Madeline Therese is One!

If you have been around my blog for a year, you will recall my frequent prayer requests for and updates on my friend Cindy's baby, Madeline Therese, who was born on January 18th of last year at a mere 27 weeks gestation.  She was a bit over two pounds at birth, and went down as far as 1 lb. 10 oz.  Well here she is, little miracle, showing no ill effects whatsoever of her extremely premature birth:

That is what the power of prayer can do!  Cindy wanted me to thank everyone who prayed for Madeline in those tenuous first months of her life.  She has a special bond with this baby, and Madeline brings her immense joy.  Happy birthday, you amazing little thing!

Monday Morning Musings March 29th, 2010

Right now... it is 7:14 a.m.  I slept in a bit to make up for the two-hour night I had the night before last, and will pay for it by having a more chaotic Monday morning than I like.

Outside the sun is shining and it promises to be a really pretty day.  The moon set huge and orange this morning, and I'd have loved to photograph it if I had a good telephoto lens and a tripod.

This past weekend... was busy and, if you read yesterday's post, pretty depressing.  But I gave Gemma a couple of doses (a few drops each) of colloidal silver and some homeopathic aconite, and her elevated temperature disappeared in the evening, and she remained cool all night.  No other symptoms so far.

My niece's baptism went well, and I hear that she slept right through it.  I am looking forward to seeing some photos when my sister is able to send some.

Some plans for this week:  School, with a concentration on Holy Week; starting a few seeds in starter pots (since I didn't do this last week); ordering chicks (didn't do that, either!); cutting the hair on the other boys and getting their clothes ironed for Easter; working out an Easter menu (meant to do that yesterday, but was too brain-dead from lack of sleep).  On Good Friday I would like to go to the Veneration of the Cross and in the evening watch The Passion of the Christ, as we've done for the past few years. 

If I can find some time for myself, I want to... finish an easy cotton bib for Gemma and look up some new knitting project to begin.  I have about thirty patterns bookmarked.  So many patterns, so little time!

Special prayer intentions:  that Easter will bring with it a blessing for our family and for all those families and individuals who have been suffering great challenges this Lent (same prayer as last week), and that St. Joseph will guide Bret's eyes and hands as he and his friend/woodworking partner, Steve, begin work on his most ambitious altar yet for the private chapel of the Fathers of Mercy. 

Something that makes me smile: Madeline Therese is home with her family!  Her official due date was 19 April, so she is home 3 weeks early and that is amazing for a baby born at 27 week!  Cindy was away from her family for 9 1/2 weeks.  Maddie still isn't nursing, so Cindy has to pump and bottle-feed, and there is a big adjustment still, so please do continue to pray for her at least through this Holy Week if you would.

Extra prayers needed to bring Madeline home!

Hello, everyone!  I just got this email from Cindy, and the news is very exciting!  Madeline may be able to come home very soon if all goes well.  I'm just going to cut and paste her email here:

JMJ

Dear Friends,

We need some extra prayers over the next few days, because if Madeline
continues to do as well as she is doing we will be coming home at the end
of the week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, you read it right, coming home. I'm overwhelmed at the thought, it was
all I could do to hold back the tears this morning when the doctor told
me. Here's the thing, Madeline has been taking all of her feeds by mouth
as of noon yesterday, she has to continue that until tomorrow, when they
will change her over to ad lib, hope I'm saying that correctly, anyway
that means she will get to decide when and how much she wants to eat. If
she continues to gain weight, which last night she was 4lbs. 10ozs. and is
16 and 3/4 inches long, so if she keeps gaining, keeps eating on her own,
all of her bottle and then enough on her own, and doesn't desat, that may
be the big one, she hasn't been desating, but one desat will set us back
something like 5 days, so as you can see there's a lot depending on our
little girl this week and all the prayers we can get will be appreciated.
The picture I'm sending was taken a few days ago, now she doesn't have
anything on her little face, it's so nice to see her without an NG tube
coming from her nose. She's just so sweet and such a precious gift. I've
been praying to Our Lady of La Leche, her Guardian Angel, and her two
patron saints each time I've sat down to feed her since yesterday some
time, so far they are answering my prayers. I'm just so excited to think
about going home, but a little nervous too. Also just hoping we won't have
to be disappointed, but I do know that if it doesn't happen on the day I
hope for it's bound to be soon. Thank you all so much for all your love
and support during this time and most especially the prayers. I must get
back to her, I'm on a very tight schedule, right now every three hours I
pump and then feed her the bottle which takes a lot of effort on both our
parts, remember she wasn't even supposed to be born for another 2 to 4
weeks and so she's had to learn how to suck, swallow, and breathe all at
the same time, while I"m cheering her on hoping she can handle it. Thanks
again and God bless all of you.

