During this time, my mommy went to her doctor almost every other week for sonograms to make sure that I was okay. And I was! ;o) I was growing and thriving, just trying to get strong enough to meet my parents. Even for such a little guy, I was SO busy. I would kick my mommy's belly all night long, especially if she was trying to sleep.
On August 12, my mommy's birthday, I gave her a present and started telling her that it was time for my entrance into the world. Her doctor kept her in the hospital for about 4 hours because she was bleeding again, but finally sent her home since it had slowed to almost nothing. The next night I decided to tell her again that I was ready!
She went to the L&D at her regular hospital and was observed for most of the night. Her bleeding turned to hemorraghing and the OB on call decided that we needed to be transferred to a Level III NICU, since the hospital we were in was not equipped to handle babies of my gestational age. So they transferred us to Medical City - Dallas, Texas (aka "Miracle City") around 3 a.m. on August 14, 1997. My mommy was in MAJOR denial and didn't think that I was coming, but I sure surprised her and my daddy!
My heart rate dropped drastically once we had arrived at the "Critical Care OB" room. My Mimi and "Racer" Papa had just come into the room to check on mommy and then Dr. Shaw came BUSTING into the room saying that it was time for me to arrive. They prepped mommy with an epidural and wheeled us into an operating room. Mommy was SO scared and was crying and praying for God to help me get through this okay. Daddy came into the room looking like a doctor and sat and held mommy's hand through the whole operation.
Dr. Gary Burgess, head neonatologist, was readying
my bed and was caught by surprise when Dr. Shaw and Dr. Roberts handed me to him. My bed was just BARELY ready. I was put on my bed and immediately intubated with an endotrachial tube and given Surfactant to help my lungs. Then I was whisked away to my new "home", the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Since I was born so early, my eyes were fused shut (like a newborn puppy) and my skin was almost translucent. They say that I had about 3 layers of skin where most people have about 40 layers. I had absolutely NO fat on my little body and looked very similar to a baby monkey (but MUCH cuter). I was given IV fluids for nourishment and insulin to regulate my blood sugar levels. I was under the bilirubin lights for about a week for jaundice. I got to wear a really "cool" eye mask to prevent any damage to my eyes.
Oh yeah, remeber that nurse (Laura) that scared my Mimi so bad? Well, she became my favorite nurse and taught my mommy all kinds of preemie things to look for. Laura also used to try to set me up with other baby girls in the NICU. Especially the ones that outweighed me by about 10 lbs. I love to go visit her.
I surprise my mommy and daddy daily by doing cute baby things all the time. They sure do seem to get a kick out of the littlest things. I like to smile and laugh, make funny noises and "talk back" to my mommy and daddy. They act SO silly trying to get me to repeat my performances.
As of my last check-up, I weighed in at a whopping 11 lbs. 2 oz. and was 22 inches long. I'm a pretty big boy, if I do say so myself! My diaper changers sure think I'm special and they thank God and my angels every day for my miraculous entry into this world.
me!!|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Get your own freeHomepage
|
| LinkExchange Member | Free Home Pages at GeoCities |