Johanna Rose Weisenfeld (click on underlined text to see pictures)
born at 10:37pm on 4/18/2004 at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, WA
6 lb 15 oz, 19 3/4 inches long, 12 5/8 inches head circumference.
The "h" is silent; we say "Joanna" unless we are in Germany where we say "Yohanna".
On 4/19, we realize that Johanna is spitting up an awful lot of the breast milk that she is getting. A blood test reveals she has low blood sugar. She is transferred to Neonatal Unit at Overlake, given an IV and put on monitors. This was the first time we heard the word gastro-esophageal reflux, or reflux for short, or "you're-going-to-do-a-lot-of-laundry-thanks-to-spit-up". On 4/20, two days after being born, Johanna is transferred via ambulance to Children's Hospital in Seattle. Diagnosis is to rule out bowel obstruction, since the reflux is so bad. We are worried but a lot of people start praying.
Pictures At Children's Hospital
Originally admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care, on 4/20 an upper GI (gastrointestinal) study is done which reveals that Johanna does not have a bowel obstruction or kink. No surgery is necessary. Praise the Lord! We are transferred to regular pediatric unit on 4/21 and released on 4/23 with a prescription for PrevAcid (which is to help Johanna in her reflux) and given two wedges. One wedge keeps her from laying flat, i.e. keeps her head above her stomach, and the other one is to sleep in.
On 4/26 we go for a regular check up with Johanna's pediatrician. She has gained weight to 6 lb 14 oz. More blood tests show bilirubin is normal. Everything looks good.
On 4/30 we go to Group Health Eastside Primary Care for a routine lactation consultation. We get some good information but are admitted to the hospital (Group Health Cooperative, Eastside) for three reasons:
1. weight has decreased
2. diaper rash is serious
3. temperature is low5/9 Happy Mother's Day (Jo and Jolena with Johanna) Video (WMV, 600KB)
It is now 5/10 and here's what we know:
1. Johanna got rotavirus somewhere between 4/26 and 4/30. This gave her diarrhea, and probably damaged the vili in the intestine that produce lactase. Without lactase she couldn't digest breast milk, thus her stool was acidic, contained undigested lactose, and hence the diaper rash. She can't have breast milk again until she tests negative for rotavirus, and until she really gains some serious weight.
2. She can maintain her own temperature if she has enough calories.
3. She can grow, i.e. increase in weight if she has enough calories.
4. Getting the right number of calories is tricky when you have reflux. Remember: you can't overfeed, because that makes reflux more probable and more reflux irritates the esophagus.
5. She was being fed soy milk (ProSobee(R)) through a naso-gastric tube through her nose to her stomach for the first 5-6 days. We have removed the tube and are now using bottles of soy milk. We have found that thickening the soy milk helps her keep it down a little better. However, thickened formula takes a little longer or more energy to get it down. So we are in the hospital until we find the right balance of all of these variables.On 5/12 we went home from GHC Eastside Hospital
Since we went home, we've been charting Johanna's weight using a rented scale.
Johanna Smiles Video (WMV, 1MB)
This is my first attempt at a home movie. It was made using footage from our digital video camera, and Windows Movie Maker. The exposure of the thing is not so great, so you should be in a dark room to see it best.
Today is 5/17 and we are trying breast milk for the first time. We will try only one feeding today, and mixed with soy milk. If diarrhea doesn't return we will try two feedings tomorrow. We gradually increase the amount of breast milk in her diet until we are sure that she can digest lactose again, i.e. that no diarrhea returns.
On 5/18 Johanna was 1 month old, and broke 8lbs! She is still gaining weight on a soy milk diet. 5/22 We have tried breast milk via bottle each day the past week, but Johanna simply does not want to keep it down. We'll keep trying.
On 5/23 we tried some hypoallergenic formula (Enfamil ) which Johanna didn't like after 12 hours and Jolena and I didn't like the smell of. We then switched to milk-based Lactose-free formula (Enfamil LactoFree). Why? We have had pretty consistent loose (watery) and frequent stools ever since we got home from the hospital on 5/12. Plus, I suspect a soy allergy since there is a gene floating around on the Weisenfeld side. It would be nice if this new formula gives some more well-formed stool since the watery stools are bringing back Johanna's rash. Johanna seems to be sleeping more readily using LactoFree, although she still wakes up due to reflux pain and vomitus.
