8th July 2006, Early post to night as we have visited during the day, New pics as promised, proud parents and and a wide eyed Dilan having a good nosey round.
Not much to say really, a great night, a great day, including the fact that she is now up to maximum milk intake, this has resulted in ALL pipes being removed from Dilan s arms and don't she know it, waggling about all over the place !!
Was at the cot side when her face mask was taken off this evening for breathing "exercise" nurse told me she is doing remarkably well. Last text of the night just received, all is well and Dilan is sound asleep on her tum as usual.....Onward to the next 24hrs >..>>>>>
7th July 2006, There are many thoughts in ones head today due to the events of this time last year in London, but one none of us would ever have had 12 months ago is that 12 months on Gareth and Jen would be parents........... WOOOOW! yet here we are. The new pic was taken yesterday, a very tired and sleepy little girl ! We now have a really nice pic of Dilan with her eyes wide open taken by the hospital, "Other Grandad" will scan it and send on to me so I can put it on here for all too see, thanks Keith, Once again all is well with Dilan, she is now up to 5ml of milk, and even bigger than that, I think, she spent 5 minutes with no breathing aid, this may now become a daily event, and once the staff are happy she can manage this alone they will start to extend this time, I sometimes have to step back and wonder at how well Dilan is doing, but never losing sight of the path still to travel.
A closing note, I have placed a counter on the site and see that people are visiting Dilan from all over, if you do read this Blog please do leave a Comment/Message as it would be great to know who you all are, and in years to come, how good will it be for Dilan to read ....... Isn't the internet wonderful !!!!!!!!!
Another 24hrs passes...............................
July 6th 2006 , As I said yesterday we have not been to see Dilan today, but Jen and Gareth have sent regular updates as follows: She was good as gold over night getting the award for "Best in Room" !!!! milk was up to 4ml and all is well. At lunchtime she was fast asleep, on her stomach, which how she seems to like it and so the proud parents went out for a while, she was taken off the insulin last night as her sugar levels seem to now be holding thier own. I had a call instead of a text this morning as it seems that the doctors are so pleased with Dilan s progress Gareth and Jen were feeling really bouyed by it, they are hoping that the only set backs now should be minor compared to what we may have expected, like short term ventilation, anti biotics etc, after another brain scan it would appear that the bleeding is no worse and, again, they do not see it getting any worse. This is all really great news, but like Jen and Gareth none of us should lose sight of the fact that Dilan still has a way to go, but HEY what a start !
Milk is is now up to 4.5ml and doctors are saying that if Dilan carries on as she is, it should be possible to remove the nutrient drip in the next 24 to 36 hrs, here's hoping. She has been out of her "fish tank" for nearly two hours this afternoon for a cuddle with her mum and dad, how good is that ?
Once again Dilan has settled for the night and Jen and gareth are returning home till tomorrow.
..........Another 24hrs !!!!!!!!!
July 5th 2006, I have to say that I will never get fed up with saying the same things each day if they are good, and once again the last 24hrs have been. this morning started with a message to say Dilan had had a a peaceful night curled up in her blanket and sleeping through. As of this morning she is now on 3ml of milk which she is coping with well, she has had to have a small bit of extra oxygen through her nose, but this is normal for a baby of her age !
By doctors rounds at lunchtime all is still well and Jennie and Gareth are boosted by the news that Dilan has put on 1oz in 24hrs, this is really good as it proves that she is keeping all the nutrients needed from the milk, and also passing all the proper waste. Visited this evening, milk is now 3.5ml and Dilan was VERY comfortably sound a sleep so we did not disturb her, there is no doubt in my humble opinion, that the change in Dilan is very noticable in the week since she was born, it is truely amazing what the people at Addenbrookes have achived for, Dilan, Jennie, Gareth and all of us, I am sure we will all be forever grateful to them.
Jean and I are having our first night at home since Jen was rushed to Bury last week, to morrow as we feel happy that all is as well as can be in the world of Mr G and Miss J ward. and it will be good for them to have some time on thier own, without Dilan s interferring old grandad worrying about !!! hopefully by Friday I will have some new pics to show you all. and so another PEACEFUL 24hrs passes .......................
July 4th 2006, well the first week is over and our little grand daughter has done her best to pass every test with flying colours, the doctors are pleased, the nurses are very pleased, the midwifes are pleased, and getting use to her name !!!!! At this stage we could not possibly have asked for more, and the parents are, of course, the happiest of all, for the first time since starting this record I can happily announce, as of this evening, all is well, but none of us must ever lose sight of the distance she still has to travel....... on that note another 24hrs passes :-)
July 3rd 2006, Both parents came home last night, and looked the better for it this AM, Dilan had a good night, and is now up to 1.5ml of milk per hour, that must be good, it was also the day for a lumber puncture in order to check cells etc, Jen says she was not overly bothered by it and later in the day all tests came back OK, Whilst I was visiting this evening a routine blood test was being taken from Dlian s foot.....she appears to have slept through the whole thing totally unbothered ! She has lost a small bit of temperature to night but as it stands this is OK, but should be watched over night.
Pics above show Dilan s first full face picture taken by the hospital and retaken by Gareth with our camera hence a bit blurry..... I don t think she was too impressed ! Second shot is of Jen holding Dilan, the white "BALL" next to Jen s hand is Dilan s head in her "Breathing cap"
So dear reader.................... Another 24hrs passes.
P.S. Late posting Gareth and Jen have just got home and Dilan s Temperature is back to normal and she has started a settled night.
July 2nd 2006. Finally we havea picture of Dilan that I can upload to the Blog. If you look very carefully toward the bottom left hand corner you will see Jennies thumb nail holding Dilan s hand, this will give some perspective of just how small she is !
I am, once again , pleased to say that the news is good, this mornings update from Jennie was a no change, quiet night, due to a soreness on Dilan s back she is now lying on her stomach and seems to be far more comfortable and relaxed.
We visited this afternoon and all is well, spent some time with Jennie and dilan, and both are as wonderful as ever, always good to see!! So once again, as I am always delighted to say another 24hrs passes...............
P.S. Gareth's tip of the day "If you are pregnant, always choose a midwife under the age of 40 as after that they seem to become grumpy and rude". I have to say that after my own experiences of the last few days he is SOOOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT !
