Madilynn's Blessing

Because it was General Conference weekend we got permission to have Madilynn blessed at the house instead of at church.  Mom (Judy) had not missed any of the kids blessings so we thought it was great we got permission to do it at home the day before she left.   

Madilynn Is Home!

Madilynn was finally able to make her way home yesterday after 4 days at The Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado.  She was originally sent down there because the doctor's at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center suspected something was blocking her nasal passages which was not allowing her to breath when she was eating or had her mouth shut.  After she was transported down to The Children's Hospital they were eventually able to pass some catheters through her nasal passages which was good.  They were talking of possibly doing a surgery to enlarge them if she continued to have low oxygen levels due to the narrow passages.  But her oxygen levels improved and her vital signs remained strong.  Her main doctor, Dr. Hall spoke to us Friday morning and said she was improving tremendously but couldn't explain why, she just was.  They pretty much told us on Friday she would probably be going home this weekend which we were so excited about.  They decided Saturday morning that she would be released Saturday and at around 3:45 P.M. we were on our way home.  She did come home with an oxygen bottle which they hope will only be a short term thing and after her first appointment tomorrow at the clinic on base we should no more about when we can stop using it.  

Everyone we came across in this whole experience at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and at The Children's Hospital in Denver was amazing to me!  Always willing to help out and answer questions.  I was given a bed every night I was in Denver and when Marsha came down we were given a family room so we could rest.  The whole experience was amazing with the exception for the reason we were down there!  

Thank-you to everyone for their kind words, encouragement and prayers, they really meant a lot to us!  

Madilynn and her guard dog at the hospital.

Getting a lick from her guard dog.

In her car seat doing a test to see if her oxygen
levels were affected.

Her "Going Home" outfit.

She is so tiny in her car seat.

Big sister and little sister finally together.

Madilynn / Mommy Update #3

This isn't too much of an update about mommy except for the fact I was able to pick her up this morning and bring her down to The Children's Hospital so she can be with Madilynn.

 Madilynn has been doing really well as far as I can tell from her feedings.  She seems to be breathing out of her nose adequately but I am sure the doctors here want to keep her for a little while just to make sure.  I would hate to be released and then be back in the near future.  I have heard possibly by the end of the weekend she could be released if she continues to improve --- bringing her home on Sunday would be a great birthday present for me.  Right now Marsha is up feeding her and I am going to get a little rest.  They were able to get us a family room here in the hospital for the next two nights.  After that we are put on a waiting list each day but because Madilynn is in NICU we are on top of the priority list so we should be able to get one every night hopefully!

We weren't here much today because I was picking up Marsha in Cheyenne so we will have more pictures tomorrow, I promise!

 Good night!

Madilynn / Mommy Update #2

We will start with mommy.  Marsha was doing well enough that they released her this afternoon from the hospital.  She said she is doing good and I am sure doing more then she needs to do at the house.  I will be driving back to Cheyenne in the morning and bringing her back to Denver with me.  

Madilynn had a very good day.  The Ear, Nose and Throat specialist came by this morning to take a look at her.  They tested her nasal passages with small diameter tubes to see if they could pass them through to her throat.  They were able to pass the right side through but not left the side.  So she said she would talk to her colleagues and boss and see whether they wanted to do some imaging (x-rays, cat-scan) or stick a tube with a camera attached in her nose to see if they could see any obstruction.  They came back this afternoon and just wanted to try the small diameter tubes one more time before they put her through the ordeal of x-rays or a camera in her tiny nose.  This time they were able to run tubes down both sides!    After that I was able to try and feed her some formula.  She was able to suck on the bottle and still breathe through her nose which was one of the issues she was having that brought her here.  Her vitals and breathing were good all the way during the feeding.  She had another feeding at 8:00 PM and all was good again.  She did great and all the doctors and nurses seemed real enthusiastic about it.  Her two nurses Morganne (Day) and Beth (Night) have been great and don't mind me getting in there and feeding, changing diapers, etc.

