Ever taken a long trip and the last stretch of road is the longest and hardest stretch of road? That last 100 miles. Where you have to think about not speeding, your kids start whining (more then usual) and you feel like you can't spend one more minute in the car, that is where I am now with this whole experience.
The wait has been so excruciating, I have traveled a LONG stretch of road and Cleo has surely come a long way. I can honestly say the time has gone so slowly, then it was suddenly behind me. Today marks her 35th week gestation. Though she was born almost 2 months ago.
She has hit the "feeder/grower" stage.
This is that stretch of road. We are on the home stretch, and yet it feels like we have a mountain to climb and there is no way I can wait any longer, Cleo's nurses have told me that most of the NICU parents feel this way in the end.
There are reasons for this. She is starting to eat, we can hold her, WHENEVER we want, she is gaining weight and looks like a normal healthy baby, only a tinier version. So what is the hold up? When can we have her home?
When she eats all of her food (milk) orally, and has not problem for seven days breathing, (remembering).
We are just now starting this, it is a slow and steady process. ARGH! Not Cleo's fault, from what I have been told she has excelled in this area, beyond normal expectations.
However, last night I fed her a bottle and there was so much I didn't know. She stopped breathing for a few seconds and nurse who knows Cleo very well caught it just from the look on her face. I thought she was just sleeping. Scarey...I see why she needs to learn these skills before coming home. I can't rush her, but the time is bearing down and me and my heart is aching even more each day to bring her home.
We did cross a VERY big milestone. She now in an OPEN crib.
This means we can hold her when ever we are there including my kids.
She is still so tiny in her bed, but we are indeed seeing light at the end of a DARK tunnel. Though, we do not know how long that tunnel still is. At last, Hope is truly on the horizon.
The wait has been so excruciating, I have traveled a LONG stretch of road and Cleo has surely come a long way. I can honestly say the time has gone so slowly, then it was suddenly behind me. Today marks her 35th week gestation. Though she was born almost 2 months ago.
She has hit the "feeder/grower" stage.
This is that stretch of road. We are on the home stretch, and yet it feels like we have a mountain to climb and there is no way I can wait any longer, Cleo's nurses have told me that most of the NICU parents feel this way in the end.
There are reasons for this. She is starting to eat, we can hold her, WHENEVER we want, she is gaining weight and looks like a normal healthy baby, only a tinier version. So what is the hold up? When can we have her home?
When she eats all of her food (milk) orally, and has not problem for seven days breathing, (remembering).
We are just now starting this, it is a slow and steady process. ARGH! Not Cleo's fault, from what I have been told she has excelled in this area, beyond normal expectations.
However, last night I fed her a bottle and there was so much I didn't know. She stopped breathing for a few seconds and nurse who knows Cleo very well caught it just from the look on her face. I thought she was just sleeping. Scarey...I see why she needs to learn these skills before coming home. I can't rush her, but the time is bearing down and me and my heart is aching even more each day to bring her home.
We did cross a VERY big milestone. She now in an OPEN crib.
This means we can hold her when ever we are there including my kids.
She is still so tiny in her bed, but we are indeed seeing light at the end of a DARK tunnel. Though, we do not know how long that tunnel still is. At last, Hope is truly on the horizon.
On our last visit to the Hospital my kids and my dad were able to hold Cleo for the very first time. It was a tender moment for me. Wish Brian Had been there to see it, but I was coming home with my girl's from St. George.
Her she is in clothes! Yes Clothes! The nurse posed this picture for me, she is an amazing nurse!
It is so sweet to spend the time with Cleo. Scott was in intensive care when born, and the experience is one I will NEVER forget. The nurses, the doctors, the other parents going through the same things you are. Amazing.
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