Tonight when we went to see Annie, she weighed 3 lbs. 8.6 oz. A gain of 0.2 oz. Not a lot, but she's been keeping on a great pace.
Also, due to the stormy weather, the lights went out in the hospital while we were visiting!! It was a little scary at first wondering what would happen, but the generator kicked on within seconds and then seconds later the power came back on. All of the nurses and nurse techs immediately walked around to make sure that the babies' isolettes and monitors were kicking back on correctly :)
3.25.2009
Feed and clothe my baby!
Well, Annie had a rough time with the bottle today. She started earlier than yesterday and was busy pooping and sleeping and was unable to finish all 31 mLs. She finished 24 mL before she stopped. Mommy doesn't think the OT took her cues very well, because she would touch her chin after she was "finished" and she would root. She also was all of the sudden extremely awake and alert which is how they like them to be to eat. But since they had already spent 30 minutes, they have to stop.
Or maybe she was just full. . . . because about 30 minutes later, she spit up (just about the amount that they had to "room service" for her) It happened when Mommy was changing her diaper. She figured it had been long enough since her feeding....but Annie started spitting up. They are usually afraid of premature babies having bradycardias when that happens, but Annie stayed nice and pink and was crying the whole time (which is actually a great thing). Ah well, maybe tomorrow she'll graduate to two bottles.
**************GOOD NEWS FLASH************************
So the good news is Annie is being able to be taken off the skin temperature probe that helps regulate her temperature. She is going to be put on "air" mode in the isolette where she will maintain her temperature more on her own, which ALSO means........they are going to be able to put clothes on Annie for the first time since she was born 5 1/2 weeks ago! YAY!! Yay, Annie! No more naked baby!
Also, after Annie's 11 am bottlefeeding, she is going to try a "non-nutritive" breastfeed at her 2 pm feeding. This happens with a lactation consultant. Our lactation consultant that is going to be helping is Juanita. Mommy will pump milk out and while she is feeding from the tube, she will be attempting to latch on and practice breastfeeding. While she will be getting no direct nutrition from Mommy, it helps so that Annie will not have nipple confusion and will be able to try to come home breastfeeding her feedings rather than bottlefeeding.
Annie has also been increased to 3 holds a day, so for now while she is on one bottle a day, she will be able to do the bottlefeed and skin to skin with Mommy AND Daddy again! YAY!
Please pray for Annie so that she can pick up the bottlefeeding where she left off and keep rolling forward.
Thank you.
Or maybe she was just full. . . . because about 30 minutes later, she spit up (just about the amount that they had to "room service" for her) It happened when Mommy was changing her diaper. She figured it had been long enough since her feeding....but Annie started spitting up. They are usually afraid of premature babies having bradycardias when that happens, but Annie stayed nice and pink and was crying the whole time (which is actually a great thing). Ah well, maybe tomorrow she'll graduate to two bottles.
**************GOOD NEWS FLASH************************
So the good news is Annie is being able to be taken off the skin temperature probe that helps regulate her temperature. She is going to be put on "air" mode in the isolette where she will maintain her temperature more on her own, which ALSO means........they are going to be able to put clothes on Annie for the first time since she was born 5 1/2 weeks ago! YAY!! Yay, Annie! No more naked baby!
Also, after Annie's 11 am bottlefeeding, she is going to try a "non-nutritive" breastfeed at her 2 pm feeding. This happens with a lactation consultant. Our lactation consultant that is going to be helping is Juanita. Mommy will pump milk out and while she is feeding from the tube, she will be attempting to latch on and practice breastfeeding. While she will be getting no direct nutrition from Mommy, it helps so that Annie will not have nipple confusion and will be able to try to come home breastfeeding her feedings rather than bottlefeeding.
Annie has also been increased to 3 holds a day, so for now while she is on one bottle a day, she will be able to do the bottlefeed and skin to skin with Mommy AND Daddy again! YAY!
Please pray for Annie so that she can pick up the bottlefeeding where she left off and keep rolling forward.
Thank you.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for all of the generous donations for the March of Dimes! We have reached our original goal of $200 with 32 days left until the walk! We are continuing to raise our goal each day and will continue to support the March of Dimes through our fundraising effort. Thank you.
Mommy, Daddy & Angelina
Mommy, Daddy & Angelina
Weight Update
Annie weighed in at 3 lb 8.4 oz gaining 1.3 oz. We're hoping she keeps up a 20 minute pace of her 1 bottle a day, and if she does for a few days, she may be moved up to 2 a day! Go Annie!
MnD
MnD
3.24.2009
Perfectly Pacified!
Here are some more pics of Annie cuddling with her Daddy and holding her pacifier. There were too many cute ones to choose!! I couldn't choose just a few! Enjoy!
