More pics

I actually fell asleep twice in this position.  Chair not comfy, though.

Apparently the nurses found this cute.  I don't understand.

Gwen's monitor.  It beeps at us a lot.

Need more pics with Jenni, will see what I can do.

The worst picture ever

Just to prove I can still laugh at myself, here's the worst picture of me in a long time.  I blame Jenni's picture-taking skills.

DERP!

Edit: Found another one!

New outfits

Gwen's had herself a few changes in wardrobe since I last posted pics.

Ladybugs.  Her foot is glowing because that's where they put the pulse oximeter.

Ladybug feet.

A yellow theme of some sort.

My suboptimal swaddle and my hand for size comparison.

She's going to have another change of clothes today due to an ... incident ... while I was changing her.  Let's just say I really shouldn't describe it.  But the nurse had to step in and save me.

I really need to get over my squeamishness soon.  Somehow.

Good news!

Just got done with Gwen's ophthalmologist appointment.  The retinal hemmoraghes have nearly gone away; there's still a few left but the difference is quite significant.  We have to make an appointment to see her again in two weeks, but we're confident that at that point all will be well.

Also, the last result from the spinal tap thingie came back negative.  We're both much relieved, since this confirms that we've got a healthy, but stubborn baby.  Given I contributed half of her genetic information, this shouldn't be terribly surprising, although having it show up related to food is.  Meh.

A few minor things!

Here are a few more details from today:

Gwen's up to 5 lbs and 1 oz, if I remember correctly. This is after a few days of only a few grams of change, and is up quite a bit all at once. She's in the five-pound club though, yay!

Gwen doesn't quite fit her carseat and they're not really expecting her to by the time she leaves. She's met the weight limit, but the carseat experts in the NICU think she's too small size-wise for the seat we have. Trying to figure out what to do here still.

Feeding is frustrating me. Gwen really seems to have a "I've done ten minutes, now I'm done. Thanks! Zzzzzzzzzzzz" button. NOTHING wakes this kid up when she's zonked. Just now we didn't even get to try to feed orally, because she was too tired and never woke up.

If Gwen keeps gaining weight well, she'll hopefully move out of the isolette "soon" (??? I never know what that means. Probably a few days) and into a crib/bassinet.

Our awesome nurse (they're all so good!) called the ophthalmologist's office today, and she was out/off today. Even though everyone thought she'd be getting an eye exam today. Bummer. Stressful for Luke and I as we worry about those hemorrhages! The doctor's office said she might come out tomorrow (Saturday).

Really, today was another holding-pattern day. Gwen really needs to learn to eat! How can she have no interest in food and be our baby? ;)

Yet another friday

Spent a good Friday afternoon in the NICU with Gwen.  Gave a chance for Jenni to get a much-needed nap.  No time to post any pics like I thought I would - spent entirely too much time with Gwen asleep on my chest to want to fire up the laptop.  Sorry, masses.  No pics for you.

Gave Gwen a bottle today between breastfeedings (doctor's orders).  She swallowed about 30 mils out of 50 within about 4 minutes.  Then she stopped.  No burps, even with much trying in several positions/etc.  No interest in eating at all after that.  So she got fed the rest through her tube.  Fell asleep on me, Jenni's napping, and then BLURT.  Gwen's very first spit-up, and I got to experience it.  I was lucky in that her blanket and clothes got all of it.  I was unlucky in that I had to try to figure out how to clean up and change a baby by myself.  That was perhaps the slowest change of clothes a baby has ever had to go through.  New outfit, yellow this time.  Will have a pic up eventually.  Really.  I promise.  For real this time.

No ophthalmologist today.  Very annoyed, since I left work to try to catch her.  I did have our nurse get a neonatologist in to answer my questions, though.  Turns out that (as Jenni has been saying) they're just being cautious.  Gwen's small, which can come from Jenn's hypertension.  Apparently it can also come from toxoplasmosis and some viral disease whose name is an acronym I can't remember.  They're doing tests to see if these could have caused her low birth weight.  So far all the tests have come back negative; there's still one for toxoplasmosis that's out, but it should be back in a few days.  So I feel better.

We have no other data.  Everything's fine.  Gwen will be out of the NICU when she's eating better - there's no set date.  We can't answer any more questions.  Really.  This is it.  When we stumble upon more knowledge we'll put it up here.

A complete lack of excitement, part 3

I really have to stop doing these boring posts.

I'm taking this afternoon off to spend more time with Jenn and Gwen at the hospital.  The ophthalmologist is supposed to come again today, and I'm going to try and pin her down and get some answers.  I really don't understand what some of these tests have been for, and Dr. Jayaram (Gwen's pediatrician) doesn't appear to have been told either.  Grrr.

At least I should have some more time this afternoon/tonight to post some pictures.