Day 4 in NICU

September 24th, 2015

Day 4 in NICU

Today was a happy day. Abby had a great nurse in the NICU who explained a lot to us and made me feel very comfortable leaving her there as I had pending discharge orders. I was very happy to be going home but sad to leave baby Abby. Knowing she was getting excellent care made it that much easier.

It was a busy morning packing up my room full of gifts, flowers and pictures from family, friend and my kids. I was sad to leave the room but felt so good to get out as well. We went and saw Abby in the morning and she was doing well. They decreased her CPAP to 5 and she is still on 21% (room air), her humidity is still at 72% in her little box. She had a few apnea events again but with a little touch she quickly remembered to breath. She is doing well on her tube feedings, 2ml every 3 hours and finally had her first poop! There is talk about increasing her feedings tomorrow since she isn't having many tube feeding residuals. Since my milk has started to come in they also haven't had to use any donor milk-which makes this momma really happy. She is still receiving TPN and lipids through her PICC line that was placed yesterday in her right arm. They removed her arterial line today from her umbilical cord, so she no longer has anything going through her umbilical cord. This is great news as we will get to start skin-to-skin or kangaroo care soon.  Abby's weight was 1 lb 9 oz today. Hopefully she will start gaining weight soon.

Before we left to go home we rushed to see Abby during "care time" or as some nurses call it "touch time". They try to cluster all care at once to not over stimulate the babies. During todays touch time I got to change Abby's diaper for the first time. It was such a special moment for me. My mom and I  also got to see her little face when they were adjusting her mask. Abby is one busy little girl and she always has to be holding onto something.

Abby grabbing her tube feedings

You can see her PICC line in her right arm- so tiny!

adjusting her CPAP mask

Her little puffy face. The CPAP mask squishes her tiny face a little.

Her left foot is still a little bruised from kicking herself out of my cervix

Grandma Nancy taking one last picture before we left. 

Some family and friends have been asking if they can see Abby in the NICU. The NICU has strict rules on visitors and for good reason. Before entering the unit you have to scrub your hands for 3 minutes with a surgical cleaning sponge to keep infection, germs etc. out. Babies immune systems aren't developed so it's very important to be update on vaccines and good hygiene needs to be used during the visit. For example no touching face, hair, mouth and even your cell phone. If you do you need to use the foaming cleaner at the bedside. At this time only Abby's parents and grandparents can visits. Emma and Trey can visit once a week for 15 minutes but they have to show proof of up-to-date vaccines and have to take their temperature before entering. Emma and Trey have not yet seen Abby.  

My mom and I leaving room 13 with all my stuff

checking out of the hospital 

My words of encouragement  

Day 3 in NICU

September 23rd, 2015

Today is Abby's 3rd day in the NICU

I had a hard time sleeping last night knowing today Abby would be getting her brain ultrasound to determine if she had any trauma or bleeding on her brain. We hadn't heard from the nurses and we are learning no news is good news so we were praying that we would get our prayers answered today. Visiting hours aren't until 10am in the morning so we had to wait.

We got amazing news that Abby's brain look perfect and their was no bleeding on the brain! Although, it could still happen at anytime we were told most damage will show up in the first 48 hours are so. Abby's central line that was placed in her umbilical cord had fallen out so I had to consent for a PICC line to be placed in her tiny arm. She remained on the bili light throughout the day. Abby's weight today was 1 lb 10 oz. 

Tiny little diapers for Abby

Emma had fun today at home face painting with Miss Samantha

Abby has been digesting some breastmilk with few residuals today and I have started to make some colostrum!

Blood gases looked perfect today. She remains on CPAP at 21% (room air)

Pretty in Pink Abby has good vital signs

Getting to hold her hand during touch time in the evening

First 24 hours in NICU

September 22nd 2015

First 24 hours in NICU

Abby is officially one day old today. She did well over night. Her oxygen levels, blood work and x-rays all looked good. She has remained on CPAP at room air and only had a few episodes of apnea in the evening but overall is doing really well. The nurses and neonatologist keep telling us she is doing really well for the first 24 hours. This journey will be a roller coaster as Abby will have her good days and bad but we are feeling so blessed to see her breathing on her own and wiggling all around.

