Thursday, May 31, 2012

What a day

Well, today has definitely been one of ups and downs. They made a lot of changes: Mason started on feedings, the stopped his fentanyl, put in a PICC IV, and changed his butterfly bandage on his face to decrease the pressure on one side. Everything was going well. Mason even opened his eyes today. We got a call while we were putting Corbin to sleep and they told us they were pretty certain that Mason was having seizures again and that they were going to give him some more seizure medication. He has another brain scan scheduled for tomorrow. We are pretty discouraged but trying to remember that in all of this God has a plan and has our sweet little baby wrapped in His healing hands.



Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!



And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
What could stand against.

You are precious in His sight

Today was a good day. Mason passed a little bit of poop which was good. All of his levels continue to do well for now. Dr. Ransom was back and I got to listen to rounds again and everything seemed positive for now. Still looking at the long term effect of the brain bleeding and will redo his ultrasound they are thinking on Friday. Nurse Amy put you on your belly some to relax and they are thinking that you might start feelings today. You blood count was up a little bit but they think your body is finally kicking in and producing platelets and blood cells itself since your clotting looks good. Will be taking a look at that prob about now.
I had to go back to the Dr but the dr on call wasn't concerned so I am still at home. Corbin also decided today that he was going to help Mommy pump. Such a good helper!



Isaiah 43:2 reminds us that Our Father will be with all of us. "When you pass through the water I will be with you. And when you pass through the rivers they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fires you will not be consumed. Be not afraid, you are precious in my sight."
Big brother "helping" with Mason's juice.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

One week old

Sweet boy you are 1 week old which is a blessing on itself. You have gained to 1 lb. 8 oz. and are doing pretty good. They keep constantly tweaking your vent and have been working on your sodium level ( right now they are too low but before that they were too high). Mommy has been very sick and finally went back to the dr yesterday afternoon. They thought it was a UTI but the meds they gave me weren't working and I was in real bad shape. The results of the placenta came back positive for infection so that is probably what caused all of this. My dr. thinks that my uterus is infected now and gave me some different antibiotic and if I am not better by this afternoon then I will have to return to the hospital to get medicine through an IV. I am already feeling much better after 1 dose and your Daddy has given me orders to rest today. Altleast now we have an answer as to why you came so early. We sure love you little Mason. Keep on fighting.

Monday, May 28, 2012

6 days old

Little Mason, today we found out that your valve had closed and your other vital signs were improving. Your sodium levels are too low right now but they are working on that. They are concerned because it does look like there is some blood in the lungs but according to all his stats they are thinking it is just due to trauma. This is the best case scenario if this is the case. Mommy has developed what they are thinking is an urinary tract infection and got a little upset thinking it might be something else(due to the fever). We sure love you very much sweet boy. Keep fighting, many out there are praying for you.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Brothers

We took Corbin up to see Mason after church. He is still taking this all in... He said, "Mason out" and offered him some ice out of his cup. He kept trying to undo Mason's house. So far today is a good day for this little one. May God watch over you sweet boy and heal your body and brain.


Psalm 139: 14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Peacefully sleeping

Since they pulled my chest tube I am able to sleep on my right side. This is how Mommy and Daddy found me when they got here snuggled up in a little ball. Sweet sweet boy.

Day 3

Corbin blowing Mason kisses. 
Well, yesterday was kind of a "quiet" day which was good. They did do another brain ultrasound which showed no major changes at this time. Atleast the blood on his brain hasn't spread. They have had to increase his blood pressure medicine because it keeps on dropping. They are talking about removing his chest tubing because they think he is "stable" enough and that maybe it would allow the lungs to drain better since they could rotate him from side to side. We took Corbin up there today to finally see him and that went well. He is still not understanding things very well and I am sure it is overwhelming for him to understand/see in his eyes. We want him to get to know his brother as much as possible though so that when we do leave to go visit Mason, he will understand that we aren't leaving him and that we are going to visit his brother. Corbin enjoys riding the elevator and say "baby Maston" as he calls him. Mason has another echocardiogram today to check his heart and the valve to see if it is doing better. We continue to thank you for your prayers. Josh and I continue to be overwhelmed and wondering how we are going to get through all of this but we know we can do anything with God.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Day 2

