Our little boy is 4 days old today!
Lisa was discharged last night from the Hospital and is doing better and trying to recover, but she still cannot get out of bed by herself. We are also exhausted from eveything that has happened this week.
Joshua continues to be on CPAP, but only about 22-25% Oxygen. He is however having trouble digesting his food and is not pooping like he should. Last night they held his feedings for 12 hours and started them again this morning. He is continuing to get nutrition from an IV line. He has been under the bili-lights for the last couple of days as he is a bit jaundice. He also has periods where he forgets to breathe which causes his heart rate to drop, He is receiving caffeine and that has one a good job in minimizing those occurances.
While all of that is scary he is just doing the typical things for very premature babies. Lisa gets to hold him once a day for an hour. This is a very special hour for our family. We appreciate everyone's support and prayers during this hard time.
Picture
Joshua
matthew
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Joshua Pictures!
As promised here he is making in blog debut! The tubes and wires are kind of intimidating, but he really is doing great!
Here he seems unhappy with those prongs in his nose...don't blame him 
Here you can see his little head of blond-ish hair! 
Here he seems unhappy with those prongs in his nose...don't blame him
Here you can see his little head of blond-ish hair!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Joshua Eric Bateman
Our little Joshua just could not wait any longer to come into this world. Joshua Eric Bateman was born yesterday, May 27 at about noon via an emergency C-Section. Joshua is here 10 weeks early, but is doing very well in the NICU. He was born 3 lbs 12 oz and 15 1/2 inches long.
at 11:15 yesterday they noticed his heart rate increase to a dangerous level 200+ because he appeared to be getting stressed. When it stayed this way for more than 20 minutes they had to go and get him.
Lisa is also doing well this morning, but is on a lot of pain meds. We will post a picture as soon as we can.
at 11:15 yesterday they noticed his heart rate increase to a dangerous level 200+ because he appeared to be getting stressed. When it stayed this way for more than 20 minutes they had to go and get him.
Lisa is also doing well this morning, but is on a lot of pain meds. We will post a picture as soon as we can.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Hospitalized
Last Thursday morning Lisa was admitted again into the hospital after a night at home of bleeding. This time they have told her that they are going to keep her for the duration of the pregnancy. She is on strict bed rest, but gets to use the bathroom and take a shower (on good days)
The decision to keep her here turned out to be good because from then until now she has had two more big bleeds and increasingly severe contractions. Today it was necessary for them to give her two doses of terbutaline and right now she is being monitored around the clock to see if it gets any worse. If the contractions do no get better they will give her Magnesium sulfate in an IV.
It seems like our little guy is so excited to get into this world he is trying very hard to get here as soon as possible. The goal was to get him to 32 weeks (right now Lisa is one day away from 30 weeks). This goal, however, was made before today's events. Lisa seems to be in good spirits and we are confident and hopeful that he has a little more time to develop in there.
The decision to keep her here turned out to be good because from then until now she has had two more big bleeds and increasingly severe contractions. Today it was necessary for them to give her two doses of terbutaline and right now she is being monitored around the clock to see if it gets any worse. If the contractions do no get better they will give her Magnesium sulfate in an IV.
It seems like our little guy is so excited to get into this world he is trying very hard to get here as soon as possible. The goal was to get him to 32 weeks (right now Lisa is one day away from 30 weeks). This goal, however, was made before today's events. Lisa seems to be in good spirits and we are confident and hopeful that he has a little more time to develop in there.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Bed Rest
So much for no more complications! I went to the ER again on Monday for more bleeding. They admitted me to the hospital this time for observation to see if they could determine the cause of the bleeding, and later that night I started having regular contractions that were 7 minutes apart. They put me on a medicine called Nifedipine, and after a while it did space out the contractions more.
They also gave me some steroid shots to help develop the baby's lungs in case he is born early. (At this gestation babies don't have very good capacity to breathe air yet).
Anyway, they did an ultrasound and the baby looked good. However, my uterus did not. I have what's called a bicornuate uterus (heart shaped). Basically, down the middle of my uterus there is a septum, (kind of like the tissue in your nose between your nostrils)and this prevents the baby from turning head down like he is supposed to. It can also keep the baby from growing properly and can result in premature birth. From everything I've read, it's kind of a miracle that I was even able to get pregnant. My baby is stuck on the right side (or right 'horn').
Here's a normal shaped uterus:
And a bicornuate uterus:
So since I'm contracting at 28 weeks, the doctors are expecting an early delivery. Even though he would probably make it if he were born right now, obviously the longer we delay this the better. The goal now is to make it to 32 weeks, which would be about 2 months early.
Eric gave me a blessing, and I have been surprisingly calm about the whole thing. I still have a few contractions every hour, so I'm staying on the medicine but they did let me go home this morning on bedrest. Luckily, I can still shower and get up to the bathroom, but that is about it.
The bleeding was another subchorionic hemmorhage, like the problem when I was 15 weeks, only I guess this time it was bigger. They say it is caused by the placenta pulling away from the uterus.
