November 7th, 43 days old. Collin is doing well today although he is still dropping in heart rate a little. An echo was done on his heart and the pediatric cardiologist said Collin's heart looks fine. As a result, both heart medications were turned off, which is good news. He is also down to 2 antibiotics and sitting about 30% oxygen. The morphine drip has been off for 24 hours now and he only receives it when he needs it. The things we are working on right now are keeping the heart rate steady, tolerate feeds, poop and keep losing the edema. With the edema his weight jumps around the low 3 lb. area.
Collin's doctors and nurses are so nice. They keep us well informed and we really enjoy their company. They are good to us and especially to Collin. Today I am grateful for the Relief Society sisters in my ward. They are so good to me and my little family. They keep us well fed as well. I am grateful for my visiting teaching ladies and for the ladies I teach too. Mommy and Daddy love you so much sweat heart! We are so proud of you. Keep up the good work and keep on fighting. Like Uncle Grant has said before, "No offense to to the comic book Superman but he doesn't have superhuman strength like my nephew!!!" Keep fighting buddy, we love you so much!!!" Thanks Uncle Grant.
November 8th, 44 days old. Collin is having another good day. They upped his feedings to 1 mL every 6 hours and so far, so good. He pooped a little this morning. The doctor is still worried about the fluid in his brain and his ventricles still being enlarged. He is still off his heart medications and his heart looks good. We think the heart rate dropping issue comes from needing suctioning from his lungs and pressure in the brain. But other than that we are having a good day. No matter what we will always love you Collin J always and forever. We are very grateful to have you here with us.
Today I am grateful for my family. They have always been there for me through good and tough times. They have always been very supportive to Robert and I and now Collin. We are a very close family and we always know what's going on with each other. I love my family very much. Thank you everyone for all the love, prayers, support and blessings.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
6 weeks old
November 6th, 6 weeks old. 28 weeks gestation. Collin has a little bradycardia which means his heart rate will drop low on occasion and come back up. An EKG was done this morning but didn't show anything wrong. Stats are good. Oxygen is at 30% which Collin seems to like being there. He is still really sick and his doctor today, Wyc Cheatam, told us he thinks Collin has a 50/50 chance of living at this point. Collin is telling us he still wants to fight so we keep cheering him on.They started feeding him milk again at 1/2 mL every 6 hours and we have our fingers crossed that he will tolerate them this time. I think if Collin tolerates his feedings he will start feeling a whole lot better. I pray everyday for him to live and be healed.
Collin is being a little more active, meaning he is beginning to move his limbs more. He is swollen from the fluids he is getting. He tries and on occasion is able to open his eyes. Today I am grateful for modern technology. Our son wouldn't be here with us today if it wasn't for it. In the last 6 weeks it has been a big part of our lives, it has helped out in so many ways. Thank you modern technology. We love you buddy, keep fighting!
Collin is being a little more active, meaning he is beginning to move his limbs more. He is swollen from the fluids he is getting. He tries and on occasion is able to open his eyes. Today I am grateful for modern technology. Our son wouldn't be here with us today if it wasn't for it. In the last 6 weeks it has been a big part of our lives, it has helped out in so many ways. Thank you modern technology. We love you buddy, keep fighting!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
A Day at the Beach
November 5, 40 days. At least Collin feels like he has been at the beach today. Everyone survived transport and CT scan day yesterday. The scan showed that blood is flowing through the intestine so there isn't any major damage. Yay! Other than that it didn't reveal much that we didn't already know. Collin tolerated the transport just fine but when he came back the next few hours was difficult to keep his blood pressure and heart rate under control. He now knows the world is bigger than the 5th floor so he must have been upset to come back so quickly.
Today Collin has been relaxed and calm. Right now he is enjoying being on his belly. His heart rate ranges from 140's to the 160's bpm and his oxygen is at 35%. His weight today is 1570 grams (3 lbs. 7 oz.) which is 30 grams less than last night. He is still loosing fluid weight. The last positive blood culture was Oct. 26 so we hope this means that Collin is getting over his infection. He will still receive antibiotics for an additional 21 days to fully kill the bacteria. Collin continues to be active and has spent a lot of time with his eyes open.
