New Member Intro.....and I'm a girl!!!

[kmac]

That is as cool of a first post as i have ever seen on any site, anywhere....

Mom and Dad, dont miss a minute of it...it flies by way too fast.

My baby girl, also a daddy's girl and an avid rider, just got her DL this year and i miss her always needing me....we still hang out alot but less now that she has her car....

Bless you all, and she is beautiful...

[algover]

OK, it's been a while since Amelia has updated us. She asked me to handle it for a quick update since her fan club has been inquiring.

 

She's 3 weeks old today. She is 3lbs, 5oz. Her both weight was 3lbs, 6oz and she dropped to 2lbs, 13oz but is now trending up.

 

She is completely unhooked from everything except her heart monitor and reputations monitor. She still feeds through an NG tube for now.

 

Holy Toledo!!!!!!! I'm going to go broke with her hair dresser. She has A LOT of hair on that head!!!!

 

Wenhad such a fantastic and unexpected visitor this evening. Dave the Affable was in town and had this amazing and compeling God driven urge to hunt Jamie and I down so he could hang with us. A great story I'll share later. Dave, thank you! Your visit was exactly what we needed.

 

Jamie and I are living in the RV loaned to us by my Battalion Chief. That is saving us 100 miles of driving every day.

 

She is making strides daily. We have no expected discharge date at this point. Amelia has a lot of things to accomplish before she comes home so we are taking it one day at a time.

 

Thanks for everyome's kind words, thoughts, prayers, and visits. We so appreciate them all!!!!

 

More later once Amelia wakes up from her foot scrub.

 

Brava! Go girl!!

[Firefight911]

And, so the trials, tribulations, and challenges continue.........

 

Amelia is still doing her eat and grow thing. She is now at 3lbs, 12oz. She has anemia that they are treating for, low sodium which has righted it self for the kst part, low iron which is is getting a supplement for, etc. Still an apnea/brady from time to time but only two or three a week now. Other than that(like that isn't enough), the docs feel she is doing what preemies do at this stage and nothing is surprising them.

 

In other news, we are still living in the RV in the hospital parking lot. Unfortunately, the power at the site burned up. LITERALLY!!!!!! So, we have no power and no projection as to when it might be repaired.

 

We are thankful that it only burned up the adapter plug on the RV side and not the whole RV!!!!!!! From the appearance it seems as though a lack of maintenance on the plug/receptacle loss allowed corrosion and the like to build up which created heat over time and BLAMO.

 

Of course, this occured while I was at work and Jamie was taking a much needed break from the NICU. Thank goodness there were some other people

In the RV next to us who heard/saw/smelled it happen and were able to get us disconnected.

 

Unfortunately, we were never notified so didn't know about it until the next day when Jamie went back to the RV after a full day at the NICU. All our food was ruined and Jamie had to trek back home.

 

We can't seem to buy a break! Somewhere there is a lesson to be learned in it all. Just not seeing it yet and am actually a bit weary right now. Knees are weak and stomach is knotted but we persevere and march on.

 

Amelia keeps us going as she is carrying us with God.

[Glenn Reed]

Phil, Jamie, and Amelia,

 

My wife and I did not have any preemies, but lost one before birth, and the two we got had three major surgeries between them prior to age five (others since as well).

 

From our experience - There will always be challenges, and there will always be folks there to help you through them. It doesn't mean that you should take anything for granted, and obviously you are not, but I would suggest that you keep an eye out for the folks who will help, and welcome the assistance. You will contribute to others in your own ways going forward.

 

From what I have read, you have the hospital staff, especially in the NICU, those who lent you the RV, and those who noticed the latest issue and kept the RV from incinerating and I am sure others that have not come up in the discussion thus far. Keep faith that there will be others, including everyone else here at BMWST who are pulling for the three of you, and will help out whenever possible.

 

Peace be with you, eat and sleep whenever you can, appreciate those who help out, keep looking for the positives.

