10.29.10 Update

Asher is doing really good! Baruch HaShem!! He had his first pediatrician appointment last week and they said he looks like a perfectly healthy baby. Next week we will be taking him back to the NICU for a follow up heart echo (ultrasound) to evaluate the progress. Also next week, he has been ordered to go to Riverside for a hip ultrasound, this is because during his stay in the NICU a nurse noticed a clicking sound in his hip and thought it should be looked at.......I haven't heard any clicking or anything since he has been home, but we will have the check up done to be safe. Asher meet two of his great grandparents (Lyle's moms side) earlier this week. I will have pictures to add a little later.....Thank you for checking up on the progress. We love you all!! G-d Continue To Bless You!!

10.20.10 (Day 13) Part2

After the results of all the tests were reviewed..............they processed the discharge papers, and we headed home!! Praise G-d!! We are so excited to finally bring this little Asher home. The doctor had us schedule for a friday appointment with a pediatrician, and for a next week appointment with the cardiologist. They want to check him after a week to make sure the PPHN is no longer an issue. Please continue to pray that these next two appointments reveil a complete recovery, and a perfectly healthy little boy! Thank you all again for your prayers, love, and compassion. I will keep you updated with praise reports and prayer needs as I am able.

10.20.10 (Day 13)

We are waiting for the doctor to read his report of the 12hr test.......while we wait he is now doing a car seat safety test, which checks for any apnea while being in an upright position..........we are very excited!!! I will update as I am able with the results. Thank you all again for your continued prayers and support!

10.19.10 (Day 12)

Staying at the hospital with Asher wasn’t easy, all the noise and traffic in and out of the unit, made it almost impossible to actually get any rest, but it was worth it. He did great, his sleeping hours are opposite of ours, but I’m told that’s what babies do. (Sleep during the day, and awake all night) He is now officially off all medications and fluids!! They placed Asher on the 12hour test around 11:00am, where they will chart all his vitals and review them when the test is complete. Pending the results tomorrow could be the day!! (around 1pm at the earliest) He got his first real bath around 6pm, which he wasn’t too thrilled about. Momma Jeana watched him through the night were she got to feed for the first time. He really looks ready to be home!!

10.18.10 (Day 11)

Around 12p, Asher was completely taken off the IV fluids, and moved into a "crib" where he now is almost completely independent from all medicine and monitors. After two more doses of antibiotics he will then be placed under 12hour close monitoring and then given a few final tests before he is released. Tonight, Tristina and I will be staying the night at the hospital in a private room with Asher by our side!! We are very excited and thankful for the amazing progression over these last 24 hours. G-d has continued to bless us each and every moment. Please continue to pray for Asher’s overall health and that these tests will reveal a full recovery. We will keep you posted with the good news.

10.17.10 (Day 10)

Late evening, they moved his lines from his belly button to his arm, removed the nasal tube, and lowered his IV fluid dose. He is now breathing without the aid of any equipment! His respiratory rate is a little high, but expected to be since he has had help breathing since birth. This high rate is expected to get better as he learns how to control his lungs. His infection numbers are extremely low, and they anticipate stopping the antibiotic tomorrow. They will continue to lower his IV dose, and increase his food allowance, in hopes of having him off everything by late tomorrow!! If this happens, he will then be taken out of the incubator and placed in a crib for a 12 hour period of close watch!! Lyle finally got to hold him and feed him; it was a very special moment. He is looking so good, a completely different baby than from a week ago. Praise G-d for all He has done, all the glory belongs to Him!!

