Sunday, February 22, 2015

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Thursday didn't stop.  Beginning with the 5:00 AM emergency phone call from the NICU until the very end of the day, we were uncertain how Lourdes was doing.  What baffled my mind all day was that I had just left her six hours previous ready to go home.  As the day wore on, we thanked God this didn't happen at home.  I am not sure I would have recognized the how serious her issues were.

Each x-ray showed very small progress of the contrast working through her stomach.  The doctors were watching two spots in particular in her intestines.  After the major concern was ruled out in the morning, they began to focus on the two small kinks possibly ruling them scar tissue in which case they probably would surgically remove them that day to open her intestinal tract. 

About 9:00 PM, blood test confirmed Lourdes had developed a bacterial infection in her blood stream.  They were unsure of the specific type at the time, but had already begun antibiotics that morning as preventative measures.  The hunch was an intestinal bacteria which would hopefully explain her pain and green bile vomiting that early morning.  The next major concern was if the infection had spread to her spinal fluid which could cause a whole host of additional problems like meningitus and brain damage. 

I mentioned to the nurse "So this is good news?"  She said, "It is good we know what we are dealing with." 

John and I stayed with Lourdes until around 1:00 AM until I felt she was settled.  I always have to leave her having just said a rosary for the night.  We blessed her with Lourdes water.

The next morning was met with another phone call from the NICU asking our permission to perform a lumbar puncture to rule out the spinal fluid concerns.  We had to do this with Clairvaux so I knew exactly what this involved.  I hate the spinal tap more than anything.  She was so wound up that the doctors gave her moraphine to calm her down during the procedure.  Early results came back that the infection was not in her spinal fluid.  Praise God!!!  Although, the culture can still grow after many hours so we continue to hope for good news on this issue.  Also, Dr. Cusick felt confident that the kinks in her intestines aren't anything of concern at this point. 

I went home to Lincoln this morning at 1:30 AM to be with Lillie for her confirmation.  It was so good to walk in the door after being gone over a week.  I went into each bedroom and picked up the kids while they slept.  The kids were so excited to see me in my bed this morning.  Normalcy is so good.  Lillie was so precious and cried in the evening to John because she will never make her confirmation again and she only has two sacraments left.  We were dying of laughter.  I called several times to the NICU to check on Lourdes and they told me each time she was having a restful day which helped being away from her.

I arrived back in Omaha tonight.  The blood work confirmed that the bacteria was e.coli.  Where does a baby pick up e.coli?  We will be here anywhere from 14-21 more days.  Her blood is drawn each morning and until the test returns negative they don't start counting the days of antibiotics.  We are praying for that negative result soon.  She seems much calmer today.  I was able to try to nurse her again this evening.  She has been taking a bottle well so we are grateful for that. 

Thank you for your constant friendship and prayers. 

28 comments :

  1. Lord have mercy. I hold my breath as I read all your updates. I will keep praying for you and your family.

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  2. Praying for precious Lourdes and your whole family

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  3. Praise God for clarity and purpose! I'm so sorry that you are looking at another 2 to 3 weeks in the NICU. (Lourdes, baby, once you come home, stay home for good sweetheart!) Whenever all your chicks start to sleep under the same roof again, your heart will soar. I'm praying for you to have that soaring heart, restful mind feeling at home in your own bed soon. It's wonderful that Lillie is a confirmed Catholic!

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  4. Bringing prayers for your whole family to church this morning.

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  5. I am so happy to hear that Lourdes stabilized after your scary day on Thursday. I will continue to pray for her full recovery and for your family! Your sweet Lillie sounds like my oldest daughter, Anna (who also had e-coli as a newborn and had to be hospitalized on antibiotics.) I bet that she was so grateful that you could make it home for her big day. My daughter cried so hard the night of her first communion/confirmation. It was the best day of her life and she never wanted it to end!

