31 December 2008

2210GRMS and growing, Gracyn is now consuming 61ml of EBM every four hours and has settled into the routine at Hutt Hospital SCBU well.Angela has to breast feed her twice a day now, Gracyn seems to be taking to this very well.This exhausts Angela, and makes her fall behind in her housework, but its all part of the process that will get our Gracyn home.It is a lot easier now that we are closer to her being only 5 mins away is great. I went up for a visit last nite nad spent a good 2 hrs having a cuddle and feeding her.She was a wake for part of the time and has obviously got use to Angela, boobie as she was looking for it as we cuddled.I explained to her even though i do have boobies they are just not the same as mummies so you will have to be tube fed this time.
My older brother Alan lives in Vancouver,Canada he sent Gracyn a lovley teddy bear all the way from a town called Hope, a few hours drive from his home town . THis was awsome and take place in the front of Gracyn,s Teddy bear collection.Tegan also got some cool cars and keyrings Thanks for this Alan its Appreciated.
So Have a great New Years Eve everyone and All the best for 2009, Thanks again to you all for your support, Roll on 2009 and bringing my Gracyn home.
Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

27 December 2008

Hi everyone i hope you all had a great Xmas day with your friends and family and santa was good to you all.
We had a awsome day with a early start seeing what santa had dopped off for Me oh!! i mean Tegan&Gracyn. i already know what i was getting the standard pair of socks hehehe!.Then it was off to the hospital for some Xmas Cuddles for our wee Gracyn.She was all dressed up in her Xmas outfit by the time we arrived and looked soo cute.its hard to leave her on this special day but next year will be different and more special.Then it was off to the Heissy,s house for some serious present opening and eating.Its a kid thing and they had a ball,Tegan &Mathew handed out the presents this year and done a great job.Gracyn got spoilt rotten and was not forgotten with lost of goodies for her. My brother Craig put together a DVD of Gracyn so far to a great sound track, this just blew me away i cried like a baby but they were tears of joy and happyness, it was just like she was there. I was not the only one to have a cry as several others shed a few tears of joy as well. Gracyn got some special visits on Xmas day as just about everyone went into see her at some stage during the day. So a great day was had by all, Thankyou to The Heissy,s for there hospitality is was awsome.
i have posted some new photos of our xmas day cuddles also scroll down and there is some more of a spoilt wee Gracyn getting some cuddle,s from some cool people.
Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

24 December 2008

Gracyn is 2090 grms this morning and seems to have settled into her new room at the Hutt Hospital well. She is still on low flow and tollerating 50ml of ebm and the ocassional session on Angela,s boobie.
The Reid Clan wishes everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR, and all the best for 2009. Thankyou all for the support,the friendship and offers of help over the past 10 weeks we apreciate every bit. Roll on 2009 and getting our wee Gracyn home to start a new chapter in our family.
i will post some new photos over the break of Gracyn,s new Room at the Hutt and keep you all updated on her progress.
Take care over the holidays and enjoy.

Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

22 December 2008

Gracyn is now a Hutt Girl again, we have been transfered to the Hutt Hospital SCBU DEPARTMENT (Special care babies unit)This is where it all began just on 10 weeks ago.
She was transfered in her own travel incubator called "Lorraine"(just for you auntie) and arrived at the Hutt at approx 5.30pm this afternoon. All went well and she did,nt seem to be bothered by the move at all.She is still on the low flow system but may resort back to the wgtn c-pap if she gets to tired. This will mean a lot less travel for us and be a great benifit over the xmas period.
We are sad to leave Wellington Neo-Natal unit as we have met so many good people while we have been there. The staff are second to none and only have the best interest of your child at heart and deserve a medal for what they do,The dedication, the support and the honesty has rekindled my faith in the human race. We have bonded with some of the parents while being in the unit making our stay somewhat more pleasent and wish them all the very best for the future, a very Merry Xmas and may your children grow up to be as great as you are.We will make sure that we keep in contact with our fellow exroommates from the NICU so my people will talk to your people.(Ang has all you details thats what i mean.)
So a good and sad day, sad to leave Wellington but Happy to be in the Hutt and one step closer to getting our wee girl Gracyn Home.
More tomorrow.

Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

21 December

I mite have to have a sicky tomorrow 2010grms today as i am on my first Appletons Yee Haaaa!!!! What a wee giant she has become.We all went in for a visit and there was one very excited little man in the car on the way in as it was his turn for a cuddle.Tegan just could,nt wait to get there. i have posted some photos of todays visit. All is going well and Gracyn is still on room air with very little assistance at all.
Angela has been trying to breast feed her, so far so good with a small amount of time on the breast everyday this can only improve. This is making Angela very tired so the chances are that Gracyn mite go to Formula sooner than we expected.Also all going well we will be in the Hutt Hospital by Tuesday. i,m off for a re fill so i,ll fill you all in tomorrow.

Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

17 December 2008

1912 grms today so it looks like the big 2kg milestone will come quicker than i expected and before Xmas.So please forgive me if i do not post anything for a few days as i am probably endulging in some Appeltons Rum and too drunk to type.
The way i type you probably think i,m drunk anyway. Gracyn will not be moved out to the hutt before Monday as they have to perform her final eye test, and wait for a bed to become available. What a hectic time to move but we will see what happens.
We have just got back from a visit to nite, we all went in and took some of Angela,s Xmas baking for the awsome staff that have been nursing Gracyn over the past 9 weeks. Yep 9 weeks its hard to believe.She is on room air that means no Oxygen at all so she is going at it by herself and doing well, so another step forward.
Horsey and Bobby made the trip into town today and Horsey got a bit of a bonus Her first Cuddle. What a xmas pressie.i have posted a photo.

more later (hic hic hic burp )

Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

15th December 2008

"10 more sleeps to go until the big fat fella comes down your chiminey and drinks your beer" hope u have all been good. Gracyn has, now weighing in at 1806grm. She also had her inoculation injections in the weekend with no adverse reactions so far.She is still tollerating 36ml of Ebm over a half hour period.i have posted some new photos of my two girls, THE PINK LADIES!! Its best i don,t do the washing any more, you can imagine the colour these pink outfits would come out after a session in the washing machine with my work gear.
We both had some good long cuddles in the weekend as did Nana and Auntie Ginny did last week. Gracyn certainly knows who you are these days as she wakes for a while when she heres your voice.She is so settled during her cuddles and hardly ever sets off the machines at all.
We are getting closer to moving to the Hutt Hospital now that she is settled on the Wellington c-Pap system, maybe by the end of this week. We will just have to wait and see what happens.

Steve, Ang, Tegan,Gracyn

11 December 2008

Well not much to tell you all today only that Gracyn is still on the Wgtn c-pap and on 26% oxygen.She is managing well so this is a great step forward. Ang, Nana, Auntie Ginny and Tegs went in for a visit today and of cource she done a big JOBBIE FOR MUM.HAHAHA!! A visit yesturday from Horsey and Bobby, i,ll try and pop in tomorrow at some stage for a quik visit, then again in the weekend. Next week Gracyn gets her first lot of injections, it will be interesting to see how she copes with this. We are third on the list to get transfered to the Hutt Hospital so you never know Gracyn mite be there before Xmas. 1726 grams today.
more later

Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

9 December 2008

I have just got got back from a visit with Gracyn who is now on the Wellington c-pap again.Which is a good step forward.The nurses will keep an eye on her over nite to make sure she copes with this system. 1710GRM and it looks like she mite hit the big 2kg mark by xmas day if not sooner.Bring on the "APPELTONS RUM"

Lots of cuddles for Angela today and apparently lots of POOOZ Too.I,m glad Gracyn is keeping her side of the bargin and only doing the big jobbies for mummy, long may it last. No sign of he coming out to the Hutt Hospital as yet but thats ok with us. Gracyn has been suffering from a bit of reflux causing her to set the machines off in a BING BONG DESTAT FRENZY, so they have added some thickener and put her bed on a downwards angle to help.This seems to have worked and she is much more comfortable.
I hav,nt seen her hair for a while and it has sure grown, a little blondie just like Angela and i were when we were little.

more soon
Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

8 December 2008

Angela and i had huge cuddles on Sunday and spent a good few hours in at the Hospital with Gracyn.She is doing so well and is getting to know who we are as her mood changes when she hears our voices. She gets really settled when she is having her cuddles with no alarms and all her stats staying stable. She is tolerating her food and working it like a factory,
"in one end and out the other."
Gracyn had her follow up eye check today and the doctors were happy with her progress in this area.So no trouble with her eyes, another step forward for wee Gracyn. She is a strong wee thing as she can lift her head off your chest with ease ,even with the c-pap base ball cap on, thats my girl.

till tomorrw

Steve,Ange Tegan,Gracyn

6 December 2008

What a great day in Wellington probably one of the best we have had for a while, its hard to spend time inside the Hospital when the weather is so good outside. We made the journey into the hospital to catch up with Gracyn. She was behaving herslf and rather boring, not even a POOO for Ange to change, but she is 1667grsm and now on 36ml of EBM over a 45min period and seems to be managing this with very little de-stats.
Tegan went to a xmas party at Auntie Heather,s work, bouncy castle, huge slide,ride on jeeps were all suppiled, he had a ball.Santa came and handed out prezzies to all the kids, ALL 65 of them poor Teggy was second to last but waited patiently for his turn to collect his present.
Another beautiful day today please, we wll head into the hospital this afternoon as soon as i,ve knocked a couple of jobs off my list, will it ever end??!!

Steve Ange, Tegan,Gracyn

3 December 20008

If she keeps on putting on the weight the way she is i,ll have to join her up with weight watchers!! 1540GRMS Today still on mainline c-pap. They have increased her feeding to 35ml every three hours and so far so good.The pressure is definatly on Ange now to produce the good stuff as i,m sure Gracyn will chew through the frozen EBM (BOOBI JUICE)that we have stored in no time.
Angela went in today to do a infants CPR cource which is a must do in this situation that we are in, i,m going to do one as soon as i get the chance possibly a Saturday morning. Horsey and Bobby traveled down from Paraparaumu to visit and immediatly noticed the differance in Gracyn as they have not seen her for at least 10days.
By now you must be wondering why my Mum(Margo) is refered to as Horsey, it goes like this.When Tegan was little she used to sing a song to him and it goes like this.

HORSEY HORSEY DON,T YOU STOP.
TAKE ME TO THE LOCAL SHOP
THE WHIP GOES CRACK AND THE WHEELS GO ROUND
GIDDY UP WE,RE HOMEWARD BOUND.
I know there is a few more verses, but Tegan really liked this song when he was little and Margo (Mum,Horsey) was the only one to sing it to him.She sung it to him all the time so Tegan thought that this would be a good nickname for Margo as Nana has already been taken. So "Horsey" has stuck even my little neice Amber calls her Horsey, "Bobby" is "Bobby" and they both like it that way i can say that this will be the same for Gracyn.Thankyou Horsey& Bobby, Nana&Grandad for being the best Grandparents out there.Your support is great.
Ange got a cuddle today for a few hours so that was good, i,ll go in tomorrow nite after work to do her cares and change the smallest nappy in the land.

