Happy One Month, Evie! 1-25-2011

Happy one month birthday to Evie! Strange to think she should have just been born. Her due date was January 24 and her c-section date was scheduled for 39 weeks on January 17th. She decided Christmas would be more fun...I was only 35 weeks and 5 days at that point but from the size of her, you'd think I was full term. She was considered a preemie at birth and would have gone to the NICU anyway (regardless of her skin condition) to be monitored. Even though she was considered premature, she had none of the typical preemie issues; eating, breathing, etc.

At her 4 week doctor appointment, the nurse asked all the typical developmental questions of a 4 week old born at term. Evie is keeping right up. She is gaining some pounds and inches as well! At 4 weeks she is 9 lbs 4 oz and 21 inches long. Wow! Considering she got down to 6 lb 13 oz after birth, she's not doing too bad! They adjust the percentages for her 4 week early arrival and therefore she's in the 92nd percentile for weight, 89th for height and 86th for head circumference.

However, when the doc asked me if she was giving responsive smiles yet and not just the random smiles during sleep (or because of gas)...I was not able to say yes. I hadn't seen her really smile at me. The doc said not to worry, she should be doing that in the next week or two.

The next day, after a bath (which she LOVES by the way), I had a wide awake Evie stretched out on the bed while I dressed her. Grandma Claudia was here and was talking to her while she kicked and played. Next thing we knew, a huge (responsive) grin for Grandma. Aw. Her first smile. And then another cheeky smile for me. What could be better?

Evie's smile = joy.

Oh so little sleep.

It seems that little Evie has her days and nights mixed up. It's been two weeks out of the NICU and we have had lots of sleepless nights around here. I am at a loss for words on this one as well as a major loss of sleep. She naps like a champ during the day. Like. A. Champ. LONG stretches of 4 even 5 hours of peaceful, snugly sleep. But as soon as nightfall hits, she's a cat napper and nits and fusses every time she's put down in her bassinet. Perhaps she's just accustomed to the round the clock bright lights and the hustle and bustle of the NICU. For example, during the day, I can run the hairdryer or even the vacuum...she's out like a light. Amelia can run around laughing, yelling, general banging about...Evie is still as a stone. Dishwasher, television, washer/dryer...not a peep. But once the sun goes down, sister is sleeping, all is quiet...I turn on some nice ocean wave sounds, turn down the lights...and it's party time for Ev, and therefore, the mom. To make matters more interesting, big sister has been getting up 2, even 3 times a night. Oh, and throw the cat meowing at all of the activity into the mix and you have yourself a not-so-funny but rather hysterical situation. In fact, I find myself laughing out loud (just to keep from crying) and saying things like "are you kidding me?" under my breath as I go from room to room trying to get both girls back to sleep. Ahh, the joys. And I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

Just some pics...

19 days old

Just a tiny peanut.

Great Grandma Anne S.

Great Aunt Dionne

Little Evie is 19 days old! There is not much new to report today. She's doing well and we are all getting used to life with new baby sister around. Amelia continues to adjust well. I've read to watch for signs of regression in the older ones when the new baby comes home. None to speak of so far. A little attention getting behavior maybe, but nothing major. She enjoys helping with diaper changes and feedings. This morning she woke up and came in our room. Ford and Evie and I were already awake and Ford had put Evie between us in the bed (don't worry...she doesn't sleep there) so we could talk to her. Amelia, who comes in every morning to snuggle, came in and noticed who was in her "spot." "Hey! She's laying where I lay. There's no woom for me now." Aw, so sad.

We assured her that no one could ever take her "spot" and that there's "woom" for all of us to snuggle in the bed. Looks like we'd better get a king sized bed. :)

We have had limited visitors due to Evie's prematurity and susceptibility to RSV. Doc advised us to limit visitors at first. But Great Grandma Stornant has been dying to come and snuggle the new babe. She and Great Aunt Dionne came today. Lots of snuggles.

First trip to the doc.