Stacey has this to say, "I am grateful for the gospel. In the last 6 weeks I have grown closer to Heavenly Father and my sweet husband. I am very grateful that He has sent Collin to Robert and I. Collin is the joy of my life along with Robert. I know the church is true. I know we will be a family FOREVER & ALWAYS!!! Mommy and Daddy love you very much! We are proud of you!"
Today Collin has been relaxed and calm. Right now he is enjoying being on his belly. His heart rate ranges from 140's to the 160's bpm and his oxygen is at 35%. His weight today is 1570 grams (3 lbs. 7 oz.) which is 30 grams less than last night. He is still loosing fluid weight. The last positive blood culture was Oct. 26 so we hope this means that Collin is getting over his infection. He will still receive antibiotics for an additional 21 days to fully kill the bacteria. Collin continues to be active and has spent a lot of time with his eyes open.
Stacey has this to say, "I am grateful for the gospel. In the last 6 weeks I have grown closer to Heavenly Father and my sweet husband. I am very grateful that He has sent Collin to Robert and I. Collin is the joy of my life along with Robert. I know the church is true. I know we will be a family FOREVER & ALWAYS!!! Mommy and Daddy love you very much! We are proud of you!"
Friday, November 4, 2011
Big Day for Collin
November 4, 39 days old. It’s about time Dad contributes to this blog. Today is a big day for Collin. So far the CT scan is still scheduled to happen today. There are significant risks with transporting him but it has high potential of providing answers Collin has been in need of. We have starters from Collin’s All Star team on staff today. Dr. Wyc Cheatam is the neonatologist along with Sue as the RN and Reggie the respiratory therapist. These three will remain with Collin the entire trip to radiology. Stacey and I have a mixture of feelings but overall we feel ready for some answers. A radiologist will read the results with a second opinion tomorrow from the pediatric radiologist. There is also the option of getting an opinion from Primary Children’s hospital. And so we wait and pray.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Halloween - Nov. 3
October 31st, 35 days old 5 weeks old. 28th weeks gestation. HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Its Collin's first Halloween. Yay! Collin is slowly getting better. He is showing signs of improvement which is good. He had a big poop yesterday. It was like a big plug, poor guy. That's is also a good sign. Collin still has a chest tube. They took it out yesterday morning but had to put it back in last night. He wasn't ready for it to come out just yet, silly. They switched his art line to his foot. They did a blood culture on the old art line, then replaced a new art line, and did another blood culture He did need a blood transfusion but its been a few days. He got his first bath & got lotion. He is 3 lbs. 1/2 oz. Last positive blood culture is from the 26th, which is good, so fingers crossed. Collin gained a little more weight tonight, dang. It went up to 3 lbs. 5 1/2 oz. Hopefully it goes back down.
November 1st, 36 days old. Its uncle Grant's Birthday today, Happy Birthday. Today is a good day, still fighting the infection but getting better. They put in a new pic line. His is a little high on oxygen but that's because there was so much mucus in his lungs. He seems better everyday we see him. His blood pressure is being funny, the art line reads one way, and the cuff reads another way... But other than that Collin has been good all day. They have not come back with anything dealing with the blood cultures, so hopefully they stay negative. Collin weighs 1450 grams 3lb 3oz. (1450 grams) yay losing water weight. I am grateful for all our family, friends and, neighbors for their love, prayers and, blessings through this tough time. Thank you everyone.
November 2nd 37 days old. Collin is still really sick but is stable and doing good. We got told by his doctor that she thinks Collin is stable enough to go downstairs and have a CT scan to see what's wrong with our little guy. We are very scared of what the outcome will be, but happy to know what is making our little prince so sick. Its a very emotional ride right now, one big roller coaster. We are very proud of our son Collin and know that everything will be ok. We know no matter what we will always be a family always and forever!!!! We love you Collin you very much! I am very greatful for all the doctors and nurses who is taking great care of my sweet, loving, little precious Collin. Thank you!
