Happy New Year!

Day 77

Happy new year everyone!!  We can't believe 2011 is here already.  2010 was quite a year for us, and we know 2011 will be even better, because we will be able to take Emma home with us!  We like to think that we are lucky to have gotten to know her earlier than expected.  If she had been on time, she wouldn't have come home until February anyway, so we've just spent these last few weeks being able to watch her grow and develop, which we otherwise wouldn't have had the opportunity to do.  So here's to a great year for all of us! 

Emma has continued to progress very nicely this week.  She was moved from the SiPAP onto the CPAP and they have been weaning down on her settings on the CPAP as well.  Hopefully in the next couple days she will be put on the cannula again!  Her oxygen level has remained very low (around 25%, and room air is around 21% oxygen) so she is not requiring very much support.  She's getting stronger and has also been very stable. 

She is continuing to do well on her feedings every three hours.  Her feeds were increased to 32 mL every 3 hours.  She has been gaining weight steadily and is a whopping 1700 grams, which is 3 lbs., 12 ounces - creeping up on 4 pounds!!  She looks great and is getting nice and chubby.  It's amazing how much she has grown in a relatively short time. 

We've also noticed that Emma has been sleeping much more soundly.  She seems to be transitioning to more defined awake vs. sleep times, whereas previously she would be continuously moving and bouncing between being awake and asleep.  Now when she falls asleep, she is much quieter and very peaceful, but still active and alert when she's awake.  It seems like she's maturing! 

Here are some pictures from yesterday.  If anyone is wondering, the mask that Emma is wearing needs to have a good seal around her nose in order to work properly.  Therefore, the elastic bands on her cheeks need to be pretty tight to be effective.  Since they can dig in a little into her face, the nurses just put some cotton underneath them to protect her. 

Still snoozing...



Daddy on diaper duty (it was just wet, so his "count" doesn't get to go up yet)  =) 

Mommy cleaning off her face.

All done!

"I don't want to sleep!  I want to play with Mommy and Daddy some more!"

An organization (not sure which one) donated these little gloves to the NICU babies to symbolize how they are "little fighters" and to support them in their fight.  We think they're adorable (and very appropriate)!