Growing Like a Weed!

Sleeping Beauty

Snoozin in the swing...her new favorite place.

BK enjoying some good tummy time.

Well we went to our pediatrician on monday.  It was basically a weight check.  At discharge last monday she weighed 4 pounds and 8 ounces, just one week later she weighed 5 pounds and 5 ounces!!!  What are we feeding her?!  She's an eater...definitely her parents daughter!  We have just been enjoying every moment with her.  While it can be tough sometimes, we just can't get enough!  At the rate she's growing, she'll be a grown up before we know it.   

Life has been good this past week.  I went back to work on tuesday (yes...i cried).  It took me a few hours to get readjusted to the fast paced hospital life, my coworkers lovingly called it "baby brain".  The hours passed quickly, but I knew she was in the good hands of both my husband and Grandma Ju Ju.  So today we are just enjoying each other.  Basking in the glory of what God has entrusted me with...a tiny life that holds our hearts and embodies what Love truly is.  Since it has been so warm outside, we have taken her on a few walks and the other day, Aunt Kate came over and snapped a few shots of Briley Kate outside.  It was fun and BK was a good sport about it.  Gotta capture these sweet moments before they are gone! 

Love to All,

Leanne and Brian  

Sweet Pea

Inexpressible JOY!

So, we're home at last!!  Briley Kate joined us at home on monday afternoon.  She's so tiny in her carseat that I nearly had a nervous breakdown trying to make sure she was still breathing on the ride home.  Silly Leanne...of course she's breathing, they wouldn't discharge her unless they were completely sure she was ready to come home! (I repeat this to myself at least 5 times a day).  We didn't sleep much at the hospital sunday night...between the "weird" noises she kept making and the slamming doors from other areas around the unit, we probably got an hour each.  I finally had to ask the nurse about the strange grunting noises she makes pretty much all night long.  The nurses told me that they call it the "grunt-n-grow".  Its a preemie thing...but she does it ALL the time.  With that said, I would rather listen to her grunt all day every day than not have her here.   She's really a very good baby, doesn't cry much at all.  We feed her, sneak in a little snuggle time and then she's back to the bassinet to grunt a little longer.  We had a apt this morning at the outpatient clinic, just to make sure she was still gaining weight and get any questions we had answered.  She weighed 4 pounds 8 ounces at discharge, and now we're up to 4 pounds 11 ounces.  This is awesome considering some preemies lose weight the first few days at home.  

Brian and I tease that I'm the "wash your hands, don't sneeze on my baby, don't come near me if your sick, over-protective baby nazi".  While we tease, all these things are true.  However, the nurse told me today that I had every right to be that way and in fact she expected it.  We are the advocates for our child, and I couldn't bear if something happened to her that I could have tried to prevent.  With that said...I apologize in advance to anyone that might cross my path when I'm on this tirade, but think how much you love her and I'm sure you'll understand why I'm like this.  

It's an inexpressible JOY i have now that she's home.  Joy mixed with nerves and sleeplessness, but Joy nonetheless.  However, sorrow hides deep within.  The "why's?" start to resurface and my soul aches with questions about why I can't bring both of my babies home.  Please pray and thank God for the miracles he has performed for us.  Pray for worries eased, and for a stillness that allows my soul to find God in the midst of an inexpressible pain.  Thanks to all who have supported and prayed for us!!  I will post pictures of our little Love at home soon!

It's OFFICIAL...

We're coming home on monday!!!!  We will room in at the hospital tomorrow night and then probably be home monday morning.  I have waited so long for this and now that's it here, I'm so nervous.  Since I had an emergency c-section and the babies went straight to the NICU, I never really had that feeling of preparing and waiting for the sweet moment when we would all be home together...I have waited and now it's almost here!  The nerves are in full swing, but I wouldn't change it.  Keep us in your prayers as we welcome our new bundle home.  I love you my darling...can't wait to love on you whenever I want!

Getting Ready!

So the time is fast approaching...AHH!  She passed her car seat test, and is still eating good.  At this point we're just waiting for her to gain a little more weight.  They want her to weigh 4 pounds 6 ounces before they send her home...and today we weigh 4 pounds 4.6 ounces!  Brian has to be out of town for the weekend, the doctor's are aware of this and told us that even if she reaches her weight by tomorrow, they probably won't send her home before monday.  They do a program called "rooming in" at the hospital.  Brian and I will take her to a regular hospital room that is right next to the NICU.  She won't be hooked up to any of the monitors, and we'll just be able to resume all the care of her.  Like normal parents.  It's just a way for parents to get comfortable and the NICU is right there if we have any questions at all.  Wow!  I just can't wait to hold her whenever I want!  My joy is overflowing today!  Thank you Lord for all that you've done for our family.  

Oh! Just one more thing...MRI IS NORMAL!!!!  This is bigger news to us than many people probably know.  This is truly a testament to how BIG God is.  He has moved a mountain for us.  

Here's just a quick peak at how far BK has come: Life started early for her tipping the scales at 2 pounds and 2 ounces.  I was on high doses of magnesium sulfate, so unfortunately she was too.  Right after birth she was intubated and placed on a ventilator.  Mommy could not be by her side...but would be soon.  6 hours later we were taken off the ventilator and placed on oxygen via nasal cannula.  We now weighed 1 pound 14 ounces.  We couldn't eat so we had an NG tube, an umbilical IV for nutrition and fluids. 

Week 1 ... head ultrasound to check for brain bleeds.

Week 2... finally we weigh 2 pounds 2 ounces again, and we begin to eat via NG tube, so IV is taken out.

Week 3...stable.

Week 4...another head ultrasound that yields conflicting results.

Week 5 ... blood transfusion.

Week 6...move to private room and oxygen comes off.

Week 7...starts to eat out of a bottle, weight now 4 pounds, NG tube out, moved into an open crib, and MRI.

Week 8...  we shall see...hopefully this will say coming home!

Biggie

So today marks a momentous occasion for two reasons: First our tiny little baby now weighs 4 pounds and 1 ounce!  What a big girl!  She is even big enough to move into an open newborn crib.  Whoa...that's right it's been a slow crawl but we finally got there!  She has kept her temperature up all day and is still eating like a champ.  Way to go BK!  Keep being a big girl so mommy and daddy can have you home and love on you!

Second reason today is so wonderful:  Because 21 years ago little baby Lauren came into our lives and things have been interesting ever since!  Shout out to you baby Lauren, we all send love your way today Biggie!

The "other" children

Dakota and B...sweet girl this is her favorite spot.
Montana as a whittle puppy!
Monty and Dakota playing in the yard...Monty wins...always!
Montana...aka Wubbie, Bobby, Ibbie, Monty, Hanna, Buppie...just about any name you can think of!

Thought I would post a few pictures of our "other" children. Poor little guys...they have been a little neglected in the midst of all that has been going on.

BK Update: She is doing wonderful and growing like crazy. She is almost 7 weeks old and weighed in at 3 pounds 14 ounces today! They are letting her take a bottle at every feeding now since she has done so well. she took the bottle for me 3 times today...hooray! The doctors are thinking that she will be home in a week and a half as long as things keep progressing like they are. We simply cannot wait! To have her home is a whole different kind of happy.

Prayer Requests for this week: That Briley will continue to grow and take her bottle at every feeding. Prayers for an MRI on monday...that the doctors will find no abnormalities or lesions. Prayers for a strong immune system especially when BK comes home. Her blood levels were inching towards the low point again, so they were thinking that she might need another blood transfusion before she goes home. Prayers that the transfusion will go successfully with no adverse side effects. Thanks to all who pray for our family! We pray for you daily and are blessed to have you as our support system.