Steve Ange Tegan Gracyn

2nd December 2008

1530grms Today, still on mainline c-pap and tolerating 21mls of ebm. i have just been in for a wee cuddle with Gracyn this evening and got a little suprise as she has Graduated from ROOM B intensive care unit to room 6 a step closer to the way out. It is gives you a funny feeling visiting her in a new enviroment with new neighbours and nurses arround. This is another first and a big step down that road to home.
Auntie Chris went home to Dunedin yesturday, poor Tegan was heart broke and did,nt want her to leave sobbing at the airport as she went through security. That was short lived ,Sorry Chris but Teg,s had apparently forgotten all about your departure after a chuba chub and a couple of turns up and down the escalator.We all know he had a great time with you and his biggest news at school was that he kicked his Auntie,S but at 10pin bowling.(he,s pretty good at 10 pin for a 5 year old).

Ange is heading in tomorrow for a visit and a cuddle, so s horsey&bobby and no doubt Gracyn would have put on more weight. i have saved the bottle of Appletons Rum until the 2kg mark only because of Angela being unwell at the time of reaching 1kg, how inconsiderate of her i say!!

till tomorrow
Steve, Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

30 november 2008

Gracyn is at 1450gram today but is now munching her way through 21ml of EBM.She is still in her open cot but had to go back on the main line c-pap today as the nurses just think she needs that little bit extra help.Thats fine with us as she did the same coming off the respirator system to the c-pap a few weeks ago.She will make up her mind soon. She had a visit from Nana,Grandad,Auntie Chris, Tegan, ME,Mathew today, so she was a popular little girl today.
Its funny seeing her in clothes as we are so use to seeing her in just a nappie she actually looks somewhat nomal, just a smaller version of what we are all use to.Another visit from Auntie Chris tomorrow before she heads home to Dunedin, Thanks Chris for all your help and support while you have been here.I sure know Tegan has enjoyed your company.
All going well Gracyn should be in the Hutt Hospital before Christmas but she has to be on the Wellington C-pap for at least a week before that happens, again that will be up to her and when the nurses and Doctors and we are comfortable that she is up to being moved. We are in no rush here as she is getting the best of care in Wellington.
more tomorrow

Steve Ange Tegan Gracyn

29th November 2008

It,s been a big day for all of us.Firstly Gracyn Has graduated from the nudist camp and is now wearing some cloths, she is also 1415grams,wearing big girl nappies, back on wellington c-pap and out of the enclosed incubator and on a thermo bed.This is a heated bed and is open,it,s like the incubater but with out the top on.Making handleing her a lot easier.
Tegan has also had a massive day spending it with Auntie Chris taking in the Xmas Parade, Mathews Cricket and having a ball of a time.
It is also Nana and Grandads 45 wedding aniversary and their 3 daughters Chris,Ginny and Angela organized a supprise party/ bbq at Ginnys place.Nana and Grandad had no idea they just kept wondering why all their close friends kept turning up.So a good suprise for them and an awsome party.
We will go and visit Gracyn again tomorrow and give her her second bath and hopefully get a cuddle.
i have posted some photos of Gracyn in her first outfit another milstone and a good one at that.
till tomorrow.

Steve Ange Tegan Gracyn

26 November 2008

I have just got back from doing Gracyn,s cares this evening and thought i better log a blog before all our loyal followers wonder whats going on.Some of our out of town friends have rung me up at work worried that i have,nt made an entry and asked if every thing was ok. It,s great to here that people do care.
Gracyn is doing fine still on the main line c-pap and back up to 18 ml of EBM over a 3/4 of an hour period. She is definatly filling out and looks more and more chubbier every day.No poopie stinkers for me today, she mite be saving them for Auntie Chris tomorrow. You sure notice the differance when you have,nt been in for a few days. They done a eye check on Gracyn today to make sure everything was working and developed in the eyes.With this they Inject a fluid into the eye so that they can trace whats happening, all was fine and i,m glad i was,nt there for that test. Gracyn has a audible heart murmur coming from her PDA valve.This is a valve that is suppose to close completly upon the babies first breath, Gracyn,s one has,nt but the doctors are not worried as it may close on it own, normal signs of a problem is that the child does,nt grow and has regular d-stats or a irregular heat beat.As we can see from her growth she has shown no signs appart from a murmer that this is bothering her.
Angela has been fitting out Gracyn,s room and got it all GIRLIEFIED, yep , pink and yellow bits everwhere and not a Ford poster or model car in sight. i must admit it does look good and it will definatly be ready for our wee girl to come home to.
All the Aunties are making a visit tomorrow so lucky Gracyn is going to be spoilt.

OHH !!! 1345GRMS TODAY

Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

24 November 2008

1315grams today and climbing. Whe have had a small set back with Gracyn going back on the mainline c-pap due to the ammount of de-stats she was having after feeding.Because she has no problem putting on the weight and growing they have reduced her food intake to 17ml. The doctors think that the food (EBM) is sitting in her tummy and causing pressure on her digaphram makeing her de-stat immediatly after food. The more d-stats she has the weaker she gets so a little bit of give and take and trial and error until she ready. They will try again next week with the wellington c-pap and see how she goes.
As we know we will have these up,s and down,s we just have to ride the rollercoaster until we get to the end.
Yesterday we went to the Short Straw Cafe for a lunch with some good friends of ours, a great place to take the kids as it is completly child friendly.When we got there i bumped into a friend of mine Daniel who was celebrating his son Taylor.s 2nd birthday. I told him about our wee Gracyn and the situation we were in, Daniel then told me that Taylor was a premature baby born a 23 weeks and 550grms and also 4 of the other chldren at the party were also premature babies. It,s funny how the circle of life goes, you buy a red car then all of a sudden every one has got a red car, you have a prem baby then every one has had one. It seems that everyone we bump into has had a prem baby or knows about one. But thats good as it justs shows us there is light at the end of he tunnel and it,s geting brighter by the day.
Angela had a good cuddle today and done her cares, she enjoys this and so do i, eventhough Gracyn is ignoring her father,s requests and saving all the big Jobbies for me.
more tomorrow