10.16.10 (Day 9)

Tristina headed to the hospital early morning to releive Momma Jeana from the late/early shift. Asher did well through the night, holding the numbers exactly where they wanted them. The doctors decided to let Tristina hold him to feed him, even though they hadn't relocated the line from the belly button to the arm. This really made Tristina's day extra special!! Finally she could hold her baby boy. The line in his belly buttom probably won't get moved until late tonight or early tomorrow morning. They also, plan on getting him off the nasal tube around the same time they move the line to his arm. His vitals are now being checked every 3 hours instead of every 20 minutes......due to his steady monitor readings. We ask you to pray that the doses of cortisone will have done its job and he won't have to go back on blood pressure medicin when the doses are done. Also, please continue to pray that his PPHN numbers will continue to drop, and that his breathing will pick up on his own and he can be relieved of the tube in his nose. Far as the infection, they won't do anymore tests till Monday or Tuesday. Another heart/lung echo has yet to be ordered, but I expect them to do one sometime next week. Thank you again for your faithful prayers. We love you all!!

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10.15.10 (Day 8)

Until around 12:00pm, the day had been much like yesterday evening. Asher remained to hold steady with all the vital numbers and medicine dosages. At 12:00pm the doctor on staff for the next 24 hours, ordered to increase the oxygen slightly, to see if this would help relax the PPHN. Also, the doctor ordered another echo test, which has been completed, but we won’t get the results till later tonight. They are going to try and see if they can wean him on the IV fluids and blood pressure medicine tonight, so they can remove the line they have placed in his belly button, and place it on his arm. After this line is removed and replaced, we will be able to hold him for the first time!! His food amounts have been ordered to be increased every 12 hours! (which is awesome, because he really is a hungry little boy). When I returned for the night shift around 8p, they had already taken him off the final blood pressure medicine and ordered four doses of cortisone, after the echo test results had come in with another significant decrease!! (still higher than it should be, but he is headed in the right direction) They lowered his oxygen input back to room air, and set it at a very low pressure flow, just to help the respiratory system to relax. He made the transition of changes smoothly. At 9:06p he began his 8th day in this world. I got to spend a few hours with him alone reading through the Erev Shabbat prayers, and then a some Psalms, it was amazing!! He just looked at me peacefully and intently as I read to him.

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10.14.10 (Day 7)

Through the night his blood pressure remained steady, so they decreased his dose of medicine further, but after a few hours he didn’t hold the numbers they were looking for, and put the dose back to where it was. (Still at a low dose, just had to stop the weaning, till his body catches up) Another echo test was done, and the results were that the pressure had increased again, but very minimally (still at a moderate level). They then decided to stop the blood pressure medicine that was helping to dilate the vessels in his heart/lungs. His oxygen levels in the blood with the setting at room air are perfect! It doesn’t make since to anyone in there that his oxygen levels could be so good with moderate a PPHN reading, but we know that G-d is the one who is in control and it doesn’t have to make sense. Later that day, Asher got to try and eat from a bottle!! (The first food taken orally) He didn’t really know what to do at first. His eyebrows scrunched together and he looked confused. The nurse reassured us that this was normal and it usually takes 3-6 times before babies learn how to suck, breathe, and swallow at the same time. He got most of it down, but it took some time. On his second try, he looked like a pro! He downed that bottle! Even though it was a very little amount, it took a fraction of the time it took before. That moment he was indescribable, to see him actually eat something was truly amazing! Thank you G-d for the extra joy and comfort you have given us to see such leaps and bounds foward!!

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10.13.10 (Day 6)

Asher’s body blood pressure stayed steady through the night, and blood pressure medicine was ordered to be reduced. Two different monitors were removed. The nurses gave him a quick sponge bath, while still in the incubator. Lipids were added, I believe for his weight, but can’t remember. Oxygen levels were reduced to room air with a minimal amount of pressure on the high flow (nose tubes). He really looks good!! Thank G-d for the continual progression forward!!

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10.12.10 (Day 5)

Early morning, Asher, wakes up 2 hours early from sedation and begins pulling out the ventilator tubes!! Nurses try to keep his hand off the tubes while they wait for the order to extubate (remove vent tubes), they made the comment that Asher has already made the order, and they began to remove the tubes. He was then put on a high flow (nose tube) with the oxygen set at a very minimal setting. He made the adjustment better than expected. Another echo test (heart/lung pressure) was done and the results were awesome, he had gone from an extremely high pressure reading to a moderate one. Praise G-d!! After a few hours his body blood pressure dropped and they had to increase the medicine. His infection levels were tested and came in lower than the day before! The T-Billi numbers were extremely low, so they stopped the phototherapy treatment!

