Pictures

Daddy straight from work. He loves me so much.

Hungry

Getting out the Gas

She loves her giraffe that has been with her the hole time in the NICU! She is making rude gesture though:)!

November 17,2009

Hello from Sacred Heart -

We are doing great! Tired of course but that is just part of being a mommy and daddy. Scott has been her since monday night and will go home tomorrow, he has been doing an excellent job of daddy duty, changing lots of diapers.

Lila's biliruben levels were low enough to turn off the lights and if they stay low, or don't increase another day, the patches to hold on the goggles can come off her face. This also means we can hold her for more than half and hour every three hours. She is maintaining her own temperature, her eating is excellent, and my milk is plentiful enough to avoid formula. Hooray for the waking up every three hours to pump:)! We are actually being moved to a different part of the hospital. Although we won't have as much space or privacy, this is actually a step up for Lila.

The main issue being monitored now is apnea, which is present in more than 80% of babies born preterm. Please focus your prayers for no bouts of apnea related to the central nervous system. Treatment will basically depend on what happens between now and the end of the weekend. She has to go for five days without any spells before she can get home. If she does have them, even one, she may get treated with caffeine and have to wear an oxygen monitor when she gets home.

Hope everyone is well!

Something is wrong with picture upload so those will just have to come later... and they are some cute ones darn it.

"Clean Sweep"

I was going to do two posts together, but I couldn't get more pictures in the first one so here are pictures of the house project. I haven't seen it in person but the pictures had me in tears of joy. Our house was SO far from this point of completion and wouldn't even be close. Amazing people:)

Lots of Info

Hi All -

How about an update from the NICU? Lila is still doing great. She is under the lights for the bilirueben (jaundice from being born so early and the extra bruising from being born face up) and wearing goggles to practice up for the slopes some day:). This is very normal for the age she was born so be encouraged and keep praying. We are nursing but babies this age need to be bottle fed until they are mature enough to have the stamina and coordination to be without one.

We are on a pretty good schedule... Lila wakes up right before each feeding, I take her temperature, change her diaper, nurse, bottle feed, burp, reposition in bed, I pump, and finally she gets kisses, I rest, and then we start over:)!

My mom visited today and again, I am so thankful for my parent's help in being away from home!

THANK YOU to everyone who has literally done a "clean sweep" of my house. I don't know how to describe how happy this makes me feel but one thing is for sure... we are truly blessed by our friends and family. I am thanking God for all of you. This whole situation is probably the hardest thing I have ever done and you all have made it better.

I better throw in the fact that this hardship is also the happiest I have ever been. Being a mother is the most amazing emotion I have ever experienced. With everyone's help and Lila's health under the circumstances, I can't help but feel unworthy of so many blessings, and what I have to say is that this is the definition of God's grace and mercy.

So now, sit back and enjoy Lila and see the house:).

Here She Is!!!

Lila was born at 4:06 on November 11th. Although so early, she is doing awesome! They told me they would have to whisk her away as soon as she was born, but instead, I did get to hold her, and hear her beautiful scream. She got 9's on her Apgars and is breathing and eating on her own. She does have an IV for fluids, but no tubes to her stomach or lungs or anything else. She got very bruised on her way into the world and looked a little like a unicorn:) - but she looks better every hour! She is beautiful and we couldn't be happier with the situation. Prayers are being answered.

We will be checking out of the hospital tomorrow and we will be staying somewhere near the hospital for a while to be close to Lila. We don't know how long she will be in NICU, but most likely, not nearly as long as most babies born as early as her. I'll try to keep everyone posted and thanks to ALL for the help, prayers, flowers, etc.

Lila Update

Hi all, you can watch the video below to see what we are up to. I will keep you posted via internet and facebook. You can also call scott and I if you want.

Halloween and House Construction

Halloween was very enjoyable. I love my belly (what is inside my belly) so much I couldn't help just letting it all hang out and showing it to the world. So that is what I did. I have to paint her one more time before the next 7 weeks is up. Time is flying! Lila is estimated to be 6.1 pounds at this point in time and I am really hoping this is not accurate because with 7 weeks to grow, she could be very large:)!

In addition to Lila growing and changing, so is our house. The add on is getting SO close. We are blessed to have so many friends and family willing to help us out... so thanks to all for what you have done. SOON the new rooms will be done and I can finish Lila's stuff. Lots to do, little time...but God will provide:)