 

We all look forward to the reports from Amelia, and hope to meet her someday soon.

[russell_bynum]

And, so the trials, tribulations, and challenges continue.........

 

Amelia is still doing her eat and grow thing. She is now at 3lbs, 12oz. She has anemia that they are treating for, low sodium which has righted it self for the kst part, low iron which is is getting a supplement for, etc. Still an apnea/brady from time to time but only two or three a week now. Other than that(like that isn't enough), the docs feel she is doing what preemies do at this stage and nothing is surprising them.

 

In other news, we are still living in the RV in the hospital parking lot. Unfortunately, the power at the site burned up. LITERALLY!!!!!! So, we have no power and no projection as to when it might be repaired.

 

We are thankful that it only burned up the adapter plug on the RV side and not the whole RV!!!!!!! From the appearance it seems as though a lack of maintenance on the plug/receptacle loss allowed corrosion and the like to build up which created heat over time and BLAMO.

 

Of course, this occured while I was at work and Jamie was taking a much needed break from the NICU. Thank goodness there were some other people

In the RV next to us who heard/saw/smelled it happen and were able to get us disconnected.

 

Unfortunately, we were never notified so didn't know about it until the next day when Jamie went back to the RV after a full day at the NICU. All our food was ruined and Jamie had to trek back home.

 

We can't seem to buy a break! Somewhere there is a lesson to be learned in it all. Just not seeing it yet and am actually a bit weary right now. Knees are weak and stomach is knotted but we persevere and march on.

 

Amelia keeps us going as she is carrying us with God.

 

It could be worse....you could be on top of a mountain in a snowstorm in your pajamas riding Whip's KTM.

 

 

Hang in there, man. It'll get better.

 

Regarding the RV...does it not have an onboard generator? Most of the RV's and travel trailers I've seen have an onboard gen that can power everything. The Refrigerator should be able to run on Propane...there's probably a switch to tell it to go from electricity to Propane. Using the Gen to charge the house batteries and run the high-power stuff like the AC and microwave, and the propane to run the refrigerator and the heater, you should be able to do just fine without shore power.

[Firefight911]

Thank you both! You are correct in your assessments. We do know how fortunate and blessed we are. The journey does become wearisome from time to time. I should probably not post this stuff on my first day off from my shift, after trudging all over in the weather to find the proper replacement plug, drive all the way out to the hospital/RV, and then have my beautiful bride tell me she left the RV keys at the house......50 miles away.

 

Yes, this is truly a mack daddy RV.....however, the chassis batteries were removed and not put back in when delivered for our use, hence, no power or generator use possible. It came straight from storage and the batteries are at the owner's house on a tender.

 

We hope to be powered up tomorrow night.

 

Sincere thanks to ALL!!! You are our family here so sometimes you get the bad with the good. Don't YOU all feel blessed now?

[kmac]

Phil,

Im newer here and havent had the personal pleasure of meeting you, but i can say that personally, a little venting when under stress is completely acceptable. Your conviction and positive overall outlook is inspiring, and the fact that you shared the bad with the good is part of what we do as humans, especially when amongst friends. THAT IS WHAT friends are for.

 

Keep sharing the good with us, we love the good....and as for me anyway, i am more than willing to bear the sad and bad along with the good...Best to all 3 of you...

 

New Friend

Kelly Mac {kmac}

 

PS. keep looking forward, i had a daddy daughter date nite last friday with my 16 yr old daughter on the bike...we went for a nice twilight ride of about 40 miles of back country twisty's thru La Cresta and De Luz to Temecula the out to dinner in old town Temecula and a freeway buzz home....great fun, You have ALOT to look forward to my new friend....

 

PSS. my daughter and i hit 110 mph on the freeway....she loved it..i am such a BAD DADDY...but she is SOOO my kid...WTH

[russell_bynum]

I should probably not post this stuff on my first day off from my shift, after trudging all over in the weather to find the proper replacement plug, drive all the way out to the hospital/RV, and then have my beautiful bride tell me she left the RV keys at the house......50 miles away.

