OUR "BELOVED" ANGEL-FACE, 6 DAYS OLD

We woke up nervous with anticpation to meet with Priya's neonatologist today and find out if they were going to recommend surgery for malroatation of a portion of her intestines.  We were feeling pretty bummed about the thought of her going through more pain, discomfort, and a longer hospital stay.  We had a mood lifter as we were leaving the house for the hospital, though.  We checked the mailbox and found some hair barrettes that I had ordered! We were both excited, because they are just so, so cute!  They are made by Baby Wisp, and they are made to attach securely to even the thinnest wisp of baby hair.  Mike had a hard time believing this until I clipped some to hair on my arm and shook my arm without the tiny bow falling off.  He was most impressed!  So, we headed to the hospital with visions of holding Priya all day with a pretty little barrette in her hair! 

As we arrived at the hospital and stepped into her NICU room, our hearts sank a little.  She was under the bili light again.  Her labs were good yesterday, so they had taken her off, and we got to hold her ALL afternoon (we were hoping to do the same today).  So, walking in with the light on again today bummed us out.  However, her labs weren't too elevated, so hopefully after today she will be done with the bili light once and for all.

Other than the bili light, reports on Priya were great today!  They will not be doing surgery for the malrotation of her intestines.  It's still kind of a scary thing, because it puts her at high risk for bowl obstruction, which is VERY serious, but we are just going to hope we never have to deal with that.  They are going to remove her oragastric tube tomorrow and Speech Therapy will come down so we can attempt her first feeding!  

The spinal defect seen on X-Ray turned out to be just a hemivertebrae.  It's not something we need to worry about at this point, but she will be followed by an orthapedist.  She also has thirteen pairs of ribs instead of twelve.  She is just FULL of surprises! 

Occupational and Physical Therapy came by this morning to do her evaluations and were most impressed at her strength, reflexes, and alertness.  She passed with flying colors!

We also got to change our first poopy diaper today!  I never thought I'd be so happy to see bum tar, but it was awesome!  Mike and I pretty much think everything she does is awesome, though, so it's kind of hard for her not to impress us.  We did get to take her out from underneath the bili light for a little over an hour, so both of us got to hold her today.  We pretty much decided holding her takes the cake on any other experience either of us has ever had.  We just love to hold her and touch her and stare into her angelic little face.  She truly is a "Priya"...very much "beloved."