One Foot in the Door

Braylin has done so well. In the past 2 weeks she has:

1. done away with her Cpap
2. bottle/breast fed for ALL feedings
3. moved to a big girl bed (open crib)
4. maintained temperature
5. maintained oxygen sats
6. gained weight

Sounds like she's ready to come home, right?!

Doctor Barber thought so too... he even decided that Braylin and I could "room in for the day". Before you are allowed to go home, you have to "room in" for the night with your baby. This is to test the baby to make sure that they can tolerate the new environment, no monitors, and momma and daddy feeding all night. If they pass the test, they go home the next morning. When Doc said for the day... my face dropped. What? Are you serious? He was serious. He wanted us to try it out for a few hours during the day and see what happens. One step closer to a night stay.... OKAY! My nurse unhooked Braylin from her monitors, we packed our little necessities and went down the hall to "to room for the day". BUT it only lasted for about an hour and a half. Upon her next feeding, Braylin's temperature was a little low and she would NOT breast feed nor bottle feed for me. Nope. Her lips were closed and her eyes were in dream land. Sooooo.... our nurse wheeled her right back to NICU. I was a little disappointed but nevertheless knew the day was coming. Maybe...

In the past few days Braylin has sounded congested. Her little nose has been sounding snortish. Nobody seemed really concerned because the rest of her seemed just perfect. Probably just swelling in the nasal cavity from irritation. But now her "snorting" is interfering with her eating. NOT GOOD. The poor thing takes a few drinks of her bottle and tries to breath at the same time, then she panics and cries. Panics and cries! Today it was almost more than I could handle.... watching her panic and cry out of frustration. She was hungry but couldn't coordinate this breathing thing that wouldn't let her breath! Needless to say, Momma had to sneak away to the bathroom to let out a few tears too. It's so hard watching your child suffer with something and feel so helpless. Good thing that Daddy can keep his cool and held down fort. He had Braylin in his arms when I returned and she was just fine.

The nurses are working with her feeds and going slow. IF she's unable to tolerate them, then we will have to go back to tube feeding. Doctor said that she either has swelling in her "nasal area" (for lack of doctor words) or she may have reflux which is gathering in the back of her throat. The sad thing is that Braylin can't tell us what the problem is, so it is process of elimination. Trial and error.

We could wake up to a brand new day. I know this. But we still need your prayers. Braylin CANNOT afford to be sick, especially anything that requires breathing. It could make serious turns for the worse and we dont' want to even think about that. So we need your prayers. Prayers that God will continue to work through the nurses and doctor's hands. Prayers that GERMS will stay far far away! Prayers that this will soon pass and we can work on coming HOME again.

Whew.... this is hard on a momma. But I'll keep MY foot in that door for her,  and hold on tight until Braylin is well enough to PUSH it open and run out!

Here are some pics from the week:

Big girl bed. Just maintaining her own temperature.
Thanks Lashae and Brandy for the cute stuff!

Miracle.

Nothing like my Daddy...
holding my hand the whole way through.