Pictures to brighten the day!

I know this little angel brightens my day! So for you non Facebook and Instagram users, here are a few pictures!
**last picture is credited to the wonderfully talented kaley Hayden of Hayden/more photography

Pictures!

Wow, we have been busy.  Not leaving much time to blog.  I really have a new appreciation for all those blogs that I read that have more than one child who can keep up...props to you!  We have had a great time having her home.  A little less sleep, a little formula on all of your clothes, and a new little arm ornament and we are happy as can be!  I will try and keep up a little better but for now, enjoy the pictures!

{In no particular order}

Thursday night before coming home

Just arriving home

Getting ready to leave the hospital
{bonnet is a little big but made with love by me}

I look like I didn't get much sleep and that would be pretty accurate

Zan was waiting on us when we got home

Lovin from Zan
{Gown also a little big}

Her sweet Godmother Bess brought balloons

Pop was thrilled to hold her for the first time

Pop and Nana

Aunt Bess was also waiting on us when we got home

Daddy makes me into a good burrito

First bath

Molly checking her out

Courtney came to visit

Maw maw holding her for first time

Four generations

Rob's sister Nan, Brad, Elizabeth Harris, and Ridge

Our household grows by one

You heard right!  Ann Martin is home!!  It is still pretty surreal, I find myself staring at her often.  I am probably creating a monster but I can't keep my hands off of her.

Many have asked how our first night was.  The room-in at the hospital was not so smooth.  She acted like she had her nights and days confused.  Also could have been that she was in a different room with new sounds and smells.  Not sure but I do know that all she wanted was to eat and be held.  The crib was for the birds.  So, mommy here got very little sleep.  She did cry/scream some that night but more so than anything, she grunts and squeals a lot.  This made me uneasy not knowing what she needed or if she was just making noises.  So...my mom said last night here to help me.  We are trying to keep her on her NICU schedule so I fed at 11 PM, mama at 2 am, me at 5am and Rob at 8am.  She said in my mom's room and she did not rest well either because of the grunting/squealing.  Guess we will be taking turns who she sleeps with (in her bassinet).

She has done pretty good today.  She took a great nap between 2pm-5pm.   She likes her swing a lot until her paci falls out.  I am so torn whether or not to give it back to her every time.  I of course have because I don't like her screaming...I am worried her breathing will suffer if she gets too worked up.  She still head bobs if she gets out of breath...

Pictures to come!

So blessed!

I never remember to look at my last post to see what I have already told yall.  Bear with me if I repeat myself.  

Her weight has gotten up to 5 lb 8 oz.  However, since she is on the diuretics, she has lost a few ounces.  She is now at 5 lb 5.5 oz.  We are not as worried about her weight right now and she should level out as she adjust to being on this medication.  We will probably come home on this medication. 

As of 5:00 am this morning she has been off of oxygen.  I cannot begin to tell you all what a blessing this is.  Really, we are witnessing a true miracle, answered prayer!  I think the diuretics are working perfectly!  When she takes her bottles it takes more energy so her oxygen saturation drops some.  So this morning at 8:00 they put the oxygen back on for her to feed and then took it back away.  At the 11:00 and 2:00 feedings her O2 Sat was 97-100.  Can. not.believe. this.  The last time I talked to them was 3:45 so I am not sure of the 5:00 feeding.  She will have some blood work done tomorrow and some of it is blood gases so we can see how she is truly doing oxygen wise. 

Morgan's shower this weekend with great friends!

Wonderful family shower! Always a good time!

Special thanks to Cousin June for the mantle decor!!

We might have our Valentine baby afterall!!  We appreciate the continued prayers!!

We are getting close!

I have been a terrible blogger lately...feeling really guilty!  Sorry for the delay in posting such monumentous occasions in sweet Ann Martin's life!  We have loved having our own room in the NICU!  It is quaint, cozy and really makes us feel one step closer to being home.  Her room is the closest room to the nurses station so it is really loud.  I am hoping this prepares her to sleep through Molly and Copper's noisy behaviors.  Those of you who know our pups, know they won't stop their insane barking just because there is a new baby in the house.  I am really starting to make sure everything is washed, the room is just right, and making last runs to get baby essentials.  I can feel it in the air!

We were in Jackson on Friday and Saturday this past weekend.  On Friday afternoon between our visits, she decided she had had enough of the tube down her nose.  That's right, she pulled her feeding tube out!  They decided to try her on only PO feeds.  Since then she has done perfectly!  They do not anticipate having to put her back on tube feeds.
Oh, and she weighs 5 lb 3.5oz.!

She is on 10ML of oxygen as of this afternoon.  Her nurse had an order to trial her off of 20ML of oxygen to nothing but she didn't last long.  They should try her again tomorrow.  There is a possibility of coming home on oxygen.  That has always been an option but it really scares me.  She would be followed by home health and I really wonder what experience home health companies in Meridian have with preemie's...even if they do have experience, they are only at my house MAX 1 hour a day but more likely 3 times a weeks. I don't know...I have really been praying for God to provide wisdom for doctors and strength and bravery for me and Rob.  The oxygen is the ONLY thing keeping her there..so all of you prayer warriors out there, here is a specific prayer we would really appreciate.

Her eye doctor came to see her today and he said he would not need to see her again until she was 6 months.

So, we all know what to pray for and now we are truly in a waiting game.. Love you all!

Waiting game

Well, we continue to make progress but I have found that we are truly in a waiting game and we are not in charge!  She is weighing in at 4 lb 13 oz today.  She has been on a steady weight gain while gaining too much some days ( I will explain that).  She had gotten up to 40 ML a feeding but has been cut back to 38 ML a feeding recently.  She continues to take bottles when she is awake.  They were only giving her 2 in 24 hours but now she can try and take one every time she is awake for care times.  So today since 7am she has taken 3 bottles as of 5:30 this afternoon.  I am getting better at feeding them to her.

Some days recently she has gained 3-4 ounces in a day.  They did a chest xray Monday and she showed some fluid in her right lung.  They did 3 days of breathing treatments and repeated the chest xray on Wednesday and it looked much better.  The fluid makes it hard for her to breath limiting the bottle intake and requiring her to continue to need oxygen.  She still looks puffy so that is why they lowered her ML on feedings.  They were worried that she was getting fluid overload.

I always assumed her weight would be the thing that kept us there.  No, no, no...getting her off oxygen and taking all of her bottles will be what keeps us there.  Yes, she can come home on oxygen but I get the feeling they expect her to not need that.  So we are attempting to be patient ;) and remember that it will all come together in God's perfect timing.  After all, he has gotten us this far and look how well we are doing!  We are so close and I find myself imagining what it will be like to sit at home at night, watching t.v., and holding her.  Kissing her forehead while I rock her to sleep...those moments I know I would have taken for granted had we not been through this.

I sometimes feel guilty being back at work while she is over there.  I have to keep telling myself this is so I can be home with her when she comes home...I must tell myself that 100 times a day.  She will open her eyes when I talk to her now and that makes me think she recognizes my voice...even though I am not there as often as I would like, maybe she still knows who I am.

Thank you all for continued prayers! We love each and every one of yall!

This is her new room

Another view of her room

They all have these boards to communicate what she has going on

Look at those chubby cheeks
{Don't know where she gets the chin dimple}

Cuddling

She likes her new bed

Snuggling this weekend

Pictures

Pictures as promised! And, we are up to 4 lb 4 oz today!!

Rob's mom, Zan, holding her for the first time.

Rob and his mom with AM

She loved her Zan time

My mom, Nana, getting some holding time in

So content...

Both of her grandmothers holding together for first time

Family picture

Can't wait to get this little baby home!