Noah's Story

Update

2008-10-20T15:35:00.004-06:00

Here is an update on our miracle. He is 21 months old now, almost 2! He's walking, understands things well, and says a few words (momma and dadda). He is such a joy, even when he is misbehaving. He loves to play with his toy train, pennies in a bucket, anything in the kitchen, and on the playground.

One Year

2008-01-29T17:44:00.000-06:00

Well we made it one whole year! What a blessing it is to have this wonderful sweet boy! We just love him so much! He's an angel!!

Halloween

2007-11-01T12:40:00.000-06:00

This Halloween was all about the Pumpkins. Click here to see the entire album.

Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-21T22:22:00.001-06:00

We went to the Pumpkin patch today and had lots of fun!

All smiles... (Well almost)

2007-07-02T17:51:00.000-06:00

Noah is finally learning how to do something besides scream and eat! He's getting so big now. The clothes in the last post don't even fit him anymore.

big boy

2007-06-21T20:27:00.000-06:00

All dressed up and ready to go to his first wedding.

Noah's First Video.

2007-06-06T08:30:00.000-06:00

Here's a little video of Noah for every one to see. He's getting big. When the doctor weighed him yesterday he was over 9lbs!

He's growing!

2007-06-04T13:04:00.000-06:00

Noah is 9lbs 1.5 oz now. The doctor wants us to try him off of the oxygen a few times a day. He's eating and growing and doing great!

HOME

2007-04-27T21:18:00.000-06:00

He came home Thursday! He's doing fine. He is still on oxygen. That was a little scary at first but it doesn't seem so bad now. He has to stay home for a while, which is normal. He does have plenty of Dr's appointments though. He has to see an opthalmologist, pediatrician, the pediatric surgeon that repaired his hernias, a home health nurse that comes to the house, and an occupational therapist. So, we'll be busy for a while, but it is so worth it to have him home!

No more tubes.

2007-04-21T22:53:00.000-06:00

Today Noah was breathing completely on his own and didn't require the least bit of oxygen so they took the nasal-canula you see in the pictures below off of him. Now he doesn't have any more tubes on his face. He can breath and eat good without any of them now!

new pics

2007-04-17T22:14:00.000-06:00

No more feeding tubes. He's in a big boy bed now. Doing great, and cute as ever! Thank you Melissa for taking GREAT pictures! You're the best!

Excellent News!

2007-04-16T22:45:00.000-06:00

Noah is doing great! He pulled out his breathing tube the night before last so they put him on the C-pap. Now he is on the canula. Today the nurse said he was so upset last night and today. So I was able to hold him when I got there. He was sound asleep in my arms. The nurse said he hasn't slept like that for her all day. She even had to give him some medicine to calm him down. I just called the night nurse and she said that he ate ALL of his last two feedings by mouth in less than 15 minutes! She said that and wanting to be held by mom was probably what was making him upset. Now he is sleeping well and not fussy. Yay! Daddy is in California now on a business trip so we both miss him terribly! But he will be back soon to see his little one doing so much better! :) Thank you ALL for your prayers!

Under the weather, again

2007-04-10T21:05:00.000-06:00

Noah is still on the ventilator from the surgery. They tried to take him off a few times, but he couldn't make it. Today we found out the reason. He has pneumonia. His lungs are full of two different kinds of bacteria. So, they're giving him two antibiotics that will last at least seven days. Tomorrow they're going to put a pic-line in because IV's are not staying in very long. He seemed to be feeling better today than he did yesterday. It's really hard seeing him with a tube in his mouth. I can tell that he hates it.
I am glad though, that we know why he's having a hard time and now it can be treated. Thank you Jesus for medicine and doctors and nurses!
Please continue to pray for his strength! Love you all!

Like a champ!

2007-04-05T16:59:00.000-06:00

Noah's surgery went well today. The doctor got him fixed up pretty quick and they used surgical glue to close him back up instead of stitches. He still seems a bit groggy from the anesthesia, but the nurse said he took it like a champ. Today Noah had surgery and tomorrow Jenny (Mom) is going to have surgery. She's finally getting her wisdom teeth taken out. It's been quite an eventful week.

Getting fixed up.

2007-04-03T22:35:00.000-06:00

Thursday Noah is having surgery to fix his hernia. The doctor's don't seem incredibly worried about it, but they want to fix it before he gets to come home and so it doesn't get any worse. He's finally big enough and stable enough that they want to do surgery. If everything goes as well as expected they'll have him fixed up and after a few more weeks of recovery be able to come home!

Feeding

2007-03-28T21:59:00.000-06:00

Noah is doing better. The sample from the spinal tap has not grown anything, and it's been 48 hours. They are giving him real milk again, in a bottle! I was able to feed him last night and tonight. He drank the whole bottle tonight! He's off of the c-pap. Thank you for your prayers! They worked, once again.

