Monday, September 19, 2011

Prayers for Mary Jacinta please

Please pray for our little MJ, she has stage 3 ROP - Retinapathy of Prematurity. Stages 1-2 clear up on their own usually, stage 3 clears up 50% of the time, and 50% of the time goes on to stage 4-5 which can lead to blindness....I have my cell phone in my hand at all times today waiting on the opthamologist to call us back with more details. The only information we got about ROP was from the nurse practitioner who was looking up information in the book to tell us - which didn't make me feel like she knew much of what she was talking about. Of course I have googled it and made myself a nervous wreck thinking about what can happen if hers does not regress. He will come back this weekend to see if hers has progressed to stage 4 or regressed to stage 1,2. Please pray for out little MJ's vision. I was happy to find out the patroness of vision problems is Saint Lucy, and if this baby is a girl we are naming her Lucia and calling her Lucy, so maybe her sister is already praying for her eyes to be healed in utero!

We had our adoption shower Saturday night after finding out this news and I am so thankful we did - it helped keep my mind off the bad news and just rejoice in the adoption with our friends. They had two dogwoods - one pink, one white with money envelopes tied on the trees. We were so very blessed by so many wonderful friends who wanted to help us afford this adoption. (Sara, Ellen, Ashley, MOrgan, Shannon thank you so much for such a wonderful shower :)

The birthmom was there in her room Sunday when we got to the hospital and I was freaking out. They had not emailed or called to tell us they were coming like they usually do and I suddenly felt so possessive of her - I wanted to snatch MJ out her arms and run down the hall! DH and I have got to make some serious decisions and email them about what we are expecting to happen in this adoption. We have not been forthcoming enough about our wishes obviously in relaying them to the birth family. I hated feeling like that about my baby, I feel like we have been EXTREMELY compassionate towards them visiting and their feelings, but now it is coming at the cost of our own feelings. We wanted to let them come and visit when they wanted to especially since she is still pumping for MJ, but I want to know when they plan on coming and not be surprised when I come see my baby!!The nurses could tell it was an uncomfortable situation and came in, took MJ from the BM and repositioned her ECG and oxygen wires, asked us if we were ready to feed her, gave us the bottle and we got her out of the incubator to feed her. They still stayed for another 30 minutes and my heart was pumping the whole time. They finally left and we were able to enjoy a few more hours with her alone. They told her that she has more than enough milk there and they have run out of freezer space for MJ so she can pump and keep it at home, they will let her know when they need more. The nurse told us she has enough to feed a third world country right now! I just have to wonder if this is partly an attempt to keep latching on to MJ?? We can tell them not to come back at all if we want, but I feel guilty doing that too??

Anyone have any more information about ROP? I know the fact that she was born before 32 weeks, under 2.5 pounds, and is on oxygen are all major contributors to her contracting ROP.

20 comments:

  1. Oh Allie! This is so hard! Premies (I think yours sweet girl is a micropremie, right?) have all kinds of risks.

    It's like a day by day fight to keep your head up when your kid is in the NICU. Hopefully, your opthamologist called you back already. Be assertive and get your questions answered so that you can sleep tonight. Our opthamologists at Children's Hospital in D.C. was so good. (My little girl was full-term, but still at risk for hearing and vision problems as a result of some of the medications she needed to take).

    Praying, praying, praying. For your sweet girl and everyone involved. We're thinking of you all the time!!!

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  2. Asking my Carmelite group to pray for Mary Jacinta tonight!

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  3. I'm so sorry about that complicated relationship now with the birth family. That has to be tough. Prayers for wisdom and guidance in this area!

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  4. Oh Allie, I am so sorry! I started praying as soon as I got your text. St. Lucy is one of my favorite Saints, so she will be hearing from me, oh you bet!!!!! Many more prayers coming and I am sorry about all the uncomfortable situations with the birth mom. That is hard on top of the news about MJ's eyes.

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  5. I prayed for your intentions during my labor, and I am asking for St. Lucy's intercession as well!

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  6. Praying for all your requests tonight. MJ is at the top of my list.

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  7. I don't have any information to share regarding your questions, but I can pray!

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  8. praying too and I have seen several babies with Stage 3 ROP do just fine.

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  9. What a difficult situation. I hope and pray everything will be fine with your little one.

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  10. How tough! I will pray re ROP and I just hope that the BM is just like any other clueless person that just gave birth about nursing and it will get figured out in a way that you both are comfortable with.

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  11. I am praying for little MJ. St. Lucy please intercede. I geeezzzz, about the birthmom, I was upset just reading it! Yes, limits need to be set, sooner than later! Praying for ya allie

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  12. Praying. Good luck in setting limit with the birth family in a way that you feel comfortable.

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  13. I asked my bible study to prayer for your sweet little MJ tonight, Allie! --Casey

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  14. Praying for MJ's eyes and your situation with the Birthmom to resolve w/o conflict.

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