Week 5

After the ache of watching my little girl gestate outside of my womb for a month, the activity of this fifth week in the NICU has been more than welcomed on our end.  

Last Tuesday Miss Celeste weaned from an isolette into a regular bassinet crib.  This means that she is mature and plump enough to regulate her own body temperature.  It also means that being mindful of her monitor cords, I can easily change her diaper, dress her up (in real little girl clothes!) and most importantly pick her up and put her down from her crib easily and frequently.  I cannot find words for how wonderful it is to be able to mother her without a nurse assisting me at all times.

Early this week our little overachiever also started learning to nipple her feeds.  At this point she can take about one quarter of her meal via bottle or breastfeeding, a few times a day.  Coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing is exhausting for young preemies, so we aren't pushing her (yet).  Still, the nurses have bragged to this proud mama that Celeste is a little NICU poster-child for accomplishing what she has in her 33rd-week of gestation.   We anticipate her strength and abilities to pick up in the next couple of weeks.  Being able to take in all of her feeds without a g-tube would bring her one step closer to coming home to us. 

On the weight grain front, our little piggy started her week at 4lbs 2 oz and has grown to 4lbs 11 oz.  That a girl, Celeste.

We also brought Celeste's big brothers to the hospital to hold her for the first time.  Gabriel's joy and tenderness with his sister melted my heart.  He is going to be a very sweet big brother.

A lovely nurse broke a few NICU rules to allow for all six of us to be in the room together for our first family photo.  It lasted a brief moment, but to have all of my children together for the first time was like taking a deep, sustaining breath.  The stress of feeling pulled in different directions has been a stark reality for the past 34-days.  I am grateful for this small glimpse of our approaching reunion.