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  6. Our prayers are with you!! (We are the family that have a 4yr old that was born with a giant omphalocele) I think there is a special bond that forms among us NICU moms and even greater when our babies have had omphaloceles. I know to an extent (since every case is so different) the emotional roller coaster you are on. Just keep clinging to the Blessed Mother and don't let go! She will pull you through this and has you by the hand and is in front of you taking the lead. Cry. It's ok and very healthy for you to get your emotions out. Don't let it bottle up! You are more then welcome to flood my inbox if you'd like! Babies are so resilient and it was always a comfort knowing that our Gianna wouldn't remember any of it. Something I always felt was helpful was having soft and calming music playing by her bed. It's also so difficult as a mom to not be able to care for your baby like you want to, but do all those little things that make you feel and her feel good! Nice smelling baby lotions to massage her little body, powder up her blankets to take away that sterile smell and if she has hair little bows or headbands...anything you can do! I read lots of books to Gianna as well even though she was sedated and paralyzed for several weeks awaiting surgery. I think they love to hear their mamas voice. You are so strong and your little Lourdes is such a fighter! You are in our thoughts and prayers more then you know!

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  7. Praying and praying more. I had tears in my eyes at your homecoming--I know just being there must have been sweet. I know Lillie loved having you there.

    You are inspiring. I am praying for little Lourdes.

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  8. Praying, praying, praying for your sweet baby, you and the rest of your family.

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  9. Thank you for the update! Continuing to pray!

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  10. Thank you for the update! Continuing to pray!

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  11. Thank you for the update! What a fighter little Miss Lourdes is…such an inspiration to me, as are you and John. And the line about Lillie crying about only having two sacraments left was great! So sweet!

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  12. Thanks for finding the time to update! I am very happy to hear that she was having a better day when you went home, and that you were there to be with Lillie. She must have appreciated that so much!
    I'll keep thinking of you and your family, especially Lourdes, and praying for all of you. All the best.

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  13. Lindsay, I appreciate this update. I'm glad you were able to be at Lillie's confirmation. Your children are all so sweet! I am continuing to pray for all of you, especially Lourdes. Lord, have mercy!

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  14. Continually praying for you and Baby Lourdes. And God bless Lillie on her confirmation!

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  15. So glad the doctors figured out what was wrong! May the antibiotics kick in really soon so she has the shortest stay possible! Thank God for strong antibiotics! Prayers for all of you, continuing until she is home safe with her beloved family, God bless, Marianne

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  16. Continued prayers for your sweet Baby Lourdes! Prayers to all of you and your family, especially Lillie as well with her confirmation!

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  17. Thank you for taking the time to update us. I will continue to pray for Baby Lourdes and your family. I pray the negative test results come soon!

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  18. Thank you for the updates, I have been keeping you all in my prayers. I know you have been busy with Baby Lourdes, but can we get a quick update on your mother? I've also been thinking of her.

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  19. Thank you for the update! Praying for your family, the doctors and sweet Lourdes. And congrats to Lillie!

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  20. Oh Lindsay, I am just now reading all of these updates....first congratulations on the birth of your daughter and second, we will pray, pray, pray for the healing of sweet little Lourdes! I will also pray for the gift of hope for you, during this most difficult cross.

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  21. Hi, I am praying for you and little Lourdes!! I live here in Omaha and would love to help you out in some way if I can. Please let me know if you need anything. I can bring you a meal, run to the store for you, etc. Many prayers for you and your family

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  22. Thank you for the updates on sweet Lourdes. I continue to pray for her and you all.

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  23. Remembering your family in my prayers. Thank you for showing us the true love of a parent for their child - what a beautiful example. Praying for healing and peace for your family!

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  24. Little Lourdes was in my prayers at Mass this weekend. While prayer for her, I began thinking about your other children. I am expecting my 7th child this summer and my other children are so very excited about this baby coming. They talk to my belly, ask millions of questions about the growing little angel, and count down the days until our new little bundle of love arrives. Thinking of my children and their pure, beautiful excitement and joy about the arrival of our little one made me think of your children and how their little hearts must feel right now. Their sweet little hearts are in my prayers, too. May God give your family strength and grace to get through this period of waiting until your precious little Lourdes can come home.

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  25. Praying for Lourdes and your sweet family!

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