March 13, 2008

Hi Everyone – It’s Melissa. I’m up and a bit more mobile today. I feel so lucky that Caden and I are just floors apart an easy ride down or now I’m slowly starting to walk down to the NICU. Only David, myself and grandparents are allowed in the NICU so it’s very difficult when other family members and friends come to visit, but we do understand how compromised some of these babies immune systems even though they might look to be very healthy (just like our Caden does). I wanted to share a few pictures with you that make me smile. For those of you who really know my wonderful husband you know he is VERY sensitive to smells. As I was getting my spinal in the OR for my C-section it was making me very sick. I wasn’t fearful of the procedure (even though I was looking around at things in the operating room thinking no one should see all the instruments and tools prior to being knocked out) I was fearful of getting sick all over. Then having David walk in, see me, and he too get sick. A chain reaction of sickness. This picture makes me smile because on 3/12 we heard an explosion in Caden’s diaper. David said to me, I’m going to change his diaper because that is what dad’s do. I have a tear running down my face because I’m so proud of him knowing well he might just throw-up if he smells/looks at the merconium (sp?) that comes out in the first couple of diaper changes or laugh which I can’t do because it feels like my stitches are popping open in my stomach. So... I go to grab the camera for this memorable event and turn around to see what David found in the room – a FACE MASK. Too funny! I love him and this is just a small example of what kind of man he has been for me these last few days. He will do anything to be a great dad, but more importantly a husband that has never left my side since Caden was born.

Caden had a good day today. His oxygen saturation levels are good. He slept a lot and took 10 cc of formula. In addition, a little bit of pumped breast milk that I’m excited to feed him via a syringe. The cardiologists performed another echocardiogram and Caden pushed them away…he is not a fan of these doctors. David and I also met with one of the doctors from the team who will be performing the surgery on Monday and went over release forms and paperwork for the upcoming events. We look forward to another great day with Caden tomorrow.