The Miller's Place

We’ve added new pictures from Matthew’s birth as well as yesterday’s visits and a few from Thanksgiving. We should have a few new ones daily with each visit, or at least that’s the plan. The new ones should be on every night around 11 pm. I will also work on getting a few video clips up this weekend.

No time like the present they say. Well that’s how Matthew decided to grace us with his presence.

Saturday Michelle had been complaining about a spot in her left eye enough that I made her call the doctor Saturday night. Of course the doctor wanted us to go see them so we jumped in the car and went to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital about 9:30 Saturday night and Michelle was examined by a few nurses and then seen by two of the doctors in the practice. Both agreed they thought that the spot was more neurological symptoms of the preeclampsia and that the best course of action would be to induce her since she had pasted the 32 week marker. Michelle was admitted around 1:30 Sunday morning and given some IV’s to try and induce her.

At around 3:30 her water broke, and we thought we were home free then, but it didn’t quite work out that way. It seemed that after her water broke her contractions slowed down and she stopped dilating. After numerous uncomfortable exams and some extreme discomfort, the doctors decided the best course of action would be to perform a C-Section at about 10:30 Sunday Night.

Michelle was in the OR by 11:00 and Matthew was born 11:22 Sunday night the 4th of January, which most of you know is my birthday as well. He weighed 3 pounds 10 ounces and 16.5 inches long. He currently has straight dark colored hair, which doubtfully will change, and has dark colored eyes.

Matthew is currently in University of Pennsylvania Hospital’s Intensive Care Nursery only due to the fact that he was premature. From day one he has been breathing on his own and has never needed any help. Tuesday they placed a feeding tube in his nose to help things and he has an IV in his right hand for fluids. The nurses said they might end up taking the IV out this evening because he’s eating enough that the fluids are minimal now. Early estimates are for Matthew to stay about 2 to 3 weeks, until he is at least 4 pounds and with no other complications.

Michelle is doing well and has looked much better as the last few days have gone by. She had a strange reaction after the surgery and her saliva ducts clogged causing massive swelling around her jaws. If you see some of the pictures don’t be surprised if it looks like her head is twice the size because it almost was. The doctors came up with some wonderful medicinal treatment for her, shock tarts. Yes I said correctly, the Willy Wonka Candy. They said it hasn’t happened often but the last time the mother ate some sour candy and it cleared the ducts and the swelling went away. So since Monday, Michelle has been eating lots of candy to try and clear it up. As of this morning, most of the swelling was gone. Outside of some cramping and pain when she coughs, everything is tolerable right now, that is as long as she’s on the percocet. The doctors said she should be able to go home Thursday.

Stay tuned as more pictures start popping up and hopefully some video clips as well if I can get my new toy figured out 🙂

Thanks again to everyone for all their thoughts, prayers, flowers and words of encouragement. I can honestly say this has been the most exciting and wonderful birthday’s I have ever had.

All our love,

Scott, Michelle, and Matthew

Thanks for all your votes for our bedding choice. We ended up of course going with our first choice, or Michelle’s first choice, Delmar by KidsLine. I’ll try to get a few pictures of the babies room once we get everything set up.

For an update…

Tuesday we found out from the doctor that her latest lab results were absolutely normal. As we all were confused by the results the doctors wanted to rerun some of her labs to find out which set were in error. Friday we found out that miraculously everything was fine. Michelle came home and is under strict bed rest for a long time and has to see the doctor twice a week to make sure everything is going ok.

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, emails, and calls. Michelle is home for the holidays and both her and Matthew are doing fine. We will certainly keep you up to date on everything as it occurs.

Once again thank you again for everything.

Love,

Scott, Michelle, and Matthew!

This certainly has been an eventful weekend. Friday Michelle went to her doctors appointment and the doctor advised that she should go to the hospital because of her high blood pressure. She had had problems with it being high the last few weeks but she was put on bed rest and it helped so the doctor let her do a little bit. After monitoring her closely they decided to admit her around 8 pm Friday. The doctors were not sure if it was preeclampsia or a lupus flare up. She was given Magnesium to lower her blood pressure and a steroid shot to help Matthew’s lungs.

Saturday, was mostly monitoring and rest for Michelle. Saturday night after 24 hours on the magnesium the doctors gave her another steroid shot and took her off the magnesium. They then moved her out of Labor and Delivery and placed her in another room on the women’s floor.

This morning, one of the doctors finally did tell us they think that Michelle has severe preeclampsia and the the plan now is to keep Michelle in the hospital until the baby is at the 32 week mark and then induce labor to eliminate the threat to Michelle and Matthew. The 32 week mark will be approximately Monday the 22nd of December. This is about 8 weeks ahead of schedule, and of course Michelle and I are concerned, but the doctors feel very comfortable with the situation.

So to wrap it up, Michelle is currently in the Hospital at the University of Penn and will be there until the birth, around the 22nd, unless there are further complications. I hope you’ll keep all of us in your thoughts and prayers.

All our love,

Scott, Michelle, and Matthew!