I've started a new blog in light of the arrival of Miss Lucille...
www.connerfamilyfive.blogspot.com
Thanks-
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Transition time...
Big news today. We are moving out of the main NICU and into a transition room. This is where Casey and I will stay from now on, with Lucille!!! We are so excited, and slightly terrified, about having her with us 24 hrs a day. She will still have her IV and will continued to have her heartrate, oxygen saturation and respiration monitored in the room, and any problems will show up on the computer in the nurse's station. But as far as day to day care Casey and I are now officially in charge.
She continues to struggle a bit with her eating, so there is no telling when we will take the final step from transition to home. Her digestive system is having a hard time catching up with the rest of her body, but she is making progress. She continues to pee and poop on her own, but the food seems to upset her stomach which continues to make her uninterested in food. I would say on average she takes half of her food by mouth and the rest by tube.
We are amazed at how far we have come from a week and a half ago, and excited about how well Lucille is recovering. She is such a strong little monkey and we can't wait to see how she amazes us in the months and years to come.
Eleanor came and had a sleep over with me last night in the hospital sleep room (or shall I say closet). We had a great time. She got to visit with her littlest sister a bit, now that she's over the flu, and we watched a movie together in bed while eating free hospital snacks and juice. Her favorite part was our breakfast in the cafeteria this morning before Casey came and picked her up for school.
Violet is doing well, too, but obviously misses her Mom and Dad a lot. Casey stayed home with her last night and they slept in the big bed, she was so happy to "nuggle with Daddy". She has yet to meet Lucille, which is heartbreaking. One of these days all three of our girls will finally get to be together, and I am going to cry like a baby myself. I cannot wait to finally get a photo of all of them, Eleanor, Violet & Lucille.
Hope everyone is well!
She continues to struggle a bit with her eating, so there is no telling when we will take the final step from transition to home. Her digestive system is having a hard time catching up with the rest of her body, but she is making progress. She continues to pee and poop on her own, but the food seems to upset her stomach which continues to make her uninterested in food. I would say on average she takes half of her food by mouth and the rest by tube.
We are amazed at how far we have come from a week and a half ago, and excited about how well Lucille is recovering. She is such a strong little monkey and we can't wait to see how she amazes us in the months and years to come.
Eleanor came and had a sleep over with me last night in the hospital sleep room (or shall I say closet). We had a great time. She got to visit with her littlest sister a bit, now that she's over the flu, and we watched a movie together in bed while eating free hospital snacks and juice. Her favorite part was our breakfast in the cafeteria this morning before Casey came and picked her up for school.
Violet is doing well, too, but obviously misses her Mom and Dad a lot. Casey stayed home with her last night and they slept in the big bed, she was so happy to "nuggle with Daddy". She has yet to meet Lucille, which is heartbreaking. One of these days all three of our girls will finally get to be together, and I am going to cry like a baby myself. I cannot wait to finally get a photo of all of them, Eleanor, Violet & Lucille.
Hope everyone is well!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Moving Right Along...
Lucille continues to do better and get stronger. She spends a lot more time awake each day, and seems to be more aware of her surroundings. Her feedings have increased everyday, and hopefully soon she'll be eating enough on her own in order to bring her home. She has refused her last few feedings, and we've had to feed her from a feeding tube through her nose. The nurse seems to think it is because her digestive system is still coming around, giving her a lot of gas which makes her uninterested in food. This is really the final step in getting her out of the NICU and bringing her home.
As far as long term, the neurologist has told us that Lucille will be at risk for certain things such as cerebral palsy, behavioral problems and developmental delays. Although it sounds scary, we were actually relieved to hear that at this point she is functioning like a typical newborn, and these issues are only a possiblity for the future, and not inevitable.
Lucille will see a physical therapist tomorrow, and when we are finally discharged we will be set up with an Infant Stimulation Program which includes physical therapy and developmental specialists. She will be seen every couple of months in order to monitor her development and watch out for any issues she may have.
The neurologist couldn't stress enough how lucky Lucille is to have two amazing big sisters to help her develop. I'm pretty sure Eleanor and Violet are up for the job, and they're ready to get started as soon as possible, as are Casey and I.
Thanks again to everyone for all of the support and prayers for Lucille and our family. We feel like we are finally on the upswing and everyday gets a little better and a lot easier. We feel so blessed to be supported by our amazing families, and our friends have been incredible.
