Week 11 with Ellie

NICU

Week 11

*July 13, 2016    Weight 2.840 Kg  (6 lbs 3.9 oz)

  You are 10 weeks old! And your gestational age is 39 weeks!  I really thought you would be home by now, but here we are, still trekking in the NICU!

They upped your feedings from 30 mL to 42mL.  That has got to feel a little better to you, I hope. So, they decided what they think was the cause for all of this.  The Dr's husband is a GI doctor, and she was picking his brain about you.  They discussed that you had started on the rice cereal 2 weeks prior to the blood in the stools. And that made sense for an allergy to manifest itself in two weeks.  So, you have an allergy to rice cereal, noted. When it comes time to feed you, oatmeal it is! The NP hoped that tomorrow we could go back to full feeds tomorrow.

I changed your clothes and got you nice and comfy in a gown, I'm sure the nurses appreciate those outfits the best, makes it easy to change your diaper! Then I fed you your bottle.  You gulped ferociously the first few minutes of the bottle.  But once you realized there was a little more, your paced yourself and enjoyed every last drop.  I brought more breastmilk for you, but it was frozen, that will be your dinner.  When the bottle was empty, you didn't want to let go.  I burped you. You continued to root for more, but eventually gave up and fell asleep in my arms.

Your neighbor had a little procedure done while I was there.  It's so sad, her little seizures are getting worse, and I believe they were doing the spinal tap, but were unable to be successful with it. It is just so sad.  And helps me realize how grateful I am for our trials.  It could be worse, it could be way worse.

Well, secretly I am on a countdown for you to come home. I say by your due date!

Your brother and sister got to visit the library and see the Snake Man, and he brought some cool creatures!

Sleep pretty darling do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby.

Porter holding a lizard, Addie said it stinks.

He looks a little unsure

*July 14, 2016     Weight 2.845 Kg (6 lbs 4.14 oz)

   Hey little Miss! It is nice to see your weight slowly climbing back up!

I came in and the nurse had already fed you one 2 oz bottle and you were onto the second one.... which means..... You are back on full feeds!  Hooray!  You are able to eat as much as you wanted!  I was able to take over and you took 2 more oz!  That is a total of 120mL. That was quite a bit more than the 42 mL from yesterday!!  I think you may have taken a little too much, but I understand why it is difficult not to stop when you have been so deprived.  But you also spit up two times, because of you gorging yourself somewhat.  I probably didn't you burp you as much as a I should have.  It can be annoying to burp you, because the monitor will pick it up and start alerting "V-Tach".  But, I blame me for your two spit ups for not burping you enough.

The NP came by and I asked her if we were on a countdown yet. She said.....YES!!?!!  She said if you are able to poop, which you haven't since Saturday (probably because they starved you all weekend!) When you do poop, if it isn't streaked with any blood, they will continue on this same formula and possibly discharge maybe Monday or Tuesday!! WOW! What?!  YAY!  How exciting!  There is so much to be done!  Mostly everything is, but now that it has actually been said, I need to deep clean the house and have all my ducks in a row!

As I was leaving it sounded like you were trying to work something out, like a big poop.  You had some good gas, and a lot of grunts and moans to get it out (I took a video!)  I called this evening, no poop yet. But lots of people are praying for you!

Wow, best news ever. This time next week, you could finally be home!  We love you so much little one! I know your brother and sister are desperate to meet you!

*July 15, 2016   Weight 2.945 Kg (6 lbs 7.6 oz)

Normally when I get a missed call from 601-984-1000, my heart usually sinks with worry. That is the hospital's number.  I have often said, they should have 2 numbers to call from, an emergency type number and a non-emergency type number....just so when you miss a call,  you can either freak out or rest easy.  But, with all the technology we have, we don't have that.  That will go in the suggestion box.  They did leave a message and it was from the "Discharge Nurses", ooh, I like the sound of that.  Most times the word "discharge" can be associated with nastiness, like ooze from an infected wound. But in this case, "discharge" is a great word.  It means this talk of you coming home is actually true!  I called back immediately and spoke with these lovely discharge nurses.  They wanted me to bring up your car seat, to do a car seat test.  That is where they sit you in the car seat for 1 1/2 hours and keep you hooked up to your monitors to make sure your heart rate or your SATs don't drop. New babies like you tend to want to slump in the car seat and restrict their breathing.  When I called this evening, they hadn't yet done it. They wanted to wait to feed you and then do it.  You have to pass the car seat test or they won't send you home.  Which is smart. But gah! That would stink to come so far and then have to wait longer to pass the car seat test.

  They mentioned also, that if you do in fact pass you car seat test, and poop (which you still have not done since Saturday. And it cannot have blood streaks in it) that you will be discharged MONDAY! Today is Friday!  And in Addie's terms of understanding, that is only 3 more sleeps!!  Oh my goodness! My poor family will be deep cleaning everything tomorrow, including themselves! Ha!  Of course, some of these things might not happen, and things may delayed. After all, we are in the NICU, there could be one last hill on this rollercoaster!  But here is hoping and praying!

You also have a MRI ordered. This is standard for babies born as young as you, so not to worry to much!  Again, when I called tonight, they hadn't taken you to get it.  I am not totally sure what they are looking for, but I guess we will find out soon enough.

