Pierson is home!

Baby Pierson came home Monday afternoon and is doing great! Last week they let me start trying to nurse under close supervision. So Sunday I was told that I could have a room and spend the night to work with him on nursing. I don't think nursing is going to happen, but he is doing great with his bottles of thickened milk. I didn't get much sleep between all the noises he makes, the monitors, eating every 3 hours, pumping, etc. Monday morning the nurse practitioner came in and said he looked good, is doing well with bottles and hasn't had any spells so she was ready to send him home that afternoon after a car seat study (sitting in the car seat a couple hours with monitors to make sure they tolerate it ok). They asked if I had a car seat in the car. I said I didn't but would be back after I ran and bought one at Toys R Us. Chris and Bailey went back with me at 3 and he passed his car seat study and hearing screen. He is home and doing wonderful! I am not getting much sleep, but hey, I can sleep when I'm dead as my husband likes to say.

Yesterday he weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces. He is getting chubby and cute! We are throwing a welcome home party for him next Thursday at our house from 2-6 pm. It is an open house and the pool will be open for everyone who wants to come swim with their families. We'd love to have you come celebrate his safe and final arrival home!!!

Ready to buy a car seat

Pierson has been taking bottles with a little rice added to make it a little thicker. Last night the nurse said some bottles he would take great and others he would suck like his binky and not get anything. The physical therapist worked with him today and he took his bottle great. I fed him his next bottle and he took it all. I feel encouraged that he will be coming home soon! We just need to get him taking bottles for all his feedings. We need to get a new car seat for him, the one we got for Bailey is pink and brown. Not too appropriate for little Pierson. So we have wanted to get a new car seat, but I haven't felt as if him coming home was in the near future so I haven't wanted to get one until tonight. He is seven pounds now.

Due date

We officially hit Pierson's due date thursday and the doctor was saying he is a new baby now. Thursday Chris and I gave Pierson a bottle and he did perfectly! His saturation stayed up the entire bottle and after. He shocked everyone. We met with the GI doctor and he said that fact changed our conversation. He explained the g tube that was being considered if he wasn't able to drink. We tried to give him a bottle later and he did have some desaturations and started turning blue a couple of times. He took a little over half his bottle then was done. A nurse tried again during the night and didn't get very much from the bottle and he desatted an hour later. so they scheduled his swallow study for Friday. Chris went with him and they saw that he was still getting a little milk in his airway. So they thickened it to nectar consistency and he was able to take that without getting any in his airway. So we are assuming the doctors will want us to start giving him bottles with rice cereal in his milk. Hopefully he will be able to get feeding this way down soon. It was an improvement from his swallow study 3 & 1/2 weeks ago. He got even the nectar consistency in his airway. That is encouraging that even more time and physical therapy will help him eventually be able to swallow liquids. He was 7 pounds today! His little face is getting round! This has definitely been another miracle that we can say has happened because of the faith, fasting and prayers of all of you! Our Heavenly Father loves all of us and hears our prayers. I know this without a doubt. I am so blessed to have all of you and all you do for us!

Cute boy

 This picture was taken on the 5th when Julie and Lexi got to go into NICU for the first time during our Cinco de Mayo breakfast.

 The rest of these were taken a couple of days ago.

We want to thank everyone who has fasted and prayed for little Pierson! We can feel your prayers and appreciate it more than we could ever express!

 Today was Tuesday. The doctors have decided that a swallow study wasn't necessary. The therapist gave Pierson a bottle to see how he did. I wasn't able to be there. I am not feeling good and don't want to give Pierson anything. My parents went and said that he downed the bottle. He loved it. But he did have some desaturations with it, so the doctor doesn't feel like it is safe to continue oral feedings at this time. What doctors suggest is doing the procedure to put him under and have the ENT look to see if there is a cleft in his vocal chords, repair it if there, and then the GI doc to put a G tube in for his feedings until oral feedings are deemed safe. He is at the 3 kilograms (about 6 1/2 pounds) today that he needs to be at for the procedure. We'll keep you updated on what happens from here. Enjoy the pictures!

Answers?

