Well, Zoey is finally here. On March 24, 2009, Zoey Crisslynn Tompkins was born - exactly 9lbs, 20 1/2 inches long, 6:04 a.m.
All seemed perfect as she took her first breaths and let out several cries!
However, because Zoey was 3 weeks early, there was too much fluid in her lungs, causing her to breathe too fast. For 6 days she was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) being treated for Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN). It occurs in about 1% of newborns, especially babies born early and through C-section. In the end it is easy to fix with observation and treatment. However, it was a very difficult 6 days for our family. When you hear about babies with lung problems at birth, you always feel bad for the baby, but you can never understand the real fear that the parents go through unless you experience it first hand with your own precious newborn.
Looking back at each day that she was in the NICU, it seems like it actually lasted a month. It broke my heart see the C-PAP machine covering her little face.
I didn't get to see her until about 12 hours after having her. That was so hard, but I was very motivated to get up and moving so I could see her. It also broke my heart see the iv in her tiny arm and the feeding tube in her nose. She could not take a bottle because of the rapid breathing. Of course I prayed constantly but I could not stop feeling helpless, because there was nothing I could do to help my baby. Finally on the third day of feeling so guilty and helpless, I realized that there was nothing I could do. I had to completely turn my baby and her healing over to God. I had not done this yet, which is why I felt so helpless. Something I've known to do all my life, for some reason did not come automatically when it had to do with my new baby.
It is so amazing what happened next. In that instant, God took over and began the quick healing of our baby girl. Zoey still could not drink from a bottle, but that very same day, the NICU nurse
called for me to start trying to nurse her. What a miracle! Zoey did perfectly and then that night was able to take a bottle. From then on, each of the items on her little body started to come off. They had already taken off the C-PAP machine and replaced it with a nasal cannula tube of oxygen. That was removed, then the iv, then the feeding tube. By day 5, she only had the monitors on her to watch her respiration, heart rate, and oxygen levels. Unfortunately, that was the day I had to go home, without my baby girl. Even though I knew it would only be a couple of days before she came home, it was still very difficult. I think I could have filled the oceans with all of the tears I shed over this week!
The NICU doctor did say that it would only be a couple of days before she came home, because her respiration rate was still a bit too high at times. Darrell and I went back up there that night and the nurse commented how well she was doing. The next morning, we got up early to head to the hospital. On the way, the nurse called my cell phone and said to be sure to bring Zoey some clothes and her car seat because she may get to come home today. The doctor was not in yet, but little Zoey was completely fine now! The doctor arrived shortly after we got there and said we could take our sweet baby home! The long 6 days in the hospital were over and Zoey was now a perfect newborn baby.
During all of this, our boys had to be shuffled around by Darrell and the grandparents, who were such a tremendous help to us. I know they were so worried about me and their new sister, but they were troopers. They were really ready for all us to be under one roof and just wanted to hold their new sister.
She has been home for almost a week now, and she is such a good baby. She sleeps well and does not cry too often. Zach and Zander just love her and want to hold her all of the time. It's amazing to think what we went through during those first few days of her life. I always had faith that God would take care of us, but it wasn't until I truely turned it over to Him that we could see Him in action. Our children are a blessing, and I pray that God uses each of them to do His work in this world.
All seemed perfect as she took her first breaths and let out several cries!
However, because Zoey was 3 weeks early, there was too much fluid in her lungs, causing her to breathe too fast. For 6 days she was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) being treated for Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN). It occurs in about 1% of newborns, especially babies born early and through C-section. In the end it is easy to fix with observation and treatment. However, it was a very difficult 6 days for our family. When you hear about babies with lung problems at birth, you always feel bad for the baby, but you can never understand the real fear that the parents go through unless you experience it first hand with your own precious newborn.
Looking back at each day that she was in the NICU, it seems like it actually lasted a month. It broke my heart see the C-PAP machine covering her little face.
I didn't get to see her until about 12 hours after having her. That was so hard, but I was very motivated to get up and moving so I could see her. It also broke my heart see the iv in her tiny arm and the feeding tube in her nose. She could not take a bottle because of the rapid breathing. Of course I prayed constantly but I could not stop feeling helpless, because there was nothing I could do to help my baby. Finally on the third day of feeling so guilty and helpless, I realized that there was nothing I could do. I had to completely turn my baby and her healing over to God. I had not done this yet, which is why I felt so helpless. Something I've known to do all my life, for some reason did not come automatically when it had to do with my new baby.It is so amazing what happened next. In that instant, God took over and began the quick healing of our baby girl. Zoey still could not drink from a bottle, but that very same day, the NICU nurse
called for me to start trying to nurse her. What a miracle! Zoey did perfectly and then that night was able to take a bottle. From then on, each of the items on her little body started to come off. They had already taken off the C-PAP machine and replaced it with a nasal cannula tube of oxygen. That was removed, then the iv, then the feeding tube. By day 5, she only had the monitors on her to watch her respiration, heart rate, and oxygen levels. Unfortunately, that was the day I had to go home, without my baby girl. Even though I knew it would only be a couple of days before she came home, it was still very difficult. I think I could have filled the oceans with all of the tears I shed over this week!The NICU doctor did say that it would only be a couple of days before she came home, because her respiration rate was still a bit too high at times. Darrell and I went back up there that night and the nurse commented how well she was doing. The next morning, we got up early to head to the hospital. On the way, the nurse called my cell phone and said to be sure to bring Zoey some clothes and her car seat because she may get to come home today. The doctor was not in yet, but little Zoey was completely fine now! The doctor arrived shortly after we got there and said we could take our sweet baby home! The long 6 days in the hospital were over and Zoey was now a perfect newborn baby.
During all of this, our boys had to be shuffled around by Darrell and the grandparents, who were such a tremendous help to us. I know they were so worried about me and their new sister, but they were troopers. They were really ready for all us to be under one roof and just wanted to hold their new sister.
She has been home for almost a week now, and she is such a good baby. She sleeps well and does not cry too often. Zach and Zander just love her and want to hold her all of the time. It's amazing to think what we went through during those first few days of her life. I always had faith that God would take care of us, but it wasn't until I truely turned it over to Him that we could see Him in action. Our children are a blessing, and I pray that God uses each of them to do His work in this world.
Zachary & Zoey
Zander & Zoey
