Peds Surgeon Update

Daren has the ability to come and go from the room as he pleases. I had to go through the process of having the catheter removed, getting unstrapped from the IV and leg massage thingies. While waiting for the nurses arrival, Daren sent me a pic of Willa just before she had an echo.

Pre-echo nap

Not to worry about the splint looking thing on Willa's arm. She didn't break her wrist overnight. They moved the fluids IV from her foot to her left hand. The covering is holding the IV into her finger. She likes to flail her arms a good bit. 

I showed up not long after the echo. Daren was cleaning up the goop from her chest. The tech thought he saw everything looking all good but the final sign off will come from one of the doctors. 

Dr. Adamson stopped by and said he is very happy with the state of things. He said a baby with a giant omphalocele is not normally breathing on their own this early. Willa still has the tube down her throat sucking out the junk from her stomach. 

Dr. Adamson said they are weighing two options of care. If the heart looks good, the breathing is good, the abdominal walls look like they can tolerate it, and the om shrinks a little (as a result of losing some fluid), it may be possible to try to start squeezing the om back into place. But, since the integrity of the om is sound, there's no rush to start anything. So, if any of the other things look like they aren't quite ready to start putting things back into place, we'll wait for the skin to start growing around the om and plan for the surgery later in time.

I got to hold Willa for about 30 minutes. This kid sure is prone to some hiccups. She also likes to bop herself in the face with the covered IV hand. I'm not sure she appreciated the bright flashes of light as daddy took pictures.

My first time getting to hold Willa

Size comparison - Willa's foot and Daddy's hand

We are back in the room for the afternoon. I'm going to be watching UNC W Soccer v. UVA in the first round of the ACC Championships. Daren will be watching Nascar. I think we both want to catch a quick nap before heading back to the NICU at 5pm for care time.

Oh, just got off the phone with my older sister. Sheila does not like it that Bean is unclothed. Not to worry folks, the om is wrapped and she is wearing a diaper. Also, her "incubator" has a heat lamp. I think she is staying plenty warm.