We would like to invite anyone who would be willing and able to join us this Sunday in a fast for little Pierson. here is what we will be praying and fasting for:

ENT doctor looked at Pierson Wednesday night and from her quick peek down his nose and esophagus, didn't find anything wrong. Good news! She asked for the GI doctor to look at him. If baby needs a more detailed scope, the ENT and GI would be there together to look at everything. GI doc increased a medicine for his reflux and said that if Pierson is unable to swallow without getting fluid in his airway, he would need a GI tube placed in his side that goes into his stomach. A nurse said the procedure was a quick 10 minutes. And that babies who need GI tubes usually need them for 2 years. So that is how he would eat, putting his milk into a "button" in his side and into his tube and straight into his stomach. This coming Tuesday Pierson will repeat the swallow study to see if he is able to swallow without fluid going into his airway. So pur prayers and fast will be for him to be able to swallow correctly to be able to take oral feedings. Pierson has had some amazing priesthood blessings and we are very hopeful that all will be well.

When I was first admitted to the hospital, two days later I started contracting and baby's heart dropped so drastically that they were sure that they were going to have to take him at 25 weeks and only 1&1/2 pounds. I received a priesthood blessing and that night the ward fasted for us. It was a complete miracle that we made it another six weeks. We witnessed other miracles that we know have come from everyone's prayers and the power of the priesthood. We hear of so many families whose children pray for Pierson. Of course we see miracles as a result of those innocent sincere prayers! Thank you so much! We love and appreciate you and all the support we have received!

Change of plans

Today while I was holding Pierson, the doctor announced to me and the nurses that he was going to be transferred back to the downtown St. Luke's hospital. The pediatric ENT needs him there to look down into his throat and make sure we know what is going on with his swallowing. The procedure needed to take place downtown, so about noon, Pierson left in an ambulance. I arrived downtown about 2 and held him until about 6. At Meridian, he didn't have windows and had a room to himself. Now he is right next to a window and has 2 other babies in the room. He really didn't sleep well while I was there. I am glad I was there to be something familiar for him for awhile.

Since his swallow study 2 weeks ago, he hasn't nursed or had bottles. We have been doing physical therapy and giving him time to mature more. Not much has happened for the last 2 weeks besides just giving him more time to see if that would work. Next week is his due date. We really won't know anything new until he is seen by the ENT doc. The Meridian nurses and doc were sad to see him leave. I would like to get him back there if the next soon step isn't home.

Surpirse!

This morning was awesome!!! I found out Tuesday afternoon that NICU was going to open to siblings May 5th (today) at 7 am. So I had an idea. Last night I told Lexi and Julie that I was going to take them out to breakfast. They asked why and the only thing they could come up with was Cinco de Mayo, but didn't put too much inquiry into it. So this morning we were up and out the door early. I asked if they wanted to stop and peek at Pierson again really quick as we were driving past the hospital. They of course wanted to. So we went in and ordered some room service breakfast, then went to the NICU doors. I pulled out my video camera and the doors open for someone to go out. Lexi said, "I wish we could go in!" So I replied with, "you can today!" They were ecstatic! They scrubbed up, then we went back to his room. They touched him and admired him, then took turns holding him and checking out all his small parts-hands, feet, nose, mouth, eyelashes, etc. It was a wonderful morning! They voted to skip school and stay at the hospital all day and take turns holding him.

Pierson is doing good. He broke the 5 pound mark on Tuesday. Tuesday he also had a physical therapist come work with him. He needs to be "paced" as he takes his bottle. He will suck and suck until he has too much in his mouth, then swallow and then breathe, and his oxygen dips from how long he goes without breathing. So we give him 2-3 sucks and then tip the bottle so he can't get milk so he will swallow and breathe. When I arrived at the hospital yesterday to feed at 11, he was going downstairs to a suck study. I got to give him his bottle and they added something you can see on the X-ray, then we watched what happened as he swallowed. Some of the liquid did go into his airway, which is why he is having desaturations in his oxygen when he is bottle feeding, and a little when he nurses. They said that this is something he will outgrow, is related to his refluxing and more physical therapy will help. So this morning I heard the doctor said to stop oral feedings for now. What a roller coaster ride. He is 37 weeks today! So cute and fun that his siblings can now visit!

Getting big!

