Dear Ellie,
You've been out in the world for 10 weeks but until very, very recently you haven't been able to swallow. Up until now, drool has pooled in your mouth and has generally remained there until it gets suctioned out (or dries on your lips into little worm like pieces of gunk referred to affectionately as "mouth boogies.") As it turns out, this inability to swallow has also prevented you from nursing, which means you don't know who Boob is. Today we introduced you to Boob. Upon meeting, you shook hands, and awkward moment passed, and then you produced an expression on your face that said: "So... what do you expect me to do now?"
Fortunately, this reaction is normal. As a matter of fact, you actually did better than we expected you to. With some encouragement, you even managed to suck, swallow, and NOT drown yourself in milk. This is a huge step. I know it probably sounds like I'm being sarcastic, but I'm not! Easing you into the idea of eating by mouth instead of via a tube that goes directly to your stomach is the last major thing between you and graduation from the NICU. Get chompin'.
I wish I could remember how I came across your blog. I read a lot of blogs, perhaps we are in a Facebook group together? Anyway, it took me a few days of reading your letters before I realized that your child is in the NICU at St Marys and after seeing a picture of you I realized I recognized you! I had triplet girls on January 13 and we were there for 33, 37 and 44 days. I'm so happy to read that Ellie is doing well and wish you all nothing but the best for the rest of your NICU stay and beyond. Nicole Fisher
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! Wait, were you the one that made the quip about Michael Jordan stealing milk from babies? Small world, it is :-) Well, I'm glad their stay was relatively short though honestly, anything over a month is pretty rough. Best of luck with your new life of chaos!
DeleteHa - yes! That was me. Boy was I mad that day. What a circus that whole thing was! I assume they are gone by now? Chaos is a good word for my life now but not even sure that describes it. Hoping for chaos for you soon. Will continue to look for updates on Ellie and keep you all in my thoughts. Nicole Fisher
DeleteHa, good times! I remember being glad that someone was speaking up about it! I would actually wait outside the NICU at times for Michael Jordan to walk by so that I could pretend not to know who he was. "Excuse me sir," I imagined saying. "But you didn't sufficiently wash your hands!" I never did catch him at the right time though. He always slipped into his "fortress POD" before I could belittle him. Anyway, please keep in touch :-)
DeleteThat was the day I realized that even though my babies weren't at home with me I had that mama bear spirit and would do anything to protect them. I complained to the nursing director and asked her if she had ever had a child in the NICU. She, of course, said no, and I told her I was happy to hear that because the NICU is the toughest thing I have ever done in my life. I also told her that I was sure she hadn't had any NICU experience because if she had she would know that none of us really cared that he was there, that we were focused on our own sick children and not his. I felt sorry for the Jordans, the whole situation just showed that money can't buy you healthy children.
ReplyDeleteWell, and I guess it also shows that money CAN get you a private pod in the NICU, a locked NICU door during your stay and the ability to hog all of the precious breastfeeding screens. My mom was mad that he didn't have to wear a nametag.
ReplyDeleteNow that I think about it, he didn't wear a name tag... All I can say is he better have shelled our some serious cash! Little Ellie is in the Jordan Babies' POD now. Maybe some of Mike's magic baby dust will rub off on her and she'll grow up to make millions of dollars for throwing a ball into a hoop.
DeleteMy babies were in the pod right across from the Jordan pod - we could see his head above the stupid screens when he was there. Once only one baby was left there (they went home one by one) we got moved to the "far side". We told my 8 year old stepson that Michael Jordan's babies were in the NICU with his sisters. He asked who he was and we said the greatest basketball player ever to which he replied very puzzled, "you mean Lebron James"?
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