Life in the NICU and the Ronald McDonald "Hotel"

     Well, currently Zoe is still in the hospital. We were supposed to have shunt surgery #3 today, but the infectious disease doctors did not clear her over the weekend. Her glucose numbers in her spinal fluid are low, which would mean that something is feeding on it. However, there is no bacteria growing in her cultures that have been drawn every 3 days. Her full MRI last Thursday showed some inflammation in her ventricles which would indicate infection. This is all a mystery that needs to be solved before they can put in a new shunt and we can go home. Yes, it is frustrating and my emotions are all over the place. It is a weird existence right now and we are trying to stay grounded in faith and family. Emma wants to see her baby sister...but can't. I think that is the most frustrating thing. She has had a good time at Grandma's and playing with Ella on weekends, which is a huge blessing and we are grateful. I just want both of my girls home and to begin some sense of normal (whatever that is anymore). It looks like another week in the hospital for us....at least.

       I was supposed to go back to school today. That' a whole other set of emotions and feelings. I love being a teacher and it is what I called to do. My friends and colleagues at Nashport have been AMAZING! They are such a giving and loving group of people. I don't know what we would have done without the money, food, and gas cards they have provided, in addition to the same things given by our church family and relatives. I miss school, but my mind cannot even go there right now...it overwhelms me. My once abundant sick days from 17 years of teaching are dwindling and decisions have to be made. I know the Lord will give me wisdom and strength to do what I need to do. Right now, my Zoe is the priority during the day and my Emma at night (Troy too..haha). Zoe is thriving in the hospital. She is smiling and totally chunking out (she is over 12lbs and doesn't miss a meal!). She is getting physical therapy and is a joy to the nursing staff who fight over her everyday. Last week, I brought in tons of outfits and the nurses have been dressing her like a little babydoll and it makes everything a little easier. Here is a picture of her now before I go back about 7 weeks and tell you about the NICU

 Here is a pic of Emma and cousin Ella this weekend having a snack...she is having a good time

     To go back about 7 weeks, after Zoe's shunt surgery we settled into life in the NICU for the next 8 days. The nurses and doctors were amazing. Zoe got tons of love and attention and we were thankful that Emma got to see her baby sister those first few days before the visitor restriction started. She loved going to the Sibling Clubhouse at the hospital and playing Candyland with us when she wasn't kissing her baby sister. Zoe made progress and the shunt was working and reducing her head size considerably. It is a weird site to see all the bones of your newborn's skull and accepting the fact that it not going to "normal"  for a while. Her bones will progessively fuse and take shape and she will "grow into" her head. It was a huge reality check when I held her for the first time. The weight of her head overwhelmed me and caused fear, but I knew in time the shunt would do it's work and we would adjust to it and learn how to handle her.

      We also stayed that weekend at the Ronald McDonald Hotel...as Emma called it. She LOVED this place....and so did we. We are so thankful for this place. It allowed us to be with Emma and still be there for Zoe. It has everything that home has (and more) Troy loved it because we stayed on the 3rd the first time and the 2nd floor the second time and each floor is completely BUCKEYES! The 3rd floor is football and mostly funded by Jim Tressel (it's hard to have ill will towards him when you see all that he and his family have done) and the 2nd floor is basketball and mostly Thad Matta. VERY COOL! Emma loves Brutus too, so she was also in heaven. I have so much more I could say about this place. It was a little piece of heaven during this time and we will always be thankful.

     We got to go home for the first time on January 18th and we were a bit nervous but excited at the same time. Below are some pictures of our time in the NICU and Ronald McDonald. We also took some time out to take Emma to see Beauty and the Beast in 3D...we met up with Troy's sister Tiff, our bro-in-law Denny, and niece Ella.