Thanks for visiting. Our family computer is not working, and this page hasn't been updated in a long while. When we can, we'll upload pictures on this site through an older computer (it's just lots easier that way). Hope to be back soon!
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3/19/07 - Home
Jeremy was released from the hospital this afternoon, and right this minute he is resting in his crib after his second feeding at home. Mom and Dad are exhausted, but the tired feeling is so much better here at home than in a temporary hospital room.
More than anything, we want to say "Thank You!" to every person who e-mailed, called, visited, contacted us in other ways, read this web page, etc. Our family has supported us, the people we work with have reached out to us, and our church family has gone out of the way to help us. Jeremy has had a tough time, but he has also had friends and family from coast to coast and from Mexico to Australia praying for him. This little boy could easily have been in intensive care for weeks, or worse, but instead he is home with us in roughly eight days. We know that is God's work, brought about by your prayers. Thank you.
Because Jeremy is safe at home, Dad won't be updating this page for a while. Eventually he'll convert it into a sort of picture page or something similar. Still, please do keep Jeremy and his parents in your prayers. We love you, and we are grateful to you all.
"Why this finger is stinky?"
Listening to Elvis on the way home (see the movie).
3/18/07 - Home Tomorrow
We are going to be staying over at the hospital tonight with Jeremy in our room. If everything goes as planned, he'll come home tomorrow. This is great news, especially for Mama, who is pretty worn out from traveling to and from the hospital. All Jeremy's stats are perfect, and he's making up for lost time at his feedings.
3/17/07 - Just Waiting Now
Jeremy is still in the baby ICU area, but he's pretty much doing everything on his own. No tubes at all since yesterday, plus he's now in a crib instead of on a heated bed. His jaundice light is gone, too. He is eating like crazy, and it's hard to keep up with him. One of the nurses said he is what she calls a "two-bottle baby." It looks like he's still calling the shots. Dad is exhausted, so he can only imagine how Mama feels. Jeremy will take bottle feedings until tomorrow morning, and the nursing staff will reassess his timetable for coming home then.
3/16/07 - Late, Late Update
Notice anything different about these pictures? No tubes at all! And his blood gas levels are great, too. Jeremy took an evening feeding and a night feeding. The night feeding was able to take place outside the intensive care unit in a little private room, and he ate lots and lots (probably too much). We'll do it again starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. The nurses are suggesting that we might have him home Sunday or Monday.
3/16/07 - P.M. Update: Able to Eat
Jeremy has been able to take his bottle and nurse at one feeding today, and he'll be able to nurse again at least once more tonight. He responded well, and he wasn't too tired afterward. If he does okay tonight, we might be able to begin full-time nursing tomorrow. The medical staff is estimating that he could come home as early as Sunday or Monday, if his breathing rate keeps getting better. He is progressing with that, but that progress has slowed some. We did get to hold him for a full hour today, with more rocking chair time on the way tonight.
3/16/07 - Breathing Rate is Better
Jeremy's breathing rate this morning is being described as much better, but still borderline normal. Mom and Dad are just going to have to hang around and be ready when Jeremy is ready. He might be able to feed regularly today, possibly as early as 11 a.m. But his changes will happen hour-by-hour, or even minute-by-minute.
3/15/07 - P.M. Update
Jeremy was not able to nurse today, but he did try a bottle, which seemed to make him a little tired. We're hoping for a good report after the 6 a.m. shift change. If his breathing pace continues to lower, he could be able to nurse around 11 a.m. Even though he's still getting his milk through a tube, he is obviously feeling better. He is opening his eyes much more, and he's extremely alert at times. He is fussing and squirming again, and he loves his feeding times, even if the food is delivered by tube. He is a little jaundiced, so he spent some time in the "tanning beds" today. All in all, he's doing great. Here's hoping he'll be home by Saturday.
Here's another video. This time, he's looking around more, and making funny faces too.
3/15/07 - Still Breathing Fast
A quick morning update: Little Man still is breathing fast (60 to 80; should be 60), so nursing will be delayed until this afternoon or tomorrow. His umbilical tube should be out by 10 a.m. or so. That'll remove the last discomfort of holding him. If he is able to begin nursing today, he could go home tomorrow.
3/14/07 - P.M. Update is Even Better
Jeremy continues to surpass the doctors' expectations. His breathing tube and chest tube are now gone - only his feeding and umbilical tubes remain (the umbilical tube measures blood gas levels). We were able to hold him, and we can now touch and caress him without him becoming grumpy. He is breathing much better on his own. He can cry again; not a raspy moan, but big-boy cries. He is opening his eyes again, too.
Here are some examples of the dramatic change: We learned about noon today that there was no real decision to take his chest tube out - he worked it out himself in the early hours of the morning. The medical staff saw that he was doing this and that he was breathing fine on his own, so they removed the tube completely. Also, we are going to be able to skip bottle feeding and begin actual nursing Thursday morning. Already, Jeremy is sticking his hand in his mouth and licking his hand, anticipating tomorrow, I guess. One nurse said, "He's pretty much been controlling the shots lately." If things keep going as they are now, we're told he could come home Friday.
Here's a short video.
3/14/07 - Thank You! 'Or Less' Wins
Jeremy's breathing has improved so rapidly that his caregivers were able to remove the tubes from his mouth and side early this morning. Right now, he is alert, looking around and sucking on a pacifier. It appears we'll be able to begin bottle feeding him later today (he's only been able to take a small amount of formula right after he was born), and there's a good chance he can begin regular feedings with his mama as early as Thursday. Hooray! We have not been able to even hold him since Sunday afternoon, and he has been so uncomfortable that just touching him has made him cranky. Today's change is big. This child has faced challenges almost since the minute we knew he was coming, and God has not just overcome but completely removed every single problem one-by-one. Thank you for your prayers, e-mails, calls and support.
3/13/07 - Jeremy's Condition
Thank you so much for every kind word you've offered to us and every prayer you've said for Jeremy. On March 12, Jeremy's lung collapsed after air from his breathing tube collected between that lung and his chest wall. We now have been told that his lungs were not completely formed, and that air leaked through one of them because of the pressure from the breathing tube in his nose. A needle was inserted and the air was withdrawn from his chest. X-rays showed that the lung still was leaking, so a tube was inserted through his ribs to continually drain the leaking air. A tube to help with breathing has been inserted through his mouth and ending at his lungs, plus he was given additional treatments Monday night. He responded throughout the night and his breathing is a lot less labored, but he still has uncomfortable tubes in his mouth, side and stomach. We're told it could take days or weeks for him to recover. Please join us in praying for 'days' (or less!) until his recovery.
3/11/07 - I'm here, and I'm cute!
I'm here, and I came a full month early! Despite that fact, the docs say I'm fully developed, lungs and all. I weigh in at six pounds 13 ounces, and I'm about 20 and one-half inches long. I still have some gunk in my lungs, so I'm on oxygen. Keep praying for me so that I can get out soon and be with Mama and Pop.
Dad will post more when he can. Things are still busy at the hospital now. Here's a shot of me not too long after I was born, and here's a short video of me and Mama just after delivery (don't mind the people in the background talking about unimportant stuff).