Mico's Wall 2009 - October Labs

Tests like H & H or Hemoglobin / Hematocrit level to tell if anemia is present and Caffeine level to know if it is working for the apnea episodes of baby Mico were done last week, Oct. 6, 2009 during his visit with Dr. Yip.

Today, we went to see Dr. Yip again, and gave us the result of Labs and the Apnea Monitor. He weighs 7.10lbs which really a proof that he grows faster.

The Apnea Monitor showed he had several episodes of Tachycardia or Increased Heart Rate, and his Hemoglobin was normal but the hematocrit was low, in which Dr. Yip was thinking he may have blood transfusion if it will show low hematocrit again this afternoon (another lab to take).

Mommy Jea showed to Dr. Yip too his video clip that shows somewhat like a "partial seizure", so after reviewing it, she ordered an Electroencephalogram which would determine if he really has one, we are seeking for your prayers that the result will turn out negative and his signs/symptoms will all be gone.

Mikel's Wall 2009 - BooBoo Day

Daddy Mike received a call from KidsRkids tellin' that Mikel was sick on October 19,2009 and caught sleeping in a corner had a temperature of 101.2 Fahrenheit. Mommy Jea was supposed to pick him up from work as planned, but with this situation Daddy Mike had to get him quickly from the daycare. So, mommy Jea left work and saw mikel @ home.

Mikel's Wall 2009

Its October 2009, and Mikel is turning 2 year old already on the 21st. We started him on daycare @ KidsRKids here in the neighborhood. Just to describe to you how it works for him.

First day was October 12, he was kinda playful and excited to know these kids below:

Apparently, on his 2nd-4th day he's anxiety and regression starts to kick in. The blanket and his pacifier should always be with him. We will give you more stories and pics soon!

Jena's Wall 2009

"PlumPlum" is what daddy mike calls Jena. Plumplum plays her swing at home enjoying it while learning to stand and walk with support this time, she is 9 months and 2 weeks old now. (October 15, 2009).

Our Kiddos 2009

Mom and dad really do not know what these two young lookin' at? OR, are they really watching TV?! Who's head is who!

Before it's ate mica, now.... ------ >3 small pumpkins are occupying our bed. So, where's gonna be mom and dad here?!

Mico's Wall 2009 - (1 month Old)

Mico turned 1-month old on October 14, 2009. He had his visit to see Dr. Beth Yip, his pediatrician and found out that he's 6.4 lbs and 18.30 inches long now. Dr. Yip asked if how Mico's doing with the Prevacid, his medicine for Reflux. He still manifests signs of it until now, looks like he's in pain whenever he feels that. Mommy and daddy feels the pain each time too. But we know, he will outgrow these symptoms. He currently still on apnea monitor for the

A/B episodes or Apnea/Bradycardia monitoring. Dr. Yip said it may take one to two months to be on the said machine. He did blood tests today for Caffeine Level and Hemoglobin or Blood count to find out if he is anemic. The monitor beeps frequently, and Respiratory Tech Beth told us that if it beeps frequently the memory of it may become full easily thus needed to download data if possible. So, Heather from Medical Plus came to house on the said date and downloaded it.

Mico From Hospital Birth until Home (Welcome Home!)

October 08, 2009 : Mico is home! 1530 in the afternoon when we finally got him from the hospital after all the paper works and discharge stuffs. Thanks to Dr. Mousoon and Nurse Lori, RT Beth who made all these things possible! Below are few pictures at home. We converted half of the office to little nursery, so that the big brother and sister would be able to less bother him whenever he needs sleep, additional to it is baby Mico's safety.

Preterm Labor and Mom's Hospital Days (How About the Other Kiddos?!)

I would just like to give you the description of what happened a week prior to Mico's birth.

September 07, 2009 : Julie noticed spotting, ignored it since she will see Dr. Ramos the next day.

September 08, 2009: Dr. Ramos did an internal exam, and verified with Julie that cervix is still closed.

September 09, 2009: Spotting continues and pressure on Julie's legs are getting heavy.

September 10, 2009: Spotting is still present, and getting in moderate amount, plus pressure on lower extemities gets moderately heavy. An on-call MD was notified, and he advised to observe it.

September 11, 2009: Spotting was heavier, still mommy Julie had to go to work for last day of the week, because she had the feeling that something is going on.

September 12, 2009: Early AM, Dr. Firpo was notified, the on-call OB Gyn assigned this day was the one who verified that she is 3-4 cm dilated and needs to stay in the hospital for observation due to the bag of water is low already and may break anytime. Mike and Julie had to fix the other kiddos first prior leaving the house. Mike had to go back home at 1030AM from work since Julie was not really feeling well, cramping that extends in the back is consistent.

God really has a plan for everything, family friend Jennifer and Ben Wong would be going to have a cruise with their baby Mia for their wedding anniversary, and apparently Jennifer's mom, tita Linda is available to watch the kids. So she went over to the house to help and stayed with the kiddos.

Here are some of the few pictures how they looked like when mommy Julie was confined already in the hospital during September 12, 2009-September 19,2009. Kiddos were trying to reach mommy Julie over the phone. Some pictures also show that daddy Mike bring them outside to enjoy the swing while waiting for mommy and baby Mico be home.

Mico From Hospital Birth until Home ( NICU II)

September 23, 2009: Start of Transfer of Mico to NICU Level II.

Dr. Haney and his team continued the care until October 04, 2009. They daily update us for Mico's progress. Daily average issue is Gastro Esophageal Reflux, and Laryngomalacia thus they are correcting him with an Oxygen 21 Liters/minute, or Caffeine as the last resort if the breathing problem has not been corrected.

