It would be impossible for me to go back through the last 4 years and recount everything we have been through...but I'll try to give you the basics...for those of you that are new to our world.
My pregnancy with Kyle was rough..not only did we have numerous scares along the way, numerous hospital stays, but at 32 weeks it was discovered that I was developing pre-eclampsia. At this time I was hospitalized and placed on the dreaded magnesium and told we would have to wait and see. We made it about 12 hours before they said Kyle would need to come...this is the part that I hate...the part that I look back on and want to slap myself. I don't do well on the mag, (although I've never heard anyone do well on mag) I usually end up sick to my stomach, unable to see and a little (maybe alot) confused. So the dr comes in and says we are going to have to induce you tomorrow am, your blood pressure is not getting better it's getting worse so we think it's best to take the baby tomorrow. I was so happy...so incredibly happy...this nightmare would finally be over. The dr went on to say that Kyle would probably need to stay in the NICU for a few weeks learning to eat and growing. He may require a little oxygen but that shouldn't last long. Here once again I was a dummy never realizing what the NICU was or that while MOST babies do well, some 33 weekers don't do well...
Fast forward to the next day, labor and delivery was very difficult, out Kyle came and he was instantly taken to the NICU, he cried ever so quietly and that was it...
Within 12 hours Kyle was ventilated and we were told he may not survive. I won't get into all the heartache with the NICU, it was 9 very long months...it was up and it was down..
When we brought Kyle home on oxygen and a feeding tube, we really thought we were in the clear. We again were so wrong. Kyle has had a total of 12 surgeries, he has spent over 1 year and 6 months in the hospital. He has been labeled with BPD, reflux, dumping syndrome and hypoglycemia. He also eats nothing by mouth. A few of you have asked why exactly is he going to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh offers us a fresh set of eyes, they have a very intensive feeding clinic (kyle's stomach is like a cast iron pot...it doesn't move so it's having a very hard time processing liquids) Pittsburgh also has some testing that is unavailable to us here. Kyle spends a part of his day in a lot of pain. We are hoping this all will help us get to the bottom of it. Pittsburgh will be hard for him..he'll be away from his family and his friends..
I have to say that Kyle is brave, oh so brave, braver than most people I have ever encountered, so I know he'll do amazing when we get there.
xoxo
K
There have been some questions about why we call Kyle "Big" or "biggie" that comes from his NICU days...when he was in the NICU he was a big baby at 4 lbs., I started calling him Mr. Big and it has evolved to "Big". The whole family does it...in fact I don't know when the last time Alex called Kyle ~ Kyle... Some people have asked if it comes from Sex in the City..and while I *heart* that show...nope it has nothing to do with it! :)
