Jordan's Journey: Week 4 & 5

Last week was a little busy for us so I'm going to combine the weeks. Monday we went to the NICU for our normal visit and found a team surrounding Jordan's incubator. At first I thought they were moving him, but I knew that couldn't be true. One of the nurses came over to tell us that he became extubated. This means that his ET (breathing tube) came out. Of course this was very painful for us to see and it's the second time it's happened (while we were there). However, I do understand that it happens and we just have to remain calm and allow the team to do their job.

The next day we returned to celebrate Jordan's 1 month birthday!! I can't believe my baby boy has been with us for 1 whole month! Yes, I took my camera. Yes, I took monthly stickers. Yes, I took a ton of photos. What?! I'd do the same if he were home so why not!? I may be bias, but his pictures are adorable. He even had a pretty fly accessory, Beats by Dre.....or so we called them. They were doing construction right outside of the NICU (go figure) so they gave him earphones. The same day, his heart rate began to rise. The team was concerned that it was an infection, so they began to draw blood and run tests. The following day they had to do a blood transfusion because his hematocrit was low. My sweet baby was exhausted. I just wanted to pick him up and snuggle him, but couldn't until we got the results from the blood culture. The initial results showed a bit of bacteria in his blood so they started him on an antibiotic. Since it came back positive, they had to repeat the culture. After repeating 2x, we got 2 negative cultures!!!! Now, I know you may think something else happened, but I know exactly what happened. Not only did I pray a specific prayer, but I prayed with the expectation that God would answer my prayers...and as always He did.

After such a long week, I claimed that Jordan would have a better week starting Sunday. We took his Easter baskets by and prayed that he always acknowledge what God has done, is doing and is doing to do in his life.

Easter baskets from TT Keitra & Uncle Creston
and TT Snoop & Uncle Eric

He's currently l lb 15.5 oz! His sats have been pretty good..but of course he drops when someone touches him. His daddy says he's dramatic like his mom ::major side eye:: His carbon dioxide levels have improved tremendously and his heart rate has been normal! They have gone up on his feedings, since stopping them last week. This morning Dr. Alur told us that they would continue to wean the respiratory rate (RR) on the ventilator because Jordan has been breathing a lot on his own! The goal is to get him down to a rate of about 20. In addition, he's usually on about 40-45% oxygen but lately he's been camping out around 37-40%. The goal is to get him down to 21% which is what we breathe. ......lastly, they repeated a head ultrasound. This is #3 since birth. They have ALL come back CLEAR! Praise God!!! No brain bleeds and everything is normal! If you remember, we asked you guys to pray specifically for these results so thank you, thank you, thank you!

We are so proud of our baby boy. Joey celebrated his birthday yesterday, so I think Jordan is trying to show out for his daddy. Oh, did I mention Joey came bearing gifts? He surprised us with a stroller/carseat for Jordan! We can't wait to take strolls in it!!

We love it!!

Doctor, nurses and other NICU parents warned us that this journey would be a rollercoaster and that it is but we are making it...day by day. Jordan has been a true fighter through this all and we are so proud of him!! Each day I look at him and I'm reminded of God's grace and mercy...we are so thankful. Thank you for your constant prayers. They are very much needed and appreciated. Please continue to pray that:

1) Jordan continues to gain weight & tolerates his feedings
2) His vitals remain good and they are able to wean his oxygen and respiratory rate

With love,

Joey, NaToya and Jordan

Rest if you must, but don't you quit!

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

There's no sugar coating it. This is the hardest thing I've ever done. But with the help of God, family, friends, and literally hundreds of prayer warriors (you guys), we WILL get through this and we will come out stronger than ever. 

I'm having a hard time processing my feelings. Hospitals, Doctors, nurses, numbers and medical terms have become my life. I hear incubators beeping in my sleep. I'm able to covert grams to pounds and ounces in my head. I never thought this would be my life...but it is. And then...I feel guilty for these thoughts. I feel guilty because several babies didn't make it. How dare I complain about my new normal when someone is grieving the loss of their child? Does that make me ungrateful? I don't know--- that's exactly what I'm struggling with. I ask God for forgiveness because I'm truly thankful. I could never EVER express my sincere gratitude...but I'm still human and humans have feelings. So I need help and prayer in this area. Prayer that I slowly learn how to process my feelings ... Because keeping them bottled inside is no good for me or anyone else. 

