Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Off CPAP!!!

Day 12

Kaia is off CPAP as of noon yesterday, so she's lasted over 24 hours at this point. The nurses say she's not having any spells, although her respiratory rate is a bit high (40s to 80s, when normally babies are more in the 40s to 60s range). I was so glad she did well coming off because she was starting to have 'spit up' episodes after feeds. CPAP pushes air into the lungs, but it also pushes air into the stomach, making Kaia quite gassy and uncomfortable. Poor chicky. I hope her tummy has a chance to settle down now. I'm working darn hard to pump that milk for you kid...please quit puking it up!

Here is a picture for those of you who are just dying to see her little face without a lot of tubes and wires!
She looks like my husband from the nose up, and like me from under her nose down to her chin. Aidan looked JUST like Brian, so it's kind of neat to see some of my own features in a baby. Fortunately I've always been told I have nice lips. Hopefully she gets my nice teeth too because they are straight and fairly white and I never needed braces (yeah for money saving perfection!!!). It's also very weird to think of my baby GROWING UP (but WONDERFUL)!!! Aidan will only ever be 23 weeks + 3 days... Since I cannot have him back, I would love a yearly picture of him as he would look 'now'. Just to see if his eyes would have been blue like mine or green like Brian's. Would his hair have been dark or light? Would he have been stocky or thin? And most important...would he have been happy and healthy? I know for sure he would have been loved.

In other big news, we got a call from the hospital this morning saying they were hoping to TRANSFER Kaia to a LEVEL 2 nursery closer to home. The hospital that will be taking her is not my favourite one, but it is the closest. It's a 5 minute drive from home and when Brian goes back to work I can either walk (if it ever cools off here, it's going to be 48 degrees Celsius with the humidity tomorrow...which is something like 126 F) or take the bus during the day to see her. Parking will still be expensive, but not as bad. If we get a 2 week pass, it will cost us $84. (Hey a hospital with a parking pass option for patients and their families, HOW NOVEL!!!)

I'm a little nervous having her away from the Level 3 nursery. It will be absolutely AWESOME in terms of visiting her and being close by, and I love that it means she's getting bigger and healthier and closer to coming home...but it's scary leaving behind all the high tech help in Level 3. The nurse who called from her current hospital this morning did say her new hospital could handle it if she needed CPAP again...but of course my mind goes to WAY worse things that I'm not even going to type on here.

*Just breathe*

I also wanted to take this opportunity to profusely thank all of you who have contributed to "Kaia's Online Babyshower"! The support you have provided us is amazing. I wish I could have you all come to a REAL babyshower where I could give you cake, and mocktails, and we could play stupid games that involve pins and baby bottles and ribbons which are designed to lightly embarrass everyone (especially me). So instead I'll pass you over some "e-cake" and "e-ice cream". It's oh so yummy and low cal too.

13 comments:

  1. I LOVE this post! Kaia is just the sweetest thing and is doing so well. I am proud of your little girl, and you too, mama, for everything you are doing to help her grow. I hope she can transfer to the hospital closer to you to make travel and visiting easier.

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  2. She is beautiful and looks absolutely perfect. Truly perfect! It's wonderful that she is moving to a level 2, even though it makes you rightfully nervous, but by moving up she is doing everything she should be! Also, you have so much knowledge and experience I think you will easily fill the gaps that could occur (but won't) in a level 2 and demand her transfer back to a level 3 if necessary. That won't happen though! Any idea on how long she will stay in the hospital overall? I know nothing about these things. I just know she looks wonderful!
    -Tracy

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  3. She is just beautiful. It warms my heart to see her happy, alive, healthy, and beautiful. Tiny perfection. Glad she is doing so well! So happy for you:)

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  4. She is so beautiful, just amazing! I can't wait for each new picture. It will be so nice to have her closer to home and it is nice knowing that the hospital can handle CPAP if necessary. But hopefully it won't be. She is such a fighter, just like you. I just LOVE this picture of her. I've been staring at her and then staring at Aidan looking for a resemblance and I definitely see it.

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  5. Oh, the little love! I'm so happy that she's doing so well, and I'm wishing you lots of love and deep breaths as you all get through the transfer.

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  6. she is looking totally delicious!!!!!! so pleased she might be moving closer to home soon. Can't wait to see her reach all those little milestones in the months to come! HOw are you feeling these days?

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  7. Oh she is so precious!!! Congrats on this big development!!!

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  9. Great news! And I hope you have enough to get the stroller.
    xo

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  10. What a cutie!! And I am so glad she is doing well!!

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  11. Sorry I missed this post...

    I'm so glad that Kaia is continuing to do well!

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