Think Out Of The Box

So how did today's revelation come about? Well according to Anna, when she arrived this morning Amelia's blanket was pulled back as she'd been getting too hot. In fact for some days the temperature in the incubator had been on it's lowest setting. At morning cares Anna had removed Amy's nappy which suspiciously contained no solids. Unfortunately while it was being disposed of Amy managed to project the rest of her payload directly onto the bottom end of the incubator with some style. Given that this results in a major clean-up/disinfect job the point was raised about whether she needed to go back in after it was cleaned. After some discussion Amy was given the all-clear to leave what has been her whole world since she was born 6 weeks ago.

The normal target for preemies to come out of their incubator is around 1560g but Amy has been doing so well she was granted early parole and allowed to join us in the outside world. I was a little surprised at how excited Anna was when I arrived at the hospital but when I first saw Amy in the open cot it struck me for the first time how difficult it has been over the last 6 weeks with a box between me and my daughter. Anna put it well when she said that it's like Amy is part of the real world now, she's actually living in the same space as us, breathing the same air and smelling the same smells (usually hers!) Although we're naturally a little nervous about her being 'out and about' it's an unexpected step forward. Not unexpected that she would come out of the incubator as we knew this would happen relatively soon but unexpected that it would make such a psychological difference to myself and especially Anna. She's the one that has had to take Amelia out of the incubator for cares and then have to put her back in afterwards. I can understand how being able to just lay her down in a cot unimpeded now means a great deal. It's one step closer to our modest dream of putting her down to sleep in the nursery here at home.