Oh, Baby!
Weekend already?
Friday, June 25th, 2010 | Oh, Baby! | 3 Comments
The week flew by. Kate had her first pediatricians appointment with Dr Verma on Monday. She had gained four ounces since the visiting nurse saw her on Friday; my girl can pack on the weight like her mom. But we’re happy about that. Verma sent us to Dr. Robert Kitei, an ophthalmologist to have her eye looked at. Seems she has a persistent hyaloid artery in her right eye. He told us to Google it, but when we look to know it is not PHPV. So we get to visit him a few more times so he can take a look every few weeks to see if it is changing. Usually this artery atrophies in the third trimester, so hopefully it will do that and not cause her any problems beyond the nearsightedness she seems to have in that eye already. I’m hoping she doesn’t have to get glasses, but if that is the worst of it, we’ll deal.
Other than that excitement, things have been pretty quiet. We are keeping her on her 12-3-6-9 schedule as much as possible. She generally wakes us up for the 3am and the others we generally wake her up. She’s so funny though because she cries out around 3am and as soon as we get in the room she stops. Really the only time she really cried was when Dr Kitei used a clamp to hold her little eye open so he could get a better look. She had deadening drops in her eye and he assured us it didn’t hurt, but she cried anyway. Until the moment he took it off and she immediately stopped.
It was nice to have Kelvin home this week. Beyond helping with baby, he was able to get some things done around the house. Zach even came up yesterday to help with a few yard projects and they power washed the house this morning.
So we have the weekend and then Kate and I will be on our own during the day while Kelvin works his 10 hour days. I think I need to start a list of little projects I want to accomplish (as soon as I get the last few thank you notes written) so I can be productive while she sleeps. And maybe I should make a list of projects for her Gram & Pop when they come to visit the first week in July.
Home, Sweet Home
Sunday, June 20th, 2010 | Oh, Baby! | 3 Comments
We did get to bring Kate home Thursday. It was the first of many times that we altered our plans for our little bee. Kelvin bad planned for Thursday to be one of our last couple outings for a while. He bought me tickets to see Brooks & Dunn’s Last Rodeo tour in Hershey and we planned to stay the night in Harrisburg. Instead, we got to bring our tiny girl home. The fortunate thing is that even though Kelvin prepaid our room, it looks like Hilton is going to refund the cost if we provide documentation. And my super sleuth husband is also trying to see if Ticketmaster will do the same. Every little bit helps; especially since we see the rate at which she goes through diapers.
We stopped on the way to pick up burgers and fries from Five Guys and shakes from Chick-fil-a that we ate once we got home. There was also a quick stop off at Walgreens to pick up the poly-vi-sol vitamins we have to give her every morning.
Friday morning a visiting nurse came by to check Kate’s weight. She was back up to 5 lbs even. Everything else looked good for both of us; in addition to checking the baby’s temp and weight she checked my temp, blood pressure and legs for signs of clots. It was nice to have someone check in on us.
The past few days have been full of pumping, feeding, changing stinky diapers, cleaning bottles and pump parts, sleeping and just enjoying our new addition. I think one of my favorite things has been letting her sleep on me. She spent well over an hour this morning with her head up on my right shoulder, her body tucked between my boobie and her feet stretched down on my left hip. It felt so nice that she was so relaxed and comfortable there on me.
We spent the rest of Father’s Day just hanging out. I’ve managed to cook a few yummy meals since we’ve been home. I’m relieve that it seems my terrible cooking streak is over. For the month or so before she was born I was having a terrible time cooking. Everything just seemed off; I would burn things or spill stuff or just not bring things together link normal. But last night I made pesto for the first time ever and used it for veggie flat breads and a small side of pasta with chicken. Then today I did bbq boneless pork ribs with broccoli, carrots, fries and a yummy salad with peppered mozzarella, figs and radishes. It sounds like an odd combination, but it was rather yummy.
Tomorrow is our first pediatrician appointment in the morning. I can’t wait to see how much she weighs.
