On June 21, 2010, we welcomed Matthew Grayson into our lives. Matthew's room was prepped and ready for him to come home!
Jamie3 was so excited to go to the hospital to meet his little brother for the first time.
Matthew was born at 1:05 p.m., was 8lbs. 90z., and was 20 inches long. Welcome Matthew!
Soon after birth, Matthew was having trouble breathing so he was taken to the special care nursery for observation. It was in the nursery that Jamie3 got to see his little brother for the first time.
Matthew was given supplemental oxygen but the doctors also felt he needed surfactant to open up his lungs. They tried to intubate him to give him the surfactant but Matthew fought off three people who were trying to hold him down. He is a strong little boy! They subsequently treated him by using a CPAP machine but felt that he really needed to be placed on a ventilator because of his high respirations and low oxygen saturations. He also had a pneumothorax which was causing him difficulty breathing. With some sedation, the doctors were able to intubate him. Because Matthew had to be placed on a ventilator, he needed to be transferred to a higher level NICU at another local hospital. On June 23, 2010, Matthew and I took two separate ambulance rides (a first for both of us) to the new hospital. The doctors and nurses at the hospital were fabulous. Matthew adjusted well to his new home which was named "Matthew's Corner."
Matthew's pneumothorax resolved on June 23rd but unfortunately reappeared on June 24th. He also had some issues with high creatinine levels. Thankfully, those issues resolved over time.
By June 25, 2010, Matthew remained on the ventilator. Around midday, his sedative was weaned and he started opening his eyes. He did, however, have a hard time being too awake because he wanted to pull out his ventilator tubing.
Matthew's pneumothorax resolved on June 23rd but unfortunately reappeared on June 24th. He also had some issues with high creatinine levels. Thankfully, those issues resolved over time.
By June 25, 2010, Matthew remained on the ventilator. Around midday, his sedative was weaned and he started opening his eyes. He did, however, have a hard time being too awake because he wanted to pull out his ventilator tubing.I was able to change Matthew's diaper for the first time on June 25th, which was wonderful! (boy, I bet you don't hear that often!)...but I was also discharged from the hospital that same day...it was hard leaving my little boy.
Jamie2 and I visited Matthew every day in the hospital. Jamie3 was not able to visit because he was not old enough.
Although Matthew remained on the ventilator, I was able to hold Matthew for the first time on the morning of June 26th. During an episode of hiccups, Matthew opened his eyes all the way and I could tell that he was going to have big eyes like his big brother.
Jamie2 and I visited Matthew every day in the hospital. Jamie3 was not able to visit because he was not old enough. Although Matthew remained on the ventilator, I was able to hold Matthew for the first time on the morning of June 26th. During an episode of hiccups, Matthew opened his eyes all the way and I could tell that he was going to have big eyes like his big brother.Matthew continued to progress well throughout the day and his ventilator settings were lowered. Matthew remained feisty and somehow took his feeding tube out while nobody was looking. He also liked to squirm a lot, especially when the baby next to him cried.
Around 6:15 p.m. on June 26th, the nurse and the respiratory therapist asked us to leave so that they could reposition Matthew's ventilator tube and take his blood gas, which he does not like. Around 7 p.m. I received a telephone call from the nurse saying that his blood gas measurements were great so they were able to take him off the ventilator! That was so exciting to hear.
Over the next few days, Matthew remained on supplemental oxygen. Jamie2 and I were able to hold Matthew. I was also able to change his diaper again and, like most boys do, he decided to shower me mid-diaper change!
On June 28th, we celebrated Matthew's one week birthday. He continued to do well but was still being fed through a feeding tube.
By June 29th, Matthew was able to take food through a bottle and by the evening, he even tolerated being nursed without any problems!
On June 28th, we celebrated Matthew's one week birthday. He continued to do well but was still being fed through a feeding tube.By June 29th, Matthew was able to take food through a bottle and by the evening, he even tolerated being nursed without any problems!
The nurses at the hospital were so great, especially Mary Ellen and Patricia. They even made Matthew a page for his scrapbook.
June 30th was a great day. He was able to be taken off a feeding tube and his supplemental oxygen. He was progressing so well the doctors thought he would be able to go home on July 2nd.
Unfortunately, he had a little setback and was again placed on supplemental oxygen. It was also determined that Matthew was suffering from jaundice so he was given a biliblanket to sleep on.
On July 3rd, I arrived at the hospital in the morning and learned that Matthew had been transferred to a lower level NICU because he was doing so well. In this area, I was able to room-in with him and he was able to be held by his Nana, Grams, and Aunt Lili. 
I stayed overnight with Matthew for 3 nights while Jamie2 kept Jamie3 at home. It was challenging to say the least. Most nights he kept me up until 4 a.m. and was very fussy. We later realized that he was not getting enough to eat. Matthew continued to utilize the biliblanket and looked like a glow worm when all the lights were off. It was so cute. 
Jamie2 visited during the day and was able to snuggle with his little boy!
By July 6th, Matthew had overcome his obstacles and was breathing without assistance. Here is Nurse Patricia saying goodbye before we took him home.
We dressed Matthew in the same outfit that Jamie3 wore to come home.
June 30th was a great day. He was able to be taken off a feeding tube and his supplemental oxygen. He was progressing so well the doctors thought he would be able to go home on July 2nd.Unfortunately, he had a little setback and was again placed on supplemental oxygen. It was also determined that Matthew was suffering from jaundice so he was given a biliblanket to sleep on.On July 3rd, I arrived at the hospital in the morning and learned that Matthew had been transferred to a lower level NICU because he was doing so well. In this area, I was able to room-in with him and he was able to be held by his Nana, Grams, and Aunt Lili. I stayed overnight with Matthew for 3 nights while Jamie2 kept Jamie3 at home. It was challenging to say the least. Most nights he kept me up until 4 a.m. and was very fussy. We later realized that he was not getting enough to eat. Matthew continued to utilize the biliblanket and looked like a glow worm when all the lights were off. It was so cute. Jamie2 visited during the day and was able to snuggle with his little boy!By July 6th, Matthew had overcome his obstacles and was breathing without assistance. Here is Nurse Patricia saying goodbye before we took him home.We dressed Matthew in the same outfit that Jamie3 wore to come home.
We arrived home with Matthew and then brought Jamie3 in to see his little brother. I'm not sure what Jamie3 thought initially...he definitely kept his distance for a few minutes.
But after getting use to this new little person taking up the attention of mommy and daddy, Jamie3 wanted to hold Matthew...
...and hold him some more....
Eventually, we all went out as a family and Jamie3 and Matthew got to ride in their car seats together.
Matthew has brought so much joy to our lives over the past month.
He likes to smile, just like his big brother.
He has his crying spells too... 
He is definitely a joy to be around!
On July 21st, Matthew turned 1 month old. 
On July 21st, Matthew turned 1 month old. He weighed 10lbs. 10oz (2lbs. 1oz. gain!) and was 22 1/4 inches long (2 1/4 inch gain!).
He eats every 2 1/2 to 3 hours, which means he sleeps no more than 2 hours at a time. Jamie2 and I are completely exhausted; however, we would not trade it for the world!Happy Birthday baby Matthew! Mommy and Daddy love you and are so happy that you are home with us....
...and your big brother, Jamie3!
No comments:
Post a Comment