![\"week](\"http:\/\/www.douglasblaine.com\/users\/tessavale\/i\/banner_002.jpg\")
\nIn 50 minutes Tessavale will have been out in the open for 336 hours, 14 days, 2 weeks, or 1 fortnight depending on your reckoning. All of which have been spent away from home and family. We have visited each day since her birth and we have come home each day. Except today Mom gets to stay behind and spend the night with our daughter.<\/p>\n
While I am certain tonight will be a comfort for the heart, hers and mine, I doubt the body will be pleased. Though Mom has been steeling herself for this night by waking up around the clock to get friendly with an impersonal pump, I think the stress of not knowing exactly when the alarm will start crying ought to make sleep challenging.<\/p>\n
Not that this week has not already been a strain in new ways and in old. Middle of the week Tessavale had what they keep calling an ‘apnic episode’. Which basically meant that she would occasionally stop breathing in her sleep. As if her new little brain was so busy processing the events and environment around her that she just got distracted and forgot some of the important things–like breathing. I can certainly sympathize, the NICU is a bustling place, but I think as Dad I need to step in to say, “We’ll have none of this laziness, you get back to breathing or else.”<\/p>\n
They of course ran tests and found nothing but a bit of extra fluid on the brain for a possible excuse. Today they did a follow up test for an after picture to go with the before from last week. We have not seen the results of today’s test, but I can tell you based on what we have seen in the days since, she is fine and growing onward. Do not want any of this to worry you readers–that’s why we saved the details for after the fact and when we felt confident the situation had passed.<\/p>\n
The great news is that because Tessavale has been eating from a bottle for almost seven days, has been gaining weight, has mastered the art of breastfeeding, and has been on barely above normal oxygen for many days they are finally giving us a definitive day that we will be able to take her home: Wednesday. Or maybe Thursday.<\/p>\n
I guess that means we will need to fire up Tessavale’s room for something more than a dry run. One of our cats tested the crib, so that is good. Might need to put a dog in a onesy. Maybe run a vacuum across the carpet. This must be the part where my life changes forever?<\/p>\n
Dad<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In 50 minutes Tessavale will have been out in the open for 336 hours, 14 days, 2 weeks, or 1 fortnight depending on your reckoning. All of which have been spent away from home and family. We have visited each day since her birth and we have come home each day. Except today Mom gets … <\/p>\n