Jan 1st 2014 was ushered in watching movies. We watched Epic. There were some fireworks around town that could be seen from out living room window. My goal is to blog more and to fill in the blanks for the last year or so. I will try to hit key points highs and lows so I have some what of a journal for those months, so some reminiscing will be periodically inter mingled. I will try to add pictures too.
We enjoyed being able to bring in the new year at home with all family members present. No split family here. Ava slept through the end of 2013 and into 2014.
Jan. 2nd - We stayed home and veg'd most of the day. The boys and I went to the movie Frozen. They really enjoyed their first movie in a movie theater. Definitely a treat that won't happen often as it comes with quite a price tag. We got home in time to help Blake get started on his genealogy working to find names to take to the temple.
Jan. 3rd - Zane and I took the opportunity of Free Ice Skating lesson at the ice plex to work on his Ice Skating.
Jan. 4th - Robert and the boys braved the cold and subzero temps and headed up to Showdown for a couple hours of skiing. Ava and I spent the day at home, watching Despicable Me 2.
Jan.5th - Blake was announced as a Deacon in Church this very fridged morning, -4 not counting wind chill. I was supposed to help in the nursery with Ava, we ended up coming home early as Ava had a rough night last night not getting much sleep, not liking her neb treatment, she gave the nurse a hard time, clamping down and dropping o2's down into the 70's. She has been junky sounding but we have not been able to get much out of her secretions wise. She was pretty happy to just hang with us in the living room most of the afternoon.
Jan. 6th - Yay the first day of school in the new year. It was a cold morning and the boys were thankful that the bus picks them up at the door. Ava had a rough night, with her heart rate climbing into the 170's and 180's most of the night. She did not keep down her 4am or 8am feeds :( and was a restless sleeper. We suspended her CPAP due to the way she was feeling and the need for oxygen to bring down her heart rate. We started with 2 liters of O2 at 9am and by 1 am she was back down to room air. She would only nap in her saucer. Rocking her self to sleep for 15-20 minutes at a time. A call was put into the Pulmonologist who was unavailable so we then contacted her Pediatrician who has ordered up an impressive round of tests and x-rays.
Jan. 7th - Today was busy - Boys headed off to school as usual, nurse left early so mom got some unusual cuddle time with sis. She's still not feeling up to par. We had our reassessment for OT and then some lunch and a quick nap before heading off to the Hospital for X-rays and labs. We had the most awesome Tech Brian who made sure we didn't have to brave all the sick people over at labs, even got the heads involved to make sure we didn't have to expose her to more bugs. Ava wasn't to happy to see one of her friendly RT's, cried the whole time he was getting her blood gas as well as the nurse who took even more blood from her baby foot :(. Her white counts are up, still has a high heart rate while on oxygen, her blood gas was good so that is good news. We had a new nurse train this afternoon and Mom and Dad headed over to the LDS Stake Center for Cub Scout/Boy Scout Roundtable and District Mtg. Tomorrow is Doc. Appts. in the am. Thankfully the Doctors office is only a couple blocks away.
Jan. 8th - Well Ava does need Tubes in her ears and will also get a hearing screen done in Feb. around the 10th. She is still not feeling 100% been tactaracdic most of the day. She has been less cuddly so I know she is feeling somewhat better.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Here's what was happening Last Year July 19th - July 25th 2012
July 23rd - Ava was pretty sleepy when mom tried to nipple feed at 11am and took only 16 mils, then became a fussy butt and decided to nap for the rest of it, and was fussy in the afternoon as well. When they checked her Co2 gas levels they were high so they decided to put her on a RAM cannula similar to a cpap but uses a cannula instead of the CPAP mask. The boys got to do some school shopping and picked up their back packs and a few school supplies, still have some things to get but have 90% of the supplies just need to go clothes shopping yet and pick up the rest of the items as they go on sale.
