Red versus White Blood Cells...Cancer Is Our Neighbor Again

If there was anything more confusing in the journey of NEC it is this. We spend our days and nights now consumed by trying to raise his levels to 40 as part of his Complete Blood Count. Thinking we only needed two (2) 10cc blood transfusions, the rapid decline back to 33 has encouraged them to act rapidly with two (2) more 20cc blood transfusions. There really is no choice here. You just sit and hope that it is the right thing to do.

This has suddenly become more challenging to navigate as we have heard that my sister n'law's cancer is back in the fold. You just have to wonder don't ya?

The Picc Line Is In...

So busy at work, I think my head may explode, it was the sweetest thing ever to return the hospital and see the wife doing 'skin-to-skin'. For just a moment, we seemed to be a world away.

...and now a long winding road...

Thankfully, there are some guardian angels that have given me the straight scoop on how Harrison is doing. While we can kid ourselves that 'everything is okay', we have been told that we have at least another 14 day journey here in the NICU. We are now faced with the decision of placing a PICC Line, a pseudo-permanent IV line to allow us to increase the calorie intake. Course they have mentioned a 10% risk of infection. Since his seemingly rare happiness comes from the freedom of his hands and arms, we will be meeting with a surgeon to discuss a lower body line.

I think the hardest part is keeping up with one's lives. The challenge of job, family, and just plain finding time to balance the ol' bank account. Course 'we knew the job was dangerous' when we took it.

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Day 25 - Turning the Corner

Thankfully, Harrison has 'fought the power' and turned the corner toward good health. The blood transfusion has been miraculous, and both his red and white cells have rebounded. He is even rooting, and seems to yearning to try the bottle again. While his x-rays have normalized, and Ileostomy seems to have been avoided, we are definitely not out-of-the-woods yet. Just far enough to begin discussing ideas with the nutrionsist for the coming week's restart of feeding.

Course with Harrison out of danger, I have now been able to jump back into other issues. If you are like me, you safely assume that you will be home long before your 30-Day carry over on your wife's insurance. Not so. Another hurdle to navigate.

On the lighter side, in my search for additional base for my Peg Prego, I can offer two more amazing resources: Elite Car Seats and Shopzilla, one of the coolest places to comparison shop.

The Big Day...

I awoke today ready for a momentous occasion in my life; after 15 years to get an office. Or course, my celebration turned to concern as I headed to the hospital (my 'home away from home' for at least the next 7-10 days) after my conversation with the doctor yesterday who mentioned that 'Ileostomy' is now our concern, a common effect of NEC. The good news is that his red blood count is over 39. We await his white count, and the other indicators to confirm that he is headed in a positive direction. The wife and I awoke at 3:30am to wonder had we done the right thing? Should we have left? Should we race to the hospital?

So, you may wonder why I have a picture of a car seat? Because in the midst of all of work and concern, I still must track down a Peg Prego Viaggio Latch Car Seat Base. Any ideas?

Day 22 - Bay 2

I am now finding that days and nights seemingly merge together as time passes these days. Navigating work and the NICU is easily the toughest physcial challenge I have had as in the heart of the middle class I must navigate work each day along with the challenges presented at dawn and in the eve here. Mentally, it is travelling through the parking lot and the elevator to see Harrison. We heard that the words that no parent wants to hear yesterday morning: 'NEC or Necrotizing Entercolitis'. While I am sure you were thinking that Bay 2 was a move toward home, it is actually quite the opposite. The dull look in his eyes, pale color, and coldness his hands is truly an experience that no parent should have to see. However, if you are, there seem to be many a success story of children who regularly beat this disorder, and move to great things.

TOUGH

Tough is you,
My little boy in blue,
Like me, your eyes want to see the beautiful colors of day,
From inside your graphite condo within you lay.

Your will to live is strong,
By you, with so few cries, you forgive the nurses for their wrong,
Determined to embrace the sun, sky, and sea,
Rest for now is key.

Your Mom and Dad gently touch your hand,
'I love you', hopefully the power to survive, the magic wand.

Lucky Day 20 With Harrison...

