etc. YOU and THE LORD are encouraging me so much! I pretty much cry every time I think about how amazing God's love is being shown to us. Thank YOU and Thank the Lord.

Let me explain the title of today's blog....I feel like I'm at baby camp. I was pregnant, sent away to have her, and now I'm in baby camp watching her heal and learning how to care for her (i.e. watching for a color change in her face while she's feeding to make sure her oxygen levels aren't dropping). I like baby camp. I'm learning a lot. People keep asking if I'm going crazy here in Cincinnati... Well... not yet. I am just focusing on Ruthie's care and living one day at a time. Every day is a new adventure.

As far as her health, she's healing very well and quickly. (All praise and honor to our Father!! He is healing my daughter!...it's pretty cool to watch.) As of now, she is being weened off oxygen, getting some routine scans, and learning to feed. This could take a week or 2 weeks. So looks like the end of baby camp is in sight. She knows how to eat. She just has a hard time because she gets winded super quick. She's building her endurance and learning how to pace herself. Slowly but surely, we are making progress.

She is getting some oxygen through the tube in her nose. They keep turning it down...eventually getting her used to room air.

Today, she got more scans. I don't know why but I was more of a mess today than the day of our surgery/birth. She had an MRI and a ct scan. Not a huge deal. She had to be put to sleep, intubated, and paralyzed. I was nervous because she had a hole/leak in her right lung that was causing some problems and I didn't want the intubation to cause any more problems. The leak went away on its own after several days of watching it and 3 chest tubes. No worries...It was okay. No new leak. These are called "before you go home" scans. They are to check to make sure everything looks good before we start the process of heading home.

Now, don't get too excited... We have several milestones to pass before we turn in our keys to the Ronald McDonald house. She has to take a full feed every 3 hours, the scans have to be clean, and they want her to be off the oxygen. BUT, the end is in sight and life at home is becoming a reality.

Just to give everyone a heads up... They have told me that through flu season we have to be very very VERY careful about where she goes and who she is around. If a newborn gets a cold, it's not fun. If Ruthie gets a cold, it means a trip to Cincinnati and possible pneumonia. I don't know about you guys but we didn't kick that tumor to be taken out by the common cold. So, we may be staying home a lot. And when we do go out, I will be supplying everyone with ample amounts of hand sanitizer (doctor's orders). Honestly, I have worried a little about being rude when we go out places. Every time I see a newborn baby, my first instinct is to touch their little hands and kiss their little cheeks. Well, now I'm going to have to be the mom who is asking everyone to use hand sanitizer before they touch her. How rude! "I'm sorry... you are dirty and you can't touch my baby." I mean really?!? I even have a little sign that the hospital gave me that hangs from her car seat that says "Please wash your hands before touching mine." Please please PLEASE do not be offended if I offer you hand sanitizer before you touch her. It's the only way they will let me bring her out of the house. Now, obviously, if it's cold or really big crowds, I may stay home or keep her tucked in her car seat or moby wrap.

I love you all you prayer warriors out there! ...and you are not dirty. :)