Day 4

Alyssa's 4th day of life:

A day full of joy and fear.  Joy b/c big sister and big brother got to come visit and hold baby Alyssa and spend some time with mommy and daddy.  Fear of course b/c of the hard facts of what Alyssa is up against and also the unknown of what is to come. 

Alyssa's day started off with an x-ray, which later proved that she has some fluid around her lungs.  She started Lasix today to help get some of the fluid off.  The cardiologist thought that if we could get some fluid off, that it would help with her apnea spells. 

It seems like everytime we stepped out of the room yesterday, one of the doctors came to make rounds.  I did get to see one of the neonatologists yesterday, but we missed the cardiologist and the cardiothoracic surgeon. 

Late morning my mom brought in our older two kiddos to see their baby sister.  Addison was beaming to be able to hold Alyssa.  Connor was excited to see her as well, but couldn't sit still for long so we had to hurry with pictures.  But we got some of the kids together and my mom also took pictures of the whole family of 5 together.  It has been a struggle for our oldest, Addison, to adjust to time away from mom and dad.  Especially from mom.  Lots of tears flowed yesterday as she got ready to leave the hospital and it about tore my heart out when she looked at my mom and said "Grandma, can I please just have a few more minutes with mommy".  I know we will get through this, but it's moments like those that remind me of how bad I wish to be able to be there for all my kids; but knowing that I can't.....not physically anyway. 

They also tried to put a PICC line in Alyssa again yesterday, but were unsuccessful.  It was finally decided that they would just wait til surgery and put something in when she was under sedation.  Feel so bad that she had to be poked two days in a row with no results.  The cardiologist also requested labs be drawn on her to rule out infection since she's had a fever.  They wanted to make sure it was caused just by the prostaglandins she is receiving for her heart.  And the good news was that the results came back that she has no infection. 

Alyssa's 4th day was finished off by lots of snuggling with mom before we went to bed.