3 weeks old!!!!

Nate looks so much better!

Nate's first feeding

Our sweet boy!
My first time holding my Baby Boy!



On Thursday they put Nate on cpap for a couple of hours and then did a blood gas and his CO2 level was to high so they had to re-intibate him. He is now on just a regular ventilator and not on the oscillator any more so that is a good thing. Nate's lungs just need a little bit more time to get in shape. Nate is doing very well the doctors are very pleased with his progress and so are we. I was able to hold Nate for the first time on Thursday his 3 week old birthday. It was so wonderful to finally hold my baby boy even though I was a nervous wreck. Today they started giving Nate my breast milk through a tube in his mouth that goes to his stomach. They are just giving him a little bit at a time to see if his body can handle it. He looks so much better he has lost a lot of fluid and is starting to look like himself. He is starting to wake up more and look around. He has beautiful blue eyes. Nate still has his chest tube and when it stops having fluid draining from it the surgeon will remove it. The goals: Get rid of chest tube, ween off sedation medicines, ween off ventilator and start eating more. Nate is doing very well but as you can see he still has a lot to over come. We just have to take baby steps. Thank you for all your prayers and keep them coming!

A big Step!

Nate is doing good he has been awake a little bit more each day. Today they plan to escabate him and put him on cpap.This is a very big step. So pray that he does good on that. Sorry I haven't updated lately its been busy but I will definetly update in more detail this weekend. Thank you for all the prayers.

Our tough BOY!!!!!

Nate before surgery!

Nate's incission and his chest tube

Our tough boy!

Well, surgery went well yesterday. We walked him down to the OR at 7:15 and told him encouraging words and kissed him goodbye and told him we see him later. He did very well during surgery. They made an incision under his rib cage and started the repair. Dr. Kane said that Nate did have hardly any diaphragm and that they had to use a goretex patch and sew it to what was left of the diaphragm and to his rib cage. They were able to fit everything back down in his abdomen even though it was a tight fit. There were NO tares in the liver, spleen or stomach the surgeons did a wonderful job. They put in a chest tube on his left side so that all the air that is now up there can escape. His left lung in small its about half the size of his right lung. The surgery took about 3 hours. Now he just has to recover and start weening. He has a very long road ahead and there can be many complication with CDH so please keep Nate in your prayers. We appreciate all the prayers he has received. He is our tough boy and he is putting up a wonderful fight!

Still moving forward!

Nate's little face!
Look how long and how much hair Nate has!

Daddy and Mommy's first time changing Nate's diaper!

Nate is still doing good. He is stable and waiting for surgery. Nate is schedule for surgery on Thursday at 7:30 am. They removed his chest tube and they took him off NO2 and they have also weened him off alot of medicine. Nate is doing has well or better than they expected. His blood gases have been very good. Please keep praying for him he has a long way to go. Phil and I have got to change his diaper and Phil always ends up with the poopy ones. The doctors and nurses have been amazing and are taking excellent care of him. Thank you so much for all the prayers they have definitely been heard. We love our little man so much and are so proud of his progress.

Goodbye Ecmo!

Today Nate was taken off the Ecmo machine! The machine saved Nate's life but it had a lot of risk so we were glad to see it go. We are very thankful for the Ecmo technicians who watched the machine and Nate 24/7. Nate is doing good he is still very critical but he is moving forward. He has a very long and difficult road ahead but he is a fighter and God is on his side. The goal is for him to have surgery on Thursday morning but you know doctors they change their minds a lot so it may be sooner it all depends on Nate and how stable he is. The surgery can take 2 to 3 hours. Please keep Nate in your prayers as he is getting use to breathing on his own and that he can maintain his oxygen level. We are very proud of Nate; he is a very strong little boy.

Tomorrows the Big Day!

Well, our little boy is already a week old its hard to believe. Nate is doing good. They have been working very hard on weening him from the Ecmo machine. They did a trial run today to see how he would do off the machine. They turned up the ventilator and then clamped the capulas for an hour. He did great. The doctors gave him an A+. So, tomorrow they are going to do another trial at 7:00 am for an hour and see how he does. At 8:00 am if he did good for the trial the surgeon will take the capulas out of his neck and he will be on his own with help from the ventilator. It will be a very critical time for Nate so we are going to need a lot of prayers. Nate is one tough little baby boy and we have faith that he will succeed tomorrow with flying colors. We appreciate all the prayers and encouraging words everyone has posted. Tomorrow is going to be a very big day for Nate and us. Its going to be very stressful so keep us as well as Nate in your prayers.

A Good Day!

The doctors are slowly weening Nate off the Ecmo machine it is a very slow process. They have to watch his blood gases and make sure they stay at a level he can handle. They are working on taking volume off of him. He looks very good today he isn't as puffy and swollen, but he is still our big boy. He is a very funny little boy. He is very active they have to keep him sedated so he won't move and mess up his tubes. He knows when his mommy and daddy talk to him, his heart rate goes up and he starts moving around. He is doing very well today. We are so proud of him and his progress. He is still very critical and we are just waiting until he is able to come off Ecmo and can have his surgery and get started to recovery. We love him so much and thank God every day that we have our lil boy and that he is in his hands.

February 9th

Mommy giving Baby Nate some lovin'

Mommy and her Big Boy!

Daddy, Mommy, and Baby Nate!

Thank You!

