Abbie Grace Connor Update

I have been trying to get an email system set up for keeping everyoneupdated on Abbie Grace Connor. I think I have finally gotten it started.Today's email is a little longer than planned but gives an update on Abbiesince her birth. After this email they will be much shorter with only thatday's update. We appreciate all the calls and prayers we have received. Wejust ask that everyone continue to pray for Abbie & for us. We have notbeen to the hospital today yet but are getting ready to go that direction.She has had an Upper GI ordered for this morning so she wouldn't be in theNICU for us to see. She did have a good night her nurse said other than thespitting up. I will send out another update later tonight or in the morningwith today's results.Thanks again for all the prayers & calls! Tonya

Abbie Grace ConnorS
aturday, June 20, 2009
I was admitted into the Labor & Delivery unit at Baptist East a little after6:00 pm. After being checked & placed on the monitor it was determined Iwas 3 cm but my contractions were causing Abbie’s heart rates to drop offthe monitor. She was in distress. The decision to perform an emergencyc-section by Dr. Newman was made & Abbie Grace Connor was born at 8:24 pm.She was 4 pounds 4 ounces & was 18 ½ “ long. For some reason my placentahad gotten “old” at some point & was no longer providing Abbie with thenutrients she had needed. Abbie was brought to my room a little beforemidnight & we were able to spend some time with her. Little did we know atthis point things were about to change.

Sunday, June 21, 2009
At 12:45 am the nurse came to recheck her blood sugar level before herfeeding because it had been low at birth. Her blood sugar now was less than24 & she was taken to the nursery to be placed on an IV. Throughout the dayon Sunday we battled several things. Her blood sugar levels kept going up &down which meant she had to remain on the IV’s & receive sugar water. Herrespirations kept going to high which then meant she had to be fed through afeeding tube in her nose instead of by bottle. When her respirations werelow enough she could receive feedings by bottle, but then she battledprojectile spit up. We also learned by talking to Dr. Glover (pediatricianon rotation) that morning that she had a sacral dimple located on her lowerback & had to find out if it was opened or closed. If it was opened it wasvery serious, but if it was closed we would be okay. He felt as though itwas closed because they had not seen any spinal fluid leaking from it butuntil her other vitals were stabilized we would not know for sure. Shewould probably have to go through radiology to find out for sure. Dr.Glover also told us to be very thankful she had been born on Saturdaybecause she was on the verge of death & would not have made it much longer.He also informed us that Abbie would probably remain in the hospital untilweekend to get everything straightened out. By Sunday night, Abbie weighed4 pounds 4.9 ounces.

Monday, June 22, 2009
Abbie remained in the nursery again today. Her blood sugar still went up &down. The nurse was able during the night to switch her to a soy-basedformula & the spitting up was much better. Because of this Dr. Morrison(pediatrician on rotation) decided to cancel her Upper GI that was scheduledfor this morning. Her bilirubin or jaundice count was high by the evening &she was placed in the light box. Her weight at the end of the night was 4pounds 2.5 ounces. The neonatologist was called in during the night for aconsultation & ordered several lab works to be done at 8:00 the nextmorning.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Dr. Trumbull (our actual pediatrician & the one on rotation) met with us &gave us the news that Abbie would be moving to the NICU. Her lab work wasbeginning to come in & her platelet count was way too low. A normal countwas close to 150 & hers was 29. They had to determine what could be causingthis problem. They were starting her on antibiotics. The blood sugar wasalso still an issue. He felt that by moving her over she could be moreclosely monitored & that they would be able to do much more for her. So wemoved from the well baby nursery we had been in to the NICU & our stay hadnow been extended to about Tuesday. Our new doctor in charge would be Dr.Woodall. Once in the NICU Abbie received a platelet transfusion. The lowplatelet count he believed was caused by either an infection of some kind orpossibly by my antibodies. Blood work from me was ordered to helpdetermine the cause. Abbie’s jaundice count was now a 12 so she wouldremain on the lights. A central IV line was also added in Abbie’s foot. Westill are not able to really hold her because of the IV’s & having to remainon the light.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Things begin to look better today. Abbie’s platelet counts did go up & downbut always remained in the acceptable range. This causes Dr. Woodall tobelieve the problem is going to be my antibodies rather than an infection.Her respirations have been doing well. Through the IV they have been ableto regulate her blood sugar & she will begin her bottle feedings back thisafternoon. She had an MRI & a stomach ultrasound ordered & everything cameback good on this. The sacral dimple appeared to be closed but Dr. Woodallinformed us that we would later see a neurosurgeon in Birmingham to decideif surgery would be needed or not. Abbie’s feeding tube in her nose & theIV in her hand were both removed. By the end of the night Abbie’s weight was4 pounds 2 ounces.

Thursday, June 25, 2009
Today was another good day. Abbie’s jaundice count has come down to 6.5 so1 light has been removed. She was moved into an isolation box that isquieter, more comfortable, and means we are able to get her out & hold herat feeding times. I got to change a diaper for my first time today. Herblood sugar continued to stay regulated so her last IV came out. She ishaving the spitting up problem again with her feedings & so they are tryinga lactose free formula. If the spitting up continues they will order theUpper GI to be done. The platelet count remained good today. Dr. Woodallinformed us that after talking to the neurosurgeon in Birmingham that wewill not be seeing him about the dimple since it appears to be closed. Theydo not surgically repair them any more like they used to. We also got toget her out of the isolation box for a little over an hour when we fed her.She was so alert & it felt so reassuring. By the end of the night sheweighed 4 pounds 5 ounces.