Wednesday, Aug. 6: Luke status

~Written by big papa Karl
It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions since Luke was born. I didn’t get to hold him for more than 5 minutes when he was taken away to the NICU. The first night we went to see him he was doing okay, but then he needed to have an IV and receive antibiotics. They did a C-pap (which means Continuous Positive airway pressure - a method of respiratory ventilation ). They started with this method to see if they could prevent the need for intubation, but it didn’t work so he had to have the tubes. He was put on a respirator, hooked up by a tube going down from his mouth into his lungs (orotracheal intubation), in order to help him breathe. However, we found out today that his lungs were not opening properly to let out his carbon dioxide, so the CO2 began to build up. The doctors handled it well, though, providing him with the enzyme, Surfactin and increasing the rate of respiration. The parents, however, not so much…we have been anxious, worried, scared, exhausted and all this terminology has been like a spinning whirlpool of words and letters (CO2, O2, RDS, GPS, oh wait, that’s not….):


We had a lot of visitors to help us through this rough spell. Lulu’s sister and mother got here the day of the birth and have been a great help in taking care of Carlita. They brought Carlita to visit with Lulu and meet Luke today, but the experience was a little overwhelming for everybody. Karl picked Carlita up from day care and the plan was to meet everyone back at Lulu’s room. However, when we got there, the room was deserted and the nurses told us Lulu had gone with Samanta and Sami (colleagues and friends from work) to visit the baby. Daddy got Carlita to put on her “I’m the Big Sister” shirt, but then Karl made the not so wise choice of taking Carlita down to the NICU also (hello—lots of babies on machines, mommy in wheelchair, doctors, nurses running around—daddy was not using his noggin very well), and of course Carlita was startled, overwhelmed and scared. She allowed daddy to pick her up and look at Luke, but I don’t think she understood that it was Luke; then she asked mommy to pick her up and carry her, and mommy of course was in a wheelchair and couldn’t pick her up, so she had a meltdown in the middle of the NICU and down the hallway back to the room. Then, there were all these people packed together in lulu’s room, so she continued to be fussy for a while. But thank goodness Sandra’s baby Sofia was there. Gradually Carlita ate some food and played with Sofia, and calmed down. She even expressed a stunning revelation, after looking inquisitively at mommy’s tummy—“Luke not in mommy’s belly?” She continued to play with Sofia and family/friends for a while, but soon she ran out of steam, became cranky and had to leave. Daddy walked her out to Sandra’s car and helped put our car seat in Tia’s car. On the way, she wanted to hold Sofia’s hand, and when she could not, she began crying. When daddy put the car seat in the car, she was so excited to sit next to Sofia. She is going to be an amazing Big Sister!


Gradually Luke’s CO2 levels have come down and the doctors are now decreasing his level of extra oxygen and respiration (from the machine). We have been visiting him regularly, talking and reading to him, but he seems to be a very sensitive baby (whenever babies started crying or alarms went off, he would “desat,” which meant that his oxygen levels were dropping (his breathing was disregulated). So we have had to be careful to just sit, talk or read quietly next to him, and we haven’t been able to touch him as much as we’d like (much less hold him), so it has been really hard. However, the night nurse Alicia was great, telling us all about what they were doing with Luke, and she even allowed Lulu to take his temperature and Karl to change his diaper (meconium—it was so sticky and Karl was doing a good job of smearing it all over his butt—and then Luke pooped twice to give Karl more opportunity to practice his poop smearing skills): But his CO2 levels have dropped to the levels they want, and they have decreased the rate of respiration (and the oxygen level has stayed low), so we are hopeful that he will be able to come off the respirator soon.

Week 35: A Luka-size Surpirse

After last week’s ultrasound, we had a relaxing weekend. Karl and I both got massages and had a date to a Ragtime concert here on campus. Sunday we spent it at the pool just lounging around.


Monday, Sept 4, 20 we all got up, had breakfast and Parents as Educators came over to work with Carlita. (This is a free program in the school system that helps children be prepared for school. After Chris left (the instructor), Karl went to work and I waited for my friend, Samanta, to come pick Carlita and I up (She had borrowed my car for the weekend). Roughly 9:30am she arrives and Carlita and I headed out to get into the car. All of a sudden, I felt a rush of liquid and I thought to myself – great I peeped on myself. But it wasn’t pee but blood. There I stood looking down at my pants as they turned red and Samanta, who was sitting in the car, looked at me. Carlita started getting nervous and said “Mommy you have red pee”. Yes, honey lets get into the car. Samanta got her in while I called my doctor’s office who directed me to triage at the hospital. Samanta got a couple of towels from our bathroom and I stripped off my pants right in the middle of the street. I really didn’t care because it was gross to be in. We got Carlita into daycare and off to the hospital we went.