I'll post new pictures soon!
As far as long term, the neurologist has told us that Lucille will be at risk for certain things such as cerebral palsy, behavioral problems and developmental delays. Although it sounds scary, we were actually relieved to hear that at this point she is functioning like a typical newborn, and these issues are only a possiblity for the future, and not inevitable.
Lucille will see a physical therapist tomorrow, and when we are finally discharged we will be set up with an Infant Stimulation Program which includes physical therapy and developmental specialists. She will be seen every couple of months in order to monitor her development and watch out for any issues she may have.
The neurologist couldn't stress enough how lucky Lucille is to have two amazing big sisters to help her develop. I'm pretty sure Eleanor and Violet are up for the job, and they're ready to get started as soon as possible, as are Casey and I.
Thanks again to everyone for all of the support and prayers for Lucille and our family. We feel like we are finally on the upswing and everyday gets a little better and a lot easier. We feel so blessed to be supported by our amazing families, and our friends have been incredible.
I'll post new pictures soon!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Eating and Wearing Clothes...
Lucille had her first feeding today, all went well. she will eat every 3 hours as long as her body handles it well... We are so Excited! She also had her heater turned off and is wearing clothes! Her nurse, Andy, made her a special hat today with a hole in it for her IV. It is so freakin' cute. We've yet to see if she can keep her temp up, but we'll check her in a few hours... She is definitely becoming more and more alert. Still no hearing or vision test... maybe in the morning. Here's a picture of her in her clothes...
Lucille Photos
I just realized that I've yet to formally introduce the newest member of the family...
Evelyn Lucille Conner
January 16, 2009
7lbs 6oz
12:33 am
There, that feels much better.
These are the most recent pics from today.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Lucille Update
Let's see.. Lucille continues to get stronger and she seems to be moving in the right direction. The doctor didn't see anything abnormal on her EEG and she had an MRI today which we will talk to him about in the morning.
Her nasal cannula is out (yeah!) so she is breathing on her own without the help of any extra oxygen. Her little face is even more beautiful now that it is completely free of tubes and tape... I'll post photos tomorrow.
The platelet transfusion went well, they will continue to monitor her to see if her levels continue to go up...
She is peeing like a champ, still with the help of some meds, but peeing nonetheless...
Monday night we had our first "Kangaroo Care" time, laying together belly to belly, skin to skin... She snuggled in and slept soundly for almost 3 hours. I woke up and did it for another 2 hours this morning.
She is beginning to root around and show signs of hunger, which is the next big step. Once we get her eating we will feel a lot better.
Casey and I are doing well and getting used to the routine of life in the nicu. We left the hospital today and went home to have dinner with the girls and put them to bed. This was the first time I had left the hospital since Thursday morning when I came for my induction. It was terribly difficult to leave Lucille here, but I knew she was in great hands, and that our big girls were really needing us. It was a great night, and being with the girls really gave me a renewed strength that I desperately needed.
Thanks again to everyone for their thoughts and prayers and sweet emails, texts, facebook messages, etc... We love and appreciate all of the support, and we're sorry that we don't always have the time to respond...
Keep you posted..
Her nasal cannula is out (yeah!) so she is breathing on her own without the help of any extra oxygen. Her little face is even more beautiful now that it is completely free of tubes and tape... I'll post photos tomorrow.
The platelet transfusion went well, they will continue to monitor her to see if her levels continue to go up...
She is peeing like a champ, still with the help of some meds, but peeing nonetheless...
Monday night we had our first "Kangaroo Care" time, laying together belly to belly, skin to skin... She snuggled in and slept soundly for almost 3 hours. I woke up and did it for another 2 hours this morning.
She is beginning to root around and show signs of hunger, which is the next big step. Once we get her eating we will feel a lot better.
Casey and I are doing well and getting used to the routine of life in the nicu. We left the hospital today and went home to have dinner with the girls and put them to bed. This was the first time I had left the hospital since Thursday morning when I came for my induction. It was terribly difficult to leave Lucille here, but I knew she was in great hands, and that our big girls were really needing us. It was a great night, and being with the girls really gave me a renewed strength that I desperately needed.
Thanks again to everyone for their thoughts and prayers and sweet emails, texts, facebook messages, etc... We love and appreciate all of the support, and we're sorry that we don't always have the time to respond...
Keep you posted..
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