Now that we are finally hooked up to the Internet at home, we are able to start giving everyone updates on Logan's progress and Meghann's health. Logan is settled into his (temporary) home at the NICU in Rainbow Babies and Children's hospital here in Cleveland. He is "critically stable" after having started life on the rather small side. His gestational age when he was born was 24 weeks and 6 days, but he was the size of a 22 weeker due to the HELLP syndrome that Meghann had (more about that later). So he came into the world weighing a whole 15 ounces (or 430 grams). He was 10 and 1/4 inches long, and he is a feisty one. The nurses at the NICU just love him and have said that he is the smallest baby they have ever had there. He's already leaving his legacy... He seems to have more of his dad's personality because he fights with the nurses all day long, but he is also very active and stubborn like his mom (who won't sit still even though she just had major surgery). He is a beautiful little boy - perfectly formed just very very tiny. Mom and Dad are in love, and Logan already has them right where he wants them - wrapped around his tiny finger. As far as his progress up to this point, he is about 20 grams away from his birth weight. After birth, he dropped to about 12.5 ounces (or 360 grams) which was pretty scary. Right now, his kidneys are not working as well as we would like, so he is on dopamine to get him peeing more. We never thought we would be so happy to have our baby pee, but we actually cried when he did! He also has a hole in his heart which is one of our biggest concerns right now. All babies have the same hole, but it closes when they take their first breath. Because of his size, it is not going to close on its own, so it looks like they will most likely have to operate at some point in the near future. Our other major concern right now is that Logan needs to get his IV line out of his belly and have a pick line put in. They attempted to put it in yesterday, but because his veins are so tiny, they weren't able to get it in. We are praying they will be able to get it in tomorrow because if not, it would require a surgical procedure and the line would be in his chest. So please pray that the pick line goes in and we have one less thing to worry about (for the day anyway). He did open his left eye on Saturday, so that was a big step. His right is still closed, but he's trying to open it! He is on a venthilator still and was only off of it for about 28 hours right after he was born. Right now, the vent is giving him about 4o breaths per minute which is a little high, but his oxygenation is good and his other vent settings are relatively low. He is not eating yet, but hopefully by Monday they will be able to start feeding him a little. For now, we really live our lives one 12 hour shift (that's when his nurses change) at a time, call and bother the nurses a lot, and say lots of prayers.
As for Meghann, she has been through a lot but is pretty stable. Her blood pressure was still high when she came home, but she is on medication and will have it checked tomorrow. Meghann had what is called HELLP syndrome which is the most severe form of preeclampsia. Pretty much, her blood pressure skyrocketed which put her at risk for seizures. At the same time, her liver enzymes were dangerously high and her platelet count was dangerously low. Meghann did her best to hold on for as long as she could, but to save her life, Logan had to be taken last Saturday night. By the time the decision was made to deliver him, Meghann was at the point where her red blood cells were breaking down and there was a possibility that her blood would not clot during the c-section. The c-section ended up going well, and both Meghann and Logan made it out which we are so grateful for. Meghann is recovering at home for the next few weeks, and is being as stubborn as ever. Although she can't drive for awhile, she spends as much time as she can at the hospital with little Logan. She is trying to pump so Logan can have breastmilk when they are able to feed him. It is taking awhile for the milk to come in partially because of Logan being so early and partially because of the toll the HELLP put on her system. But she's trying her hardest and isn't giving up!
We want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for the support and love we have received. We didn't realize just how much people cared about us until all of this happened. Everyone has been amazing. We could not ask for better family or friends. All we ask is that you continue to pray for little Logan during the next few months. It is going to be a long hard road and your love and prayers mean more than we could ever tell you. Thank you again.
Love,
Meghann, Lance and Logan