day four

Day four has been pretty good. Last night; however, was pretty frightening!! After everyone had left and it was just me and Chandler in the room, this Mama went into panic mode but turned into survival mode. I put my big girl panties on an decided I could do this. Chandler is hooked up to several lines that tell different things, not to mention her drainage tube hanging out. These lines lead to an annoying little computer screen that will blink and beep if it is not just right.. So needless to say I am neurotic about it!! For instance, her oxygen sats need to be between 95% and 100% to be on room air and not on oxygen which she tries her hardest to pull off and we can't see her beautiful face either! I am CONSTANTLY looking at it, willing it to stay where it needs to be and being reminded of the dark place I was in almost three years ago after giving birth to Madeline with that awful high blood pressure. Anyway, back to last night.. So this Mama thinks that to feed her means to hold her so when it was time to feed, I got her and all her lines out and attempted to feed her. Let's just say her and I weren't the most comfortable!! But she ate and don't worry, I got her safely back in her bed! All the while that silly computer is dinging and blinking at me and telling the nurses all our business! The nurse was also trying to ween her off the oxygen which was unsuccessful. She was having to give meds through her IV line too so we would just get back to sleep when she would disturb us!! Oh well, at least she was nice and we made it through the night!!
Her pacing wires were removed today which were in her belly that were in there in case the needed to do some type of pacemaker. Someone tried to draw blood from her heel with two sticks. Let's just say that the nurse practitioner told them to stop and not do that again!! She had to take something to help her poop and boy did it!! Her only pain reliever now is Tylenol and Motrin. They also suctioned some gunk out around 4 a.m. and she was mad but I was amazed at how much better she sounded! Where has that contraption been the last five months?!? Besides that and a not-so-good nurse, we made it to shift change where our sweet nurse and respiratory therapist came back tonight. Nothing like being treated like the princess you are!!

Right before lunch, Kris brought Madeline to see me.. It felt sooo good when she ran to me smiling!! I had to dry my eyes.. I had been missing her so much it hurt! The three of us ate lunch and threw pennies in the fountain. Once we got back to the floor, Madeline demanded she see Chandler.. "I wanna see Chandler!!" So she already had on her shirt and we just pulled up her blanket. But of course she had the oxygen things in her nose and Madeline said "hers got bobos!!" But insisted she give her a kiss and told her she loved her...Mama was then wiping more tears!!

We had several visitors today, including our nurse from the nicu.. Now if that doesn't make you feel special, then nothing will!! Dr Parnell even came in saying she had told her to take care of her baby and her family. Now that says a lot about someone right there!! We have been in excellent hands, and we might need to keep an eye on Chandler or one of these nice people might put her in their purse and run away with her! Ha

Feeding has been a huge issue with Chandler and she was rarely able to drink four full ounces during one feeding. Now she was working her way up there before surgery but never during one feeding. Tonight that pink baby girl was able to drink four ounces during one feeding without being fatigued or breathing heavy!! I had forgotten what that was like!! We are so very proud of our super girl and admire her strength already!!

wanting to unplug this machine,
Megan