 

LOL!! Are you sure Jamie and I aren't related? That's exactly the sort of thing I'd do.

 

Once I was going to the shooting range...so I loaded up my stuff and drove down there. I got there and discovered...I forgot my earplugs. So I drove back into town to WalMart and bought some more. Drove back out to the range, waited for a lane to open up, setup my targets, my spotting scope, etc. Then I discovered that I hadn't brought the magazine for the rifle I was planning on shooting. So I packed it up and got out the other rifle that I brought. That's when I discovered that the two boxes of ammo that I brought for that rifle....only contained spent brass.

 

All-in-all I spent about 5 hours and didn't get to fire a shot.

 

[johnlt]

Hang in there Phil, Pam and I's thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

john

[RT Russ]

Thank you both! You are correct in your assessments. We do know how fortunate and blessed we are. The journey does become wearisome from time to time. I should probably not post this stuff on my first day off from my shift, after trudging all over in the weather to find the proper replacement plug, drive all the way out to the hospital/RV, and then have my beautiful bride tell me she left the RV keys at the house......50 miles away.

 

Yes, this is truly a mack daddy RV.....however, the chassis batteries were removed and not put back in when delivered for our use, hence, no power or generator use possible. It came straight from storage and the batteries are at the owner's house on a tender.

 

We hope to be powered up tomorrow night.

 

Sincere thanks to ALL!!! You are our family here so sometimes you get the bad with the good. Don't YOU all feel blessed now?

 

Phil,

Where's the RV/hospital? I'm an industrial electrical type....27+ years as an industrial electrician/engineering specialist. If I can help repair the power connection, let me know ASAP! I can take time off if needed to get you and Jaimie powered up so you can stay near the little one (congrats, by the way!). I'll send you a PM with my cell #.

 

Hawk

[Couchrocket]

What a cool place this is.

 

I've not been on the board much in the last few weeks. Dave the Affable clued me in to this thread! Thanks... Senor Affable.

 

Ameila... Welcome. Phil and Jamie, may God put a hedge of protection around you all. For health and growth, and robustness in your precious little girl. For endurance, patience, and peace that passes understanding for you two. For love, joy, peace, patience . . . that flows from the source through the center of your family outward to all those you touch and bless.

 

Oh, and for working RV power!

 

Thanks for sharing your blessing with the rest of us . . .

 

 

[peterbulgar]

Hi Amelia - Welcome to the world.

Viewing the pictures of you in the ICU brought back memories of my own daughter, Vanya, also born two months early. She weighed in about the same as you, and had no problems except for being early and small. She came home after a month and it was fairly smooth sailing after that. We had a party for her soon after, which coincided with my old R75/5 turning over 100k miles. The invitation featured a drawing of a full-coverage helmet with little feet sticking out the bottom.

 

She's 27 now and lives at Lake Tahoe. She played soccer in high school and college, and this weekend she's running a half-marathon in Monterey. She's traveled to more countries than I have, and I'm very proud of her. She never became interested enough in motorcycles to want one herself, but a few years ago she rode with me on a week long camping trip through northern California and Oregon. I look back on that as one of the best M/C trips ever.

 

Best wishes for a short stay in the hospital, and an uneventful and smooth transition to just being a regular baby. If it turns out that you aren't that interested in motorcycles - well, that's OK too.

peter '73 R75/5, '04 R1150RA, '06 Kawasaki, '83 Vanya, '84 Nikki, '89 Andrew

[rad]

Way cool!

[wallyo]

Great post! Congrats!

[Firefight911]

Hi everyone!! Dad here.

 

It's been a long while and I apologize. Amelia has been busy since our last update.