In Jesus, Mary, & Joseph,
Cindy

More baby news!

Can you recognize this little squirt as Madeline Therese?  She is about two months old now and up to a husky 4 lbs!  I accidentally deleted Cindy's email with all the other details, me with my foggy, fever-brain.  In any case, Cindy spends most of her time with Maddie and now is able to do so much more for her.  That is certainly why this baby is doing so well.  She is learning to nurse now, and sleeping in a "big-girl bed" (bassinet).  Cindy requests your continued prayers and continues to pray for all those who have prayed and blessed her family in so many ways.

I'm signing out, folks...pray for me that this isn't strep throat, as the doctor's office closed at noon...

Madeline Therese--an update for 24 February

Keep praying!  Despite the fact that this recent photo shows Maddie with the oxygen tube, it has been removed and she seems to be breathing fine without it!  She is up to 2lbs 13oz, and is 15.5 inches long now, and Cindy says that they checked her eyes and they still seem to be doing fine.  Cindy is now no longer at the Ronald McDonald House, but in a room in the hospital with Madeline, and perhaps this is one of the reasons Madeline seems to be thriving now.

Deo Gratias!

An update on Madeline Therese--18 February

Cindy emailed me with the news that Maddie seems to be doing much better--and her weight is up to 2.5 lbs.!
Please do keep up the prayers during Lent, everyone.  

Latest update on Madeline Therese

My friend Cindy just sent me this email:

Madeline is okay, but if you could pray that she can get past a little hurdle that she's come up against. She's having some kind of reflux problems, so that when she eats it's causing her oxygen levels and her heart rate to go down. It starts as soon as she begins to get the milk in her tummy. They've even put her on a pump to make her milk go in slower, but right now it's not helping as much as I wish it were. They don't think it's anything major, but it does have them puzzled, because normally reflux doesn't happen until after the tummy is full. They are watching her closely though. They are so very kind to me and very good at always talking to me. The doctor or resident doctor will come anytime there is a problem, there's someone there 24 / 7, that's a great comfort to me and the nurses are just awesome. She still needs to gain weight and keep it on instead of gain and lose and gain and lose. I know we will get past this, it's just a bit unnerving for me when I have to watch her struggle. I know I can count on the extra prayers. I was able to hold her for two hours today, that was great. She's so little and sweet. Thank you so much for the prayers and support.

God bless,
Cindy

Seven Quick Takes on Friday--volume 68

One.

We--that is, Sebastian, Una, Gemma and I--are suffering from the most horrendous head cold. The major symptom seems to be the most severely plugged up nose I have ever experienced.  Really, my ears pop and I feel a vacuum in my nasal passages whenever I swallow, and it is at its worst at night.  Gemma cannot nurse without a lot of gasping and hollering, and she has been understandably cranky and lethargic.  I wore her most of the morning yesterday, which seemed to keep her contented.

 

(Is this a pathetic baby, or what?)

Two. 

Because we have been feeling so rotten and I have had even less sleep than usual (Haha--I didn't think that possible!), I have not spent much time on the computer.  I have an update on Madeline, however. She is hovering around the 2 lb. mark, so the doctor wants to supplement with a little formula in order to give her more calories.  Cindy was sick as well.  Not my cold--thank goodness--but a stomach bug of some sort.  So she has had to wait to get over that and be 24 hours in the clear before going into the NIC unit again.  She thanks everyone for all their continued prayers.  They are what is getting her through this difficult time.

Three.

We are waiting for another baby around here.  Our Naomi is due to calf this month, and we are watching for any signs that the little one's arrival may be imminent.  Hoping for another heifer...

Four.

Needless to say, our schedule has sort of fallen apart this week.  Yesterday the only thing we did that was school-related was reading Famous Men of Greece and D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths.  The rest of the day was spent playing on the computer, watching videos and passing the Kleenex around.

Five.

And now the snow is gone, and it is raining. It is supposed to rain all day long.  For some reason, I feel like I am adrift on a sailing ship with the crew sick and no land in sight.  Yes, I am a very visual person, and feelings always seem to erupt into cinematic imagery...

Six.

I have a special little boy who is five today.  I will have to sneak into my workroom later to wrap the few things I have for him, and decorate his cake.  He has changed his mind about what he wants on his cake about 4 times in the last 24 hours.  It will be hard to make this day special for him when it is so miserable in so many ways.  I wanted to make him something special for breakfast, so I asked what he would like.  "Honey Nut Cheerios" is what he wants, knowing I have a box stashed in the pantry (I don't usually buy them).  Today will be all about making this a memorable day for him...in spite of everything.

