Third Day

Last night they gave Oliver another transfusion, but they determined I didn't need a second transfusion so they removed my second iv tube last night. They thought I might be a bit light lightheaded because of my levels, but I am not. I wish with all my heart that Oliver was inside me and had a fetal transfusion yesterday instead of one in the NICU. His bilirubin count has leveled off so they are only checking it once a day now. He still has two lights above him and one under him. I turned this picture to black/white because otherwise everything is blue from the lights. After my morning dose of Toradol, they took out my other iv tube that had been in since 5am on Friday morning. They switched me to oral ibuprofen. I also have taken a couple of doses of Percocet. I've been moving around a LOT more today. Last night it was a huge struggle to get in or out of bed, and now I can do it on my own. The NICU is on the 8th floor, and I'm on the 9th floor so I've still been going down by wheelchair. This morning I cried an awful lot. It's hard staying in the maternity unit because I often hear babies crying, and that often brings tears to my eyes as I wish Oliver was in the room with me. The only time I've experience a baby in the room with me was in January 2010 when I had the D&C when Ian was 5 weeks old. I'm sure all the hormones in my body aren't helping. Up until this morning I had kept myself together when I was out of my room, but this morning I lost it while waiting for an elevator as I watched a woman being discharged with her baby. I've never experienced that. I know once he's home it won't matter that he was discharged 6 weeks after I was, but it's hard right now.

I got myself together and then when they wheeled me into his NICU pod, and I saw they were doing an x-ray on him, the tears started flowing again. He's only 3 days old and has already had more xrays than Nadia has had over the past 4 years of life. They were adjusting his PICC line again. He was rather upset from the x-ray so the nurse gave him more Versed. They need him to be calm or all his numbers go out of whack. They removed his venus line, but his arterial line is still in place so I can't hold him yet, but the upside is that they aren't pricking him yet when they have to draw blood, which is a good thing. It didn't help that when I got back from the NICU the lunch tray in my room contained foods I really didn't want to eat. The hostess this morning told me that in this unit you can't order from the cafe. I had filled out my menus on Sunday while I was still in the antepartum unit. Yesterday's hostess did bring me food from the cafe. I said if that's the case why wasn't I given a menu yesterday so that I could at least pick which hospital food was brought to my room today. I told my nurse I'd just eat cereal for lunch, but she must have said something because the hostess then did bring what I had requested. I did fill out a new menu for tomorrow so hopefully that will go smoother tomorrow.  At dinner they again brought me a meal I never would have picked, but I ate part of it and didn't say anything in part because Oliver met his 4th family member today (first he met Paul and my mom and then me and today Paul's aunt Debbie), and she brought me some food.

I brought my camera down to the NICU this morning, but I didn't bring it this afternoon. I wish I had so I would have a picture of Oliver and Aunt Debbie on his 3rd day of life outside the womb. It was a very pleasant surprise. She brought Oliver a pacifier, Ian a puzzle, Nadia a pair of pink shoes, and three chocolate baked goodies for me. It really was a big boost to my spirits to have a visitor today.

The highlight of my day was when I noticed I was producing a few drops of milk when I was pumping at 1am.  I had gotten colostrum every time I pumped, but it was never enough to collect into a syringe. I felt badly because I know who wonderful colostrum is for babies, and none of my three kids ever got any colostrum (even though my body produced some each time). When I pumped at 9am, it was enough to put some in a syringe. It wasn't much, but they are only giving him a tiny bit at each feeding anyhow so it was enough. I didn't get much the next time I pumped, but then the time after that I got quite a bit more (enough for several feedings). I was proud to deliver those syringes to the NICU. At the 5pm pumping I just gave the syringe to the nurse, and she delivered it to the NICU for me. I gave them what will be a few days worth of milk for Oliver even though it wasn't much. So far I am still only getting drops from the right side. Hopefully that side will kick into gear soon as the left side is the only side giving me enough to put in a syringe right now. It feels great to do that though as it makes me feel like I'm doing something for Oliver whereas mostly I feel completely helpless since I can't even hold him.

I also was able to make a reservation at the Bailey House for Sunday night. I was told I need to arrive around noon as the woman who works there will be going to church in the morning and a 50th birthday party for a family member in the afternoon.  I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed on Saturday night for the first time since July 3. Hopefully I'll be able to stay at the Bailey House for several days. I plan on sleeping there all night until Oliver is able to nurse, but I will pump during the night no matter where I am sleeping. The hospital is sending me with a rental pump so we don't have to stop and buy one on Saturday. Regina, you are right about not needing clothes for Oliver for a few weeks. Ian and Nadia were allowed to wear clothing after their time under the blue lights ended, and although that hospital did have clothing available, we were allowed to bring in our own clothing if we wanted. It turns out that they don't allow you to bring in clothing at this NICU. I was bummed about that. I'll have to wait until he is discharged to dress him in his own clothing. I still think he'll be in preemie size clothing longer than they were so I probably will buy a little bit more preemie size clothing for him. I think I'll shop on eBay this weekend while I'm at home since I can't shop here at the hospital. Maybe I'll be able to shop online at the Bailey House?

Tonight is the last night of my class. I am trying to finish grading this evening. I'm almost done. Would you believe this will be the THIRD time in my life when I'll be submitting grades online to the Registrar while I have a baby in the NICU? What are the odds??? Nadia was due July 20th, which was during the 2nd summer session of 2008. I wasn't scheduled to teach any classes during the 2nd summer session. I was teaching during the first summer session, which ended the end of June. My water broke a couple of hours after I taught the next to last class of that session. I finished the grading in the hospital. Ian was due on January 20, which would have been at the very start of the spring 2010 semester. He was born on December 12, 2009. I didn't miss any classes, but others had to proctor my exams during final exam week (and they brought them to the hospital). I sat in the NICU grading exams and submitted grades to the Registrar from the NICU a second time. Oliver was due October 3, in the early part of the fall 2012 semester. However, he came the last week of the 2nd summer session (grades are due by next Wednesday) so here I am in the hospital once again submitting grades to the Registrar. At least technology makes it possible for me to keep doing my job even though I haven't driven a car since May 29.

I'm hoping that tomorrow Oliver might be able to go back on the SiPAP. We shall see. He's still on the ventilator now.