Abby got her first feeding today. I have made a little colostrum and the NICU has added some donor breast milk until all my milk comes in.

Abby's first feeding

Her little feet

Proud daddy

They started her on a bili light because her bilirubin levels increased. She is such a cute glow bug!

It's a Girl!!!!

Abigail Rose Abide

Born September 21st, 2015 at 11:58 am

1 lb 15 oz

 Length 12 1/2 inches
25 Weeks and 3 days old when born

Soooo a lot has happened since my last post. Baby Abby decided it was time for her big arrival.

Sunday was another great day. My mom spent the day with me and the kids visited for a little while during the day. I started bleeding a little during the day and got the usual check up afterwards. Ultrasound and blood work all looked good. Around 6:20pm that evening I started to feel uncomfortable and jabbing pains in my pelvic from Abby's legs. I got some tylenol that evening and went to bed early. 

The next morning the uncomfortable pain started back up. It truly felt like Abby was kicking herself out! After talking to the doctor in the am we decided to take a quick look at my cervix to see if I had started to dilate. When she took a look she saw Abby's foot hanging out of my cervix! She was footling breach! Things happened pretty quickly after that. I was rushed to the operating room to have a c-section. Bill was not able to make it in time to see Abby born but thankfully my mom was by my side through the whole thing. She held my hand during surgery and took pictures of Abby's first moments.

Abby was much bigger than we all thought @ 1 lb 15 oz

Abby gave us a little cry once she was born. I couldn't see her very well but I did see that she had a full head of dark hair, just like her sister Emma. She immediately was intubated and given surfactant in her breathing tube for lung development. She was doing so well in the operating room that they pulled out her breathing tube and placed her on CPAP. The neonatologist said she was sucking on his finger-she was so awake. Her Apgar score was really good considering her age as well. She is a strong fighter!

Day Sixteen: 25 weeks and 1 day

September 19th 2015

Day Sixteen: 25 weeks and 1 day

Another blessed day for the Abide family. The kids stayed the night in a hotel last night so I could eat breakfast with them before Emma had her first soccer game at 1pm. When they arrived in the am they brought an amazing surprise! My surprise came all the way from Portland Oregon!

My beautiful mom and I

Bill took the kids and my mom to Emma's soccer game after the visit. It looked like she loved it.....

she decided to work on her tan instead of play...

Day Fifteen: 25 weeks and 0 days

September 18th 2015

Day Fifteen: 25 weeks and 0 days

We made it to 25 weeks!!!

Can't believe three weeks ago my water broke in Omaha, NE. It's been a long journey so far and I'm so thankful for all the support from family and friends. Bill and I couldn't have done this without you, and my stress level has been low knowing that my babies have been well taken care of. Ultrasound showed baby was happy and healthy again today. Baby Abby is in the 9th percentile for growth, which is really small. We are going to watch her closely over the next couple of weeks for growth restriction. 

Here is the updated survival rates for infants born at 25 weeks at St. Davids Women Center

Bill brought the kids up after work so we could celebrate the 25 week milestone. We celebrated with Kona Grill and an edible arrangement. 

Kids had a great week with Aunt Bonda, Miss Melissa, Miss Samantha and swimming with Coach Spaar. 

Wouldn't be a visit without Trey throwing the emergency call light into the toilet and painting Emma's nails for her first soccer game tomorrow

Day Fourteen: 24 weeks and 6 days

September 17, 2015


Day Fourteen: 24 weeks and 6 days

At midnight we will be 25 weeks!!!!

Started bleeding a little this morning again and had a few contractions but nothing significant. I'm becoming really tired as the hospital policy is to take my temperature every 2 hours even during the night. Sort of crazy....but I understand the nurses are just doing their job according to hospital policy. Still stinks though.

Words of Encouragement:

After the storm there is always a rainbow. Stay hopeful that your day of joy and happiness will come.

Aunt Bonda came to visit me today after a 3 hour drive...she kinda got lost ;) Love her for not giving up and bringing me lunch and more yarn so I can continue to knit away. Aunt Angela and Edward stopped by as well and Edward shared one of his birthday cupcakes with me! Happy 11th birthday Edward. 

Emma's first soccer practice went well. She watched the whole time and never got up!

Emma wanted me to make her a hat too.