Testing, 1,2,3...

This morning started with learning how to use all of the oxygen equipment we'll be taking home. I took videos and notes. The pulse oximeter they gave us reads slightly off from the hospital one...giving me immediate trust issues.

Okay, I suppose the morning really started with me running late to this appointment because I couldn't figure out how to open up the Doona and eventually ended up carrying it down the long hospital hallway to the NICU, just showing off the unused wheels, lol

After signing off on everything that I would and wouldn't do with the equipment and promising to have a fire extinguisher and fire alarms in the home (they are coming to do a home check!), I meet the certified car seat put-er in-er. I believe there is a more official title and she does way more lofty things than this but nonetheless, this is an important task and I appreciate the help. She guides me through making sure the base is level and isn't phased as I hunch over to stand on it in the backseat so I can pull it SUPER tight. Then I sign off on some more papers that this has happened.

Back inside, Emilia is getting her eyes dilated for yet another eye exam. I am not sure I've eaten enough for this, actually come to think of it, I haven't eaten at all, I better not look. We get her situated on the table and I face away with my arm stretched back behind me to rub her little leg and tell her it will be over soon. I spin around and scoop her up as soon as he tells me he's done. She stops screaming and pouts. Emilia, I am so very sorry. REPORT: Her eyes look like before anything was wrong, he is very happy everything has worked so quickly...and he'll be back Wednesday, gut wrenching.

Now it's time for her Board Meeting. This happens every Monday. All of her physicians get in a room and we talk about Emilia. This Monday we discuss the new doctors she will see in Dallas. Everyone here is taking care of finding her great care and setting her first appointments. How very nice. We have to send them our CPR certification. No one is just handing over babies over here!

I got some work done while Helly did the bath. Always fun because her hair looks blonde again after bath time. Right now it's kind of brown on the top and blonde on the sides and back. Like business in the front and party blonde in the back.

Tonight we are watching Emilia as she sits in the car seat for 2 hours. It's called the car seat challenge. She has to keep her oxygen saturation above 90 and not have any bradys the entire time. It took both of us and the nurse to rig her tiny self into the car seat but she doesn't seem to mind it too much. We have Bach's Cello Suites playing for her and she is thoroughly enjoying it. She has 4 more minutes and is 20 minutes past her 11pm feed so she is HUNGRY but not mad, she rarely gets mad.

We are doing a stay in Tuesday and Wednesday evening. We have to manage her and her oxygen on our own before we are released into the wild. To think, some people just have babies and go home! Tomorrow will mark 12 weeks since Emilia was born. Thursday, once we've passed all the tests, we can GO HOME!!