October 07, 2009 : Dr. Mousoon, hospital pediatrician was seeing Mico, but before he be discharged she ordered an ENT consult to check his airway, this is how Mico looks like:

October 08, 2009 : 11 am Mommy Je-ann and Daddy Mike went to TWH for Apnea Monitor orientation prior to Mico's discharge. Dr. Mousoon wants him be on the monitor for 2 months (1 month with caffeine and 1 month without) for his safety.

Discharge of Mico from NICU, mom and dad had a happy pose inside the car prior to picking up mico from the hospital. Kiddos were left with the caregiver, tita Yolly (Another Neighbor)...

Mico From Hospital Birth until Home ( NICU III)

Our 4th Child Mico is born on September 14, 2009, Monday @ 1700 and was delivered via Emergency Caesarian Section by Dr. Carlos Ramos @ Texas Woman's Hospital, gestational age 32 weeks, Length of 15.5 inches and 4.4 lbs.









Emergency Caesarian Section for our last baby must be truly an experience for mommy Je-ann, that she really proves bearing a child for long months and giving birth is like the other half part of a mother's life is at death stake. In the end, it was very triumphant, with all God's graces and blessings, a miracle and a gift of life happened to both mom and the baby. Prayers are really worth it!



Our relatives in Manila: Mamsie Alma and Mama Marilyn, all the prayer warriors of The Lord's Flock, and the dad and husband Mike really prayed.













September 14, 2009 : According to his Neonatologist,
Dr. Haney he is Large for Gestational Age. Mommy Jeann was transferred to ICU as well for just 3 hours, and was transferred to a regular room at 2200 the same night. Mommy Jeann saw baby mico in the incubator intubated in the ICU when NICU level III nurses showed him to her for 5 minutes. However, mommy Je-ann was so exhausted and resting from the surgery, so she just held his hand for few seconds and back to sleep again. Daddy Mike telling story to Mommy Jeann that he and Mama Lyn were praying for her and the baby's safety over the phone during long distance conversation.
He was transferred to NICU Level III for stabilization. Apgar Score , 4,6, and 8.





September 15, 2009: Mommy Je-ann was still groggy from the Magnesium Sulfate IV, and still recuperating, hard for her since the pain from the surgery could not be denied. Baby Mico was still intubated, hooked up to a ventilator and using Oxygen 21 %, with an umbilical line for feeding and Monitors hooked for vital signs.

September 16, 2009: Mico could tolerate 30 mls of TPN, according to neonatologist and doing good, he gained weight now to 4.9 lbs.

September 17, 2009: Mommy Jeann still recovers in a regular room, though Dr. Ramos ordered already to take off the 3 antibiotics due to PreMature Rupture of Membrane infection. Antibiotics such as Gentamycin, Clindamycin, and Vancomycin were a huge help to control the infection. Baby Mico received same sets of antibiotics. However, mommy Je-ann still has a collapsed lungs or "Atelectasis" so the doctor wants to continue deep breathing, and coughing exercises plus walking.
Mommy Jeann and Daddy Mike visited Mico in NICU III that same night.

September 18, 2009: Mommy and Daddy visited Mico the last time in NICU III prior mommy's discharge. Mom and dad felt so sad, but they know they will come back to visit him daily as promised.



September 19, 2009: Mommy was so excited to take a picture with baby Mico, his nurse Austin helped him to be with mom's arms. Daddy Mike was not able to have a picture with him this day because it was "Change of Shifts" for nurses when it was his turn to come in. Sorry daddy...

September 20, 2009: It was daddy's turn, with kuya mikel to visit baby mico inside NICU III. Mikel was so excited to see his baby brother.

September 21, 2009: Daily we call NICU III to verify how is everything going with baby Mico. We spoke with his nurse today, Austin and he confirmed Mico's doing great. Plan of the Neonatologist to take off his Tube Feeding completely and do the whole bottle feeding, plus removing the A-Line or Arterial Line. One week after, he tolerates 40 cc of Milk, and he weighs 4.12 lbs.

September 22, 2009: His last day at NICU III, and will be going down to NICU Level II. That means its a good news! When mommy Je-ann was looking for him in the room, she did not recognize that she was placed on the very last corner of the room with no longer A-line and tube feeding on, just the Oxygen on room-air. The assigned nurse for the day said she is really doing great, they are just waiting for the room be available in NICU II, then he will be transferred.

We would really like to take this chance thanking the NICU III nurses who cared a lot and helped our son to survive. The following are : Guada, Ruth, Maryjo, Austin and the other RN's who are not mentioned here but definitely will always be in our heart that you guys there at Texas Woman's Hopital NICU Level III nurses are doing an excellent care, very admirable.

We are also thanking the filipino nurses who made this Winnie d Pooh name tag of Mico.

Mica's Roundabouts

Currently, Mica is on her college, finishing her Nursing years prior to come back here in Texas. She studies @ http://www.sblc-edu.com/ and me and her dad mike are praying she will finish it in just several months.

She is a grown up now, from being a child to a lady, turning 18 years of age in December, 2009.

We are very eager to go home for her debutante ball celebration and be a part of it. She is very blessed that her dad is looking forward to dance her on the floor, and be the most special amongst the 18 dance partners.

As her step mother, until now I linger the years from the time I met her when she was 11 year-old until she left us to go back in manila. She is a cutie pie, chunky patch, and a a precious one from being a girl transformed into a young lady. How I wish she is my own kid, so I could have given born to her and sacrifice everything as a mother. I really admit of the shortcomings that she had with me, and the trust that was incompletely built, and that is main reason why I just wish the longing to turn back when she was born, ---that I could have been her real mom...

I pray that her heart and mind would change that time is so precious, that there is more chances to build this family and be with her. Indeed, it is not too late yet, I love you Gherian Elijah or Mica... - Ate Jeann or "Mom" Jeann