Airplane Rides and Christmas Time

Our next adventure begins with a airplane ride.  Actually, let me go back a little.  

During her first 36 hours, Kayla was hooked up to all kinds of machinery.  There were concerns about her breathing, with her liver, with her heart and with her brain.  

Ultimately, it was decided to send her to BC Children's Hospital.  That brings us to the airplane.

It was a first for Kayla and I, being transported in an ambulance.  Watching your tiny little girl, barely a day old, loaded into an incubator, attached to heart, pulse and oxygen monitors, respiratory equipment, and an IV.  Well, its the scariest thing I have ever seen.  The transporters, not Jason Stathem types, and the attendants were fabulous.  They really knew how to put a worried mother at ease.  

We arrive at Children's around 4 pm on a Friday.  I was on my own for the night as Mike and Kiera weren't able to make it until the next day.

Over the next few days, they ran tests and slowly eliminated most of the issues.  With in 2 days, their concerns boiled down to seizures and jaundice.  They used the bili light on her, which took care of the jaundice, and they put her on phenol-barb for the seizures.  

A week and a half later, they were ready to send us back to our city.  New problem - no beds in the hospital here. They weren't ready to release her to us as she was now having feeding issues, which means she wasn't gaining weight.  

Finally.

On Christmas Day.

We walk into the hospital, after spending the morning opening gifts with Kiera, to find out that they planned to send us home that day.

Really? I mean ... really?

We rush back to where we were staying, pack up, and head back to the hospital as fast as we could.  

We got home at 8:00 pm that night.  It was the best Christmas ever.

Obviously, there is more to the story.  Details about the different tests and diagnosis, but we are home and healthy.  They just aren't important anymore.

During our stay down there, our days consisted of trying to find a balance between spending time with Kayla, and spending time with Kiera.  We never did find the perfect balance.

Luckily, we only had excitement 1 time outside the hospital.  At 6:00 am, the fire alarm in the hotel we were staying in went off.  Mike was in the shower - he thought it was an alarm clock.  

When we joined the crowd outside, we found out that there was a small fire in the electrical room.  We stood outside in our pajamas and coats for an hour before they let us in to quickly grab purses and other items.  Considering everything else going on, it was kinda fun.

Kayla is healthy and happy.  Gaining weight on track, and reaching most of her milestones.  And this is where our adventure ends.  

Or does it?

Miss Me in Crazy Town?

I have missed blogging. Kids grow up so fast, and this allows me to capture some of the moments in their growth and development and share it with family ans friends. I wish i could say I will be back at it on a regular basis but I can't make such a promise. Ah don't fret.  You have me here and now.

When we last left our heroes, they were trying to explain Kell Antibodies.  It's all a mute point, or is it moot? Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore.  After 2 months of testing, 5 trips to Vancouver, and a whole lot of stress, it turns out baby was negative for the antigen.  Pregnancy back to normal.

Until I started to get bigger, and bigger, and bigger.  At 30 weeks, I was measuring full term.    

Obstetrician: it looks like it will be a big baby so we might have to induce.  More testing.  Another Problem.  What do you mean another problem?

I am not going to get into details, but the basic story is that I had extra amniotic fluid, which put strain on my uterus.  

December 7th, 2011 @ 9:00 am

Obstetrician: You have extra amniotic fluid, so we will monitor it.  We might have to induce.  I am pretty sure that baby will be born by the end of the year, but I am not going to guarantee it.  Lets make an appointment for a week from now.  Little did he know...

3:30 pm

The first contractions hit.  I assumed they were more Braxton Hicks so I didn't say anything.

5:00 pm

Me: Hey hun, do you have a timer on your phone?

Mike: Yes, why?

Me: You need to start timing contractions.

Mike: ... (silence)

Me: Oh, and we should thinking about packing the hospital bag tonight.

5:30 pm

I called to hospital to find out how far the contractions had to be apart before they wanted me in the hospital.  The nurse told be that since I was considered preterm, that I should "not hurry but get in as soon as possible."

7:30 pm

We finally make it to the hospital.  I was told to hold off going into labour for about 4 hours, as if I have control of it.

December 8th, 2011 @ 1:00 am

Doctor broke my water, and Kayla was born.

Our baby girl Kayla came 4 weeks early at 7 lbs.  Delivery went well, easier than the first, but she was unresponsive to stimuli.  I got to hold her for 2 minutes before she was whisked away to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).  And that is where our adventure with Kayla started.

(1 month old)

I am going to end here.  The story continues because, as you know, a mothers adventure never actually ends.