March chitchat

[Virginia]

Parsi, I was also wondering what HCE stands for. I hope you will not be as scarce as you indicated. We miss Howie and the more people that pop in the more it takes it off our minds.

[Virginia]

This is just to update everyone on the condition of my Niece. They kept her in the hospital and they gave her some kind of shot that is for the baby. They cannot give her another one for a certain amount of time, but they do want to give one more before they have to do a C Section. The shot is to try and help him breathe if they do have to take him, and it is looking like they will.

They are concerned about my Niece as well. They have her blood pressure down but they are taking blood every two hours and they are not happy with something about her kidneys and her liver. She still has a headache, so they are also concerned about stroke. Her Mother spent the night with her while her husband stayed with their little boy. Then the Mother took the little 19 month old and the husband went to the hospital. My brother said she has been working from the hospital on her computer since she got there. She is in management where she works and she knows she will probably have to leave earlier than she had thought so I guess she is getting as much done as possible.

The baby's name is Caleb. They named him right after they found out it is boy. So we have all been saying Caleb for months. I am very surprised this is happening. She is slim and athletic, though I did read that having a pregnancy within two years can have something to do with this. We are praying for Erica and Caleb. The doctors do not want to endanger Erica but they say every day can make a difference for Caleb. It is a moment to moment decision right now, but sometimes things turn around.

[Virginia]

Latest update on Erica and Caleb - he is to be born tonight about 11:00PM. I don't know why so late unless it is because of the second shot they wanted to give at 9 tonight. They had said that was the earliest they could give it, so that may be what they are waiting on.

[Ikoiko]

Wellcome, Caleb.

[agate]

Yes, Caleb, here's hoping you have an easy arrival! I hope your niece will be all right too, Virginia.

Sometimes these problems come along but the medical professionals often have good solutions for them. My grandson was in the ICU for about 5 days as he was premature but so far as I know he's had no problems as a result.

[Virginia]

I have heard no more news and I am anxious. I just want them both to be fine.

Thank you Ikoiko and Agate for the welcomes. I wonder if he will be able to breath on his own since I guess they did get another shot in at 9PM? My brother said he would be able to put him in his pocket. How do you love someone so much that you haven't even met yet?

[agate]

Any more news on Caleb, Virginia?

On another topic, some time ago there was a discussion about how to draw in more members to BrainTalk, and people said it would help if BrainTalk came up on Google searches. At the time it wasn't showing up.

But now it is! I did a Google search for "neurology message boards" and there it was, the 4th one down on page 1 but very definitely there.

[Virginia]

Yesterday was a lost day for me. I was wiped out completely. Still very tired today, but thought I would let everyone know what I know about Erica and Caleb. I got a text about 2AM from Eric telling me that Caleb was here and seemed to be alright. Brian, his dad, was allowed to hold him for one minute and then they took him to NICU and they had a cpap on him for breathing. I think the shots they gave Erica Tuesday and Wednesday nights, which were really for Caleb, helped because his oxygen level was 98. I have not heard a lot so I am hoping that is still good.

Erica did write a text early yesterday morning and said she was OK, but they were giving her intravenous magnesium to help with the preeclampsia and that it was making her whoosy and loopy. She said they had her on bed rest which she was unhappy about because when she had her last C section they told her to get up and move around that would help with the pain.

I haven't heard anything today. They are so busy I do not want to call. In addition, Eric's birthday is today so I know he is taking a lot of calls and probably having to tell people what is going on. He also has to keep in close touch with his two sons. One is in Florida and the other is in The Dominican Republic. I am surprised he has not already come home. Anything that happens he comes home and he is very close to Erica. Also, Eric is taking care of getting all the food for everyone who is at home and any running around that needs to be done.

I think based on the time I got the text yesterday morning, Caleb was born between 1AM and 2AM. He weighs 4lbs12oz. I don't know anything about all this, but I thought it sounded pretty good for a premature baby. I would love to know if Erica has seen him.

They are very busy. Brian (Dad) of course stayed at hospital until sometime Thursday morning, but then he changed places with my SIL who was keeping the 20 month old, because he had come down with a fever of 102 and he wanted to be home yesterday in case the Doctor wanted to see him. He wanted to be the one to take him. Apparently, he is alright because my other brother and I talked and he said Brian and my SIL had again changed places and she was home with Dylan and he had gone back to the hospital yesterday evening.