Seven.

This is due to come in today.  I am really ready for some escapist cinema...

Visit Jennifer's Conversion Diary for more Seven Quick Takes. 

And have a good weekend.  Do it for me, okay?

Madeline is doing fine...[edited with video]

She is holding steady and doing well for one born so little.

Nothing can prepare you for seeing one of these little tiny things.  Her head is the size of my palm, and I have small hands.  When she twitches and stretched and moved, I could recall feeling my own little ones twitching and stretching in my tummy, bony little limbs bopping about.

Unfortunately, most of my photos were fuzzy due to the fact that I have no idea how to properly use my camera, and I would not use the flash and stun the poor baby.  The video of Cindy changing Madeline's diaper gives you a much better idea of just how tiny she is.

Louisville, here we come!

Thanks to my addled, sleep deprived brain and a younger, crazy, spontaneous friend (thanks, Deanna!), and the fact that Gemma's cold has graduated from snotty to stuffy, we are leaving in about an hour for Louisville!  I'm taking the camera...

Pray for good travel for us!

Update on Madeline Therese, January 28th

Thank you to all of you who are praying for little Madeline Therese.  I talked to Cindy this afternoon, and she related to me that Maddie is doing really well for one who entered the world so early.  She is up to 2 lbs. now, and as of tonight should be taking 10cc of mommy's milk every three hours.  She will be getting a chest x-ray tomorrow and there is a chance she may need blood (I guess the bit they have to take for tests can be a bit much for a little body), but all in all things are looking good.  Cindy said it is hard to see all the little ones in the NICU who have real problems, and she is relieved that Madeline just seems to need to grow.

But as she pointed out, things can go downhill very suddenly, and so your prayers are still desired and greatly appreciated. 

Now pray me through this coming winter storm so that I can get up there take pictures of her to post here on Sunday!

Update on Madeline Therese, January 24th

I just received--minutes ago--an update from Cindy. Here is most of it:

Dear Friends,

I am taking a quick break to give everyone an update. There's a computer at the Ronald McDonald house where I'm staying, thankfully it's two blocks from the hospital so if the weather permits I can walk to the hospital in the morning, then walk back before it gets dark, have the evening meal that's provided here for the families staying here and then I go back to the hospital until usually around 9, give or take.

First, I want to thank you so much for the prayers. They mean so very much to Dale and I and our family, it's certainly what's gotten us through this week. Everything was so unexpected when I had to be rushed up to Nortons last Sunday, but God has blessed us in so many ways that are too numerous to mention. We are just so very blessed to have our little Madeline, she's been such gift to our family. I'm so very grateful to be able to be here with her. My family at home and having this place to stay makes that possible, and for that I am so happy. I know that Madeline will grow better and perhaps faster with me here with her. I will never be able to truly say how grateful we are to God for her and to all of you for the many prayers. May God bless you with many special blessings.

Madeline weighed 1lb. and 12 oz. last night, they weigh her each night; she of course lost some weight at first, she has been going between 1lb 11oz and 1lb 10oz for a few days, but yesterday she was up to 1lb 12oz, so that was exciting. She still has oxygen, but it's not a lot and they say to just be off the ventilator already is a great thing, so we are very pleased. Her heart test was good, she only has a small murmur that should correct itself. The scan of her brain looked good as well. She was given my milk for the first time on Friday, a very small amount, 1 cc every four hours, but today because she was doing okay with that she was upped to 2 ccs every three hours; that's what keeps me the busiest, pumping milk for her every two to three hours, mostly around the clock, she receives the milk through a feeding tube right now. I was able to hold her for the very first time yesterday. It was so wonderful, they laid her on my chest and I held her for around 45 minutes, today I was able to hold her a little longer. The doctor commented that she liked that and I told him I did, too [my emphasis :)]. She really seems to be doing great she just needs lots of prayers, love and time to grow. I realize though that any little thing can effect her because she's so little so that's why I ask that you keep up the prayers for her. That's all I can think of for now, I will do my best to send updates when I can...

Thank you, and my love and prayers to all of you as well. In Jesus, Mary, & Joseph,
Cindy & family

First Photos of Madeline Therese!

Just got these from my email. It seems she has lost some of her birth weight and now is a wispy 1lb 11oz. In the first photo, not long after her birth it seems, you can see Cindy's ring around Maddie's wrist! In the last photo is my beloved friend, Cindy, with Madeline, her tenth-born child.