Aurora's Beginnings - chapter 8 (finale)

9 May 2000
She self-extubated herself yesterday afternoon, but had to be re-intubated through the night. She's still having [blood oxygen] spells and is still on an IV. They're saying she'll be better in about 5 days, so hopefully Thursday.

11 May 2000
She was extubated today and went onto CPAP. But after she took her prongs out 3 times, they put her on nasal cannula and she's doing fine.

12 May 2000
No IV's, still on cannula, she's back in her isolette smiling and happy. :) No more antibiotics, and her gases and sugars look good.

13 May 2000
Mark held her today.

14 May 2000
Was able to start breastfeeding again. Doing great, almost like she wasn't sick.

25 May 2000
Came off nasal cannula, and breathing room air! The doctor wants to see her on room air at least a week before she goes home.

4 June 2000
We roomed in for the night. We took complete care of her for the whole night. The doctor hasn't given us a date to take her home, but probably next week!

6 June 2000
She came home! 4 lbs. 5.5 oz. and doing great!



I look back on these entries and am amazed at how, such young kids that we were, we could endure such happenings. I look at 20 and 21 year old people now and I can't imagine many of them even trying to hold together a marriage and a steady job let alone the tremendous responsibilities of nurturing a newborn child into this world... let alone a premature newborn child. God's hand was on us. I think it may have had a lot to do with the untold dozens if not hundreds of people praying for us at the time. I didn't really see it then while I was in the middle of it all... I see it now though. And really, no matter how ill-prepared we were to name our daughter (we had a few boy's names but no girl's names picked out when our surprise was born) her name couldn't be more appropriate. Truth be told Aurora was conceived outside of state-recognized legal wedlock. Spiritually speaking, it could have been a lot worse on us and her. But God chose instead to Aurora His Mercy on all of us. And for that, I am eternally grateful.