Baby Blues

"Dude...I'm the Duke. That's right. The Duke."
As sweet as he is, sometimes Brigham has ATTITUDE!!!

I just love feeding little Duke. Every time I do he opens his eyes and gets really alert. Isn't he a good lookin' fellah? They won't let me breastfeed him yet, but I am pumping for him and they let me hold him and give him his bottle. I also love calling him Duke... and Brigham. I can't really decide which I like better. He is a sweet little fighter and I am so grateful that he has joined our family.
I am going to turn the computer over to the intrepid doctor husband for the medical update since he is better at all of the lingo.

David:
So, he had this high temperature today, which is possible with TTN. The pediatrician ordered blood cultures, urine cultures, and another chest xray. It turns out he has a urinary tract infection. Right now he's getting IV antibiotics until we know exactly what bug and which antibiotic will work best. His fever is gone, so we have that under control, and his breathing is a little better, but not where it needs to be. Since little boys don't often get UTIs, it usually means something could be wrong anatomically inside, so we will follow up with some pediatric urologists in the near future for some further tests. The most probable issues are not serious, but could require some watching and treatment for a few years.

It is so weird to be here because my family is in my hospital. After Brigham had a fever as a neonate, they ordered the tests I just explained. I've done it before for others, but now it's on my little boy. It makes the perspective much different. I didn't write the orders this time. I'm the one asking the doctor questions. I know it's common to need doctors, but being one, and the switching of roles is eye-opening for me. I know everyone, the medical team is awesome, the nurses are wonderful. The pediatrician I spoke to today was wonderful, and took time to explain the situation and future. We are very blessed to be here.

From the Hospital - Update

This is the Intrepid Husband with an update. Before we begin today's blog post, I want to recap on a phone conversation that happened last night.

Julie calls the house, and I pick up the phone
David: Hi Honey, how's everything?
Julie: Good, Brigham ate really well, more than they expected he would!
David: That's great, but he's still in the isolette?
Julie: Yes, probably another day.
David: Oh good.
Julie: So, um... *awkward pause* ...what would you think about changing Brigham's middle name to Duke?
David: *stunned silence* Really?
Julie: *optimistic retort* Yea, Really.
David: *confused query* Why?
Julie: Cause it's cute and the boys (Sammy and Benson) like it!
David: *still confused* Didn't your dad say that name only to keep Gracie from naming him pumpkin?
Julie: Yes, but he (Brigham) likes it.
David: *what do you say to that?*
Julie: My mom and I talked about it and I think we should change it to Duke.
David: Are you serious?
Julie: *firm reply* YES!
David: Um...can I think about it? *an off-phone conversation ensues with David accusing Grandpa of planting seeds in the obviously pain-killer addled brain of his sweet wife*
Julie: So, how long do you need? Another minute or two?
David: Um, no, I'll call you back. *The sound of children, fighting, and name calling in the background* You're serious, really?
Julie:*confident adieu* Yes, love you, call me later, bye!

So, there you have it. That's pretty much how it happened. My son is a Duke. Brigham Duke. Just like that.

This is Julie now: Let me give you a little more information about the above conversation. There has been a lot talk about what our little baby's name would be over the last several months. Sammy decided on Monday that it should be Pumpkin because that is what my stomach looked like. Finally the kids all agreed on a name... oh great they want to turn their brother into a vegetable. Before that there had been Mario, Luigi, Sammy, Benson, Peter Pan, Prince Derek... the list goes on about like that. When my parents came into town, my dad couldn't stand the thought of him being called "Pumpkin" so he started saying, "We want DUKE!" The boys quickly picked up on it. Even Benson, who I am sure didn't even remember his grandpa (it has been more than a year since they have seen each other) quickly warmed up to him and the name Duke and has been going around pounding his little fist on the table shouting "DUKE" ever since grandpa arrived. My mom told me that when she showed them the first pictures of baby Brigham he was saying, "Baby... baby Duke." I just thought it was so cute and it made me so happy, I wanted to change his name to Duke. Now we call him Brigham or Duke all the time. I can tell it makes the baby happy.

