Well, we have learned there is no such thing as a plan when it comes to a newborn, including c-sections. We were supposed to go in on Tuesday the 27th for a test to check for lung development and, if positive, we were scheduled for a c-section on the 28th - a couple of weeks early due to my medical conditions. We weren't holding our breath for Weds. since Devin's lung development test was negative 3 times and he kept getting pushed back. I just cook them slower!! On Monday night, for no real reason since I felt fine, I just had a feeling that this baby wasn't going to wait until Weds. to make her appearance. I told my hubby and even called my mom (who was going to fly in if we were having her on Weds.) and told her to be on standby. On Tuesday, we went to the appointment and I told the nurse that I was having the baby that day and she just laughed. She took us back for the ultrasound/monitoring and the look on her face told me that I was right. The doc came in and said the baby's heart rate was way too high and she wasn't responding movement-wise. Since her size had dropped from 35th percentile to 24th, she had a possible heart problem, and was small....he wasn't comfortable even waiting a day to deliver since the baby was showing signs of distress. He sent me straight to the hospital and at 8:08pm Reagan Celisse O'Leary was born weighing in at 5 lbs 4 oz and 17 inches. Her initial APGAR scores were great and all development tests, including the lungs, she past with flying colors. In the nursery she started to have episodes of rapid breathing where her oxygen level dropped too low, probably caused by the distress, so they admitted her. The doc said that physically she was fine, but it was normal for small babies to need to adjust to living on the outside - so it would just take time for her to learn to slow down her breathing. They gave her oxygen and tube fed for several days. The cardiologist tested her and said that all babies her size have a weakened valve and that it would strengthen as she got bigger or, if it never goes away, it will never be a problem. So she got the all clear from him!!! Today ( Saturday), they took her off the oxygen and she has been bottle feeding for almost 2 days. If she can keep her breathing under control for 24 hours, they will discharge her on Sunday - probably Monday though since it is hard to get a doc in to do the paperwork on a Sunday. I just got discharged this morning after 4 nights because my blood pressure kept spiking, a sign of eclampsia returning (who wouldn't have high blood pressure under these circumstances?). Please pray that she does good and can come home in a day or two. I'm tired of NICUs. Reagan's NICU doc is one of the same ones that Keira had and he called Mike and I "NICU pros" === something, in my opinion, that no one ever wants to be called. She is a total cutie and looks like Keira's twin, separated by a couple of years. What our kids lack in size, they make up for in cuteness!!! She has bright blue eyes as of right now (we are 3 for 3 for blue eyed when Mike and I are both brown eyed) and LOTS of dark black hair (where did that come from?). I'll keep you updated and let you know when she is home!!!