Phillip and I would like to thank everyone for all their thoughts and prayers. We have been very busy between visiting with Nate, spending time with Riley, eating, and trying to sleep a little and I'm staying busy pumping every two hours. He won't get any breast milk until after his surgery but they have let me put some of the colostrum (liquid gold) in his cheek and on his lips. The doctors are giving him lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates through his IV. They are freezing my breast milk for later. It has been a very hectic 42 hours and so much has happened in that time. Nate is a very strong little boy and he is stable for the time being. Nate is getting the best care he could possibly get. The doctors and nurses are wonderful and are very informative. Please keep Nate in your thoughts and prayers and we will try and keep you updated as often as we can. Thank you so much for all the warm wishes they really mean a lot.

Lindsey and Phil would like everyone to continue to pray for Nate. His condition is critical right now but we know God can continue to move. I did get to see him today for a few moments and he is even more precious in person! Riley is disappointed of course that she can not see her brother but she is sending him pictures and they are by his bedside. She pretended to call him earlier on the phone, and ask him how he was doing :) She has done wonderful to have been in the hospital waiting as long as she has had to. Lindsey is doing well and wants to be with Nate every minute possible. Hopefully her and Phil will be able to spend more time with him in the days to come.

Lindsey and Phil have had to take in a lot of information and I don't want to relay anything incorrectly. I feel like Lindsey will be able to post a more detailed update soon. ~Karla~

UPDATE

We do know now Baby Nate weighed 7lbs, 12oz. Lindsey and Phil are still waiting to see him. Waiting is the hard part. Want to thank all those who have been praying. Please continue to pray for Nate and the entire family.

MORE PICS

Here he comes! We were able to catch a peek as they were moving him.

Daddy going with Nate, but not without making sure someone would go be with Lindsey.

Riley all tuckered out! She lasted until Nate arrived and

spent some time with Mommy,

then fell asleep on Daddy.

FIRST PICS!

What a big boy!!! Big muscles!

BABY NATE IS HERE!

Nathaniel Matthew Ollis made his grand entrance at 11:16. CRYING!!! Lindsey said he has lots of hair! Phil was able to ride along with Nate down to the NICU and is waiting in the lounge. We still don't know a weight. Lindsey is doing well!

FULLY DIALATED AND DR ON HIS WAY!

MOVIN ON UP!

She is gettin closer! 9 1/2cm! Maybe before midnight!

She has moved upto 7cm! She seems to be very comfortable! Riley is full of herself tonight. She has colored Nate a picture and is taking it to Mommy now!

WAITING GAME!

Unforunatley, no change to speak of. We are all just playin the waiting game. He checked her about an hour and a half ago and she was still at 6cm. Dr should be back in soon. Maybe we will hear she has progressed. Keep on praying! We are believeing God for a special touch as Nathan prepares to make his way into the world!

PICS

Riley showing Mommy how to use her epidural pump! Riley very concerned about Mommy's IV site!

Dr just checked her and still 6cm. They just stated potocin! Lindsey really wants him to be "a February 4th baby."

UPDATE

Lindsey is now 6cm and her contractions are steady. She was in quite a bit of pain but just got her epidural. She is comfortable now and enjoying her favorite ice!

AT THE HOSPITAL!!!

Hi all! Lindsey and Phil are now at the hospital! Things were delayed some and had to wait for the hospital to call them in, but they are there now. I know everyone is wanting to know the latest and I will do my best to post as things progress! Keep sending those prayers up! Karla

My Letter to my son!

Dear Nathaniel,

Well, we have been together 24 hours a day 7 days a week for 39 weeks. It hasn't always been pleasant with you in my ribs and me poking you all the time but we made it through it together. Having you with me all the time and knowing what you were doing was my reassurance that you were okay. I could feel you move and laugh when something was pushing on my stomach and you'd get mad and push back. Its very hard to have you leave me and not always know for sure that you are okay. You are a very strong and already stubborn little boy and I have loved every minute, every second that we have spent together as one. I have taken you has far as I can I've kept you safe, warm and full. Now its up to YOU, God and the doctors. You have to fight with every beautiful bone in your body because there are a lot of people that want to get their hands on you. Our journey together with me carrying you is almost over but our journey with me holding your hand is about to begin. I will be by your side for the rest of MY life through the thick and thin and in our case its mostly going to be thick. You are my beautiful, strong and courageous little boy and you have a lot of fight in you so don't give up. I love you more than you will ever know. Be my brave little boy.

Love always,
Mommy

Last O.B. appointment!

I had a ultrasound and a O.B. appointment today and both went well. According to the ultrasound Nate will weigh about 8 lbs 3 oz. I am 39 weeks and his head is measuring at 41 weeks it was 9.96 cm. He is going to be a big boy! He looked so much like Riley! He has no room at all to move, he is jammed packed!
I have dilated to 3-4 cm and 75% effaced. They said that they aren't going to give me a C-section unless he just won't come out. So induction is still planned for Thursday, February 4th. I am very nervous and can't believe it is already here. I think I like not knowing when I'm going to have a baby better than being induced, because when you just go into labor you don't have time to think and worry you just time contractions. But knowing when its going to happen gives you plenty of time to think and freak out. I'm trying to relax and take a deep breath and not worry. I'm just trying to think about who he is going to look like. Well next time I post it will be to announce Nate's birth! YAY!