Emery Kathryn Rose

Miss Emery arrived Monday, October 26th at 7:07 AM via c-section! To the suprise of everyone, but Mommy, she weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and a short 19 inches. I suspected she would be 8 lbs 3 oz--Alex and the doctors insisted she would be under 8 lbs. Goes to show who knows best, right?!

Everything went as scheduled with the surgery and I experienced some nausea and upper back/neck pain as a result of the spinal. The doctors gave me medication immediatley and within seconds it subsided. Our beautiful baby girl is such a blessing and we are excited to bring her home to meet Evan. Due to H1N1 concerns, visitation restrictions are keeping children under 16 out of patient rooms.

On Wednesday evening, one of the nurses mentioned that Emery looked jaundice and I asked her doctor about it in the morning. Her billirubin level was 18 which is high, and she was put on a billibed which fits into her crib/bassinet and has UV lights. She has to stay in it unless feeding in which then we wrap her in a "Wallaby". It's a strip of UV lights that you hold under her while nursing.

Thursday was our expected discharge day, but we were told we'd be staying another night. I would be discharged at midnight and no longer a patient, but allowed to stay in our room overnight with Emery. Thursday afternoon the 2nd test came back at 17. She dropped a point and we would continue this routine...lights on/feed every 2 hours/pump and then around 5am she's tested. The more she ate, the more she pooped!! The more I pumped the faster my milk would come in.

Friday morning test score was AWESOME! She came down to 14!! The nurses were optimistic and although the night was rough with feeding schedule. (Emery had decided to create her own. I nursed from 4pm-6pm, she slept until 9:30, and then nursed for FOUR hours straight. She'd fall asleep eating, wake up, sleep, etc. I lay her down and then she'd fuss and root. Finally at 2am, I determined she was using me as a pacifier. I told the nurse that I used a pacifier with Evan at 2 weeks when he had the same nursing symptoms. The hospital is PRO nursing which is great and it's known that they do not have pacifiers for babies available. I asked the nurse to take Emery and see what they could do to soothe her, b/c the whole time she was not on her billi bed and only on the portable light pad. We had missed nearly 4 hours of light time! I was worried, but pleasantly surprised when her level was 14!!

She went off the lights and tested 4 hours later. This time our hearts were broken and any chance of going home was gone. Her level rose to 16.1 Disappointed and frustrated we begged that Evan be allowed to come hang out with us. There was no bending of the rules--obviously in the best interest of everyone...looking back I didn't care. I asked then if there was any way the boys could get their h1n1 shot so they didn't have to stand in line on Saturday should we get discharged. Another No.

The nurses and our doctor were extremely sympathetic and clearly they were hoping they could give some good news. Dr. Kurtz recommended we change Emery's feeding techniques. Now, I needed to breastfeed, then pump while Alex topped Emery off with formula---every 2 hours! What?! It takes nearly 30 to wake her up, 40 to nurse and 20 to pump... So that left me with 30 minutes of sleep before you take away rinsing the equipment and waiting for the nurse to pick up my supply and put in storage---Net time 10 minutes...given no other interruptions (pee, nurse to take vitals, water refill!) I forgot if I have to give her the formula before my 20 minute pump session (middle of night!)

But we could do it and we did! We were told to leave and go see Evan and get some lunch/fresh air. We returned Friday afternoon and successfully completed 2 rounds as a team before Alex left for the night.

My time seeing Evan was short, but worth every second! It was rejuvenating and releiving. My anguish of not seeing him disappeared and I was back to Mommy mode with him. We picked him up from Apple Lane and I stayed in the car. What seemed like slow motion--he ran to me yelling Mommy Mommy! We embraced tightly and the tears came down my face...just like in a movie....UNTIL he says "Mommy ---I poopy in my pants!" And the moment was gone...Sure enough he had!! But that's the best part...the comic relief of Evan's presence.

He immediately noticed the McDonald's in the front seat and was excited! (me too...no hospital food!) Our smart boy, noticed Emery was missing and asked where she was. We explained to him and he asked if I was sad. We made it home and enjoyed some time together. He showed me all the candy he got from his Halloween party at daycare and his Thomas the Train tunnel set that Jill bought him on Monday. The dreaded goodbye was inenvitable and Alex gently explained that we were leaving. Evan ran to his room to grab Douglas and said I want to come too. I walked into the room to find two sad faces holding each other and as I think about that moment, I find myself in tears. No tempertantrum...just a pouty face that was concerned about "his" baby and how badly he wanted to come with us. We hugged and kissed and I gave him a present from his "Big Brother Bag" that I put together last weekend. It was much needed and I was ready for another round at the hospital.

We had a successful night...just the two of us. I'm shocked that I have made it on empty and with such little sleep. For everyone who knows me...knows I require at least 10 hours each night!! I haven't had 10 hours in the last 4 nights/days combined!!

Her score this morning was good at 15.5 and as long as it remains there we can go home today. I'm waiting for the lab for her 2nd test and we'll wait and see!!