Day 25

I used to think that I would get so much done when I was at the hospital because there was nothing to do. I now know different. I ask myself every night, 'where did the day go?' Between feedings every 3 hours, talking with the doctors and nurses, pumping, napping and of course cuddle time, it seems like the day just gets the best of me. I was talking with another mom of a preemie yesterday and we both commented that it almost seems like a completely other world in the NICU. Where at the same time, a day can feel like a year and a week can pass in a blink. So, I am still behind in school work and other things but I have to look at the bigger picture and realize that my first priority is this adorable little girl and I know I won't be disappointed at the end of the day when I spent many hours cuddling with her instead of reading and reviewing articles for class.
The past few days have been full of frustration, improvements, smiles, tears and everything else. Olivia has stayed above the six pound mark and she is getting more comfortable with feedings. On Tuesday, she was moved back up to bottling six times a day, but she was still at a max of 25cc for each feeding. We still continue to fight about the three hour rule with the docs since Olivia has been consistent with getting up about 2 to 2.5 hours after her last feeding and fussing. I feel that if she is giving me cues that she wants to eat and I'm not giving it to her, I'm punishing her for telling me what she wants. After receiving a few messages of encouragement on Facebook, I spoke up yesterday. Dring rounds I asked the doctor 'so when can I treat my child like a real baby?' Probably not the most tactful way to approach the subject but I'm sick of this three hour rule. The doctor just said that they want the babies to rest in between feedings so that's why they do the three hour business. Once Olivia hits that magic 40cc mark and she gets the ng tube out, we can go to feedings whenever she needs/wants. So we wait yet again for another thing...
On a more positive note, not only was she moved up to six times a day, she got up to 35cc at every feeding! And she knocked it out of the park by downing her first few feedings in less than 15 minutes each time! I am waiting on the CNP and doctor to come and do rounds this morning but I have hope that we'll get more good news today.

Not only have we had excitement with Olivia, mommy decided to stir things up last night. I haven't been feeling well the past two or three days and at times, it feels like the world is spinning or that I have really low blood sugar and am really weak (even though I would have just had something to eat). While running errands yesterday, I was having one of those spells so I took my blood pressure and it was high. I headed back to the NICU and asked one of the nurses to take it. It was a lower but still kind of high, so I called the after hours nurse and explained my symptoms and gave her my history. Since it was about 6:30, the office was closed so she advised me to go to the ER. So, away I went from one end of the hospital to the other (the joke is that I want to visit all of the departments at Sanford and I want to meet all of the doctors in the OB  practice). After 2 hours in the ER with my blood pressure starting high, then  going low then back up again and a few labs, the doctor said I was good to go since nothing was coming up as abnormal. I am to visit my doctor's office today for another BP check. I have been feeling well the past three weeks and the BP meds that they out me on we're working, so I just don't know what my body is doing! It's probably the stress and emotions of being here, so I feel like it's best for everyone if they just discharge Olivia and let us all go home :)