Earlier this week I had a follow up appointment to check my blood pressure. Basically the doctor said that due to the type of surgery I had, my recovery will be longer (about 2 more months). I knew c section recovery was longer, but I was cut horizontally and vertically so it will take a little longer. In addition, I'm anemic so I've been having dizzy spells. Everyone says "sit down", "take care of yourself" etc. This is all true---but I honestly think I've been doing a decent job lol. I go to the hospital and back home. It's very difficult to focus on me and rest when my baby is in the NICU. But, I will continue to take care of myself because I have to be well for Jordan.

I have to take a moment to brag on my husband. Joey has been my rock through it all. I'll save all the sappy phrases but each day I thank God for sending me such a wonderful man. Jordan and I are truly blessed to have such a strong man in our lives. He's such a proud daddy. I never knew I could love him more, but when I see how he interacts with Jordan...my heart melts.

Please continue to pray for our strength. Each day I tell myself [in the words of Kendrick Lamar] "we gone be alright" 

xx 

nrs

Jordan's Journey: Week 3

We've had some rather eventful days since I last updated. In the NICU, so much can happen within a few hours and/or minutes. My big boy turned 3 weeks old Monday, and I am elated to report that he has gained more weight! He now weighs 1 lb 8 oz!!!! Go Jordan!!! We are soooo proud of him and we know that he will continue to gain more weight as the weeks go by! I guess it is true---mommy's liquid gold works wonders.

If you remember, I've been talking about the PDA. Last week, they decided that Jordan's blood pressure and vitals were stable enough to start treating the PDA. Dr. Desai told us that it was only a 30-40% chance that the medication would close the duct, but they wanted to give it a try. So, they gave Jordan 3 doses of a medication similar to Ibuprofen over the course of 3 days. Yesterday, they repeated the echocardiogram and the results showed that the PDA is still there. We were hoping to see a change, but we are still very optimistic! Dr. Desai wants to monitor it for a few more weeks, because there still is a possibility that it will close on its own. Maybe I'm just being a mother, but I truly believe that it will close. I've been telling my parents that I think something significant is going to happen soon....something so significant that the doctors will not be able to explain how it happened----but oh, we will know it was only our God!!! What a mighty God we serve!! So for now, we continue to wait and pray that there will be no need for surgical intervention.

Last week they began doing some wiring in NICU North (this is a place for micropreemies that are just born). Jordan was in NICU North with 4 other micopreemies for 2 weeks. They told us we would be moved to the bigger NICU while they worked on the wiring, Unfortunately, we were told that we would not go back to NICU North...they are keeping it for critical babies who were just born. So, even though the bigger room is a major adjustment for mommy (Jordan is adjusting just fine), we are happy that he has "graduated" from NICU North. I'm not sure if I've blogged about the nursing staff but they are the absolute best. They love my baby and treat him like their own. I'd rather not be in this situation, but since I am, I'm glad that we are at UMMC.

Some of you were able to see my post on Facebook last week. I was able to hold Jordan for the first time!!!! After leaving the hospital I received a phone call from my Soror, and one of Jordan's Nurse Practioners, Alisia. She wanted to know if I would be returning to the hospital later that evening. I told her I probably wouldn't since I had already been there earlier. She then said "Well, Dr. Famuyide has a surprise for you. She wants you to come back and do kangaroo care." I'm like whaaaat??? I get to hold my baby?!?! Oh, you know I rushed to the hospital! I really can't explain the feeling, but just know it was a moment I'll forever cherish. Yes, I cried. Ok, I boohoo'd LOL but wouldn't you?! Unfortunately, Joey had JUST left to go back to work so he didn't get to see it. But, he came back 4 days later and was able to do kangaroo care for the first time. Again, I can't put his feelings into words but the smile on his face was p r i c e l e s s. My entire world in a photograph.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power thatis at work within us." Ephesians 3:20

As always, we thank you all for the continued thoughts and prayers. When I think back to the first two weeks of his life, I am overcome with tears. God has truly done more than we could ever ask or imagine. Earlier this week I started to get a little down and I started to ask God to bring us out of this situation. I quickly changed my prayer and asked that He not bring us out, but give us the strength to get through it so when we do, He gets all the glory. We are excited to see how God is going to use Jordan for His glory!! Jordan is God's child. We love him, but God loves him more. And we know that God takes care of His children.

I asked the doctor where we are in terms of progress because I like to ask for specific prayer requests. He basically said the same thing so I know it seems like our requests don't change much from week to week but we are so thankful these are our only major concerns, as things could be much worse.
1. gain weight (and he has)
2. increase feedings (they have increased)
3. decrease oxygen (each day they wean more and more)
please continue to pray that the PDA closes, as I KNOW it will.

With love,

Joey, NaToya and Jordan