Bella Baby

Here are some pictures taken by a professional photographer at the hospital. Enjoy!

Week 1

Well, after a very tumultuous 1st week of life, Tristen is home and I finally have the energy to share what's happened over the last week.

Leading up to Tristen's due date, I had an ultrasound indicating that he would be big. At that time, the doctors were threatening a c-section. We waited to see if he would come on his own, but decided to induce 5 days early so he wouldn't get any bigger in hopes of avoiding the c-section.

Thursday, March 19, Andrew and I went to the hospital at 7:30 AM to induce labor. The morning of labor went very smoothly. I was able to have visitors, so we relaxed and watched TV and waited for things to progress. By 2:00, though, I was in such pain I was vomiting at every contraction. Reluctantly, I asked for an epidual at 4:45 but it wasn't until 5:30 that it was delivered. Things gradually calmed down after that . . . and stopped progressing. At 9:00 Tristen was in distress and I was not making progress. The doctor and nurses rushed me into the operating room and Tristen was finally born via c-section at 10:15 PM. Andrew was there and extremely supportive the entire time. He was even able to see Tristen's birth.

Friday and Saturday, we enjoyed around the clock care from the hospital and friendly visitors and getting to know Tristen. But on Saturday, we noticed Tristen having unusual twitches. By Sunday, we expected to be able to go home, but continued to see Tristen twitching. I casually mention his twitching to the nurse when it happened so she had the pediatrician look at him. The pediatrician didn't think anything but suggested the neonatal doctor look at him too. Even the neonatologist didn't think it was serious but ordered an EEG test just to be safe. We were all very surprised when the EEG came back abnormal indicating that baby Tristen was having seizures. Monday night, all the doctors observed him having an episode and immediately began anti-seizure medicine. I was discharged on Monday, so for the rest of the week Andrew and I went back and forth from home to the hospital while Tristen was under observation and getting his medicine adjusted. Tuesday, he had a CAT-scan which came back normal. The medicine makes him very sleepy but seems to be working because he hasn't had any other seizures. Tristen got to finally come home on Thursday, one week after he was born.

So, things didn't go as I'd hoped, but we have our beautiful baby boy. God is never caught by surprise and had a plan for how Tristen would be born. If we hadn't had the c-section, we wouldn't have stayed in the hospital long enough to catch the seizures and gotten Tristen treatment.

Update

Well, Betsy has been released from the hospital. Tristen is still there under observation. Betsy and Andrew noticed him twitching on Sunday and the Doctor decided to admit him to the NICU for some tests. He has been having little seizures, but they gave him some medicine and it sounds like it is helping. He hasn't had a seizure since they put him on it. So, he has to have a few more tests and hopefully he'll be able to come home soon. Tristen is very healthy in every other way. Pray that He can come home soon.

Videos

Some video of Tristen's first moments.


Tristen gets weighed


Betsy sees Tristen for the first time


Andrew held Tristen for the first time in the nursery


Betsy finally held Tristen at 1:00 in the morning for the first time.

More pictures

There are more pictures up on flickr (click on the word "flickr" and you will be taken to the site).

Karibu, Tristen!

Tristen Suubi Sentamu was born last night at 10:15 PM.
8.5 lbs and 21.25 in.

I'll let Betsy post the details later, but here are the highlights . . .

Betsy went was induced at 9:00 AM. She was in labor for 12 hours with not much progress. At 9:30, the Dr. decided to deliver via c-section because the baby was in distress. Andrew and Betsy did a great job. I'm so proud of them. Here are a few pictures.

Pictures of the Nursery