November 3rd 38 days old. Collin is still sick, but doing good and stable. Good news its been 5 days now for Collin's blood culture to be negative, yay. The doctor took an ultrasound of Collin's heart and of his head. The head ultrasound was sent to Primary Children's to have it looked over for swelling and if he needs a drain. Tomorrow Collin is going downstairs for a CT scan to see what's happing in his abdomen. Robert and I are very scared of what the test will tell us. Yesterday I was really scared about but when we talked to the doctor today I was a lot calmer. I still feel good about everything. We have not and will never give up hope or faith. Today I am very grateful for the most wonderful husband in the world. I am very grateful for Robert and his faith, hope, love and strength for Collin our love little prince. I am very grateful that Robert holds and honors the priesthood.
Oct. 20-28
October 20th. 25 days, 3 1/2 weeks old.
Collin is doing good. They are going to switch ventilators because he is so low on settings, so depending on which one they switch to we might be able to do skin to skin holding him. They also might do an enema to see if that helps him poop better. He did poop yesterday. I got to hold skin to skin today, it was wonderful, I LOVED it so much, and so did Collin, he LOVES his mommy.
It started great. Stacey got to do skin to skin for the first time. But since then, Collin has struggled. He has an infection. He's on 3 antibiotics and we're praying he gets better.
Collin update: his belly has grown another cm and is now being described as having a "very serious" infection.
We know he’ll be ok; we'll make it through all of this!
We love you Collin & we are very proud of you!
October 21st, 26 days old. It’s a sad/scary day. Yesterday my baby got sick; he has an infection in his abdomen (tummy area). They are monitoring him really closely. He got this infection because he isn't pooping very well. Collin is on 3 antibiotics, fluids, blood pressure medicine, so he is really puffy. Poor little guy. Collin is treading in the right direction is what we are told. They are still watching him very closely. His belly has grown 5.5 cm since yesterday morning, from being sick and because of all the fluids, medicines.
Collin is improving slowly but surely. We are very proud of you and love you. We are more grateful to have you in our lives. We are very blessed to have you here with us; we will make it through all of this. Love you little man, you are our Trooper.
He's better than last night but still sick, he is showing signs of improvement. Dr. Cheatam is pleased of where he is at but still worried. We just need to get over this hump, treading water for a couple days and if Collin improves or stays where he's at the Dr will be happy. We are getting there slow but surely.
Hey Collin's doctor thinks he may have sepsis. So, I told Collin he had a cousin that had had that and now is over 1 year old so we will make it through this. Robert gave Collin a blessing tonight. He told him he would keep fighting so he can become better to where we can hold him. It was a really wonderful blessing. Love you Collin very much and I am very proud of you. Keep going you're doing such a great job.
October 22nd, 27 days old. It’s another rough day. Collin is still really sick, but he's still fighting. It’s a bacterial infection; he may have two, hopefully not. One bacterium is Robs. (?) He's pooped twice today only a little, but we'll take anything. They took out his cat heritor because he is peeing on his own. He is our big fighter and seems to be headed in the right direction. They said he had sepsis but then tonight when I was there they said it was robs not Septicemia. So, we will ask for sure what it is tomorrow when we go in. Collin is showing signs of improvement like peeping, pooping a little, and he’s been wiggling, and his blood work coming back as being good. It’s still a long process of healing but we will get through this. We are so proud of you Collin we will get through this. I know it’s rough and hard but we will make it. We love you as well as well as everyone else. Everyone is also proud of you and is praying for you.
October 23rd, 4 weeks old today wow... Collin is having a better day. We're having a better day YAY! We know those prayers are working so please keep them coming. We also know that our faith, prayers, and trust in the Lord are helping. As our sister-in-law Mindy has told me the "Lord knew Robert & you could handle it." I have come to trust in the Lord more and more. We've come to know and love the Lord so much. We're even closer to him now than ever. Today in church we had an interesting sacrament meeting. Our speakers cancelled at the last minute, so our bishop decided to have whoever wanted to, get up and tell their favorite hymn and we sang one verse from it. I love all of the hymns, but the one I really love is "A Poor Way Faring Man" but right now I love "Because I have Been Given Much." I truly have been Given Much, with a healthy boy. I was a really good sacrament meeting.
October 24, 29 days old. 27 weeks gestation.