Steve, Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

23 November

1245grams today and getting bigger.We had a great day today and Gracyn had her first bath. Another milstone,Angela thought nurse Lias was going to do the job but nope Ange was thrown in the deep end and Gracyn had her first bath,she was soo good and did,nt make a sound, she seem to enjoy the whole procedure and awake throughout..This ia a quicky bath because any long periods of handling just exhausts the wee girl. i managed to juggle the video camera and the digital camera to get some good photos and video of this awsome event.
Gracyn is tollerating the Wellington c-pap well, this system is a bit more comfortable for her and makes it a lot easier for her to open her eyes and say hello. Her hair has grown and has just about more than me, a wee blondie she is, just like Angela&i and Tegan were.

i have posted some photos of todays efforts, what a great day.

Steve, Ange, Tegan,Gracyn

22 November

I think one of the nurses was geting a little bit too excited for us as moving Gracyn to the Hutt will only happen when she can cope on the Welligton c-pap with minimal oxygen levels also when she is a little heavier.Lower Hutt can only cope with babies that are born over 30weeks, Gracyn hits that mark next thursday.So it would be safe to say that she still has another few weeks in WEllington.We are happy with that as we have struck up some good relationships with the staff and parents at Neo-Natal, it would be sad to leave just yet.
Gracyn had two visits from us yesturday, Ange,Tegan and myself went in the afternoon for a short while as Teg,s can only handle a short time in the unit as it is very warm.i want back in later on in the evening for my longest cuddle yet a good 2 hours.It was great Graycn seemed so content resting on my chest.She seems to know who it is and was stable throughout my visit not once sending the machine,s into a frenzy of bing bongs at all.
Gracyn is going to get her first bath this afternoon so Angela and i are going to go in and help, a quick dip in a very small bucket i presume all done inside her incubator, so ,i,ll get some photos of that to post.
till later

Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

21 November 2008

We have just had a call from Wellington Hospital telling us that Gracyn in now feeding 18mls of boobie juice (had to call it that just for you Heather) and managing it well. Gracyn is now on the Wellington C- pap machine which is the next step up and means she dos;nt have to wear the helmet style set up and is doing most of the work by herself.(another step forward)
They have put her on an iv antibiotic due to a rash that has happen by wearing the helmet style c-pap shown in the above picture.(and a step back) She has a little irritation under her chin which they are treating with the iv line. There is talk of getting her transfered to the Hutt Hospital as soon as the iv line gets taken out and her rash/infection has cleared. THis could be as soon as Sunday or Monday this will make a great differance to us all. There is no rush though as we are happy with the care she recieve,s in town. So Gracyn mite have a new bedroom in Hutt Hospital next week, Yee haa

How Exciting

Steve, Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

20 november 2008

5 weeks old today a i have no idea where the time has gone. Auntie Chris made a visit today all the way from Dunedin apparently Gracyn gave he the one fingered salute jsut to say nice to see you Auntie and thanks for coming.
It,s Business as usual and not much to report as my wee girl is just doing exactly what she is suppose to do.So if the next 5 week go as fast as the last we will have her home in no-time, or at least in the Hutt Hospital.

till tomorrow

Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

19 November 2008

17ml of EBM(expressed breast milk, boobi juice) is now being consumed every 2 hours over a 1/2 hour period and she seems to tolerate it well. Angel and auntie Ginny went in for a visit to day, Gracyn opened her eyes and waved to Auntie.She looks so peacful in her incubator and is impoving day by day. Tomorrow she will be 5 weeks old and will get a special visit fron her Auntie Chris from Dunedin, so i will be able to post some new photos tomrrow. My new pair of arms get fitted tomorrow to help me with that list of jobs but one job i can cross of the list is that Gracyns room is all painted and just needs the carpet and curtains now.A big thanks to Nana and Grandad for there help with the painting, without there help i would have been at it forever.Thanks to Horsey & Bobby for the unplaned overnite stay over the weekend whlie Ange was sick this was much appriciated.
While i,m thanking People Thankyou to all the people who have been so supportive over the past 5 weeks, the food parcels, gifts, cards and flowers and messages of support have simply overwhelmed Angela and myself we appreciated it a lot and we sure value all of your friendship.

THANKS AGAIN
More tomorow

Steve,Angela,Tegan,Gracyn

18 November 2008

Angela is feeling a lot better today and spent the day at home with Tegan.I don,t know if that was a good thing or not as she has a list of jobs for me to do as long as my arm and is cracking the whip(she,s only been home 24hrs) for me to get on with them. Next time i.m at the hospital i,ll see if they can sew on an extra couple of arms to me so i can get this list done quicker. It,s good she is back to her old self and i,ll tackle the list with great enthusiasum so that i can get on with more important things like working on my Dodge.
Gracyn the little chuba chub is 1140grms and is being well behaved.Her heart scan went well today and they seem to think there will be no need for an opperation at this stage. 17ml of milk every 2 hours and seems to be tolerating it well her de-stats on the cpap machine seem to be getting less which is a good thing. It means she is doing it more and more by herself, but will still need the cpap for support for some time to come.
We hav,nt been intoday as Ange spent the day with Teg,s and pottered arround the house(making up dam lists of jobs)and blobbing out in her PJ,S.We call the ward several times a day for updates and the nurses fill us in on any progress. Tegan back to school tomorrow and Ange will spent some time in with Gracyn.

Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

17 th November 2008

Angela is finally home and man are we happy about that, especially one wee man called Tegan.He was soo happy i think he hugged her for a whole hour. I had a wrestless nite last nite as Tegan had a temp and was so hot, it was off to the afterhours a 3.45am for some treatment so today has been a long day.
Ange is a lot better and actually has some colour in her cheeks and feeling altogether better after the biggest poo in history.. She is tired but that is to be expected and it is great just to have her home.
Gracyn is a little gem she is doing well and had her brain scan today which the doctors were all happy about.There is only one issue that the doctors have and that there is a small heart murmer that may need an opperation to correct. They will perform a scan on her heart tomorrow to check this out. Apparently this is common in prem babies, sometimes this can correct itself sometimes not so we wil find out tomrrow what the next step will be.
till tomorrow

Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

16 November 2008

1090grms and counting is Gracyn to day.She is pileing on the weight and being very well behaved. Angela managed down to the ward for two Hours of cuddles with Gracyn this afternoon so that cheered her up a bit. i ring up every morning for an update on Gracyn and the answer is always the same, she has been a star. So that is good.
We have seen four different doctors while Angela has been in the hospital and we have four different versions in what is wrong with Angela. On Mondays they all get together for a meeting and hopefully come to an agreement on what is actually wrong. They seem to think that they have put a hole in the uteris wall while performing the DNC.This will self heal apparently and iv antibiotics will take care of the infection. Gracyn gets a brain scan tomorrow, and we should have more news on how Angela is going.
Till Then

Steve,Ange, Tegan,Gracyn

15 November 2008

Another nite in Hotel De Wgtn Hospital for Ange i,m afraid. More test xrays and swabs were done late last nite,only to find she has and infection,(mmm isn,t that what she went in to hospital for) so that is now being treated with Iv antibiotics.She also has a blockage in her bowel and hat is causing a bit of discomfort. All going well the iv antibiotics will kick in and she will feel alot better by the morning. And maybe have her home by tomorrow afernoon.

My wee Gracy is 1040grms and growing rather fast.They add some fortifier to Angela,s milk to boost the calories in each feed, thus helping her gain weight.Gracyn is going well and not much to report here as she seems to be behaving herself.

Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

14 November 2008

i am using the hospitals computer to log this bolg to nite, we have just done miss Gracyn,s Care, the big fat chubba chubba that she is. Yep the big 1kg mark has been meet and i,m about 30kilometers away from that bottle of Appletons Rum. I,LL have to wait till Ange is well enough before i endulge in some serious celebrations.
Ange had a fainting spell this afternoon after a visit to Gracyn, so they have taken some more blood for some tests.She is looking alot better now than yesterday as she was that white i could hardly find her between the white hospital sheets. So yet another nite in hospital for Ange.All going well she will be discharged tomorrow but not before she is a lot better than she is right now.
till tomrrow
Steve, Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

13 November 2008

Ange had the planned DNC opperation this morning and was back i the ward by 10.30am.Unfortunatly Ange has been suffering some pain and cramping as a result of this procedure and had to stay another nite for observation, i backed that up by saying she is not leaving until she can move under her own steam, or at least go and see Gracyn without the use of a wheel chair and feeling faint. So another nite in the presidential suite in ward 14 Wgtn Hospital for Ange.The only good thing is she is close to Gracyn who is now 995grms wwooooo hoooo and so close to that 1kg mark. Some how i think i,ll have to pospone the Appeltons Rum Opening Ceremony until my big Girl can at least tuck me into bed.
Hopefully better news tomorrow.

Steve,Ange Tegan&Gracyn

12 november 2008

I,m thinking of renting out the house and moving into the hospital.We seem to spend most of our time there as this morning Ange was re-admited due to massive blood loss and generally not feelng the best.It was at his stage i reminded her that she may have to go through this a couple of more times as she originally wanted 4 children.You can imagine the responce i got then.Anyway they have kept her in over nite and is due to be first up on the operating table for a dnc tomorrow morning.I sure hope this is the last of it as i know she is getting fed up with all this drama.
Gracyn is doing fine and opened both her eyes today,yet another 1st,.She is slowly gaining weight and now at 980grms (just 20 more grms to go yeee haa!!)i was able to do her cares today and no poos for me, only for mummy as i have instructed her.

So roll on tomorrow and a better feeling Ange from here on in.

till tomorrow

Steve ,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

11 November 2008

Not much to report today as Gracyn seems to be a well behaved wee girl. She has had another blood transfusion to up the white blood count.As they take blood samples all the time this can happen, so thats as about exciting as it gets for today.
Angela and i will head in tomorrow after work to hopefully get some cuddles.Tegan is staying at Nana,s &Grandads tomorrow nite as we have to be in at the hospital by 7am for Angela,s opperation check in time on Thursday morning. I have the day off to be with Ange so i,ll split my time between my two girlsin hospital and bring Ange home when she feels up t it.
more update,s tomorrow.

