tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27206967071373539842024-03-14T09:20:59.164-04:00Our Crazy Adventure in the NICU And Our Life After The NICUI am writing JT's story as I seen it. My son passed away in May of 2007. I am his memory keeper and this is how I am keeping his memory alive by writing a book about his lifeBobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-37595056793647967752008-09-10T08:53:00.002-04:002008-09-10T08:56:52.670-04:00Grief SeriesI am doing a series so to speak on grief at my other bloghttp://siscaboo.wordpress.com/I have never shared the day that JT passed away so, I am doing it over there. If you would like to read the whole story about JT you can go here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnathanpolingI am just having a hard time putting the rest of his story up, because well, it is hard, that is a bad excuse but, Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-7342169340534014622008-07-25T07:10:00.002-04:002008-07-25T07:14:44.152-04:00Recovery Part 2His incision was again leaking stool and his kidneys were trying to shut down. He was having one blood transfusion a day sometimes twice. The surgeon interns where checking on him and realized that there looked as though there was fluid under his incision. They ended up opening it up and it drained a lot of dark blood. Dr. L. Who was a resident in the NICU told me all about it. They put inBobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-62797605148375868682008-06-20T09:03:00.001-04:002008-06-20T09:04:24.262-04:00Recovery part 1When I got in to see him it was a relief. He was really sedated. The ventilator was doing all the work for him and I just whispered I loved him and that everything would be fine and he did great!!! I held his hand for a little while and just sat with him. I was really afraid to touch him because I didn’t want to hurt him. This surgery scared me that much. I was told he will probably be on Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-16149493628047402682008-06-04T08:09:00.002-04:002008-06-04T08:13:13.922-04:00The surgeryJohnathan ended up going back to surgery at 11:00. I remember waiting and calling everyone because it was taking a long time. All of his other surgeries were quick. Well, relatively, an hour and a half tops this one took 4 ½ hours. I kept having the lady at the desk call back to make sure everything was ok and then the surgeons kept calling out to let me know that everything was ok. It Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-7960534399421890032008-05-26T21:57:00.002-04:002008-05-26T22:08:49.431-04:00Just a noteJT's one year anniversary just passed on May 17th. We let balloons go at 5:15 the time that he left this world to go dance on clouds and play with the angels and most importantly to meet Jesus. We also let a balloon go for a friend whose daughter is in Heaven with JT. I just know they enjoyed it and were having a grand time watching us. I know I haven't blogged anymore of the story and for Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-44957348411563038442008-04-27T07:36:00.000-04:002008-04-27T07:37:07.680-04:00Mommy got sick and JT met someone new.I think I also caught some of JT’s pneumonia, I remember not feeling really well and not being able to go up there for a few days. I was always really cautious about germs and such. And with him just having pneumonia, I didn’t want to test the fates. I felt so bad when I couldn’t go see him. I really just wish that he had grandparents that were able to go see him. That would help with Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-44384559630452937612008-04-16T09:33:00.001-04:002008-04-16T09:34:09.662-04:00Pnemonia and another funny.His cold turned into pneumonia and his right lung collapsed. So, they put him on C-pap which is just high flow oxygen. It helped to keep his lung inflated. And they also positioned him so that his lungs would be able to open up more so that they wouldn’t be constricted. He gave us scare after scare. His pulse ox would drop to about 37 then go back up again and the cough was horrible. He Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-91251920488457257552008-04-08T07:55:00.002-04:002008-04-08T07:59:43.406-04:00Feedings a Christmas Present...Vicky was one of my life savers in the NICU. She took care of me and kept me sane. She found out information for me and I knew if I had a question she would find out the answer even if to let me know that there was no answer. She also saved things for me to do. And if I was there she let me do everything. She’d say, “Just tell me what you need, otherwise you know where it is.” She made sure that Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-16825444149494404902008-04-03T08:37:00.003-04:002008-04-03T08:44:43.088-04:00Just an update ....It is really hard for me to edit this next part of my book and get it out for public eyes to see. I am trying to please bear with me. This has been a very emotional journey for me and one that I need to do. Writing this is very therapuetic for me. And I am going through the emotions that I went through as our journey was enfolding. I feel the happiness, the sadness, the frustration and Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-16618334947966697222008-03-25T06:15:00.001-04:002008-03-25T06:17:53.391-04:00A couple funny stories...He was almost 4 months old at the time and he was a little more than 5lbs. He was growing by leaps and bounds. Even with no food. It was almost Christmas at this time. So, Stacy and I went in to do a little photo op and it was so much fun. We got him a preemie Santa Suit that was still oodles to big for him. I had sewn a blanket that had a beautiful picture and the words to Amazing Grace Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-62597941653521035032008-03-24T07:48:00.002-04:002008-03-24T08:27:18.413-04:00Another Crushing Day.Well, the next day our world came crashing down again. JT was only on food for about 12 hours and they took it away again. His old incision the first one from his NEC surgery was leaking again. I just couldn’t believe it. Why oh Why did these things keep happening? I just felt like something was fighting against our happiness. We were only allowed to be happy for a few hours then something else Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-74511654766318898772008-03-19T07:04:00.001-04:002008-03-19T07:07:25.095-04:00Recovery, Eye Surgery and a Big Boy CribJT had a few problems recovering from his bowel surgery. He was in a lot of pain. He would hold his breath and have lots of Brady’s. So, they put him on nose cannulas with 1liter of oxygen just to help him out a little. He still was at this time not getting any food. They were still waiting for a bowel movement. I got sick around this time and couldn’t get up to see him. Anytime that I Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-91270051876383170132008-03-18T11:30:00.005-04:002008-03-18T11:35:29.773-04:00Just wondering if anyone is reading thisDrop me a line... lol. Let me know what you think. I figured out how to capture images from a dvd. So check this out. I am really excited about it.Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-16075546219148489752008-03-10T09:31:00.002-04:002008-03-10T09:34:23.554-04:00Just to let you know...For anyone that is reading I am going to take a break for a while and edit some more. The part of the book I am on now is not editing right. I guess I am trying for perfection, and well that is one of my hang ups I want it to be perfect. So, look for more in a week or so.Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-75657317077757537182008-03-06T05:51:00.002-05:002008-03-06T05:56:52.715-05:00Picture StoryThese are pictures of Johnathan from his first pictures and a couple of him in Cincinnati before his heart surgery. He weight was from 1lb 13 1/2 oz. to 3lbs 4 oz.Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-11975759401809671932008-03-04T07:18:00.001-05:002008-03-04T07:20:23.840-05:00Another surgery and FrustrationWe found out that the next Wednesday he would be having surgery for ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity) again. This would be 3 surgeries in as many weeks. It was getting old. Not for me but, for him. I just hated to see him hooked up to that vent again. They were hopeful that this would be the last eye surgery. I remember Retta walking up to me and letting me know that things would be ok. Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-79625925555338430842008-03-03T08:30:00.000-05:002008-03-03T08:31:25.635-05:00A reflection..His poor tummy looked terrible. He looked like he had been put through it one to many times. At this time he had 5 scars. 1 from his pda ligation that was done when he was 5 days old. His fist bowel surgery when he was 10 days old. His ostomy site. His open heart surgery, and the surgery to reconnect. He had bumps and valleys everywhere. Sometimes I would look at it and ask myself if it Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-59278886349018891672008-02-29T01:09:00.001-05:002008-02-29T01:09:48.277-05:00After the surgeryWhen we got in there he was out he had a paralytic to keep him still and on top of the anesthesia and the pain medication well, let’s just say he had no idea what was going on and wasn’t feeling anything. Stacy and I stayed as long as we could we talked to him and held his hand. I washed his eyes and lips because he was a little gunky. I did that a lot too. I don’t know something about using Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-36047826579862116322008-02-28T08:28:00.000-05:002008-02-28T08:30:53.989-05:00Well, Wednesday came and me and Stacy were there bright and early for his bowel surgery. When we got there we were really excited because they said with this surgery it wouldn’t be long before he would be able to go home. They were talking like if he tolerated his feeds and started bottle feeds than he would be able to go home by Christmas. I got to walk him down again which I always did andBobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-80401589229862956392008-02-27T06:01:00.002-05:002008-02-27T06:06:38.190-05:00Eye Surgery and a Funny StoryWell, tomorrow came and I was up at the hospital bright and early. I watched him go. He was back in now time and when he came back his eyes were really red and puffy which they told me is normal. He came off the vent at 5:30 that morning. I don’t remember why I couldn’t get up there that morning but, I didn’t get to see him until the evening. He was dressed and looking good and he was happy to Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-80926115729595787172008-02-26T00:48:00.001-05:002008-02-27T06:01:03.472-05:00Joyous Frustrated moment.They had tired once in Cincinnati to take him off of the vent. He was on C-pap which is basically oxygen with some pressure. But, he didn’t tolerate it well. So, they put him back on the vent.Well, he came back to Dayton and it was just mostly watching him grow. I spent Thanksgiving with him and we had a blast. I found out after thanksgiving that they were going to make plans to reconnect his Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-85317169634191177232008-02-22T06:31:00.001-05:002008-02-22T06:32:57.036-05:00Cincinnati Children's The heart surgeryJT was in Cincinnati for 3 weeks. I thought this was just going to be about a week stay and then he came back. NOPE!! Sure wasn’t. I got to see him 3 times while he was down there. Stacy went with me and took pictures and gave them to me as a gift. We had a great time visiting with him. I didn’t like Cincinnati at all. They were so different. They were sterile. At Dayton and Miami Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-35520167435289125252008-02-21T08:11:00.000-05:002008-02-21T08:12:47.945-05:00How to fix a heartIn the beginning of October the cardiologist came to me and told me that they had ran enough tests and have figured out the anatomy of his heart and what they were going to do to fix it. It seemed that all of his arteries and his aorta where going to the other left instead of the right and that they were forming an aortic arch around his windpipe. This is what was making it hard for him to comeBobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-11169557849116761192008-02-20T09:19:00.001-05:002008-02-20T09:23:38.965-05:00My best friend and how she came to be..JT made it through that surgery and recovery just fine. Every day was an accomplishment. For the next month we just watched him grow and talked with him. Not much changed in his care. I learned all about how they have to suction him and keep his vent clear. I changed as many diapers as I could, took temps. I got to hold him weekly when they changed his giraffe incubator. It was only Bobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720696707137353984.post-10893138722121311812008-02-19T07:01:00.001-05:002008-02-19T07:03:15.305-05:00My other childrenI had four other children at home that I had to take care of. They had to go to school and I had to get them there. I really didn’t have a support system that I could be with him twenty four hours a day. I was bitter about that for a long time and I think that still to this day that makes me mad. It feels like he was ripped off in the mother department because I couldn’t spend every second of hisBobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10119046483016314068noreply@blogger.com0