March 9th, 2014- The First Week

A basic summary of Ally's first week...

Sunday, March 2nd: Happy Birthday baby girl!  (See post on The Arrival!)

Monday: After a fitful night for both Russell and I (me itching all night and regaining my feeling, Russell sleeping on the couch/bed that is sooooo comfy) that afternoon I was freed from all my confines and able to go up to the NICU with Russell, Luke, and Russell's parents.  Luke was so excited to meet his baby sister.  He did really well with following all the rules of washing up for 2 minutes, putting on the gown, and being quiet and orderly the whole time, especially by her bedside.  He was just fascinated with her and so gentle and loving.  After a few minutes, Russell took him out and let his Dad come in, who had been in the waiting room with Ben (he's too young to go into the NICU, and even if he was it would NOT be a good idea!).  She was still in the open crib with a warmer on above her, and had an iv in her left hand and the oxygen saturation monitor on her foot.  She was taking bottles of whatever I could pump and supplementing with formula.  I learned about care times, which is every 3 hours for her when they take her temperature, feed, and change her.  I can be with her 24/7 but care times are the most interactive times- once you put a baby down from care time they ask that you leave them down so they can be resting.

Meeting big brother 'Bubba' in the NICU

They also did a head sonogram on Monday.  I wasn't there for it, but we didn't hear much as a result of it so as of now the hydrocephalus appears to not need a shunt.  We still need to speak with neurosurgery regarding the results and we should be getting another head sonogram and consult with them 10 -14 days from now...whether still in the NICU or as an outpatient.

Tuesday: By now the warmer is off because Ally had gotten too warm so she was obviously trying to regulate her own temperature!  She was also increasing her volume of her feeding and really only getting breastmilk and not needing the formula supplement.  Since I was in the hospital too I was easily able to make it up to the NICU for a number of her care times.  I tried to actually breastfeed her once but she didn't really take to it.

Daddy feeding Ally for the first time.  He got her to eat the whole thing!

Wednesday: This was the day I was discharged from the hospital.  I didn't leave until after lunch so I participated in most of the morning care times.  While sitting waiting for one to begin by her bedside I cried a bit since I wouldn't be able to just come up and be with her anytime I wanted- and I was especially limited because I couldn't drive.

Sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday they also put a feeding tube in through her nose.  She was getting somewhat better about eating but she often wouldn't take her whole bottle, so this way whatever she didn't take they could put down her tube to make sure she was getting the full amount (they called it the 'big girl plan').  It was interesting because they would also use the tube to first bring up anything that was in her stomach to see what she was digesting and how much she still had left from the last feeding, then put it back in her stomach and continue with that feeding.

Also, at one point today when I went up for her care time they asked me to wait before going in to see her because they were moving her iv.  I had thought the whole time how hard it can be to put ivs in (after my c-section my first one had gone bad, and it took them 3 attempts to move it- I usually have pretty good veins too!) so I had wondered how next to impossible it would be to get one into an infant, especially a premie!  It turned out they were putting it into the side of her head.  They said she did great for them while having it done, and for awhile she almost looked as if she had a bow in her hair!

Thursday: This was the best and worst day in some ways.  While I was there for her first care times they gave me some really great news- her volume of feeds had increased dramatically overnight, so they were going to pull her feeding tube and unhook the iv, and if she continued that day doing well they'd take it out completely!  I was so thrilled she was doing so well.  At one care time I attempted nursing again and she actually took to it and got some nourishment, but we did give her a bottle afterward.  She did not eat well for me anytime I tried to feed her that day.  I was starting to worry a bit that whenever she came home I wouldn't be able to get her to eat like the nurses could.  The nurses said sometimes they get really comfortable with Mommy- nice and warm and cozy- that they sleep more easily and don't eat as much.  You need to eat girl if you want outta here!

Friday: At her first care time that I was present for Friday her iv was gone!  She also no longer had an oxygen saturation monitor on, so the only 'hook ups' she now had were heart and breathing monitors.  Also, for the first time her bilyrubin levels had finally started to decline- everyday she was tested and they went up and up, but she never got to the point where she was considered officially jaundice and in need of the phototherapy light.  However, they did tell me that during the night she had had an 'episode' where her breathing had declined, causing her heart rate to decline as well.  This is not unusual for premies, (they often forget to breathe!) but this one was severe enough that someone had to intervene (they often bring themselves out of it on their own).  As a result, she is on a 5 day count down and has to stay at least 5 more days.  However, she is doing so well that they told us we could bring in her car seat to do her car seat test and started talking about her being able to come home if she continued to do well!!  I myself also went to the doctor to have my staples removed.  I have been feeling great and am healing remarkably well.

Saturday: Mom arrives (she had left Sunday before it was decided to do the c-section in order to avoid the snowy weather headed our way)!  She was thrilled to hold her first granddaughter.  Since it is tax season, my Dad works 6 days a week and was unable to come, but Mom used their iphones for Dad to facetime with her.  Ally continued to do well that day, increase her volume even more, and she even nursed on both sides for one of her feedings that day!

With her Nanny!

Sunday: Things continue to go well.  I was able to attend church that morning and go see her several times that day.  We learned that night that she was back to her birth weight of 4 lbs, 5.5 oz.!  They continue to talk about sending her home Tuesday provided there were no more episodes like on Thursday and she passes her car seat study.  Russell and I brought her car seat that night in order for them to hopefully do the study overnight.  We saw another little guy a few beds down pass his car seat study and actually leave the NICU that night and I think Ally got jealous- she did really well for the last few care times we were there for that evening! 

She is doing so, so well.  For being a little over 5 weeks early, her progress and condition continues to amaze me.  I truly believe it is because of the prayers of so many that she wasn't in more serious condition and that she has progressed and improved so quickly, to the point where we are talking discharge on a specific date!  Thank you to all who have been praying for Ally.  Russell and I are very different in that he is overly concerned with everything dandy-walker related- her head size, getting with neurosurgery, her sonogram(s), while I have been focusing on her eating and being able to come home- in my mind, it is first things first!  Hopefully we'll soon have a post with her home coming and then continue our dandy-walker journey as an outpatient.  Thanks again for the prayers especially, and the well-wishes, food, and all the offers of help- we are so blessed to be surrounded by such kind, loving, caring people and we love all of you so so much!