Thankfully my mom is staying with us for a week. Calvin went back to work and I'm moving around slowly. My mom has been taking me to the hospital every day to visit Eva. We're there for 2-3 hours. I was finally able to hold Eva on Tuesday and Calvin held her on Friday. That was such a good feeling! She is so small, but very feisty. It's crazy how quickly time goes when we're with her. Hours go by and all we've done is look at our little girl. She's amazing.
Miss Eva was fed through an IV for her first few days and this week she started being fed through a tube that runs from her nose to her tummy. We actually get to help with the feedings by holding the syringe that holds her nourishment. The nurses are really good about getting us involved with Eva. We have changed her diaper--that is tricky to do: a) with wires (that monitor her heart rate, oxygen level, etc.); b)through portholes; c)on one little girl who squirms more than you might imagine!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
NICU Continued
Eva was put on a ventilator once she arrived in the NICU. She was transported in an isolette, which we affectionately referred to as her spaceship. The "lid" lifted up and with the lights and alarms on the contraption, memories of Close Encounters of the Third Kind came to mind. Initially, we could only touch Eva through the portholes in her isolette. She was so tiny and looked so fragile, while at the same time being completely amazing. She was so perfect, from her amazingly long fingers to her sweet little toes. We were in total awe of her, even though it was kinda scary to see her so small and vulnerable. A roller coaster of emotions doesn't even come close to describing how we felt when we saw our little girl.
Over the course of the next couple of days, Eva was taken off of the ventilator, put on CPAP, and then moved to a nasal cannula with oxygen. Being on the ventilator and CPAP for such a short period of time is a good sign of lung development.
Miss Eva was a bit jaundiced and needed to be under the bililights. So, our little star was in the spotlight for the 2nd and 3rd day of her life. She had a little mask to protect her eyes, and that, along with the CPAP for a day or so made it quite hard to see her sweet face. It was so nice to finally see her when all of those were removed.
It was hard to only be able to be with our little girl through those holes in her isolette. We were unable to hold her and could only touch her gently. We felt really helpless as we just stood by as nurses tended to her, though everyone was more than willing to explain what they were doing and were always willing to answer questions.
We were so ready to leave the hospital and on Monday I was discharged. Calvin was ready to NOT have to sleep on the less-than-comfortable bench next to the drafty windows and I was more than ready to be back home. But as anxious as we were to get home, we knew that leaving without Eva would not be easy. This certainly wasn't the way we had imagined any of this would go.
Over the course of the next couple of days, Eva was taken off of the ventilator, put on CPAP, and then moved to a nasal cannula with oxygen. Being on the ventilator and CPAP for such a short period of time is a good sign of lung development.
Miss Eva was a bit jaundiced and needed to be under the bililights. So, our little star was in the spotlight for the 2nd and 3rd day of her life. She had a little mask to protect her eyes, and that, along with the CPAP for a day or so made it quite hard to see her sweet face. It was so nice to finally see her when all of those were removed.
It was hard to only be able to be with our little girl through those holes in her isolette. We were unable to hold her and could only touch her gently. We felt really helpless as we just stood by as nurses tended to her, though everyone was more than willing to explain what they were doing and were always willing to answer questions.
We were so ready to leave the hospital and on Monday I was discharged. Calvin was ready to NOT have to sleep on the less-than-comfortable bench next to the drafty windows and I was more than ready to be back home. But as anxious as we were to get home, we knew that leaving without Eva would not be easy. This certainly wasn't the way we had imagined any of this would go.
Friday, January 23, 2009
NICU Day One
After a quick glimpse from mom Eva was whisked up to the NICU with me following closely behind. It all seemed like such a blur. The doctors and nurses went swiftly to work getting Eva settled into her new digs. They first hooked up the ventilator to help Litte Miss breathe so she didn't have to struggle so hard. The doctor and nurses explained what they they were doing every step of the way. There was a brief lull in the flurry of activity when it was just Eva, myself and a couple nurses. The nurses were cleaning her up some more and little Eva had her hands outstretched above her head like she was reaching for me. I put my pinky out and her finger latched on. What a magical moment. After that Eva needed to have lines put into to her umbilical cord for nutrients and blood draws. I thought that was a good time to check on mom in recovery and one of the nurses escorted me down.
The rest of the day was spent running between NICU and mom's room making sure that both my girls were doing well. Many calls to astonished family were also made during this blur of activity.
The rest of the day was spent running between NICU and mom's room making sure that both my girls were doing well. Many calls to astonished family were also made during this blur of activity.
A Tiny Voice
As soon as Eva was born she was attended to by many wondeful doctors and nurses. Calvin was by her side from the first moment and he even got to cut her umbilical cord. As we were completely unprepared for her early arrival, we didn't have a camera or anything with us. Calvin used our cell phone cameras to get the first couple of pictures of Eva.
Calvin will fill in the details of the first few moments and hours immediately following Eva's birth. -- Trying to get a glimpse of little Eva was difficult at first because of the flurry of activity all around her. The doctors and nurses were trying to get her intubated to help her breathe easier. While they were working, the tiniest of cries could be heard; it was the sweetest sound ever--mighty little Eva was introducing herself to the world. The breathing tube finally in, she was ready to move to the NICU. We were getting set to go to the NICU and a nsurse slapped an ID bracelet on our wrists and said don't remove these until you are told to do so and off we went to the NICU.
The nurses wheeled our little girl by so I could get a quick glimpse of her before they took her to the NICU with Calvin following closely behind. She seemed so far away from me in her little isolette and she looked so tiny. But she was so completely wonderful. I wouldn't see her again for 24 hours.
