(POEM) How Preemie Moms are Chosen by Emma Bombeck.

~*~How Preemie Moms Are Chosen~*~ (Erma Bombeck) 

Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen? Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth, selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation.

As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia. Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity." 
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a preemie."
The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy." 
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel." 
"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel. 
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its own. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy." 
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." 
God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect She has just the right amount of selfishness." The angel gasps, "Selfishness?! Is that a virtue?" 
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says momma for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see-- ignorance, cruelty, prejudice-- and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side." 
"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air. 
God smiles. "A mirror will suffice.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.9

We are trying so hard to crawl lol

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.6

Everyday HERO Australia

Everyday HERO Australia - Big Walk 2012

Check it out!

Just before Amelia turns 1 we are going on a WALK!!!

We are doing the 6km walk starting at 9:00am on the 4th November 2012 to raise money for PMH!!

Please feel free to join in! Or donate!

Thanks :)

Hoping to see you all there!

Privatising blogger account.

Hi guys, as of this coming week, I will be privatising my blogger account. Only people who email or comment with their email address will be able to view the blog from now on.

This is to protect privacy of my daughter & myself, my husband & our families, but still allow myself to post updates without the whole world knowing.

just email Melissa.Ziomek@hotmail.com & say who you are and if you want to be updated with the blog. Cheers.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.6

Its been a while since my last blog post...

Wow. Its been quite a long time since my last blog post. Things have been very busy.

I've returned back to work. Although very nerve racking, I know Amelia is still with family, and she needs that time without me, and I need the time to get out & interact with adults. Amelia is loving spending time with her grandparents 3 days a week. I didn't expect to have to go back so soon, but it just had to happen, for more than one reason.

Anyways. Amelia is very good. She is usually well behaved & very happy. Shes currently 4 days off being 7 months old. I can't believe the journey we have been on. I wouldn't change it. Its made everyone stronger. Especially myself.

We have battled many challenges. I was reflecting tonight while putting my girl to bed, so many things I had planned. So many things changed the night of the 30th November 2011 the best thing is that I became a mother of a living baby, something I had longed for, for a long time.

All those plans, one being obviously making it to term. Didn't happen.

Another being having a natural drug free birth. Couldn't be done. Our lives were at risk.

Skin to skin after the birth. Again, didn't happen. We were both critical patients.

Breastfeeding. I tried. Did not succeed. I expressed for 13 weeks. After which, Amelia was refusing the breast and preferred the taste of formula over breast milk. But hey, some babies do that. At least she got fed my milk for those precious weeks. The weeks that she really needed.

Taking my baby home 4 days after birth. Ok, understandably couldn't happen. She wasn't ready. After 92 long days in hospital and loads of challenges we survived. We came out the other side. We are truly lucky. Some mothers never get this. They do all that hard work, trips to the NICU daily, & not take their babies home.  :-(

I've gained patience, respect, honest & loyal friends, respectful families & friends, sad times and trivial moments & thoughts, many more happy times, bucket loads of love.

I appreciate every bit of support. Every phone call or text message, every blog follower, every card sent, every email or Facebook message.

This isn't the last blog post. I will continue to update as I get progress reports and have appointments. You have all helped immensely in allowing me to express our journey.

We have a hospital physio appoitment beginning of july & a paed appointment mid July, will follow up after we know more.

Apart from being mildly delayed in some areas, Amelia is doing great!

Enjoy the pictures xxx

until our next post..

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

Pics ... An update!

Updated pictures. Will be back to update posts

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

Mothers Day 2012

Mothers day this year was the best ever. Amelia spoilt me with a necklace and a card and pjs and a dressing gown and hot chocolate mug.

Here's a family pic from the day!...

Best day  ;-)

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

An update & Some amazing facts!

Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay in writing, I haven't been on my computer of late, and the mobile never likes to actually publish my blog posts! Grrr!

Well, Amelia is a happy (well, as happy as a baby can be) and healthy baby girl :)

She has had problems with a little reflux (and the dreaded colic), but apart from that, she is going amazingly!

I cant believe she is 5 months old already!

Anyway... She now weighs 6 kilos and is around 57ish or so cms long (i took a quick measurement while she was asleep so this may be slightly incorrect! hehe) She now takes 150-200mls of AR formula every 2-4 hours! AND has started on solids (just a few tastes during the day to get her used to different textures and things.) she LOVES pumpkin (which Nanny makes for her, as well as stewed apples and pears!) We have tried a few fruity rice cereals and she doesnt mind them either.

I thought I would also add a few amazing things that I found on Amelia's discharge summary that I was reading through tonight.