Steve Ange,Tegan&Gracyn

10 November 2008

It,s full steam ahead, Gracyn is now up to 15ml of E,B,M, BOOBI JUICE,OR MILK, what ever you want to call it.What a wee piggy.She is doing really well but gets a bit grumpy at times(what female is,nt).Gracyn is very active kicking her legs and pushing her C-pap straps off and nearly at that 1kg mark. She is active and she has actually lost a little bit of weight and now weighs in at 940grms, i,m sure she does;nt want me to open that bottle of Appletons rum.Gracyn no longer has the long line in and is relying on Angela milk now.They are going to add some complan/vitamins to the food to fatten he up a bit.When got to the hospital this afternoon Angela was doing her care,s and cleanng up a massive poo, it reminded me of a snowfreeze machine it kept coming and coming, i sure do see Mr Whippy in a different light now and will have to think twice before i actually eat one again.
Angela has to go in a get a small opperation on Thursday to remove the remaining pieces of placenta that is stuck inside her uteris, (in male speaking terms they are going to wash out he back of her ute)This has been bothering her since Gracyn has been born and hopefuly now it will finally get sorted and Angela will get back to 100%
till tomorrow

Steve Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

9 th November 2008

Lots a cuddles for Ange to day nearly 2 hours, Gracyn has had a heap of visitors over this weekend,Mum&Dad,Linda Scott, Auntie Wendy, Auntie Ginny, Cousins Ben&Mathew and of cource her big brother Tegan. Teg,s has been so good over the past few weeks and although he finds it abit boring at The Hospital he still manages to find some nice words to say to his Little sister, telling her to hurry up and get out of here so he can have a cuddle comes to mind. i have posted some photos of this weekends visits. I have also posted a photo of a Wedding Cake(orders taken) that Angela somehow managed to find the time to make for a friend of ours, she has done an awsome job and the bride was so happy with the end result. Angela is also excellent at other dishes in the kitchen, her lasagne (which i have,nt had for a while is just tops) so thanks Linda and Nana for the next best thing.
Gracyn is now scoffing down 14ml of E B M ( Expressed Breast Milk bet ya did,nt know that one Heather), and doing very well, she has been stable all day and enjoyed the contact with Ange today. She is due to have the long line taken out tomorrow so another step ahead for my wee Girl.So it,s steady as she goes for now and thanks to all who have visited and helped over the weekend we truly appreciate it.

Steve Ange, Tegan&Gracyn

7th November 2008

Nothing else matters when you are with your favourite girls. I had my first cuddles today with Gracyn. I had to fight back the tears as this is a tremendous milestone. Gracyn was so content having some kangaroo cuddles with me and the time just flew. She is doing so well and i,m proud of her. This was another first and i,m looking forward to some more cuddles soon. Gracyn,s feeding well and doing all a wee baby of her age should do so our morning phone calls to the hospital are rather boring. The answer we get when we call is that she has been a wee angel and nothing to report, one day they will say they she has made us all a cupa tea and is now fast asleep.
Angela,s milk (just for you Heather) is obviously doing the business as she definatly enjoying every drop, as she has improved so much over the past few days.
i have posted some photos of today, Graycn is tucked up in my Tui t- shirt keeping all tostie-pie.And one of me Ange&Gracyn, what an awsome afternoon.

Steve, Ange,Tegan&Gracyn

6th october 2008

I can smell the Appeltons rum from here, our wee girl is 960grms and taking on board 11mls of the good boobi juice every 2 hours. She is still doing well in the c-pap with only24-26% oxygen to help her, which is great. She still sometimes forgets to breath so a quick pat on the back remind,s herto do so, the machine that she is hooked up to tells the nurses when this happens.This is few and far between now which is another good sign.
There is no sign of infection anymore and her skin is looking really good,she is nolonger a bright pink more a proper skin colour. i put this down to the top quality bobbi juice that Angela produces. Once Gracyn is upto 13mls of breast milk they will remove the long line that feeds her the supplements, this is no longer needed as she recieves all the goodness from Angelas milk.The pressure is now on Ang to produce the good stuff for Gracyn.With the help form new breast pump that i got off the good old trade me which was the same price as a small jap car but we need it and thats all there is to it. She is pumping 3-4 times a day, as you ladies will know this is tiring stuff and Ang is getting a bit tired on it so even the drive into town, txting or even talking on the phone can be exhausting(i,m waiting for the call from telstraclear wondering if our phone is broke due to lack of use). I,m sure she will cope as she,s a battler our Ang just like her Daughter.
Good news is I,M GETTING A CUDDLE TOMORROW ! so i,m looking forward to that.
I,ll fill you all in tomorrow and post some more pic,s of me an my girl,s

Steve,Ange,Tegan Gracyn

4th November 2008

She,s a battler my wee Gracyn, still on the cpap and going well athough she is showing signs of tiring and may resort back the respirator. We were told about this and just have to go with the flow. Ang and Nana went in today for a few hours, i,ll head in tomorrow nite. She is showing signs of another infection but the staff are onto it and taking appropriate action. They sure know their jobs in this department and do their utmost to keep us informed of Gracyns progress. i cannot speak highly enoughof these dedicated proffessional, s they are just awsome.
Not much more to report until tomorrow and day20, man where has the weeks gone.

Steve, Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

3 November 2008 Cuddles R cool

It,s been a day of first,s today Angela managed to get some kangaroo cuddles with our wee girl Gracyn.With out the tubes down her throat we heard her voice for the first time.Ever so quiet content and quiet cries. It was good for Ang to get a cuddle, something i,m sure she has been hanging out to do.It was hard to fight back the tears for this somewhat little but very important part of this journey. My turn next. What a great day.
i have also found out that it is a CPAP system not a CPACK as i have been saying in previous posts,CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure another first geting the technical stuff right for a change. I am sure the nurses have told us all this but it was all just blah blah blah at the begining.
Gracyn has been on the cpap for over 48 hrs now and doing really well, she has lost a little weight (just when i thought the "Appeltons" was in sight) due to the fact that this cpap system is like a workout to her and getting everything working on her own burns calories. But thats good she may go back on the respirator depending on how tired she gets. Its day 18 and full steam ahead at the moment. 890grams and now scoffing 6 mls of boobi juice every 2 hours what a wee piggy.
i have put up some photos of Ang haveing a cuddle and some latest shots.

more tomorrow
Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

2 November 2008

My wee angel is what the nurses are calling Gracyn. She has been a wee trooper over the past 24 hours, managing her c-pack system with no problems at all. She is now on 5ml of boobi juice every 2 hours and seems to be loving her tucker. It is business as usual and thats a good sign, she is doing exactly what she is suppose too.The infection she had a couple of days ago is all but gone so thats another good sign.We are having a good run of things at the moment and hope it continues as this makes us both feel good.