Late May / early June we try a couple days of straight breast milk. Johanna loses weight, starts getting her bottom rash again. We conclude: that she is still lactose intolerant. We go back to trying more lactose-free formula with some breast milk.
On 6/7 Nana Jo came for a visit.
On 6/11, I uploaded some more pictures, here they are!
On 6/12, Johanna was 8 weeks old. We need to get used to the fact that 8 weeks is not necessarily 2 months!
Here's a typical weekday. John goes to bed at 10:00p, and arises between 5:00a and 6:00a to give Jolena a break from the night shift. Johanna is not sleeping through the night although her stints of sleep are getting a little longer and more regular. Reflux tends to wake her up after an hour or two. She also tends to sleep better when she is being held--and although we know that is no long-term solution--if she sleeps soundly it is worth it. Between 6:00a and 9:00a John can (with one hand) read his e-mail, eat breakfast, etc. At 9:30a John hands Johanna off to Jolena so he can go to work. At 6:00p John leaves work, comes home and gets some time with Johanna, and together they talk about how their days went. Dinner together and then some family time round out the evening.
Changing Table Video (WMV 1MB)
We'll go to the Pediatrician for a check up this week, nothing serious, just some questions. Johanna's weight gain has not been as steady over the past week or so. This appointment was 6/29, the Dr. gave Johanna a clean bill of health and she got 5 immunization shots. Dr. said Johanna's weight gain has been very good, moving her from the 10-20th percentile to the 50th. Hallelujah! In the coming months Dr. said we can look forward to teething, more vocalization, and more motor control (rolling over, sitting up, etc.).
On 7/8 Nana Jo went back to Chicago after a week-long visit. The Many Faces Video below is a compilation of some pictures she took of Johanna the past couple of days. Johanna will be 12 weeks on 7/11, 3 months on 7/18.
On 7/10 I attend a Conscious Fathering class. Also, some time in September we get visited by researchers from the University of Washington (Becoming Parents Program) who will take some video of how we interact with Johanna.
New stuff below added 10/3/2004.
In August John, Jolena and Johanna visited Johanna's great grandparents in Springfield, Illinois. It was her first flight, and she did great!
In September Johanna learned how to hold her own bottle! This is something she had been wanting to do for quite some time. On 9/25 we attended the Wheaton Alumni Picnic at Gasworks park in Seattle.
From 9/30-10/6, Jolena and Johanna fly back to Winfield to attend Wheaton College's Homecoming. Nana Jo enjoys the visit.
New stuff below added 12/2004.
Here some pictures of the Tom Kovalik (Johanna's Grandpa) Memorial Prayer Chapel, Papa John getting the cover on the pool, a visit with Grandma Weisenfeld and Uncle Paul. This month we tried some baby food for the first time. Yum!
I probably ought to just call this month: "Johanna and Her Friends". That's what a lot of these pictures are about. In November we all visited Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa in Illinois. Then there are some pictures of Johanna and Papa horsing around. Thanksgiving was an all-Weisenfeld gathering in Bellevue. Johanna learned how to escape from her bouncy chair! Thanksgiving weekend friends Brek and Janelle invited us to Lake Chelan. And finally pictures of some of Johanna's friends, young and young at heart!
So, it seems like Johanna is teething more earnestly the past couple of months, she'll gum on anything: a knuckle wandering by, everything she sees, her rubber spoon, you name it.
Nana Jo came to town again and the three generations went to a Christmas Fair. Here's Johanna in her stroller, calling Papa at work, and sharing a laugh. The girls surprised Grandma Weisenfeld for dinner!
Johanna meets doggie: curiosity, an approaching closer, fascination, Johanna pulls dog's ear, dog nips at Johanna, shock & surprise, Mommy to the rescue, lesson learnt!
Papa tries out something called Baby Pilates, rolling Johanna on her tummy on an underinflated beach ball. She really likes it. It makes her feel like she's on top of the world!
Merry Christmas to all! Christ the Savior is born!