JenniferTenney

Dakota had a great check up with Dr. Kays. I can't tell you how excited I get to see Dr. Kays. It's bizarre. Do other CDH moms feel this way about their surgeon? It's almost like seeing a movie start. He is seriously one of my heros. Anyways, Dakota's x-ray looked perfect! Her diaphragm is back to looking even (not elevated on the repair side as it was previously) so that is good news! And Dr. Kays didn't care about Dakota's weight not being on the chart! Thank goodness! We work so hard and I stress so much about eating that meal times are such a chore! I can't wait till they are over and I love when Dakota actually eats well! To me, she looked healthy and happy, so I am glad that opinion was confirmed. I will just continue to work with her.
What I really want to talk about was our visit to NICU III. We visited Christy and Noah. Christy and her husband were sweet and so loving and Noah was so cute and looked really good! I am so happy for them that he is making progress every day! The visit was our first time back in NICU III. Last time I visited, we visited with some nurses in the waiting room and I got to see a baby in NICU II ... but for some reason that was not as weird. NICU II has a completely different feel than NICU III. NICU II babies are going home ... it is just a matter of when. NICU III is where life hangs in the balance. It is much more sterile, bright, and quiet. The babies don't cry in NICU III. I forgot that. When I walked in NICU III and began washing my hands, my heart started beating so hard. The smell ... it all came flooding back. And Noah is in Dakota's old room! Seeing him, was like being right back there with Dakota! It was so bizarre. It felt good to remember in such a vivid way. I don't even know if I can put into words what Shands means to me ... how a place can mean so much and evoke such feeling. How machines and beeps and numbers can be such a important part of my life and experience. It was good to be back there. I am praying that Noah and all the CDH babies fighting for their life are home soon and that those moms and dads get to come back and visit and reexperience the miracle of their children.