NICU Baptism & Evie's Big Move

We were so blessed to have so many of our family members available to attend the NICU baptism on such short notice. Even Gavin's godfather, our friend Mark Flory, gave us a pleasent surprise when he drove in from Gurnee to attend (we missed you Godmother Robin!). It was a very special occasion, very intimate, and also the most "normal" that we've felt as a family since the twins were born. We were able to congregate and mingle with the babies as a group instead of one-on-one visits. For 20 minutes the NICU was as close to a living room as we're going to get.

I can't say enough good things about the Edwards NICU staff; they were so accommodating and kind to us. We're very lucky. Evie was transported to Hope Children's Hospital about two hours after the baptism. I haven't had a chance to upload all of the photos from the day, but here are just a few shots. I'll post the full set of photos up on Flikr over the weekend.

This is probably the best photo I've got of both twins together. They both slept right through the baptism, even when the water was poured on their heads! Evie's color seemed to change by the hour. She was a "dusky" color, then had a tinge of yellow. The big splinter on her arm protects the IV's giving her nutrition. She was constantly gnawing on it and had dried pieces of tape stuck to her chin!



Here's Deacon Larry Kearney, from our church St. Thomas the Apostle, blessing the water. He performed a wonderful, touching ceremony and a special blessing for Evie.





The twins receive their baptism stoles.



About two hours later the EMT transport team from Hope Children's Hospital arrived. We have been so lucky that practically everyone we have encountered in the hospital have been kind and friendly. Here is Evie all strapped in and loaded up in her traveling container (which I dubbed the "cryo tube"). She's got her favorite "green suckie" pacifier, so she's all set.

Here's a short video of the scene and the friendly EMTs. Look at Evie go to town on her pacifier!




We arrived at Hope Children's Hospital shortly thereafter (parking was hell) and here is Evie all set up under a warming lamp in her new "home away from home." The hospital's NICU is a very large unit and every baby has a spacious private room. It's very nice there, and the staff was, again, fantastic. We met with the doctor who will be performing the angiogram and we also talked with some other mothers who were our "neighbors" in the NICU. There is a two-month old next door to Evie's room was born with only half of her heart, and who is undergoing her fourth closed heart surgery the next day.





Evie's "green suckie" pacifier is never far from her grasp.




Here's a short video of our feisty daughter. She's a fighter! The nurses think she'll do just fine during the surgeries.





I took this macro shot while holding Evie in my left arm. Her color was much better near the end of the day, although her hands would change color quite often; from pink, to blue, to dusky, to yellow, back to pink. It's all related to her irregular oxygen supply, but it's still odd to watch all the same. I dubbed it "HyperColor skin." (Let it be said that Sharon is getting tired of me "dubbing" things, but I'll note for the record that I did not dub the green pacifier the "green suckie"... that was one one of the nurses... although it's totally something I would have done).




Just a cute little bundle love.




Evie's angiogram is at 11AM on Friday, so please say a little prayer for her! Thank you to everyone who has sent emails and cards. I'm sorry that we can't personally reply to all of them, but know that you have our deepest thanks.