Andrea’s Weblog

On Sunday Elizabeth was released from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
and got her own private room, which she shared with her parents. We
were very happy to be able to hold her whenever we wanted, provided the
nurses weren’t in there sticking her. I wish I could say that our first
night together was wonderful, but she decided to suck on the IV in her
arm, causing a nasty scene. She spent an hour with her dad and the
nurses, dad attempting to comfort her as the nurses poked and prodded
for a place to stick her new IV.

She started out on oxygen, several different IV solutions, chest
electrodes, a feeding tube and a sensor on her foot. Over her time in
the hospital, they weaned her off each of these things. Each day she
met the challenge the doctors set for her — most spectacular was how well
she took to breast feeding. She seemed to know that if she didn’t do
well with that, the feeding tube and IV would have to go back in.

We moved into the hospital thinking we would be there for 3 nights, but
after one night the doctor said she could go home. The doctor told us
she could go off her IV antibiotics early and go on oral antibiotics.

So, now we’re home, Grandi Mac and the Fricke grandparents have left
and we’re trying to get into a routine that involves as many night-time
naps as possible. The kitties aren’t sure about the new arrival and
have been sniffing Elizabeth’s things and watching her from afar, still
trying to determine what kind, if any, threat she poses.