I hope Erica NEVER gets pregnant again. I have read about preeclampsia and it is very dangerous and can be fatal to the Mother. It is not up to me, but in my opinion she should never try to have another child. I read everything that they think can cause it and the only thing that fit her was that she got pregnant before waiting two years. Some people can and some can't I guess. But now that she has had preeclampsia she is more likely to have it again if she becomes pregnant again.

I am going to try and get my hair washed and fixed this afternoon. We were all set with reservations to go out to eat tomorrow night for Eric's Birthday. I doubt that we will go but my other brother said we might go without Erica. He said Bryan could probably leave the hospital long enough to eat with us and Eric and my SIL can bring Dylan. They had made the reservations over close to me so I will see what happens.

Our weather is just terrible. The first of the week I had the fireplace on every night it was so cool. It was so hot last night I could hardly sleep and today it is supposed to get up into the high 80s, close to 90. Then next week it is supposed to cool down a little to the 60s again. We don't have a lot of time to turn this around. I read in the Washington Post that we have one decade and then after that it will be too late to do anything about it.

I hope all of you are doing well. Ikoiko is it hot where you are like here?

[Ikoiko]

I think it was 79 yesterday here in the DC area. Today it is 50 and raining. Glad baby and mom are well.

[agate]

Hot weather is hard to imagine here as snow is forecast for the whole weekend. "Snow showers" probably means the snow won't stick but it's already rainy and cold out there.

Virginia, it sounds as if mother and baby are doing well. And I think you're right about preeclampsia--it's a serious matter, and if you've had it once, you're more apt to have it again.

It should be nice to get out and celebrate your brother's birthday and Caleb's arrival even if the weather isn't the best. Your family is having a busy time there, Virginia!

[Virginia]

Eric called and we talked for a long time. They are very busy. Erica is going in the right direction and will probably go home either tomorrow or Sunday. He said he thought they were going to talk to her today about having any more children.

Caleb is also doing well. They think he will go home by next Friday. They are able to see him on a camera, but Erica has not seen him other than that and Brian has not seen him since that one minute they allowed him to hold him when he was first born. Brian said he grabbed one of his fingers and held on.

Eric took Dylan to Biscuitville this morning to get him out and he says he seems fine, so I guess the fever went away or either the Doctor's office told them something to give him. He can't talk to say "where is Mommy?", but he has just kind of called out for her and my SIL tells him Mommy will be there soon. Of course he doesn't know what soon means. He is fine with my SIL and his Dad when he is there. My SIL and brother have kept him so much and his Dad does so much for him and with him so he is doing fine. I know he will be glad to see his Mommy and she will be happy to see him.

Eric is doing fine now that they are alright. As I suspected he is running around a lot. He said Erica called from the hospital and got him to go pick up some medicine for her dog and he does get all the food for whoever is home. Sure glad they live about two blocks from each other.

[agate]

Virginia, my grandson was in the NICU for about a week. He was being watched constantly, with nurses doing things for him. It was a very "medical" scene, meaning lots of sophisticated equipment in use. I'm sure everyone including me breathed a huge sigh of relief when he could go home, to a home he didn't yet know he had, come to think of it, but there it was, ready and waiting for him.

Caleb will be going to his home soon, and since his parents have already had experience with an infant, they'll be experienced enough not to have so many frantic moments, but every new parent worries, I guess.

[Virginia]

Agate, I think you are right about every new parent worrying. (I might add aunts too, as all of you just went through with me)

[agate]

Maybe the family get-together will be a welcome distraction. Is that today?

[Virginia]

We went to eat today. It was just my brother Fred and his wife, Eric and Terry and me - except of course for Dylan. I saw pictures of Caleb earlier on my iphone. I would guess when he was first born, and it definitely was very medical. It looked like tape over his mouth and a tube going to him. I am guessing a breathing tube. I know it was necessary but I didn't like the looks of it.

While we were eating she sent two pictures of her holding him for the first time. He still had a tube going into his nose, but the big thing seemed to be gone. She says he is getting stronger every day.

Her Mother said they are talking about her coming home Monday. She wants to come tomorrow because Dylan is to go back to day care. She takes.him in the mornings before work and his Dad picks him up because he works a lot from home. She is concerned he will wonder why she isn't taking him.

This is none of my business so I am going to stay out of it, but I will tell y'all I am plain mad. She has already told.her Mom that if this one had been a girl she would stop having children, but she now wants a girl. I thought well if something goes wrong and you're not here to raise the two you've already got then what?

The dinner was good, but I over ate. I am not sure how I did because Dylan and I spent much of the time making faces and playing pe-py.