Love,
Mommy, Daddy and Angelina
She's her Daddy's Girl, Her Mama's World
Mommy and Daddy came to visit me in the earlier shift today. I got to cuddle with Daddy skin to skin. Boy, do I love hugging my Daddy! He's really cushy and likes to sing to me. Plus, he always has a way of relaxing me and making me poop! Since he hasn't been able to come to my bottlefeedings since he works during the week, Mommy gave me my pacifier so that I could show Daddy how I did today on the bottle! I showed him exactly how I did it and he was so proud. I also decided to show off a little bit more. Mommy didn't need to hold my paci anymore because I told her I could do it on my own. I was using my own hand to hold it up so that I wouldn't drop it! I think Daddy is going to learn how to do the bottlefeeding for me this weekend. He told me that he really wanted to try to feed me one time this weekend. I'm so excited! I always do a good job when Daddy does things with me. I love to make him proud. Alright, well, I'm getting tired and need to take a little nap. Thanks for keeping up with me and I love it when Mommy and Daddy tell me about all the support and prayers I have going for me! Thank you.
Love,
Annie
Love,
Annie
A Fast and Fearless Finish!
This morning, Annie finished her whole bottlefeeding in about 20 minutes! They want her to finish her feeding in 20 minutes or less for a little while before she is introduced to 2 bottles a day. She was eating like a champion! Not only did she finish, but she also took the whole bottle of 34 mL (they always have a few extra in there!) instead of her usual 31 mL! YAY for Annie!
Annie is doing a fantastic job and should be on two bottles a day in no time! Mommy and Annie cuddled for a while afterwards until she was nice and comfy. She loves to be held. When Mommy was about to put her back in her isolette, she did her alligator tears again. Guess we'll have to start calling them bunny tears instead.......since she's our little bunny. :)
Dr. Stafford is the doctor doing rounds for Annie this week. She left things as is for now. Apparently, Annie is a celebrity in the Level 3 NICU. The doctor said the nurses always fought over who was going to take care of her and that they always said how cute she is! She said they'd always make comments about wanting to put her in their pockets and take her home. :) They better not!
**********************************************************************************
Annie is doing a fantastic job and should be on two bottles a day in no time! Mommy and Annie cuddled for a while afterwards until she was nice and comfy. She loves to be held. When Mommy was about to put her back in her isolette, she did her alligator tears again. Guess we'll have to start calling them bunny tears instead.......since she's our little bunny. :)
Dr. Stafford is the doctor doing rounds for Annie this week. She left things as is for now. Apparently, Annie is a celebrity in the Level 3 NICU. The doctor said the nurses always fought over who was going to take care of her and that they always said how cute she is! She said they'd always make comments about wanting to put her in their pockets and take her home. :) They better not!
**********************************************************************************
3.23.2009
Mommy Kisses
Tonight, Mommy and Daddy came to see me and found Gramary and Granddaddy visiting me. I was nice and alert holding Gramary's hand. Mommy kicked them out so that she and Daddy and I could have our special night time cuddling! Mommy held me skin to skin and I was fast asleep. What a great visit! Mommy & Daddy, I'll be home soon! I love you.
Love,
Angelina
**Weight Update**
3 lb. 7.1 oz
Love,
Angelina
**Weight Update**
3 lb. 7.1 oz
Nitty and Gritty
Today, Annie is still on one bottle a day. She only wanted to eat 29 of the 31 mL today, but the OTs consider that a finish. She started with me, then continued with Angela (the OT), then me again, then Lydia. There were a lot of babies getting P.O. feedings. She started eating like a champ with me for a 5-10 minute period, but still has a lot of work to do.
Her red blood cell count is still low and she is still very anemic, but they have not needed to do a blood transfusion today. Her nurse, Angela, said that her retik (sp?), which is how many new red blood cells her body is attempting to make is good. That means that although her red blood cell count is low, her body is showing that it is working hard to make new ones. Because of this, they haven't found a need to give her a blood transfusion, but it doesn't mean they won't need to. (Keep praying!) I talked to the Neonatologist who said that Annie is doing great on the 1 bottlefeed, her weight gain, etc. and there are no new orders.
After her bottlefeed, her and I snuggled for a little while when I felt something wet on her back! She had pooped so much it leaked out of the top of her diaper, through the blanket and got on my hand! Yuck! :) It was time to change her and let her relax. She was not happy when she got into the isolette, so I turned her on her side and let her suck on her pacifier. She was happy, but she wouldn't go to sleep. I turned her on her tummy let her soothe herself to sleep before I had to leave. I gave her a kiss and let her know Daddy and I would be back to snuggle later.
Her red blood cell count is still low and she is still very anemic, but they have not needed to do a blood transfusion today. Her nurse, Angela, said that her retik (sp?), which is how many new red blood cells her body is attempting to make is good. That means that although her red blood cell count is low, her body is showing that it is working hard to make new ones. Because of this, they haven't found a need to give her a blood transfusion, but it doesn't mean they won't need to. (Keep praying!) I talked to the Neonatologist who said that Annie is doing great on the 1 bottlefeed, her weight gain, etc. and there are no new orders.
After her bottlefeed, her and I snuggled for a little while when I felt something wet on her back! She had pooped so much it leaked out of the top of her diaper, through the blanket and got on my hand! Yuck! :) It was time to change her and let her relax. She was not happy when she got into the isolette, so I turned her on her side and let her suck on her pacifier. She was happy, but she wouldn't go to sleep. I turned her on her tummy let her soothe herself to sleep before I had to leave. I gave her a kiss and let her know Daddy and I would be back to snuggle later.
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