Baby joins family ahead of schedule
As of Friday July 30th at 7:47 am we became parents of a beautiful baby girl. Surprised? So were we. Those of you who may have seen us recently will remember Laurie complaining about her pregnant swollen legs and feet. It turns out that it wasn't a normal part of pregnancy but actually a symptom of a condition called preeclampsia. About 5-8% of pregnant women develop preeclampsia in various degrees from mild to severe. In addition to all over swelling, preeclampsia causes high blood pressure, protein to enter your system due reduced liver and kidney function and you risk seizures. Basically you're full of fluid, your blood pressure is racing and your body is going toxic, so is the baby's
Ambulance rides, a birth and other excitements
On Monday July 26th, severe preeclampsia, worsened by the early occurrence in her pregnancy (28 out of 40 weeks) bought Laurie an ambulance ride from the Telluride Medical Center to the hospital in Montrose. She was admitted overnight and the next day was transferred via ambulance (no lights or sirens either time, rather dull) to St. Mary's hospital in Grand Junction, where they have more advanced birthing facilities. Laurie was admitted there and started on a course of steroids to help mature the baby's lungs just in case they had to deliver her sooner rather than later. Greg was with her through the whole ordeal, sleeping on cots at her bedside. There were many times throughout the week that Laurie suspected that his blood pressure was higher than hers. Laurie's parents, Kurt and Eleanor, flew out from Washington State on Wednesday the 28th. By late Thursday night Laurie and the baby were deemed critical, and Friday morning, via cesarean section, Taylor Anne Kenneth entered our lives. Greg held Laurie's hand and talked to her the whole procedure. He even watched as they delivered her. Taylor was born 1 lb. 9.5 oz. and stretched 13 6/7 inches.
Settling in at the NICU
Taylor was immediately taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where she will stay until approximately her original due date, October 20th. The first few days were rocky but we had been warned that it would be a rollercoaster ride for quite some time to come. "Feisty" was often used by the NICU staff to describe our daughter. Her first hurdle was under-developed lungs. She surprised everyone by immediately going off the artificial respirator and moving on to a CPAP that just puts positive pressure on her lungs. She had decided to breath on her own. After six days of ultraviolet light therapy she finished treatment for jaundice. After one course of medication, a leaky valve between her heart and lungs decided to behave and close. There was an initial weight loss (even full term babies do this) which was pretty scary considering she was just a little micro baby to begin with. On day three they started feeding Taylor Laurie's breast milk through a tube down her esophagus. By day four she was gaining weight. As of August 28 she weighs 2lb 12.9 oz.
We're doing well now
Laurie was released from the hospital on Tuesday August 3rd. She has medication to control her blood pressure. Her swelling has subsided. Laurie's staples from the cesarean section were removed a week after delivery. Her parents rented a house for us here in Grand Junction and they will stay with us until Taylor comes home from the hospital. They have been an invaluable help, taking care of all three of us in too many ways to describe. Laurie plans to stay in Grand Junction until Taylor is sent home in October, with day trips now and again to Telluride to restock. Greg is commuting back and forth around his work schedule.
We see Taylor every three hours starting at 9:00 am and ending with a 9:00 pm visit. We take her temperature, change her diaper, help feed her, touch and talk to her so she knows that we are there. Now we hold Taylor twice a day while she's off her CPAP and on a nasal cannula (oxygen assistant tubes in the nostrils). In between visits Laurie is pumping, eating and running around when she should be resting. There honestly aren't enough hours in the day.
We can't describe how absolutely beautiful she is. We are in awe daily of her strength and how quickly she is growing. Sometimes she opens her eyes and looks at us when we talk to her. She squeaks and squawks and holding her on our respective chests is close to being in heaven. We still have a long road ahead of us but there's no question that Taylor is going to be just great. If her present recovery and growth is any indication of the future then we have one super strong, resilient and gorgeous girl on our hands.
Right now we are planning for the arrival of Greg's parents, Grandma Hester and Grandpa Robert Kenneth. Other relatives who Taylor can't wait to meet on Greg's side include Uncle Dan and Aunt Renee, Aunt Molly and Aunt Claire. From Laurie's family she will soon meet Great Grandma Dell, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Kim and her newly minted cousin Ella, born April 25th.
Our number in Grand Junction is (970) 243-7302 and Laurie's email is
lauriekenneth@hotmail.com.
Greg' email is kazbal@hotmail.com.
Thank you for sharing our happiness.
Love Laurie & Greg