Back to David, Intrepid Doctor Husband

So, It's not that I don't LIKE the name Duke, it's fine name for rich snobby people who were born into positions they didn't earn *Julie just slugged me and pinched my arm*, Not to mention every time I see him or think of his name, I hear Duke of Earl singing in my head. *Shout out to my old Boys Quartet "Boyz to RM"--Julie rolled her eyes at me* I have to admit, and Julie did point this out, now he's not destined to go to Brigham Young University, he can go to Duke University in the Carolinas. (Not that he would anyway with his father encouraging the "Ute" in each of his kids--Julie shouted Go Cougars in the background).

So, now he's Brigham Duke. It kinda grows on you.

Here is a medical update from Doctor. So The Duke, has Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn or TTN. It is essentially retained fluid in the lungs after the baby's born. It usually happens after C-sections, when the baby isn't squeezed out, but Grandma, and Dr. Dad think he may have gulped in some "gunk" (Medical term). He's had a chest x-ray that should some extra fluid and most importantly, his breathing rate is mostly >100 breaths per minute. Baby's usually breath in the 40-60 range. So. He's breathing too fast. This means he could get more sick with complications stemming from that, but they treat him in an isolette extra oxygen, and it helps slow his breathing, and give him time to take care of the fluid. Day 2, he's doing well, the pediatricians are awesome! The residents as well, who I asked to be involved, have been incredible.

Julie's doing well, he has breast fed once, and but they are not letting her breastfeed more due to his oxygen needs. If all is well, then tonight we'll try breastfeeding again, and if that goes well, then he can come out of the isolette and tomorrow home!

**UPDATE**
The Residents just came in to tell us that his temperature is creeping up a little. Since he has TTN anyway, we need to check for a source. Newborn shouldn't have higher temps. So, Blood culture, Urine Culture, and another X-ray. He's doing well otherwise--more active today, eating alright, pooping and peeing, etc. The nurse even commented that he has stinky farts. I told her that was hereditary. So, this is where we are now. A little more worriesome, but with a great team of doctors and nurses, I know we're doing great.
David

More pictures to come, we had to charge the camera battery. Oops - Dad and Mom forgot.

This is the Intrepid Doctor Husband (and my Julie) Signing out.

At the Hospital - Blogging Live

This is the intrepid husband(now intrepid doctor husband), blogging live at the sceneWe've just walked into my hospital. Julie's water has broken today. She visited the OB/Gyn office earlier, and things are great, she's ready to have a baby! Mom made it in town and so Grandma wont miss a grand baby being born!

We've got her settled into the room, and ready to get going. I personally reported to the ob about the beautiful patient I was very attracted too who just showed up. We got her settled in a room, after walking through the ER to get registered. Most of the staff knew me, and wished us luck as we walked through. Julie is radiant, and ready as always to have a baby--no epidural!!

Grandma is doing the dula thing-rubbing feet with oils and keeping the patient happy. Here we go! We've just started this adventure for the next kid---a boy.

More to come, stay tuned!

Now Julie's been on Pit for a couple hours, and contractions are up to the requisite speed. She's feeling them and still shunning the epidural. We're playing lots of Phase 10. Its Julie's game she plays while she's in labor. So Grandma Leslie is kicking our butt. She's having way too much fun. Julie is moving a long like we've watched her do many times before, we were pretty much running the show. We had a great nurse, and nursery nurse, and a fantastic OB/Gyn.

And it came to pass, that the time for delivery was immanent, and we called the nurse. The nursed checked her, did a test push, and it came to pass that the nurse called another nurse and let the doctor know that the season of delivery had come. The Intrepid Doctor Husband (that's me) gowned and gloved up like a real doctor.

Julie pushed for no more than 15 minutes, and after a short stint of a stuck shoulder, that the OB/Gyn fixed in a jiffy, we had a baby boy.

This is Brigham Banks, 8lbs, 7 oz, 21 inches long. Julie was great!

Soon after he was born, the nurses were concerned he was breathing too fast, and not keeping his sats up.

This is called transient tachypnea of the newborn, a common condition meaning a little extra water on the lungs that's hard to get out

So right after birth he was in an incubator with some extra oxygen.

Julie and I have had him out with some Oxygen by nasal canula, and he's doing okay, we're about to go watch as they wean him off of it to see how he does.

Here we go.

Intrepid Doctor Husband Out.