Serenity: 3 weeks 3 days (Gestation age: 27 weeks 5 days)

One thing I am learning, is exactly what every nurse and doctor has told us since the beginning, "take things day by day" (and sometimes moment by moment). In my last update, Serenity was having a rough day. Yesterday, I wasn't able to make it to the hospital during the daytime, so I called to check on her and the day nurse said she had been having a really good day.

Ryan's sister, Kelli, and I were able to make a trip to the hospital in the evening. We got there and began our "3 minute scrub" (that feels more like a 13 minute scrub). While we were scrubbing, Serenity's night nurse (one of the several that are absolutely amazing--and actually takes care of her like a mother would) greeted me by asking if I'd like to get Serenity out and hold her.

WHAT?!

Yes, that's right. The nurse just asked me if I wanted to get my sweet, tiny, little angel out of the incubator that has kept her alive, but held her captive for the past 3 weeks and 2 days, and actually hold her in my arms.

OF COURSE I WANT TO HOLD HER!!!

I just about could not contain my excitement! It was so strange to see the lid come off of the incubator, and see my little girl exposed to the outside air. She is still on the vent to help her breathe when she needs it, but her body was able to be in the room temperature air (wrapped in a little blanket, of course).

The nurse warned me that when they lift her out, her stats may freak out for a little bit, just because that sometimes happens. But that once I'm holding her, she should start to calm down. But that if she doesn't, we would have to put her back.

The nurses placed her carefully in my arms. The arms that I was too afraid to move--even a centimeter. And guess what? Her numbers didn't budge. She stayed in the good range for quite some time. After a while, her blood saturation did start dropping a little bit, off and on--which the nurse said was because she was getting very relaxed and sleeping deeply. Apparently our little one likes to, what they call, "ride the vent" when she is sleeping. Meaning, she lets the vent do all of the work. But it did make me happy that she felt comfortable enough in my arms to relax that much, and sleep that deeply. :)

This wonderful moment of bliss lasted FORTY-FIVE minutes! That's amazing! As tiny and young as she is, she did amazingly well! That's my girl. ;) And thanks to Kelli, Ryan was able to see some of this on FaceTime, even though he was several states away.

In other news, the nurses continue to see small "smears" of stool in her diaper--which is a really great sign that the hole in her intestine is healed! She should be able to start trying milk again very, very soon!

Guys, I cannot express enough how amazing our God is!! I just asked everyone to please continue to remember that Serenity still needs diligent prayer, and viola! She had an awesome day! It doesn't mean she won't have a bad day (or days). And it doesn't mean that we won't bring her home with us. But it means that God heard your prayers and it was in His Will to answer them for one day. So thank you. :)