So people keep asking how life is going now that Emily is home so I thought I should post.
When Emily came home, she slept for little more than 20 minutes at a time, she was very tense and upset all the time...the NICU is a very loud place and she was poked and prodded daily while being cared for by different people every 12 hours...I guess it makes sense. Every day she has been with us she has been sleeping longer and longer, deeper and deeper and she's getting so relaxed that instead of her hands being fists, you can play with her fingers while she sleeps.
Here are my top 10:
1) This kid has been on a three hour schedule for three months so pushing her to sleep for one four hour stretch at night isn't happening...we are seriously sleep deprived...again.
2) Every feeding is a different medicine and two additives for her milk.
3) Two hours after she eats she gets super crabby and cries and grunts and groans until she passes her gas and falls asleep again. She hates tummy time but is very strong and good at it.
4) She loves to be bound up in blankets - plural - yes, she loves to be warm.
5) Her eyes are always wide open and don't track well so getting good pictures is quite a challenge.
6) She loves to be held and loves her swing, rocking and music.
7) K is doing awesome being 'gentle' with her and gets very concerned when she gets the hiccups.
8) She is hooked up to a monitor that tells us when she stops breathing (apnea) and lately it has been going off pretty often...jerking us out of bed and wreaking havoc on mommy's peace of mind.
9) She nipples (eats) as much as she can from her bottle and then we feed her the rest through her gavage tube (the one in her nose)...she is not breast feeding yet.
10) She is 7 pounds 12 ounces...she has gained one ounce a day since she got home!!! And she has outgrown her preemie sizes and is in newborn clothes!
Well, that's the skinny on our little miracle.
The life and adventures of two former MK's...and their new additions. Our first daughter was born full-term on Jan 19, 2009 and 10 short months later, our micro-preemie was born Nov 6, 2009 at 24w3d and 1 pound 6 ounces. Read her story and our journey below.
2 comments:
Hi M & B & K and Emily!!!! I am so happy she is home and gaining an oz. a day---good for her. I am still praying for her, thanks for these details, I will "adjust" my prayers! I am sorry you guys can't sleep and I will also pray that she stops having apnea---that sounds a little too exciting to keep happening all the time. Keep her close to your heart (literally) as much as you can, she will keep relaxing in tune (called intunement by infant psychoanalysts---yes there are such people) with your heart rate and breathing rate and general state of relaxation. Right now she thinks you are her! And, you know she is you!!!! God's love to the four of you!!! And, just know, Jesus has a special angel by her bed that pinches the breathing monitor so it works right every time---a high-techie angel!
With His love, John
A busy schedule for you! I remember helping the Eidems when Sara as born..every time she started with hiccups we knew it was to warm her up with a cap and blanket and hold her. Then she snuggled in. If I was closer I would take my turn to help you. Thanks for the post about your life and the previous photos which we always enjoy. Keep praying for you all.
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