Grace Updates 2

2nd volume of Grace updates -- when I started the first post I didn't anticipate having to update for such a long period of time. I grew tired of scrolling to the end of the other post, decided it was getting too long and started another.

* Thursday, 6PM -- Luke and I had a rare treat -- Kristen stayed with the boys and we were able to go to the NICU together for the first time since Monday. Grace looked great. She has excellent respiration rates. She had been sleeping since the last time I left -- her 3pm feed was a gavage so she didn't have to wake to eat. I bottled her at 6PM and she took her 30cc like a pro, stopping only for a burp that was anything but ladylike. Luke and I made the decision today to leave her off the breast until the hospital staff is confident in her abilities to eat (meaning we'd like to see ad lib feeds by bottle for every feed first). There is no requirement that Grace come home on the breast but she has to be able to bottle feed. Knowing how most babies react the first few times at the breast we don't want points detracted from Grace's ability to bottle feed just because she is unsure of nursing. Grace is still getting breastmilk -- she's just getting it from a bottle right now. And that's enough about boobs -- too much talking about it already! As I type this update (it's 11:34PM) Luke is en route to the hospital for Grace's midnight feeding. She should have gavaged the 9PM feed, making this one a bottle feed. After the trouble we had earlier due to this particular nurse Luke was not about to let things slide. He wants to be there to make sure Grace is given her bottle appropriately. We want to see forward progress! We are contemplating being back there for her 6AM feed. Luke being there ensures Grace will get the attention she needs/deserves and is not at the mercy of a lazy nurse. IF there is a problem with the feeding then we will know it's a true problem and NOT something else. Pray for Luke tomorrow as he meets with the doctors -- that he would be firm and articulate while not alienating Grace's caregivers, that he would communicate our desires without appearing overly-intimidating and that he would speak with a clear mind and head to hear the doctor's response. Pray for the doctor -- that she would hear our hearts even if the words are jumbled, and that she would see and understand our position, that she would take seriously our requests. Pray for Grace -- get big and GO HOME!!

* Friday, 12PM -- Luke was able to speak with the doctor regarding Grace's progress and we received good news (sort of...). The TPN was discontinued today so the IV is out. Grace is able to nipple every feed. She will start today, with the noon feeding, at 35cc. If she can take 35cc at noon and 3PM, the nurses will increase her amount to 40cc. Luke said she gobbled up the noon feeding -- which our AWESOME nurse bumped to 40cc early. Love it when the nurse is on our side! Assuming Grace tolerates her feedings today/tonight her gavage tube can be removed tomorrow. The night nurse will weigh Grace at shift change and if she has gained any weight at all the orders are written to open the isolette. Luke decided that if she hasn't gained weight we will have another conversation with the doctors because although she may not be packing on the pounds now, Grace never dropped below her birth weight. According to the NICU records she is up 4oz from last Friday's weight -- we shouldn't be worrying about her weight at this point. Once the isolette is opened we will take her carseat so she can complete her carseat challenge and hopefully she will complete her hearing screen too. There is a slim chance that Grace may come home tomorrow afternoon but we are expecting it will be Sunday before she is discharged -- it will depend on how persuasive we can be tomorrow with the doctor (and of course how Grace progresses throughout the rest of today/tonight). Overall GREAT news -- we just wish tomorrow was definitely go home day. OH well...maybe this will give us time to finish the nursery!

* Saturday, 12PM -- WOW! what a 24 hours it has been! We visited Grace last night at 6pm to feed her. She did great -- took her bottle super fast and showed progress! We went back again at midnight to find her NG tube had been removed! We weren't expecting that to happen until the next afternoon. Unfortunately we also discovered that the night nurse had given her formula. I spoke with her about this but she seemed to be disinterested in listening -- a rather lazy woman truth be told. Grace did well at her midnight feeding -- she was a little slow eating because of tummy bubbles (probably due to the sudden switch to formula). Luke and I went back to the NICU at 9AM today only to discover the night nurse gave her formula after we left too -- not sure why. I spoke with the day nurse and hopefully the situation will be resolved. I was able to nurse Grace for the first time during the 9AM feed and she did GREAT! Ate like a champ. We returned for the noon feed to find Grace in an open crib! Today she will complete her carseat challenge and her hearing screen. She is ad lib feeding now -- basically she can eat what she wants when she wants (the nurses will try to keep her to a 3 hour feed schedule as best they can and they have min/max feed amounts she has to stay within). It looks like Grace should come home tomorrow. She will have to gain weight in the next 24 hours -- even a tiny amount will work (today she gained 10 grams). If she doesn't gain weight (and assuming she doesn't lose weight) Luke and I will have to argue to get her home tomorrow. The doctor originally said Monday when I asked but Luke questioned her response and she said she would be okay with tomorrow if Grace does her part. Hopefully this is the last Grace update! Pray for Grace to gain LOTS of weight!!!