Day 5

Mason continues to make progress and is kicking butt! They took him off his CPAP today! He still has a tube in his nose that is giving him oxygen, but he'll slowly be weaned off of that, too. They also upped his feedings to 20 ml. We're hoping within the next day or two they'll let me start feeding him. He's still receiving his feedings through a tube in his nose. His jaundice is under control, so they took the light away this afternoon. So, a lot of progress was made today!

We both got to hold him this afternoon and I got to do kangaroo care again! I can't wait until some more wires are gone so it'll be easier to hold him whenever we want.

The nurse tonight said that we can bring clothes in for him soon so we can regulate his temperature. Jeffrey is sharing some of his clothes with Mason, so we have a couple clean outfits up here! (Thanks for washing them, Jenny!)

Richard and I are doing good. We stayed in is room most of the day today, so we'll probably venture around the hospital tomorrow and get a good walk in.

All of your prayers are working, so keep it up! =) We're looking forward to bringing our little guy home soon!



Day 4

Mason had another good day today! His breathing is getting better so the Doctor thinks they can take the CPAP off tomorrow! They also increased his feedings to 15 ml every 3 hours. He's been under the light all day for his jaundice. His skin is looking better, so hopefully they can take that off tomorrow. We don't get to see his beautiful brown eyes very often when he has his eye mask on, so it'll be nice getting rid of that. I was able to do kangaroo care (skin to skin contact) with him for an hour today.

We figured out how to Skype last night with Paula, so we were able to see Richard's mom's side of the family. His Grandpa Arndt is in hospice, so Richard was able to see him. We Skyed with Jess and DJ this morning before school, then again after school with Jess, DJ, Lily and Levi! They got to see Mason for the first time!

Grandma and Grandpa Kral came up to visit and eat supper with us this afternoon!

Thank you again for all of your kind words and prayers! Also, please keep Richard's Grandpa in your prayers.



Day 3

Mason had a good day! His breathing slowed down the last couple of hours, so we were excited about that! An average baby breathes 40-60 beats per minute and Mason was breathing 100-115. Now he's averaging 80.

They increased his feedings to 10 ml and he's tolerating that well. We've been able to give him oral care and put some of the milk in his mouth or on his nuk and he really likes that. They put him under a light for jaundice this afternoon. He'll be under that for a couple days.

We were able to hold him for a little bit before he went under the light. Now it'll be a little while since they want to keep him under there.

Scott, Jenny, Jeffrey, Joe, and Amanda came up to visit and took us out for lunch today. It was the first time we've left the hospital since we've gotten here, so it was nice to get some fresh air and new scenery! I wish they could have seen Mason, but they're only allowing parents and grandparents into the NICU right now. Jeffrey and I talked about what he's all going to teach Mason when he gets bigger. It's a long list! =)

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers!



Children's

Mason is in the NICU at Children's. I can't believe how nice everyone is up here! The nurses are amazing and so helpful.  We were able to get a room at the Ronald McDonald House on the same floor as the NICU. It has been so nice being able to be so close to Mason. Families donate and serve the meals, so we never have to leave! We've also been able to catch up on some sleep.

He's doing well. He has a CPAP hooked up to help him breath and clean out his lungs. The little stinker has a good grip and wants to pull it out, so they had to put mittens on him last night. They started feed him my breastmilk at 11 am yesterday morning through a tube in is nose every two hours. He's tolerating that well, so they're going to try to up his feedings today. I'm trying to pump every 2 hours to get enough for his feedings.

 

Richard and I both got to hold him yesterday! That was my first time, so I was extremely happy. I think that was one of the hardest parts for me... giving birth and having a beautiful baby boy and not being able to hold him.

 

He gets extremely mad when he has a wet diaper. When it's changed, he's instantly happy again =) Daddy can't get that done fast enough! He's been a good diaper changer...I haven't done it yet, but I'm sure I will very soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its a Boy!

 

Mason Richard decided to surprise us and arrive early! He was born on January 31st at 8:29 pm. He was 5 lbs 6 oz and 18 3/4 in long!

 

 

 

 

My water broke at 5 am on Thursday morning. I didn't realize that it was actually my water breaking, so I went to work at 8 am and called into the Winthrop Clinic. They told me to call Labor and Delivery, so I called them and went in to get checked out. At that point in time I was having no contractions, so I still didn't think I was in labor. They confirmed that I was and dilated to 2 cm, so they admitted me at 10 am. Richard left work, packed a hospital bag, and came to the hospital. They started me on Pitocin right away and at 3 pm I received an epidural. At 4 pm I was dilated to a 6 and at 7 pm they told me I could start pushing! Mason was born at 8:29 pm! The whole labor process went really well!

 

They were worried about Mason's lungs, so they took him to the nursery to get checked out. They called in the pediatrician, Dr. Moore, to monitor him. At 12 am they called Dr. Moore to come back in because Mason was having a hard time breathing. He did a procedure and stuck a tube down his throat to put a soap-like substance in his lungs. This procedure did not help, so at 2 am they called Children's to get their opinion. The Dr. at Children's said that he needed to be airlifted up there.

 

At 2 am Richard called both sets of parents to come in so that my parents could stay with me and his parents could drive him to the cities. At 4 am the helicopter arrived and the team started working on him. The helicopter took off at 5 am.

 

It was an emotional rollercoaster, going from the excitement of your baby being born, to seeing your baby being hauled off in a helicopter and having your husband leave to go be with him.

 

I was able to get released at 10:30 am so I could be with Mason and Richard. My parents drove me to the cities.

 

That's the story of the day Mason was born! We love him so much already and can't wait until our family can be home together!

 

 

 

 

 

34 Weeks



32 Weeks