NICU Journey Week 9 - Insurance Woes, Daddy Visits and 4 Pounds

Anastasia's growth this week: 
Weight: 1880 Grams!! (Was 1655 Grams)
Length: 42 Centimeters  (Was 42 Centimeters)
Age: 9 weeks old (Should be 36 weeks gestation)












Friday
My friend, Valerie, used to do these "What an Average Day Looks Like" when she had 4 kids under 4 years old. I loved those posts, it amazed me what she would do in one day. I keep trying to do something like that but I always seem to lose track. But not today! I even made it into it's own post titled  An Average Visit Looks Like .... (it won't hyperlink). 

Talked with Anastasia's doctor today. Currently, she has difficult task to complete in order to come home. She needs to eat by herself for 2-3 days. It's hard because she has to remember 3 important things to do that a term baby doesn't have to even think about for the most part:
1- Suck her bottle
2- Swallow her food (without choking or aspirating) 
3- Breath normally. 
Repeat in quick succession. 

Anastasia only drinks a small portion of her bottle and then she just tires out so quickly. She's back on oxygen because she's using all of her energy to learn how to eat she forgets to breath correctly. We're praying that she gets more energy and learns to be able to do both. 

Saturday
I always seem compose eloquent posts as I fall asleep but forget everything when I wake up in the morning.  I even sit and stare at my laptop and try hard to recall what my thoughts were the night before. I need to start keeping a note book on my nightstand. 

I'm full of worries today. I'm worried about her not eating, I'm worried about her liver not working properly, I'm worried about the medical bills, I'm worried about her anemia. I'm really disheartened by the fact that in a week Char goes back to work and I won't get to see Anastasia nearly as much. (Anyone want to watch Rory for me so I can visit my baby girl?) Poor Char hasn't held her in over month. 

Anyways, today I spent time with Heidi Anne; we painted, colored, even cuddled.  I even made her favorite dinner, creamy chicken and rice. I'm trying to spend some extra one on one time with her before Anastasia comes home. 

We just suffered a setback with Anastasia. she lost 2 ounces in one day. She was gaining such good weight and then lost it all in one day. We came so close to 1800 grams (which is 4 pounds) and now we're back down to 1668 grams (3 pounds 10 ounces).  4 pounds isn't just a milestone it's a landmark because so many things happen once you hit it, you maintain your body heat better, you suck better, you eat better. 

I did finish this cross stitch project for her. It fits her crib bedding nicely. Heidi Anne now wants one, too. Does anyone want a cross stitch bird or cross stitch anything? I've got to frame them still. This house will be filled with cross stitch projects. 

Sunday
I talked to the doctor this morning about Anastasia's sudden weight loss. She said she wasn't concerned just yet. She told me not to worry, sometimes preemies just lose weight but then gain it back just as quickly. She said she doesn't intervene unless it's continued for over 2 days in a row. I asked what we'll do then and she told me we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. 

Today my friend Amber took Heidi Anne and her friend to church today. Thank you a million times over Amber!! I was planning on going until a migraine struck. I even had Rory in an adorable outfit all ready to go. I know I need to go to church, I could really use the support of the community. But throwing up in the pews might send the wrong message not to mention super embarrassing. There's always next week. 

I just called the nurses to see how Anastasia is doing and somehow she weighs 1810 grams now. I don't know what to believe. One night she's 1668 and the next she's 1810. That's a difference of 142 grams in one day. I'm at a loss. I guess we'll wait and see what tomorrow brings. 

Monday

Today a friend offered to watch Rory for us. This meant Char could visit Anastasia as well.  Char got to hold Anastasia for the first time in over a month and for the longest amount of time ever. She acted a little off when he held her, she kept stretching, yawning, and breathing irregularly. I almost put her back to bed instead of cuddling her. But Char told me to try first before I put her away. 

When it was my turn to hold her she calmed down and fell asleep. Char said it's because she remembers me. I'm starting to believe she knows I'm mommy. I've been worried that she doesn't know who I am exactly. I sometimes think she knows the nurses better than her own mom. But Char reminded me that she knows my voice, how I hold her, even how I smell. The way she settled once she was in my arms confirmed she feels safe with me, (if nothing else). 

  

Tuesday
I'm still trying to find the right nick name for this tiny girl. Normally I would've had two months extra to try out names and figure out her personality better. My Aunt Deb calls her Ana-Rose, which I really like, delicate yet has that tough edge to it. Char really likes Little Lady because she's always in ribbons and bows and has that feminine air about her. She is my tiny fighter, yet "Warrior Princess" is already taken...maybe it'll have to wait until she's home. 

I'm so done with the NICU roller coaster ride. The ups, downs, the holding your breath to see what happens next. The sudden weight gain the drastic weight loss. Her eating like a champ to not taking a single bottle. I'm exhausted from all the driving back and forth. Or planning on seeing her but then Sophie's Choice of which child to pay attention to. I just want her home. I want to spend time with all the kids at one time. I want to ask "Can I get off this ride yet"? But I know there are no breaks when it comes to life in the NICU. 

Wednesday
In the NICU there are 3 beds for 3 stages. 
First is the Giraffe, which is for your small preemie / super sick baby. 

Next is an isolette, which is for your preemie / sick baby / baby that needs a little more TLC.

Lastly is a regular open air hospital bassinet. This is for your mostly healthy to healthy baby. 

I used to think it's just a clear piece of plastic for your baby to rest in while you wait to go home. I know I never gave it a second thought, until Anastasia came along. In the NICU having a baby in a bassinet means your baby is over 1800 grams, can maintain their own body heat, it means your baby is close to going home. Today my baby was in the hospital bassinet!! 

Currently she is being feed every three hours. The doctors wanted to start feeding her on an "ad lib" schedule. Which means whenever she cries, she gets feed. The nurses advised against this step for one simple reason. Anastasia doesn't cry. She could be starving but will be just patiently waiting for them, wide-eyed and alert. The nurses know she's starving due to how quickly she downs her bottle. The doctor choose to wait a few more days and then we'll see about changing to ad lib feedings.

I found out that Anastasia has 2 hernias. Both are due to her prematurity and she could outgrow them. We're going to take the "wait and see" approach for now. However, it can pop up again once she's grown and pregnant. I thought it was funny how she's still in the NICU and the doctors are already worried about her health once she gets pregnant. I'm worried about her health right now.

Speaking of health everyone at rounds voiced their opinion of taking her to crowded areas. It was a resounding "Don't!!".  Apparently, 8 or less is okay-ish but more then that is considered a crowd until this time next year.

Thursday
Today was a lovely scare. The insurance liaison called saying she received a message stating that Anastasia isn't covered by our insurance. My heart (and stomach) dropped. Apparently, there was an insurance oversight and they forgot to add her. They say she should be covered from birth forward. But she should've been added well over a month ago. Sigh. Pray the insurance gets this worked out, because we're at half a million right now.