nicu

We've been hanging out in the NICU for five days now. I've always thought of it as a place for tiny little premie babies but here we are anyway, despite being full term and almost twice the size of the rest of the babies in here.

She also eats probably twice as much. We tease her about holding seminars for the other babies (most of which are on feeding tubes) to teach them to eat.

She's very stubborn. She demands food as soon as she wakes up and cannot be fooled with a binky. (based on her cry, she is determined to let us know that.) But once I start feeding her, she's happy once again. She nurses eagerly but falls asleep quickly.

She might outgrow her take-baby-home outfit before she gets to wear it.

NICU nurses are exceptional people. They are sweet and compassionate and incredibly gifted. Not only has her care been fantastic but they've bent over backwards trying to accommodate us, including trying to find places for us to stay at the hospital so we could be close enough for feedings. I love getting to know them individually and they fall in love with our little girl. Even our L&D nurse (my nurse during labor) has become a good friend. She realized we were still here and thoughtfully checks in on us to offer help and support.

Hospital food for patients was much better than what's served in the cafeteria. Especially since we rarely make it there during the very limited "dining" times and have to settle for the grill or deli.

I miss my big girls. They came visit the other night but could only see baby through the window. This has been really hard because they got to cuddle and hold her when she was first born but not since she was admitted to NICU. The first time I met them at the window, an overly tired Butterfly burst into tears not understanding the separation. Ladybug was curious though, waving and jabbering. I held baby's hand up to the window so they could match their hands together. Ladybug quickly turned this into giving "knuckles", which made Butterfly laugh and then she wanted to do it too.

Baby gets more beautiful everyday.

She smiles a lot in her sleep, especially when daddy is holding her. I know newborns supposedly don't smile socially yet. But its still cute.

For each of our girls, daddy and I picked out a stuffed animal to use as a focal point object during labor. Then the animal is for baby to keep. We picked a little tiger for our first baby (and she slept with it for months), a lamb for our second baby (we picked out a monkey but couldn't find it at go time) and a kitten for our third baby. The kitten now sits in the corner of her bed wearing a U of U hat.

My ability to comprehend information is seriously compromised and I have the memory of a goldfish. I was claiming "preggy brain" but I think I've declined into a simple inability to think. this means I ask a lot of questions (sometimes repeatedly). thank heaven for patient doctors and nurses.

I've lost 15 pounds in one week. I suspect the nine pound baby is to blame. The remaining weight seems to have taken up permanent residence in my ankles. It's not attractive.