January 30, 2011

            Today has been a rough day.  We have talked to doctors and nurses and tons of people today.  It all seems to be a blur.  Landon was being temper mental this morning making them work.  He has been on a lot of support from the ECMO machine these past couple of days.  Tomorrow will be the day that he comes off ECMO and see how well he does without it.  We are feeling every emotion possible at this point I think.  I'm really not understanding why he's going through this but I know that God has a plan.  We're just not always aware of that reason.  I never imagined how quick your child could rip your heart out of your chest and claim it as theirs.  We are asking for prayers for Baby Landon and our entire family as tomorrow will be a very very emotional day for our family.  Thank you all!

January 29, 2011

         Yesterday, Landon had a rough day.  His O2 sats were all over the place for most of the night and during the day.  He would all of a sudden drop to the 80's and they would move the ECMO canulas around in his neck and they would get better.  They thought it was recirculation which is ECMO going into ECMO and he wasn't getting enough oxygenated blood is why his sats kept going down.  Then they thought he may be telling them he was ready to come off ECMO so they did an O2 challenge and he failed miserably.  He got a 70 on his blood gas and they want it well over 200 when he's ready to come off ECMO.  This is not to say he can't pass it Monday when he HAS to come off.  Dr. Williams did say that it was a possibility with it being this low that he may not have enough lung BUT we still believe in miracles and will not give up on Baby Landon.  He has fought this far already and I believe that he will keep fighting.  Today, he has been pretty stable at one setting so that is good.  His chest x-ray showed less air in his intestines and his heart has shifted more mid line.  We ask that you keep praying for Landon as we will continue also.  Thank you so much for all the prayers and support.  May God Bless You All.

January 27, 2011

           Yesterday was a good day for Baby Landon!  He was able to be awake a good bit of the day but not fully and handled it well.  Last night they were able to go down on ECMO to 270 and tolerated very well.  They will probably go up on his sedation meds and morphine because he's gotten so used to it he wakes up 20- 30 mins after they give it to him.  Thomas and I got to see him open his eyes for a brief second.  I cried a little of course but they were happy tears.  Things seem to be getting better and better with God on our side and him having a hand on Landon.  Our baby is definitely a fighter and I pray everyday that he continues to be a fighter.  He is such a blessing to Thomas and I already.  They did find some air in his intestines on the chest x-ray from this morning, but it wasn't a great amount.  They probably will up his dose on his medications today so he actually stays asleep instead of waking up so frequently and try to get this air out of his intestines.  We are so blessed to have such great doctors and nurses taking care of our sweet angel.  Mommy and Daddy love you Landon and can't wait to take you home!  Please continue to pray that he makes these improvements!  We appreciate each and every prayer that goes up for our son!

January 24, 2011 I'm a week old today!

     Today, Landon decided to scare mommy when I called to check on him this morning!  He did good all night then after his morning assessment he decided to make everyone wake up!  They had to turn ECMO up to 490 (the highest it's been since he's been on).  So I went into panic mode and got up here as quick as I could!  By the time I had got here this morning he had bumped back down to 380.  He's remained stable since then and is at 340 as of now.  I'm hoping they can keep on coming down because they want him down to 200 to start thinking about taking him off.  He's so precious just laying there and it breaks my heart not being able to help him.  It keeps me going though knowing he doesn't feel any of it!  Daddy went back to work today and will be back up tonight.  Mommy loves you sweet angel!

January 22, 2011

        Landon is still following doctor's orders great!  He is doing everything they expect him too so I'm very thankful for that!  We had a lot of visitors today for my sweet angel and I definitely appreciate that and all the prayers/ words of encouragement!  It's definitely an emotional time for our entire family.  But I've seen God work in so many ways already throughout the time we've already been here.  I believe with all my heart that Landon is in the best place he could be in.  The doctors and nurses have been just absolutely wonderful!!  They were able to turn down the ECMO to 315 today which is the lowest they have been able to go down to since he's been on the machine!  He had to have another blood transfusion yesterday to give him more platelets and red blood cells.  He isn't as puffy/swollen today after they started his diuretics and lasiks.  He's already stolen my heart from the time I laid eyes on him.  Thomas and I are doing fairly well other than being absolutely exhausted!  I never thought just sitting could tire you out so much.  I don't know how to express just how much we appreciate and cherish every prayer that is said for our sweet angel!  

May God Bless You!
Amanda Sprayberry

January 20, 2011

        Landon is still stable today!  They were able to knock the flow of the ECMO machine down yesterday a little bit so that was a blessing in itself!  He is very swollen today because he is paralyzed and not being able to move.  So the fluids are just sitting there.  They did have to give him some lasix and diuretics to help him pee and hopefully some of the swelling  will go down.  There really won't be anything changing until they really start coming down on ECMO.  Or unless something wrong happens which were hoping doesn't happen!  He's definitely a little fighter! 

