This past week has felt like an eternity with extreme ups and downs and many sleepless nights. The blog has become a sort of therapy for me…not quite as comforting as feeling Luke push his skinny, little foot against the palm of my hand but it will do for now. The e-mails we have received filled with love, support and prayers make these days bearable. I work in the rehab department at Cabrini which is literally right next to the NICU. I have been at Cabrini for 6 years and for 6 years I have walked past the NICU at the beginning and end of my work day. If ever the windows were open to the unit I would stop and peek in at all the little babies. I felt so sorry for the parents as I watched them look into the isolettes with helpless stares. Having such an easy pregnancy and delivery with Addy never in a million years did I dream we would be those parents on the other side of that glass. Jeff’s strength and Addy’s silly antics keep me pluggin' along…that and the faith that God is right there listening to our cries for help.
Today was uneventful (which is good I suppose). Dr. Nijar, one of Luke’s neonatologist told us that group B strep is the greatest cause of neonatal meningitis and that of all the different bacteria that cause meningitis this is the lesser of the evils. He is very optimistic that the antibiotics will clear the infection and the fact that Luke has been seizure free is a good sign for his long-term prognosis. Luke’s bilirubin remains low and his vital signs are good. His feedings are slowly being increased and he continues to digest and absorb the breastmilk like a champ. During both visits today he was sleeping comfortably with no signs of distress. His 10 teeny little fingernails and toenails are not much bigger than a pinhead. He has black hair that is thick and a bit on the wavy side. I’d like to think he looks like me since Addy is the spitting image of Jeff but I guess we'll just have to wait and see once he plumps up and fills out a little more. I sure wouldn't mind another 6-foot, strappin' man around the house.
Grow baby grow.