Days 3-5 were all very similar. The nurses came to take Katie's vitals every four hours at 12am, 4am, 8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm. Katie didn't really like the blood pressure cuff squeezing her leg. They also had to flush her foot IV line regularly which annoyed her too.
Otherwise, Katie slept and ate. On Day 5 we started to get smiles! Mike discovered that Katie likes classical music. She was unsettled and couldn't get to sleep so Mike put on some music and she immediately fell asleep. She listened to music most of the rest of the time she was there. My mom bought Katie as small pink polka-dot octopus with big googly eyes. Katie would smile every time she saw it and would roll to her side and reach for it when she was able.
Mike spent the days working. I spent the days feeding Katie and reading. As a nursing mother I was eligible for food through the hospital's room service system. Since we were staying in the Ronald McDonald house, Mike received two food vouchers per day so he could also receive the hospital's room service. They had a pretty extensive menu, we could order what we wanted by phone and about an hour later it would be delivered to Katie's room. The food was pretty good, not amazing, but decent. On the day Katie got her private room, Mike went out to get Chipotle for us to celebrate. We also got Chipotle before we drove home, to celebrate when Katie was released.
Mike and I went for a short walk each day around the hospital. Twice we visited the gift shop, once we visited the cafeteria, and once we found the interfaith chapel which was really nice!
We talked with Ellee at least once everyday just before she went to bed. She always wanted to see Katie and spent a lot of time singing through the phone! Her favorites were ABCs and Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes.
Since Katie is less than a year old, she had to pass a car seat test. They had to monitor her heart rate and oxygen levels for 90 minutes while she was strapped in the car seat. She passed the test easily. She slept most of the time, played with her monkey some, and cried a little.
Once she was eating the only thing keeping us in the hospital was her chest tube. The tube drained any excess fluid from her chest cavity so that she could easily breath. We were told we had to stay until the drainage was less than 20mL in 24 hours. The first day it was 100mL, second 75mL, third 35mL, fourth 24mL (almost got it), the fifth was 22mL. Since the drainage had leveled off close to 20mL we were allowed to leave the next afternoon after the 22mL day.
Otherwise, Katie slept and ate. On Day 5 we started to get smiles! Mike discovered that Katie likes classical music. She was unsettled and couldn't get to sleep so Mike put on some music and she immediately fell asleep. She listened to music most of the rest of the time she was there. My mom bought Katie as small pink polka-dot octopus with big googly eyes. Katie would smile every time she saw it and would roll to her side and reach for it when she was able.
Mike spent the days working. I spent the days feeding Katie and reading. As a nursing mother I was eligible for food through the hospital's room service system. Since we were staying in the Ronald McDonald house, Mike received two food vouchers per day so he could also receive the hospital's room service. They had a pretty extensive menu, we could order what we wanted by phone and about an hour later it would be delivered to Katie's room. The food was pretty good, not amazing, but decent. On the day Katie got her private room, Mike went out to get Chipotle for us to celebrate. We also got Chipotle before we drove home, to celebrate when Katie was released.
Mike and I went for a short walk each day around the hospital. Twice we visited the gift shop, once we visited the cafeteria, and once we found the interfaith chapel which was really nice!
We talked with Ellee at least once everyday just before she went to bed. She always wanted to see Katie and spent a lot of time singing through the phone! Her favorites were ABCs and Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes.
Since Katie is less than a year old, she had to pass a car seat test. They had to monitor her heart rate and oxygen levels for 90 minutes while she was strapped in the car seat. She passed the test easily. She slept most of the time, played with her monkey some, and cried a little.
Once she was eating the only thing keeping us in the hospital was her chest tube. The tube drained any excess fluid from her chest cavity so that she could easily breath. We were told we had to stay until the drainage was less than 20mL in 24 hours. The first day it was 100mL, second 75mL, third 35mL, fourth 24mL (almost got it), the fifth was 22mL. Since the drainage had leveled off close to 20mL we were allowed to leave the next afternoon after the 22mL day.
I love this (and all your updates) - the best part: music and Chipotle - also our staples for hospital stays! They are both awesome - but I intentionally avoid Chipotle when not in the hospital. :)
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