Karl met us there and right into triage we went. I was still bleeding and starting to get cramps. They decided to admit me and took us to High Risk. There the doctor on call reviewed what can be happening. Since I have placenta pervia, the cervix could have started getting relaxed and the placenta start bleeding. It looked like it had slowed down so they were going to monitor me and try to keep the baby in as long as possible up to 37 weeks. Wait a minute! You mean that I would have to be o bed rest in the hospital for two weeks. Yes was the reply. Well I didn’t like that idea and I don’t think Luke liked that idea because at roughly 2pm I started getting more contradictions, fast and painful. They took me to get a bio ultrasound and while there more blood came. I couldn’t get any medicine because they didn’t know if I would be getting a C-section right away or not. After the ultrasound, they wheeled me back to High Risk and right away they determined that I was going in for a C-section. I had lost a lot of blood and had so much pain.


By 4:30pm, my sister and mother arrived right in time before they wheeled me off to OR2 for the C-section. By 5pm I was getting prepped for the C-section. Karl looked quite handsome in his blue outfit, and we had latin music pumping as Luke was pulled into this world at 5:27pm. He weighed in at 5 lbs and 11 oz and is mighty long at 19 inches. He cried a lot and has a good patch of dark hair on his head. After they finished sewing me up, we all moved to the recovery room. I got my favorite thing – the bear hug which helps you keep warm and get rid of the shakes, which I had. Luke was a bit too grunting for the nurses and they looked him over and determined that he needed to get to the NICU right away. I got to hold him for a few minutes before he was taken away in an incurbator. We got hourly reports on how he was doing, as we spent four hours in the recovery room. Because he’s late pre-term, his lungs didn’t have everything needed for him to breathe on his own. They were evaluating him for Respiratory Distress Syndrome and doing x-rays, giving him antibiotics, and an IV. He did come out kicking strong but probably wore himself out. Poor baby! He’s my little kickboxer!


After 4 hours in Recovery, we got move to the maternity ward to a private room. Right away we wanted to go see him but the NICU was a bit busy and he was in the nurses’ observation room, which no one can go into. We had to wait until 11pm when they called us to let us know we could come visit him. We got to the NICU and found our little boy all hooked up but looking good. His coloring was so much better and he was calmer. We held his hands and talked to him. The nurse told us that he was doing quite well considering his age. His weight and height is helping him because he’s actually large for a pre-term baby. After hearing more about what they did for him (review this website http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/rds/rds_treatments.html) for more information, we came back to our room so I can start pumping and for us to get some rest.


So it was quite a surprising day. One month from his due date, Luke came into the world. I’m doing fine, recovering from the C-section. This birth was such a different experience compared to Carlita’s birth, who was overdue. Bleeding, emergency C-section, and NICU are all new experiences for us. We are very lucky that we had our friend, Samanta, with us and that my sister and mother came so fast. Carlita hasn’t seen her little brother but tonight she will. I will keep you all informed on how things are going and when we’ll be heading out of the hospital. Welcome Luke to Lukaland!!!

Week 34 – get me out of here

Another ultrasound. No change in the placenta but Luke was very active and we got a chance for a 4d shot of him I can tell the Kaliher forehead already. He has lots of hair. I wonder if it’s going to be dark or blonde. We still don’t know the new C-section date because there’s not a lot of availability at the hospital. We’ll just waiting to find out that new date. As for me, I’m starting to get very uncomfortable I must eat every two hours otherwise I get crappy. And if I don’t go to the bathroom right away, I feel very sick. I can’t hold anything (number one or two) so I’m up a lot in ht middle of the night. It’s just the way your body prepares you for no sleep nights. Carlita is also helping in that domain as she’s waking up at 2am to come to our bed. I’m allowing it because in one month it will no longer be us three but the fantastic four.

Week 33:Baby Shower and Change of Plans

This week I had to go out and purchase a belly belt because of all the pressure on my back and my pelvic. It really works. I don’t have to go to the bathroom as much and my back doesn’t hurt so much. We had another bio this week and baby looks good, just that placenta. O the fun! So we had a doctor’s appointment on Thursday. They are definitely moving up the date from Sept. 4th to hopefully the week of Aug.25th. There’s a problem with scheduling because my doctor is already booked that week as well as the hospital but she’s determined to delivery this baby so she’s going to figure it out with the hospital. We’ll just have to wait and see. So it looks like I won’t be making it to opening week for my job. We’ll do whatever is needed to ensure a healthy delivery.


