Keeping Our Fingers Crossed-April 30, 2011

Anna is nearly three months old and she weighs 4lbs and 7 oz. It's strange to think that she should still be in utero with a due date of May 21, 2011.  JR and I were told that we should subtract about four months from Anna when we think about her development.  Preemies do not develop at the same level as full term babies.  Anna will have many follow up appointments to check on her development in the first couple years of her life.

Anna is still improving every day and she has not had any major setbacks, only minor bumps in the road. The major focus is for her to take all of her bottles at every feeding.  She is getting close (72%), but she still likes to doze off every now and then. 

During rounding today, the Attending Physician told us that Anna's improvements are beyond what they expected.  This was great to hear especially coming from the doctor that witnessed Anna at her worst. Anna has come a long way.

I noticed that the white board on Anna's hospital wall says:  

Anna's Goals

1.  Nipple 100% of feedings
2.  Wean oxygen
3.  Go Home 

Anna has never had goal #3 before. This is both exciting and terrifying to me.

I notified my employer that I may be taking a few weeks off of work soon.  I couldn't give an exact date because Anna will decide when she is ready.  I wish I could take more time off, but it isn't very easy to do with my position at work. 

After I watch Anna for two weeks, Grandma Lynne will watch Anna for two weeks.  After Grandma Lynne's two weeks, Nana Kiki will fly in from Utah to watch Anna for seven weeks.  After Nana Kiki's seven weeks, Grandma Lynne will watch Anna for another two weeks.  After that, JR will watch Anna for eight weeks.  After JR's eight weeks, I will watch Anna for one more week. 

We are so happy for all of the help because Anna cannot go to a daycare provider for approximately six months. If she is exposed to a virus or any contagious illness, she could become seriously ill and end up in the hospital again.  We cannot risk for that to happen.

Anna has many restrictions.  JR and I were told that for a period of time, we should keep Anna away from visitors except for close family.  The only places that she should be taken to are to her doctor's appointments. Once Anna is ready to venture outside the home around October or November, it will be cold and flu season.  So, unfortunately, Anna will be confined to our home for the rest of the year and the beginning of next. 

Anna's bedroom in our home is now beginning to look like a baby's room.  Even though I ordered her bedroom set the weekend after we found out she was ours, the unassembled furniture sat in our den for two months.  I was afraid to take the furniture out of the box. Now that she is doing well, nearly all of her furniture is put together. I also washed all of her baby clothes, blankets, sheets, and bedding.  The room needs one last finishing touch…Anna. 

St. Francis Medical Center is very good about making sure that premature babies are well taken care of after they leave the hospital.  Finding a pediatrician for your baby is required before discharge and follow up appointments are scheduled by the Discharge Nurse immediately.  Anna's new Pediatrician has already been briefed on Anna's history and current condition. We have also received calls from the University of Iowa hospitals wanting to schedule follow up baby development appointments. These appointments are separate from her local appointments with her new Pediatrician. Visiting nurses are also scheduled to come to our home a few days per week for the first couple of weeks.

Not only do we need to have the professionals lined up, JR and I need to make sure that we are prepared as well.  Parents of preemies with certain illnesses are required to go through infant CPR, monitor and oxygen training before discharge. JR, Kara, Shawn, and I received training last Thursday.  Grandma Lynne and Nana Kiki are also taking infant CPR training.  Anna will come home on a pulse oximeter, an apnea monitor, and oxygen.  The nurse giving the training quizzed Shawn on some of the equipment and he knew all of the answers!  I was very impressed...mainly because I didn’t know some of them.  After the nurse completed our training, she asked if we felt comfortable with the equipment. Kara and Shawn smiled and nodded their heads, but JR and I looked at each other and there was an awkward silent moment.  Thank God we will have handbooks and access to a 24/7 helpline if we have trouble with any of the equipment.  

Not only does Anna have monitors, she has medications.  This weekend, Nurse Michelle wanted us to come in early Saturday morning so that JR and I could practice giving Anna her meds. JR and I will need to train Grandma Lynne and Nana Kiki, too.  There is so much to think about.

Right now, it is getting late and JR is rocking Anna to sleep.  In a few minutes, we will head out to the hotel for a good night’s rest.  Tomorrow morning is Sunday.  I will wake up early and take Kara and Shawn to the hotel pool for a swim. Then, we will eat some breakfast and head over to the hospital to be with Anna.  This could be our last weekend in Peoria and we are keeping our fingers crossed.   Maybe Anna will be home in time for Mother’s Day.