The Next Move

November 1, 2009 was one of the toughest days I think we have ever been through. It was so hard to watch Jamie struggle through all the events of the day with her own body recovering and knowing that her baby was struggling to make it through.
9:30 AM started with a message from Joshua saying that they think Jamie will be taken off the oxygen They are going to Xray Jamie's lungs to see if there is any fluid left in them. They don't think Lily's lungs are developing as well as they'd like. Her CO2 levels are marginal so they are adjusting her respirator to see if that helps.
We went out to breakfast with Terri before she went home. Then we went in to visit with Jamie and Joshua and hopefully see Lily. At 3:00 PM the doctor was in to see Jamie. There is some fluid in her lung but the doc doesn't thinkit's pneumonia. Giving Lasics to help get rid of fluids in the body and hope that works.
They took Jamie off of oxygen at 4:00 PM and her blood levels are staying normal.
At around 4:45 PM they taught Jamie how to use the pump so that Lily could get all the nutrients she needed to help her grow. She is hoping to see the Lily after dinner.
Around 5:30 PM the baby's doctor came in to say they want to move Lily to Royal Oak Beaumont because they are concerned that the ventilator she is on is stretching her lungs. The ventilator there is oscilating and much easier on her lungs.
A few visitors were in to see Jamie and Lily. I called Daniel to tell him what was going on while they stayed in with her. Then they all came flooding out as I heard deep sobbing and John came out to get me. Poor Jamie finally fell apart over Lily being such critical shape. Poor Josh was at work and didn't know what was going on and she was having to deal with this news without him. We tried to comfort her but I know we weren't much help. Then one of her nurses came flying into the room and asked what was going on. She was such a blessing at that moment. We explained the situation to her. She whisked a wheelchair over and made Jamie get in it so that she could go see Lily. She didn't care what anyone else said. Jamie was going to see her baby and spend as much time as she wanted with Lily before Lily went over to Royal Oak. Poor Jamie was distressed over everything that was going on. I think this was the best medicine she could possibly get at this time. That nurse had 3 babies the same way Jamie did and knew what she was going through which was a big help. It was about 6:00 PM when she took Jamie down to see Lily. She was able to touch Lily for the first time and look at her from above rather than from the wheel chair. It seemed to help calm Jamie down quite a bit to get to see and touch her before she left. Someone let Josh know what was going on. I can't even remember who at this point. Around 7:00 PM they took Lily by special ambulance to Royal Oak. Around 8:00 PM John left to meet up with the ambulance. Joshua arrived to be with Jamie. He took off the rest of the week saying that every time he left something bad happened. What a terrible burden he must have felt to say something like that! I can only imagine the fear and stress Jamie and Josh have been under through all of this. I know how much I've been under and I'm the grandmother.
John kept everyone updated on Lily while I kept everyone updated on Jamie. It was very hard to be apart and have to deal with everything like this.
At 9:30 they changed Lily to the other respirator after checking her blood gasses. AT around 10:24 Lily's o2 level was where they expected it to be on the ventilator. Her CO2 was at 63. 40 to 60 is normal but lower ranges are better. Her O2 level is in the mid 90s which is where it should be.
At around 10:30 Jamie got a breathing treatment.
At around midnight her O2 level was 92 and her CO2 level was 48. Both good numbers.
These days were so hard and stressful. As I look back at the pictures of Lily and Jamie they are both difficult to see. Lily so small and new with so many things hooked up to her. Jamie looking so swollen and tired and stressed. Thankfully they are getting better.