Homecoming

Just a quick note to all of you to report that ZAC's long hospital stay is coming to a close.

Zoe Ann Casmer is scheduled to be released on Monday, February 1st... wow, that's tomorrow!

All of us would like to thank the staff of WMH NICU, who have gone well above and beyond. They are caring and compassionate angels of mercy and flesh & blood examples of God's grace towards our family. You guys are GREAT! Thanks so very much.

As ZAC goes home and experiences new and interesting things... and faces new challenges, we continue to petition your prayers and praises, but we all also take this opportunity to thank you, the readers. You, who who have followed ZAC's story here and have stormed the Throne of Grace on her behalf have been just as instrumental in her developments as the NICU staff, so thank you too.

And now the 'fun' starts, but we have no illusions about the road ahead and it's potential hurdles... but we also are confident that His grace is sufficient. As for this weekend, we are staying at the hospital for the next few nights in order to ease the transition.

Love, Kimberly

Mommy, When Can I Come Home?

Mommy, when can I come home?

I have been doing better these past few days and I really am trying to master the complex issues with swallowing, breathing and such... but it is hard for me. This is all so new!

I am doing much better now that I am being fed every four hours. The volume of milk per feeding isn't so large so I can take this lighter workload better. This is much more agreeable to me, rather than the heavier feeding. In the future, I promise to be a good eater, but for now 'slow and steady' seems the right way to go.

I am still at a good weight... 5 pound and 1/2 pounds! This is a long way from my starting weight... and it's all good weight too.

And while I may not be the tallest girl on the block, I am happy to say that I am 17 1/2 inches long! That's pretty good too when you consider my birth length. I think I have come a long way in a very short time.

... and that little 'trick' that I do when you try to feed me... you know the one. It's when I stick my tongue on the roof of my mouth and prevent you from giving me the bottle? I promise not to do that so much any more (well, maybe just once in a while, just to remind you who is the boss).


I really would like to come home next week... and if you have to bring all of this noisy monitoring equipment and this cumbersome oxygen setup (just for feedings, mind you) home too, well I guess that's okay. I just want to go home and see my room.

So mommy... when can I come home?

PS - That GP guy is super cool. I like him a lot!

ZAC

Dear Zoe…

Or can I call you ZAC?

Today I got to hold you for the first time. It was an eye-opening experience. It had been quite a long time since I had held a baby as small as you and when you ‘factor in’ that we are family, well I was more than a little dumb struck with the memory of holding your mommy as I was holding you. I will admit that your road has been significantly harder than hers… but it will get easier, for both you and her… I promise you. And until then you are in real good hands.

I am not sure what Providence has in store for you...for that matter I am not sure of what Providence has in store for me either, but I look forward to enjoying the experience of getting to know you better.

I’ll wait while you work out all of the details...

...in your own time and in your own way.

Love Always,

Your GP

In case you were wondering...

... Zoe is still doing quite well.

Yesterday she decided to take to the bottle again, which is of course, a great thing. The only down turn of events is that in order to regain this past milestone, she still needs the assistance of the canula for breathing. We tried doing both unassisted breathing and the bottle and that didn't work out as hoped... but maybe soon we can get her weaned off of the canula. Heck, she has come so far already! For now however, the bottle and the canula are a set.

In light of this 'hiccup', no official take home date has/can be been set, since the feeding has kind of delayed things... but we hope here too for that day to come soon. In the meantime I have been staying at the hospital many more hours per day, for the past few days, just trying to be more involved in her feedings and therapy. I must say that it has been great fun being around her more. A gal could get used to doing this full time!

Well, gotta run. I have 'mothering' to do.

Kimberly

What the Heck is Gavage?

Well Zoe's fantastic Friday, stayed with Friday.

This past weekend she struggled quite a bit with eating and had to be gavaged - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feeding_tube) for most of her meals. The nurses are trying various techniques and bottles, hoping that we can repeat Friday's success. Of course prayers are always welcome.

On an upbeat note, the doctor and nurses continue to monitor Zoe's electrolytes and sodium level, they were very happy the diuretic took so quickly, since this is something that usually takes a week.