 

Right off the bat, Amelia is still in the NICU. I think today is day 71. She will NOT be home for Christmas and most likely will be there a good portion of January as well. Maybe we'll see about her being home around MLK day. It's up to her!

 

Since our last update Amelia had taken a pretty dramatic turn for the worse. This turn required all her feedings to cease and she ended up back on IV fluids and a bit of oxygen here and there. Long story short, she took us for a ride of over two weeks before she started getting back on track. Major issues avoided.

 

She is now working on getting her bad self up and running. She currently weighs 6 lbs, 5 oz. and is still receiving her feedings via NG tube. This is the hurdle we are working on overcoming and is what keeps her in the NICU. Until she can feed on her own, she stays.

 

Her "issue" is that when she either breast or bottle feeds she doesn't have a good rhythm or pace and ends up to the point where she freaks out, stops breathing, and then has a complete and total meltdown resulting in her O2 sats plummeting along with her heart rate. Stimulate, stimulate, blow by O2, etc. and she perks back up.

 

Yes, she is doing it her way!

 

Anyway, we are still living in the RV at the hospital. I am still working and Jamie is still off work until January 2, 2011. At this time, Jamie has to return to work as her disability expires. We will both continue to work until she comes home and we will commute to work from "home", err, the RV. Once she does come home, we both will take some FMLA time and hang with her at the real house.

 

BTW, I am so done with RV life and what is a home cooked relaxing meal? Really?

 

We have some great pics but I haven't had the time to get them loaded to my Smugmug site. That and my usual interface program 'Upload to SmugMug' is not working for some reason. Once I have this done/fixed, I'll post a link.

 

Amelia is doing very well otherwise. We need to remember that she was born on October 13 and her due date has STILL not arrived - December 26.

 

I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and well wishes and gifts. It is with this that we have been able to continue through some very dark times. I also want to apologize for not reaching out and thanking each of you for this more personally. I hope you can understand the reasons and strain we have been under.

[Nice n Easy Rider]

Phil,

Best wishes to you and Jamie and Amelia for what I hope will be a much improved new year.

[Francois_Dumas]

Wishing the THREE of you nothing but the best and hoping your next 100 years or so will be SO MUCH easier on all of ya !

 

Merry Christmas from both if us and nothing but good things in 2011!

 

Nina and Francois

[yabadabapal]

I cannot imagine how difficult this is for you. All three of you are heroes and you're in my prayers.

[Danny caddyshack Noonan]

Best wishes and prayers.

 

Give a shout when you are ready, and able, for TMR. We'll get the Sac area riders together!

[dhanson]

Pulling for you Amelia, keep on keeping on.

[Armando]

can't wait to see pictures of you Amelia. First things first though, get strong and healthy!!!.

 

[kmac]

Morning Phil,Jamie, and Amelia,

Our thoughts and prayers are still with you my friends.

 

My wife is an RN and she sends her best wishes as well. My wife says she will likely be on an apnea sleep monitor for a good while even once she comes home. But that is okay since it will give you some peace of mind while she sleeps.

 

6lbs 5oz is pretty good. I am sorry for your accomodations dilema, but kids are alot of work even when healthy. But the joys out weigh the work, especially as she grows and gets healthier you will begin to forget the early struggles Im sure.

 

Hey, somebody up north, make them a nice home cooked meal and drop it off would yah.

 

Keep the chin up

Kelly

 

[Glenn Reed]

Glad to hear Amelia is getting bigger and hopefully along with that stronger in all the ways she needs to.

 

I realize that I have no idea what that journey must be like for the two of you, but we all wish you the best, and look forward to you all going home and settling in there, whenever she is ready.

[Firefight911]

Duh!

 

 

My ninja girl.

 

 

Merry Christmas!!!!

 

 

Ho!

 

 

Don't cry for me Argentina........

 

 

Velcro baby.....brought to you my Ronco.

 

 

Dad, you mean they STILL haven't paid you for the GT!?

 

 

Hmmm, an idea to break her outta there....

