Staffing

Honestly, it sounds like a disease or something. "Staffing". But it went really well. We met with the social worker, her doctor, the physical therapist (who was there on behalf of the speech and occupational therapists), and Traci who had just signed on to be Elizabeth's primary nurse. We went over day one to now, and we got a very good explanation as to why they put a central line back in, instead of trying to supplement the milk.

The villi are what normally slows the food down so the small intestine has time to absorb nutrients and such. (Don't be afraid to correct me if I'm wrong... in your mind.) ;) Since she didn't really get to eat a whole lot the first few months of her life, they have atrophied. The good news is, they can recover. The neutral news is, we just don't know how long it will take. But for now, the milk goes through her so fast because it's like it's riding down an extremely slippery slide. Her doctor did say that most likely her small intestine will adapt as well and start doing functions the colon would normally do which I was very happy to hear.

We also discussed moving her to the Ped's (pediatrics) wing in a few weeks since she is now term and getting bigger. It's still a very secure wing, but she will be in a private room, a bigger room. The physical therapist said this would be good to work with her because they could put a mat on the floor and do exercises with her. Just generally more space. I could even just stay there with her all the time. I will most likely stay at the Ronald McDonald house though since I can get free meals and do laundry there. Plus I might need a mental retreat now and then. But I love that if I want to, I can stay bedside with her, especially if I'm there late and don't want to mess with driving back tired or getting security to walk me out to my car.

If anything, if the room has a window, that's a big draw for me to have her moved there. I will certainly miss a lot of people in the NICU. We've come to appreciate a lot of nurses and staff there that have just made us feel like family. The same surgeons would still do their rounds, and I wonder if Dr. O'Brian will as well. But they all spoke highly of the staff in that unit. I'm hoping it will be a similar experience as the staff in the NICU have helped us all so much and I hate to lost that. But if it helps Lizzy developmentally, and physically, then that's what I need to do.