The more I sit and ponder my situation, the happier I am that I have been able to contribute to a fantastic organization, Shane's Inspiration over the years that supports kids, and develops parks for kids with physical challenges in Southern California.

CPR Is A Vital Skill

With my wife preparing to take CPR today as we ready for Harrison's departure from the NICU, I felt an obligation to provide a big reminder of the need to have a safety kit in your home for your family and friends.

'When You Least Expect It' - Day 18

It has been another crazy day as we thought for a moment that we had a departure date only to learn that another hurdle has arisen which has lengthened our stay in the NICU; par for the course they tell us. While I should have been studying the matchups, I instead was purchasing your standard changing pad. Of course, this has now led to the best material for the pad cover? I had my first experience of being part of the Dad's Club today as a couple of Hip Dads helped me navigate the purchase of our bottle sanitizer and warmer. We are Dr. Browns all the way. The Wide Bottles baby. The Snuzzler arrived, and it is Pediatrician Approved. Babys R Us/Amazon.com came through with the rapid delivery.

Day 17 - The Crib is Ready To Rock..Now The Rug Is Another Story...

My second day at dawn headed to the hospital to spend time with the little man. Fortunately, on the West Coast, I had only a bit of cold to deal with; you folks in the East. Wow! I am also lucky I took my own advice, and paid the delivery/construction charge for the crib as late last night the moment of truth came. With the arrival of the mattress, it was time to build Harrison's comfort zone.

Smartest move I made was getting the Sealy mattress from Target.com. Not only did I save a bunch of dough, but the cool delivery tracking system have allows you to plan for delivery as opposed to chasing after it. "Let's keep in mind the last of NFL Playoff Football is Sunday."

Having searched far and wide, the next question; "Where outside of Potterybarn for Kids do I get a darn rug?"

Day 16 - My First Bottle Feeding...

Wow! It is really amazing how you can go from worrying about your family's future to being lost in your child's eyes. What a special experience. My first guided bottle feeding. Up at 4:30am to head to the hospital make it happen, it was better than the Sunset Strip sunrise I used to welcome when bicycle training at dawn. What I am trying to say, "Don't miss your shot at this!"

Course, as you already know, with every experience comes a whole lotta work. Exhausted last night, we made the fatal mistake of visiting Target (La Brea, Los Angeles Store) for last minute baby items.
"Don't waste your time." They were out of every item we were in search of. Our focus now, a changing table (as our dresser is somewhere between Canada and the US), and the appropriate fixins' for the car seat to allow us to take the little man home.

I am very confused as my sister n'law and The Right Start recommended the Kiddopatomus Snuzzler to take the kid home. However, few at the hospital have heard of this? Any thoughts?

Also, having seen the cost of diapers, I have spent a great deal of time searching for the most economical spot. I believe it is Diaper Site.

Baby Harrison Day 13 - Poem 'I AM OKAY'

More good news from the Galatic Empire in that the little man is on 'Air'. For those of you in our boat, you know that this is big news. Now we sit and watch to see if he can ride it down to 27 degree celsius at which point we know he is monitoring his own body temp. Another notch to be achieved on the scorecard.

I AM OKAY

The glass,
No IV;
The tallest in the class
will I be?

Healthy I am,
My hand reaches out as I see my mother's tear in her eye;
Thanks dad for the swaddle,
Your touch subsides my instinct to cry.

I smile I don't know,
My mother holds me so dear;
With my parents close,
'Home' Is right here.

Baby Harrison Day 12

Another morning awaking the ICU. Having conquered a number of hurdles, it is a pleasure to finally be looking forwarding to arriving at our little man's bedside believing he will have a smile and an open hand. For any other parents out there that may be facing the same challenges we are as we enter his 35th Week, take heart in knowing that others are facing the same 'premature' challenges you are. Feel free to share your challenges here.

Baby Harrison Arrives...

If you wondering where I have been over the last couple of weeks since buying the crib, I have been balancing life as best I can as my baby, Harrison, surprised us by arriving early at 7:35am on 1/4/06. Almost impossible to recapture or describe, the first five days were a whirlwind in the ICU where he sits now.