Well, kind of a mixed bag today. I’ll start with the good news. Olivia had her eye exam and they don’t see any signs of ROP! Her eyes were just a bit hazy, which I hear is pretty common for babies her age. Now, I don’t know the chances of her still developing ROP. I hear that her chances are low since she showed no signs this time. . .maybe some other preemie moms can help me out with that? So, before I get too excited I would like to learn some additional information about it. They did have to turn her vent settings up to 18/5 with a rate of 16 and that was a little surprising because she had been doing so well. Olivia also gained a little bit of weight last night and she now weighs about 2 lbs 7.5 oz. We hope that weight gain continues as she hasn’t been able to get over 2 lbs 9 oz. Overall, she is doing well. . .I think Ryan and I just weren’t in the best of moods today. I wish that the NICU parents didn’t take the same elevators as the parents taking their babies home. It’s hard sometimes to go up to see Olivia and watch people with balloons and flowers and their babies leaving to go home. I’m not saying that they don’t deserve to take them home. . everybody does. But, I’ll never get to take Logan home and it will still be a long time before I get to come home with my precious Olivia. I’m also a little apprehensive today because one of the visitors in the NICU had a bad cough. I’m just concerned about Olivia and all of the other babies in the NICU. That’s the last thing any baby needs when they are dealing with so many other problems.
Anyway, Ryan and I made an appointment at our doctor’s office today. We both got our flu shots. Neither one of us has ever had a flu shot before, but because of Olivia we decided that it would be a good idea. We’re just trying to remain healthy so that we can be there for our little girl.
I am so thankful that Olivia’s eye exam went well. Like I mentioned before, if anybody has any input about ROP, please let us know. Should we be ecstatic about this or just cautiously optimistic? Please continue praying for Olivia. . .she is one tough girl!!
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Park City Utah
2 years ago
7 comments:
There was a visitor with a cough? I hope that someone said something! I remember one night the night nurse came over to Ashton and she had a mask on. I asked why and she said that she wasn't feeling the greatest so she was protecting him. Protecting him!? You should be at home! Didn't take me long to talk to the charge nurse and had that changed. She was actually sent home. Crazy how some people have no concern for anyone else...especially tiny babies that should not be around anything like that!
Great news about the eye exam. I can say from experience that Ashton always had issues with his eyes and it did regress a bit from what it was. However I would say to still stay "cautiously optimistic" as you never know what can happen and you don't want to think that her eyes are fine and then find out in the future that they have changed. I am always "cautiously optimistic" as nothing in my experience was ever how it was said to be!
Stay strong!
Hi,
I'm a fellow preemie mom stopping by to check in on Olivia and thought I would chime in on the ROP issue. I agree with Shannon to stay cautiously optimistic about this first eye exam. For my girls, the first 3 exams (or so) were about the same...didn't show too much and things looked good. In one week, things changed quickly and one of my girls started to develop the abnormal blood vessels. Even though they start the exams this early, there usually isn't much blood vessel growth yet, so keeping the optimistic caution is good. It sounds like Olivia is a little fighter and doing so well so I hope she kicks ROP butt as well.
Please stay cautiously optimistic about Olivia's eyes. Even though things can change quickly, celebrate each victory as it comes.
Continuing to pray for Olivia as well as you and Ryan. Have faith- one day you will take your precious daughter home! What a day that will be!!
I think cautious optimism on the ROP front; it is definitely good that she is not showing any signs yet. I think, from my computation, that Olivia is somewhere around 31-32 weeks or so... My sense is that ROP can still show up as problematic until week 44, and that eyes only really start to mature at 32 weeks. I may be misremembering this, though. But what do the doctors say about the maturity of Olivia's eyes? That has a lot to do with their assessment.
In any event, be cautious but not unhappy about the eyes. On the other fronts: I remember very well the frustration about all the kids who came and went (and all the parents who coughed and disregarded handwashing procedures---I actually reported one once). In terms of the vent: you are in the second most frustrating phase of your NICU stay. It seems like she's been on the vent forever and you just want her off. I remember this all too well. Try to just take a deep breath (so to speak) and hang in there a bit longer. She'll get off the vent. And then things will begin to progress really fast, until, of course, they stall out at the most frustrating phase--the last few weeks when she needs to learn to feed and grow. Anyway, please know that those of us who have been there (are still there, in so many ways) are pulling for you and that you can ask us anything; guaranteed that one or more of us have been there and done that.
Still praying for Olivia to stay well and gain weight. I can't believe someone came into the NICU sick. I can't believe a nurse or someone didn't kick them out!! That should be reported. But I'm glad to hear Olivia is still holding her own and continuing to make progress, even if it's slow progress! I pray for strength and health for you and Ryan both.
Ryan and Jodi,
I'm glad to hear that your little girl is getting bigger! That was such great news to read. And, also that her eye exam was successful. (So far.) I think it's good that you are getting second opinions from the other mom's. It's great that they are always there for you. Oh, and the picture is fabulous! I love the pictures!
I don't know the actual experience of not being able to take your child home after the first few days. But I can't imagine those elevator rides that you talked about. It must have been awful. I'm so sorry, that you had to feel that way.
Just remember that even if Olivia wasn't able to see...
She could still hear the love from her parents, family and friends.
She could still feel the touch of her loved-ones.
She could still grin that gorgeous smile.
She could still laugh, cry, be happy, sad or mad.
Even if she wasn't able to see her mother's face, her dad's muscles, and the holiday presents from her grandparents. She wouldn't miss out on life. She would still have the joy of a happy and loving family.
I love you guys so much!
Stay Strong,
Shea
I'm so glad that Olivia continues to do so very well! When are they going to extubate her?...her vent settings are really, really low. We usually extubate our kids when their settings are that low.
As for the ROP, I'd say at least 75% of the kids that have their first eye exams done at 31-32 weeks simply have immature retinas with no signs/symptoms of ROP yet. This (unfortunately) does not tell you if in the future she will develop ROP. Due to her gestational age, her chances of developing at least some ROP are very, very high. BUT, this doesn't mean that it will effect her vision or require surgical intervention.
If you haven't guessed it, yes, I'm a NICU nurse, but also a fellow preemie (blog) mom to a 23 weeker. My daughter's ROP was minimal until she was almost term, then it progressed. She just missed needing to have laser surgery to correct it. She is now 16 months old, and had a repeat eye exam Monday that showed no ROP and healthy retinas!
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