Thank you for all the prayers and support once again.
Amanda Sprayberry

January 17, 2011 Landon's Birthday!

     Well, Landon thought it was time to come on out in to this big scary world!  I started having a lot of back pain around 5 or so in the evening on Jan. 16.  I went and showered thinking that may ease the pain.  Then, the pain started getting gradually worse and going to my stomach and getting really painful.  We figured it was time to go to the hospital.  We started off going to Piedmont Newnan Hospital just to make sure.  I was dialated 2-3 cm by then so they told us to head to Grady!  We got to Grady and was in a room quick.  I was still about a 3 when we got there but my water had broke so we were staying!  They gave me my epidural around 4am or so and I tried to get as much sleep as I could which wasn't much!  I had dilated to about 4cm on my on then they started me on pitocin to get him moving a bit!  My epidural actually came out about an hour before I started pushing!  Definitely didn't know!  But, I pushed for about 10-15 mins and he was out! 
     They stabilized him in the delivery room as much as possible and then took him upstairs to the NICU to do more!  They also intubated him in the delivery room so he wouldn't cry and stress!  I only got to see a very short glimpse of him and didn't get to touch him at all.  This was very hard for me!  They left with him about 4 or 5 pm and took him to Egleston.  Thomas and Jimbo went with him and Carol stayed with me at Grady.  
     Landon did good for a while at Egleston then started crashing multiple times, so the decision was made for him to be put on ECMO a lung heart bypass, to keep him alive.  I didn't take this very well at all.  I hadn't even got to touch my son or barely even see him and he was at the point of death and I couldn't even be there with him.  After they got him on ECMO though he did stabalize and do better through the night.  
     He stayed stable pretty much all day today Jan. 18th.  I got to see my son for really the first time today.  I also got to touch him for the first time.  I so badly wanted to hold him, but couldn't.  I know its for the best for him though.  It's just an indescribable feeling not being able to do anything to help him just laying there.  But at least he's not in pain.  They have him pretty much paralyzed so he's not stressing or moving.  But, he's stable right now and we continue to pray that it stays that way!  
     Thomas and I are being strong as we can through all of this even though it's tough for our entire family.  Just not knowing what the next hour could bring is terrifying.  I just pray that God takes care of him like he already is showing he has.  Again, thank you for all the prayers and support!  Mommy and Daddy love you Baby Landon!

May God Bless You All!
Amanda Sprayberry

January 15, 2011 Egleston Tour

         Today, Thomas and I and his parents went up to Egleston's Children Hospital to do a tour of the NICU.  We had a RN give us the tour and she explained a lot of what to expect while we're there and what could happen.  We had a very good experience today, even though it was pretty tough for me.  I guess it really just set in seeing it with my own 2 eyes all the sick babies that are fighting for their lives and our baby boy will be there soon also fighting.  It broke my heart to see all of those beds full and so few family members there with them! It will definitely be a tough journey for our family through all this, but we will make it through it because God is in control and he will take care of us and Baby Landon! Only a week and a half to go unless Landon decides earlier!  Thank you for the prayers once again! God still preforms miracles!

May God Bless You!
Amanda Sprayberry

January 13, 2011

        We actually had a quick appointment today at Grady surprisingly!  Landon's stomach is back up in his chest all the way, but nothing else has went up so that is a blessing in itself.  We had a student doing the ultrasound at first and I was not too impressed with her especially when she says is that his leg or his arm.  I mean I can even tell that!  I was very glad when the real sonographer came in to take over.  Landon did get an 8 as his score today so I was very happy about that and that he actually cooperated for once. :)  So we have one more appointment at Grady and then the following week he will be here, unless he decides otherwise!  We are preparing our self for the road ahead of us and just praying that it will all go smoothly.  It will definitely be an emotional time for Thomas and I and our family also!  Just preparing for the worst and hoping for the best at this point!  Again, thank you all soo very much for all the prayers!  God hears everyone of them!

May God bless you!
Amanda Sprayberry

Good Doctor's Appointment 01/06/11

      Today, we had another ultrasound at Grady!  This appointment made me relieve some of the stress.  A small piece of Landon's stomach seems to be back below the diaphragm and back into the abdomen.  The majority of the stomach is still in the chest, but I thank God for any improvement at this point.  She did say that she had never seen the stomach fully go back into the abdomen, but the doctor's also aren't God and he still works miracles!  We're hoping and praying baby Landon just keeps getting better! Please continue to pray for him as we see that God is working!  I was told the other day that Landon will be a miracle baby and I completely believe that with all my heart!

Hope everyone has a great day and may God bless you all!
Amanda Sprayberry