Uncle Craig, and Auntie Kaye went in for a visit today and they noticed the difference in Gracyn immediatly as they have only seen her once since she was born. Auntie Leanne took Angela into the hospital which is a great help as sometime,s you just can,t be bothered driving.It takes the presure off Angela too as she gets tired easy.
Tegan and i had a blast arround on his motorbike, went to the tattoo show and done shopping, so we spent a little time together which we both enjoy.I,ll head into town tomorrow after work to check on my girl as i just can,t go 2 days without seeing her.

see ya

Steve,Ange,Tegan,Gracyn

Saturday 1st November

A good day today as Gracyn went on the c-pack system to have a go at it by herself, on our last contact with the hospital she was doing well. Angela and i went into the hospital just in time to do her cares, "My turn", i was a bit reluctant to start with but the nurses and Ange insured me that she won,t break. So i ended up changing the smallest nappy i have ever done, no poopy stinkers though she knows to save them for mummy.It was great to have a hands on approch and i felt that i was actually doing something to help. It makes the time go faster as there is not alot you can do but talk to her and just be there.I hope she is listening and taking it all in, by the time she gets out she will know everything from the creation of the earth to the inner workings of a hairdryer.

920grms as of Saturday morning I can feel a sick day coming up during the week for i may have a serious hangover!!!
We will head into town on Sunday afternoon for a few hours and all going well she my have improved abit more.

More soon

Steve Ange, Tegan,Gracyn

31 October 2008

Angela went into the hospital today to see Gracyn and it was business as usual, the best behaved baby in the ward. The antibiotics have worked so far and she seems alot better today, so hopefully another step forward. My mum&dad (horsey&bobby don't ask the horsey story i,ll have to start a whole new blog just to explain) went in also for a visit. They live in Paraparaumu but have got it sorted as there is a shuttle that leaves Kenepuru Hospital on the hour to Wellington Hospital for free so the travel into town and back again is easier for them. They spent a good couple of hours with Gracyn getting all the updates from the nurses which is great and it saves Angela and i explaining every thing again and again.
Tegan is off to Uncle Craigs house tomorrow morning while Angela and i spend a couple of hours with Gracyn. I enjoy the time in the unit and give Gracyn the rundown on what has been happening at home, She is now feeding 3ml every 2 hours and tollerating it well, another possitive.
Tomorrow is another day and another day closer to bringing her home, she is 2 weeks and 2 days old today and boy has the time flown. It hardly seems real that i a have daughter but it is.

bye for now

Steve Ange Tegan&Gracyn

30th October

They said we would have good and bad days and recieving some not so good news always knocks the stuffing out of you. Gracyn has an infection and they are not too sure where it is coming from. They have performed a lumbar puncture on her which means they remove some of the fluid from arround the spine to be tested, unfortunatly the did not get enough to test. So they will try again tomorrow meanwhile an increase of antibiotics and some close monitering overnite will happen. Because she is so active and a little wriggle bottom she has created a rash on her leg this may be where the infection may be,or possibly where the long line is inserted, we will know tomorrow.
The good news is that the nurses and doctors insure us that she is doing nothing that they hav,nt seen before. Another good sign is that she is starting to try and open her eyes, She must have known that her dad was there.
Poor Tegan may not be able to see Gracyn for 10 days as his little cousin Amber may have been exposed to chicken pox and Tegan was only just playng with her the other day. We hav,nt told him yet but it is better to be safe than sorry.
She is now 890grms so i,m only 110grms away from my bottle of "Apples" go for it my big girl i say.

till next time

Steve Ange Tegan, Gracyn

29th October

I have just got back from a visit with my wee Girl and she is doing very well today.Her skin has improved 100% and she is looking a lot more settled. She is now feeding 1ml every 2 hours and it may go up tomorrow to 2 ml just to fatten her up.Her lungs have also improved, another good sign. So it is steady as she goes at the moment.
i have,nt seen her for 2 days and noticed the differance immediatly in her skin colour and how much her hair has grown. She has blond hair, and more than me, but thats not hard. She must have known i was there as she gets the big wriggle on and starts thrashing about, little legs and arms everywhere, especially when i was reading the NZ Hot Rod magazine to her, instructing her that she is a Mopar or Ford Girly only.
Angela is making the trek ito town daily and seems to enjoy the hands on approch that the nurses let her do with Gracyn,s cares. Hopefully soon we will be able to have kangaroo cuddles with our girl, we are both looking forward to that.

Steve Ange,Tegan&Gracyn

the First Email

This was the first email i sent out on the 19th before i got so techinical on you all.

What a whirlwind entry to the Reid family.The past four days are just a blur for us all. Gracyn Hope Reid born Thursday 16 october 2008 at 340am weighing in at a massive 780grms (1.65lbs), 16 weeks pre-mature ,a wee girl for us.

This is how it all began,Angela awoke at the 1am thinking she was constipated, boy was she wrong. She woke me at about 2.30am and , i took one look at her pacing the foor and immediatly called he mum, Angela,s parents car was in the panel shop so i had to leave Ange and go and collect her mum, so a quick ride to Allen street to pick up Dawn was performed. We then decided to call Mary-Clare our midwife, she suggested it may be a urinery infection,but we better get to the hospital just in case.
The decision was made to get down to the hospital and quickly so off Dawn and Ange went by this time it was about 3am. I was just about to jump back into bed when the phone went, it was Dawn, You better get here quick she said, i think i replied HOLY SHIT.!! I rang Ginny (Angela,s sister, why not wake up the whole family) she came arround pretty quickly (considering she was driving a holden) to be there for Tegan in the morning. i raced to the hospital even smileing at the speed camera on high street as i made my way there. i missed the whole birth by 6 minites. And thats how it it all unfolded on the early hours of the morning on the16 October 2008.

