Crib

Darin started a toxicology rotation in Harrisburg during the time Asa was in the NICU.  I was very thankful Darin's parents were here to help me so I could go to the hospital and visit Asa. I was able to establish somewhat of a routine where I would spend the morning cleaning or playing with Nash, then I would make it to the 12pm feeding.  Come home and do whatever then return back to the NICU for the 9pm feeding with Darin if he came home.  We would stay at the hospital for 1-3 hours, so twice a day seemed to be all I could do without abandoning Nash.

Asa was fed breast milk that I brought in daily through a tube until he could stay awake through a whole feeding, then he was switched to a bottle.  His little mouth muscles just were not developed enough to try actual breast feeding.  Although, each time I went the last 2 weeks we would introduce him to me while I did a kangaroo hold, (skin on skin) this was good for my milk as well as his development.

I enjoyed going to the NICU because each day it seemed like there was a new development and Asa was progressing towards coming home.  During his 3rd week stay he was able to maintain his body temperature.  He was able to wear clothes, and was moved to a crib.  It was fun to see how he turned into a little person once he was able to have clothes.  He then started his feeding plan (the yellow paper in the picture) with Allie Gerrald a speech/feeding specialist.  We had worked with Allie a year or so ago when Nash was having trouble with different textures.  Her husband is also in Darin's residency.  We were so happy to have her help again!

Asa's feeding plan was to allow him 3 sucks and then drop the bottle down so he could swallow and breathe.  He had a hard time coordinating the two.  He often stopped breathing causing his heart to go into brady-cardia which is a slow heart rate.  This would set off alarms.  If he set off alarms during feeding he was set back 24 hours, if he set off the alarms on his own he was set back 5 days. I would get so nervous when this happened.  They assured me that they wouldn't release him if he was still doing this.

I thought it was funny that his tag read "Chri (cry) baby Willardson" LOL

Asa was really good at eating for the day nurses but seemed to be too tired during the night so they often tubed him at night.  I think it all depended on the nurses attitude as well.  There were several times I came at night and he was wide awake but they had tubed him anyway.  VERY FRUSTRATING!  So I always tried to get there before feedings started.

Asa was so small.  But he was growing bigger every day,  we were always so excited to see how much he weighed the next time we came in.

My mom flew in June 2nd and the Willardson's flew out June 3rd.  I became really sick on my way to Philadelphia to pick up my mom from the airport.  By morning I had a huge infection with a high fever.  Darin had worked the night shift in Harrisburg so he wasn't there early enough to take Mom and Dad Willardson to say good bye to Asa.  I felt terrible. 

Later that night Brother and Sister Black came to visit us.  They are serving a temple mission in Palmyra, NY.  I was feeling somewhat good enough to go into the hospital to introduce them and my mom to Asa.  I felt pretty special that they traveled all that way to meet our sweet little guy. THANK YOU!