Saturday, November 15, 2008

November 15, 2008

Today is a better day...Bree seems to be recovering well from whatever it was that had brought her down. She received a total of two blood transfusions overall. Supposedly her hematocrit level had been really really low, and that can cause poor digestion and difficulty in breathing because there are not enough red blood cells to carry the oxygen around the body. The poor digestion could have been what caused her belly to measure one centimeter larger because after they gave her a glycerin chip (suppository) and she pooped, her belly measured a-okay.

We had one unhappy kiddo last night though. She hadn't been given any food by mouth for over 24 hours, and even though she was given sustenance (TPN) through her IV, it did not sustain her hunger feeling. In her anger (and fits), she pulled out her NG tube (her feeding tube), and she also pulled out her IV that was in her right arm. It was even all splinted up to help prevent that! The only way to keep her happy was to give her a paci, or to hold her. (That's what Jolynn said!)

She was restarted on feeds today, and even got to nipple one of them. She got 7 cc's, then 7 cc's, then 14 cc's, 14 cc's again and this next feeding they are bumping it up to 21 cc's. She'll have two feedings of 21cc's, then she will be up to 28 cc's (which is full feeds for her). One of the 7 cc feedings was the one she got to nipple feed on and she did great! She ate it all, and even paced herself all on her own! She is such an amazing little girl.

Thank you for your prayers and let's all continue to pray for her continued rocovery and strength!

Friday, November 14, 2008

November 14, 2008

So last night we got some not so super news. Bree had been agitated and tired all day long and it started to affect her breathing. They raised her oxygen, (she is now on 2 liters instead of the previous .4 and she is on 30% oxygen). Her 'girth' (the measure around her belly) showed a centimeter bigger, but when they did an xray it just showed extra gas in her belly. They also stopped her feeds just in case of an infection of the intestine. They did put in an IV to continue to give her fluids. They have done a million tests and blood draws and so far everything has come back okay. So hopefully they will start giving her her feeds again. Jolynn said that she has been a cranky butt all night! (I would be too!)

Jolynn also mentioned that Bree looks pale so they did a CBC last night and one this morning. Because of the results of these, she will more than likely be getting a blood transfusion this morning. This will help out tremendously with her breathing as she will have more red blood cells to carry oxygen around her body.

Overall, Jolynn thinks that Bree has caught a cold. She's been suctioning green snot out of her nose all night long, and it has been runny as well. :( Poor kiddo. I even feel ten times worse because I woke up this morning with a sore throat, sneezing and a stuffy nose. I didn't have any of this yesterday or when I went to bed! So I am probably the one, despite handwashing and being super careful, that got her sick. I feel absolutely horrible.

Hope this finds everyone happy, healthy, and in love with life.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

November 13, 2008

Good afternoon,

I got to go visit Bree early this morning...she is doing pretty good. I got to feed her again today and she only 5 cc's this time. That was no fault of hers though! She got the hiccups and wasn't able to continue trying to nipple feed due to the risk of aspiration. Bree got pretty worn out today, she had to have a clothes change due to her pajamas giving her a little rash. The collar on her pj's were rubbing on her neck and she had a little area of rash so I changed her.

Other than that nothing too new going on today. I have unpacking to do, and I am waiting for the dishwasher repairman to come fix our dishwasher. This is the third time we have tried to have someone come out and fix it....Rrr!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

November 12, 2008



Good night...




It's not technically evening anymore....I think this is the latest I have ever posted! Adam just called for an update and her combined weight gain for the last two days is 60 grams. That is two ounces! Woo hoo! So she is now 3 lbs, 5 ounces. I got to spend a good part of the day with her and I enjoyed holding her, feeding her and snuggling with her. I got her to take 12 cc's of breastmilk through the bottle, however only 10 cc's "counted" because she spits out little bits of milk here and there.




For some reason, both Adam and I have been dead tired the past few days. I think everything is starting to catch up with us from the past two months. Oh well, we will try and get as much sleep as possible before Bree comes home. Speaking of which, I better get off of here because it is 10 at night...




Hope this finds everyone happy, healthy, and in love with life!


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

November 11, 2008


Good afternoon all!


This morning my mom and I went up to see Bree while Riley and Adam had some Daddy Daughter bonding time. Bree is doing well and gained 15 grams yesterday (half of an ounce). She is being a good little girl and doing everything she's suppose to be doin. She ate her usual 5 cc's out of her bottle this morning. However, we did get some bad news today. Bree has early ROP. This is something that happens often with preemies, however it can result in eye damage and possible blindness. Please let's all pray for the healing of her eyes, and for the precision and dedication of the doctors that are caring for her. There are a wonderufl bunch of doctors that workthe hospital with Bree. We trust all of them with our heart and know that God helps them with all that they do.


We got the girls their new stroller yesterday. It is the Graco Quattro Duo, and it is so nice! A friend of ours, Danielle, has the same one for her kiddos and it was on her recommendation taht we decided to go with this one. So far Riley loves it...she tries to climb up on it and sit down. We will try it out in two weeks when we take Riley to the zoo with her "Gamma", Auntie Danielle and Uncle A-buh (caleb).


Hope this finds everyone happy, healthy and in love with life!

Monday, November 10, 2008

November 9, 2008

Good afternoon!

Bree is a whopping 3 lbs, 3 ounces today! She is taking in 27 cc's a feeding (which is every three hours) and she is lovin it! Her feeding tube was switched from her mouth to her nose so as to avoid her gagging herself on it. She is sitting at 40 percent oxygen and is able to maintain her oxygen at 90 to 98 percent saturations. She does still have some desaturations with her oxygen, bu that is to be expected with a baby as small as she is.

Other than that nothing new to report. We are all dead tired....Adam just got home and went and laid down for a nap. I am about to go join him. Now now, don't get too concerned! My mom is here helping us out and will get Riley when she gets up from her nap. :)

Hope this finds everyone happy, healthy and in love with life!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

November 8, 2008

Good evening!

Well, we had a VERY late night last night. You know how everyone tells you not to pull on your kids arm, whether it be by swiming them in a circle, or helping them to "jump"? Well, I was helping Riley to jump by going "Oooonnnneee....ttwwwwwoooo....three!!!!" On three she would jump and I would lift her up by her hands to help her make a super duper giant jump. Mind you, this was the first time I had played this game with her. I am always telling Adam to not lift her by her hands because he might dislocate something. Of all the times, me, who NEVER plays with her or lifts her by her arms, dislocated her elbow last night by playing 1,2,3 jump! We had to go into the ER, and after some x rays and moving and rotating of her arm, it popped right back into place! I felt (and still do) so bad!! She was in so much pain and wouldn't move her arm at all. Poor kiddo. Together with her rash and everything else, it was a rough day for her.

Miss Bree took 5 cc's in a bottle today for her nurse Becky. Good girl! She is down to .4 liters of flow and on about 40% oxygen. SUPER DUPER EXCITING NEWS! As of her last brain ultrasound, her brain bleeds are now at a stage two!! We were told it is rare for them to go back down. God is an amazing miracle maker! Let's all thank him for his goodness...woo hoo!

Hope this finds everyone happy, healthy and in love with life!