Losing almost everything

Well, I've learned so much after the last month. Mainly that money doesn't lead to happiness, but lack of it can cause your life to feel not worth living for. My little family has had to move from our home/house into a bedroom at my aunts, lose our cell phones for awhile(which is bad when your daughter could go unconscious at any time), and movement toward repossessing my car starts in 20 days. I am humbling myself to ask for assistance so that i can continue to work and take care of our daughter. My Husband FINALLY got a job Friday but it isn't enough to raise us out of this hole we've fallen into.
So...That being said I've made a page where people can donate and help us get on our feet and get caught up on medical bills so we can continue getting supplies we need and see the doctors who have taken such great care of her.
Heres's the link: http://www.gofundme.com/19muo4

Welcome to the world Vivian Sydelle + First week of Life

On Sunday morning April 22, 2012 I had woken up early to get ready to go to church with my friend Brittany and we were texting back and forth debating whether or not we felt well enough to go. I kept having to pee (naturally!! I was 9 months pregnant!). I was rolling out of bed with the sudden urge, and when I stood up, my water broke and GUSHED everywhere (thank heavens for tiled floor!). I woke Kemp up and told him my water had broke, & he said “really? Ok… let’s go.” He was rushing around like mad & I was moving slow, afraid of leaking everywhere. I did manage to call the Dr’s office so they knew we were coming. Some friends of Joe & Kemp had stayed the night so when we passed through the living room he told them we were having a baby today! I was so glad we used Joe’s car to get there- he had leather seats!

We went to the ER, and naturally as Kemp was parking the car they took me up to the L&D triage; luckily he found me. It was about 8:45. The Dr came in about 9 and agreed we were indeed having a baby! Once I arrived in my room, things went crazy fast. The RN was inputting information into the computer while another nurse was starting my IV then the anesthesia lady came and talked to me. Kemp’s mom arrived. My contractions got harder and closer. I couldn’t think. My aunt and sister arrived just before I went back for the C-section. Natural birth was out of the question because of her myelomeningocele and being breech. I’d say it was about 11:30 when they wheeled me back to the OR.

It was time for the spinal tap. Hanging my legs off the edge of the table, hunched over as far as my belly would let me; the nurse was trying to find the space to inject the medicine. The blood pressure cuff had been going up & up & up not getting a reading because I was contracting. It was squeezing my arm so bad my fingers were turning and my IV site was backing up with blood. I faintly recall yelling at a nurse to take it off while they put the spinal tap in. As I laid down my legs became numb and it travelled upward. Kemp showed up by my side & told him be sure to get pictures. The anesthesiologists were fun and kept me distracted as they prepped. Thank heavens, because I was a nervous wreck! I told Kemp my belly tickled, kinda like when your foot falls asleep. His response was “If you saw what they were doing, you wouldn’t say that”. Next thing I know she’s here!!

Hydrocephalus

Vivian Sydelle Hoop

4/22/12 @ 11:53am

6 pounds 8.8 ounces

(no length bc of SB)

Myelomeningocele

Kemp left my side to meet our daughter. It was scary having him leave my side because I couldn’t see her. I just heard her. The NICU team was there to assess her and take care of her for me. I got to see her roll by in her box as they took her to clean up.

 Kemp stayed with me until they finished putting me back together. I recovered in my labor room & family started showing up. Looking back, I wish I had written down who all came. Once the NICU was ready to allow visitors for Vivian, I didn’t see Kemp much. He was going back & forth taking the grandparents to see her. They had strict rules. When they got ready to transport me to my room they wheeled me into the NICU so I could see my beautiful girl. It was very emotional seeing her and being unable to hold her, just touch her.

The good news was though being 3 ½ weeks early she didn’t need oxygen!! I didn’t get much sleep that night, anxious about the next day & adrenaline still pumping from all that happened the day before. The next morning as soon as I could I got up and went and saw her, gave her as much love as I could with just my touch. It ended up being a good time to be there because the neuro team was there assessing & I was able to ask questions.

 That afternoon Kemp walked across the bridge with her in her “Cadillac” followed by family to surgery. My aunt stayed behind with me so I wasn’t alone. That was the longest 4 hours of our lives. They had to restart her IV’s, intubate her, do myelomeningocele repair, and place a VP shunt. Before she came back they extubated her (woohoo, strong girl!). As soon as Kemp got back he came and got me & we went to see our daughter, together. 

Post Surgery

Closed Myelomeningocele

They kept her drug free afterwards, and just gave her Tylenol, mainly because they didn’t want to give her anything too strong if she didn’t need it. What a trooper! Thinking solely of our daughter, we ended visitation for the rest of the day so she could rest and recoup. The next day she was still recouping but it didn’t stop us from visiting her! Finally, 3 days after being born we both got to hold her and try and feed her. We were so nervous!! But it went well. Later that evening when I went back we got to put clothes on her for the first time. 

They were huge because of all her stuff going on. The next day we learned how to catheterize her. I tried and failed, but Kemp did it & it was a success. I felt bad for not getting it on the first try, but I knew I would have plenty of opportunity to get it right.

The days progressed and I got discharged on Thursday. I visited her as much as I could but being restricted on driving made it hard. On Saturday I had to take the car seat up for the car seat test, and my mother-in-law got Kemp’s first daughter and brought her to see her. Unfortunately she had no idea what was going on but I knew it would mean a lot to him if I got a picture of them together.

 Vivian PASSED her car seat test so the doctor called and said tonight’s the night for rooming in. OHH BOY…..

I got there about 7:30 after running all over creation to get her prescriptions filled. Once I was settled in the room I went and got my baby for our first night together. Kemp was unable to come due to last minute things at the house so it was just us. Man, was I nervous!! The first feed was awful. She had to eat a consistent amount or she couldn’t go home. I was panicking because she wouldn’t take the bottle & was crying. I called the nurse in & lo & behold- it was because of boogers!! (Why didn’t I think of that?!?) Every 3 hours the nurse came to check on us, & I even set alarms so I’d be up & at it before she came in but she was always early!!!When it was time to cath, the nurse came in & said “I was told you had some issues, so I’m here to coach you through.” I got it out, prepared & on the first try I did it!!! Woohoo! I never really fell asleep; afraid I would miss her cry or miss her stopping breathing. Shift change at 7am they sent me away to eat breakfast because they needed to report & check her weight & blood pressure, and let me rest a little. I got back to the room & laid down on the bed & tears just burst forth (not the first time). It’s really happening. I’m taking this child home. There are issues. We don’t know everything she will need. At that exact moment the Dr walks in (go figure!) and asks if everything is ok. I tell him I’m nervous and he asks if I’m ready to take her home. & I say yes. He gave his blessing and discharge started.

Kemp came about 12 or so & we learned how to bathe her. Hours passed and slowly we were discharged. Thankfully we had an awesome nurse & she hooked us up with things we would need and gave us catheters to last us a week or so. Kemp went to get the car & Vivian & I left with the nurse tech to meet him. We get down stairs, and the seat won’t fit, then it won’t buckle, so the tech had to call the RN to come check it out. They ended up having to do “surgery” on the seat to get the straps fixed properly. So 30 minutes later we are pulling out to head home!! I was so worried we wouldn’t get it fixed and have to stay another day.

We get home and daddy wants to be the one carry her in. He loves her so much.