Homecoming

Cory called as soon as he got to work this morning. Now, Mommy, Daddy and Gentry are HOME!

August 11

I spent most of the day at the hospital. Cory and I went to her 9 a.m. feeding. Then he left me there while going to work. I hung out for quite a while with Gentry. After lunch, we fed her again, and I had a doctor's appointment this afternoon. He changed my blood pressure medicine, and I am to follow up at the end of the week. We also fed her mid-afternoon before heading home to a great meal provided by someone at church. We went back for Gentry's night feeding, but it had been pushed to 10:30 p.m., and we opted out.

She is doing really well. I was there when the doctor came by this morning. The doctor was a little disappointed that G had lost an ounce over night. She said she wants her to be gaining before she goes home... probably Wednesday. They took her off of her gas medicine, so now she is not on anything.

We are gearing up for Wednesday, but I would be surprised if they came in tomorrow and said, "You're going home." As far as coming home, Will and Sam will be home tomorrow. I can't wait!

August 10

We've had a great day. I rested while Cory went to church. After lunch, we headed to see Gentry. When we got there, she was in a "big girl bed" and her IV port was gone. We ended up being there for the 3, 6 and 9 p.m. feedings. I got to try to nurse each time. At 9 p.m., we started her off with a bottle to take the edge off. She did great with the nursing attempt.

A couple of funny things happened today. I was changing her diaper and she spit up. Cory suctioned her mouth. When he squirted its contents into the burp cloth, he put the bulb right against the cloth. It splattered ALL over my face! We were rolling and got accused of having too much fun. At another time, Cory was dressing her. He pulled down the front of her onsie and accidentally grabbed her umbilical cord, which came off in his hand.

We talked to the doctor today. She told me to go ahead with nursing, that there wasn't much data on my meds' effect. She also said she anticipates we will go home Tuesday if everything goes well.
Before we left tonight, we settled Gentry down, wrapped her up and put her in her crib. She immediately found the boys' pictures. Since she is in her new crib, she is able to see them much better than before. It was so sweet. Her boys love her so much, and I think the feeling may be mutual.

NICU Babes

Will

Gentry
Sam

Darreth and Amy's Wedding

Darreth and Amy got married Saturday without me. It was really hard for me to even think of missing it. Darreth led me to tears when he sent me a text 20 minutes before it started to tell me he missed me and wished I was there. Yeah, me, too. Not only did I miss his wedding, but I missed the two most awesome boys in the world be ringbearers for the first time. They have been so excited. Mom called as soon as it was over to tell me they had been amazing, that they stood still right by Tessa the whole time. She said Will watched the ceremony and Sam watched the audience. Everybody I talked to can't say enough -- Will and Sam are amazing kids!

August 9

Last night was an interesting night. My “blood plessure” (as Will calls it) skyrocketed, so, at the doctor’s insistence, I headed to the ER. All the crazies were out, so we were very entertained while there. I had a blood test, and everything came back completely normal, which means it’s strictly a blood pressure issue. I’m to follow up on Monday.

An exciting thing about being at the ER in the middle of the night is we can visit Gentry. Cory went for her midnight feeding, and we were released just in time for her 3 a.m.

When we went in for the 3 p.m. feeding (yeah, we slept really late), Gentry was eating 45 cc, up from 25 at 3 a.m. We got to see the doctor. She said she thinks Gentry is unhappy because she’s hungry, so she began increasing her intake at a quicker rate. It was a great visit. She ate, we played for a while and she settled right down when we were ready to leave. We also got to put clothes on her, which is pretty exciting!

For the 6 p.m. feeding, we met Lori at the hospital. Lori has a new best friend. Gentry slept most of the time, but it’s not for lack of trying on our part.

While pouring over her chart today, the doctor saw the medications I am taking. It’s a possibility Gentry is going through withdrawals from no longer getting one of those meds. The doctor is going to do more research and let us know. She made it sound like it would be a couple of days before they would even consider sending her home.

August 7

Much has happened today. Sam and Will left with Mom and Daddy headed to Arkansas. They had mixed emotions about leaving. They want to be here with their sister every minute, but they love to be at Grammy’s, too. Sam left telling me he was going to see his boy.

Mom called tonight to say the boys had been fitted with their tuxes for Darreth’s wedding. She said they ate it up, and they are precious.

I also left the hospital today. Dr. Hill told me I could stay until tomorrow, but I opted for home. I’d much rather be in my bed, but it means no visiting Gentry in the middle of the night.

She had to be taken off food again today because she was spitting up so much. Tonight they gave her something to clean her out. They think that all the air in her little tummy may be causing some of the spitting up.