Needless to say, I did not make it to my next appointment.
Sorry for being a week behind, never thought I'd be this busy without being at home with the baby. Just as busy in the hospital. I'll apologize up front for any crazy typos or nonsense. Sleep deprivation is setting in.
Day 1 - Tuesday: Brooke was born on 11/6/12 at 9:49am, weighing in at 6 lbs 10 oz. We checked into Labor and Delivery at 8:40am that same morning. She was in a hurry. I was worried we were going to be on the news for delivering a baby on the side of the expressway in rush hour traffic. She came very fast. She was given great APGAR scores, all on the very high end. The sack covering her spinal opening did burst, but was not a concern. She was cleaned up and whisked away up to the NICU in Prentice to be evaluated. She was doing so good, they moved her to the NICU at Children’s/Lurie within a couple of hours. We walked over to see her later that day (very nice having the hospitals connected - love it). I split my time between my room and her NICU room.
Day 2 - Wednesday: Brooke had her surgery today, Wed 11/7. All went well with the surgery. Her job now is to heal. The Dr’s will be keeping a close eye on her ventricles to track any changes.
There was a little break down in communication and we were waiting to hear when she was on her way back to the NICU, but when we called for an update she had already been there for 40 minutes. They could not get a cath in her so they were getting a little worried, but she seemed to be doing a good job of emptying her bladder on her own (which is great!).
Over the course of day 1 and day 2 we were asked permission to follow Brooke with Dr. Bowman and get our perspective as parents about the closeness of Prentice and Children’s. So I gave consent and Brooke and Steve and I are part of a public service video for Children’s. We’re supposed to get a DVD of pictures and the video itself, hopefully before she gets discharged. She’s already a movie star at 2 days old.
Day 3 - Thursday: I got discharged today. I was going to stay the night in a sleeping room, but really miss Braxton too and I know Brooke is in really good hands (usually at least 2 sets of them) in the NICU. It stinks, but I can’t be in 2 places at once, wish I could.
Brooke was finally able to get some breast milk and she ate like a champ. She’s still recovering from her surgery. She’ll be on antibiotics for 14 days and we found out that she will most likely be staying in the hospital for about 3 weeks. Dr. Bowman likes to keep the babies close by to ensure they are stable, have been totally evaluated. Far better than sending a baby home early, giving the new parents a million instructions and a ton of things to watch for. It stinks, but I’m thankful she’s in such great hands. Dr. Bowman is one of the top neurosurgeons and the Director of the SB clinic at Children’s. She’s also very nice and on top of everything.
I think Braxton was missing mommy a bit. I stuck to me like velcro. He’s so excited to meet his sister. I think we’re going to wait until next weekend when she has a room of her own. I’m going to have to video it. When Aunt Debbie told him his little sister was here, I guess he got so excited he could hardly get his coat on. I wish I could have seen his face.
Day 4 - Friday: Our little mover and shaker has graduated out of the little NICU warmer bed. She nearly toppled over off her her little stack of foam pads she was sleeping on. She has to stay on her belly and back must be flat. She’s been this way since surgery and will be this way for a few days more. Her little quads and psoas appear to be tight. She’s at about a 90 degree angle. PT has not assessed her yet. Her only job right now and main focus is on her healing back and tracking her ventricles. She finally gets to eat is getting less fluids.
Day 5 - Saturday: Best day yet! FINALLY got to hold her. Someone was worried I’d be bored in the NICU with nothing to do all day. I don’t have a lot of time for much, between eating, peeing, pumping, kangarooing and oogling over our little cutie I don’t have time for much else. The time is flying. They are a little worried about her ventricles, they have enlarged a little. She is scheduled for another head US Monday morning to check them again. They’re keeping a close eye on them and she may need a shunt (praying that she doesn’t). They will prep her Sunday night for surgery just in case and if anything were to come up over the weekend, Dr. Alden is doing rounds (another neuro on Dr. Bowman’s team) and he will put one in if it is necessary.
Her little knees are hyperextended. One of the PTs stopped by briefly who did a brief initial assessment. She’ll be working with her once she’s given the go ahead from neuro. I’ve been massaging her little feet (and yes, she has 2 cute little feet and both have their respective toes - stupid US tech who thought she didn’t have toes and a stub for a foot...). They think one or both of her hips may be out of socket as well, but won’t know for sure until they can get an x-ray. They also tried to get a US of her kidneys and bladder, kidneys are great, but it was hard to get good shots of her bladder as she is still on her belly and Dr. Bowman does not want her moved. One other thing that is uber important is no leaking of fluid from her back. Hoping we don’t have to go down that path.
On a side note, big storm came through and I didn’t even know it until I tried to get home and got stuck in horrid traffic. Who would have thought on a Sat afternoon it would take me nearly an hour and a half to get home, it was insane. Worse than rush hour traffic. Aunt Debbie was helping out and I was late to relieve her. B had fun hiking with her, her friend and doggie Sam. Thanks Aunt Debbie.
Day - Sunday: 6 Can’t believe it’s already Sunday. It’s been a quiet uneventful day, which is good. I originally asked that if she needed any formula that it be non-dairy. The resident and I believe overall, Drs prefer the dairy based since the calcium, etc is better digested and utilized. I gave consent to use dairy if they ran out of bm, and they did late Sunday, but Brooke didn’t take much of it. She knows the good stuff. She only took about an ounce then I was able to get there and give her some fresh b-milk, definitely her preference. I wish I would have stuck to my guns and said if it were going to be for just one feed then stick to the non-dairy. Hopefully she won’t develop any sensitivities, like her mom and big brother.
Day 7 - Monday: GREAT NEWS, Brooke had her head US and so far her ventricles are holding steady. Hope and pray they stay that way. They can change at any time, but praying she will not need any intervention or a shunt to relieve pressure from fluid. She also has graduated to the 19th floor, so even more good news. I’m going to try to stay the night tomorrow night with her. Can’t wait. Until then, I’m going to stay at home again. Still wish I could be in 2 places at once.
Finally met Dr. Yerkes also, the Urologist. She’s very nice and was happy to hear that Brooke appears to be peeing on her own and it appears she’s emptying her bladder as near as they can tell.
Will update more later.
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