Calvin will fill in the details of the first few moments and hours immediately following Eva's birth. -- Trying to get a glimpse of little Eva was difficult at first because of the flurry of activity all around her. The doctors and nurses were trying to get her intubated to help her breathe easier. While they were working, the tiniest of cries could be heard; it was the sweetest sound ever--mighty little Eva was introducing herself to the world. The breathing tube finally in, she was ready to move to the NICU. We were getting set to go to the NICU and a nsurse slapped an ID bracelet on our wrists and said don't remove these until you are told to do so and off we went to the NICU.
The nurses wheeled our little girl by so I could get a quick glimpse of her before they took her to the NICU with Calvin following closely behind. She seemed so far away from me in her little isolette and she looked so tiny. But she was so completely wonderful. I wouldn't see her again for 24 hours.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
It's a Girl!!
Eva Grace was born this morning at 10:04
She weighed in at 2lbs. 3 oz.
She was 14 inches long
She has a full head of hair
She was squeaking and squirming as she was born
What a surprise!
What blessing!
She weighed in at 2lbs. 3 oz.
She was 14 inches long
She has a full head of hair
She was squeaking and squirming as she was born
What a surprise!
What blessing!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Testing, Testing
Being in the hospital is NOT restful, whatsoever. They come in every 4 hours to check my vital signs. This happens throughout the entire day and night--whether I'm trying to sleep or not. In between that, I'm put on the fetal monitor once in the morning and once in the evening. Throughout the day I also get a variety of tests done--a few on me, but really, most are on the baby. They are checking to make sure that the little one is still doing ok and how the amniotic fluid level is holding up. There have been more tests and pokes and prods in these last couple of days than in the first few months of being pregnant.
If nothing else, we kinda enjoy hearing the little one's heartbeat and catching a few bonus glimpses of this new little person.
This has been such a weird, crazy time. We hope for the best, but are anxious after each test, ultrasound, etc. We know that this is all out of our hands. We appreciate all of the prayers.
If nothing else, we kinda enjoy hearing the little one's heartbeat and catching a few bonus glimpses of this new little person.
This has been such a weird, crazy time. We hope for the best, but are anxious after each test, ultrasound, etc. We know that this is all out of our hands. We appreciate all of the prayers.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Not so restful, after all
So, although I was very good about following doctor's orders and didn't "cheat" on the whole bedrest thing, the amniotic fluid level continued to drop, so now I have to be on bedrest IN THE HOSPITAL!!!
What was meant to be a routine doctor's visit turned into orders to be admitted to the hospital. When they did an ultrasound today, they found that the amniotic fluid level was a little lower than the last time they checked it, and lower than they would like it to be. We knew something wasn't right when the ultrasound tech said he wanted to have the doctor take a look, instead of just letting us go with our little fuzzy picture of the baby--who was squiggling and squirming the whole time. It's always so fun to see that little person, even though sometimes we can't always tell what we're looking at.
Anyway, I've only been to a hospital to visit someone and the thought of being confined to this bed, this room, this building for the next several weeks makes my head spin. But this is what it will be, so we've got to make the best of it. One of the doctors told me to think of it as my own apartment. Ummm, nice try, but I don't think my imagination is quite that good.
What was meant to be a routine doctor's visit turned into orders to be admitted to the hospital. When they did an ultrasound today, they found that the amniotic fluid level was a little lower than the last time they checked it, and lower than they would like it to be. We knew something wasn't right when the ultrasound tech said he wanted to have the doctor take a look, instead of just letting us go with our little fuzzy picture of the baby--who was squiggling and squirming the whole time. It's always so fun to see that little person, even though sometimes we can't always tell what we're looking at.
Anyway, I've only been to a hospital to visit someone and the thought of being confined to this bed, this room, this building for the next several weeks makes my head spin. But this is what it will be, so we've got to make the best of it. One of the doctors told me to think of it as my own apartment. Ummm, nice try, but I don't think my imagination is quite that good.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Bed Rest
So you know when you take the day off or it's a cold, snowy Saturday and you just plan on hanging out on the sofa watching TV or reading or not really doing much of anything? You know how that sounds like a fun way to spend the day sometimes? Well, that's NOT what bedrest is like. When the doctor said I'd have to be on bedrest, I didn't think it would be so bad. And granted, it's not the absolute worst thing, but it's nothing like that lazy day you might envision.
Due to low amniotic fluid, I need to be on bedrest for the forseeable future. That means I'm not allowed to do much of anything at all. So...no cooking, no cleaning, no shopping, no going to work, no going outside. Honestly, the highlight of the day is taking a quick shower. Other than that, I need to pretty much be on my left side for the whole day (and night, too, for that matter).
Calvin has been so good about taking care of everything and making sure I'm set up either downstairs or upstairs before he goes to work. I really feel kinda bad about not being able to do anything, especially since I don't necessarily feel sick.
On the upside of all of this, I've got some books that have been waiting and some movies that haven't been watched. Now sounds like a good time to get some of those!
Due to low amniotic fluid, I need to be on bedrest for the forseeable future. That means I'm not allowed to do much of anything at all. So...no cooking, no cleaning, no shopping, no going to work, no going outside. Honestly, the highlight of the day is taking a quick shower. Other than that, I need to pretty much be on my left side for the whole day (and night, too, for that matter).
Calvin has been so good about taking care of everything and making sure I'm set up either downstairs or upstairs before he goes to work. I really feel kinda bad about not being able to do anything, especially since I don't necessarily feel sick.
On the upside of all of this, I've got some books that have been waiting and some movies that haven't been watched. Now sounds like a good time to get some of those!
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