Friday, November 15, 2013

Two Weeks

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 
And let steadfastness have its full effect, 
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4

I wondered today exactly what I could write about. We are so quickly to the point where the changes are small but I know so many are reading each day checking on our little Gracie and today she is 2 weeks old already!

Wearing mittens so she doesn't pull out her ng tube.

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As it turned out with all that happened yesterday Grace was not moved to the step-down unit. John and I were disappointed as we had hoped to bring all of the kids to enjoy their sister on Saturday. The NICU is not conducive at all to a family and understandably so. We'll see if we ever get moved.

Many babies are discharged right from the NICU and as we have witnessed it can take an entire day for the whole discharge process. We still have not had any hint of going home. They keep talking as if we'll be there awhile as we are scheduled for a CPR class on Tuesday. {sigh} We are trying not to get our hopes up but when we see Grace acting much like a normal baby it is at times hard to understand the need to stay. Granted, we want her at her healthiest so that all is well when she does come home and we would have no worries of needing to go back. But we are always reminded that she is not a "normal" baby.

Today Grace took in the most she ever did from me at 40 cc. After nursing for a whole 20 minutes and staying awake too we hoped she would reach the goal of 60 cc. and given a little more time I wonder if she would have. But she gets closer to that goal each day. Nursing Grace is such a joy and definitely helps me bond with her. At times it feels like we are just borrowing her from the hospital.

Grace's bilirubin level went up from 11.7 to 13 but not high enough to need any treatment.

Grandpa got to hold her today.

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John had talked to the nurse about Grace's EEG and it was the same as before -- no seizure activity. We have found that the better Grace gets the less the doctors visit, which is fine with us. In the beginning we always had doctors stopping in for one thing or another.

Two more babies have been admitted to the pod Grace is in. One today was directly across from us. It is hard for me to see babies come in. I always think of Grace when I watched her be whisked away in an isolate not knowing what would happen. A flurry of activity abounds both in preparation but especially once the baby arrives. Doctors all discussing the patient. Respiratory therapists ventilating the baby. X-rays being taken. Nurses assisting. They closed our curtain and then all we see are feet and we listen and wonder. And it brings me back to seeing Grace for the first time. That was a hard day. I was so out of it and dazed at all that had transpired. Was that really just 2 weeks ago?

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Some people have asked how I am feeling physically and I feel good. I typically don't take pain meds long and haven't needed anything at all this week. I am sore but not in pain. The most pain I had was from the excess gas pressure in my mid-section from the surgery which then radiated into my shoulder. The doctor said it could have been caused by the blood that they may not have been able to get cleaned out when I ruptured.  But that pain ended this week. I am walking like normal and keeping up with my fast walking husband. He said I've kicked it into 2nd gear. But with this pregnancy I had gained more weight than I had with any others besides the twins so loosing so much so fast is wonderful. I almost feel I am walking on air.

 I am sleeping great obviously because I am not waking with a baby. I try to wake to pump at least once but I think I am in for a rude awakening when Grace does come home. The only problem with feeling good is that I probably do much more than I am supposed to. I forget that I am still healing internally.

John and I were able to go down early today so we actually were able to all enjoy a meal that was provided around our table as a family and then relaxed with a movie night. Time together we desperately needed. It's been two weeks. Praying it isn't three. 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It sounds like they are waiting for her to "eat enough" for them to discharge her. I would be frustrated by that, but then we all want what is best for our babies.
Waiting is so hard.

Glad you are feeling well and getting around good.
Praying she gets to come home soon.

Tracy

Anonymous said...

Doing my nightly blog check-in! I'm glad to hear things are getting better each day. We continue to pray - and will see you soon!

jodi

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