YOU GO GIRL!!!!

Emma is now 2lb 8oz and continues to grow!!! Her first eye exam was today with good news, nothing there to really report which is great!!! Please pray for her momma who is now back to work and trying to juggle everything!!! Thank you Lord for continued answered prayers!!!

Keeps on Growing

Emma's doing great still. They increased her feedings to 19cc/3hrs. Otherwise nothing new to report. She's doing great!!!

YEAH!!!

YEAH Emma!!! She skipped right over 2lb5oz and is as of last night 2lb6oz!!! We played dress up Thursday night and the little blue outfit didn't even snap over her big belly!!! Too cute!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Emma's first Thanksgiving!!!! YEA!!! We are soooo thankful for her, for all the prayers and love that has been sent her way!!! She is such a beautiful blessing to us, such an angel from heaven and such a joy already to our lives and she isn't even home yet!!! Thank you JESUS!!!

Chillin

Nothing new to report today. Emma is chilling today. She had a crying spell so I wrapped her up like a taco and she loved it!!! Otherwise... no news is good news...

Crabby Cakes

Today Emma decided to be a little crabby, not really sure why. Just more crying than usual, and being fussy. She's up to 2lb3oz on her weight and up to 17cc/3hours on her feedings. Otherwise no new changes.

BREAKING NEWS...THIS JUST IN!!!

Attention all... Daddy has offically changed his first Emma girl diaper!!! He did sooo good!!! I'm so very proud of him! Shes up to 2lb 2oz tonight. Otherwise nothing new!!

You Go Girl!!!

Emma continues to grow day by day! They increased her oxygen to 3 1/2 liters today in hopes of helping her with her "episodes". They also started a new medication to help with this. We shall see... Otherwise nothing new...

Growing Baby Girl!!!

Well today She is 2lb 1oz!!! They measure the length every Sunday and she is 14 and 1/4 inches long!!! She has her Momma's long legs so it's expected :) Otherwise still remains great, growing every day!!!!

2 Pounds of Cuteness!!!

Emma is officially 2lbs 0oz as of last nights weight!!!! I swear its all in her cheeks!! Sorry about all the pics, I'm just a very proud mommy!!! Last night was bath night again and its the most active we see her, hence all the bath time pics... repeat head ultrasound at 1 month is negative(yea!!), still continues to have her "episodes" but the staff says she is just acting her age. Looking very good!!!

Nothing new!!!

Emma continues to grow and do great!!! Nothing new to report other than they increased her feedings to 16cc/3hours, shes tolerating it well! No real changes, weighs 1lb 15oz still- come on 2lbs!!!

Another Good day

Emma continues to do very well. She is now 1lb 15oz and we are hoping for 2lbs by the weekend!!! She continues to grow!!! They increased her oxygen to 3liters on the nasal cannula but she is doing so much better on that! She had been having "episodes" where her oxygen levels would drop and then her heart rate would drop pretty low but with the increased oxygen she isn't having these nearly as often. They staff says this is a very normal thing for babies as small as Emma- they outgrow it once they get closer to their due date. She is wonderful!!!!

Bath Night!!!

Emmas first bath with Mommy and Daddy there. She had them last week but we didn't know about it!!! SOOO... She did great!! News from yesterday... increasing her calories, shes up to 1lb 14 oz!!! YEA!!! Doing good. Looks like she might have curly hair!! Thank you for all your prayers!!! Please continue!!! We aren't finished growing yet!!!

Growing Like Grass

Emmas still doing great, just trying to grow!!! Here are a few pics from today!!! Nothing new to report today. They had to restart an IV on her to give her a blood transfusion today, over the weekend they took alot of blood for lab work. Otherwise, just chilling out!

Nothin New

Emma is still doing well, nothing new to report. We continue to be able to hold her daily. She now weighs 1lb 12 oz, they increased her feedings to 14.5cc every 3 hours, shes tolerating this well. She continues to be just on the nasal cannula for oxygen and at a very low dose- 2 liters. We continue to watch her grow!!!!

