The Featherweight Champ

Two things: 1) I think I officially have breastmilk all over everything I own. 2) My life now revolves around pumping time, going to the NICU, and putting together the nursery.

• Emma update! I got a message from the doctor yesterday stating that Emma was taken off the nasal cannula to see how she does breathing on her own now. She hadn't had a single episode of brady's or apnea, so the doctor felt she could handle breathing on her own. She was also put back under the bili light because her jaundice levels went up, which wasn't cause for concern. She had been eating like a champ and tolerating all of her feeds, so they started "cautiously increasing" her feeds, and her weight stayed stable at 4lbs 1oz. Then today, I spoke with the doctor, who said that she only had one or two minor brady's since being off the cannula and seems to be doing well without it. He anticipated she would be under the light for another day or two and let me know that her feeds would be increased by 1/2 teaspoon every other feed. Well as it turns out, they are steadily increasing her feeds by 3mL every couple of feeds... I originally thought they were increasing it by 1mL, so imagine my shock when I found out that her "lunch" at noon was a 9mL feed!! When the nurse pulled her stomach contents at 3pm before her next feed, it was clear that she had digested all of it! If she continued to digest her food, then she would be increased to 12mL's tonight... such progress!!! I find it interesting that she began digesting her food only after she had been held by hubby and I. Maybe it's a coincidence, but I think there's something to it. She seems to be doing alright breathing on her own, although she's obviously putting much more effort into it and as a result was very sleepy when I arrived today. They had just finished moving her IV line :( and they said she didn't even cry, which is completely unlike my child. While I was in the bathroom, they pricked her foot for a blood draw. I heard her cry just a tiny bit, and was informed that she cried when the nurse grabbed her foot but didn't cry when she was actually stuck. She's such a tough little cookie, but it makes me sad to think that she may be getting used to the needle sticks. Gosh, I can't wait to get her home so she doesn't have to endure this anymore! And then- the best part- when I was holding Emma this afternoon after her 3pm feed and hands-on, the nurse gave me the best news so far. Emma is movin' on up to the third floor! She has been on the second floor since she was born, and that floor is for the really sick babies and the newly born. Once the babies are stable and at the "grower and feeder" stage where they pretty much need to just focus on gaining weight and learning to bottle/breast feed, they are transferred to the third floor. So when we visit her tomorrow, she'll be in her new digs! It was also decided that she could be taken off the bili light because her jaundice level went from a 13.6 the other day to a 6 today. The nurse originally said she would be off the light tomorrow, but the doctor came in for a brief moment this afternoon and told the nurse that Emma could be taken off the light this afternoon. Her jaundice level today was so good that there was no point in keeping her under the light anymore. Yay!
• I held her twice today! The first time I k-cared with her (skin-to-skin) and she just snuggled right in and slept soundly. She even had little baby dreams and her mouth, hands, and feet would twitch. She had one hand on my chest under her chin and it was the cutest little feeling when it would twitch... and it was also very interesting to feel her feet twitching on the outside of my belly instead of the inside. Craziness! I told her all about the baby shower yesterday and how many people love her, mommy, and daddy. Every time I hold her, I do three things: 1) tell her I love her repeatedly 2) tell her how proud I am of her 3) give her thousands of kisses on her little head. I typically hold her after hands-on time so that she isn't woken up any more than she needs to be, because it's very important for her to get her rest. So when her "hater blockers" were taken off for her 3pm hands-on, she woke right up and her little big eyes were wide open and looking around! I can't explain how much I love when her eyes are open... she's just so adorable. So I asked the nurse if I could hold her "wrapped," aka swaddled, since she was awake so that we could have some face time. It was such a great decision! She was wide awake most of the time and looked right at my face a lot. I just melted- she made little baby noises and stuck her tongue out as best she could because her feeding tube was in the way. She cooed, made funny little faces, and even went cross-eyed at one point! And she had the hiccups until she fell asleep... it was cute to hear them instead of just feel them. I told her about how she used to hiccup while she was in my belly. Then I got the news about her graduating to the third floor, so I called her daddy and put him on speaker phone so she could hear his voice. She immediately looked to that side... she loves her daddy! While we were talking, she drifted off to sleep. I'll have to keep that in mind- apparently daddy's voice soothes her to sleep so he'll have a hard time getting out of assisting me when she's fussy and needs to go down for a nap/bedtime. And shortly after she fell asleep, her mouth fell open and she slept soundly until it was time to go back to bed. 
• I hate having to put her back, but I need to pump or else I end up with a milk catastrophe (remember how I said I have milk on everything I own? Yea.) and feel very sore. Warning to male readers- there's about to be some serious breastmilk talk. If you're weirded out, skip to the next bullet. I've heard so many horror stories about engorgement and it seems every mom I've talked to has told me that it's incredibly uncomfortable and obvious when your milk comes in. So I've been telling everyone that mine still hasn't come in and that it's still transitional milk because I haven't felt like I wanted to die yet. But I think I actually may have escaped the excruciating pain because my milk has definitely come in and I haven't experienced pain that's been even close to what I felt when I was first pregnant. That was not comfortable. And since I work with kids, I quickly learned to ask for "gentle hugs" because even the slightest touch felt like I was being stabbed in the jugs. Anyways, because baby girl is eating so much more, I can finally just fill the storage bottles and not have to split up the milk into 20mL increments. So things are smooth-sailing in the milk department!
• Oh, and Emma gets to wear clothes now! I don't know if that means that they're going to try taking her out of the isolette and into the room air or what, but I was told to bring a preemie sized onesie tomorrow for her to wear! Baby's first outfit!! I stopped at Target on my way home tonight and only found one girl preemie onesie in the whole place, so I bought it. It also had a little shirt and pants with it, but she can't wear those right now. But the onesie says "everybody loves me" and that is so true! All of her nurses love her... I mean, how could you not?! She just has the most precious face ever. And she gets to meet Auntie Lauren (my BFF) tomorrow! 
• My baby shower was amazing... It was absolutely fantastic to see my friends and family and to get hugs from them all. They've all been so supportive, I wish I could have just thrown a party for them instead! I was so humbled by everyone's generosity too! My living room looks like a Pepto Bismol tornado came through because there's so much pink stuff everywhere. I've slowly been getting it all sorted and put away and I just love all of the adorable things that she'll get to wear/use. She's going to be a very spoiled child and I'm completely ok with that!
• Well, time for bed. It's storming outside and I love falling asleep when it's raining. I have an appointment with the OB tomorrow morning so I need to make sure I'm all set to go. I'm getting some good practice for having Emma at home because I can't just wake up an hour before I need to leave anymore. An hour is not nearly enough time to shower, get dressed, do my hair and makeup, eat breakfast, pack my NICU bag (like a diaper bag!), pack up my milk, feed the dog, etc.
• Hopefully I'll have another great update tomorrow!! I'm soooooo happy that my little sweet pea is doing so well. She really put on those boxing gloves, just like I told her to ;)