Reagan Sydney & Pierce Cameron (part 3)

       After I was released from recovery I was wheeled in my bed to a very small room. The attendant didn't feel that the group of people behind me would fit so he found a HUGE room. I was still high and very excited. It was dark outside so I'm not sure what time it was. It took them a few hours for them to get the boys set up in the NICU. After getting settled I was finally allowed to see my babies. Again, I was high from pain meds so this night is kindly fuzzy. I remember Chris pushed me in a wheelchair through the big double doors. I had to wash my hands then I was wheeled to Reagan. It was dark, I still wasn't able to touch them but I stared at my baby boy and smiled. He was wearing his little c-pap hat and had tubes everywhere. Then I was moved to the back of the pod to see my Piercey. Just as the other nurse did (which I didn't mention) Pierce's nurse lowered his isolet so I could see him. I couldn't stop smiling. They were perfect and healthy. My heart was so full of love. We had a large group of people waiting to see the boys so I was taken back to my room and given a red popsicle, I hate cherry :(, but it was the most amazing popsicle I had ever tasted. I sat in my room alone for a bit while Chris took visitors in one by one. I had time to think. I thought about how amazing God is. He gave me my precious miracles and gave me an unending peace about their health.
      After everyone saw the boys most of them went home. Our family stayed and came back to the room. I will never forget this moment. I was starving and I couldn't have anything but water, no more popsicles, nothing. In walks someone with a GIANT bag of Krystals. The smell was heavenly. They passed around food and ate, and ate, and ate. Paying no mind to me sitting on the bed salivating. My bestie Gayle pulled the privacy curtain and sat with me and made me giggle. Chris my sweet husband quit eating and came and sat with me. I wasn't mad at all. They had been there just as long as I had with no food. I finally convinced him  to eat. Everyone left and it was just me and Chris in our big room with balloons and krystals. They gave me more medicine and I passed out. No one told me they come in every hour to push on your stomach :(
      The next Morning I woke up and my nurse asked if I would like to see the boys for my first hands on. DUH I got up out of the bed while she was in the bathroom and was fixing my gowns to make sure nothing was showing. She came out of the bathroom and looked like she'd seen a ghost. " Mrs.Bailey PLEASE sit down slowly. What are you doing up?" apparently you aren't supposed to get up less than 24 hours after surgery and walk. No one told me. After i showed her i was fine she let me push my wheelchair for support to the NICU
. With Chris and nurse in tow I headed down the hall slowly. This wasn't bad at all. Walk into the NICU wash my hands and head to Pod 3. I got a lot of comments regarding my walking 13 hours after my surgery. I had my chair and I was determined to have my hands on time. So I went to Reagan first.

Reagan Sydney Bailey 2 lbs 14oz 14 inches long

Checking body Temp for the first time

First time changing Rea's Diaper

You can get a better idea of how small they were in these pictures. You can also see how hot I looked bwahahaha!

After this I very gracefully fell into my wheelchair. I felt like the whole room was spinning.

I had spinal headaches :( no fun. i felt like i might vomit. so Chris did the hands on with Pierce

Pierce Cameron Bailey 2lbs 15oz 15 inches long

First temp check with daddy

Pierce's first diaper change with Daddy

       We were both terrified. As I was changing Reagan I was checking everything. Making sure everything was in the right place. Definitely a boy...theres a hole but where is his butt? I started to cry thinking my baby was born without butt cheeks. The nurse read my mind and said "honey, he has to grow those cheeks, they'll come in soon enough" Her name was Jenna, you'll learn more about her later. We love her! It was the best feeling getting to touch my babies. I wouldn't be able to hold them for a while but this would hold me over. We did this every three hours for a few weeks. I spent 5 days at the hospital until we could get a room at the Ronald McDonald house. During those 5 days i ditched my wheelchair and saw my babies as much as possible. The boys were doing great. As you can tell from the pictures they weaned themselves off the cpap machines. a few days later they both pulled their oxygen cannulas off and were on room air. they were amazing their nurses and doctors. Day four brought a little valley. Pierce's echocardiogram came back and showed he had an open heart valve. He was not allowed to eat for thee day. They were going to try medicine first and if that didn't work we would need to discuss open heart surgery. Thankfully, one round of medicine closed it up!

         It was time to head to our home for the next few weeks Room 302. The beds were comfort select. Essentially air mattress with a remote to control the air. We were relaxing on the bed and had it at the perfect number when Allison my sister in law called. She was trying to find the RMH. In an attempt to help his sister, Chris jumps off the bed and goes to the window. Boom! my back smacked into the wood support of the bed. OMG it hurt. my stomach felt like it might rip off my body. yeah he felt bad, I cried and laughed.

      That night after the last hands on for the day we went to our room and sat on our bed. this was my first night out of a hospital bed.I guess being in the hospital masked the fact that My babies were not "with" me. I looked at my stomach, it was empty. I looked at my arms, there was no baby in them. I felt alone. This was the only time I "lost it" i ugly cried. Chris held me and I fell asleep eyes swollen and snotty nose.

To be continued...

Fin Frands