Day 23: Part 2

Aerin had an uneven day today. We got a heart-stopping call from the hospital informing us that they were stopping her feedings because her stomach x-ray showed that there was some dilation in one of the loops of her bowel. Her stomach had looked a bit distended, which is why the x-ray had been ordered. The doctor thought it might be NEC, even though she didn't have any other symptoms and her CBC was fine. However, between the phone call and the time Andrew and I got to the hospital, Aerin had made an epically huge poop. She filled up 2 diapers in under a minute. Even the nurse described it as "disgusting." Afterward, her stomach was much less distended and her x-ray was almost completely normal and her bowel sounds were vastly improved. The doctors and nurses are almost certain that it's not NEC and her feedings will resume tomorrow if her morning x-ray is normal.

As if that weren't enough, Aerin had 2 quick A&B (apnea and bradycardia) episodes while we were there. They were over so fast that we didn't even have time to get scared. The nurses weren't worried - it's normal for small preemies to have As and Bs (as they refer to them). If she was having 3 an hour, that might be cause for alarm. Aerin has had 3 total in her life, which is pretty remarkable. She's been fine since the episodes and is sleeping peacefully. She's finally off the biliblanket, so she's much more comfortable.

Aerin's grandmother (my mother), Elizabeth Gardner, went home today. She came up the week before Aerin was born, when they thought I was going to deliver. She has been a wonderful source of loving support, both before and after Aerin's birth. I don't know what I would have done if she hadn't been here, taking care of the house and fixing all of our meals and running all of our errands and doing everything else we needed so that Andrew and I could concentrate all our energy on Aerin. She hasn't even been gone for one day and we already miss her so much.