 Wow! A double chin! How is that possible at 4 lbs. 11 oz.? I don't know, but it has happened. Little guy is doing well. Sunday he had a scalp iv put in on the top of his head. It was so sad looking! But they had to take it out Monday night as they couldn't get the antibiotic through it. Tuesday we started weighing him before nursing and then again after to see how much he gets. He got 12 mls on his first feeding and 23 on his second. Yesterday he was 9 and 11 mls. Today was 12 and then he didn't do any for our afternoon feeding. But he is 36 weeks today. The nursing will come! Then he can come home. Can't wait!

much better

Pierson was doing much better yesterday. He was able to get off the nasal cannula yesterday afternoon and they started giving him milk again. I was really happy about that because he kept going to town on his binky and could tell he was hungry and wanted food in his stomach. When I went back in the afternoon, his oxygen saturation levels were the best I have ever seen them. The doctor showed me the X-rays of his chest and he doesn't believe that Pierson has pneumonia, as was mentioned to my mother-in-law the night before. Also his lab work has been coming back good, so maybe not an infection. Which would hopefully mean getting the iv out soon. He is such a fighter. Yesterday he was 35 weeks, tomorrow 4 weeks old.

Cruise control off

Yesterday Pierson was too tired for his 11 feeding, so I just got to hold him for awhile. I went back at 5 and he had a bath and loved it. He did some great practice nursing and had a few good gulps of milk. I got a call that night from his nurse that after I left he had some breathing problems and they were having trouble getting his oxygen level back up to normal range. So they called the doctor and he came in and Pierson got a chest x-ray, blood test taken again,  had the nasal cannula put back in his nose, an iv in his leg and they started antibiotics. It looks as though he has pneumonia and they are checking for other kinds of infections. Poor baby! Patsy went with me last night about 10 after the call to check on him. He was breathing really fast and very labored. About an hour later when we left, his breathing had slowed down and he looked more relaxed in his sleep. It's just crazy that you go along, and start to feel like things are going well and that there is not much to worry about when something like this slams into you. Maybe I was just so ready for some time that we could say "all is well" -nothing to worry about. But I have discovered you can't do that with a baby in NICU. I am grateful for the last 3 1/2 weeks that have been more low key. Please keep Pierson in your prayers! Thank you!

the peek

 Here are the kids looking grumpy because they can't go into NICU. Lexi already has the teenage scowl down, we are in trouble!

 Looking at Pierson through the window.

 Little guy is doing good. He is over 4 pounds and growing every day. Yesterday was a little rough with an eye exam and blood draw. He is going to start trying to take a bottle during the night. It is so nice to have him closer!

Big show

This morning when I went to see Pierson, his nurse was excited to show me that he had graduated to sleeping in a crib. So he is dressed, with a hat and swaddled in a blanket. He loves being free. He still works on pulling out his feeding tube and getting his monitors off when his cords are exposed. This evening he looked like he was working on getting his hat off. He was awake for me for about an hour for the 11 am feeding. At 2 he didn't wake up at all. I have a room there right across from NICU so I got to order lunch and take a nap in between feedings. My dad came and got to hold him for a 1/2 hour in the afternoon. Chris and I took the kids at 5 and I got to hold him and take him to the door so the kids could see him through the window. He was awake and looking around and the kids loved it. He put on quite the show for them. So far our move to Meridian has been wonderful!

Amazing day

Pierson is now at Meridian! He was moved this afternoon. Grandpa Heninger was wonderful and went and picked up Lexi and Julie just minutes before school was out and took them to the Meridian hospital. There they were able to see Pierson leave the ambulance and walk by him in his isolate bed up to the NICU doors. They were amazed at how tiny he was. It was very special. I met them there and got to stay for awhile with Pierson. He now weighs 3 pounds 10 ounces and is doing great.

Today was the day we were scheduled to have Pierson if I could have made it to 34 weeks. I can't imagine still being in the hospital with all that has happened the last 3 weeks (he is 3 weeks old tomorrow). My body knew that it was not longer able to provide what he needed and that he'd be ok when he was born at that time. What an amazing journey and what a little miracle we have in our hearts and family!

3&1/2 pounds!

 Baby Pierson is doing really well! He is 3 and 1/2 pounds and growing! He got down to 2 lbs. 9 oz. at his lowest and is now exceeding his birth weight by a bit and gaining every day. As soon as he learns how to nurse, he could come home. We are hoping that the move to Meridian hospital will happen this week. Thursday he is 34 weeks. He is just a doll.

