Damian & Katerina = [vil-helm] #47

Swaddle Escapades and Canine Comforts: The Unscripted Journey

Our adventure in parenting, now at day 20 in the hospital with Alyce, continues to be a rollercoaster of emotions, lessons, and the occasional comical mishap. Alyce is growing stronger each day, and her robust spirit shines through, especially when she’s expressing her not-so-subtle opinions about hospital life.

Our time at the children’s hospital has been an eye-opening journey, filled with shared experiences with other families. It’s been challenging, sometimes moving us to tears, but also filled with moments of unexpected humor and joy.

Now, let’s dive into the saga of swaddling, or as we like to call it, “Swaddle Wars: The Great Escape.” Alyce, with her NG feeding tube, needs to be swaddled for safety, but let’s just say she’s not a fan. After trying every swaddle technique known to humankind (and a few known only to desperate parents), we still have not found the perfect one. She became a mini escape artist, wriggling her way out with a determination that would make Houdini proud. It was like watching a baby version of ‘The Great Escape.’ Every time we thought we’d perfected the technique, Alyce would prove us wrong, making her displeasure known in no uncertain terms.

This led us to the realization that our little girl was already negotiating terms with us. So, we adapted the swaddle into what Kat brilliantly dubbed the ‘Starfish Swaddle – a swaddle that’s part cozy hug, part baby straitjacket, with Alyce’s arms spread out like a starfish. Now With More Wiggle Room!’ It’s a slightly looser version that allows Alyce some movement but keeps the tube in place. She seems to tolerate it, giving us those “I’ll let this slide… for now” looks.

Amidst these challenges, we’ve been striving to bring some normalcy back into our lives. Our dogs, an integral part of our family, have been remarkable in their response to these changes. Boujee, in particular, seems to sense that something is amiss. She has transformed into a nurturing soul, offering emotional support in her own unique way. Whenever we return home, she greets us with affectionate licks, becoming the emotional support dog I didn’t know we needed. Dapper, ever the best ‘Dapper’ in the world, continues to bring joy and comfort in his own way.

Our dogs’ intuitive understanding of our family’s emotional landscape has been nothing short of remarkable. They remind us of the unspoken bond between humans and their loyal canine companions.

As we face each day, we are grateful for the privilege of being able to take some time off work to be with Alyce, a reality not shared by all families we meet in the hospital. This awareness deepens our appreciation for our circumstances and strengthens our resolve to support Alyce, each other, our family, friends, and our dogs through this journey of life.

Thank you for being part of our story and for all your support.

With love, laughter, and a few loose swaddles,

Damian & Kat (plus the escape-artist-in-training Alyce and the dogs, Boujee and Dapper) 🐾