All this seems so surreal.  We have been in the NICU 72 days.  That is a long time. But now this is here, I am getting a little nervous, mostly excited, but a bit nervous too!  It has been almost 6 years since I had a newborn baby (well, a 10 week old new-ishly born baby ;) ).  Maybe it is like riding a bike?!  Here is hoping.  I just want to make sure you are safe, that you don't have any more spells (Monday you will be spell free for a week), and that you will thrive.  At least once you are home, you will get constant love and attention from family.  Your siblings are so excited. Tonight, Porter prayed you would poop, without even a giggle or a smile (I peeked). They want you home. They are so excited to meet you and hold you.  Addie practices holding babies as much as she can, she will be a great help to me and a great big sister.  I know Porter is already a great big brother, and I feel he has such a special place in his heart for you.

Oh my sweet, all my prayers tonight will be focused on you coming home!  So please poop girl! And let's get you home at last!

Your car seat is there, ready for your test!!

*July 16, 2016   Weight 3.01 Kg  (6 lbs 9.952 oz)  You are 18 inches long (46.5 cm)

You are up to 3 Kg!  Ba-bye 2 Kg, onward and upward!  Porter weighed this much when he was born, 6 lbs 9 oz, and was 19 inches long.  So, you are close to being as big as your big brother!

Your room is looking cute!

Well today was a cleaning blitz to get the house clean enough for you to come be here. I had called your nurse earlier this morning, to see if you had pooped. And YES! Finally a poop! And the best part, no streaks of blood.  That was great news. And more good news, you passed your hearing test. You had your MRI, and we were awaiting the results, they figured we wouldn't hear back until Monday.  The bad news was you had a spell this morning.  you were able to come back on your own, but it had to be charted, which isn't good news.  I am not sure how long it was, but it was charted, documented.  I knew they hadn't done rounds yet, so, I put all my energy to cleaning this house, in hopes that Monday would still be discharge day.

All it is missing is YOU!

I got a call from the NP, to update me on the rounds.  Your MRI results came back, and they were normal! So that is great news! So lots of great news, lots of things to be happy about.  But then, the news that just plain stinks. Because of your spell, it would put off your discharge day, at least by a few days.  Jab to the heart! We were so close!    The doctor would make that final decision Monday, since he isn't in on the weekends. But the NP was pretty confident that most likely it would not happen on Monday, due to your history of A & B spells. They like that 7 days No spells rule.  Which I do understand, and I don't want you having spells when you get home, because that would be scary. But I felt deflated after that phone call.  I had so many reasons to be happy and upbeat, but that one just knocked me down a peg.  The rollercoaster continues!

Look at that smile!

I visited you later in the day.  You were mostly asleep, peeked a few times.  When I was little, I always imagined little babies would pretend to be asleep sometimes, just to listen to what you had to say.  So, I always would say something extra nice and special when I thought they were listening in.  And I did it again today.  I let you know how much I loved you. How we all can't wait to  for you to get home.  How you make our hearts melt.  How you were special delivery to us straight from heaven!  I know that to be true! Love you little mite!  No more spells, hear?!

We went to a Braves Game, wish you were there!

*July 17, 2016     Weight 3.07 Kg  (6 lbs 12 oz)

  Hey there little Miss!  I came to visit you and fed you 97 mL of formula.  You are a great eater!

They told me you had another spell last night. C'mon Ellie, please no more spells!!!  We want you home so bad! Of course we want you home spell-free!  So, I am not sure what this will mean about when you will be discharged.  But it won't be tomorrow.  No phone call this evening from the discharge nurses :(
Wait a little longer..... just like it says in the scripture.  It will be small moment, let's endure it well.  The end of the marathon is always the hardest and longest feeling.  Patience.  We had a great talk in Church about patience. It was what I needed to hear.  We will trust the Lord's timing, He has brought us this far.  Love you sweet girl!






















*July 18, 2016    Weight 3.125 Kg ( 6 lbs 14 oz)

Hey Little Gal! You were a super sleepy pie today! The nurse had trouble getting you to eat more than 60 mL, but I got you to eat 85mL! Good work!  You were saving it for me!

Exciting news! You are moving upstairs to the intermediate nursery!  I know I know, we have done that before.  But you are in a much stronger place than you were last time!  And tomorrow we will bring your brother and sister up to see you for the first time, on your due date!  Oh my goodness! 11 weeks has nearly passed and you are still in the NICU! Time to stop these spells girl and come home!

Look at the cute chubby neck!

Love you!

Addie went to Jump Start today

Getting ready for school!

Sleep pretty darling!

*July 19, 2016    Weight 3.180 Kg (6 lbs 15.9 oz, could you get any closer to 7 lbs without being it?!)

Big yawn

Today is your Due Date!  Can you believe how long you have already been here!  And dang it, you are still in the hospital!  I was 2 weeks late, so maybe you will be too? Hopefully only a week late!  Apparently you had another self limiting spell this morning.  Maybe they will send you home with a monitor? Or something?  I just want you home!

I decided to celebrate your due date, but introducing you to your older brother and sister! Since you are up in the Intermediate Care Nursery, they have a window!! So, I had my good friend Brittany bring your siblings up to see you.  The nurse said we can't film in the unit, but we may have accidentally caught a glimpse of you! They were sooo excited to see you! And even more excited now to get you home!

Be strong little one! And come home! I must remember you going upstairs is a step in the right direction! But we are sooo ready to be done with hospital trips and just get to hold you whenever we feel like it!

You will be 8 lbs before we know it!  Maybe you need to reach Addie's birthweight before you come home, she was 7 lbs 13 oz! Ready??? Go!