July 22nd - The boys helped me pick out pictures on Saturday evening to share in Church today. The sisters enjoyed seeing the little miss who resides at the hospital. Ava took 30 mils of milk from the nurse this morning and then took 26 mils from Dad after getting her bath. She topped the scales at 7lbs 1.7oz reversing her birth weight and was 17.5 inches long. The boys were promised swimming from 6pm to 8pm at the Electric City Water Park but a Thunder/Lightening/Rain Storm blew in right about 5:30pm and hung on till about 8pm. So we enjoyed some Oreo cookies and milk while we waited to see if it was gonna clear out.
July 21st - After dropping Robert and the boys off at the Caboose for a Pack bike ride mom went and spent some time with Ava, then went and had a picnic lunch with Robert and the Boys at Giant Springs Park. Ava gets to try nipple feeds 2 per shift. She's getting where she takes about 16 -20 mils on average on her good days. She took 28 mils from dad which is an improvement.
July 20th - Ava got to try 1/4 liter of air flow today, apparently she wasn't keen on the idea and started turning blue. Mom didn't get any snuggle time because she dropped off milk around 9am and headed to Billings to met Grampa and Grama and the boys. We had fun browsing Cabela's and Grampa bought the boys each new baseball caps. Had lunch at Burger King and then it was off to see if we could find some cabinetry for Grampa and Grama's house - we tried 3 different places and no luck, but did find some pretty cools things we would like to have. Blake found a old secretary's desk he liked and mom found a box/trunk that she liked. Grama found lots of chairs/recliners she liked.We came back via Roundup since there was construction just outside of Judith Gap (11 miles worth), construction right at Harlowtown and again about 5 miles out there was another 9 miles of construction. There was some construction outside of Roundup but it was just paving so it was easy and smooth. Ran into a nasty Rain & Lightening storm as we left Lewistiown headed to Eddies Corner where we ate supper about 8pm - Chicken Nuggets, Grilled Cheese Sandwich and a Large order of fries with ranch dipping sauce, topped off with ice cream cones then we motored the rest of the way home.
Dad got to spend time with Ava afterwork, and was told they tried to wean her oxygen to 1/4 liter flow, which was a no go from the sounds of it.
July 19th - Miss Ava was
July 22nd - The boys helped me pick out pictures on Saturday evening to share in Church today. The sisters enjoyed seeing the little miss who resides at the hospital. Ava took 30 mils of milk from the nurse this morning and then took 26 mils from Dad after getting her bath. She topped the scales at 7lbs 1.7oz reversing her birth weight and was 17.5 inches long. The boys were promised swimming from 6pm to 8pm at the Electric City Water Park but a Thunder/Lightening/Rain Storm blew in right about 5:30pm and hung on till about 8pm. So we enjoyed some Oreo cookies and milk while we waited to see if it was gonna clear out.
July 21st - After dropping Robert and the boys off at the Caboose for a Pack bike ride mom went and spent some time with Ava, then went and had a picnic lunch with Robert and the Boys at Giant Springs Park. Ava gets to try nipple feeds 2 per shift. She's getting where she takes about 16 -20 mils on average on her good days. She took 28 mils from dad which is an improvement.
July 20th - Ava got to try 1/4 liter of air flow today, apparently she wasn't keen on the idea and started turning blue. Mom didn't get any snuggle time because she dropped off milk around 9am and headed to Billings to met Grampa and Grama and the boys. We had fun browsing Cabela's and Grampa bought the boys each new baseball caps. Had lunch at Burger King and then it was off to see if we could find some cabinetry for Grampa and Grama's house - we tried 3 different places and no luck, but did find some pretty cools things we would like to have. Blake found a old secretary's desk he liked and mom found a box/trunk that she liked. Grama found lots of chairs/recliners she liked.We came back via Roundup since there was construction just outside of Judith Gap (11 miles worth), construction right at Harlowtown and again about 5 miles out there was another 9 miles of construction. There was some construction outside of Roundup but it was just paving so it was easy and smooth. Ran into a nasty Rain & Lightening storm as we left Lewistiown headed to Eddies Corner where we ate supper about 8pm - Chicken Nuggets, Grilled Cheese Sandwich and a Large order of fries with ranch dipping sauce, topped off with ice cream cones then we motored the rest of the way home.
Dad got to spend time with Ava afterwork, and was told they tried to wean her oxygen to 1/4 liter flow, which was a no go from the sounds of it.