A shock to the system
Thursday, June 17th, 2010 | Oh, Baby! | 5 Comments
Thank God for nurse Barb on Tuesday. Had it not been for her warning us that we were getting close to leaving and having us begin some of the discharge papers I think we would have had a stroke yesterday afternoon. When I went in to see Kate for her 3pm care time, they started talking about taking her home on Thursday. THURSDAY? really? of course my child would decide she wanted to come home the day of my birthday concert.
See, Kelvin bought me tickets for the Brooks & Dunn last rodeo tour show in Hershey for June 17 many months ago when the tickets first went on sale. It was going to be my birthday present and our last getaway before we became parents (since she isn’t due until July 23). So instead of a romantic getaway, we get to bring home our new love. It’s not a bad trade off.
Of course my luck, now that we found someone to take the tickets, the doctors will probably decide she needs one more night. And so the misplayed plans of parenthood begin.
But she’s been in an open air crib for a day and a half, had her Hep B vaccine, hearing test, car seat test, tube removed and she’s been eating like a champ. Can’t ask for more than that from her.
Back to work
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 | Oh, Baby! | No Comments
I’ve spent the morning yesterday and today in the office. There has been something nice about getting back to something normal that I have some control over.
Our girl is doing well though. I just called to check on her, and her current nurse seems really cool. Kate had spit up in her isolette, but she had taken 45 ml by bottle at noon so I’m not surprised. They’ve also lowered the temperature in the isolette to the point where they are considering putting her in a open crib. So I’m going to go for 3pm to check on her and feed her. And I of course expect her to be too cool and not willing to eat anything. But that’s my stubborn girl, and I love her.
Two steps forward, one back
Monday, June 7th, 2010 | Oh, Baby! | 6 Comments
These are the days all of you NICU graduates warned me about. We had a great morning. My mom and I made the trek over for Kate’s 9 am care time. Nurse Rose already had one of the comfy chairs and a set of the privacy screens over by her bed. She was alert and hungry so after a poopy diaper change, I got her out and attempted breastfeeding for the first time. She was amazing, latching on almost immediately. Who knows how much she got down, but it was the practice I was most interested in and I followed it with 15ml from a bottle to make sure we knew she got something to eat — a step forward.
I also took some photos of her with her handmade bee hat that Kelly made. I’m afraid she will forever hold on to the nickname “bee”.
I spent the rest of the day getting some things done around the house and responding to some work email. Most everything is washed and ready for her to come home whenever that might be.
Excited by the morning, Kelvin and I went back for her 6pm care time with hopes we would try feeding again. We arrived to Kate without her bili-pad; her levels were good enough to take her off — a step forward.
That excitement was overshadowed for me by the fact that her gavage was back. Her nurse said that she had petered out with her bottle and had only taken 15ml from her in a half hour– a step back.
Kelvin held her while they added my milk to her tube. She seemed super sleepy and not as animated as usual. You can tell the tube makes her uncomfortable. Hopefully this will be short lived and she’ll bounce back quickly. She’s got some more progress to make; they’re working on cooling her crib a degree at a time. I’m looking forward to her being in an open air crib, and closer to the exit door.
Sleepy Sunday
Sunday, June 6th, 2010 | Oh, Baby! | 1 Comment
I just got off the phone with Kate’s nurse, Rose. She said she really didn’t have anyting to report. Kate has continued to take between 20 and 30 ml from her bottle (the gavage has been out for a full day now). Her temp that was a little low last night when we were there is back up at normal 9though I didn’t ask if they have adjusted her crib temp to get it back normal). And her bili level came back about the same as yesterday so we get to keep the glow worm look for now to combat the jaundice.
Today is bath day so I plan to go up around 11:30am to help with that and the rest of her noon care time before I head to my baby shower at 2pm. I’m sure I’ll be a little emotional, but I can’t wait to spend a little time this afternoon with a group of the amazing females in my life. Just wish there was a way to shrink distance so some of you (you know how you are) who are futher way could be here.
I’ve continued posting pictures to Flickr, but here’s one from last night. You see why we’re in love.
Cause you won’t have time after the baby comes
Saturday, June 5th, 2010 | Oh, Baby! | 4 Comments
How many times have I heard that? And of course, it’s true. The past days have been a complete whirlwind. Because my girl already understood how to work the system, and arrived just after midnight on June 2 that gave me really an extra day at St Lukes. Don’t get me wrong, I was ready to be discharged yesterday after 11 days in captivity. But it was nice to be able to walk over to see Kate whenever I wanted.
