Emily's First Week

In the last week Emily have made great progress.  She got a name after I got to see her a few times.  We names her Emily Victoria Belnap.  Her first day was hard the nurses told use that she was fighting against the ventilator so her oxygen levels kept on dropping.  This stabilized when they put her on a drip of fentanyl, a medication to relax her and help her to sleep.  With this she made great progress and was able to be taken off of the medication 4-5 days later.  The nurses now love how nice she sleeps and really only walks up around her 3 hour service times they have to do. 

Emily has had a great week until they tried to take her off the vent on Tuesday.  She was on the lowest setting with the vent. so doctor made the choice to take her off.  She did great at first and then 2 hours into it she pooped out and stopped breathing.  I was their and it was very scary to see her blue and lifeless.  They put her back on the vent and is resting nicely again.  Emily was able to sleep for the first time on her tummy and she loves it.  When she is on her tummy she goes to sleep fast and doesn't move until the nurse have to bug her every three hours. 

Another set back we heard this week is that Emily has a little bleeding on the brain.  It is normal for preemies to have bleeding yet it is still hard to hear.  They are just watching it for know by doing daily head measurements and weekly ultrasounds.  The nurses told me that we can help by letting her sleep the without being bugged in between the times they are not doing her care.  This was hard for me to set there and just let her sleep.  It helps when the nurses let me help as much care as I can do.



Pictures of the week...


Can any one say Tanning

Emily was sticking out her tongue



Emily loves her right side and is snuggled up to sleep



This week I have also made great progress.  I was in the hospital for 2.5 days and that was enough for me.  I just have to remember that even though my head feels good I am still needing time to heal.  I go and see everyday and the nurses are starting to let me help in some of Emily's care.  I know I will do her care for the rest of my life but it is nice to feel I can be a part of it know. 


On Sunday, I got to help with my first diaper change.  It was hard having to changer her in the isolette and her being so tiny you don't know how to get her bum up to get the new diaper under her.  Yet I am sure I practice it want be so hard. 

On Monday, we went in the evening, as Blair went back to work and does not get to see her during the day anymore.  We arrived just as the nurse was doing her care.  I again got to help with my first "bath".  Taking cloths with water and wiping her down.