Return to Idyllwild

After being at the RMH (Ronald McDonald house) for 28 days, they ask you to leave for 48 hours.  This allows other families to use the house too.  Our 28 days were up on Friday, July 27.  Marlin was responding well to the antibiotics and being his feisty self again.  The doctors reassured us that he would be in good hands while we were gone.

We went up to Idyllwild.  I was able to join the summer crew for the end of the season party, which was a real treat to see everyone before they left.  It also gave us a chance to celebrate Grandma Judy’s birthday (which was on the 26^th of July).  Gus helped me make a cake, frost it and decorate (see picture below).  Gus discovered what gummy bears where this week and wanted to make sure Grandma had them on her cake.  Cathy, our friend and Child Life Specialist at the hospital, told Gus a joke:  What do you call a bear with no teeth?  A gummy bear!  Our son had no idea what a gummy bear was so Grandma got some to show him. We also were able to do laundry and sleep in our own bed!

Little Set Backs

Baby Marlin is holding his own these days.  They tried taking him off of the NiPV assitance for his breathing, which is a good sign.  However, Marlin had other ideas.  He started having “episodes” where he would Brady and desat a lot so after 7 hours of breathing all by himself, they put him back on.  The problem was they weren’t sure if it was because of the change or if he had an infection of some sort.  Initially, all of his test came back negative and they couldn’t figure it out.  They even went as far as changing his feeding to once every 3 hours because he was tolerating it so well.  They would give him that feeding over two hours to begin with.

When they finally got the results of the urine culture it showed signs of a urinary track infection.  How does a baby in the NICU in an isolette get a UTI?  But I guess they do.  Fortunately, our wonderful nurse had kept his PICC line in.  The doctors told her that morning that she could take it out, but she thought it best to wait until we had all the test results.  Thank God!  They started him on 4 kinds of antibiotics until the other tests telling them wait kind of “bugs” (bacteria) he had.  He did not like this much, he became lethargic and slept a lot.

After a day of being on the antibiotics, his nurse said he was doing much better.  Before she even did anything to him (change his diaper, suction, or any other routine cares), he would kick his little legs out and start fighting her.  She laughed and told him to “bring it on”.  Marjorie is one of our favorite nurses.  It was good to see him fighting again.

They don’t think it has gone into his blood, but they want to do one more test, a lumbar puncture.  Yes, the go in and take a little of his spinal fluid to check that and make sure it has not spread and also to confirm how many days they have to do run the antibiotics.  They tried doing it yesterday, but were unsuccessful so they will probably try again in the next 24 hours.

This is the roller coaster part we all love so much (NOT!)  Two steps forward one step back.   So please continue to pray for him.  I will try to keep you updated.  In the meantime, enjoy the pictures.

Gus came to visit again.  He is starting to call Marlin “his baby”.  It is pretty cute.  He does so good touching him and telling him stories about tractors.  He really is a good big brother.  We are going to Idyllwild on Friday for the night.  It will be nice to see Gus in our home.

The Journey Continues

I know many of you have been wanting to see pictures so I have added a bunch here.  The captions should explain.  As of last night, he is 2 pounds and 8 ounces and almost 16 inches long.  He is doing well.  They are investigating a possible infection, but everything has come back negative so far.  Other than that, he is holding his own.  I am trying to kangaroo with him every chance I get.  It is good for both of us.

This was when he was still intibated (sp?)  He did not have to have the tube long which is a good sign.

This was the first time we got a good look at his back.

Gus met Baby Marlin on June 27 at the Redlands Hospital.  He did a great job at being gentle.  He didn’t seem afraid.  He doesn’t know that not all babies come into the world this way.  We are super proud of the way he is handling everything.  He has been angel.

I love how Gus' nose is pressed against the glass.  It reminds me of an old Elton John song called "The Greatest Gift"  This song has a whole new meaning to me these days.  Listen to the song if you get a chance.

