Ronald McDonald House

Last night Oliver weighed 4lb 1oz, which meant he gained 1/2 ounce. His usual doctor won't be in this weekend. The doctor who is on this weekend said he was surprised that a 31 weeker was having this much trouble breathing. I told him that even my 36 weeker had a brief stint on the CPAP. It seems my babies have more severe lung issues than are typical for their gestational age. The good news is that the first two have had respiratory problems after being discharged from the NICU (unlike their Mommy who had pnumonia and such many times from the first year of life onward). I was talking to another NICU mom at RMH, and her 27 weeker never needed a ventilator and has been off the CPAP for weeks (she's at 33w now). Upon hearing that Oliver has hypospadias, the doctor asked if I was on the P17 shots. It turns out they are linked. I had no idea! I told him though that Ian also had hypospadias, and I wasn't on the shots when I was pregnant with him. I also told him that two of our son's uncles (one on each side of the family) had hyposapdias. The doctor said it was very unusual for two brothers to both have hypospadias.

Paul and the kids arrived at the RMH around 10am and stayed until 3pm. I was with them for 4 of those hours. I was in the NICU to nurse and pump from 12-1pm. When I got back, I suggested we take naps in my room. There are 2 twin beds in my room. Paul slept in one, Nadia played, and Ian and I slept in the other. Ian would have slept longer, but at 2:20 I couldn't wait to go to the bathroom. The kids really enjoyed the playroom and the playground. They didn't have either of these at the hospital in Harrisburg (or at the Bailey House there). Paul will be back at 8pm tonight for the class in the NICU, and all three of them will come back tomorrow. I am so glad that Oliver and I are so much closer to home, and I'm really praying that Oliver will be discharged on Tuesday! When I told Nadia that Oliver and I might be coming home soon, she told me that she has been praying that Oliver will be strong enough to come home. I could tell she was amazed her prayers have been answered. Then she told me she's also been praying that I won't have any more babies. LOL! My separation has definitely given her a bad feeling towards pregnancy. Hopefully her opinion will change sometime in the next 20 year or so. :-)