Born 30.11.11
22:43hrs @ KEMH via Emergency C- Section


Discharged from KEMH on 1.3.12
time in KEMH Neonatal Unit 92 days 
Intensive Care time 61 days 
Special Care time: 31 days 

Main reason for nursery admission was Preterm/IUGR

Birth Weight 850g (<3rd %ile) Birth Gestational Age 29+1weeks
Nursery discharge weight 3644g
Birth HC 24cms (<10th %ile) Length 33cms
HC on discharge 35cms 

Apgar Scores 6 @ 1 min, 7 @ 5min, 9 @ 10 min of age.

Respiratory Diagnoses


Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD)
Chronic Lung Disease / BPD
Apnoea of Prematurity

Managements


Supplemental Oxygen - Highest oxygen concentration given was 45%.
Oxygen was given for a total of 1681 hours. Last given on 11/2/12. (around 70 days)

Ventilated on 1/12/11 @1.55hrs - Vent time 95hrs 25min (around 4 days)
SELF EXTUBATED

Nasal CPAP - Total CPAP time was 1332 hours (around 55 days)

Surfactant (2 doses given) first dose was given at 4hours of age)

Caffeine for 64 days.

Cardiac Diagnosis & Management 

Amelia had a PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus. They gave her  Frusemide (a diuretic), Saline volume expansion, and Pharmacologic treatmnent of PDA (Ibuprofen).

Amelia had a few scans. The duct appeared normal on the 1/12/11. However when ventolation was removed, she had a small-moderate PDA, which they tried to close using Ibuprofen, but she was unable to complete the course due to renal impairment. When she had her final scan, Amelia's PDA had closed.

Haematological/Jaundice diagnoses & Management 


Anaemia of Prematurity
Jaundice - Prematurity / Physiological

Phototherapy was used for 25 hours (just over a day)
Amelia was given 2 'top up'transfusions to treat her anaemia
Ferrous sulphate was given also.

Neurological diagnoses and management 


IVH (Intraventricular Haemorrhage)/ PVL - Maximum IVH Grade was 1 ( Right & Left sides) There was no PVL demonstrated.

Amelia had 2 eye tests for ROP - NO ROP seen
Lumbar Puncture
Cranial Ultrasounds to follow up - SEH's were spotted bilatterally on 28/12/11 but by the 22/2/12 they had resolved.

Gastro-intestinal/ Metabolic & biochemical managements & issues


Reflux - treatment Omeprazole (Losec) given daily.
Constipation
Lactic Acidocis
Blood Glucose monitoring

Infection Diagnoses

Amelia contracted Septicaemia at 11 days of age. She was treated with Benzylpenicillin, Gentamycin and Vancomycin.

Vascular Access managements - Amelia had an UAC (Umbilical Arterial Catheter) for a total of 89 hours (nearly 4 days)

Nurtition Managements


Parenteral Nutrition for 13 days.30.11.11 to 13.12.11.
Nasogastric feeds (NG)
Enteral feeding commenced on 4.12.11 Full enteral feeding achieved on 14.12.11.

General Diagnoses
Prematurity <37weeks
Reason assessed for prematurity was PE/AEDF ( Pre Eclampsia & Absent Ended Diastolic Flow)
IUGR (<10th %ile)
Absent/Reverse UA Diastolic Flow
Reflux
Umbilical Hernia
Infection - 11/12/11 - 16/12/11 Elevated CRP Maximum level was 48.
General Management 
Morphine
Immunisations - with no complications
Audiology _ Risk factors present AABR done - passed.
Ibuprofen x 1 dose
10.2.12 Commenced AR formula.
Discharge Meds - Omeprazole, Ferrous Sulphate, AR Milk formula.


WOW, My girl and our family have gone through WAYYYYY too much in her short time together!


NO MORE hospitals for a while! 


Anyway, that was most of the d/c summary from the hospital. It's quite informative. But I thought it would have been SOOO much longer! haha Im glad its not.

Anyway, enough for tonight, Amelia is in bed. And im not far behind... :)

Ciao!

Green for Prems day is this Wednesday!

Please wear green on wednesday the 4th April 2012 to raise awareness of premature miracles like Amelia Jayde.

If you would like to donate to a charity, please donate to PMH foundation or KEMH. Donations can even be knitted cardigans, socks, vests, hats etc for the babies or money for the equipment needed to keep babies who were born like Amelia alive.

We are so greatful for all the support and because our special little girl is here and very healthy.

Thankyou xx

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.2

4 months already?

Amelia has only just had her 4 month old injections.

