MRI... maybe

Today has been a rough day. Janelle had the girls (again :) ) so Kyle and I were at the hospital early. I don't know why exactly, but it started out rough for me. I don't want to cry by Anabelle's bed, so I kept choking back the tears. She was suppose to have an MRI yesterday, then they pushed it back till today. So Kyle left to pick up the girls and I stayed. We wanted someone there through the MRI. They said it would be a whole body MRI that could take between 2-4 hours. Scary... But then one of their machines broke, and now we are still waiting. And now they want to split it into two sessions, just because 4 hours is a long time for her to be away. Oh but good news! She was able to move from an incubator to a crib! She's maintaining her own body temperature :)  


I was under the impression that the MRI was ordered just to see what is going on and where things are, etc etc. But, I learned today that it was really ordered because they did a previous test that showed she doesn't have muscles/nerves in her arms and hands. So today a bunch of neurologist came by to discuss and review. They told me the results of the test, and explained what this means. They said that they are going to look at the MRI for any possible spinal cord damage. 


We knew this wouldn't be an easy road. However, the whole time we didn't know exactly what to expect so we held onto this thin slice of hope that everything would be ok with some surgeries and then she'd be fine! Now, knowing that this isn't the case, and things will defiantly be a challenge, it's hard to swallow. Luckily Anabelle has an amazing nurse. Her primary nurse, Monique, was there today. She saw that while the neurologist were talking to me that I was having a hard time, and came over. When they left I broke down. She was there to comfort me, even grabbed me some tissues. It's people like that that you want to have watching your baby when you can't be there. We got lucky. 


Oh, and they had a cardiologist look at her and they did an ultrasound today too. Someone said they heard a slight heart murmur, but everything looks good. Also, she can move out of the high intensive care unit as soon as there is room for her in the deer or bear room :) Yes, UCD has animal names for all of their different levels of care. Right now she is in the Koala room. 


Ugh. I keep telling Kyle I wish someone would write a handbook on how to deal with all of this. And how we are suppose to balance our time between home and the hospital?? That's been one of the hardest things.. 


With love, 
The Polks