12/12 NICU Day 111

 


So little lady took not one, not two, but three whole bottles today! 

As you can see…she was just as happy about it as we were. She was also happy because I let her be naked most of the day 🤫. Really it is okay-we we’re doing lots of skin to skin. Skin to skin(kangaroo care) is supposed to help with brain development, bonding, digestion, sleep…and a whole host of other things, including helping with appetite 🤷🏻‍♀️. Trying all the things to get her to eat-plus, honestly, I love when she’s naked so I can see all her sweet baby rolls! 



Olivia’s still weighing in at 7lbs 4 oz. She had some fluctuation the last few days while adjusting to the new additive in her milk and new medications. Kevin and I are feeling hopeful as she is doing better with feeds that she will continue to gain weight. Yesterday she finished the day with 63% oral feeds. It is taking lots of patience but we have been really focusing on how blessed we are. This has just been a time for us to really love on our little nugget and watch her grow!


Praying that Olivia continues to progress with her feeds and that we are able to have her home before Christmas! Praying that she is able to come home without any sort of feeding tube and without oxygen. Also praying that I will be able to keep up with her volume of milk increasing. It’s been a struggle. We still have many moments of exhaustion, and frustration-so we are continuing to pray for strength, peace, and thankful hearts. 

John 16:33 

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Popular posts from this blog

Last Days of Summer

Image
Being in North Carolina provides some decently warm days well into the end of September and even part of October. We have been lucky enough to soak in a ton of sun during these last summer days. We started September off with an impromptu trip to the beach-just the three of us. It was so much fun being able to just pick up and leave. It wasn't long ago that we were tethered to oxygen lines and equipment.    We also spent many days at the local "water park" beating the heat and hanging out with her older cousin, Branson. Both babies love the outdoors. Olivia has gotten to a point that she knows when shoes are going on her feet-we are going outside. It's been a blessing to have such nice weather and so many nice parks close by. We will have to get really creative with activities once the weather starts to cool off! Disclaimer-no she cannot reach the peddles, but she likes to climb on the bike and be pushed around the yard. She's getting big but not that big yet!    M...
Read more

8/23 Baby Girl's arrival

Image
 8:12 AM on Monday August 23 baby Olivia made her unexpected arrival into the world. She came into the world in a fury of fists and kicks and attempt at loud cries that surprised all the doctors being that she was only 24 weeks and 3 days gestation. Let me briefly begin with how we got here... August 19, Thursday, I started to notice very mild cramps midday. Being a first time momma I have my OB on speed dial. They scheduled an appointment for Friday and suggested I take it easy but continue to monitor everything. Nothing was intense or constant. No bleeding or abnormalities. I had been on my feet all day and very busy at work, I didn't think much of it either. I got home, pounded water, rested on the couch and everything subsided. The next morning while in the waiting room of the office my cramping came back out of no where. The midwife who evaluated me figured maybe I had an infection and had me prepped to check. Within minutes though, she had me get dressed and was preparin...
Read more

12/28 DISCHARGE DAY!

Image
  I think I’m still in shock that we are actually in the car…driving Olivia home! Of course I’m not driving-I’m just snapping all the pictures.  This is a huge appreciation post to all the staff at the NICU, friends, family, strangers, coworkers…people who prayed for us, advocated with us, listened, cried,  and laughed with us, held our hands through the difficult times, and celebrated the wins.   As we were wheeling through the halls…back tracking the way Kevin and I came speeding up over four months ago…so many emotions. When we arrived…Olivia was given  60% survival chance.  The day she was born that percent had jumped to 80%.  And here we are today…a living breathing miracle and proof of the power of God. This is not the birth story I hoped for, or the first four months of motherhood I envisioned-but I would never ever take back what I’ve gained. We are so thankful for Olivia!  Thank you to everyone again for support and prayer, kind words and...
Read more