Luke's 1st baseball game

Saturday was Luke's first baseball game. Kevin and I decided that both of us would go together. Someone has always been staying at the hospital with Kenley, but the nurses thought that it would be a good idea for us to both get out. This was his first time to hit with a pitching machine and he did awesome. He had 2 games and his team won both. After his game we took him to Wal Mart to get a book that he has wanted since he has been so good through all of this.

Update

I am going to tell you everything and PLEASE if you have any information and/or have heard of anything PLEASE let me know. They tested me for salmonella and sure enough I have it. I haven't had any symptoms which can be normal for adults or at least I don't think I have. Right after Kenley was born I lost my appetite and I did the same when Luke was born too. So I really haven't eaten anything since Wed. March 17. On Monday they wanted me to give a stool sample. Well I couldn't go to the restroom so I had to take stool softeners and drink 1 dose of Miralax. I was able to go but it was very hard. Well on Friday March 26th at 1:00 am to 3:00 am I had very very loose stools. I thought maybe all those stool softeners and Miralax were finally hitting me. Not to be gross but it smelt like Kenley's and was yellow and stringy (not sure if that's because i haven't eaten or am I trying to pass the Salmonella). When I went to go see Kenley in the NICU the lab called and said I tested positive for Salmonella and I just broke down in tears because no one was able to give me for sure information. The nurses were so sweet and they comforted me and told me that it would be better if they kept Kenley instead of me taking her to the room by myself. Poor Kevin was in Big Spring when all this was happening. The GI doctor finally came and visited with me quickly because I am considered an out-patient. He told me that they normally don't treat this, but I am going to give you medication. He also said something about something going to my gallbladder. I told him about my very loose stools (not sure if it's from the stool softeners or if I was trying to pass the bacteria) and he didn't give me an answer. He told me he wanted me to continue taking the Miralax but only half the dosage and if I continue to have loose stools to call him. So I was really confused, because I was already having loose stools and wouldn't the Miralax just make it worse. I was also confused because I didn't know if I should take this medication because it might prolong the Salmonella. Well, Kevin and I did some research from some reliable websites and found out that I might be a carrier (not sure what that means), I could just pass it by going to the restroom, I could shed it for 5 weeks (don't know what the means either), and it can only be passed from feces to mouth or by food poisoning. This is what we found out about treating it with medication. They usually don't do that unless a young child has it, an elder person, or someone with a weak immune system. As you can tell this has added some stress on me because I am not sure if I should take this medication. I am going to call the doctor on Monday and try to find something out. However on the good side, we were glad to hear that I have it because we now know how Kenley got it. When she was born she caught it. The doctor told me that you can get salmonella from anything, like taking a bite of a bad piece of lettuce, so we have no idea where I got it from. This makes me wonder if there are other people who might have salmonella and not know it because they don't have any symptoms. I want to know if we would have found out that I had it before Kenley was born and had a C-section would she have caught it. Her doctor told me that when babies are born (not by a C-section) they are exposed to everything in your front private area and back private area. Please let me know if you have any information.

Luke and Kenley

Luke finally got to see his baby sister. He had only been able to see her through the glass when she was in the nursery. No children are allowed in the NICU so he can't see her when she's in there. He was so excited and happy to finally be able to actually see her. He can't hold her yet, because the doctor wants to make sure she doesn't catch something. The first pic shows Luke getting hand sanitizer before seeing her.

1 Week Old

Kenley's one week old today.

Kenley's Outfit

We are still moving forward w/Kenley getting better. This afternoon Kenley had a few wires (TPN) removed so now we can dress her. She will now also be choosing when she would like a bottle. We have been feeding her every 3 hrs. but now we will let her choose when she would like to eat (from 2 to 4 hrs). She didn't really enjoy getting dressed, I don't blame her. After she was dressed she was happy. Her is a pic of her wonderful and caring nurse Julie dressing her.

Kenley Roo

Kenley's nickname that I came up with while feeding her is "Little Miss Roo." Here is a pic after her bath and eating. When we have to stop and burp she opens her mouth and snorts looking for her bottle. She has a nurse (actually all of her nurses) who absolutley adores her. She made her the hat she has on and also made her carebear with her birth information on it. I can't even explain how wonderful the nurses are hear. I love them so much for taking specail care of our little girl.

