Ruby Hope McKee Starling

Disclaimer.  I am a horrible speller and the spell check had to be disabled due to CHOP's network.  Please ignore my mistakes and remember that I am an educated smart person :)

Ruby had a good night, again.  I only called once durin the night and when I did she was doing great.  Her urine output is not the best and hopefully today they will start her on a diuretic. She's more swollen, but resting peacefully.  I can't really ask for more than that.  We really are taking this hour by hour.  I am so happy  everytime she has an uneventful hour. 

Chris and I have managed to get some rest the past couple days.  We know that that are many hard days to come.  I just keep repeating "3 steps forward, 2 steps back" and "this is why we are here" over and over to myself.  We're both trying to enjoy  the time we have with Ruby everyday.  In this situation we are taking nothing for granted.

I will admit it's very hard for me to leave he hospital.  I did however give my self permission to go for a short walk with Chris yesterday since the weather was nice.  We also left to go back to the apartment at 10pm instead of midnight.  We both needed the rest.  Leaving the Hospital for  any reason is one of the hardest things I've had to do and I have to do it every evening.  It just kills me to leave her.

I wanted to thank all our friends who have made "mix tapes" for Ruby.  Will, Sarah, Tim, and Rhonda I can't wait to rock out with Ruby with the great music you all have put together. 

Chris and I both feel so lucky to have so much support.  Please understand if we con't get back to you or respond for a few days.  We are very greatful. Sometimes simple things like going to the bathroom are hard to fit in.

For all of our new friends in Philadelphia we would love visitors at the Hospital.  A friendly familiar face that isn't a Dr or Nurse is always welcome.  If you want  to come by please email, text or call us the morning of.  Remember things can change rapidly from hour to hour in our world.  Please don't be offended if we can't let you back to see Ruby if you come.  I know Chris and I aren't as cute :)  If she is stable and doing well, we'd love for you to meet her.  We can't talk on our cell phones in the NICU, but we can text and email from her bedside.

Now to answer some questions:

We are reading to her.  I read "Oh the Places You Will Go" to her every morning.  I've been getting caught up on my New Yorkers by reading them to her.  I'm behind on the Economist, too, but I don't want to bore her too much.  I have grand plans for the NY Times and coffee on Sunday morning.  Nicole and Ben very generously cleaned out thier bookshelves for Ruby and we've been reading plenty of those books to her too.  She seems to really like the sound of our voices.

We have been allowed to restart oral care.  Oral care involves swabbing a small amount of my breast milk on her lips and the inside of her mouth.  We had to stop for a couple days becasue of the bleeding.  Yesterday I did it while she was awake.  She would lick her lips and every time she saw the swab coming she would open her mouth and stick out her tongue.  I have no idea if this was a reaction to the milk or her just being a baby.  In my mind though we were a having a much needed mother daughter moment.  Pumping is hard and tiring.  It is the only thing I can do at the moment and that makes it worth it.

I get meal vochers for 3 meals a day as long as I am pumping.  This takes care of my meals, but leaves Chris out in the cold.  The caffeteria isn't too horrible and I can get a salad or sandwich, plus it's free.  If anyone locally wants bring Chris some healthy food every once in awhile he/we would really appreciate it.  Grandma is here for the time being and doing so much to help, but I'm sure even she would like a brake.

Of course knowing that you are thinking of us is enough.  Please do not feel obligated to do anything other help us hope that one day Ruby will be able to thank all of you herself.

I need to go.  I like to be at her bedside when the Doctors do rounds.