Cameron is really enjoying this whole eating thing, which is great and very encouraging. He is now up to 15-20ccs per feeding and he's keeping most of it down. He had another head ultrasound today and we are awaiting the results. They tried to do the VCUG - test on his kidney, but he needs to pass the rest of the barium from the Upper GI before they can get the VCUG done. Mom spent the day with him and was so happy to see that he is off of the phototherapy - no more tanning for Cameron. His bili levels have come down - it's a small step but they all count!
We reluctanly left Cameron tonight, but he was cuddling with his little bear from Grandma Randi so he should be good for the night. One last note, Dad's grandmother passed away this morning we are so sad to see her go she was such a wonderful woman and we're so happy that she saw a picture of Cameron last weekend. We know without a doubt Granny is watching over Cameron now and she'll take care of him.

May 28, 2006 - I got to eat and take a bath!

Finally Cameron was allowed to eat this afternoon, the upper GI came back normal. So we fed him at 3pm and he sucked it down very quickly, hopefully this will continue and he won't have to go back on a feeding tube. In the evening we gave him his first "sponge" bath and another feeding, he was a little sleepy from the bath and all that he was not as into the feeding but still managed to get about 5 ccs down so that is good. Now hopefully all will stay down.
We have not had a chance to see any dr's today so we're going to go early tomorrow morning during rounds. Hopefully we'll have some good news to report. Here are a few photos from his first feeding in 2 days and relaxing after the bath. xoxo mom and dad

May 27, 2006 - I am hungry!

Well poor Cameron still has not had his upper GI and he's starving! Well not really, they are giving him some stuff through IV but it's not the same. I am really hoping we can get this done today, as it was supposed to happen yesterday. He now weighs 4lbs 2oz, so he's lost just under a pound.
We spent the afternoon with him cuddling and he seemed to like that alot, even got a few smiles out of him. He really thinks is Dad is funny as he cracks a smile everytime he hears his voice, mom, not so much, so I can see where this is all headed :).
It really was a quiet day for him and us - we are working on getting the "office" ready for transformation to "nursery" so much to do and not enough time in the day - both mom and dad are continually exhausted but we're doing the best we can. xoxo mom and dad

May 27, 2006 -- I'm -OK!

Cameron was transfered to Children's Hosptial Friday, this was decided after the many x rays at Prentice showed something abnormal in his lungs. At first there was some hope that it was his kidney, just in the wrong place, but this is not the case. So they felt it was best to get him with all the specialists in one place- it was rather traumatic to watch it all but he really didn't mind it, in fact he kept his eyes wide open the entire time (Mom did not). He really is so strong! Maybe he liked the Ambulance sirens?
The nurses and Dr's at Children's are wonderful, we feel confident he is in the right place.
We learned today there is an issue with his diapraghm, possibly a hole, possibly a nerve that is not funcitioning properly. After doing another X Ray they do not believe this is an emergency, and we are going to continue to watch it to determine what to do after the holiday weekend.
Poor little guy has been cut off from all feedings since Friday afternoon because he is not properly digesting his food, and we know how hungry he is as he sucks on the pacifer like a champ. I feel terrible that he can't eat! He needs to have an upper GI before we can resume feedings.
We also learned today a few other alarming things at Children's:

• His only kidney is now swollen, so he's on antibiotics to see what that does. Sometime this coming week he'll have a test done to see the functionality of the kidney and make sure it is not refluxing.
  
• Heart - there are two smaller issues 1) there is a hole in his heart, this is standard when in utero but should close up once out of the womb, it has not yet closed for Cameron. It still could, we will have to wait and see. If it does not it's something that would be watched for life with him, to be honest not sure if surgery is an option need to find out. 2) He has what they are calling a "trivial" leak in his aorta, again nothing emergent - it will continue to be monitored.

So it was a pretty tough day we've got a laundry list of new issues on top of the original list and I have to continually make lists with the Dr's to ensure that I understand what our priorties are with each passing moment. A lot of questions and no real answers at this point, but Cameron gave us the A-Ok sign today which made us feel good! xoxo mom and dad.

May 26, 2006 - time for a tan

Well it's been quite an amazing few days since Cameron arrived. He really looks so good and continues to breathe on his own, there are some mysteries with our little one. In fact the Dr's regularly call him "quite the mystery". It's all the stuff we can't see that is so perplexing, the poor guy has had so many ultrasounds and xrays but he seems to tolerate them all quite well. And taking after his mother he's not a fan of IV's so unfortunately he's had to have them changed out quite a bit.

The current challenges:

• digestion: he is being fed through a tube and is not keeping it all down so after some x rays they still aren't sure what the issue is, but there looks to be something going on in the lung area that they want further details on - more tests for Cameron....
• Jaundice: this is standard with just about all preemies so they've got him on the phototheraphy lights to keep his bili levels down, they continue to rise but it's just a matter of time before they should come down - we like to think he's just tanning himself in preparation for the summer season. He's not a fan of the silly goggles they make him wear but like most things he is tolerant

We had Cameron baptized today by Father Bill at Prentice which gives us all some peace xoxoo mom and dad

I'm Here!!!

Cameron Briggs
born Monday May 22 at 2:25pm
4lbs 11 oz, 16"

He was born at 32 weeks and 2 days - so after over 2 weeks at the hospital on bed rest, test after test, I have to say I am very relieved he came when he did as my insanity was borderline and I had no veins left fot them to prick!! .
He is doing very well breathing on his own and we are working on the feeding, for now it's through a tube in his nose. We are in talks with the Dr's at Childrens Memorial to monitor the hydrochepalus situation, for now he will not be going immediately to Childrens which is a good sign. He'll stay here in the Special Care Nursery as we continue to monitor things with his head and work on the standard premature issues.
We had the kidney ultrasound today and we'll get the results tomorrow. We will not know more regarding the issue with his cerebellum for a while and with family to see what our next steps are but we feel so blessed that he arrived and is doing so well at this stage. We only hope for more of the same.

It's amazing to me what we've gone through and learned over the last 3 weeks but we feel so blessed to have such a wonderful group of family and friends who have supported us so much during this difficult time.
The delivery and labor were of course eventful I went into early labor Sunday morning and after multiple doses of some drug to keep the pain at bay (that never worked) the Dr's decided there was too much risk to me and him to keep him inside so Monday morning it was decided we would induce labor. I went from 3cm to 5cm on my own and they then began the Peotocin to induce and within two hours he arrived.
We really are so lucky as we learned after the delivery that there was an extra lobe to the placenta and when my membranes ruptured back on May 8th had they ruptured where the vessels were going between the extra lobe and the placenta the baby would have likely bled to death.
With all of the issues and problems we had in the last month, Cameron arriving and being as stable as he is we are so very lucky. Thank you to all for your prayers - they worked and keep them coming so we will continue to receive more good news!
I get out of here tomorrow 3 weeks to the day I arrived --- thank god! but I'll be spending much of my time here with Cameron, but it will be so good to get home.
Thank you again to everyone!!! xoxo Mom and Dad