The NICU Experience

Aaron update 102

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Subject: Aaron update 102 Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 10:50 PM From: Kevin Quick To: Aaron Update List Nurse Lourdes, respiratory therapist John, Kathleen and I just wheeled Aaron down the hall to our “rooming in” room about a half hour ago (it’s now 10 p.m.). This is a room on the second floor of the hospital (the same floor as the NICU and TCN), where we’ll be spending the night with Aaron for the first time. This is to make sure that we can handle everything, and that Aaron does OK overnight with just Kathleen’s and my care, before he goes home with us. So far, he’s doing fine. He was awake for his little journey down the hallway and while we set things up in the room, but he has settled down now nicely. He’ll probably sleep better tonight than we will! Here’s a picture of yours truly adjusting Aaron’s oxygen a few minutes ago. Funny thing... Kathleen just asked me if I’d like some ice water or herb tea from the little kitchen area at the other end of the hall. My answer was, “If you’ll wait ten minutes, after I finish this update, I’ll come with you.” Oops! Maybe not! Assuming that tonight goes well, we’ll be leaving the hospital tomorrow around noon; we should be arriving home in the late afternoon. Woohoo! Love, Kevin, Kathleen & Aaron Later note, 10:30 p.m.: Lourdes, who has been Aaron’s primary night shift nurse since he was born, stopped in to see how things were going, and to give a couple of gifts to Aaron: a hand-made laminated card with a poem and Aaron’s hand and footprints, and a hanging “Thank Heaven for Little Boys” pillow that contains a music box that plays Brahms’ Lullaby. The sweetest gift to us, though, was seeing Lourdes, on her way out of the room, removing her glasses and wiping her eyes, as she said to us, “I love him.” Later, later note, 10:45 p.m.: Aaron is awake again, is fussing a bit, and is repeatedly pulling the cannula out of his nose as Kathleen gives him his lung treatment and prepares to change and feed him. Yep, could be an interesting night!