Another long one...
When I ended part one, I had just held Harrison after he was born. Shortly after, he got bundled up and slept soundly in his bassinet. The girls were born at 4:03 and 4:35 in the afternoon, but because of whatever meds I got I was so out of it and slept pretty much right after delivery until the next morning. This time, I felt great! I was awake - and so ready for some food and water! Adam went to get us dinner and I literally downed three of those huge cups of water in about 15 minutes. It was great. While Adam was gone, I noticed that Harrison was cold. His lips kept turning blue and so did the palms of his hands. I called one of the nurses in the nursery. She came to check him out right away. She decided to bring him upstairs to be checked and would bring him back down once he was done. Right about then Adam came in with our food. We ate and then laid down to try to get some rest.
As I was dozing off, a doctor came in and explained that Harrison was having trouble keeping his temperature up and he had a couple of desats, which is low oxygen in the blood. His glucose level was low too. Because of that, they would be taking him to the RNICU. I cried. I was still hooked up to machines and my baby was going to the RNICU and I couldn't go see him. He was only hours old. Adam went right then. He came back and said he was okay and sleeping well. Since there was nothing I could do, I slept too - but not well. I was feeling the pain from the delivery and version more and more and all I could think about was my several hours old baby who wasn't with me.
At some point during the night, my blood pressure dropped - by a significant amount. When it comes to my kids, I want to know everything about them medically. When it comes to myself, I find that ignorance is bliss. I felt weak and tired but didn't think much of it. A couple of doctors came in and were whispering with the nurses while Adam slept and I pretended to. They started some IV medicine to keep my blood pressure up. I didn't ask any questions, but they seemed serious. After that I didn't sleep at all.
The next morning, several doctors came in and told me that because of the hemorrhage after the delivery I had lost a lost of blood. The fluid change caused my blood pressure to drop. They said I needed to get some blood. Once again, I cried. Seriously??!?!! Of course this would happen to me. Obviously I wasn't going to see Harrison now. The resident that told me i needed blood was so sweet, but all I heard was the risk of infections such as HIV and hepatitis. I tried to decline the blood, but thankfully Adam was there to convince me otherwise. I got the blood and it went by quickly. I thought that when that was done I would be able to get up. Not so...I remained on the blood pressure medicine for the rest of the day. I was devastated. I just wanted to get up and see my baby but I couldn't.
That afternoon it was time for what I was looking forward to the most...when the girls came to meet their brother. It was not how I imagined this moment at all - baby in the RNICU and mom hooked to the bed. Luckily they brought Harrison to our room so they could see him. I couldn't get up to take pictures so I don't have a single one of my babies and me. Stupid blood pressure. He got to stay in the room with us for about 40 minutes and I got to hold him for a while, so that was good.
That evening, some of my favorite friends came to visit me. I am so lucky to have these friends. After my long day of feeling sad from being attached to IV's and missing my baby, they came and made me smile. I love them.
The next morning was Thursday. By mid day, Harrison was discharged from the RNICU and I was off the IV's. It was a great day. We all had to stay one more day to make sure my blood pressure stayed stable. As we were getting the check out vitals on Friday, the nurse said my temperature said 100. She took it again with a different thermometer and it was 98. We didn't think anything of it. We were so ready to go home and be with our girls. As we were getting ready to go, the pediatrician came in and said she set up an appointment with an ENT to do a frenulectomy right away...and also told us that Harrison's bili level was up and so she had also contacted home health people to come set up the lights at our house. What a bummer...but at least we were headed home. The frenulectomy was fast and we were home before we knew it. We all rested and went to bed early that night. I kept saying that I was cold. I woke up in the middle of the night a few times - sometimes I was sweating and sometimes I was freezing. I knew this feeling. I was feverish. Damn. The next morning I called a friend who is a doctor and asked at what temperature I needed to call in for. I did indeed have a fever. I cried again...a theme over the next few days.
Off to the MEU I go...thanks to the help of my amazing friends. Adam was in a conference so Jenny picked up my kids and me. She brought the kiddos to Rebecca's house and then took me to the hospital. Once there, they broke the news...IV antibiotics. Cue the crying, again. Harrison got to stay with me at the hospital, which was wonderful to have that time with him although I missed my girls like crazy. Thankfully, the home health nurse called and said Harrison could come off the lights!
Finally on Monday, I got to go home. Almost one week after I had my baby and after a total of 8 nights in the hospital, I went home and have been here very night since! Yay! It was a crazy, emotional, wonderful, terrifying, experience and I am so thankful to be home with my beautiful baby boy!
