HOLDING OUR SON!!!!!!!!!!!

We got to hold Brody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This doesn’t even begin to explain the level of excitement, love, awesomeness that I have been filled with today.  What a way to wake up!!!

I went into the NICU each time to pump last night, and ended up staying in there for about an hour each 3 hours.  At 2am feeding – Brody was WIDE awake (they call the 11-2 shift his “witching hour”….same time he used to move the most in my tummy!); but it was fun tonight cause I was able to see his beautiful eyes and stretch out his little hands.  They have had them in mittens cause Mr. feisty had been pulling out the oxygen cord each day…so we stretched out his little fingers and finally got him back to sleep.  Then when I came back in for the 5am feeding – they were going to let me hold him, but he had just fallen asleep.  I gave the nurse my cell # and headed back to bed….30 minutes later they called me and told me he was awake – so I woke up Ross and ran down there.

I stripped down and they FINALLY put my little man in my arms.  I started crying.  This was by far one of my favorite and best moments of my life.  I am holding my son – having him look up at me with his big eyes – and I know my life will forever by amazing because of this little boy.  I just sat there in awe for the next 30 minutes –and his levels were awesome!  He certainly knows his momma….YAY!!!   Ross got down there and took Brody from me so I could pump – and then it was daddy’s turn for holding his little guy!  What an awesome moment – watching the two men of my life together.  :)  Today is PERFECT!!!!

 

His levels have been good all day - so Ross and I are kicking off New Years Eve in style by sitting in his room and feeling very blessed.  2012 was amazing cause it brought us the best gift in the world - and 2013 is going to be even better as we start building memories with Brody!

NO MORE C-PAP!!!!

Brody had a really good night last night – besides being up from 11-2 (surprise surprise…this was when he was active the most in my belly each night  J).  We came to visit him first thing this am and his oxygen percentage was at 26.  Best we have seen, so hoping that’s a sign he is progressing towards getting off his c-pap.  Knowing he had such a great night helped me a ton…this day is already 100x better than yesterday!

Ross and I decided to head home for a bit to regroup – and knowing this would be tough we asked the nurse for a binkie that Brody was wrapped in to bring home with us…(also heard this was a good way for cats to get to know the smell of the new baby)…so I was smelling that the whole drive home and crying... I can’t wait to hold my little man!

The doctor called us and told us that Brody was doing great today.  He had another x-ray this morning and they did detect a little infection still, so to fight the pneumonia they are going to keep him on his antibiotics for another 2 days.  They have increased his food – and as they do this they will continue to lower the amount of nutrients in his IV….apparently he is a really good eater (sounds like his dad…)

We got back at 2 – and I actually had been able to pump a little more for him, so momma feels like she is contributing a little bit today.  Both of us are just chilling in his room – watching him sleep.  I just keep telling myself that SOON I’ll be able to hold him….SOON…SOON….

They also have been weaning him off his “anti-movement” drug….so instead of having this every 4 hours – they have stretched him to 8 hours.  He seems to be managing, but is more fussy towards the end.

At 7:00 pm Brody had become strong enough to get off of c-pap and onto what they call “high flow Oxygen” If he maintains his level hopefully he can stay as he is.  It’s so great to be able to see his cutie face – he is so frickin adorable.  It’s 10pm as I type and he is still off it, so both Ross and I are just sitting here praying that the alarms stay silent and our little man is able to rest!

Love and Support for Brody!!!

Today should be the day we take our Little One home….so let’s just say I’m a mess. :( We still haven't been able to hold him - and it's just killing me.  Today has been a full day of crying, so I decided to focus on the fact that Brody has so many people that love and support him!!

Thanks for all the emails, texts, calls, and visits.  We appreciate your prayers and support during this difficult time.  We know Brody is strong - and soon this will all be behind us.  Thanks for getting us through it :)

Our poor little guy....

I can’t believe Brody is 1 day old…. I can’t believe we are parents…..I can’t believe I don’t know how to change my sons diaper but I know what a “c-pap” is…and how awful it is to see your little baby hooked up to it!  Figured I would start blogging because it helps to get all my thoughts on paper – and to be honest, it’s all I can do for our little guy right now.

What is Brody hooked up to:

C-pap (continuous positive airway pressure): basically is an oxygen mask.  This is helping our little man breathe a little easier because he has all that tar in his lungs.  He is hooked up to this machine that regulates how much percentage of oxygen is in his blood.  A normal person sits and breaths at 20% - and that allows 95% of your blood to be oxygen.  Our little guy is currently hooked up to the machine and is at 40% assistance (with the c-pap) and then he has to stay around 95% (pink # on the scary beeping machine).  As he is sleeping or in a more calm state – he typically drops down to 33%.  They adjust this machine as his “pink #”(oxygen level in blood) adjusts above 100%.  So as that # increases – then they can decrease the c-pap assistance (lower the amount of oxygen he is getting from the machine.) The air that we normally breathe is 21% oxygen, so once he gets to that number he can breathe on his own.

Antibiotics: he is currently on amacillin and genomyicin to help fight the pneumonia that he got from having all that bacteria in his lungs.

IV: he has an IV line through his umbilical cord.  He originally had this in his left arm – but being the feisty guy that he is – he pulled it out, so they sewed it into his umbilical cord today.  He is getting his nutrients through this for now – since he can’t be held or be breast fed.

Line down his throat: since the c-pap is forcing air down his throat – this line helps to vent excess air from his stomach. They also use this line to feed him – they do this with using a syringe.

Adaran: This is a drug to calm him down so that he can rest easily. It basically is a sedative for babies (I kept saying it’s like giving him an anti depressant…)  They would rather have him sleeping – because it helps him recover faster.  He has been getting this drug every 4 hours….or when he is so fussy that they can’t settle him down.

Sweeties – basically sugar water….he really likes it!  (that might be my fault since I had a cookie dough blizzard or nerds mixer every day…)  They basically squirt that onto his nuk to stimulate him eating from a nipple.

Introducing Broden Ronhovde Sodahl

and it begins....

Best hubby in the world!! (still pregnant...)

It will fit some day....right ?!

Christmas Day with the Greens (still pregnant...)

Christmas Eve with the Ronhovdes (still pregnant...)

Celebrating Xmas with Bestemor (just in case...) Hey Baby S....could you please come play ?!

Celebrating Xmas with Sodahls (just in case...)

Here is my list of "Things To Do"....

Rosa's due date....where are you?!

If we are here next week....I might not be in the best of moods :)

Trying to get Rosa moving...

Long overdue catch up with Patrick

The Hetlands :)

Waiting for Rosa with some steak and a movie :)

Bed rest with my favorite ladies

Not in labor yet Christmas dinner :)

Quilt for Baby S

"What are you carrying around in there..." :)

Kim - where are you? Prego brain :)

Baby Sodahl cleaning day

Last date night for awhile....Monte Carlo, Xmas Lights, DQ, and Argo

Getting my toes pretty for pushing :)

Alicia Baby Shower