 If she continues to improve I heard we may be out by this weekend.  They just want to monitor her and make sure she is capable of eating and breathing before they send us all the way back to Cheyenne.  I/We will keep everyone posted as soon as we know things and don't be shy to text or call me and ask what is going on?  I get busy and forget sometimes to shoot out some updates.

Thanks and good night!

Madilynn / Mommy Update #1

After a rough first 24 hours or so Marsha is finally starting to feel better.  She was able to eat some dinner and hopefully can get a full night sleep tonight.

For those that don't know, Madilynn had to be transferred to The Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado after she started having some breathing problems late Monday night.  The Pediatric Doctor in Cheyenne examined her and determined somehow the passageway in her nose that allows her to breathe is obstructed somehow.  After consulting with the experts in Denver it was decided to take her there.  They picked here up and left around 3:00 PM, which was very rough on mommy because she has to stay in the hospital in Cheyenne.  I made it down to Denver about an hour after she did and will be staying here with her.  I can pretty much stay with her in here room/area 24 hours a day and keep her company although tonight they hooked me up with a private area so I can get some sleep.  I guess I looked pretty rough or something.  The Peds Doctor in Cheyenne said she was in no real danger right now and that it is better to get this looked at now then later when it could be trouble.  She has been poked and prodded so much today, I feel so bad for her.  Hopefully she can get some rest tonight too!

The kids were real sad they didn't get to see Madilynn today before she left but hopefully she will be home real soon so they can spend some time with her.  Marsha's mom Judy is staying with them tonight so they can go to school tomorrow and not miss anymore days.

As soon as I know more I will keep everyone updated.  The support we have received from the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, my work, family, friends and now The Children's Hospital has been phenomenal and we appreciate it so much.  The Cheyenne Regional Medical Center even gave me $60.00 worth of Visa gift cards to help with the gas expense for the trip down.

Thank-you to everyone for the well-wishes, thoughts and prayers, they mean a lot to Marsha and I. We love everybody and good night!

The Culley Family Grows By One

So today was the big day for our newest addition to join us.  We left this morning at 6:30 AM to head to the hospital so Marsha could be induced since our new "little girl" didn't want to show up on her own.  Marsha and I both had bets on what time she would deliver, I had 2:45 PM and she had 5:00 PM.  Well I was the closest and Madilynn Jean Culley was born at 3:16 PM.  She is a little one, weighing 5 lbs / 10 oz and is 19 1/4 inches long.  She looks a lot like Jordan when he was baby.

This delivery was a little different then rest.  After she was given some pitossum her contractions came pretty quickly and were strong.  She held out as long as she could before getting the epidural.  Here comes the good part!  The nurse was in checking on Marsha and adjusting the sensor that was monitoring the baby's heartbeat.  She was having trouble finding the beat and kept moving down Marsha's belly.  Marsha mentioned she thought she felt the baby dropping a few times.  The nurse still couldn't find the heartbeat so she moved the blanket covering Marsha so could get farther down and Madilynn's head was already out!  I was on one side and the nurse on the other and although I didn't see her face I was told she had the hugest look of shock!  She acted pretty quickly though and grabbed her head and gave a little pull and out she came.  The doctor was hanging out at the nurses station waiting for the fun part to happen but he missed it! 

They had a little trouble stopping Marsha's bleeding afterwards so they took her into surgery to get it stopped and clean up any extra bits that were left behind.  There is a medical/technical term for it but can't remember it as I had other things to worry about at the time.  She did good and is recovering, although they may keep her an extra day just to monitor her. 

I took the kids by the hospital for a few minutes after she was in her recovery room so they could meet their new sister and they were excited.  I am at home with the kids tonight so I can take them to school tomorrow and Marsha's mom is spending the night with her in the hospital.  Mom and baby are doing good now and hopefully Marsha can get some much needed rest tonight!

A few minutes after being born.

Sleeping after her first feeding.

Relaxing in her bed.

Getting her first bath.

Soaking in the tub to get all the soap off.  She loved this part!

In the heated bed after her bath.

Kaylee and Madilynn.

Calvin and Madilynn.

Here is a video of Madilynn during her bath.