Oscar - Week One
Oscar is one week old. This week has been a whirlwind of a week. Lots of people have come to see Oscar at the hospital and lots of medical things have changed for both me and Oscar.
My dad, Debbie, Rebecca, Grandma and Grandpa H., Kathy, Jim, Amy, Dale, Linda, Tyler, and Meaghan have all come to meet Oscar. And I love showing him off and I love that everyone already loves him! Everyone says how cute he is and I can only agree. =) It’s hard only being able to bring one person into the NICU at a time - it makes it complicated when more than one person is there to visit him since they have to take turns going in to see him.
I was released from the hospital on Sunday. One full week after I was admitted for my high blood pressure and 5 days after giving birth. My blood pressure is still high but I’m on medication that is helping to regulate it and I’m measuring my BP twice a day just like before Oscar was born to make sure it’s not too high or too low. Having to leave the hospital on Sunday without my baby was probably one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever had to do. I felt like my heart was literally breaking into pieces. I know he needs to be in the hospital but that didn’t make leaving any easier.
Oscar is still in the NICU and will be for awhile but we don’t know how long. He has to meet certain goals before he can come home. He has to be able to regulate his own temperature, breathe on his own, eat 80% of his required food by mouth, and he has to keep growing every day. Oscar is already made great strides in the right direction. On Friday he was switched from a full respirator to a smaller ‘bubble machine’. I don’t really know the difference but I know that it is less intense breathing support which means that Oscar is breathing better on his own. The bubble machine tube has a little piece of foam near Oscar’s nose that makes him look like he has a pig nose. Oscar did have jaundice and had to have the special photo therapy lights on him on Friday and Saturday but they came off after that. When they were on him he had to wear the cutest little sunglasses!
Oscar has also hit some major milestones this week. On Wednesday I got to change my first Oscar diaper - I’ve never seen such a small booty before - and Oscar held onto my finger for the first time. I finally got to hold Oscar outside of the incubator on Thursday - it was the best feeling in the world. Jose got to hold him on Saturday and Jose looked the happiest I have ever seen him. I also did my first skin-to-skin hold with Oscar on Saturday-he is so tiny that he fit inside my bra! On Saturday Oscar also started opening his eyes! It was the first time Jose or I had ever seen them! Right now they are a dark grey color. I’m sure they will change but they are so beautiful. Dad and Debbie also got to hold Oscar today.