The other event this week was our baby shower, hosted by my sister, Sandra, and BBF, Samanta (Luke’s godmother). Details of the event was kept a secret until one hour before the event. The baby shower was held at the George Wilson Center, which is where we host Carlita’s birthday parties. It’s just down the street from where we live. How convenient!! I spent the whole weekend preparing the house, doing a lot of errands, and getting myself prep with a manicure and pedicure (and for the first time an eyebrow wax). Our place looked great! Once we got the call to head over to the center, we were off. It was a great surprise because I didn’t know who was going to be there. There were friends from all our different paths. The shower was also a birthday party for Karl (who’s birthday was on Saturday the 26th and he turned 29 years old).


The center was decked out in our colors of yellow and blue. There was a food from Boston Market and a BBQ place in Maryland that my sister uses for her parties. We had some surprises of who came. Karl had colleagues from his work, and I had a friend from London who was here for the week stop by. I just couldn’t believe it. The party started with an explanation of the theme “From Boy to Men”. So cute!!! Music from Boys II Men played in the background. There was a powerpoint presentation regarding Karl and baby Luke’s journey. There were baby games with prizes. Just a great party. We were blessed with many presents and great friends. Karl received A lot of Chicago Cubs stuff – well I’s for Luke but Karl’s passion for the Cubs will be passed on to Luke and Carlita. I thank you all for making this event so special for us. We are very excited for Luke to join the Luka family and enter Glitterland.

Week 32: Going by fast

This week was the turning point for my body. Now I’m walking much slower, have a waddle, and constant pain in my pelvic. I haven’t blown up or have any swelling in my feet but it’s just getting harder to move around. Bending over is a chore and walking for more than a few minutes causes shortness of breath and pain in my back. 6 weeks to go with this – are you kidding me? I don’t remember this happening last time – I was walking a lot when I was pregnant with Carlita but this was there’s that damn placenta that is in the way.

We had another level II ultrasound. There’s hardly any room for the baby and his head is right on the placenta. Now I know what’s hurting me down there. He weighed in at 4 lb and 9 oz. The placenta still is too close to the cervix so we’ll keep being monitored. The end is near but it’s going to be a fun last month to get to the final end.

Week 31: 9 weeks to go and counting

This week we had yet another ultrasound. This time we brought Carlita along so she can see her baby brother. She did as well as any toddler can do. She was nervous about what they were doing to my stomach and said “ I don’t have a baby in my belly”. She was very cute but didn’t really get what was going on. The baby looks great but that placenta isn’t moving. The technician told us that it most likely won’t be moving. O boy!


So I happened to also have a doctor’s appointment this week and they decided to move up my C-section day in late August. Don’t’ know the date yet because the scheduling person is out on vacation. When I asked when it would be, the nurse practitioner (she was the one I saw this week) told us (Karl and me) that it’s a combination of wanting a C-section at 38 weeks (last week of August) and availability (which means going earlier). O well!!! I was hoping to get through opening (for my job) here on campus but now it looks like I’ll be missing most of RA training. As much as I hate that since it’s the most important point of the year for my job, this baby and my body is saying it’s not that important. I have no bleeding or other symptoms for them to put me on bedrest. They just don’t’ want me to have nay contradictions or go into labor. I really don’t’ think that will happen considering I didn’t go into labor with Carlita but each baby is different.


I weighed in at 177 pounds this week. Getting up there in weight. I’m eating every 2 hours – always hungry and I’m itchy. I also have blast of energy (more than my usually levels) and getting more back pain. I am having a harder time bending over – my toes need some work and I’m getting leg cramps. Karl is so good at giving me massages and taking care of so much around the house. Carlita really gets that there’s a baby in my belly but don’t really understand what that means. When we ask her about her brother, she talks about her “brother” Jack from school (she grew up with him and was her first kiss at her 1 year birthday party – check out YouTube video of it). She keeps us laughing and entertained so much. It really is a great life I have and I have nothing to complain about. I’ve been blessed!

Week 30 : No placenta movement

Another ultrasound. Baby looks great but that stubborn placenta still stays low in the cervix. Next week another date with the ultrasound machine.