We Love Neonatal Nurses!

Well since Jimmys been back to work for a few weeks now, our trips to see Jubilee have been reduced to just his days off. At least they're consecutive though, typically Sunday & Monday. So we have gotten into the routine of leaving Saturday as soon as he is out of work and staying through Monday night. My parents have been gracious enough to cover hotel expenses at a Double Tree downtown just a few blocks away from the hospital. The hotel is great to us and gives us a reduced rate due to our circumstances of weekly visits. They have great hospitality too, and we always get their famous chocolate chip cookies to give to Jubilee's nurse as a bit of a bribe in the hopes that they will give her extra attention. Not that it's necessary as most of the nurses that have cared for her have been amazing. The picture below is our favorite nurse Amy. We think Jubilee prefers her too since she seems to behave better when Amy cares for her.

This is Amy giving Jubes her first bath. Although she spends all of her time enclosed in her isolette (incubator thingy), she still sweats and gets a little stinky. It's the cutest stink ever though!

 Being a neonatal nurse takes a real special person. They experience the ups and downs with each family or sometimes alone if no family is present. Of course they have to try not to get too attached to their patients, but they care for them as if they're their own. They work long hours, some overnight like most other nurses. Taking care of babies is hard work and even more so when they are sick babies. Last week was nurses week and we thanked some of Jubilee's nurses with Starbuck's gift cards just as a small token of our appreciation. She has had so many nurses since she arrived a little over a month ago as she doesn't usually get the same nurse everyday. We are so grateful to each of them as they are so patient and understanding, and they always take the time to explain anything that we may have questions about. When we can't be there we usually call at least twice a day to see how her days and nights are going. They often have some sort of comment about Jubilee's feistiness as she has a reputation for being a little wild woman. Since she is so premature, she is very sensitive and doesn't tolerate too much stimulation. Each time the nurses have to draw blood, assess or reposition her she tends to get a little fussy. This is partially why we haven't gotten to hold her but a handful of times. Me, three times and Jimmy, once to be exact! When we are there we mostly just sit there and stare at her. We also talk to her, and every few hours I try to help the nurses change her diaper or take her temperature since they are the few things I can do to feel like I am her mommy.

See how upset she is just to have her temperature taken! To be fair she had already been handled a bit before the nurse took her temp. The tube in her mouth is to feed her my milk but she still makes a squealy little cry if she is not intubated. I am so in love with this fussy girl!! Jimmy says she gets it from her Momma ;)