Page 56 - Journey of Hope by Raymond Moldenhauer

DAY103

SPECIAL DAY FOR GUNDPA

As I entered through the NICU doors this morning, I could see
Heidi standing next to Jim, who was sitting in the rocking chair
holding Alyssa. Two nurses joined them as the alarms were
going off, so I just stood there for a moment and waited. Heidi
joined me a few minutes later and said that Alyssa just had a
brief de-saturation moment – nothing more. But in my mind, I
still saw the swollen, red, grimacing face, and all I could think
about was that Alyssa looked a lot worse to me then she did
the last time I saw her.

However, when I finally went back to see her in her crib, she
now looked just fine. The color in her face was natural.
Apparently, I just happened to glimpse at her at precisely the
moment she was really, really trying to squeeze out the poop
that has been holding up normal movements for the past
couple of days. That intense effort is also what triggered the
brief de-saturation period. So, while she still is, in fact, a bit
swollen from the fluid retention, and desperately needs to
have a bowel movement, she was totally fine. But, I admit, she
gave me a scare!

Later today, I had a special opportunity to give Alyssa her
bottle. She took it fine (no air). Heidi did say that I was a bit
timid in patting her on her back to get a burp.

If she could only have that one explosive, get-it-done, bowel
movement, we would all feel more comfortable that the end is
in sight. As Heidi requested: “pray for poop”!