Zoe had her first hearing screening, one of two before she is discharged, and her left ear seems good but the right one came back inconclusive. Once there is a second screening they can determine if we will need more appointments in the future.

We are thankful for each day that we have with her and the successes she has already had. What a blessed little girl we have.

Kimberly

Quick Update For the Weekend

Zoe was taken off her canula this morning to see how she would do with breathing on her own. As of 1:30 she was still without any breathing assistance and even eating well while she is breathing on her own!

On the 'down side', she has lost a bit of weight over the past few days - the doctors attribute this to the use of the diuretic, but the doctor is increase her food intake so that she can gain some good weight.

Well, that's about it for this week...

Kimberly

Mid-Week Report

All,

Zoe continues to do well. The doctor is working on weaning little Zoe off her nasal canula... and in order to help her, she is on a diuretic. This will remove any extra water from her body especially her lungs. They hope this will do the trick, but will closely monitor her to ensure she gains weight and her electrolytes stay where they need to be.

Zoe is still progressing with her eating. She will still have to take breaks through out the day, but most of her feedings have been by bottle. With the latest level of Zoe's development, the doctor feels that she may be going home now at the end of January! This is great but means mom and dad have a lot of work to get ready.

Kimberly

Baby's Steps

All,

Today, Phil fed Zoe for the first time. She had one little 'purple episode' but she finished strong.

She continues to grow, 15 3/4 inches and 4 lbs, 14 oz. We are aiming at her hitting 5 pounds by Wednesday.

The doctor and nurses are working to wean Zoe off of the canula. They hope within a week she can be off.... We do too, so she doesn't have to come home on any breathing apparatus.

As another indication of her development, Zoe is no longer be under the care of the neonatologist, she has graduated up to her pediatrician. Just a another step to coming home.

We continue to give praise and thanks for the progress Zoe makes each day and the overwhelming response by strangers and friends alike that are praying for her. We pray that the Lord continues to bless Zoe with success.

Kimberly

Hey....

Can't a girl get a little quiet-time? Now how about you turn off that light and let me get some sleep!

Good Night.

signed - ZAC

Counting Down

Well...

Zoe had her ultrasound today and everything is remaining stable, which is great. The doctor's states that they will follow up with an MRI before her discharge date and in the future they will continue to monitor her brain and it's structural integrity.

We continue to pray and petition your prayers concerning the ramification of this injury. God has been very merciful with us already but we still ask for His grace and blessings for Zoe's future.

On the dietary front, Zoe has been eating well, five bottle feedings in a row as of last night! Her current weight is 4 lbs and 11 oz. and we hope in the next couple of days that we will get to start bottle feeding her instead of just being a spectator.

Zoe's breathing has been great too and she has had little to no alarms in the past week so they are going to slowly wean her off her nasal canula. We are praying here too, that this goes well.

In the meantime, we are just counting off the days until Zoe gets to come home!

Love,

Kimberly

Shots?

Hello All,

A little 'Zoe Update' for today.

OT (Occupational Therapy) says bottle feeding and therapy are going well, however Zoe had her immunizations today... and she wasn't too happy about them... but neither would I be if two giant (respectively) needles were jabbed into my thighs.

Overall she had a pretty tiring day. She was pretty gassy too, so a lot of squirming. On a positive note, her weight is now 4lb. 8oz. and they will be stopping the protein additions to her feedings because they don't think she needs that supplement for her growth anymore. Hopefully that will help with the occasional gas issues.

Otherwise, her next head ultrasound is on Thursday - praying for stability there and God's great power to heal.

- Phil

1st Report of 2010

... and Kim reports:

Zoe has now been moved to the 'Big Girl Crib'!

She is maintaining her body temperature very well and they have also moved her off of the High Flow Vent settings and is now just on a nasal canula.

Feedings are going well. She is bottle fed whenever she is awake and is still enjoying her gavage feedings if she takes too long or is asleep.

The doctors and staff are happy about the progress she has made and now are projecting a take home time of beginning of Feb.

Love,

Kimberly