Good ultrasound..

We received the results of the brain scan done today and it is good. It is stable and there is no new bleeding or swelling. They will repeat it again in a week. Lincoln is doing well.. we've been doing "kangaroo care" (which means we hold him skin to skin) and he loves it... We finally get to see some of his personality when he gets angry at his nurse... his cries are getting a little louder which is great!

The Binky!

Lincoln is doing well today.. We held him for quite a while but when he gets all cozy and warm in our arms he de-sats (forgets to breathe) and causes quite a scare! All his blood tests are good and his ostomy from his surgery is doing great so far. He has his next head ultrasound Thursday.. prayyyy it does not show worse bleeding. The one last time showed no new bleeding so everything should be ok.. BUT there is still the chance. Thursday will be a LONG day for us until we hear. I did get some more detailed information from our doctor when I asked about the brain bleeds. She said the area affected was not to the entire right side.. just one area and there has been no pressure on his brain matter (which is a huge area of concern).. so that is good news. Only time will tell what, if any, damage was done and what was affected. We still haven't restarted feedings, the surgeons will decide when he is ready. The doctor said he is right on schedule with everything and she is very happy with his progress.

Mom holding Lincoln

Day 21.. 3 weeks old

We are driving home from Columbus. Lincoln is doing well... we got to hear him cry.. it was adorable.. he hates when the nurse adjusts his cpap (nasal pressure thing). We held him all evening and he did great. Very responsive to lights, sounds, and Daddy's voice when he forgets to lower the volume.. (often! ha!). He was kicking and gripping onto his tubes. They said he was sucking on a pacifier earlier.. it is the funniest tiny little binky! He really looks and acts great.. next step is introducing the feedings again (which created the NEC problem, which created the brain bleeding, etc.. ) so we are holding our breath that this time it goes well.. it SHOULD but who knows! Monday seems to be our 'bad news day" so please pray that this Monday is a good one finally!

Lincoln day 20

We just returned home from Children's. We both held the little guy and he did very well. He is active and breathing great on the cpap.. basically means he is breathing on his own. His stats are all great and he is finishing up his rounds of antibiotics. We spoke to one of our doctors from OSU today and he is very happy with Lincoln's progress the last couple days.

Friday..

We are on our way home from Children's to make it in time to see Cole's first baseball scrimmage tonight. Lincoln is doing well.. We got to hold him today... although it is quite the ordeal to get him out of the isolette and transfer all the cords and iv's... it was great...

Team Lincoln!

Here's what we know about Lincoln's health and future as of today. His intestines are expected to be fine.. apparently he did not lose the parts that are crucial and should heal and go on as normal after the reattachment surgery. The mild hydrocephalus caused by the brain bleeding (caused by the intestine surgery) is very mild and requires no treatment at this time. The brain bleeding on the right side is the highest level but did not attack his entire brain.. there are many many children that experienced a devastating level 4 and continue on as normal kids with minor issues.. our neonatologist has had many cases of her level 4 patients running up to her and hugging her 4 years later.. his left side is ok.. just by being born so prematurely he was automatically at risk for cp, delays, etc... babies brains are still growing and can rewire themselves to correct compromised areas... we know the outcome is unknown but we have high hopes that he will be one of those children that can overcome these issues and be happy and healthy. He is very active and shows no signs of disability at this time... we laugh that HE will be the person to finally find the cure for NEC or cerebral palsy!

We just got home from Children's. Lincoln looked and acted great... he moves all his limbs and responds to touch.. and does everything he should at this stage.. he is quite the cutie! He is being removed from the ventilator tomorrow and we finally begin Kangaroo care...

Lincoln day 18

They are removing the ventilator today and putting the cpap back on Lincoln since he is breathing so well on his own. They are doing more blood transfusions and is still being treated for all his infections. His heart and lungs are excellent.. he is having a new brain scan done today to see if the bleeding has increased. All we can do is 'wait and see' which is what the Doctors tell us every day.. as they hand me tissue boxes. And we swear a bell goes off when we walk in the NICU signalling the 'pastoral care' representative to run over to us.. we realize we have no control in any of this... and can only pray that Lincoln is that small percentage of miracle children we've read about..

Lincoln day 16

We have some very very bad news.. the new brain ultrasound taken yesterday shows extreme bleeding in Lincoln's brain. The bleeds are graded from 1 being the least serious to 4 being devastating loss. The left side of his brain is a 2 and the right side is a 4. We are beyond devastated. Besides the brain issue he now also has a fungus infection in his blood, fluids, etc.. they are treating that and the other infection with heavy antibiotics and say they need a spinal tap. Hydrocephalus has possibly begun which is yet another horrible diagnosis. We still do not know if the NEC surgery was successful and if the untreated bad section has progressed... The poor little guy is soo adorable but we are so sad at what he has been through and will continue to go through the rest of his life. We will be meeting this week with the hospital ethics committee to discuss his care, at the request of his doctors. They will continue to maintain his life as he is not in a life-threatening situation. What the future holds for his care we do not know... we thank you all for your help and prayers.. we will update you when we are given the next update.