July 19th - Miss Ava was
Ava likes to stick out her tongue
Making faces - isn't she cute.
Checking Dad out.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
July 12th - 18th
Some how this week got by me. Maybe it was cuz her brothers were with Grandpa and Grama and i got in lots of extra cuddle time. I'll try to remember some details about the week. Somewhere in the week they weaned to 3/4 of a liter flow and then down to 1/2 liter flow and also weaned her completely off her prednilizone. We also switched to a different vitamin that she will actually digest and not separate and spit up or discharge through her diaper.
July 12th -Ava is now 6 lbs 6.5 oz.
July 13th - Something happened this day, just not sure what. I'm sure I spent time cuddling with the little miss and daddy fed and cuddled her too.
July 14th was fishing with the pack but do to the early rain no one was brave enough to show up and try to catch fish. Robert helped the Cochran's rebuild their back deck. Me, Abby and Doris supervised. Stayed out of the way and watched. It wasn't complete when i headed back over to feed Miss Ava who got her MMR shot today.
July 15th - Made most of Church skipped out on the last 15 minutes of Relief Society to get in a Nursing session with Ava, she latched a couple times but was mostly interested in being social. She weighed 6 lbs 8.1 oz. and was 17.25 inches long.
July 16th - Ava had a eye exam this morning, got it done early this week, and only had to do it once. Left eye didn't want to dilate well. The boys headed over to visit their cousins, sounds like they are gonna spend the night.
July 17th - Bath night and snuggles with daddy as usual. Dad's been able to get her to drink from the bottle better than mom and the nurses. She really likes her daddy. Grama and the boys spent the night again tonight and are all but Mr. Neale headed back to Grampa's tomorrow.
July 18th - Hung out at the Mini Golf with some cub scouts, they had a good time and were well behaved little boys. even though it was extremely hot. Well all the kiddo's and Grama and Aunt Lynn made it Glendive much later than anticipated Aunt Lynn and a bad day, pick ups not starting (dead battery), had to run to town to get a swather tire fixed, and the list goes on. She got one vehicle picked up and headed home and the kids and Grama headed back to Fallon for the night.
July 12th -Ava is now 6 lbs 6.5 oz.
July 13th - Something happened this day, just not sure what. I'm sure I spent time cuddling with the little miss and daddy fed and cuddled her too.
July 14th was fishing with the pack but do to the early rain no one was brave enough to show up and try to catch fish. Robert helped the Cochran's rebuild their back deck. Me, Abby and Doris supervised. Stayed out of the way and watched. It wasn't complete when i headed back over to feed Miss Ava who got her MMR shot today.
July 15th - Made most of Church skipped out on the last 15 minutes of Relief Society to get in a Nursing session with Ava, she latched a couple times but was mostly interested in being social. She weighed 6 lbs 8.1 oz. and was 17.25 inches long.
July 16th - Ava had a eye exam this morning, got it done early this week, and only had to do it once. Left eye didn't want to dilate well. The boys headed over to visit their cousins, sounds like they are gonna spend the night.
July 17th - Bath night and snuggles with daddy as usual. Dad's been able to get her to drink from the bottle better than mom and the nurses. She really likes her daddy. Grama and the boys spent the night again tonight and are all but Mr. Neale headed back to Grampa's tomorrow.
July 18th - Hung out at the Mini Golf with some cub scouts, they had a good time and were well behaved little boys. even though it was extremely hot. Well all the kiddo's and Grama and Aunt Lynn made it Glendive much later than anticipated Aunt Lynn and a bad day, pick ups not starting (dead battery), had to run to town to get a swather tire fixed, and the list goes on. She got one vehicle picked up and headed home and the kids and Grama headed back to Fallon for the night.
Monday, July 23, 2012
July 5th - 11th
July 5th - 11th
July 5th - Ava is now up to 6lbs. Her Dexamethazone was discontinued today and put on predlyzone. She had a echo on her heart to check up and make sure the steroid use hadn't inflamed her heart. We looked at house in the Castle Pines Subdivision and made an offer. Hope to have an answer on Friday. She took 16mls of her 50 mls.
