Day 102 - Oh Crap!

We're doing really well. Don't be fooled by my title. I went to visit Chloe yesterday while Solana was at school (yes, the "schedule" is already out the window - Michigan kinda screwed that up). Anyway, while I was there one of the neonatologists stopped to look at Chloe. He hadn't seen her since her return. While examining her he asked, "[Tell me again.] How old is she?" I blurted out, "29 weeks." This is the second time in a week that I've shaved 10 weeks off her gestational age and...WAS BELIEVED! She is soooo tiny! He nodded at 29 weeks and thought for a moment. I quickly corrected myself. "Oh wait! She's THIRTY-nine weeks!" His eyes bulged and he asked, "Has she taken a bottle?" I'm thinking, "Uh, are you kidding me? She only JUST got off the vent and started tolerating full feeds!" But I answer, "No." He then talks crazy talk. "Let's get her eating so she can go home. She may have to go home with some oxygen but I assume that's ok with you..." Hahahahahaha! Wait. He's serious. We're talking two weeks (no promises) if all goes well people!!!

You were right! It feels like (even though I know it's not true) they suddenly realized how "old" Chloe is and decided to kick her out of the NICU! She's graduated to bolus feeds where all the food is poured into her feeding tube within a matter of a few minutes and she's tolerated that well today. They're probably feeding her with a bottle right now for all I know! I stopped by the hospital last night to practice some non-nutritive sucking. (I drained my milk factory and then let her practice on me.) She did great! Of course, she only gave a few good sucks but she seemed to know what to do and didn't mind at all. I really wanted to get her successful at breastfeeding first but the lactation consultant says they have good success with breastfeeding even though they get their babies onto the bottle first. Plus, it would delay her homecoming if we make her breastfeed first, and they really want to get her home soon! Like I'm going to argue with that!

I spoke with the nurse practitioner today about Chloe's small size. She's WAY under the growth curve. Heck, she's not even 4 pounds, yet! She says that Chloe's a lot smaller than babies at her gestational age but she's "mature" so they know she can do what she needs to do to go home. Her growth curve is absolutely below the norm but at least it's a curve and not a horizontal line. Chloe just takes things at her own pace.

When I got home last night from the hospital Dave was shopping online for premie diapers and air purifiers. (He's such a planner!) Then he asked me if I have a plan for having Chloe at home and keeping an eye on her. What? I can't just leave her in the room sleeping while I clean house? Crap! I am so screwed! Plus, check out Chloe's bedroom. Can you tell we weren't expecting her home any time soon? At least she won't be staying in there for a while....

We actually do have a place for her to sleep...