FAQ

Here are some of the questions we, our friends, and family get asked the most about our NICU journey.  

Why did he come so early?
As most of you know, I had a very typical pregnancy...until 27 weeks.  I wasn't sick a single day and felt great.  I did experience pregnancy-induced hypertension and was put on some low-dose blood pressure meds at 23 weeks.  4 weeks into the meds, I had a growth scan to be sure my meds weren't impacting baby's growth (as they sometimes can).  This did not seem to be the issue but the scan itself was a lifesaver.  This ultrasound at just days before 27 weeks showed that Wyatt was suffering from IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction - poor growth of a baby while in the mother's womb during pregnancy.  It means the developing baby weighs less than 90% of other babies at the same gestational age) due to placenta issues.  My placenta wasn't doing its job (that's how it was explained to me) and inside me, Wyatt was being robbed of the nutrients he needed.  So, after a second growth scan at a specialist which showed all the same things, I was admitted to the hospital that afternoon (Monday, September 15th) and delivered by c-section the next morning (Tuesday, September 16th - my birthday).  

Could it happen again?
If we have a second child, there is up to a 50% chance that I will have placenta issues again, yes.  They would monitor me more closely and there are some things they can do along the way, if the same issue occurred (high protein diet, bed rest, etc.)

What are "care times"?
At 9, 12, 3, and 6, around the clock, Wyatt has care times.  All of his cares occur at these times to maximize his rest and sleep time so he can do what he needs to do the most - GROW!  At care times, the nurse listens to his heart, lungs, and bowels, changes his "sat probe" from one foot to the other (pulse oximeter - that indicates how well he's using his oxygen), checks his blood pressure (only at 9 and 9), takes his temperature, and I change his diaper (and sometimes his outfit).  After all this, he takes a feeding and, hopefully, goes back to sleep!

Why can he just now wear clothes?
Nothing fit him before!  Just kidding.  Although that's not the real reason, it is true!  They like to keep him unclothed (he's in a heated bed) for assessment purposes.  If any of his vitals drop, they can get a quick look at his color to make sure what the monitors are saying match what is actually happening to or in his little body.

Will he come out of his isolette before he goes home?
Yes.  When babies reach 1800 grams (he's almost there!) they are typically ready to regulate and maintain their own body temperature without burning too many calories doing it.  So, soon enough he'll be in an open crib until he goes home!

Can Wyatt hear?  See?
Yes!  At 18 weeks babies can hear and by 20, they recognize their mother's voice.  I love this one!  At this time, we understand that Wyatt can see but maybe not in color and that what he sees is in blob form and not specific form (such as a circle for someone's head while not being able to see each facial feature).

What is his adjusted age?  And what does that mean?
Tomorrow Wyatt turns 2 months old.  That is, naturally, his actual age.  His adjusted age right now is 35 weeks.  Preemies typically hit major milestones based on their adjusted age (not actual) so while most babies begin walking at around 12 months, he's likely to walk around 12 months according to his adjusted age so not next fall but next winter.  It can also take preemies a while to "catch up" to peers their age in height and weight so don't be surprised if our little peanut is just that - a little peanut for a while.

How is Evergreen Hospital?
We're now 60 days into our journey here and they have made this tough road easier.  I truly can't say enough great things about this NICU team, from the front desk that greets us each day, to the doctors who check on us and Wyatt while providing exemplary, life-saving care, to the nurses.  The nurses will be the hardest to leave when we do get to go home.  Many of you have shared your awe at what I do each day - wrangling 25+ students, teaching, and loving it, as you know.  You think that's amazing?  Spend a day in the NICU and you'll find heroes.  Not only do they approach Wyatt with care, gentleness, and great knowledge but they take care of all of us like that.  They talk Huskies with Matt and crafts with me.  They greet us with a smile each day.  They have Wyatt's Sunday night stats ready for me on Monday morning (because they know I'll ask) and the board is updated with his weight each day (that's the first thing we look for) and they take pictures in the night, they make new pound marker signs for the door as he climbs in weight, they love on our boy, all while managing more than one NICU baby and charting.  They cheer us up on tough days and celebrate with us on good days.  We love you, Evergreen!

Does he have the same nurse all the time?
Wyatt has two FABULOUS day nurses and night nurses that mostly cover the beginning and the end of the week between them.  Occassionally, he'll have someone else during the day or the night but for the most part, he has the same day and same night nurses from week to week.

What is a typical day like?
There isn't really a typical (which is NOT my favorite part!) but most of my time spent (about 11 hours each day at this point) there includes helping with cares, talking to doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists, updating family and friends on Wyatt, blogging, writing thank you notes, holding (for 3 hours each day), bottle feeding (about an hour each day at 12 and 6), some school projects, and a little downtime.  I'm there about 9 or 10 in the morning and Matthew comes after work about 6:30.  We usually stay until 7:30 or 8, find some dinner, and head out.  He'll be taking bottles in the night soon so I'll probably begin staying at the hospital overnight.  Hopefully we're reaching the home stretch and this won't be for long!

What does he have to weigh before he can come home?
There isn't a weight requirement for coming home.  His coming home has much more to do with the As and Bs of the NICU.  He needs to not have any As (apnea episodes) where he stops breathing (that's the de-sats issue we experience a lot) and no Bs (bradycardia episodes) where his heart rate drops.  He's growing all the time and his weight certainly helps everything else function, but he doesn't have to be a certain weight to come home, nor does he get to go home as soon as he reaches a certain weight.  We'd be thrilled to have our Wyatt home for Christmas but we still don't know when he'll be discharged and are taking it a day at a time.  

Will there be a coming home party?
Unfortunately, no.  We imagine that our transition home will be just as hectic as our transition into NICU life.  Wyatt's system will still be fragile, susceptible to germs, and we'll need to be very cautious with visitors and all the bugs of winter!

What can I do to help?

• Meals (to eat now or to freeze)
• Snacks for long days at the hospital
• Gift cards for food or gas
• Donations to our Go Fund Me to help cover the expenses we're incurring
• Pray for Wyatt, strength, health

How are Lisa & Matt doing?

We're hanging in there.  If you've been following the blog, you know there are good days and hard days.  We celebrate every little thing and try to see the positive in anything and everything because, after all, our miracle is alive!  That said, 60 days is a long time to abandon "normal life" and spend your days in a hospital where your baby is in a plastic box much of the day.  Just like parenting, NICU life doesn't have weekends off so it is exhausting at times, more emotionally than anything.  But, I'll circle back to the heart of this - we have Wyatt.  I know I'm not the only one who wondered if a 27 week baby would even see his 1 week birthday.  Our faith, family, friends, and YOU have carried us through this.  

"You never know how strong you are until being 

strong is the only choice you have."