Emma Opens Her Eyes!
I had a lovely long visit with Emma this evening. Timing was right, and I finally had the chance to feed her (by giving her a syringe containing 7cc of breastmilk through a gavage tube - a small flexible tube inserted through her nose and into her stomach). Even better, though, was when Emma finally opened her eyes! (a baby's eyelids are typically fused closed until sometime between the 24th and 26th week, so she was right on schedule at 25 weeks and 3 days). Maybe the nurse was just humouring me, but she said that Emma had not opened her eyes all day, so must have been waiting for my visit. I am ridiculously thrilled by these small advances!
In other news, Emma is scheduled to have an echocardiogram tomorrow to check on the PDA, but barring any significant change/improvement, will likely have surgery (ligation of the blood vessel), possibly some time later this week. Her hemoglobin has dropped since the weekend, indicating that she will probably need to have another blood transfusion by mid-week. She also had an apnea episode today (a brief period in which she does not breathe on her own). While the NICU nurse assured me that this very common, she also noted that it could be the first sign of an infection, so the team will be watching her closely for any other indicators of one.
Finally, in the light of the NICU tonight, I was able to see for the first time that Emma is actually quite fair-haired. On most of our earlier visits, she's been wearing a hat/bonnet to help maintain her body temperature, so we haven't been able to see her hair. Tonight, though, the nurse was adjusting her leads/tubes and so had the bonnet removed. It looks like Emma is going to be blond like her big sister :)
In other news, Emma is scheduled to have an echocardiogram tomorrow to check on the PDA, but barring any significant change/improvement, will likely have surgery (ligation of the blood vessel), possibly some time later this week. Her hemoglobin has dropped since the weekend, indicating that she will probably need to have another blood transfusion by mid-week. She also had an apnea episode today (a brief period in which she does not breathe on her own). While the NICU nurse assured me that this very common, she also noted that it could be the first sign of an infection, so the team will be watching her closely for any other indicators of one.
Finally, in the light of the NICU tonight, I was able to see for the first time that Emma is actually quite fair-haired. On most of our earlier visits, she's been wearing a hat/bonnet to help maintain her body temperature, so we haven't been able to see her hair. Tonight, though, the nurse was adjusting her leads/tubes and so had the bonnet removed. It looks like Emma is going to be blond like her big sister :)
posted by Laurie at 23:20
8 Comments:
Oh Laurie, it warms my heart to read these blogs. So sweet that she opened her eyes for you. I'm sure she feels your presence and did it just for you. Amazing. Sounds like a great visit. I'm praying that today is another good day and Emma continues to do well.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Donna
Laurie, I've got tears in my eyes (okay, and on my cheeks and unfortunately the keyboard) after reading that Emma opened her eyes for you. I'm sure she knew it was you... and how adorable (but not really surprising) that her hair is as fair as lovely Michaela's.
Thinking of you often,
Dani
Laurie, we are so happy that Emma opened her eyes for you. She surely knows her Mommy. Can't wait to see her.
All our love is with you Four.
Mom & Dad
Laurie,
I can understand the anguish you expressed earlier, but I'll never know the depth of what you are experiencing and my heart goes out to you. I was speaking with my sister in law recently and she told me of her friend who delivered prematurely, her baby was also 1.5 lbs. Today the baby is a healthy bubbly 15 year old with no health problems. My in-law, Maureen, said that with today's technology a tiny baby has a very hi rate of success. Emma sounds like a fighter; she'll make sure every works out.
Theresa
I am all goosebumpy (and teary eyed) knowing that Emma opened her eyes for her Mommy. A special moment of many ahead that you will cherish forever. I love reading my daily Emma report, she sounds like a feisty little sweetheart. And to read 'in writing' about Emma being like her big sister warms my heart all over again. Thinking of you all.
Oh Laurie,
Emma did wait to open her eyes for you! She knows the sounds and smell of her mommy and wanted "you" to be the first thing she ever saw! How precious your miracle is!
I am not surprised that she is going to have similar hair as Michaela. Michaela's hair is certainly fair and beautifully thick!
I am relieved that you have these special moments to help lighten your days! Emma is reminding you that she is a fighter!
Hugs,
Brenda
Laurie,
As a mom, I find it so very touching that Emma opening her eyes for the first time, and finding out what hair colour she has are actual milestones you needed to wait to be achieved to enjoy. It brings home how much we can take for granted with our children. To me, that most clearly demonstrates the challenges you have faced, even more so than the comments regarding central lines and the PDA.
I hope that came out right. I'm just trying to say, that as a mom, the little advances you see may be different than the ones the doctors tell you are most important.
As always, thank-you again for the update. Knowing how incredibly busy yourself and Eric are, it is immensely appreciated for those of us who have to watch from afar :~)
OH WHAT A Thrill.
Laurie it's so wonderful to see she needed to see her mommy! And Blond sot hat means she is going to be as pretty as her Mommy and Big sister.
Post a Comment
<< Home