August 24, 2008

Ok, I know I look completely disgusting in this picture but I don't even care because I am so excited that I finally got to hold my little Olivia today!!! When I got to the NICU the nurse said her levels were doing really well, which is always great news. She was telling me the updates and then slipped in that she thought it would be ok if I held her for a little bit. I think I almost jumped up and down with the excitement.

First they had to change her PICC line dressing and then we did her "cares" which consist of changing her diaper, checking her temperature, measuring her belly, and changing her oxygen gage to her other foot. They let the parents to this and it's a great way for me to sort of feel like I'm able to take care of her. While changing her PICC dressing she was starting to get fussy so the nurse told me to hold her binki in her mouth and she put a few drops of sugar water in at the same time. I have never seen a baby get so excited! She sucked that binki like it was going out of style. I should have taken some video of it because it was the cutest thing I've ever seen!

Anyway, after that the nurses brought the rocking chair over and unhooked a bunch of wires then placed Olivia in my arms. I can't express the absolute joy that I felt in that moment. Her eyes were wide open and she looked at me and I looked at her and I swear she smiled at me. It was the sweetest moment. For the next 20 minutes she was smiling and making the cutest little baby noises I've ever heard. Then she got sleepy, closed here eyes, and snuggled into me and fell asleep. The nurses let me hold her longer than they said there were going to and it was such a wonderful feeling to have my little girl in my arms. There truly are not words to express the love that I have for her and the joy that it is to be a mom.

We also got some great news today. Approx. 20-30% of babies with omphalocele's also have some type of genetic disorder. We have been a little concerned because there was a doctor that came and basically gave us worse case scenario right after Olivia was born. So, today the geneticist came to talk to me about some possible complications and what he thought she may or may not have. He started out by listing things that he was sure she didn't have which included Down's Syndrome, Trisomy 13 and 18 (the scariest ones). The he said there was a possibility of Breckwith-Weideman Syndrome but that he really didn't think she had it. He decided to do testing because he almost always does and also because she has small ears. I smiled and said, "Um, maybe you should see my ears. They are really small." So I showed him and he said, "Oh, if I had known that I probably wouldn't have even bothered with the tests. She just looks like you." Then he went on to say that he thinks she probably is just a normal, healthy baby and that we shouldn't worry about anything. ... What a huge relief!!

I know Olivia is only four days old but what a blessing she already is in my life. She is the sweetest little baby and I can't believe how strong and patient she is. She has already been through so much and still has to deal with a big surgery but she's so amazing and I know she'll be a fighter and will recover quickly so we can bring her home.