Level 2.5! 1/18/13
Melissa
Hattie's bilirubin level was back up again to 6.3 but not high enough for her to go under the light. She continues to tolerate her feedings well and is now up to 11 cc of milk every three hours. She will increase to 12 cc at 2:00 a.m. Once she is up to full feeds her PICC line will be removed! I kanagrooed Hattie for four hours today and we both loved it! She had both arms and legs sprawled out on me like a frog; I think she was trying to give me a big hug. One of the nurses told me if all mommies and daddies visited their babies and kangarooed as often as Chris and I do their babies would be as healthy as Hattie!
Right after I put Hattie back in her bed I overheard the charge nurse say baby Harper would be moving. Great news; Hattie graduated from level 3 NICU in pod 2 to "level 2.5" NICU in pod 3! Pod 3 is still technically considered level 3 NICU but it's a small step down and a small step closer to Hattie coming home! I am feeling a little nervous about the move knowing it's only been 12 days but realize the doctors would not make the decision to move Hattie if she wasn't ready.
The nurse informed me they would be moving Hattie in about an hour. I called Chris to share the good news and he was on his way. I quickly ran downstairs to get some water and use the bathroom and when I came back up Hattie had been moved! I was a little upset I missed them moving her in the less than ten minutes I was gone. I must have envisioned a graduation ceremony or parade complete with confetti, music and applause. In reality, it was just a few nurses unhooking all of her machines, wheeling her bed down the hall and hooking all of her machines back up in her new room. Nevertheless, moving pods was a big milestone for Hattie and I was sad I wasn't there to see it happen.
Pod 2 has nurses in the room 24/7, each nurse caring for two babies. The rooms have four to eight babies in them. There is often a lot of dinging and noise from other babies, parents, nurses and Respiratory Therapists. Pod 3 is a little different. Here, two babies share each room and each side is divided and very private; they feel less like a hospital room. Hattie's new room even has a window! Each nurse cares for three babies and won't be in the room 24/7, but are central monitors that are watched constantly.
We are grateful Hattie is stable enough to move to pod 3. Praise God! It makes us a bit nervous that this has happened so quickly because we still have the fear of the honeymoon phase in the back of our minds. Please pray Hattie continues to thrive in her new environment and for us to give our worries to God.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give him thanks in song.
— Psalm 28:7