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10.11.10 (Day 4)

Tristina was released from the hospital. Being released from the labor and delivery without your baby was a very challenging test of strength and faith. You get in the truck where the car seat is waiting for him and you go home to a perfectly set up nursery empty handed. It really was a test of faith, and to be able to see through what is seen in the physical to the spiritual where there is peace.

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10.10.10 (Day 3)

Asher did well through the night, his vital numbers held steady. Test result for the infection came in positive, so they added a second antibiotic. Pressure in heart/lungs increases to extremely high levels. Body blood pressure began to drop around mid-day, blood pressure medicine was increased. He held steady for the next several hours. They were now able to begin slow weaning of the oxygen levels on the ventilator. T-Bili (Jaundice) levels lowered, phototherapy continued for treatment.

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10.9.10 (Day 2)

Tristina was moved to a private recovery room where friends and family prayed and gave much needed emotional support. Asher continued to be under 24 hour one on one care, due to the severity of his condition. The PPHN remained unstable and he was kept on the ventilator with 100% oxygen due to low saturation levels. Test showed that the infection in the lungs was getting worse. He continued on the antibiotic that was given at admission, pending further tests. He was given a second blood pressure medicine to help elevate the pressure in his body and to dilate the vessels in an attempt to lower the pressure in the heart/lungs. Also, a second sedation medicine was added due to his ability to resist the first one alone. Phototherapy was started to treat rising levels of T-Bili (Jaundice).


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10.8.10 (Day 1)

On 10/8/10 Tristina went into active labor at 5:30am. Labor continued to progress for the next several hours. Around 3:00pm, Tristina’s body temp began to elevate, and Asher’s heart rate started to decelerate after each contraction. After a couple hours of close monitoring, the nurses took Tristina off the IV fluids and gave her oxygen and antibiotics for a temperature of 102 degrees to get as much oxygen to Asher as possible. At 8:45pm NICU nurses entered the room to prepare for his arrival. (At that time we weren't aware that they were NICU nurses or that there were any complications) Asher was born at 9:06pm. He was then rushed to the NICU with Lyle following behind. Asher was hooked to a ventilator, various monitors, antibiotics, blood pressure medicine, and sedated within 20 mins. By 9:45pm Asher had been diagnosed with PPHN and possible infections in the lungs. Our picture of how this day was going to be, was completely lost, but a new picture is in sight, due to the faithfulness of our G-d.

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Guestbook! Please Sign

This blog was created for many reasons, one of which is to reach out to those who have been praying for Asher & the family, to keep you informed as often as we can with the progression of his condition to help enable the prayers to be as specific and direct as possible. Another reason was to unify everyone who the L-RD has called to pray for Asher. With this unification, G-d will continue to reveal his glory, power, and faithfulness to those who sincerely believe that with G-d all things are possible and this revelation is being witnessed here in the NICU to the staff and frequent visitors. We are witnessing a miracle in action due to supernatural faith of all the saints who are in intercession. Also, I hope that through this blog, Tristina, the family, and I will be able to pray for you and somehow show our appreciation for all your incredible faithfulness. Please, all who visit this blog reply to this post “Guest Book” and leave your name, location, how you know about Asher and our family, and comment if desired. (When Asher gets older I want to show him this blog as a testimony of how whenever there is a need, the body of Messiah comes together from all over the world to send up petitions to G-d to meet whatever the need may be.) We don’t know how to express how grateful we are for all of you who have kept us in prayer.  It has maintained our strength and his progress. G-D Bless you and Keep You All!!

To G-D be all the glory and praise!!

Baby Asher is BORN!!

BABY ASHER

Date: October 8th, 2010

Time: 9:06 PM

Weight: 6 lbs 10 oz

Length: 18.5 in