Eli Update 4/27

Eli is growing! I called to check on him tonight and he is almost 4 pounds 3 ounces. He is eating well from the bottle. The nurses feed him by bottle at 9 AM and midnight. The past few feeding he has taken the whole bottle. Because bottle feeding uses a lot of energy, they have had to increase his oxygen to 100% while he is being fed. When he is not eating, his oxygen is at 23-25% (we breathe 21%, so he does not have that far to go to be on room air).

He has reached another milestone...he is in an open crib. He was moved out of his isolette today. He has been maintaining his body temperature so the doctors and nurse wanted to see how he would do in a open crib. Maintaining his body temperature burns a lot of calories, so there is always a possibility that he will have to go back into the isolette if he starts losing weight.

Also, today, the pediatric ophthalmologist dilated his eyes to check the retinas. Preemies are at risk for something called Retinopathy of Prematurity. Eli is still not 'full term' so it is a little early for the doctor to say anything with certainty, but he said he felt like Eli has very mild retinopathy and that it should not cause him any problems. He will have to be checked in a month and then will need to be seen again yearly.

We still have a few more hurdles to clear, but so far so good. Right now, my biggest fear is having everything ready for him to come home. I am torn, because obviously I want him to be home, but being a new mom, I also want everything to be perfect. Oh well...I guess I will get over that!

-Meagan

Order the Lullaby CD- www.indieheaven.com/artists/russellmartin 

Like our facebook page- www.facebook.com/lullabycd and click "like."

Want to know what we're talking about.. Check out these other posts about our adoption process.

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Numbers...

It seems like lately our lives have been consumed by numbers. When we got the call about Elijah, we were told he was born at 30 weeks and 2 lb 6 oz. As we looked at making our 1st trip to see him, I thought about the 270 mile/ 5 hours trip. My mind also jumped to the money we going to have to pay to the adoption agency, how much gas costs, and what the hospital bills would be like.

Eli is almost 6 weeks old! When we are visiting him, I'm constantly watching his monitor, especially his oxygen saturation. If it gets below 85 I'm holding my breath & silently praying for his little lungs. When we are not there, I call to check on him twice a day. These conversations are filled with numbers. How much does he weigh? How much formula did he take by bottle? What is his oxygen setting at & has he had any periods of desaturation? I sincerely hope the nurses understand I'm not crazy, just concerned. 270 miles is a long way and I pretty much feel helpless.

We've gone through the 'going home' criteria...more numbers...with nurses. Only thing we are waiting on is a date, and that's all up to Eli.

In the past 3 days, there has been a shift in my mind. The numbers are still there, but now there questions swirling around also. What is it going to be like when he comes home? Am I going to be able to take care of him? What if he has to come home on monitors or oxygen? If he comes home early, are we going to have everything ready (considering right now we have a crib, dresser, highchair & a few small items/clothes)? Are we going to be able to raise the rest of the adoption/legal fees? Am I going to be a good mom??

This last question stands out a little more today. Today-4/26- my mom would have been 60 years old. I think her absence has made this process & these questions a little more overwhelming & scary. I have an amazing family & wonderful friends, an awesome husband & a loving God. I am truly blessed and I trust I will be taken care of. I just look at the past few weeks and how our life has changed.

I think about the incredible gift we have been given. But to be honest, I'm still a little scared. I hope & pray that the next couple of weeks will go smoothly. But if there are bumps or numbers that aren't great, I know our new family of 3 can make it through anything!

-Meagan

Oh, if you haven't gotten a few copies of the Lullaby CD now is the time. Each copy sold reduces our final costs. Order as many as you like! www.indieheaven.com/artists/russellmartin 

Do you like our facebook page? Go to www.facebook.com/lullabycd and click "like."

Want to know what we're talking about.. Check out these other posts about our adoption process.

A video update- With special footage of the "Bored Song"

Meet Eli for the first time.

When the whole process began

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Top Ten Books for Eli

I recently asked on my facebook page for my friends to list books they enjoyed when they were little, that I should get for Eli. I think we ended up with a pretty good list of children's books.

All in all over 75 comments and likes, and 66 different books were mentioned. I am listing the top 10 (with some ties) here for you. Each is linked to an amazon.com search for the book.

To see the complete list go to my facebook profile.

1. Goodnight Moon - 10

2. Love You Forever - 7

3. Winnie the Pooh - 4

4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar - 4

5. Dr Suess Books - 3

6. The Giving Tree - 3

7. The Pokey Little Puppy - 3

8.  Berenstain Bears - 2

9. Brown Bear Brown Bear - 2

10. Chika Chika Boom Boom - 2

11. Curduroy - 2

12. The Happy Man and His Dumptruck - 2

Oh, if you haven't gotten a few copies of the Lullaby CD now is the time. Each copy sold reduces our final costs. Order as many as you like! www.indieheaven.com/artists/russellmartin 

Do you like our facebook page? Go to www.facebook.com/lullabycd and click "like."

