Having spent so much time in hospitals the past few months, I felt the need yesterday to plan some special outings for October and November. I went online and ordered two tickets to see "The Velveteen Rabbit" and two tickets to see an Eric Carle production (A Brown Bear, A Caterpillar, and A Moon). I bought one $5 ticket for Nadia for each as well as one $15 ticket for Paul. They should make nice daddy/ daughter dates. I also bought 4 tickets to see the Ringling circus in November (that wasn't cheap!) and 4 tickets for $25 to see a play called "The Timid Dragon." I saw some productions in the spring that I thought the kids would enjoy ("Beauty and the Beast" and "Puss in Boots" for Nadia, "How I became a Pirate" for Ian, and "The Stunt Dog Experience" for both of them), but we're not 100% sure where we'll be living next semester, so I'm holding off on buying tickets for now. I was thinking of taking Nadia to see "Mary Poppins" in Hershey in December until I saw the prices. Paul and I saw it in London in 2002 and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I'm not ready to spend that much money for a four-year-old to see it.
Cell phones are supposed to be turned off in the NICU. When I got booted from the demo room late yesterday afternoon, I decided to leave the property to get dinner. I forgot to turn my cell phone on again, and Paul's dad was trying to reach me because he stopped by the hospital with Nadia and Ian on their way back to our house. Thankfully I ran into them as I was walking back into the hospital (as they were walking out) and I was able to hug and kiss and talk to the kids for about 15 minutes. I would have been so upset with myself if I had missed out on seeing my kids because I forgot to turn on my cell phone. It was really nice of Paul's dad to stop in so I could see them a little bit. Paul plans to bring them for visits on Saturday and Sunday if Oliver isn't discharged before then.
Last night I mostly slept on a couch in a lobby. The couch was big enough that I could stretch out, and I did locate a blanket. I didn't find a pillow though. The lights were never turned off in that lobby so I had trouble sleeping there after Oliver's 5am feeding. I tried the NICU waiting room again and actually found that to be more comfortable as the chairs in that room turn into recliners. Also that room was much darker. If I'm still here this weekend, I'm going to ask Paul to bring a pillow. This morning when I went to the car I brought back a toothbrush and toothpaste to carry in my bag with me. I used my hairbrush and deodorant in the car. I also brought back a pair of socks as my feet were really cold last night. Tonight I plan on sleeping in the NICU waiting room. I left the blanket I found at Oliver's bedside so that I can keep using it until he's discharged.
We'll see what the doctors say on rounds today, but I am encouraged because #1 he's now only on .0125 oxygen (compared to 0.5 the past two days) and #2 he gained 4 grams over a period of 16 hours. For some reason they didn't weigh him on Tuesday night. Every other night they weighed him at 9pm or midnight. From 6am on Wednesday morning to 10pm last night he gained 4 grams. I asked that they weigh him this morning so we could see what he gained in 24 hours, but the nurse said they always weigh babies at night (then why didn't they weigh him on Tuesday night?). The day Ian was discharged he gained 5 grams, and he had lost weight the day before that. He was discharged at 35w6d on day of life # 10. Oliver is 35w1d today and is on day of life #23. I am certain they won't discharge Oliver today, but I'm hoping if he gains weight again today that they'll discharge him tomorrow. It would be heavenly to sleep in a warm bed with a pillow in a dark room under the same roof as Paul, Nadia, and Ian starting this weekend! In light of his slight weight gain, I am not interested in trying the bottle again. I think he's going to make it on nursing alone. I feel hopeful that he'll gain more weight today as he seems to be doing better and better with nursing (lasting much longer). Hopefully I'm not setting myself up for a big let down this evening.
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