Collin is doing better still today, still really sick but we are getting better. They turned off one of the blood pressure medications. WE ARE headed in the right direction. Collin has what is called an Enterobacter infection; they are calling sepsis because it’s in the blood but no fungil infection. Yes, it’s treatable. As the doctor told me, we have Collin on the right medication and its working because he wouldn't be getting better. Keep up all the prayers, and thank you very much.
October 25th, 30 days old, 1 month old already oh our boy is getting so big. Collin is stable and getting better slowly but surely. Last night they took an x ray and his right lung. It was all cloudy, but they took two today and the one this morning looked better, then they took one around 4 and that one looked even better, way good. Collin's blood work came back, it looked good. Three different doctors today have told us that Collin is looking better and is headed in the right direction. His doctor tonight says he has turned the corner he is getting better. Tonight we could see his little personality returning. Go Collin you are doing great. Mommy and daddy are very proud of you. Keep up the good work. We love you!!! We are more than grateful to everyone for everything they have done and for all the prayers.
October 26th, 31 days old. Collin is still getting better. The doctors are proud of him. His blood work and x rays look good. Collin's goals for now are to continue to get better of course, and to urinate so he can lose more of that fluid weight. Even though he is chubby/swollen from all the products he has gotten he is still way cute. You can tell Collin is getting better because he is getting his cute little personality back. We are still more than grateful for everyone's prayers and support.
Today my sister, Kimberly had her son by c-section. Alexander is 6lb 4oz and 18 & 3 quarters long. He is 5lbs 6in bigger than Collin, born 1month & 1day after Collin, & 14hours before Collin. They will be teasing each other forever along with Daryk. Silly boys :-)
October 27th, 32 days old. Collin is still really sick. They had to put in a chest tube to help his lungs and it is helping to release fluids.
They just weighed Collin. Last night he was 1905 grams (4lb 3oz) now 1770 (3lb 14oz). Girth measurement from earlier 30 cm, and now it’s 28.5. It is still a long wait for him to get completely better, but we still feel good about things. We are not giving up. We know all the blessings, prayers, support is working. Please, please keep them coming. We are very proud of you Collin.
October 28th 33 days old. Collin is more stable today, than yesterday. Collin is still really sick but his nurse Ashlee and his repertory therapist Janalyn said that he was stable enough to put him on his belly. Since the chest tube Collin has been more stable and we know it’s a blessing for to be here.
Collin is doing good. They are going to switch ventilators because he is so low on settings, so depending on which one they switch to we might be able to do skin to skin holding him. They also might do an enema to see if that helps him poop better. He did poop yesterday. I got to hold skin to skin today, it was wonderful, I LOVED it so much, and so did Collin, he LOVES his mommy.
It started great. Stacey got to do skin to skin for the first time. But since then, Collin has struggled. He has an infection. He's on 3 antibiotics and we're praying he gets better.
Collin update: his belly has grown another cm and is now being described as having a "very serious" infection.
We know he’ll be ok; we'll make it through all of this!
We love you Collin & we are very proud of you!
October 21st, 26 days old. It’s a sad/scary day. Yesterday my baby got sick; he has an infection in his abdomen (tummy area). They are monitoring him really closely. He got this infection because he isn't pooping very well. Collin is on 3 antibiotics, fluids, blood pressure medicine, so he is really puffy. Poor little guy. Collin is treading in the right direction is what we are told. They are still watching him very closely. His belly has grown 5.5 cm since yesterday morning, from being sick and because of all the fluids, medicines.
Collin is improving slowly but surely. We are very proud of you and love you. We are more grateful to have you in our lives. We are very blessed to have you here with us; we will make it through all of this. Love you little man, you are our Trooper.
He's better than last night but still sick, he is showing signs of improvement. Dr. Cheatam is pleased of where he is at but still worried. We just need to get over this hump, treading water for a couple days and if Collin improves or stays where he's at the Dr will be happy. We are getting there slow but surely.
Hey Collin's doctor thinks he may have sepsis. So, I told Collin he had a cousin that had had that and now is over 1 year old so we will make it through this. Robert gave Collin a blessing tonight. He told him he would keep fighting so he can become better to where we can hold him. It was a really wonderful blessing. Love you Collin very much and I am very proud of you. Keep going you're doing such a great job.
