Welcome home family!

by Amy ~ March 16, 2010

So it has been a very eventful week. Zara spent the first few days in the NICU until she could prove that she could eat and breathe at the same time, that she could maintain her own body temperature, and that she was eating enough and gaining weight.

Gabe and I were put in a recovery unit on the delivery floor and I was given a nasty Magnesium IV to make sure I didn’t have seizures or a stroke (a side effect of the pre-eclampsia). (So, please accept my apologies if we had a less than clear converstaion the first few days – I didn’t realize how drugged up I was!!)

Unfortunately, with the Magnesium IV, I was not mobile so I wasn’t able to spend much time with Zara. Zvonimir was amazing and visited her often cuddling, feeding, and learning how to care for our tiny little girl in the incubator.

Gabriel did very well staying with mom and dad and the nurses at Swedish were amazing! They really do teach you a lot within the first few days!

Gabe and I were discharged Tuesday night and the three of us headed home to try this on our own. It was a little overwhelming at first being in a different place with a different set-up and no nurses to help you, no room service to deliver food, but we figured it out. We have an amazing group of friends and neighbor who sent us food and flowers which allowed us to focus our attention on Gabriel and getting our nursey set up. Thank you all for your generous support – it was vey much appreciated!!

Everything was going well until Thursday morning when I woke up just feeling off…. I tried several things but nothing seemed to make me feel better. The room was spinning and I had a horrible headache. Finally, Z suggested I check my blood pressure. It was high, dangerously high….

My doctor’s office saw me right away and talked of admitting me. This was scary because Zara was scheduled to be released on Friday. They gave me blood pressure medicine and sent me home but asked that I call if I at all felt bad. I felt fine most of the day but my blood pressure crept up and near midnight it was again dangerously high. When Z returned from visiting Zara in the hospital, we decided it was best to pack Gabe up and take me to the emergency room.

I spent the next few hours in the ER getting blood tests and an IV. I was admitted into the hospital in the middle of the night but luckily they allowed Z and Gabe to bunk in the room with me. When Zara was released the following day, Z was able to bring her to my room where we were all together for the first time since the birth.

After a few short days in the hospital I feel like I’m feeling much better and my blood pressure is back to normal. Both children are home with us, and while the first night was an adjustment, I feel like we’re getting into a routine.

View pictures of Gabriel and Zara’s first week at home.