The last days

If you have been following the blog, you know that one Brady will hold Miles in the NICU for another week. But even that is not so clear He had a Brady today. It was a mild, self resolved one that lasted only 5 seconds but still it had to be charted. It shouldn't keep him but we will know more tomorrow. And now there is the umbilical cord. The cord stump should dry out and fall out somewhere between 7-10 days after birth. He has been in the NICU for 42 days and still has a stump yet until today, no one thought much about it, other than telling us we cant submerge him during a bath. Turns out, it was sutured in there because he had some bleeding when he was born - the same bleed that took 10% of his blood and required a transfusion. So they took out the suture, the stump fell off and the remaining stub was wet. Not a good sign and according to the nurse and doctor on duty, they really arent too sure what to make of it. We have to wait for the surgeons tomorrow. And until then our boy has been undressed and put back in the isolette where they can keep him warm. Maybe I shouldnt have said so many times how lucky we have been!

So assuming there is really no issue with the cord and that Brady isnt counted, he will come home on Tuesday. You know how the last days of vacation feel? Combine that with the feeling of last minute cramming for the most important exam of your life. That is where Dave and I are right now. For the last few days, we have been rushing around getting all that we need for him at home, taking detailed notes on how to feed him, how often, on the breast or not, with what fortifiers, vitamins, and also trying to take advantage of the freedom of not having a newborn in the house. And we still need to learn how to give him a bath but there is that issue with his umbilical cord.

But we are ready. The cosleeper is set up, the changing station is stocked, the clothes are washed, the sheets are clean, the bottles are sterilized, and thanks to our favorite nurse, Chrissie, we are loaded up with hospital goodies. Tomorrow night, we will room in at the hospital. The monitors off, Miles will finally be with just us but with the nurses just a call away.

I won't jinx it by reminiscing about the NICU and giving a post mortem on the best and worst nurses and doctors. There will be plenty of time for that. First, lets see about that Brady, his umbilical cord then he needs to be circumcised and pass his car seat test..and we need to find our camera!