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12/21/2004
Warning, maudlin
You read sometimes about parents going into their kids' rooms at night, just to watch them breathe. It's a little different when your kid is in an isolette and the reason you're watching him breathe is so that every couple of minutes or so, when he decides to stop, you can wiggle his hands and feet or rub his belly to wake him up so that he remembers to start up again.
Charlie had something of a fit (as opposed to a snit) late yesterday afternoon while his vitals were being checked, and after five or ten minutes solid of yelling at the top of his tiny lungs, once he did settle down, he settled right down to complete inactivity, including the non-optional breathing part. As soon as anyone woke him up he breathed fine, but there was an uncertain path to tread between bugging him enough to keep him breathing, but not enough to to set off another snit.
He was kinda sick and cranky and hungry, so you can't blame him too much. And after a couple of hours — that would be 7000 individual seconds, more or less — and an IV hit of caffeine he got the breathing knack back and started resting comfortably. This morning he sucked down almost an ounce of milk straight from the bottle, mostly without opening his eyes, and digested it like a champ. So much more fun to watch than the other way.
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Long-time lurker, first-time poster. So glad to hear he's doing okay!
So glad that things are back on track, so sorry to hear of your scare!! Hang in there, Julie. Pulling for little Charlie.
Thanks for the update. Keeping you all in my thoughts.
Me with my NICU RN cap on: sounds like your little Charlie is doing all the things preemies do. Not easy to go through for any of you, very rollercoaster-y. I'm glad he enjoyed his IV caffeine, and almost 30cc's po at ~33weeks now? That's awesome! Charlie, breathing is not optional, and neither is snitting. :)
Glad he is doing okay today. I'm certainly thinking about him. Wish someone could give me an IV of caffeine.
I can't imagine how difficult yesterday afternoon was. This really is quite the rollercoaster ride. But I'm happy to hear that Charlie responded to his caffeine and that he is resting comfortably today. Hoping you and Paul are breathing a bit easier too.
They really aren't kidding about the two steps forward one step back thing, are they.
You must feel like you're stuck in an unending limbo. We're all thinking of you and wishing you and Charlie the best.
I'm thinking about you and little Charlie quite a lot... sorry about the rollercoaster, but glad today was a good day!
I'm with Charlie - useless before my shot of caffeine. Kid can come hang around the cafe with me, any time.
Julie - so sorry to hear about your scare, and very happy to hear that he's eating like a pro. Next thing you know - he'll be a teenager and eating you out of house and home.
Thinking of you and Paul and Charlie. Always of Charlie.
I just wish this was all over and we could have 'Charlie pissed on the couch, me and the cat today' posts.
I'm thinking about you guys, and hoping things get better..
It's such hard work being a baby. I think Charlie is entitled to his one fit. But listen, kid, you're done now. Breathing? Not optional.
So great to hear how well he is eating. It's one of those maternal things, I think-- we enjoy watching our kids eat. At least I do. But maybe I am just a freak. Well, I am a freak, so...
Hey Charlie, buddy, I know keeping up with the breathing thing can be hard work, but you gotta keep doing it. Before you know it, you won't even have to think about it anymore. Julie, I'm glad things are ok right now and hope they stay that way. Hugs to all of you.
When I was born I had the same breathing optional problem. My mum would tickle my feet. I guess it worked as I am 31... and horribly ticklish!
I remember when my baby was in the NICU (not for being a preemie but for severe RSV and antibiotic-resistant bacterial pneumonia when he was one month old) and doctors would say something flip like, "Oh, someday this kid's going to be a great soccer player" (like after he'd kicked the IV out of his foot for the third time) and I'd laugh bitterly and think, what the hell is wrong with these people? Clearly we are always going to be in the NICU and my baby is always going to be attached to wires and I AM NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOLD HIM AGAIN.
But, after several long weeks, the wires came out and I did get to hold him again, and wonder of wonders, we took him home. The first few nights at home were so weird. I couldn't sleep because I kept thinking, "What if he quits breathing? There's no monitor here to sound an alarm!" We all eventually adjusted, though. Hang in there. These days are almost impossibly difficult but they are finite.