Day 9 Delhi

Ok...I'm a terrible blogger...but, in my defense we have had a lot going on. We stayed a week at the Hilton (free on rewards points, woo hoo!) and yesterday moved over to svelte to a room with a microwave for bottle sterilization...The internet is slow here and not as good as at the Hilton..we have to use wireless here and I do not like that...I prefer wired when I am out of town and needing to access personal information...

Anyway, lets catch up...it has been a total roller coaster...MJ is up and down...until yesterday we had a hard time getting her to take more than 15ml at a time from us....she was getting just exhausted...yesterday and today she took the whole 30ml when we fed but she has had some episodes of her 02 sats dropping when NOT feeding..so..I feel like one step forward and two steps back!! But, she looks good...she is more alert and taking her feeds much better...I personally feel that she is having reflux issues and although Dr., Gupta doesn't feel that is an issue he did start her on some anti-reflux meds prophylactically...He feels that her PDA (heart thingy) is the cause of the desatting...We were considering getting her out tomorrow but now he feels that we need to wait another day or two...we are probably going to wait until her FRRO appointment and then jet out the same night...of course we have no idea when that will be....

The embassy came and did the dna collection yesterday for us at the hospital due to her heart condition...I just cannot thank them enough..they have been very kind to us...we then went to the embassy today to get her CRBA (certificate of birth abroad).  Unbelievably, we were in and out in one hour!! Amazing!!  We filled out the forms...Both of our names are on the Indian birth certificate and the CRBA and will be on her passport as well...The CRBA is her american birth certificate. She will likely be the only one in her class with one of those on the first day of school in our little town, lol....Once the DNA test is back we will get her an emergency passport that is good for one year...at that point we will make our appointment with the FRRO to get her Indian visa and then we can finally head home!!

Heading home opens up some new issues...especially with her PDA...we are going to be making some phone calls to some dr's in the us and coming up with a plan...Overall, she is just a precious tiny baby and we are so blessed. We can't wait to get her home.

I also wanted to thank everyone that has commented on our blog...For some reason..my computer is slow and I'm unable to reply to each one..I finally gave up..but I do appreciate everything you guys write and all of your positive vibes!! We could not have done it without you!!  We are at Svelte in room 516 if any of you guys here in Delhi want to get together!! Would love to hear how you guys are doing!!  I will try to be better with the updates and get some pics in soon...Take care and God Bless....

Day 3 Delhi

Well...day 3 is here...quick recap...day 1-flew into delhi late monday night with only one suitcase of 4, day 2-met MJ for the first time at Eden hospital and Dr. Gupta, 3-got to feed MJ a bottle and had our 3 lost suitcases arrive at our hotel without warning...now...let me elaborate...meeting MJ was undescribable yet felt so right...it felt perfectly normal to meet our daughter for the first time at 4 weeks old 8000 miles away from home...sounds weird, huh?  But, that is our normal...we took the road less traveled and it eventually got us to our destination...the ride hasn't been easy or short, but it was successful and for this we are greatful...

We did get a little "surprise" from Dr. Gupta. He failed to mention in our daily conversations for the past month that MJ had a cardiac issue. She has PDA, which is failure of the vessel that carries oxygen to the lungs to close at birth. If it doesn't close with medication or on its own, it will require surgery. Apparently somewhat common with preemies, but apparently something that can only be mentioned when you are face to face with the doctor. That being said, I really am glad that he didn't tell me over the phone because it was difficult enough staying in the US for so long..If I had known about the PDA I would have most definitely been freaking out...

We have no idea when she will be discharged...we just take it day by day...I don't expect it to be anytime soon...she finally today took 30ml at once today..that is equivalent to 1 oz...she gets that every 3 hours...

We have obtained her Indian birth certificate..now we have to wait for dna test...I did ask Dr. Gupta if we could check her out and take to Embassy for DNA and then come back to NICU but of course, he said no..I thought maybe I could pull the "we are both healthcare providers card" but, to no avail...so for now...we wait...and wait...

 

 

Miss Mary Jane

 

Ohhh...India...