October 22nd, 27 days old. It’s another rough day. Collin is still really sick, but he's still fighting. It’s a bacterial infection; he may have two, hopefully not. One bacterium is Robs. (?) He's pooped twice today only a little, but we'll take anything. They took out his cat heritor because he is peeing on his own. He is our big fighter and seems to be headed in the right direction. They said he had sepsis but then tonight when I was there they said it was robs not Septicemia. So, we will ask for sure what it is tomorrow when we go in. Collin is showing signs of improvement like peeping, pooping a little, and he’s been wiggling, and his blood work coming back as being good. It’s still a long process of healing but we will get through this. We are so proud of you Collin we will get through this. I know it’s rough and hard but we will make it. We love you as well as well as everyone else. Everyone is also proud of you and is praying for you.
October 23rd, 4 weeks old today wow... Collin is having a better day. We're having a better day YAY! We know those prayers are working so please keep them coming. We also know that our faith, prayers, and trust in the Lord are helping. As our sister-in-law Mindy has told me the "Lord knew Robert & you could handle it." I have come to trust in the Lord more and more. We've come to know and love the Lord so much. We're even closer to him now than ever. Today in church we had an interesting sacrament meeting. Our speakers cancelled at the last minute, so our bishop decided to have whoever wanted to, get up and tell their favorite hymn and we sang one verse from it. I love all of the hymns, but the one I really love is "A Poor Way Faring Man" but right now I love "Because I have Been Given Much." I truly have been Given Much, with a healthy boy. I was a really good sacrament meeting.
October 24, 29 days old. 27 weeks gestation.
Collin is doing better still today, still really sick but we are getting better. They turned off one of the blood pressure medications. WE ARE headed in the right direction. Collin has what is called an Enterobacter infection; they are calling sepsis because it’s in the blood but no fungil infection. Yes, it’s treatable. As the doctor told me, we have Collin on the right medication and its working because he wouldn't be getting better. Keep up all the prayers, and thank you very much.
October 25th, 30 days old, 1 month old already oh our boy is getting so big. Collin is stable and getting better slowly but surely. Last night they took an x ray and his right lung. It was all cloudy, but they took two today and the one this morning looked better, then they took one around 4 and that one looked even better, way good. Collin's blood work came back, it looked good. Three different doctors today have told us that Collin is looking better and is headed in the right direction. His doctor tonight says he has turned the corner he is getting better. Tonight we could see his little personality returning. Go Collin you are doing great. Mommy and daddy are very proud of you. Keep up the good work. We love you!!! We are more than grateful to everyone for everything they have done and for all the prayers.
October 26th, 31 days old. Collin is still getting better. The doctors are proud of him. His blood work and x rays look good. Collin's goals for now are to continue to get better of course, and to urinate so he can lose more of that fluid weight. Even though he is chubby/swollen from all the products he has gotten he is still way cute. You can tell Collin is getting better because he is getting his cute little personality back. We are still more than grateful for everyone's prayers and support.
Today my sister, Kimberly had her son by c-section. Alexander is 6lb 4oz and 18 & 3 quarters long. He is 5lbs 6in bigger than Collin, born 1month & 1day after Collin, & 14hours before Collin. They will be teasing each other forever along with Daryk. Silly boys :-)
October 27th, 32 days old. Collin is still really sick. They had to put in a chest tube to help his lungs and it is helping to release fluids.
They just weighed Collin. Last night he was 1905 grams (4lb 3oz) now 1770 (3lb 14oz). Girth measurement from earlier 30 cm, and now it’s 28.5. It is still a long wait for him to get completely better, but we still feel good about things. We are not giving up. We know all the blessings, prayers, support is working. Please, please keep them coming. We are very proud of you Collin.
October 28th 33 days old. Collin is more stable today, than yesterday. Collin is still really sick but his nurse Ashlee and his repertory therapist Janalyn said that he was stable enough to put him on his belly. Since the chest tube Collin has been more stable and we know it’s a blessing for to be here.
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