(will try to get the picture off my phone.)
Castle in White Sulpher Springs
Before they left Ava transferred from the high flow cannula to the regular flow cannula. She was very helpful and held the little air mask. I got a picture of her doing it but forgot to save it. She is still on a flow of 1.5
July 5th - Ava is now up to 6lbs. Her Dexamethazone was discontinued today and put on predlyzone. She had a echo on her heart to check up and make sure the steroid use hadn't inflamed her heart. We looked at house in the Castle Pines Subdivision and made an offer. Hope to have an answer on Friday. She took 16mls of her 50 mls.
140 Days - or 4 months 19 days old.
Ava decided to try her own room air trials by removing her cannula. Didn't go as well as she expected.
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July 6th - Our Offer on the house was accepted after some negotiating. Ava was weaned to a flow of 1.5 and is doing well with it. She is also getting 3 feeding per day - 1 per shift from Dad and Mom and one from the nurses.
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July 7th - Ava finally was given 2 of her 2 months shots. Blake and Zane got new bikes from Walmart since they could not find ones that fit them at the Optimist Club. In exchange for getting new bikes they gave their bikes away to their friends Justin and Riley.
Grampa and Grama Heitz arrived this afternoon and visited with Ms. Ava and the rest of us.
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July 8th - Grama and Grampa took us to the Gates of the Mountains. On the return to the Marina the boat Caption and Tour Guide let us get out at Coulter Picnic Area and the boys checked the water out. We headed back early as Zane's foot was sore and Grampa headed on to Helena for his eye apt. on Tues.
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July 9th - Ava got to snuggle with Grama Teri (Heitz) although while transfering her to Grama she got a nose full of water and Grama thought we were gonna drowned her. She took almost a full feeding from Nurse Shirley today. Zane had an apt. for his foot the Doctor who was filling in for Doctor Garver gave him a prescription ointment hope that clears up the infection and heals the scratches.(will try to get the picture off my phone.)
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July 10th - Grampa made it back from Helena to pick up Grama and the Boys. They took a tour to White Sulpher Springs and toured the Castle there. Sounds like they had a lot of fun.Before they left Ava transferred from the high flow cannula to the regular flow cannula. She was very helpful and held the little air mask. I got a picture of her doing it but forgot to save it. She is still on a flow of 1.5
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July 11th - Friday, June 29, 2012
133 days an counting
July 4th - Ava had to have another eye exam on her left eye, so she was pretty much out of it. I spent most of my day running between Ava and the house - the boys played outside some with their friends and on the Wii and Computer playing Skylanders. We watched the fireworks displays from the 6th floor after giving Ava a bath and getting in some holding time. We then made pop corn and headed out to the waiting area. There were even some fireworks that went off right in front of us it was really neat to watch all the fireworks displays from around town. After the main show was over Robert went and gave Ava a bottle still only taking about 16 mls.
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July 2nd - Today was a lazy day, the boys spent most of it playing Skylanders and napping. Ava had PT at 8 am and snoozed her morning away. Dr. Riedel weaned her Dexamethazone today and hopes we'll be able to successfully wean her completely off in a couple days. She also get to nipple feed once per shift (2 twice a day). She took 11mls from mom at 2pm and 13mls from dad at 8pm.
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July 1st - Wow a new month already the year is 1/2 over and i'm not sure I remember most of it. The boys spent the day playing Skylanders, while mom and dad took turns spending time with Ava. She tried the bottle for the 2nd time today from dad and consumed 12 mls (twice as much as yesterdays) of milk from the bottle. Maybe tomorrow will try the regular nipple instead of the low flow. She dad napped her dad for the entire afternoon.
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June 30th - We are gonna try feeding Ava in 1/2 hour feedings every 3 and trying giving her a chance at trying oral once per day. Ava got to try feeding from a bottle today. She made lots of funny faces at first as she tasted and tried the milk.
Enjoyed good food with good company and then the boys, Sara, and I caught the second 1/2 of the Voyagers baseball game - they won with some great plays. Then went back and had smores for dessert.