She is doing amazingly well in my book; she’s such a strong girl. She dropped 2 oz each of her first two weigh-ins, but when we called last night to check on her, she had gained back 2 oz. Not good if she were on Biggest Loser, but I’m ecstatic that my girl is back up to 4 lb 7 oz. Of course, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that she’s gaining; she’s a little piglet (and I love her for it). The first night she was in the NICU I was able to pump a tiny bit for her in the middle of the night so I walked it over for her. Her nurse told me they had given her 1 ml in a nipple and she took it. I was sleepy so I thought maybe I misunderstood her. Until the morning when we went in, they got her out and handed me the tiniest bottle with just a little in the bottom. She scarfed it and hasn’t looked back. Kelvin and I have each fed her twice now I think. She’s doing so good with it that they were able to cut back on her IV to the point they removed it last night. Between what she gets on her own power out of the bottle and the remainder we put down her tube, she’s being nourished.
Her only setback at this point is a little jaundice. Labs came back when I was there yesterday morning and she was right on the cusp of needing the blue light special. So I told Dr. R that I agreed that we should go ahead and start her on it so we can get her off it sooner. When we went back yesterday afternoon they had her on the billy pad, but it was inside her clothes, making her look like a little glow worm. It made her squint her eyes when we were holding her so Kelvin would put his hand to shield them so she would look at him. Spoiled already.
Being home is nice. Kelvin and mom fixed steaks and sliced potatoes for dinner last night and for dessert we had cake from my work shower that I Google video chatted into yesterday from room 311 at St Lukes. It was fun to peek in and watch the Lager’s open gifts. We actually stopped by my office on the way home to pick up the leftover cake and also brought home gifts. I think we’ll have a mini-shower this afternoon to open them so I can start on thank you notes when I have time between tasks.
We’re all a buzz
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 | Oh, Baby! | 14 Comments
Bee couldn’t wait any longer. She arrived June 2 at 12:35am weighing 4lb 9oz and 17 inches long. She’s beautiful and doing well in the NICU.
A Week
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 | Oh, Baby! | No Comments
It’s pretty crazy to me that this morning marks a week from the time I came in to triage to get checked and ended up admitted.
Things actually haven’t changed much since I’ve been here, and that’s the point. But i do have moments where I think there was some mistake and I’m here for nothing. My temperature is consistent, blood pressure is normal, and the monitoring they do on the bee for an hour every 4 hours looks great. So I sit here and wait — 10 more days.
Memorial Day
Monday, May 31st, 2010 | Oh, Baby! | 3 Comments
I didn’t get an update posted last night for all the excitement. Mom flew in around 5p and Kelvin went to get her and grab dinner at 5 Guys. While he was gone they decided to close CW3 where I have been since they admitted me because I was going to be the only patient there and they can’t staff a private nurse for me. So my nurse packed up all my stuff and got me ready to move. After we ate they took me and my entourage to the regular maternity ward. I’m in a huge room that has a table & chairs, love seat, glider and stool. Not nearly as cozy as my other room, but this has definite party potential!
Things are good this morning. Still a little irritability, but no real organized contractions. I’m on the monitor now for my hour and bee’s heartrate looks like normal; just buzzing along.
I did make the mistake of telling the resident that it felt like i pulled my hamstring so she’s going to make me wear compression hose and use those inflatable boots some while i’m in bed. bleh.
Breakfast is served here. I better work on that so I’ll be hungry again when Kelvin goes to get our free Spicy Chicken Sandwiches from Chick-fil-a at lunch.
My Tweets
- courtneyb: @FrostDavis and no one even realized she was in my lap. Score one for my good baby.
- courtneyb: In airport with infant. Everyone smiles, asks how old, then hopes their seat is not near ours.
- courtneyb: Lady A sounded great in concert last night, just disappointed at the brevity. Thanks Allentown fair.
- courtneyb: The babe slept in my lap through an amazing dinner at Amada in Philly. I can't get enough of that place.
- courtneyb: @snappity yeah Willa! but are you ready for her to be mobile?