Mom
- ate sushi (craving it for several months)
- laughing a little but it hurts
- getting up and walking a little (the postpartum shuffle)
- blood count still a bit low but that’s normal
- learning that she almost died, that many were praying (estimates of hundreds), that many love her
- first attempt at breast feeding (dare we say a “dry run”?)
- showing steady improvement, possible release from hospital Sunday (unbelievable)
Baby
- loves Mommy visits, wants to cuddle all the time
- breathing is stable, best when on her belly
- stomach not tolerating formula very well
- feedings dropped from 25 cc to 5 cc each to absorb greater percentage of each feeding
- weight dropped to 6 lb. 2 oz.
- requesting Mommy milk when possible but doesn’t want to pressure Mom about it
- too early to diagnose pyloric stenosis but keeping an eye on it
- likely to stay in NICU beyond Mom’s return home
Boys
- BK: playing with Gabby, dreaming of having a sister like Gabby, thinks baby is a small Gabby in diapers
- TJ: not sure if baby is still in Mommy’s tummy, knows this is very exciting but not sure why, baffled that the baby doesn’t have a penis and is sure she’s missing out
- Sp: what are you doing? can I do that too? when do we eat? where is Mom? am I still the baby?
Dad
- not complaining about lack of sleep, congestion, headache, or sore throat
- grateful
- not complaining about stress of almost losing Mom, unexpected medical expenses, or waves of emotion
- grateful
- not complaining about the family being split into three parts, the baby not eating, and nurses not being clairvoyant
- grateful
- relates to Geneva: focusing on breathing and eating and sleeping, wants to snuggle with Mom