Day 35 Update

Hi Everyone! Sorry for the missed day yesterday. I was up at 4 am for the feeding, then after pumping, got ready for the day. We had appointments with the ophthalmologist for Micah and Leah at 8:30 am and had to drop Harry off at school. Then we had to do some shopping for Harry for school clothes. Busy day!

I called for the update on Golda while we were waiting in the doctor's office. She had a good night and remained off CPAP. She weighed 1440 g (3 lbs. 2.71 oz.) and was eating 27 ml. Monday, I visited her alone and got to sit and hold her for about an hour. It was really wonderful. I also pumped while there to give her some fresh milk and to try out the new pumps they have - excellent, by the way - Medela Symphony if anyone is in need of a hospital quality pump.

I stopped in to speak to the social worker about having Golda evaluated for St. Mary's Children's Hospital in Bayside. When they were telling me about Bythedale on Friday they really down-played the St. Mary's option and made it sound like I would be crazy to even consider it. Not knowing anything about it I didn't push the issue. Well, it turns out that is where David works (who knew it was that St. Mary's!) and it has the best feeding program in the country - just what Golda will need after her surgery! Apparently their guidance to me about hospital choices was somewhat political - St. Mary's has a waiting list while Blythedale doesn't. That means they can move Golda as soon as she is ready and not take up one of their beds any longer than necessary by a patient already paid in full. Ahh, medicine in the US. Anyway, long story short, thank you to David for stepping up and letting us know about another option - a closer and perhaps better option. We are submitting applications to both places and will tour both on Friday this week.

I visited Golda yesterday with my Mom and Harry (sibling visiting day you know). Golda was resting all swaddled when we got there. The nurse took her out and found that her feeding tube was leaking. They fixed it and changed her bedding while I held her. Harry came in and kissed her on her head a few times. He had made her two pictures of trains in the sibling group and we put them on the top of her isolette so she can see them. We took some photos too, but Mema has them on her camera - I will try to rescue them from oblivion soon and post them! LOL.

Today's update from the nurse sounds the same as yesterday's - Golda weighs 1445 g (3 lbs. 2.97 oz.) and is still eating 27 ml of milk. I asked whether this was what they consider a "full feed" for her since it hasn't increased in a few days and, after the nurse calculated it, was told that yes it was. Oh, and during the discussion with the intake liaison for St. Mary's Golda's doctor happened by and said that he is estimating 2-3 weeks before she is ready to be transferred! I am glad she is doing well, but I am not sure if this move will be better for her or make it any easier on us, so I am not sure if I am pushing for it or hesitant! I guess I will know more after our tours.

Leah and Micah are doing well. Their eye appointments didn't show any evidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) - a condition that can cause blindness - woo hoo. Golda was evaluated in the hospital and while she too doesn't currently show any evidence of ROP, she needs further follow-up, as do Leah and Micah. Leah and Micah got 4 different eye drops in each eye. Leah was not very impressed and by the last one she didn't even stop drinking her bottle! Micah however let his annoyance be known to everyone around.

After we finally got out of the doctor's office we decided to try going to a diner for some food since Jon and I hadn't eaten yet. We got our food and were halfway through when Leah started fussing. By the time I got her out of her carrier was in full-blown hysterics. Very unusual for Leah! She wasn't to be quieted either so Jon took her out to the car while I got the food wrapped and paid. It took a few more minutes once I joined them in the car for her to calm down enough to put her back in her carrier. We are assuming it was over-stimulation because her eyes were so dilated and the place was bright, but really have no clue why she freaked out like that.

We were heading to Queens Center Mall (their first Mall outing!) so we stopped at Flushing Meadows park to feed them in the car. While waiting for them to fuss for food we took a brief cat nap. They each ate their bottles hungrily and then went back into the carriers. When we got to the mall we hit a family bathroom and all used the facilities! We were looking for long-sleeve navy blue polo shirts for Harry's school uniform. Needless to say everywhere (and I mean everywhere) was sold out - oh, except for Macy's on real Polo brand shirts at $35 a pop! Finally we tried Children's Place and found two in a size 7/8 and on the off-chance they would fit him, bought them. Well, Harry either has two dresses now or two shirts for next year! The search continues! Leah and Micah were very good in the stores and car though. We only hope Golda will be as good while we are out and about.

One not so nice thing about being out in public with Leah and Micah though. The twin stroller attracts attention and seeing two and only two babies people naturally assume they are twins. They ask what sex they are and comment on the cute twins. Needless to say, this was upsetting - they aren't twins, we have another beautiful little girl who is still in the hospital and will be for some time. The problem is that I don't want to tell every stranger who innocently comments on the cute little babies our whole story - certainly not what they bargained for when congratulating us, but at the same time, I feel like by letting the "twins" statement go uncontested I am somehow not doing right by Golda. I was thinking about what I could do and the only thing I came up with was to make a little sign for Leah's carrier that said "1 of 3" and for Micah that said "2 of 3" and maybe put photos of the other two on each sign and even put one on Golda's isolette. What do you all think about this idea? Should I just let it go and realize that it doesn't matter what people think or should I correct them each time or put the sign or do something else?

Okay, that's it for now. Please remember to let me know whether you will or will not be joining us on Sunday.