Videos of Zachary ...

Well ... I finally had a chance to upload some video and I want to apologize right up front about the quality of the video. These videos were taken on our little digital camera, so the picture quality and stability is not the greatest. But I did want to share these so that everyone would get a chance to see Zachary and watch him move around a little.

Just click on the little play button under the video. Also ... keep in mind that the video is also being down loaded to your computer. So those who do not have broadband Internet access may want to just give the video a little time to down load to your computer (maybe go fix something to drink, maybe eat some lunch or a snack, ..... maybe go run some errands, etc. ...... ha-ha-ha) otherwise the video may be a little choppy the first time of viewing ... I think by now most of you know how this works.

Enjoy ... and I will add a new video every so often.

These first two videos are from Day 2 (Feb. 24).
In the first of the two, you can see my fingers come down
and be set close to him and you can get a little perspective
of how tiny this little guy really is. Also he is squirming a bit
because he was really upset and would be crying if he didn't
have the tube from the ventilator.







This video is from Day 3 (Feb. 25).

Day 4

Everybody is doing great!!!

Zachary....

He had to have surgery this evening to correct a valve between the heart and the lungs called the Patent Ductus Arteriosus. This valve usually shuts on its own with a full term baby but this condition is VERY common with preemies. I just got a call from Stephen and the surgery went very well and was successful. This will help little Zachary breath better because there will be better blood flow to his lungs. The doctor said that this is a routine procedure and that he has preformed it over 3,000 times. The doctor said he was as beautiful on the inside as he is on the out!! Always great words to hear from you doctor!

It was great to hear Kim's voice so excited to tell me that they got to TOUCH him today!!!!YAAAEEEE!! They got to hold his hands and the nurse even let them help take is temperature! She sounded so thrilled!!!

Kim & Stephen......

Mommy and Daddy are doing good. Kim still has an infection and running fever. Herhemoglobin levels are low so they are giving her high doses of iron and the 3 antibiotics still. They are going to keep her in for a couple more days until all of this clears up.

I must brag on Stephen a little bit, he is such a PROUD daddy!! He has been an amazing husband to Kim and has stuck by her side through ALL of this. I have heard MANY good things about all he has been doing for Kim and little Zachary! I so proud of both you!!

Side Note...

She asked me to let everyone know that if she doesn't answer her phone it because she is either pumping or in the NICU. She said please do not panic or worry if she doesn't answer. Leave a message or call back later. She will get back with you when she gets a chance.

Keep all three of them in your thoughts and prayers.

More updates tomorrow. We are working on getting some videos of the little man on here!!

Day 3

Good news!!

Lets start with the little man!!

-he has had two blood transfusions to help regulate his blood pressure.

-he has a little bit of jaundice so he is getting to tan under the wonderful lights!

-He has no more fever.

And I saved the best for last......

-They have taken him off the higher powered ventilator and put him on a normal ventilator and he is taking some breaths on his own!!! YYYAAEEEE GO ZACHARY!!

-They have him on about 43% oxygen and trying to wean him down to 21%(which is normal room air).

He is doing so good and the nurses are very pleased at how well he is responding to everything!

Mommy is still running a high fever due to an infection in her uterus. The doctors expected this because of the low levels of fluids over the past 5 weeks. They still have her on 3 antibiotics so hopefully soon she can get rid of this infection. The good news is that since it is not anything that Zachary can catch from her she gets to go see him!

She is still being her amazing positive self. This family has really amazed me!!

I also wanted to let everyone know that the little man can't have any visitors. It's the NICU rules, he is busy growing and doesn't have time to visit!! HE HE

Many people have asked if they can come see him through the window, well folks, there is not a window for you to look through. He will be home for us all to see before we know it.

As of now, Kim is not feeling in tip top condition due to this infection, she would prefer phone calls and e-mails. She will be released from the hospital as soon as the infection is gone.

And now for the good stuff..........PICTURES

Baby Zachary Hugh Baldwin is Here!

Hello blog friends! My name is Johnna(cousin to Stephen, Kim, & Zachary) and I'm going to blog for Stephen and Kim so that mommy and daddy can spend even more time with their new little man! First of all I'm sure your wanting to hear the story of how little Zachary made his entrance into this world on Sat. morning. I will let Stephen explain..... this is an e-mail that was sent out earlier today.

Well folks ....

 

Just to let everyone know that Kim was having some complications and went into pre-term labor, so we had to deliver baby Zachary early.  He is our little trooper and was able to stay tucked away inside the womb without any fluid for just over five weeks.  Zachary was delivered at 27 weeks.  He weighed 1 pound 14.5 ounces and measured out to 13 3/8".  He does have some lung problems so they have him on a ventilator.  His lungs were stiff and the ventilator is to help him build the strength in his little lungs.  The doctors say that it is not uncommon for this to occur when a baby has been so long without fluid.  Zachary will be in the Neonatal ICU  (currently level 3)  for probably a minimum of 2 months.  They tell us the best guess they can give as to when we could expect him to be able to go home is around the actual due date (May 24).  So needless to say, we still have a long way to go before we will be able to bring him home.

 

Zachary is a strong little boy and he will need all his strength to get through this.  So if you would, please continue to keep him, Kim and I in your thoughts and prayers while we travel down this long path.  Kim and I will try our best to keep everyone in the loop, but the best way to keep up is to check out our blog at the following link which we will do our best to keep updated. http://thebaldwinbaby.blogspot.com

Feel free to share the photos.

 

I have attached some pictures of Zachary, but I will let you know ahead of time that there is a lot of tubes and monitors hooked up to him so be prepared and don't be alarmed.

 

 

Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers,

Stephen

I just got off the phone with Kim and she is hanging in there. She is running a fever right now and they have her on 3 different antibiotics. This is keeping her from seeing Zachary as of now so hopefully they can get rid of whatever is causing the fever soon. Please keep all of them in your prayers. I will be updating their blog frequently so keep checking for updates and pictures. Kim told me she already has new pictures for me to put up as soon as she can get them on her computer!

YEAY Zachary!!

We just got back from having our ultrasound and we got great news...Zachary is now one pound, eleven ounces and is now in the 30th percentile. (Our last ultrasound was on 2/5 and he was 1.3 pounds and in the 27th percentile). Our doctor told us this morning that he would be happy if he was 1.8 pounds and stayed in the same percentile. We've got a little overachiever!

YEAY Zachary!!
Will post more if the doctor has additional information when we see him later this afternoon.

Love to all!