All in all we're okay. It's been a scary week and I feel pretty helpless since I have no control over what's happening to my body. The major thing I am grateful for it to be here in Bellevue near family. My doctors are great and I really feel like I can trust them. I will be following up with a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist on Tuesday to make sure my cervix is not dilated and to see that the baby is still growing normally.
They also gave me some steroid shots to help develop the baby's lungs in case he is born early. (At this gestation babies don't have very good capacity to breathe air yet).
Anyway, they did an ultrasound and the baby looked good. However, my uterus did not. I have what's called a bicornuate uterus (heart shaped). Basically, down the middle of my uterus there is a septum, (kind of like the tissue in your nose between your nostrils)and this prevents the baby from turning head down like he is supposed to. It can also keep the baby from growing properly and can result in premature birth. From everything I've read, it's kind of a miracle that I was even able to get pregnant. My baby is stuck on the right side (or right 'horn').
Here's a normal shaped uterus:
And a bicornuate uterus:
So since I'm contracting at 28 weeks, the doctors are expecting an early delivery. Even though he would probably make it if he were born right now, obviously the longer we delay this the better. The goal now is to make it to 32 weeks, which would be about 2 months early.
Eric gave me a blessing, and I have been surprisingly calm about the whole thing. I still have a few contractions every hour, so I'm staying on the medicine but they did let me go home this morning on bedrest. Luckily, I can still shower and get up to the bathroom, but that is about it.
The bleeding was another subchorionic hemmorhage, like the problem when I was 15 weeks, only I guess this time it was bigger. They say it is caused by the placenta pulling away from the uterus.
All in all we're okay. It's been a scary week and I feel pretty helpless since I have no control over what's happening to my body. The major thing I am grateful for it to be here in Bellevue near family. My doctors are great and I really feel like I can trust them. I will be following up with a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist on Tuesday to make sure my cervix is not dilated and to see that the baby is still growing normally.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Another ER Trip
Well, last night we went to the emergency room again. I started bleeding yesterday, and when I laid down for a few hours it stopped, so I was planning on just calling the doctor in the morning. I haven't seen my doctor here in Bellevue yet, so it was hard not to have anyone to call.
Then the bleeding started again after a few hours, so we decided to go. It was definitely different from last time (at 15 weeks) because we were much more calm and collected.
Anyways, everything is fine with the baby. They did another ultrasound, and oh my gosh we've got a cute little boy! We got to see much more detail on his face (they didn't give us any pictures this time) and he was very active while we were watching him.
The frustrating thing is that the doctor couldn't tell us what it was or what caused it. He just said if it happens again to come back. It was a relief to see that everything was okay though. And the bleeding has stopped and everything has been good today, so we'll just keep praying for no more complications!
Then the bleeding started again after a few hours, so we decided to go. It was definitely different from last time (at 15 weeks) because we were much more calm and collected.
Anyways, everything is fine with the baby. They did another ultrasound, and oh my gosh we've got a cute little boy! We got to see much more detail on his face (they didn't give us any pictures this time) and he was very active while we were watching him.
The frustrating thing is that the doctor couldn't tell us what it was or what caused it. He just said if it happens again to come back. It was a relief to see that everything was okay though. And the bleeding has stopped and everything has been good today, so we'll just keep praying for no more complications!
The Cruise
Our cruise was with Royal Carribean and went to San Diego, Catalina Island and Ensenada Mexico.
Mexico was scary! We were swarmed by vendors in the marketplace who kept calling Eric "Buddy" and me "Barbie"...but the view of the ocean was beautiful.
Dinner seating was assigned and we ended up sitting with a couple on their honeymoon who had just been married in the Salt Lake Temple! We had a great time sitting with them (and being the only people on the ship not drunk).
We also learned what Simon from American Idol means when he says "I feel like I'm on a cruise ship" - Yeah..the entertainment was kind of overdone and corny!
And of course, the food was great! We both gained weight and are grateful it was only a 4 day cruise because it could have been much worse!
Overall, we had a great vacation that we both needed! What a great way to finish off college.
Mexico was scary! We were swarmed by vendors in the marketplace who kept calling Eric "Buddy" and me "Barbie"...but the view of the ocean was beautiful.
Dinner seating was assigned and we ended up sitting with a couple on their honeymoon who had just been married in the Salt Lake Temple! We had a great time sitting with them (and being the only people on the ship not drunk).
We also learned what Simon from American Idol means when he says "I feel like I'm on a cruise ship" - Yeah..the entertainment was kind of overdone and corny!
And of course, the food was great! We both gained weight and are grateful it was only a 4 day cruise because it could have been much worse!
Overall, we had a great vacation that we both needed! What a great way to finish off college.
Our LA Trip
After Graduation we headed down to California to go on a cruise and visit our friends the Birds! It was so good to see them and the weather was gorgeous.
Scott and Julie are such a great couple. They were so good with their little girl Kaylie I started to worry that Eric might think this whole parenting thing is going to be a cinch!
Scott and Julie are such a great couple. They were so good with their little girl Kaylie I started to worry that Eric might think this whole parenting thing is going to be a cinch!
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