Hospital Tour

So I'm a little behind on updating my post, guess it's time to play catch up.  Last Wednesday, we met with the PICU Child Life Specialist and took our tour of the hospital.  It was a little bit of an overwhelming experience, but we knew that it needed to be done in order to help prepare us for what is to come.  After delivery our daughter will be sent to NICU.  We very briefly got to see a NICU room, and I have to say that I'm not fond of the NICU.  Not the NICU itself, but the incubators that are in them.  I have to admit it made me nauseous being in the NICU room b/c the incubator to me resembles a coffin.  I'm really not looking forward to seeing out little girl in one of those.  It will be hard, but we will get through it.  The NICU rules are very strict compared to the PICU.  We are unsure if our older two kiddos will get to see their baby sister in the NICU or not.  When it is RSV and flu season, no kids under the age of 11 are allowed in the NICU.  You can take very few items into the NICU and there are only 2 people allowed at a time in the room.  It will be difficult for me to be away from my little girl the first night.  Since I'll be in recovery on a different floor in the hospital, Chris will be staying with our little girl in the NICU.  Hoping my recovery goes smoothly so that I can discharge a day early and be with my little girl.  I suppose Chris and I will then take turns sleeping in her room.  And the other will sleep in one of the Ronald McDonald rooms.  I don't want our little girl to be left alone during this critical time.  She will need us more than ever.  She will stay in NICU until her first surgery, which is tentatively scheduled for October 8th.

After her surgery, she will be transferred to the PICU.  That is where all the cardiac nurses are, so that is where our little peanut will be from then on.  Unfortunately, the PICU is the only unit involving kids that is still in the remodeling process.  We got to see the finished Peds side, which was beautiful.  Huge private rooms, large windows, bright colors, interactive things for kids.  The PICU room will look the same as the Peds rooms, only with more medical equipment of course.  The new PICU is set to open in November.  Until then, we will be on the old PICU floor which is pretty gloomy compared to the new unit.  Tiny room with only room for one parent to sleep in there if they wish, but they recommend sleeping in the Ronald McDonald rooms instead since the current PICU rooms are so tiny.  I however would rather sleep on an uncomfortable pull out chair in a tiny room than be away from my little girl.  I know I will need breaks, but I will get those breaks when someone else can be there with our little girl when Chris or I need a breather.  Don't know how long we'll be in the hospital before our little girl is well enough to come home.  Could be as early as 2-3 weeks after surgery, but more than likely it will be 2-3 months after surgery.  If that is the case, then our little peanut will be one of the first patients in the newly remodeled PICU.  As we hope for the best and long to be able to take our baby home sooner rather than later, we also must prepare ourselves for the possibility that she may not be able to come home between her first two surgeries.  As the saying goes "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst".

As much as our little girl moves around in my belly, I just know that she is going to come out strong and be a fighter.