Two Steps Forward ... Two Steps Back

I haven't been on the computer much over the past week. Hence a week with no posts. I was busy enjoying my daughter. Last Monday Indiana Grandma got to hold her for the first time (see picture) and I got to hold her all week for hours and just watch her facial expressions. Unfortunately, Brian got a cold near the end of the week so he hasn't been able to hold her for awhile. But as long as he wore a mask he could go in and see her.

I got some good news from my hematologist last Tuesday and I don't have to take my twice daily blood thinner shots anymore. Hallelujah!! I feel so free. I also received some good news from my OB last Friday at my last appointment, and after seven long months of waiting I can finally do situps again! Seriously, I'm excited.

With her feedings increasing daily last week, Charlotte has started to put on weight. As of the last weigh-in she weighed 2lbs 4 oz (1.02 kilo) and measured 14 inches. Some of her saggy skin is finally starting to fill in. Yay!

But, as we already know, things don't stay smooth sailing forever in the NICU. Saturday night Charlotte started to have hourly heart rate drops and lots of fluid coming up from her lungs, which resulted in her having to be put on the ventilator again. Yesterday the doctors found some bacteria growing in a culture taken in the morning, and they have concluded that she has an infection in one of her IV lines. Why don't they just take it out, you ask? It's not quite that easy. This IV goes into her arm, up her arm, across her chest and ends directly above her heart so that they can get medication and nutrients to the right place quickly. Not the easiest thing to insert. So, in the immediate future, the doctors are giving her a cocktail of antibiotics through that line in the hopes that it will not only get rid of the infection in the rest of her body, but also clean out that line. The doctors are hoping that as soon as the antibiotics kick in they can start weaning her off of the ventilator.

AAArgh! I swear, when I look in the mirror I can see myself aging right before my eyes! By the time Charlotte gets home I'm going to be ready for assisted living, which may not be all that bad ....