Now We Grow

So Emma is pretty much in chill mode for the next few weeks we are hoping. She just needs to grow bigger!!! Nothing new to report, daddy got to hold her for the first time last night. He did much better than I had thought, even with her little cries!!

Another good day!

Emma continues to do great. Nothing really new today, increased her feedings to 12cc every 3 hours. Was able to hold her for 3 hours straight today which was great!!! She's just hanging out there!!!

YEA EMMA!!!

Emma is doing fabulous today again!!! They discontinued all her IV's, all antibiotics. They took off the dressing from her last chest tube. Increasing her feedings, increasing the calories they fortify the milk with- up to 11cc every 3 hours. We did kangaroo care again twice today for again a total of 4 1/2 hours! She did great! The Doctor came by and said she is out of the woods, our biggest focus will be nutrition and getting her bigger!!!! Please also pray against any infection since she is still in the hospital.
"7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort...9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on GOD, who raises the dead. 10 HE has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On HIM we have set our hope that HE will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."
2 Cor. 1:7,9-11

HOORAY FOR KANGAROO CARE!!!

YEA!!! 19 days old and finally able to be held for the very first time!!! Emma and Mommy did amazing together!!!! What a team we made today! They told me to be prepared if maybe Emma would not be able to be held for a long period of time, they said some babies don't do well the first time around, they said don't take it personal, they said her heart rate could drop, they said her oxygen levels could drop. They were wrong! Emma did absolutely amazing, SHE LOVED IT!!! And I LOVED IT!!! We were able to do 2hours and 15 minutes this morning and then again this afternoon for a total of 4 and a half hours of mommy and me time today!!! They removed her arterial line, discontinued some of her IV fluids, increased her feedings to 9cc every 3 hours. PRAISE JESUS SHE IS DOING AMAZINGLY WELL!!!

THANK YOU JESUS!!!!

Well by far the best day for our Angel Baby yet!!! The breathing tube is out- she is breathing on her own and do great!!! The chest tube is out!!! She is back on breast milk only- tolerating it well!!! She is back to 1lb 11oz.

Psalm 30

1I will exhalt you , O Lord,

for you lifted me from the depths

and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

2O Lord my GOD, I called to you for help

and YOU HEALED ME.

3O Lord, you brought me up from the grave,

you spared me from going down to the pit.

4Sing to the Lord, you saints of His;

praise HIS HOLY NAME.

5For His anger lasts only a moment,

but His favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may remain for a night,

but rejoicing comes in the morning.

11YOU turned my wailing into dancing;

you removed my scakcloth and clothed me in joy,

12that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.

Oh LORD my GOD, I WILL GIVE YOU THANKS FOREVER.

Its A Good Day

Emma had a good day today. She was able to get off of the panting ventilator this afternoon and is now back on the regular ventilator YEA!!!... again. They left her chest tube in place to just monitor and make sure that everything stays good for her left lung (which was MY idea, fortunately the Doc thought of it too!) She is on 27% o2 which is good. Still doing good on her feedings, still resting well.

Chill Day 101

Sedated- check. Worn out and exhausted from fighting sleep- check. Finally able to rest for the day and recuperate- check. Emma's doing good today with no real changes. No more blood in her poo (YEA), back on her feedings. No changes to the breathing machine. Started her on vitamin A shots to try to help with those darn lungs, otherwise relaxin'.

Oh Poo!!!

Today was an ok day for Emma. No real changes on the breathing front. She had a poop today with blood in it which is very concerning to the Doc- they put a hold on her feedings for tonight, got an xray of her stomach which looked ok- the big concern is a type of bad bacteria in her gut. So they increased her IV nutrition for the night to make up for the no milk thing. Otherwise she is doing well, nothing new to report. Thanks to all for your prayers, comments and concerns!!! I love to read what everyone says to us and really appreciate the encouraging words!!!

