Mommy Mad

My darling daughter is getting better every minute. The doctor even said today that they are going to run her blood work tomorrow and if it comes back normal, tomorrow will be her last day of antibiotics. I don't think they'll send her home tomorrow. I'm sure there will be a surveillance period to be sure she doesn't backslide, but she may be home before Friday, which was our anticipated release date.

So, today was another good day, yet I came home fighting mad. Today we had a starter nurse. A barely out of school nurse. An "I couldn't make my own decision to save my life" nurse. An "I'll do what the textbook tells me and only what the textbook tells me" nurse.

This morning when we got to the hospital Alexa had no IV. Apparently, the IV in her head went bad last night. This morning they put an IV in Alexa's hand, which she promptly took out as soon as the nurse walked away. So, the next available location was her foot and the IV could be put on the side where she couldn't kick it or rip it out. Our starter nurse tried three times before getting a good line. (Side note that Alexa has already ripped out her feeding tube, kicked off her oxygen booty and ripped out an IV. I'm a little scared that we have to work to outsmart her and she is only 6 days old.)

Starter nurse was also in charge of Alexa's feeding schedule today. She decided that Alexa needed to be on a 3 hour feeding schedule instead of 4, because it's more textbook. Alexa did fabulous yesterday on the 4 hour schedule so there was no reason to make a change, but I went with it. The first time I fed Alexa today she ate 50 ml, which earns her a four hour eating schedule. But, starter nurse still wanted her at 3 hours. So, three hours later I fed her again and she ate 40 ml, which is between the amount for a 3 hour and 4 hour schedule. I asked again if she could wait four hours to eat. The nurse once again said no. So, my third feeding of the day I had to wake my very sleep daughter and force her to eat. She ate only 28 ml because she was tired and not hungry yet. OBVIOUS to even a new mom. So, starter nurse scoops her up and forces the last 2 ml down her throat. I let her do it at the time, even though I argued, because she's the professional.

As I drove home I started to get really mad. Mommy mad. I really think the nurse made the wrong choice. I think if she had let Alexa stick with four hours she would have continued to eat the 55 to 60 ml she was eating yesterday. She also would have been awake at her last feeding. I know I'm right. My Mommy intuition is in full effect now.

My anger aside, it was another great day. We may have a big celebration tomorrow night if it becomes the eve of bringing our sweet pea home.

*Blogger is not posting pictures right now. I will get extra up tomorrow to make up for it.