Gus was great at listening and being very careful

When he comes to visit, we have a tendency to spoil him a little.  As you can see in these pictures, we gave him a whole jar of Nutella.  We would never do this normally, but sometimes you just have to break the rules.  Gus still likes to be silly as ever.  In the last picture, he is posing with my RMH ID badge before bath time.

This was Gus being silly at the Ronald McDonald House (RMH).  He wanted a badge like we have so I let him wear mine.

The first time I was allowed to change his diaper, I amazed at how little his butt is.  It is all wrinkly and looks like an old man’s.  It is funny how when you go through something like this that you get excited to change your son’s diaper.  It doesn’t take much!

 The diapers are small, but not really small enough for him

On July 5^th, I finally got to hold my baby for the first time.  It was magical!  They really believe in Kangaroo care here.  That is when they lay the baby skin to skin on your chest.  Mom or Dad can do it.  When I finally got to do it, it was great!

On Gus’ 3^rd visit to RMH, he got to see his brother for the 3^rd time.  The second time we didn’t take any pictures.  They do it a little differently here. A “Child Life” specialist talks to the siblings and teaches them about all the tubes and what to expect when he sees his brother.  Then she accompanied us to see Marlin.  It was a little weird, but Gus did great.

Our first family photo

Marlin's hand on top of Gus'.  Marlins two middle fingers are curled under in this picture but you can kind of see how long his fingers are.  Good for playing the piano!

Gus liked having marlin hold his hand.  It made him feel like a big brother.  He also loved telling him all about trucks and tractors.  These are important things to know when you are in the NICU in Gus' eyes.

These  are just a few silly pictures of Gus at the RMH.  The one of him by the tractor is in an outfit I bought in Hawaii this Spring.  Thought Jen, Jenny and Colleen would like to see it.  Daddy has yet to wear the matching shirt I bought him.

Hawaii outfit

Mommy wearing marlin's eye covers

Gus wearing Marlin's eye covers

Finally, Daddy got in on the kangaroo action.  This was the first time Thor held Marlin.  Marlin was a little surprised by the hair on his chest, but he snuggled right in.

The Little Man Joined the Band

Happy Birthday Marlin!  On June 22, 2012 at 3:07 pm, Marlin Peterson came into this world.  He was 27 weeks and 5 days gestation age (GA).  He weighed 2 pounds and 2 ounces and was 14.5 inches long.

We went to my 7 month check up and he was born within 36 hours.  I was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia.  My blood pressure was 202/145 and I had a plus 4 protien in my urine.  The doctor sent me immediately to the hospital.  They tried controlling my blood pressure so I would not have a stroke.  They were able to give me the two shots of steroids to help with Marlin’s lungs, but they were not able to wait the full 24 hours after to deliver because my kidneys shut down.

They delivered him by c-section and Thor was able to watch the whole thing.  He also took pictures (which I will not post, if you really want to se them, email me).  They immediately wisked him off to the NICU at Redlands community hospital.

And so our journey begins.  Here are a few pictures from that first day.

My first look at the little guy

My first touch too!

The respiratory threrapist was kind enought to remove his head gear for a moment so  we could see his little face.

Fixed Moto

Gus' "moto" needed to be repaired, so Thor brought it to the welder to fix the frame.  He used it so much that he cracked the frame.  When we got it back, Thor decided it needed a new paint job.  Of course, Gus wanted Kawasaki green, hence the lime green paint job.  He thinks it goes faster now too.  He likes "kicking up dirt" (as seen in the second picture below).

Watering the Flowers

When Mom and Dad where here, Dad told Gus that he needed to water the flowers because we didn't.  So Gus has been on a watering kick ever since.  Plus he gets to fill the watering can with the hose.  He likes any excuse he can use to play with the hose.

Thor's birthday

Thor's birthday was June 3 so these are little out of order.  He wanted a cake with green frosting so that is what he got.  Gus was all about helping blow out the candles.  He was also pretty happy about how the frosting turned your tongue green.