Adam Richard Crooks

We are so excited to announce the birth of our third son, Adam Richard. He was born on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 8:50am weighing 6 lb. 8 oz. 19 inches long.

Life hasn't been the same since and we have far too much to catch up on but I'll give it a shot.

Adam was born three weeks early due to internal complications on my part and finding out that my amniotic fluid was critically low. We found out about the fluids at our appointment for an amniocentesis on Wednesday morning. The fetal lung maturity came back as "transitional" so normally we wouldn't have had our little guy, but with the added complication of low fluids we had to have him. We got these results about 7:30pm from my Dr. who was calling from the hospital and asked us to move up the surgery from 5:30pm to 7:30 am. That sent us in to overdrive because we had nothing ready. We had to get the boys ready to be watched, our bags packed, house cleaned, etc. etc.

Wednesday came all too soon and we left the house at 5:45 am to get to the hospital by 6:15am for an 8:30am surgery (it got pushed back about 8pm the night before...just one more change). Everybody was running late, the doc, the assist for surgery, the anesthesiologist...we were anxiously awaiting the start of surgery and we finally started at 8:45am baby Adam was out and crying by 8:50 (unexpectedly quick because my insides were so messed up they had to get him out due to crazy bleeding). We were thrilled to hear his strong cries and his apgars were 8 and 9. They brought my sweet little boy up so I could give him a kiss and see his cute little face. I heard some interesting conversation between my doctors about how messed up I was inside and they told me how luck I was that I hadn't gone into labor. Anyhow, It took about 30 minutes to put me together and Ryan was off with Adam to the nursery for observation.

The next part went fairly normal, I got to recovery, Ryan stayed with our sweet boy being watched for signs of any problems, and I got to close my eyes and try to overcome the crazy amounts of drugs they must have given me. I was OUT.

We got back to my room around 10:30 and Ryan was there with Adam shortly after. I got to hold my baby and try to feed him but he wouldn't eat. This went on trying every 30 minutes for about two more hours and I had a call in to the lactation consultant. She showed up about 45 minutes later and Adam still wouldn't eat and I knew something wasn't right. Cee Cee was an angel and saw signs that something wasn't right with our sweet boy. She stayed calm in our room, asked to take him to the nursery for a quick test. She calmly left the room and, as we learned later, RAN him down the hall to the nursery then on to the NICU. I knew something was really wrong when they came back in and said daddy needed to come with them now.

I was calm for a little while but I was stuck in my bed still, couldn't feel my legs, couldn't move, still completely hooked up to IVs and whatnot. I made a call to the nursery who said they couldn't update me because Adam had been moved the NICU and nobody could talk to me right now. Those were some of the worst minutes of my life. Ryan finally came back sometime and said the doctors were coming by to tell me what was going on.

Everything from then on is such a blur. Hours and days are completely irrelevant I just remember living update to update. The doctors came in and told us Adam was breathing way too fast and not getting enough oxygen. He had a bunch of blood work, x-rays, and labs done. Adam's lungs weren't quite open yet and he had pulmonary hypertension which was causing the blood to bypass the lungs as if he were still in utero. He also had a heart murmur that they were concerned about.

Over the next few hours x-rays, EKGs, blood gas tests, nasal cannula, and talk of hypertension all became very familiar.

I was allowed to get out of my bed after only 7 hours and some- I could move enough to get to a wheel chair and go be with my baby. Ryan was such a strength and going through this all was so surreal I was wondering (and still am) when it will hit me that my baby is in the NICU.

I want to get down the basics of the next few days so here's the brief version

Thursday afternoon Adam got his first round of surfactant to help develop and open the lungs. He got a second dose early Friday morning. He had IVs and a nasal cannula for most of Thursday.

Friday Adam got a blood transfusion due to low blood pressure and low hematocrit. The blood transfusion caused Adam to puff up with fluids so he had to get another drug to help him eliminate some of the fluids. He is gaining and losing ounces quickly with all the changes. By Friday afternoon Adam was intubated to give him good oxygen flow to his lungs which is the main treatment for pulmonary hypertension. Chest x-rays started to show signs of pneumonia already. I think it was Friday that Adam got his umbilical lines (IVs in the stump of the umbilical cord so they don't have to poke him as much and can directly administer medications)

Saturday chest x-rays go back and forth between cleared up and collapsed still. His respirator levels get adjusted every few hours, blood gas tests every few hours, still no food just IV fluids.

Sunday more of the hurry up and wait. Trying to open up his lungs by laying him on different sides. Pulmonary hypertension is officially cleared up- yeah!

Monday, our last day in the hospital. We got official word that we are treating for pneumonia and that Adam will be at least 10 days for the full course of antibiotics. Adam is getting stronger and got to start getting my milk today- finally! First two feeds go okay but then he struggles a bit. They administer glycerin to help get his intestines moving. He does good with about every other feeding.

Tuesday, Ryan and I get to visit at nap time and after the boys are in bed. Adam is starting to feel better and have more energy which is good- but he keeps trying to pull out tubes and lines so he has to be sedated every few hours.

Wednesday, more visiting at nap time and we learn that Adam's oxygen levels are so good that he got his breathing tube out around 9am. Later that day Adam got his UAC out so we were two steps closer to holding him. That night while we were visiting he got out his UVC and I got to hold him around 9pm! What an amazing feeling that was! I finally felt like his mom again just a little bit. I was on such a high that night I hardly slept.

Thursday we visit, he is getting more and more at his feeds, doing better each time. Adam is maintaining his oxygen levels on just a nasal cannula and only 2 Liters of oxygen instead of 3. Ryan got to hold him at our noon visit and he took his mom to visit and hold him before she headed home.

I am leaving out so much but this mom has to go sleep while I can.

We appreciate all the love, support, and prayers more than you know. We have been blessed with excellent nurses who make us feel at ease leaving our little boy in very capable and loving hands. We are excited about all the progress Adam has made but we know he still has a ways to go before he is home with our family.

Please keep praying for our little Adam. We know that it is the prayers of so many that have helped keep him on a steady course towards coming home.