Monday

Hello, again. This is Tambra posting an update for Carley.

The test for what type of bacteria Kenley has, came back today. She has salmonella. Carley said that the hospital staff had seen very few cases of salmonella in an infant this young.

In order to keep family, friends, and nursery mates well, Kenley spends most of her time in "her house". "Kenley's house" happens to be an incubator in the NICU. Kevin and Carley are able to hold her and feed her still. Carely says they have to suit up in scrubs that look and feel like a sauna suit. The look is made complete with rubber gloves.

Carley hasn't missed a feeding since Kenley has been in the NICU and she says she is beginning to eat with gusto. Kenley's white blood cell count is also on the rise. She is also gaining the weight back that she lost!

The Smith's expect that Kenley will end up spending between 10-14 days in the NICU. The stay will be longer if Kenley's spinal fluid is infected with the bacteria.

Please continue to pray for Kenley's recovery!

Kenley Update

Hello all. I know many of you have been waiting on an Kenley update. Carley is not the author of this post, Tambra is. I had a chance to visit with Carley on Saturday at Luke's birthday party. I will try to keep it simple and try to keep all the details straight.

Carley said that in the day Kenley was born, she and Kevin thought they had been given the best, most mellow baby ever! She was calm and quiet all that day. Heading in to Thursday, there were signs that she might be very ill: not crying when she was changed, being completely cooperative when getting her hand prints done, and seeming lethargic. Kenley also had a fever and was not eating well.

On Thursday, Kenley was admitted into the NICU. They gave her an IV and she was placed in an incubator. The doctor says that Kenley has a bacterial infection. Kenley is receiving an IV antibiotic to fight the infection. Yesterday after Luke's party, Carley and Kevin were finally able to hold their sweet baby again! Today, Kenley got to have her first bottle since being in the NICU (they were feeding her by IV).

They expect that Kenley will be in the NICU from 7-21 days (Let's pray for 7!) depending on what type of bacterial infection she has. Carley says Kenley seems to be heading in the right direction. She is getting more "fiesty" each day!

It will take a while for Kenley to be able to meet the world. The doctors tested her blood counts, and she has a low white blood cell count. This will make her more venerable to other types of illnesses.

Carley and Kevin are thankful that Kenley is under constant supervision by great nurses and one of the best NICU doctors in Texas. They would like to thank you for your support and prayers.

I will try to post another update tomorrow so Carley can focus on showering her new baby with love. Carley said she is looking forward to returning all of her missed calls, your texts, and posting pictures of a healthy Kenley once they are on the other side of this.

Nursery Pics

We will be posting lots of pics, but not in order.

Welcome Kenley Nolan Smith

Kenley arrived at 5:05 today. She is 7lbs and 19 in. long. She is very healthy and beautiful. We didn't call people because the dr. said she was a little premature and nobody needs to be holding her except mom and dad, so that she doesn't get sick. We will have more pics coming.

My Next Project

I can't post pics yet because I don't want Luke to see. I am making him a big brother gift bag to give to him when he comes to the hospital. We just got his Big Brother T Shirt in. It's a football shirt. We also ordered him a Batman book. He loves Batman. The book will have his name and other information about him throughout it. I found it on internet and there's all sorts of books they will do like that. We are still waiting for that to come in. I am also going to fill the bag with little nick-nack stuff. I will post a picture of the bag after Luke gets it.

Luke Having Fun

Luke loves playing in boxes. He looks forward to baby furniture coming in so that he can have the box.

Hospital Door Decoration

Okay, for everyone who knows me this probably won't surprise you. I really had this cute and different idea for the decoration that will hang on the door at the hospital, so I decided I wanted to make it. I know someone is suppose to make it, but this is what I really wanted. It's hard to see but at the neck I put a pink crystal necklace on it. The flash takes the color of it.

Kenley's TuTu

My mom and I found a Tutu and a cute headband that will probably cover Kenley's eyes at the Rodeo Exhibits. Its actually 2 colors with a zebra tie thing.