Natalee back in NICU :(

Just a quick note to let everyone know that Natalee is back in the NICU. Basically, she was having trouble eating and staying on a schedule, or wanting to eat and being able to keep it down. Also, she hadn't had any bowel movements since Tuesday, so today I took her to the pediatrician where finally they got her to relieve herself, thank goodness. I have never been so happy to see so much poop! But her temperature was very low, very, very low...no higher than 95.8. It was going between 94.1 to 95.8, which is like FREEZING, especially when she is only, barely 4lbs.

So, we were sent right away to the ER to get an x-ray and some blood work. They took us right back, we didn't wait at all and had wonderful service. However Nat's temp just would NOT come up, even under the warmer and she was getting more and more pale as time went on. She had blood work done, which showed that she had a lower red blood cell count than before when she was in the NICU. They tested her for RSV and the flu, both negative. She had an x-ray and it showed her intestines and tummy full of air. Her tummy was very distended and hard. She had a urine sample too.

One of the Nurse Practitioners from the NICU came down and also agreed with me finally, that Natalee was pale. (No one thought she was, expect me!) She said that Natalee could come back to the NICU, amen, and would not be sent to PICU. I felt so much better about that, because if she had to stay, at least we would be in a place that we knew.

So, we went to the NICU very shortly after and had a lot more tests done. More blood work. Blood work came back and shower high levels, meaning an infection or inflammation again. We don't really know more than that. It could be a hundred different things. They just are not sure. However, it is not NEC anymore. The x-ray does not look anything like it did when she had NEC.

So, we are waiting. She is back on two antibiotics. She has the tube down her throat to her tummy to let out the air and mucus that has built up, but it is clear, not green like last time. Clear is good! She will not be getting any food though, poor, poor girl. Another x-ray and blood work will be done in the am and we will see what it will show and make a plan then. Her temp did come back to normal, thank God.

She is being herself though, very determined. She is sucking great and seems like she is starving.  She was wide awake and bright eyed. She was screaming, moaning and passing lots of gas, which is good because it means she doesn't have a blockage in her intestines, however, she could still have narrowing, which still means surgery. She will probably have a GI exam or barium enema tomorrow and then a meeting with the surgeon, if needed. Just have to wait to see what the x-ray shows and blood work.

It was of course so hard to leave her again this evening. I hate leaving my poor sick little girl, all by herself. It is simply NOT fair. She is a fighter though, we know that much. God will hold her while I cannot, that I know.

I will try to keep updates coming, but at this time, we ask for your thoughts and prayers for our sweet little girl.