We are here!! Only a few more hours until we meet MJ!!! Can't wait!! Unfortunately, our luggage did not make it. So, we will look rough for a few days...Out of 4 bags only 1 made it...yikes...We are at Hilton if anyone is in town and wants to meet up! My inlaws are at Svelte (it's my all time fave but we had rewards points to use up at hilton..got a free week!!)..We will move to Svelte next week...so far am very pleased with the Hilton though...I just miss the living room at Svelte...anyway...going to get the ball rolling tomorrow! Indian birth certificate is in process and now have to see how MJ is improving for the DNA test. Will update when I know more!

See you soon MJ

Sunday is the day..we will get on the big bird and fly 8000 miles.....spoke with the Dr. she continues to do well without oxygen...she is still on tube feeding...will attempt bottle feed in 4 or 5 days...no infections, no meds, no iv's...wow...and no momma or daddy there with her....now im worried that we will visit her and give her an infection...she seems to be doing well without us...and believe me I am thankful for that....I worry about setbacks when they start the bottle feeds...reflux, aspiration risks...etc...a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, you know?
 Im not satisfied with the nursery...it looks like a boy's room to me...we had bought gender neutral bedding that once out of the package has way too much blue....now that I know we have a girl...,I want pink and girly all the way!! But, DH has other ideas...the way I see it, since I'm going to be home with her 24/7...I need something asthetically pleasing to me....something that puts me in a "happy" place while Im rocking a colickly baby!!  I wouldn't tell him what kind of stethoscope he had to use at work, right?  I know...weak defense,...but it's mine...lol...but, it's a nice battle to have, right?
I am unable to get my pics to post...it doesn't give me the little button that says choose from uploads...i click on upload and there is no way to choose a file...anyone else have this problem?

Goodbye oxygen!!

MJ is on room air. Woohoo!! Making some progress! Due to technical difficulties about 36 hours went by before we were able to talk to the doctor...I guess the old saying is true that a watched pot never boils...because when we quit bugging the doctor MJ decided to breathe!! He says she is doing well...just needs to grow...,it will be awhile before she gets the feeding tube out and that is okay...he stresses she is not sick and doing well for her age...

Well, we were itching for some new pics and Margarida had Rachna take some for us. We are sooo excited! I am going to attempt to post these...but, you know sometimes I am technically challenged!  Time is ticking away...10 more days before we get on the big bird and meet our daughter!! 

We are going to stay at the Hilton the first week and the move to Svelte the 2nd week...we had awards points enough for a free week at the Hilton....so, we just couldn't pass that up!! I wanted to be at Svelte for babypick up because of the microwave to sterilize the bottles...plus I like having the living room seperate from the bedroom...

Yesterday we ordered the nursery furniture..thought it was going to take 4-6 weeks but they called me today and said we can pick it up tomorrow!! Last night, ordered packnplay and carseat...we've bought the camcorder and a new camera...finally things are coming together!!  Now trying to decide about Phil and Ted cocoon...also, any ideas for the best baby things to carry on the plane ride back? 

Thank you all for your best wishes and prayers. It means so much to us. Take care and God Bless.
 

2 weeks

We will get to meet our daughter for the first time in 2 weeks!!  What an emotional journey we have been on!! She continues to have issues with breathing. We will assess the situation when we get there and go from there. For now, the dr says she is doing okay but is only able to stay off of the sipap for a few hours on oxygen. If she is still on cpap when we get there we will have to make some decisions. Do we set up camp in India or do we put Operation Exit India into overdrive and medi-vac out of there?  Neither alternative is cheap or easy...wow...2 weeks to get out of India used to seem like an eternity....now...not so much...I hope they will send some new pics soon...you know how babies change daily!! Hope everyone is well and can't wait to meet the IP's and those on baby pick up in Delhi!

Bye Bye Ventilator....Hello Sipap....

Well...Mary Jane continues to improve...we are trying to make travel plans...looking like the 20th of January...so if anybody is going to be at Eden...please...snap us some pics!! This is torture!! Like being on a diet with a roomful of desserts!!!  I hope that was her last ventilator experience...whew...but at least the doctor says shes tolerating her feedings well and making good stools and wet diapers...if she can just get this breathing thing down pat!! We are going crazy trying to get everything together....put 2 procrastinators together and you have chaos!!  I hope these next 2 weeks fly by!!!  Looks like a lot of exciting things going on in blogland..hope to meet some of you guys when we are in Dehli!!