Beginning of Week 2

The weekend was fairly uneventful for Nora. Thankfully. She is continuing to receive her feedings through her NG tube. Still not up to her nutritional goal of 45 cc/hr. Right now she is at 30 cc/hr. Her stomach is just not digesting the stuff. She hasn't vomited since Saturday though. I believe the antibiotics will stop sometime between now and Wednesday (I get conflicting info from each Dr I talk to - so I really don't know). It may be the antibiotics that are upsetting her stomach so much. So, hopefully after she comes off of them her digestion will kick into gear. It will take a couple days to get her off the feeding pump and onto oral feedings before we can go home. I think it is possible it may be by the weekend though. Who knows really.

She has been more alert each day. A little fussy and whiny, but less and less. She is still not back to her normal self. We are waiting for her to smile still. She plays with toys and rides quietly in the stroller, but no smiles yet. She used to like to make all kinds of lip smacking and kissing noises too. I haven't heard one yet.

She has become very distrustful of anyone who approaches her which is sad. She used to be happy to see anyone - even strangers. Now she just wants to be left alone. She doesn't like people to even listen with the stethoscope or take her temperature. Even right now she is going to sleep for her nap - she has been lying still and quiet with her eyes open in her crib for about a half hour. She is not interested in having me come sooth her to sleep. She just wants to be left alone. Hopefully as we get home she can regain her trust in people and will forget about all the needle pokes and discomfort of this place.

We are in somewhat of a schedule now with our parents both helping to watch Nora in the evenings. Andy has the graveyard shift which is the hardest. He has tried to get sleep during the day at home, but I don't think he has had more than 6 hrs of sleep in the last 10 days. I have been doing the day shift so am able to keep a normal nighttime sleep schedule of 8 hours or so.

Deja Vu to last year - the contractors are showing up at our house today in the middle of this mess. We are getting the entire house painted on the inside. Luckily it is an easier job than our bed/bath remodel that was going on during the NICU stay last year. It should be done by the end of the week instead of taking 8 weeks!

Thanks again for all of your support. It is helpful to have so many people praying for Nora!