It was a very hard day yesterday. Things had gone well overnight but around noon they came up to get me from the room because he was very critical. We thought he was just being fiesty but they now think that Mason was having seizures. They had to bag him because his oxygen level was dropping so quickly and they couldn't get it to come back up. A brain ultrasound also revealed a level 4 brain bleed on the right side which looked like it is moving over on left side as well. Also, the echocardiogram revealed that the vent was actually going both directions which is of grave concern. That all being said he has had a somewhat stable night (as stable as they can say). They let us stay in the Nicu overnight room (I was due to be discharged) since he was so critical and we could be close by. They do say he enjoys his mouth being swabbed with my milk so atleast that makes me feel like I am contributing/helping in some way. We continue to appreciate all of your prayers. I know that our sweet boy can be healed and can make it through all of this. I continue to thank you for all of your messages and words of encouragement, even though I may not respond back right now.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

One day old

Yesterday we got to hold Mason's hand. The nurses encouraged us to talk with him because he recognizes our voices from when he was in the womb and all of his stat levels improved when we were talking to him. He is still fighting and we are overwhelmed by the out pouring and prayer blanket that we have received from facebook and our friends. We have gotten messages, prayers, and encouragement from people we don't know. He had some complications when we went down later last night with his oxygen levels and carbon dioxide levels which was causing concern with his blood pressure. We were told yesterday that we would experience peaks and valleys and to take all of this 30 min. at a time. I have been fortunate enough to start pumping some colostrum so we took that down to him last night and some this morning. He sure is a sweet baby boy and we thank everyone so much for sending our prayers! Words can not express how much these mean. Last night, our Pastor Chris came to visit us and brought us a half pint mason jar filled with prayers. It was such an appropriate gift. Continue to join us as we pray for our little man.



Last nights verse, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding."

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Mason Cole


Mason Cole Matthews was born on May 22, 2012 at 10:36 pm being only 23 weeks and 5 days. His head measured 8.5 inches, cheat 7.25 inches, length 11.5 inches, and weight 1 lb and 5 oz. The NICU Dr last night told us Mason, that you were a fighter and that he did nothing heroic by rescuing you because you were strong and were trying to breathe on your own. Please pray for us and our Sweet new little baby that he will develop appropriately, get stronger every day, and be another miracle. Please pray for us to make it day by day and for strength for each one of us. And please pray for God's healing and perfect peace.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Corbin's present

Corbin loves his present from Mommy and Daddy!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Corbin ride bite (bike)

Here is a video of Corbin that was taken today on his birthday. Apparently is more fun to push your bike at times than it is to ride it. He was pretty excited!

Corbin's birthday

Corbin had kind of a crazy day because he had to go to the dr today. No fun! He weighed 29.6 lbs (67%), he measured 2 ft 10 1/2 inches (63%), and his bmi was 17.4 (70%). He had to get his iron checked and one shot. No fun on your birthday!

For dinner we went to Kiha and Corbin wanted steak. He was really excited when the soup came out and he did end up getting it all down his shirt! Here is a picture of him enjoying it!
We came home and he said, "Corbin ride bike." So his Daddy pushed him around for a little bit and he enjoyed playing with some of the neighborhood boys. Then he got to open a gift from Papaw which was a singing card. He thought it was pretty funny! This boy loves running around naked when getting ready for bed and tonight was no exception. Normally he wants Mommy to take him upstairs after some milk and bedtime stories bur tonight he requested, Mommy and Daddy upstairs. Goodnight and Happy birthday sweet boy! We love you!


Monday, May 14, 2012

The birthday week begins


Corbin at his cousin, Austin's birthday party this past weekend.

This little boy turns 2 this week! I guess I shouldn't say that he is so little anymore. We are having a blast watching him grow more and more. We have been singing Happy Birthday and he loves to sing that song(of course we have had a birthday party for the past 2 weekends so he has had lots of practice). I am going to try to update about our fun times during spring break too soon. We had lots of fun!