Update on Baby Joshua About This Page:

[vsonnier]

First off, thanks so much for all of the pixie dust you guys have been sending our way. I have never felt so much much love in my entire life. I've been trying to keep Denise updated on how everything is going with Josh so she could keep y'all in the know.

Briefly, here is what happened: We were told Josh was perfectly fine until Thursday morning when the pediatrition called my room and told me that she had reason to believe Joshua had some kind of viral or bacterial infection that may or may not have spread to his spinal fluid so they needed to do an immediate spinal tap. We were told we would have to wait at least 5 days for those results to come back but that otherwise everything was fine. Later that night we were putting him in his cradle to take him back to the nursery and he started turning blue so Todd just grabbed him and ran him down there. By the time they got him hooked up to the monitors everything was fine so they weren't really sure what happened. Anyway, the dr. decided to keep him in the nursery on the monitor but we were still allowed to go down and feed and hold him whenever we wanted.

Then Saturday right before I was suppose to be discharged, the dr. called and said he was being moved to the NICU because his oxygen saturation levels kept dropping and they couldn't figure out why. I was absolutely devestated, but now I am so greatful. The NICU dr. is absolutely beyond amazing. Sunday night we actually got a good nights rest because we are finally able to relax knowing he is being taken care of by the absolute very best dr. in the entire world (you can tell I love this guy right!) He decided to completely cut off all feeding for the time being so he can locate the exact source of the problem. Basically Joshua's lungs just haven't made the connection with his brain yet so sometimes his chest will pump just like he is breathing but he forgets to actually expand his lungs. That, combined with the fact that he had a whole lot of fluid that went unnoticed in the newborn nursery is just making the transition into the real world a little hard on him. The dr. said as soon as he is able to bring his 02 hood down to 25% he can move him to a nasal canula (sp?) and we can start holding him again. This morning he brought him down to 29% so hopefully we are starting to make some real progress. It is just incredibly painful to be able to look at him and touch him but not actually pick him up and hold him next to me. I think Todd is having a rougher go than me with all of this. He is beyond worried and barely sleeping.

So anyway, if y'all could keep the pixie dust coming our way we would love it. I know everything will be fine in the long run, but it is so hard to deal with this when just a few days ago I expected to be coming home with a perfectly healthy baby. We are both refusing to go home without Joshua, so in the meantime we are staying at a hotel right next to the hospital so we can be close if anything changes. At any rate, I will try my hardest to keep y'all updated as much as I can. In the meantime, here are a few pics of Joshua right after he was born:

[luv2sail]

He looks beautiful! I will be sure to keep Josh in my prayers and here's some pixie dust as well!

[Tinkerbelly]

Oh he's beautiful!!! It brings tears to my eyes! You guys keep your heads up and bring that baby home soon! And I will say that you are in my prayers!

[PrincessJ9]

Lots of on it's way! Hang in there...not being able to hold him must be so hard but I can promise you that Joshua knows you are there with him and feels how much you love him

[Luvsun]

OH Val - My prayers and thoughts are certainly with you now and they will continue until you get that sweet little baby home with you. I do know what you are going through. I won't go into detail - but our second son (now 21 years old!) had difficulty too - once he arrived! The short story is that he was absolutely perfect in every way when born, even got an apgar score of 10! But about an hour after birth he basically could not breath. At that time he was diagnosed with hylane membrane disease. They now call it fetal distress syndrome. Basically his lungs were not able to stay inflated due to the lack of surfactant - which his body had not produced and was not producing. There was no such thing as an artificial surfactant - so we played the wait and pray game. Zachary is 21 today and healthy, happy and an amazing young man. But he is here because he is supposed to be here, through the grace of God. Our pediatrian told us that by every medical standpoint - Zach is a medical miracle! And I know that your little Joshua will be just fine! Hold on to your faith, and know that he is in the best of care! I know how difficult it is not to be able to hold him! I cried many, many tears - but if not holding him means helping him get well - then just talk to him and touch him as much as possible - he will know that Mom and Dad are near! He will be home before you know it! And when you look back on all of this - when he is 21 years old.... you will find it hard to believe that he ever had such a difficult start in life! Take care of yourselves and know that we are all thinking of you! Prayers and pixie dust are on the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DawnDenise]

Joshua is so beautiful Val!!!! My heart goes out to your family. Sending more blessed pixies your way.

[Belle*]

Val he is just beautiful!! He is going to do great - I can tell. for your entire family and a to the staff at the hospital. They sound top-notch!

[whoSEZ]

With all this from his PP aunties and uncles, Joshua will be home in no time! Tons of dust coming for you all -- take care of yourselves, and let us know if you need anything at all.

[SHEANA1226]

Val, he is beautiful!!! I hope beby Joshua is ok!

[Sunrayherosgirl]

Val,
I'm sorry you guys are going through so much. It does sound like he is getting excellent care though and he's getting better...here's pixies for you and Toddy and baby Joshua!!!! Let me know if you need anything!!!

[chezp]

Josh is so beautiful - congratulations to both of you.



I'll be keeping you all in my thoughts - be sure to update us with Josh's progress.

[Jennifer2003]

He's beautiful, Val. More pixies are on the way for you all! I hope he can come home real soon!

Jennifer

[Mitzi&Kevin]

Lots of pixies for baby Joshua....He is adorable and Todd looks absolutely over the moon. Thanks for keeping us updated. Glad Josh has such a great doctor looking out for him.

Mitzi

[my2girls]

He is just beautiful!!!!

[DreaminDizney1002]

Thank you so much for the update and the photos of baby Joshua....he is absolutely precious! Tons more pixies on their way to you guys and to baby Joshua!