Month: March 2009

First Week at Home

Hey Guys,

Hopefully you had the opportunity to read my last post. Mandy has been home with us for a week now and things are going great. Her weight as of this morning is 15.6 pounds. So she is continuing to gain steadily. But there have been some very cool things that have happened as well

Her skin has improved. She used to get horrible diaper rash and rashes on her face. That has cleared up. Mandy has very sensitive skin, and it had gotten to the point having to use water wipes to clean her bottom. Now we use the wipes designed for sensitive skin, and she is doing just fine. I think it must have been the industrial cleaners that were used on her clothing and bedding at the hospital.

Mandy does require a lot of care. Fortunately we have a lot of help. We have a nurse during the day from 7am to 3pm. Then Teresa and I have her care from 3pm to 11pm. After that we have attendant care from 11pm to 7am. It has been a lot of help.

Teresa and I are still catching up on sleep, but I hear that’s par for the course with a new baby. I’m sure that we will make the adjustments needed.

Thank You for all the prayers and support!

Love in Christ
Michael Blaes

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Mandy is coming home!

Mandy at 2 days old
Mandy at 2 days old
Mandy sitting up in her little chair
Mandy at 13 months old

Hey Guys,

Its official. Teresa and I have completed our training including the 24 hours of total care. To be honest Mandy’s care is not that difficult. There’s just a lot of things to do, and it’s repetitive. Heres how a typical day goes.

6:30 am Mandy wakes up check diaper and suction her if needed

8:30 am Breathing Treatment, and a massage ( to loosen the secretions) and suctioning diaper change if needed

9:00 am Start first feed and medication

10:30 am give mandy a bath, change clothes, and trach care

12:00 pm start second feed

12:30 pm massage and check diaper suction if needed

2:30pm check diaper

3:00pm start third feed

4:30pm massage and check diaper suction if needed

6:00 pm start fourth feed, do meds, check diaper and suction if needed

8:30 Breathing Treatment, suction, trach care change into pajamas and change diaper put mandy to bed

10:30 check diaper

12:30 check diaper suction if needed

2:30 am check diaper

4:30 am check diaper

and it starts all over again the next day 🙂

And that doesnt include therapy, cuddling, or extra suctioning or extra dipaer changes. And we have include some play time too.

Whew! I got tired just writing it down.

And we were tired after that night. But everything went great.

So everything is set, equipment and supplies delivered, Nursing and Attendant Care hired. Now all we need is Mandy herself!

So…

Mandy is coming home on Monday! She is supposed to be here at 9:30 am sharp. We are so excited! Its the end of a 15 month long journey and the beginning of another. Praise God!

So your’e wondering, whats going to happen to the site?

Well I plan to continue it and keep it updated with new pictures, news and share all the trials and the

triumphs as Mandy grows and God leads. expect a new post about once a week.

Now let me totally serious f or a minute….

Going through this experience has been both the hardest and the most joyous time of my entire life. It has been very difficult at times, and Ive shed a lot of tears. But I have learned to trust God in a way that I never would have otherwise. I know that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has never and will never let me down. and so I say to you my friends, No mater what you are going through; Put your trust in your Lord and he will see you through.

God Bless You and Keep You Make his Face to Shine Upon You and Give You Peace.

Love in Christ,

Michael Blaes

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