Milk This!

So, now I fully appreciate the saying about crying over "spilled milk." More than twice a nurse has had to toss out some of the breast milk I bled, sweat, and cried to make. Apparently for premies, the stuff is no good after 24-hrs unless frozen in some space-age freezer. It took all my self-control not to let my head spin, my eyes roll back, and have my tongue deliver a serious lashing when this happened for a second and third time. And if two particularly sensitive areas of my anatomy could be vocal, they wouldn't just cry, they would have a full-blown conniption. So, go head, cry over some spilled milk... Some poor cow (or Mom) worked hard to make that stuff!

Speaking of Milk Maids though, the head nurse (a real battle-axe that I fortunately have won favor with -- you won't live long if you tick this lady off) admitted that she was about to accuse me of making friends with the Milkman as Madeline Quinn's looks become more distinctly not mine, and don't look much like they would belong to someone named "Jack Murphy." When she saw Jack's picture hanging in Quinn's crib, she said it all made sense (unless of course, those are just pictures of the Milkman).

It's true. Quinn looks nothing like me. In fact, it's kind of creepy considering it looks like I gave birth to my husband, or at least his clone with a bow. No need for a paternity test here; although whether or not she inherited any of my DNA (other than her extremely efficient digestive system) is yet to be discerned.

She is eating well, although she again lost a few grams yesterday. Her room is a bit on the cool side, so I wonder if she had to burn extra calories staying warm, or just got exhausted after we burned through multiple diapers (yeah, rethinking that cotton-diaper plan considering how many loads of laundry and gallons of water they might translate into). I know I was exhausted just watching her be so productive.

It also looks like she might be put back on oxygen, at least for feedings. We've been using "blow by" oxygen, which just means having some flowing nearby but not actually through a nasal cannula. That's worked quite well, except for tonight when even with oxygen next to her face her saturation levels dipped quite low.

In any case, it isn't much of set-back, if one at all... Quinn is otherwise very stable and quite content spending most of her time sleeping (and growing!).

Hope each of you had a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.

All the best from Utah!
Mama Murph