Holding Ellie

Tonight I was able to hold our little darling for the first time!!!!!!! I can still hardly believe it.

Kit left a bit earlier than usual so that he could get some dinner and plenty of sleep before heading here in the morning to help me get ready to be discharged. My very dear and close friend Stephanie came by and went with me to see Ellie one last time before bed. I was just expecting to do a quick peek with Steph; however, when we got there her nurse and another gal (another nurse I think) were in the process of cleaning out her little nostrils (which I hadn't realized they did more than once per day), changing her diaper and weighing her.

Ellie's nurse asked if I wanted to hold her if she kept warm enough while they were doing what they needed to do. I was super nervous but of course said I would. So I got to stand close by while they weighed her (I believe she was 2.48 pounds but am now not sure if it was 2 pounds, 4.8 ounces) and got her ready to be held. They brought over a rocking chair and multiple pillows (for me to sit on and for me to put my arms on), wrapped her in two receiving blankets with all of her "accessories" in between the layers of the blankets to keep her more comfortable and then put her in my arms.

She is indeed a little miracle. She was calm the entire time with none of her usual arm and leg flailing. And they even had to turn down her oxygen because she needed less while I was holding her.

Tonight they will try again to place her percutaneous line so that hopefully tomorrow we can start the "kangaroo" care, where they place her in just a diaper against my or Kit's bare chest for skin-to-skin contact.

Praise the Lord for these precious times with our little girl.