Want to know what we're talking about.. Check out these other posts about our adoption process.

A video update- With special footage of the "Bored Song"

Meet Eli for the first time.

When the whole process began

Receive these blog updates into your email inbox. Subscribe  to Russell and Meagan's Journey by Email

Eli Update #4

Ok.. here it is.. the second video update! We went to see our little bundle of joy this weekend. Just a quick update for you... he now weighs 3 lb 9 oz so we are well on our way to the 4 lb mark. Many of you have asked how much he needs to weigh before he comes home. They don't attach a specific weight as much as some benchmarks he needs to meet. He has to maintain his body temperature, take feedings by bottle and not have any breathing issues (be off oxygen, no apnea etc..) Each oz however, means he is getting stronger and closer to doing those things.

Some exciting news came when we found out that he is now eating 25 CCs of formula. They are also going to take him off the lipids and add fat to his formula. This also means that the PICC line will be coming out soon. One less tube and cord is always a good thing.

Speaking of formula they are trying to get him ready to feed from a bottle. They have started associating the pacifier with his feeding hoping to get him used to it. We may be able to bottle feed him somewhere around the first of May.

Thanks again for all the prayers and words of encouragement.

Just a reminder.. if you haven't gotten a few copies of the Lullaby CD now is the time. Each copy sold reduces our final costs. Order as many as you like!www.indieheaven.com/artists/russellmartin 

Do you like our facebook page? No seriously go to www.facebook.com/lullabycdand click "like."

Want to know what we're talking about.. Check out these other posts about our adoption process.

Meet Eli for the first time.

When the whole process began

Receive these blog updates into your email inbox. Subscribe  to Russell and Meagan's Journey by Email

A Video Update!!!

As you know we are now having to travel many hours to see our son. I have to say that it really is not that much fun being in a car for that long. However the chance to see, and hold Eli makes it worth it in the end. I thought I could take the time to describe for you our last trip, but then figured that it might be better done by video. So here is our video recap of our trip to see Eli.










Oh, if you haven't gotten a few copies of the Lullaby CD now is the time. Each copy sold reduces our final costs. Order as many as you like! www.indieheaven.com/artists/russellmartin 

Do you like our facebook page? No seriously go to www.facebook.com/lullabycd and click "like."

Want to know what we're talking about.. Check out these other posts about our adoption process.

Meet Eli for the first time.

When the whole process began

Receive these blog updates into your email inbox. Subscribe  to Russell and Meagan's Journey by Email

Eli Update and Mobile Post Test

Just checking to see if I can update the blog from my iPhone. So I thought I'd give you an update.
Right now we are in the NICU and Meagan is holding Eli. I think she would go to sleep if she'd let herself, with Eli laying right next to her.
Not much new on the medical front. Last week he had an infection, and through those complications had to go back on ventilator, and they ran a PICC line, and backed off of his feedings.
He came off the ventilator in 2 days, and has started back at 3ccs every 3 hours, but with the PICC line still in.
All that said he looks great and is still gaining weight a little at a time, so that's good.
Today we'll get to see him several times before making the drive back home. This will be our routine till he comes home.
Thank you again for all the prayers and words of encouragement. Thank you for standing there and watching as flip through and show you photo after photo. Thank you for gas cards, food cards, and other gifts that help us with these travels back and forth.
Soon he will be home! That's what we are praying for, that soon He will be home.

Meet Eli

Quick Timeline...

May 9, 2010.. Our Journey Begins- Meagan and I announce we are starting the process to adopt a child.

June 10, 2010... Visit to OKC - We visit our adoption agency for an orientation.

Sept 8, 2010... One Step Closer - We finished our home study.

October 28, 2010... Buy Hopes Prayers and Lullabies - The Lullaby CD goes on sale

Dec 28, 2010... The Next Step - We raised the first payment needed to send in our adoption packet.

Jan 15, 2011 ... The Book Has Arrived  - Our profile book arrives in the mail.

Mar 25, 2011 ... Progress and Prayers - We give a hint that something may be up.

Mar 27, 2011 ... Our First Meeting - We meet Elijah for the first time.

Mar 28, 2011 ... Bittersweet Return - We come back from our trip, leaving Eli behind.

So what has happened since March 28th? 

April 2, 2011 - Our LIFE Group Bible study sponsored a Children's items resale which raised $1800 to help with our adoption process.

April 4, 2011 - We are finally able to do this...

Now I want to introduce you to....

Elijah Glenn Martin

So.. please keep Eli in your prayers.. He has an infection and they had to put him back on the ventilator. We are not terribly worried but praying for him to be completely better soon.

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Buy the Hopes Prayers and Lullabies CD. All proceeds help us fund our adoption process.