My poor bub screamed her head off, until I grabbed her bottle.

The nurse seemed so rough putting them in. Was so hard seeing my baby girl suffer like that. Although, in the long run I know these immunizations are good for her.

They initially made her very grizzly. She had a massive tummy ache because of the oral rotavirus liquid. :( never heard her squeal so much in pain before.

Anyway, I also got her discharge summary which I will type out (its quite long) she had a lot of issues but it just proved how much of a miracle she is.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.2

being mum to a prem is hard...

I HATE shopping, I HATE people. Every time I take Amelia shopping its always "oh she's soooo tiny how old is she?" When I say 4 months people look at me and ask if she's physically okay, then I have to tell them the story that crushes my soul every time I re-live it.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.2

Our first mini photo shoot at home! :)

Just thought I'd update with some more pics and show you how much my Amelia has grown. We had her weighed at the local chemist and she is 4.5kilos now! :)

Here are some pics from a mini photo shoot we done last week...

Enjoy!

I can't believe it... pics included xx

We came out the other side.

Amelia had such a rough journey into the world nearly 4 months ago. And now I have her home in my arms. I'm able to pick her up when ever I like and venture out with her whenever I like. I want to show her the world that she had missed out on.

Looking back at the time spent in the NICU, I didn't think we would be here today. I never thought I would be holding my beautiful baby girl in the comfort of my own home, with no monitors or nurses around. I honestly thought she would not see the outside of a hospital.

A few friends gave birth shortly after I did, magical births with healthy take home babies. I felt happy for them on the outside, but inside I was crushed. I was jealous! Why didn't I get the birth I wanted and deserved? After trying to conceive Amelia for so long. Why did it go pear shaped. Why wasn't it picked up sooner? I was actually infuriated and started to spiral into a great depressive state. But, soon after I realised that had I NOT delivered her when I did... We both would have died. Amelia was so tiny because of IUGR, which is IntraUterine Growth Restriction, a common ocurrance with severe pre eclampsia. Which means baby doesn't get enough nutrients to grow because my cord running from my placenta to her was not flowing as it should.

I really couldn't believe the day she was born. I couldn't believe that day I was about to cancel my OB appointment.

Life is TRULY AMAZING. I'm so blessed to have such an amazingly strong family. I'm greatful for my AMAZING husband and daughter. I don't know what I would have done without them by my side.

Enough blabbering from me, until next time...

Thankyou to our followers... Don't worry, the journey continues and so do the posts. (just not as frequently lol)

Xx

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.2

The first week home :)

Well our first week home has been packed full of tantrums, cuddles, smiles, and many happy moments.

The CHN hasn't come out to the house yet, but I'm pretty sure Amelia has put on weight. She feels so much heavier.

Anyway I will update you all later when the CHN has been tomorrow.

Enjoy the piccys xx

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.2

she's home :)

Well after 92 days in hospital , our baby girl is finally home.

Her stats from birth were ...

Weight 850grams

Height 33cms

Head circumference 24cms

Today (day 92)

Weight 3.644kgs or 8 pounds

Height 53cms

Head circumference 35cms

How awesome has our little girl done... :) so happy.

This is how it was meant to be!

And a photo from today :)

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.2

Updates & Photos Up to Day 85!

So, a few things have changed since I last logged on :) Amelia is in Nursery 2 West now, which is a stop before she comes home. She is bottle fed on anti reflux formula 90mls every 4 hours :) Amelia has her own little personality now! Shes such a feisty thing! :) Amelia weighs 3270grams - so about the size of a newborn at 3 months old! She fits in between 00000's and 0000's clothes. 

We are just waiting for her bradycardia and desats to stop now before she comes home. Then shes ALL MINE!!! hehe 

We do ask though, when she comes home, to be a little patient with us in regards to visiting. We would like everyone to come over and meet her, but this isnt possible until we are all settled in and coping as a family of 3. Being in the nursery for 3 months has been a bit of a traumatic experience for us, so please respect our privacy for a little longer. 

Also, anyone who is not well, when the time comes, please stay away. Amelia has a weak immune system and has only JUST come off all oxygen support. We like seeing her pretty un-tubed face. If you are sick and pass it on to her, we will end up back in hospital. And thats not what anyone wants. 

Until next post.... Enjoy these piccys ..... xx

Having a bottle feed with Dad

Cuddles with Mum

Striking a pose!

Concentration...

I love cuddles with my Mummy 

What are you looking at?...

Why are you looking at me like that?

Baby Elmo and Me! 

Cheeky

Cheeky little girl!