nicu day 6

June 22, 2011

Day 6

They days all started running together, but this day marked a HUGE milestone for sweet Halle!  When Scott and I arrived for the 6am feeding, she had been moved from her big, elevated, heated bed to a regular little newborn bed on a cart!  Also, her feeding tube and oxygen had been removed.  Her IV was still in, but was to be removed later in the morning.  This was our first look at her precious little face without any tubes, cords or wires.  My heart seriously melted into a huge heap!  This was the moment I had expected to have six days earlier but it was priceless when it finally happened.  My mommy heart was swollen with love and pride!

I had this darling sleep sack made for Halle to wear on her birthday and it matched Addison's Big Sister shirt.  I was just glad she got to wear it at some point!

IV in her foot that would come out very soon!

My sweet girl! You'll notice she puckering up to give me a kiss!

Scott took this picture and I must say, I actually like it!  My favorite part is Halle's little nose in the far corner of the shot. Sweetness.

Here's our attempt at a shot of the three of us.  Oh well.

Since Halle had so many tubes and cords, they never actually had a bracelet on her.  They were all taped to her bed and the nurses would scan the barcode (on the other one) before feeding and medicine time.  I'm a little bummed that she didn't have her own bracelet with her name on it, because I still have Addison's. 

And here's her trusty elephant lovie from her big sister.  It never ever left her side.  The nurses were really sweet to always make sure it was by her.  It probably didn't matter one bit to Halle, but it sure put a smile on our faces and it definitely made Addison happy!

Today was a big day of progress and we are finally starting to see light at the end of the long dark tunnel we've been in!

nicu day 5

June 21, 2011

Day 5

Look who's a new mom (it's embroidered on the shirt)!  Ha!

One of my very sweet nurses brought me this t-shirt and we all got a kick out of it!

I wonder when my sister is going to come see me... 

She's here!  We hadn't really planned on letting Addi hold Halle this trip, or I would have had my real camera with me.  Oh well.

So proud! 

As Addi would say..."Just the girls!" 

This might have been the hardest day of my life.  After Halle's 11pm feeding, I checked out my room and Scott drove me home.  I sobbed.  I was hallow inside.  A part of me was missing.  Everything felt so incredibly wrong and there was nothing I could do to make it right.  I wanted to hold her, to hear her breathe, to see her, to just feel her presence.  It was a long and painful (emotionally and physically) night.  We were up at the crack of dawn and back at the hospital by 6am to feed again. 

We were back and forth from the hospital so many times in the days that followed.  We were so fortunate that we live less than 2 miles.  I can't imagine how hard it is on families who live several hours away.  I also can't imagine having to do this for any longer than we did.  In reality, we were so lucky that she stay was as short as it was, because some parents do this for months and months.  God bless each and every one of them!

nicu day 4

June 20, 2011

Day 4

On my way to the NICU to see my girl!

When you've been in the hospital for this long, you start going a little stir crazy.  This is what happens to pass the time...you start taking goofy pictures. 

First day to take a bottle!!  No more feeding tube!!!!!! 

She was a REALLY messy eater! 

She pretty much had her IV in a different spot every single morning.  It's typical to rotate the location about every 24 hours.  I'm just so thankful she never had it in her head!! 

Halle looks a lot like my brother in the picture!

She had to go under the baby tanning bed for 2 days! 

She could only be out from under the lights for just a few hours a day, which basically were her feeding times.  We definitely loved holding our sweet girl every second that we could!  This is my first time to actually feed her! 

I know this may come as a huge surprise to many of you, but deep down, I think Addi's favorite part of visiting Halle was getting to scrub in!  As soon as you turned the water on, there was a time that would run for THREE MINUTES...you would not believe how long three minutes is when you're washing your hands!  They had special soap and scrubber brushed to use and our hands were raw by day 2!  Of course, Addi tried to wipe up everyone else's water drips on the floor, wipe the sink, etc.  Good grief!! 

It was really hard to hold Halle because there were so many cords and tubes.  Addi will get her turn...soon!