Under the Weather

2007-03-23T22:19:00.000-06:00

Please keep Noah in your prayers. He has developed an infection again, Strep B. Right now he is in an isolated area. We have to wear gowns and gloves. They are giving him antibiotics, three of them. He has a pic-line in his head. Which is like an IV, it's just a really long tube they thread through a vein. He also has another IV in his foot. He seems to be doing ok, except he is grumpy because they stopped feedings yesterday. The doctor wants to do a spinal tap on Monday to make sure that he does not have meningitis. He is also on the C-pap again.
Strep B is usually carried by the mother and transfered to the baby. Since he is premature, they are testing my milk that he is drinking to see if he got it from there. There is also another baby in the unit that has it, but the doctor said it is VERY rare for it to be transfered there. So, we will see how things go.
Thanks for your prayers!

2007-03-21T22:17:00.000-06:00

There are more pictures to look at. Just click on the album that says "Noah's first days" to the left.

New Pictures

2007-03-18T21:44:00.000-06:00

Noah weighs 3lbs and 2.7oz! He is doing really well these days. They are going to try to take him off the c-pap his week. He's been pulling it off today and he did fine without it. He was just on a t-bar when I was holding him.
The ophthalmologist looked at his eyes on Friday. He didn't put any notes in the chart so that means his eyes looked good. All of the nurses say he usually calls if there are any problems.
He's eating well, almost an ounce.
He got a bath tonight. He was screamin'. :) But he calmed down once we got to hold him. He's such a sweet baby.
God really did a miracle through him. I was just thinking about the day I called my boss and told her the doctor said he wasn't going to make it. She said, "we're not going to believe that." It's amazing how He can put such an awesome support group in your life when you need it. God is just so smart! :)
Well, here is a link to some pics. Some are from a few weeks ago and some are from Sat.
pics

Almost There

2007-03-11T00:13:00.000-06:00

He now weighs 2lbs 15.2oz. Only .(point) 8oz away from being 3lbs! Yay! They took him off the c-pap yesterday at noon, but put him back on tonight because he wasn't ready. But we were able to hold him for a while with just the canula (the regular oxygen t-bar everyone is familiar with). Tonight he had has eyes open for the longest we've ever seen them! He's so beautiful. He also moved to the other side of the NICU. The area he is in now is for babies that do not need "acute" care. So, he's doing great! :)

chubby

2007-03-05T00:36:00.001-06:00

Well, today was a pretty eventful day for Noah. The first time we visited, we discovered that his diaper had sprung a leak all over his onsie and blankets, so I got to help change his clothes and bedding. Then we realized that he had pulled his feeding tube out. Which wasn't the first time. The respiratory therapist said he pulled it out about four times yesterday. While she was changing is tube, we were able to see him without all of the tubes and hat on. He's getting cuter every day!
The second time we came back with Grandma and Grandpa. Then, I got to hold him. :) We are able to hold him every day, for the most part. He's doing really well. His oxygen is good and he's still eating. He's 2lbs and 10oz.
Noah's neighbor is going to have surgery this week. When I was talking to his mom, she was telling me that before he was born, she had kind of strayed away from God and was wondering where He was in her life. After all of the events with her son, she had become closer to Him. She said that so many people were there for her, and that had an influence. The same pastor that prayed for Noah also visits them. (my friend's pastor) He also made an impact on that family. It is awesome what God can do. Like I said when Noah was born, God will be glorified, and he has.

YAY!

2007-02-28T21:59:00.000-06:00

I got to hold him again! Steven will hold him tomorrow... so look for more pics then! :)

2007-02-26T22:18:00.000-06:00

Another doctor said he has heard nothing but good reports about Noah today. He's doing fine. He is eating again and keeping most of it down. They're giving him medicine for acid reflux. His oxygen was a bit better today.
I made a sign to hang by his crib with a list of things that he likes. So, the nurses who have never had him can know what makes his stats stay high. The nurse I gave it to said it was a good idea.
We're taking a class on Wednesday so we can hold him again! I can't wait!
Oh, he's 2lbs 7.5oz.

2007-02-23T21:37:00.000-06:00

He pulled his breathing tube out today. So, they put him on the c-pap. That is a good thing! We are praying that he'll stay on the c-pap.
He's having some trouble with eating still. He's not keeping it down all of the time and some of the residual is discolored. So, they're going to give him a break from eating and then try again.
Well, that's about it. :)

Prayer Works

2007-02-22T23:14:00.000-06:00

Last night I was upset about it being so noisy in the NICU, and frustrated that I couldn't get a straight answer about his head ultrasound. So, when I came home, I prayed about it. I prayed this morning that his lungs would grow strong so they would put him in an isolette, also known as an incubator. It is quieter for him and would allow to him to rest easier. One of the nurses said he would be in one when he got off the ventilator. This afternoon when I walked in to see Noah, he was in an isolette! He wasn't off the ventilator, but that's ok. Now he will be able to rest easier.
He is throwing up his food every now and then. While he was doing it today, he pulled his feeding tube out. He's feisty!
My friend Jessica's pastor came to pray for him tonight. I was very thankful for that. I could feel God's power moving while we were praying.
Oh, the nurse practitioner talked to us about his brain scan. She said it was stable, no dilation of the ventricles, and no fluid except for residue. So that's good!
Well, I could type more but I'm so tired! Thank you for your continuous prayers!