Day 35 in NICU

October 25th 2015

Grandma and Grandpa Abide's Visit

The Grandparents arrived this weekend and Bill got to make some Halloween biscuits in our new kitchen. It was a rough week with moving but we always try to enjoy the weekends together even when daddy has to go work.

Abby is doing well today. She remains on CPAP and the changed it to 5 at 21%. Her weight is the same as yesterday 11grams. Grandma and Grandpa Abide got to visit at her bedside before heading back to Dallas.

Day 34 in NICU

October 24th 2014

Day 34 in NICU

Rainy Day

Today the weather was awful and made the drive up to North Austin difficult. Bill was on-call this weekend but finished in time to drive up with me. Grandma and Grandpa Abide came in this weekend to help since Bill was on-call. 

Sweet Abby was happy to see her daddy and did skin-to-skin with him. She loves being on daddy's chest. Her heart rate decreases and oxygen levels increase. It's pretty amazing. Abby was 1140 grams today (albs 8oz).

Day 33 in NICU

October 23rd 2015

Day 33 in NICU

30 Weeks Gestational Age Today

Aunt Bonda and I visited Abby today. When we arrived she was on CPAP prongs at 21% and she was not happy about it. You could hear her crying through the isolette. Her cry has definitely gotten stronger. She is so feisty and strong that it took two people to get her face cleaned up. She is tolerating her feeds and had her first blow out diaper today! The nurse put her in a bigger diaper and a cute outfit afterwards. Her weight was 2 lbs 8 oz today. I got to take some pictures of kangaroo time today and you can tell she is getting bigger. 

Thankful that the week is almost over. The move has been difficult and I'm so thankful for all those who have helped especially Aunt Bonda. 

Day 32 in NICU

October 22nd 2015

Day 32 in NICU

Today was a big day for Abby-she got her first paci! 

I had a rough start to my day and I started to feel crummy in the morning. I think the stress of the move, my kids not sleeping, me not sleeping, pumping 24/7 and traveling to see Abby everyday started to get to me. I still wanted to see her but didn't want the risk her getting sick so I didn't do skin-to-skin. When I arrived Abby had her hand out like she was doing a push-up! So cute.

I was really upset that I wasn't going to get to hold her and I had such a wonderful nurse who helped me overcome today's feelings. She also was a NICU mom who became a NICU nurse-->this may be my calling too in the future. Anyways, Abby was 2 lbs 6 oz -growing steadily. CPAP remains at 21% and she continues to tolerate her feedings.

We gave Abby a paci today because she was smacking her lips and sucking on her tube feeding tube. She took it right away and was sucking on it! This is a huge developmental milestone. When her paci fell out she was actually rooting for it, turning her head side to side. It was so amazing and I was crying happy tears at the bedside. Wish Bill was there to see her. Her eyes were open and she was so content.

Her little paci. 

Day 31 in NICU-1 Month Old!

October 21st 2015

Day 31 in NICU-1 Month Old!

Abby is 1 Month Old!

Abby had a great 1 month old birthday and a fabulous nurse. Today's nurse, Gladis, suggested that she go back on CPAP to help with her apnea episodes and she is doing much better off of BIPAP. She was placed back on CPAP at 21%. She weights 2 lbs 5.39 oz and has grown an inch in length since birth. She has a soft belly and is tolerating her increased feedings well (22ml Q3hours). We did skin-to-skin for a long time today and she was a happy girl!

Day 30 in NICU

October 20th 2015

Day 30 in NICU

Moving Day

So today is moving day-crazy hectic moving day! In the process of moving we still have workers at the house as the house isn't in fact actually finished. To add to the stress we can't get cable or internet because our cables are apparently to old and the house has to be re-wired. 

Moving day is always stressful but Trey had a fever and couldn't go to mother's-day-out AND I also felt yucky. The movers weren't done until after 5pm and I was exhausted and not feeling well. 

Abby had a good day although we didn't get to see her. Her Bipap rate was decreased to 15 from 20 and she weighted 2 lbs and 5oz today. Dr. Su gave us a good report. 

Day 29 in NICU-4 weeks old

October 19th 2015

Day 29 in NICU

4 Weeks Old and 29 Weeks and 3 Days Gestation Age

I can't believe my baby girl is 4 weeks old today. It's crazy to think that she is 1 month old but not home yet. I know we will get there. Abby had one bad episode last night but is doing a little better today. She remains on BIPAP but seems to have trouble keeping her pressures-resulting in her having some episodes that require stimulation for her to breath. We also got her labs back this morning and her hemoglobin has gone down to 8.2 and her hematocrit 23. We really don't want to have to transfuse her as this puts her at a higher risk for necrotizing enterocolitis, but if her blood count gets to low then she won't have good oxygen perfusion resulting in a risk for necrotizing enterocolitis and other issues. Her sodium levels also decreased so we will increase her replacement even more. We will recheck her labs again next Monday morning. 

The preemie outfits are huge on her!