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June 29th - YAY! no more lovanox shots for the clot. She also was weaned on feedings to an hour and that went well. She of course loves brother time in the evenings. I picked up tickets for tomorrows Voyager Game for the boys. Fingers crossed we'll be able to find them new bikes tomorrow. Talked to Melanie of Quality Life Concepts about services for Miss Ava got her signed up and she'll be in the system next week sometime. Doesn't sound like our offer for the house was even considered, guess we keep looking.
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June 28th - Ava had a pretty good day. They weaned her from 2 hours to 1 1/2 hours on her feedings and she has tolerated it really well. However she did not like her vitamins and up chucked it all over mom and her during her pt session. That made for a 2nd change of cloths for the day. She also had an ultra sound/scan on her clot - it sounds like it may be disolved so hopefully no more shots.
Blake (10), Ava (4 months), Zane (7) - 133 days in the hospital - 5lbs 8.4oz?
Thursday, June 21, 2012
I love my brother's and they love me
June 26th - Ava had an eye exam this morning and they sent it to Billings, hopefully nothing exciting on that front. They went down to 2 1/2 liters flow in the afternoon.
June 25th - They decided to wean again the the dexamethazone today. Stayed the course on everything else. Blake likes to go over and get in his cuddle time with his sister.
June 24th - Today they are changing her from continuous feeds to feeds every 3 hours delivered over 2 1/2 hours so she has a full tummy feel. She did good without her morphine so one less thing to wean her from.
I love my brother so much he snuggles me right to sleep.
Me and my brothers - see they make me happy!
Look
how cute i look in my "It's a Preemie" Thing onsie that Linda Humpherys
Eliason for the the awesome vynl for colth it works great and she is so
cute. Her store is Vinyl Heartstrings
Today was bath night.
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June 23rd - Well it was a busy day, didn't get over to the hospital in time for rounds as the day started with pumping at 6:30, then off to pick up the bountiful basket at the Heisey Center at 7:30 and then off to see if we could get the boys bigger bikes, that was a disaster which ended in no bikes as they picked them out had them in hand and then were told nope someone else gets them. So they checked out bikes at a couple bike places all way more than mom an dad can pay right now. We also went and got our huckleberry roll and Zane got a porkie at the Farmer's Market. Mom spent the rest of the Morning with Ava and Dad spent the late afternoon/evening with her. Dr. Kenny weaned her dexamethozone and discontinued the morphine today, there is talk of changing her over to bolus feeds on Sunday. The boys also got to go swimming at the Natatorium for an hour or 2 while mom and dad did some shopping.
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June 22nd - Mom spent time with Ava in the morning and then the boys and mom went over and spent time with Ava at the 4 o'clock cares. She was a bright eye-d little lady most of the day only napping after lunch. Dad hung out with her after work till the 8 o'clock cares. Only change today was upping her feeds to 14.5ml.
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June 21st - 1st Day of Summer - the boys spent it playing wii and with friends outside. They got to go over and see Ava who was fairly happy to be held by big brother. Zane recorded a temp of 99 so he was a good big brother and didn't hold her, although he was sad.
The Rest of the Week
June 20th - Ava's bum oxygen treatment was discontinued today, and they decided to try a different concoction for her feeds since she is not having solid poo's. We'll see how it goes. It was bath night again tonight so Mom gave her her bath and then dad and brother Blake got in their cuddle time. Her weight was down 5lbs 4.1 oz. Great Falls NICU didn't like the Seattle lables on the milk bottles so Blake and I set to work removing the ice and re-labeling 69 bottles. Sorry forgot the camera for a pic - it was quite the sight for sure.
June 19th - They started to wean Ava's dex and morphine and increased her feeds to 14 to see if they can get her to start gaining. Looks like it worked she's upto 5lb 9.4 oz. She has been enjoying her cuddle time with dad and brother Blake in the evenings.
Blake Loves that she likes to hold his finger
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June 19th - They started to wean Ava's dex and morphine and increased her feeds to 14 to see if they can get her to start gaining. Looks like it worked she's upto 5lb 9.4 oz. She has been enjoying her cuddle time with dad and brother Blake in the evenings.
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