Day 74... we are on day 74 of Karsie's life.
She has endured 74 days in the NICU... with all the surgeries and tests and fear and strangers and medicines and shots and noises involved.
We have endured 74 days of parenting in the NICU... with all the stress and fear and commuting and nurses (mostly good) and doctors (also, mostly good) and information overload and time apart and waiting involved.
In these 74 days, we have changed her diapers and bottle/breast fed her approximately as many times as the average parent does within the first 3 days of life.
The average NICU stay of a premie with similar gestational age and weight is between 10-35 days. Karsie has doubled the high end of average... and lasted seven times the low end. We knew that we were in for a long stay even before she was born and we feel so blessed that she is on track to be home far before the doctors expected. However, the closer she gets to coming home, the more patience we feel we have to exercise. It is hard to see her daily progress and then have to leave the hospital without her.
Therefore (to help me focus on the positive), here are 10 things I am looking forward to when we get to bring Karsie home!
10. Getting to make our doctors appointments at a time that works for us (and actually taking Karsie to the doctor, instead of us going to visit Karsie at the doctors).
9. Not worrying that I will offend the nurse if I ask her to do something a different way.
8. The idea that someday, I might be able to retire the breastpump.
7. Nursing somewhere other than the NICU (like the rockers on my parents balcony).
6. Retiring a small amount of my germ-a-phobia that comes with the nasty hospital.
5. Going out in public without worrying about how long until I have until I have to pump again.
4. Not having to ask the nurse if she pooped yet today.
3. Not having to coordinate all the wires when I want to hold my girl.
2. Having all our friends and family meet the little miracle they have been praying for.
1. Being a family, all together, at home, alone.
Thanks for all your prayers and support... they really do help us get through this all.
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Its hard to imagine what you are going through, but this gave a glimpse. Our prayers are still with you!
ReplyDelete(((hugs to you!)))
ReplyDeleteYou guys are amazing. I can't wait for the day that you get to bring that precious lil miracle HOME with you. It will be a great day! Until then, hang in there. You have kept such a positive attitude and I know it has to be SO hard.
ReplyDeleteYES to all of those! This has been a very long journey for you, and I can't wait until you finally get to have a normal life with your daughter and husband! Hopefully that happens soon! Those are all very wonderful things to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteI must say, I had a good laugh about #4. I totally understood what you meant, but I still enjoyed thinking about how it sounded-- like you've been keeping track of when the nurse poops. :)
And all those things WILL happen.
ReplyDeleteYou have been through such a lot, and are still.
There is a reward at the end of it all, Karsie!
Hang in there!
(And stop asking the nurse when she poops....boundary thing....)
Jen x
I agree with Kelli. My heart aches for you and Kevin and Karsie and all you've gone through. I admire the strength all three of you have shown all along this journey. I hope Karsie is discharged soon, and though it will be tough for Reva and I when you take her home to Bakersfield it will be nothing like what you and Kevin have been going through. I look forward to friends and family getting to meet Karsie. ...and #4 a bit personal. I thought I was asking the nurses lots of questions, but none like that. Proofread.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Dad