10 Weeks

Weights:

Grayson: 5 pounds, 10.7 ounces

Scarlett: 5 pounds, 8.9 ounces

 



What a weekend!  So as of Friday, our plan was to stay at Riverside, monitoring Grayson's Pulmonary Hypertension.  On Saturday morning, we received a call from the doctor.  The unit was filling up quickly so she wanted to talk to us about transferring down to the main campus.  The thought process is that Grayson would need to be part of their BPD unit eventually, so why not get him in the same physical location?  If they moved him now, they would move Scarlett too.  If they waited to move him in a couple weeks, Scarlett could be close to going home and would stay behind, leaving them in two separate hospitals.  Also, moving them freed up two bedspots where as another patient transferring would only free up one.

I have to admit that I felt God was answering a prayer, but it wasn't the answer I wanted, the answer we received on Friday when the doctor told us his PH wasn't that bad so we can stick with our comfortable routine while they tweak his respiratory support.  Maybe Friday's decision took me off guard and made Saturday's conversation that much harder to swallow.  We spent 10 weeks growing an extended family and then were plucked away without saying goodbye to most of them.  It wasn't the bitter-sweet goodbye we imagined, riding off into the sunset (OK, let's be honest, in Columbus it would be more like riding off into the cloudy gray sky) and taking the babies home.  The ladies of the unit plus Justin, Anthony, and Nathan helped us more than they could ever know.  They listened when we vented, informed us when we were ignorant, answered us when we asked repeatedly, and empowered us to fill the role as the most important people in our child's care team.  US.  A teacher and a sales guy, whose qualifications included expired CPR certifications and having seen every Grey's Anatomy episode (she makes me watch!)

Well, logistically the transition went well.  They brought 1 giant Mobile ICU unit and transported them together.  Trish rode in the front while I sped along 70 trying to get there as quickly as possible.  By the time I made it through registration and found their bed spots, the transport team was wrapping up.

After 24 hours, most of our observations are very positive.  We have had 3 great nurses: our day nurse today, Stacy, who admitted us yesterday and Amanda and Annie last night.  Our pods/bedspots are larger by about the width of a crib.  We can sit our chairs side-by-side and still have room for the nurse to come in and chart.  As silly as this may sound, I also love their lighting.  At Riverside, the lights were directly above the kids and seemed to shine right in their eyes.  Here the lights are above the curtains and shine out to towards the pod, but are high enough they light the space without bothering the kids.  Lastly, they seem to encourage bringing items that help pass the time and said on the welcome video to feel free to bring your laptop!  Riverside did not want them at the bedspot because of germs, but I am currently writing next to Grayson while Trish finishes Kangarooing Scarlett.

 Our old home, bedspots B1 and B2

The only downside is we drive past Riverside to get here, and this is an additional 10 minutes or so drive.  Also, the hospital is huge, so from the parking spot to the bedspot is probably about a 12 minute walk.  This may end up being a positive because my waistline has grown since the twins were born and that walk should at least slow that, haha!

 Our current home, pods 78 and 80

For now, we get to keep the same doctors so we saw a familiar face this morning.  He heard the BPD unit has 1 opening, and spoke with the cardiologist who read Grayson's echo.  They are putting the process in motion to get him an official BPD consult with the goal being to move him over there (Pulmonary Hypertension is related to Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia).  It could happen as soon as Monday afternoon or we may be denied for now.  The BPD unit is one of the best in the country so they often have a wait-list from across the US.  Our doc had no way of confirming if there was a wait list candidate vouching for that opening.  Also, if we move to the BPD unit we will be transferred to a different group of physicians.

 Their new name tags.  Brutus' eye fell off but the nurse taped it up!

In other news, for those of you in the Steubenville area, you can check out the twins on the front page of the Herald-Star.  A reporter, Dave Gossett, has been a long time family friend and reached out to the biggest Buckeye fans from Steubenville, including "Papa" Frank Vallera.  I believe Mr. Gossett expected Frank to be finalizing plans for Dallas to see his school win the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship.  But Frank and Sue have spent several weekends in Columbus the past 2.5 months and therefore don't have the time to fit that trip into their schedule.  So the proud Papa was too happy to explain to Mr. Gossett and sent him a picture.

And on that note, Grayson says, "It's time to go Duck huntin!"

 Scarlett says "1 to go, let's go Bucks!"