Lincoln April 19

Lincoln was stable today.. his stats were all good but he has a new infection.. they are treating the new infection with antibiotics and doing tests to see if it is also in his blood.. hopefully it is not. It may be a while before we know if his intestines are ok or not.. they usually can't tell until they restart feedings which won't be for a week or so... the Doctor seems hopeful.. so we are optimistic!

The Day Lincoln was born...

The week before Lincoln was born was a busy busy week.... I saw my obgyn 3 times and was told bedrest and was referred to a high risk specialist in Columbus... so.. Friday April 3 we spent the day at Dr. Prashad's office and had a level II ultrasound.. the ultrasound tech told us all was good and not to worry.. then Dr. Prashad told us basically the same thing.. she said we were fine and didn't even need bedrest according to the ultrasound results.. we left feeling great about the pregnancy and I just convinced myself I would be in pain for the next 15 weeks and there was no way around it.. so after Target and Olive Garden we retreated to Meeker with no worries.. Friday night I felt what I thought were contractions but again convinced myself it was normal... I went through the day Saturday living life as normal.. Saturday night was miserable.. I had so much pain and discomfort that I tried to sleep on the couch so I wouldn't disturb Greg with my tossing and turning.. by the morning I decided I was going to the hospital to be checked.. I knew something was wrong.. After a bubble bath and decaf coffee we finally departed Meeker for Marion General around noon... Dr. Mousa met us there and soon determined I was dilated and sent us by ambulance to OSU. The massive amounts of magnesium I was given did not seem to be slowing down the contractions I was having.. upon arrival at OSU labor and delivery it was not long before the contractions had progressed to the point that I was screaming at Greg for getting near me or touching me... haha.. then my water broke and it was go time... Doctors were yelling for me to push while I was begging for pain meds to no avail.. it was too late.. next I am told "STOP PUSHING" as the cord preceded the baby and he was transverse.. next move was to the Operating Room for emergency c-section.. after being painted with iodine and being told to just "BREATHE THE GAS" repeatedly I was finally out.. my next memory is of waking up with towels covering my head and my lips being soooo dried out and sore (we all know I NEED MY LIPGLOSS!!!!).. then of Greg applying grape chapstick to them constantly.. which is now why I cannot stand the sight or smell of grape chapstick!!! I was sooo relieved and happy to be told that my little Lincoln had survived and was waiting to meet me in the NICU...

Day 13 Post Surgery

He finally opens his eyes!

Surgery Update Day 13

Unfortunately the surgery was not successful in removing all the infected intestines. They removed the portion they could access but there is another section they cannot access. It is behind blood vessels and too fragile to be touched. The surgeon is consulting with his partner today to discuss the situation. We will update you as soon as we have some answers.

Surgery April 17, 2009

Surgery went ok tonight.. they removed a portion of his small intestine that was affected by the NEC.. We are staying in a room at the hospital for tonight and home to get some rest in the morning.. Lincoln will be sedated tonight and very sick for about a week. Hopefully things will improve from here and we can get back to feedings and growing..

Lincoln

Lincoln has been transferred to Children's Hospital due to the NEC he has. The Doctor's are going to discuss surgery plans after they evaluate him more. He cannot have visitors at this time but we will keep you updated.

Kitty sleeping in the bassinet... don't worry Lincoln will have a new cleaner bed that's free of cat hairs!
Big Brother Colton... he's going to be the "cool" big brother.
Kitty Sue, she can't wait to meet baby Lincoln.... (yeah right, we all know how Kitty feels about kids)
Uncle Jim and Cousin Bailey visiting Lincoln!

Lincoln Rossman and Family

Lincoln day 9...
The "very unfinished" elephant nursery...
Mom and Dad summer 2008!
Lincoln day 3... Mom holding Lincoln's hand...
Lincoln's message board in the OSU NICU...

Little Lincoln

Lincoln day 2...
Dad's hand is bigger than Lincoln!

Lincoln day 9....

Day 12

Lincoln is still fighting off the infection and kidney issues have improved. Due to the infection, he is unable to have visitors at this time. Hopefully he will be ready again soon!

Lincoln day 11

Little Lincoln is 11 days old. He was born at 25 weeks and one day on April 5, 2009. He weighed 1 pound 8.5 ounces and was 12.5" long. Luckily I had the betamethisone shots the week before he was born which helped his lungs mature. He had a great first week but this second week has been very rough. On Monday he started out looking and feeling great but by the afternoon he had lost his color and was very very sick. After several blood cultures and tests it was determined he has an infection in his intestines. It could easily turn into NEC which at worst will mean surgery. We are praying it does not progress and xrays have shown it is not progressing at this time. He was placed on antibiotics to battle the infection and they seem to be working. Unfortunately throughout the day yesterday he began to have blood in his urine.. at one point it was all blood. Ultrasounds were done on the kidneys and early results show they do not think it is a blood clot but will have to monitor it closely. If it is a blood clot or bleeding continues he will be transferred to Children's to be monitored by kidney specialists.. this would not be good as there is no safe way to treat this in a child of his size. We've been traveling to Columbus all day every day to be with him as much as possible and appreciate all the support and prayers.