 

 

Calendar girls

 

 

Really? I'm trying to look evil here. See how I hold my hands? BWAAAHAAHAAAAAAA!!!!

 

 

Some nights are just blurry snowmen!

 

 

Words escape me here!

 

 

(Achmed the dead terrorist voice insert) I KILLLLL YOU!!!!!

 

 

I live in a gated community

 

 

Yes, that is a Torrey shirt! What you couldn't tell?

 

 

This isn't ADV, is it?

 

 

Here's the whole gallery....

 

HERE

 

[Glenn Reed]

Outstanding pics! My wife took one of me sleeping on the couch with our youngest sleeping on my chest when he still had on both of his leg casts (born with club feet).

 

That Christmas my Mom had that one framed and gave me one just like it with me as an infant asleep on my Dad's chest.

 

Glad to see all of the smiles, best of luck.

[kmac]

Phil,

Awesome pics and funny subtitles. My wife and daughter loved the pics.

My daughter was on 6lbs 7oz when she came home so you guys are definately getting there.

Being in construction i usually have gotten home between 2 and 4pm from work. My wife being a Nurse she usually got home between 5-6pm so from the day my wife went back to work after her maternity leave me and Kelsey have had a few hours every afternoon of daddy daughter time. There were alot of days my wife would come home to my Kiddo sacked out on my chest like your second to the last pic. Keep up the good job, it gets even better from here.

[Indy Dave]

great pics, thanks for the update. Sorry to hear of your setbacks, but as you say, she is still a tab early.

[JustJean]

Great blessings are coming your way soon I just know it! You guys hang in there! Love you guys!!

[blackyam]

Phil and Jamie: She looks very alert when awake. Very cool. Happy Christmas to y'all and a joyous New Year.

 

---John.

[mig]

Phil

I used to love it when i would come home from work and go grab the baby from the wife and lay down on the couch and rest. So relaxing. they were a warm bundles, very cuddley. I think them listening to my heart would sooth them and they would sleep there so easy. it was just awesome and a miracle. I enjoyed all three of my kids that way. your pictures are great and bring back memories that I cherish.

The end of January is just a skip away.

Keep the faith, and the rest of use will do all the praying.

Happy Holidays to you all

miguel

[Francois_Dumas]

Great pics !!!! :-)

[Firefight911]

OK, all! A smidge of an update.

 

We are now on day 92, yes NINETY TWO, and she is still in the NICU.

 

At this point the doctors and staff have closed the book on "preemie" issues. YEAH!!!! She is floating around 7 lbs., 8 oz. at this point and doing very well. She is perfectly healthy in every facet, way, shape, form, etc. except for one. Amelia is still in need of a feeding tube to help complete her feedings. She has an issue with her intestines that, for lack of any better way to describe it, makes it as if you or I were very constipated and needing to go number 2 really bad. So, as a result, you and I would be on the pot working, turning red, grunting, etc., to make this happen......all the while being fed a full multi course meal. Yeah, how's that working out!

 

This leaves Amelia tired, gassy, distended, with some reflux from pushing so much, etc. We are in process of diagnostic testing with the pediatric GI specialist to figure this out. She had a barium enema yesterday and we are awaiting the next step/results/etc. This could be a very simple thing to a very significant genetic thing. We are prepared for anything at this point. Only this next set of diagnostics will let us know where we stand.

 

I have some great photos to share and will do so, just as soon as they have uploaded.

 

Thanks again to every one of you, our brothers and sisters, for being there, dropping us a line, thinking of us, sending your vibes and energies, and praying for us. We so appreciate and need it.

 

Yes, we are still in the RV. Jamie has returned to work as her disability is up and we are not able to bring her home just yet. She now commutes to and from work and the RV. I am making the trips to home, working, the RV/hospital, and taking care of the dogs.

 

More to follow in the next few days once the testing process is complete and we have had the opportunity to meet with the doctor and determine what we are dealing with and what to do about it.

