A kiddy park roller coaster

Having a baby in the NICU has been compared to riding a roller coaster. We have definitely felt this way both emotionally and through all the physical trials that Caroline has been through. Take for example talking with the doctor at any given time. It often sounds a little something like, "Well, Caroline isn't holding her temperature which we would expect from a premie. Since she was full term, we are a little puzzled by it. Do you remember hearing her cry loudly when she was first born? No? Well, I was noticing that her cry was really soft too and she seems to be very mild mannered. This in conjunction with her not holding her temperature could be a sign of a neurological defect. She is doing great and looks great though! She should be able to go home soon. Congratulations!". Me in response, "Wait . . . What?"

Jesse and I have been taking turns sitting with Caroline since the boys are here with us now. Both of them have coughs so they aren't allowed to come see her (we got it checked out by a doctor and it is allergies but they want them to stay away until their symptoms are gone). Because of this, I am often by myself when the doctor comes in. Jesse would know how to decode all the doctor speak but I am always left wonder what is routine and what is something to be concerned about. You never know if the doctor is just "covering all the bases".

She is doing really well though. People always comment on how much better she looks when they come in after not seeing her for a couple days. She got bumped down again on her oxygen support. They have put her on a level of support that we could go home on if needed. Her sats have been 99 and 100 all day though so I think they are going to try a room air trial again later today or tomorrow. This is just where they take away her oxygen support to see what she does.

She is also doing well on her feedings. I think she is probably somewhere around 80% of the feeding goal. She has been waking up hungry now which is so much easier than waking her up to feed her.

Caroline has had a couple more bouts of tachycardia (heart rate in the 240's). She has been able to take herself out of them though so the doctors and cardiologist aren't concerned. We aren't sure yet if this will stop after she has her heart surgery.

So, yes, having a baby in NICU is like being on a roller coaster. Because our days are pretty calm now, just monitoring her feeds and oxygen support, I feel like we are on a kiddy park roller coaster. We haven't had anything happen that has been life threatening for a couple weeks but everytime I hear the monitor beep, I wonder briefly what might be wrong and will the doctors and nurses be able to fix it. Makes me nervous about taking her home and not being able to look at a monitor to tell quickly if she is okay or not.

Please continue to pray for our family. Pray that Caroline will do well on the room air trial and that she will continue in her stamina with feedings.