Tobie here: No major updates to report from the weekend. The theme was “rest and grow” which the babies did well. Cole is now 2 1/2 lbs with Paige right behind him at 2 lbs 5 oz. At least that’s what they were weighing yesterday…they seem to be putting on 1/2 oz-1 oz each day.
The NICU changed out Cole’s bed yesterday. The nurses said this was a good thing because he is now in the older bed which doesn’t have as many bells and whistles because he doesn’t need them and the newer beds are needed for the tiny babies (?) that have more requirements than Cole. They also said that it’s like having a classic ‘69 Mustang instead of a new Mercedes. I don’t care how they want to justify it…I was a little dismayed that he was in a piece of crap old bed. Is it wrong to want the Mercedes??
On a good note: the nurse manager accepted our bid to relocate Paige. They wouldn’t give me a specific date but promised sometime this week. I guess it depends on Paige’s extubation too and if she feels up to moving.
I’d like to give a shout out to a couple of people who have been fabulous this last week: (I hate to do this because I know I’m going to forget someone, so if I do…I apologize in advance). Thanks to my grandma for all the preemie hats, Stef for the beautifully handknit blanket, my parents for the V-day baby gifts, Sarah for offering to sew small swaddle blankets, Nic for picking me up at the hospital to make sure I eat lunch….and everyone else who has been so sweet and kind. Yeah…I probably forgot people…maybe this was a bad idea.
This week ahead is a big week for us. We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers and we need them this week so the tubes can come out of their throats permanently.
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Tobie and Eric,
I was worried when nothing was posted all weekend about the babies. Glad to hear that everything is status quo right now. About the beds, you need to think of it this way, Cole is getting bigger and better and doesn’t need so much support anymore. There are actually babies sicker than yours now that need it more. I can say this because I have been through it also. I know the giraffes are the primo beds but oh well. oNce the new NICU is complete they will also be replacing the OHIOs (which I assume Cole is in now). If you are upset now, just wait until they spring it on you that they are going to be transferred to the stepdown NICU at the Thomas campus.
I am happy to hear that Paige will be moving soon. Anything to get away from the aisles and the #%@*!!#$ emergency lights. I will pray that she is well enough to be moved.
I am in the process of getting pictures together of our 24 weekers before and after the NICU experience.
Suzan
We hardly see the doctors anymore either. The nurses say that’s a good thing too. They pay more attention to the sicker kids. They can say that all they want, bu if they’re still in the NICU, they darn well better treat my kid with the same vigilence as the other sick kids. If they’re that well that they don’t need a doctor, I want to take em home. (I’m overreacting, but you get my drift).
Ivy had a broken isolette door for a week. I could have fixed it, but everyone stopped me because if I demonstrated the lack of need for a union worker to fill a job, that union worker will lose their job. So how does that translate? A phone with a work order in since october, broken euipment int he hallway, busted light above Lessa’s bed. These all translate into a substandard level of care for my children, but I can’t do anything because of The Union.
Sorry. Went on a bit of a tear there…
Just whipped out the ol calculator. If they’re 2.5 lbs now, and putting on .75 lbs/day, you’re looking at only 32 more days.
!!!
Tobie,
Thank goodness you posted. I’ve been waiting all weekend and started to get worried that we hadn’t heard from you. Please let us know how the babies do…they (and you) really do have an ARMY of support behind you from near and far…wherever you are…(HEAR: Celine Dion)…xoxoxo
I just wanted to remind the people with babies in the NICU that without the drs. and nurses your babies would not be alive. We were frustrated at times also but we always remembered that the drs. and nurses are angels in disguise. It is hard to stay positive at times but you need to do it for the babies. They pick up on the negativity more than broken beds in the hallways..
Sorry, I had to vent also because we spent 5 months in the NICU and had a wonderful experience even though the NICU is not the happiest place in the world.