She is a strong we girl and just could,nt wait to get into this world. A quick 3 hr labour for Ang just like Tegan was, she likes to popem out quick does our Ang just wish that Gracie was cooked a lttle longer. Ang is doing fine and came home Yesturday and hard task having to leave our wee girl behind but she is in the right place and getting the best of care.

Gracyn is in the Wellington Neo Natal Unit Wellngton Hospital, they have a strict visiting policy restricted to immediate family which is understandable due to the risk of infections etc.So most of you will have to wait to meet her when we bring her home possibly in late January, even then we will have to restrict visits due to the obvious risks involved. i know you will all understand this policy.

Thankyou all for the the support we have recieved so far it has surly overwhelmd us. we will keep you posted with regular progress reports on our wee Gracyn


Thanks Again
Steve, Angela, Tegan,Gracyn

28th October 2008

I,m getting the hang of this blogg thing, colour, pictures, i,m working on a programe to make Gracyn wave to you all when you logg in. Yeah Right!!.

Gracyn lasted 17 hrs on the c-pack machine then had to be resorted back to the Ventilator system. This may happen as many as six or seven times until she is strong enough to do it by herself. This is just one of those up,s and down rides we are going to get over the next few months. Her skin is breaking up a little bit but they have a process to deal with it, they seem to have a process to deal with anythng that these prem babies throw at them. She has increased her food to 2 mls every 2 hours and tollerating that well so that is a good sign.
Angela went in today and spent a few hours doing her cares, this wee mite is a robust little girl, she does not like being handled and screws her face up like a half chewed minty when getting her face washed its amazing to see the expressions on her face when this is being done.
I hav,nt been in to see Gracyn for a day but i,m sure i,ll notice the difference in her when i do get in there tomorrow nite. She has graduated in her room at the Neo Natal unit and is no longer the smallest in the class another first for my wee girl. There is no change in her lung condition today but saying that they have not scanned her either. I will know more tomorrow.

Till next post
Steve Ang, Tegan&Gracyn

27th october 2008

Hi All

We are getting hi-tech here in the Reid household and have set up this blogg page to keep everyone informed on Gracyn,s condition. What a great day we had and Graycn is improving everyday. She has now gone back on the c-pack system which means she is breathing on her own, a big step forward for my wee girl. This sytem looks like she is wearing a baseball cap with a mouthpiece connected to it forcing oxygen into her air ways. This is a much better and ,more comfortabe way to treat her, no big tubes down her throat. We will only have to hope she can manage this on her own otherwise the doctors may resort back to the ventilator system.
With her being so dependant on the ventilator is has caused a few issues with her lungs, they were not inflating correctly due to the long time on the machine, this is treatable by lying her on her left side to give her lung a rest. i am told that this can happen and is just unfortnate but she needed the ventilator to breath, a sort of catch 22 situation.
Gracyn is now feeding on Angela, Boobi juice 1ml every 4hrs and seems to be tolerating the food without any problems. i know she will be fine with the food as we Reids love our tucker. She now weighs 890grms, so i may be opening that bottle of Appeltons this week yippee!!.
Yes i got my lawns done and no Angela did not do them, funny that. We are going to try and get into a routine with our visits to Gracyn and get some sort of normality back into our lives, is there such thing NORMALITY.
i think this blogg will be a better way in keeping everyone in toutch with what is going on.

till the next update
steve,Ang Tegan, Gracyn

Angela got home on Thursday night and not a minute too soon as the lawns need mowing and the car need cleaning after all those trips into town. AS IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN!!

Well it really is not a minute too soon as the insensitive staff in Wgtn Hospital put yet another new born and mother in the same room as Ang.Well this got on my Tits big time and I was just about to put my angry face and voice on and give someone a good old blast down the phone when Ang rang back and said the doctor is letting her go home. In a way it pissed me off as I was working up to giving someone a right old seeing too, but we were happy all the same especially a wee man called Tegan he is just rapped to have his mummy home.

There is nothing better than a sleep in your own bed and this obviously works for Ang as she is just about back to normal and cracking the whip for me to get Gracyn,s room finished before she gets home. I,ve got 14to 16 weeks I think I,ll make it.

Gracyn is going well on Angela,s booby juice and gets 1ml every 4 hours, with all the time on the respirator she has developed a enlarged lung, apparently this can happen so they just nurse her on her left side to help the enlarge lung rest.She is no longer on morphine now just the occasional caffeine shot, so you can imagine a few years from now Ang and Gracyn off to Westfield for a Latte!! and still getting caffeine shots!.

We went in today to help with Gracyn,s care,s (changing her nappy, washing her face etc).The nurse was giving her a hand and said "here hold this" Angela,s first hold of Gracyn as the nurse changed her bed. This brought a tear to both of us as this is going to be many of 1st,s.
We have a few now
1st Day
1st Week
1st Feed
1st poo (ha ha Ang got to change this one)
1st Hold The list go,s on and i can remember every one of them.

Gracyn will hopefully be back on the c-pack system and breathing for herself within the next couple of days we can only wait and see.
i wish you all great long weekend and i hope it pisses down with rain then i don, feel to bad for neglecting my Chors around the house, and i,ll let Ang off from doing the lawns.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Steve Ang Tegan&Gracyn