Lil' champ

Pierson is doing great. Sorry I don't have any new photos to add, my photographer has been MIA. Something about having to go back to work...what kind of excuse is that? Today when I got to the hospital, Pierson was dressed in a premie outfit and wrapped in a blanket. I got to recreational breastfeeding twice today. He did great for being so little. The lactation consultant was impressed with his effort to open his mouth and attempt to latch on. He gets tired quick, so it is very recreational and taking beginning steps to introduce nursing to him. I loved it! I got to sit and hold him for at least an hour after each time. Yesterday they removed his umbilical iv and put an iv in his hand. Today they hep locked his iv, so he just has his feeding tube and monitor stickers. He will be up to a full ounce of milk tomorrow night! He is just a little champion!

Pierson & Bailey

 Pierson is back under the billi light, so when he got his "shades" off yesterday, he had his eyes open for about 20 minutes. They have moved him up to premie diapers and his feed tonight was going to be up to 19 cc and he is still doing really well with the mommy milk. The doctor today said that he didn't see why he could't be transported to Meridian St. Luke's NICU within a couple of days. We are very excited about that! He is also at about his birth weight.

The much anticipated event finally happened! Bailey turned 3! We had lots of family here tonight to help us celebrate! Aunt Lynae made a fabulous Dora cake for her. Last night she and all her siblings not in the hospital went to have a slumber party at Uncle Tom and Aunt Jen's house. What a treat for mom and dad! We have had a lot of help with the kids this week from family and friends so that we could spend as much time as possible at the hospital. Thank you for all your help! It is truly appreciated!

Update, finally...

 This is when I got to see Pierson for the first time in NICU right after recovering from c-section.
He had a ventilator in to breathe.

 Within one day, Pierson went from ventilator to oxygen mask, then one day on that then graduated to nasal cannula, by Tuesday afternoon was breathing on his own. Once he was off the ventilator, I could hold him against my chest for skin to skin holding. Here is his nasal cannula.

 There is nothing that makes me happier than to be able to hold this precious little baby. For all the work and sacrifice it took to get him here, it was worth every second. He is very calm, mellow and sweet.

 They had his oxygen mask off for a minute getting things situated. He does have an iv in by his umbilical cord where he is getting a lot of nutrition. His feeding tube in this picture is in his mouth, but now is in his nose, since he is breathing on his own. He is getting "feeds" every 3 hours of my milk and doing really well with it. They are increasing his "feeds" amount to try to get him up to a full "feeds" when his iv needs to come out in a few days, hoping they won't have to put another iv in his arm or leg. We are hoping and praying for that. He started out with 4 cc (5 cc is a teaspoon) of milk for a couple of days. When I left this evening, his feed was 11 cc. He has been doing great with it.

 This is him holding Chris' wedding ring. Just tiny. This is his oxygen mask.

 This was my first time to hold him Sunday night when he was off the ventilator.

 Here he is under the billi light for jaundice. These are his cool shades. His nurses called him Hudini because he can get out of them in a matter of minutes. He also started using a full size binki and loves it.

 He loves kicking out his legs and being free.

 Look at that foot! It is perfect, even though it is so small.

 He looks hungry to me. He has started acting like he is ready for more milk when it is time for a "feeds".

 Yesterday he had his eyes open quite a bit. By the time Chris grabbed the camera, he would start crying.

 The nurse was handing Pierson to me. Again we missed the eyes open. Now that he is off the billi light, I can hold him whenever.

This is one of our favorite pictures of Pierson taken yesterday during a holding. He was also smiling quite a bit in his sleep and here we got an almost smile with the eyes open. He is an angel. Thanks for your patience getting these out.

I am doing well. The c-section went better than I anticipated. I was a little surprised by my swollen legs and feet for the first week. They have gone down a little today. But coming off of bed rest and from surgery, I guess that happens. Now that I am released from the hospital, I am anxious to go back to be with my baby. I know he is well cared for there. Pumping milk has become my life and is constant. He will be one week old tomorrow. One of the nurses called him a rock star. He is doing so well. We are so blessed! Thanks for all your love, thoughts and prayers! Keep them coming for just a little bit longer!