 

Great, BMW engineered Amelia's final drive!!!

[DaveTheAffable]

Great, BMW engineered Amelia's final drive!!!

 

Well... you know my household are praying for all of you, but a little levity is in order.

 

If it really is a "Final Drive" issue, do you think changing to Synthetic Oil would help things along? (I KNEW we could make this an oil thread...)

[Firefight911]

If it really is a "Final Drive" issue, do you think changing to Synthetic Oil would help things along? (I KNEW we could make this an oil thread...)

 

Would that extend the diaper change interval?

[Heck]

If it really is a "Final Drive" issue, do you think changing to Synthetic Oil would help things along? (I KNEW we could make this an oil thread...)

 

Would that extend the diaper change interval?

 

Not the result you want is it??

 

Synthetic would work as long as it was "Castor Oil"

 

BTW Phil & Jamie - so happy things are progressing on a positive track- you three have been in our prayers here.

We just acquired another grand-niece as of 3 AM this morning...mother and baby Haley doing well.

[SageRider]

Thanks for the update!

Glad Amelia is getting herself out of the woods.

Hope the final drive issue resolves well.

[Firefight911]

Amelia now has chores....she's been there so long!

 

 

What's up....

 

 

Go Red Sox!

 

 

Mom! You're the coolest!

 

 

Hey! It's practically walking distance to the dealer from the hospital!

 

 

Hey, where'd that darn cat go?

 

 

....and I want a fiddy for my birthday....and new motorcycle boots.....and

 

 

What the hell was in that milk anyway?!

 

 

Happy New Year....NICU style!

 

 

When I grow up, I wanna be like nurse Dana!

 

 

Look into my eyes.....I will tell you your fortune.

 

 

Nurse Morgan knows how to make firefighting Daddy's happy!!

 

 

We wish Amelia would come home!!!!

 

 

Come here and I'll show you where you can put yer darn candy cane!

 

 

Shhhh, I'm trying to catch a bee!!!

 

 

It fits!!!!!!! (compliments of Steve and Val Malinson)

 

 

[Firefight911]

Hey, I'm warm! Mmmmmmmm....

 

 

Nurse Morgan.

 

 

It's my BIRFDAY!!!!

 

 

Nurse Mary.

 

 

Nurse Paula.

 

 

 

[Glenn Reed]

Phil,

 

Best of luck with the "final drive" issues, we're all pulling for the three of you. Great pics!

 

Glenn

[eddd]

She sure has come a long way. Hope the last part of the trail to going home is just around the corner.

[Francois_Dumas]

 

Great, BMW engineered Amelia's final drive!!!

 

 

 

Real glad to hear everything else is working as expected though ! Kudos to those doctors, too !!!

[dhanson]

Yep, we are pulling for the little one. Keep on keeping on!

[Limecreek]

That is an adorable child and her story puts what is important in life into a proper perspective.

[TEWKS]

Great forward progress!

 

 

 

Pat

[Indy Dave]

Glad Amelia is PROGRESSING and am sure the maiden trip home is in the near future.

[johnlt]

Thanks for the update Phil. We are praying ya'll can get over this final hump and get home. Beautiful baby.

[IT_Mike]

Amelia, hang in there.

 

My son David went through these same issues back in 1996/7. 11 1/2 weeks early, 15", 3.4 lbs. After 4 1/2 months in the NICU and gastric surgery due to extreme reflux, he came home to a year of tube feedings.

 

He's not had a single issue since. He decided to get it all out of the way in that first year, and now almost looks his father in the eye at age 14. Get all this worked out of your system now, and have a great life.

[Matts_12GS]

That is an adorable child and her story puts what is important in life into a proper perspective.

 

+1

[EffBee]

 

I don't think I've ever seen you look more manly, Dad.

[hANNAbONE]

+1..."mANLY yes, but I like him too"...(Amelia is saying*)