4 weeks old!!

Had a slight scare, or I should say concern Monday night. Scare is too strong a word. We came to kangaroo and was told we wouldn't be able to because Sara's heart rate had been dropping too often along with her SpO2 number (this measures oxygenation of the blood). The nurse's concern was she might be sick, starting to get sick, fighting some kind of infection, or it could be her blood count was low. The nurse had drawn some blood and sent it right to the lab to check. I had to go get Jennifer who was changing into her kangarooing shirt and let her know the inconvenient news. (News I did not want to deliver because Jennifer loooooves to kangaroo with her).

Well, mom was not very happy about the news, kind of like another punch in the gut, but we held out hope knowing that this was a normal thing for a preemie. How come even though you know it's normal, you know it can be corrected, it's still no fun to go through? The good news, within an hour we knew she was not sick, she was not starting to fight an infection, her blood count was low, and she needs another transfusion. The pediatrician was planning on checking her blood count Wednesday and was pretty sure she was going to need a transfusion. So at some point today she will get some of my blood that I donated about 3 weeks ago. Thank you Lord that it wasn't something more serious.

On another good note, we talked to the Neurosurgeon today. He did not have to tap her, and he was very pleased with how she looks. He said she looks much better. We will wait until next week to do a CAT scan. We're still praying and hoping for the best about the shunt, so please pray with us.

I am almost convinced that Jennifer needs to do all the holding, had another episode this afternoon when I held her. He SpO2 number started dropping as I was talking to the doctor and as Jennifer wasn't there but pumping. So the doc begins to adjust her O2. It wasn't helping. The machine cuts off which is a sign that there could be an obstruction in the line. The doc calls the respiratory therapist in to check that. She starts suctioning Sara, put a breathing bag over her mouth, asks me to help hold in the place. By now about 3 other people have gathered around us, and her numbers still aren't coming up. I'm sitting there holding her surrounded by these professionals. The machine is beeping, they are discussing her, I'm siting there trying to be calm like no big deal. She checks the line, apparently there was an obstruction. Gets her going again, and while her numbers lingered low for a few minutes, she got them back in the mid 90's. So all these people walk away and in walks Jennifer and she asks, "how's it going?" Ohh just fine, it's been great, here take your daughter!

Thanks again for praying, caring, loving, and walking with us! When you pray for Sara today, also say a pray for a good friend of ours whose baby girl was born last night at 36 weeks. They went ahead and put her in NICU to observe breathing. Scary stuff for mom and dad. I don't know the baby's name, just pray for Sara's little friend in NICU. Thanks

Some more great pics from some of Sara's wonderful nurses!

Look Ma, no junk on my face!