And Today Makes 4

So today we bought our 4th chest tube for baby girl! She was having a rough morning, unable to to keep her oxygen levels where they should be. Finally got a chest xray early this afternoon and she again had a collapsed lung so we have a new chest tube, back to the panting ventilator, back on sedation... Rob and I were there for the procedure and we were able to see the results immediately so it is unfortunately a necessary evil for her to have this chest tube... Please continue to pray for this poor left lung to heal up. Even after all that she was able to open her eyes and say hello to everyone!!!

YEA!!!!!

Today was a good day!!! Emma's morning chest x ray showed the same ugly left lung but the doctor wants to forge ahead and she is doing good!!! They pulled out her last chest tube this am- it wasn't in proper place anyway, so she is now chest tube free!!! They placed her back onto the regular breathing machine instead of the easier on the lungs panting machine and she is loving it!! She cries more now since she is not as sedated and the first time I cried too- I can't do anything for her!!! But this is all good signs!!! She is up to 8cc/ 3 hours on her feedings, doing well. Please continue your prayers for her left lung!!!!

Looking Better...

Emma is looking a little better today. Her morning chest x ray was about the same but this afternoons showed some improvement!!! The doctor says we will see what tomorrow morning shows us. For today they were able to go back on some of the breathing machine settings very slowly. She pulled the breathing tube out again last night because she is soooo active- they put it back in and everything is ok. They placed a line today so they can draw her labs and not have to poke her everytime- yea! Please continue to pray for her morning xray and her left lung to heal and be clear of all air pockets!!!! She weighs 1lb 11oz today- feeds up to 7cc every 3 hours, tolerating well.

PLEASE PRAY

Well we got some news today that Emma's left lung is still not really doing well. It seemed she had responded nicely to the steroids they were giving her but now it looks like it is no longer working. The lung has not re-collapsed, a huge praise!!, but it does appear to have some air filled pockets all over. This is not a good thing because if these pockets are already filled wtih air then this means no gas exchange- no oxygen going in and no carbon dioxide coming out. Dr Ortiz spoke with me about it today and said they are going to try a stronger steroid- kind of a last ditch effort for the lung. I asked what is next if this doesn't work- he said to get on our knees and pray- which I know many of you are already doing- as am I. He said we can stay intubated and on the breathing machine and see how she does... please pray for a miracle that when they see her chest xray in the am these air filled pockets will be gone!!!!!!
7"Ask and it will be given to you,
Seek and you will find,
Knock and the door will be open to you.
8For everyone who asks receives,
He who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks the door will be opened.
9Which of you, if his son asks for bread will give him a stone?
10Or if he asks for a fish will give him a snake?
11IF YOU, then, though you are evil, know how to give GOOD GIFTS to your children,
HOW MUCH MORE will your FATHER in heaven give good gifts to those who ask HIM!"
Matt. 7:7-11
Many of you don't know this, but this passage was the passage for me when I was asking GOD for a child. And now it is my passage for my child. Please keep Emma in your prayers.

And the Good News Keeps Comming!!!

Yet another good day for Emma Nichole!!! Even with the diuretic they gave her yesterday, her weight stayed at 1lb 10oz!! They clamped off one of the chest tubes- the smaller one, and she did so well they removed it earlier this morning and has been doing great all day without it. Only one more to go and the nurse says maybe it will come out tomorrow... please pray...
She got some more blood today but the good news is the dopamine which is to keep her blood pressure where it needs to be is now off and has been since 0100 last night! Yea!!! This afternoon they had an issue with her 02 levels being very low but after another chest xray it wasn't her left lung giving her problems but the breathing tube had become dislodged. They pulled it out and replaced in the right spot and she is doing great. They continue to increase her feedings- she is up to 6cc every 3 hours and tolerating wonderfully.
As a side note- for the last 3 days when we show up her o2 sats are a bit on the low side. All Rob has to do is go get a cup of coffee and she perks back up!!! Every time... What am I gonna do when he goes back to work? LOL Please keep our daughter in your prayers- HE IS LISTENING!!!