Preemie Archives - Jake Rinard

Peeking Around the Corner

Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:41 pm by Jake Rinard with Leave a Comment

I have been enjoying every minute of this time with the family. I have had fun times with each of the kids and my wife. The new addition of Marlo to the household has been very exciting. I find myself awake most hours of the night, just wanting to watch her as she sleeps.

She is struggling with some of her eating. We were told this is a common issue with micro-preemies, and sure enough it is for Marlo, the one who the nurses always commented read the book on preemies. Even with her eating and her spitting up, she is a delight for us all. None of us can get enough of little Marlo.

I know I am not updating often, and neither is my wife, but if you check both sites you may get a couple of updates each week. Her blog is Adventures in Mellowland.

Please keep us in your prayers as we seek the Lord’s will in our lives. We feel that something is right around the corner!

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What a Girl – Miss Marlo

Posted on September 18, 2011 at 3:26 am by Jake Rinard with Leave a Comment

Amazing Miss Marlo is doing well. She has been home now for almost 2 weeks! She is an amazing miracle. She has been doing so well, that the doctor doesn’t even need to see her often. The doctor told Marlo, that she will see her again in a month!

What a girl!

Captions anyone??

Captions anyone??

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Hi Dad Look at My Tongue

Posted on July 16, 2011 at 9:28 am by Jake Rinard with Leave a Comment

Video call snapshot 64, a photo by Rinard’s on Flickr.

Marlo and I spoke via Skype tonight. She showed me how long her tongue was, which impressed me greatly. She also showed me how she could drink out of a bottle!

This is one amazing girl. Today she is 10 weeks old! Happy Birthday Marlo!

Is that you dad? Why are you on the computer?

I can’t believe it, my daddy is famous! He is on the computer!

Look at what I can do dad!

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Bright Eyes Marlo | Pics and Video

Posted on July 15, 2011 at 5:16 am by Jake Rinard with 1 Comment

Little Marlo has continued to amaze her mommy and daddy. Tonight she hit 1800 grams, which is 3 lbs 15.5 oz! 1800 was the celebration number, where Marlo will begin to moderate her own temperature. Since she can do this, she will be slowly weaned from the Giraffe Incubator, and into a more open bed!

She is still having some apnea where she slows down her breathing, or forgets to breathe. This happens when she is deep in sleep or when she is trying her hardest to go to the bathroom! It can be tough for a little girl to go to the bathroom, so breathing can take a backseat to taking a load off.

Well, she needs to breathe! If she doesn’t catch on, then she won’t go home. We want to take her home, so pray for breathing for Miss Marlo.

She has started breastfeeding and eating from a bottle. She is doing awesome at this! This was a huge event in her life, and now we are beginning to feel like we are on the homestretch! Breathe Marlo Breathe!

Now for some pictures and even a video of Marlo:

Bright Eyes!

Happy Mommy and Marlo

Video of Marlo loving her plug (dummy in Australia)

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Marlo Joy, Daddy, and NEC

Posted on June 14, 2011 at 10:55 am by Jake Rinard with Leave a Comment

Marlo Joy – Wide awake and looking at daddy.

Pray for Marlo, the past 2 days we have been fighting a possible infection. The doctors are worried about possible NEC (Necrotizing Enterocolitis). Something very scary, but so far Marlo is fighting and winning like a champ!

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Marlo Joy – First Photos

Posted on May 10, 2011 at 10:24 am by Jake Rinard with Leave a Comment

Little Miss Marlo Joy Rinard

(She told me she likes pink)
Born: 7 May, 2011
Weight: 1 lb 11 oz
Length 14.5 in
Gestation: 26 weeks 5 days

Here are some of the first pictures of our little baby girl. We can’t wait to be able to see her grow, and strengthen as the days go by. Please keep us in your prayers, as each day is filled with many tests, and we have been told numerous times that having a 26 week old baby in the NICU will often feel like 2 steps forward and 3 steps back.

Update below the pictures, and a video to be shared soon~!

: Marlo is getting ready for her first bath. May 7, 2011

: Proud Parents

: Under the Blue Lights for jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia).

: Little Miss Marlo all Hooked Up and on a Bili Blanket

Here is an update:

Marlo is hanging in there. It is going to be touch and go for a long time. Every bit of news seems to be hard to take. The good news is often overshadowed by something else. The good news is that she is now 3 days old. She is getting a lot of tests, and they are constantly changing things like the ventilator, electrolytes, antibiotics and other things.

Yesterday she had a heart echo to search for a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which they confirmed she has one, but it is small for the time being. So they opted to wait for a day or two and see if it closes on its own, or stays open before opting for surgery or medicines to try and fix it.

On Friday or Monday she will get an ultrasound on her brain to check for brain bleeds which can be very common. Between today and Friday, there will be all sorts of tests, results, and other things that will keep emotions high around here.

Sunday the doctor came to us and said they are suspicious that she might have meningitis, and she needs a lumbar puncture. This was what Johnny ultimately died of, so it really sent a panic through us. About 4 – 5 hours later the quick test came back negative to our relief, and they would grow the culture for the next few days. As of yesterday it was still negative!

Her blood work is off an on. She is having a tough time beating an infection as well as metabolizing the nutrients they give her. We really hope her blood and metabolism kicks in today.