The NICU is extremely daunting. I'm just exhausted from the drive up, the drive back, and even just sitting there with our baby girl. We had hopes of coming home this weekend, but we had a few setbacks over the last week.
For starters, her shunt began to lift up and protrude a lot farther than it should. We were sure on Tuesday that we'd need to go into surgery for a shunt revision. Then the neuro doctor looked at it and decided we would wait because it was starting to look better. Yesterday evening he looked again and thought it was looking even better than before. So every day that it looks better means better odds of not needing the revision.
Yesterday, we were informed that her most recent MRI showed some blood pooled in her head. The doctor thought it was just from her head shrinking and some of the vessels between her brain and skull rupturing. He reassured me it wasn't something to worry about just yet and that they would do another MRI this morning. I know that the doctor wasn't worried, but it's rough to hear there's blood in your baby's head and to not be certain where it came from or if it stopped bleeding, etc. It was a bit of a rough day for me, even though I could clearly see her doing fine and not being affected at all.
This morning, we got the good news that the blood was in fact old blood and was no longer bleeding. Just that little bit of news lifted so much weight off of me today. And the best part is, Callista was so awake and active today. She was looking at everything and even making noises. Her eyes were bright and she was just so happy. Today was an excellent day and it made up for yesterday. And a plus: Casey and I got to give her a bath for the first time today (well, sort of a bath... with these warm wipe thingies).
She still needs to up her feedings and gain some weight before they'll consider letting us go home. She eats at least two whole bottles by herself every day, and gets about 40 ml out of the rest. I cannot wait until we see the home stretch! I'm so ready to bring our gorgeous little one home and get started on actually "living"!
Also, our very generous friends and family are preparing for a benefit for Callista to help us pay some of our mounting medical bills due to the surgery and our weekly ultrasound appointments, as well as me being off work for so long. It's so amazing that there are so many people out there who have been and still are supporting us throughout this whole journey we're on. I'm just so blessed that these acts of kindness are existent, let alone given to me. There are good people out there and I just happen to know them all <3
Congrats on your lovely bundle of perfection! It sounds like shes doing super, showing everybody whose boss!! The hospital is tough because the doctors all change their minds and BOY do I remember the fatigue after the c-section. I know your heart feels like it doesn't beat when you aren't with her, but remember you just had major surgery too. Your rest is important right now. Once you can finally get the heck outta the hospital it will be a whole new level of relief. (But still have help on standby for yourself. You need your support group around you while you get your baby-sleep schedule settled, but wow! What a wonderful schedule it will be when you can snuggle her at will) May tomorrow be blessed for you and know I am praying for a speedy recovery for both of you!!!
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