Evie had her first doctor appointment today. She slept through the whole thing. She now weighs 7 lbs 13 oz. She has gained almost 8 ounces since she came home! She is 20 inches long. Doc said she looks great. Still a little residual jaundice, she looks a tad yellow, but no reason to treat it at this point as her numbers were good when she left the NICU. No pokes today. Her pediatrician has seen only one other collodion baby when she did her rotation in Grand Rapids. She did not treat that baby but I was kind of amazed she had actually seen it before. She had been filled in already by the NICU docs here so she was well aware of Evie's NICU stay. Her next visit is in two weeks.

Evie's skin is doing well, her arms, legs and face and head are clear at this point. She is still peeling in some areas and will likely peel again. Amelia did this as well, on her trunk mostly. The whole process takes a few months. So we wait and keep praying.

She just seems to get sweeter and sweeter everyday. Ford and I were reflecting today that it hasn't really sunk in yet...the fact that we have 2 girls now. Since her arrival, life has been so hectic and busy and rushed...we are looking forward to slowing down and settling into this life that God has planned out for us. Should be quite a ride. :)

Home!

BABY EVIE!

"I'm done."

Evie is home! We picked her up last night. Big sister was so excited she could not contain herself. She jumped up and down and clapped her hands and covered her mouth and giggled. Sooo much happiness. She held her for 45 seconds and then she was done. Today she fed her twice, fixed her hat for her often, and gave her the suckie repeatedly. Very sweet. Oh and Amelia stayed in her pajamas all day today because Evie did.

And p.s. Ford and I slept maaaaybe 2 hours last night, maybe. She's a night baby. :) Oh and Ford and I are sick. Which is fun.

But we are home.

And we are blessed.

Day 13

Hard to believe 2 weeks is almost up. What a road. It feels unreal in a lot of ways, I am still trying to wrap my head around it. Evie is doing great. She has peeled 75% of the way. What has peeled is beautiful underneath. I wish she's hurry up and finish! I can speculate a few reasons why it is taking a little longer...one reason may be because the docs at Sparrow have been reducing her humidity for quite a few days now in an attempt to ween her before she comes home. I however, would like to take full advantage of the her little jungle while she's there, the humidity along with the Aquaphor is what really helps the process along. We have had many discussions about the humidity during her stay. A bit frustrating but either way, she is doing great. Things are looking good for discharge this weekend. Tonight she has to pass her car seat test. She has to sit in her car seat for at least an hour while they monitor her heart and breathing. This is because she was born prematurely. Even though she is a hefty 7 lbs, her lungs are still not fully developed. I feel blessed that she at least made it to the middle of her 35th week. Though this is not ideal, she has had few problems regarding being born early. This is a truly a blessing considering everything else she's had to deal with. Yesterday they did a chest x-ray and a CBC and all was normal.

As excited as we are to finally have her home, I am a little nervous about bringing her out into the cold dry winter environment. Her sister was born during a hot/humid Tennessee heat wave. Quite a difference. We pray for a smooth transition and for Evie to continue to thrive at home.

So...please continue to pray for Evie's complete healing! I cannot ask this enough. Prayers, prayers, prayers!!! And more prayers.

Thank you to all of you who have delivered food to us. The regular, everyday tasks of life are much harder to do post surgery with a 3.5 year old at home and a newborn in the NICU. We appreciate the kind gestures. Thank you.

Day 11

Today's quick update...Evie's bilirubin levels were great. No lights in her future, thank the Lord! They continue to ween her off the humidity in her isolette. Today was around 55%. She is really peeling and what is revealed underneath is beautiful soft baby skin. She has been getting regular "baths" from her nurses and this really seems to help. We got her out twice today to feed her. Her first trip out she drank more than the second. She just gets so cozy and would apparently rather snuggle than eat when we hold her. That's okay. She eats well from the bottle and she continues to get breast milk which is the most important thing right now.

It seems Evie is following in her sister's footsteps in more ways than one...she has an uncanny ability to wait until just the moment when she is passed off to Ford and then decides to poop. Just the way Amelia did during her NICU stay. But even better than that, she is totally entranced with him, when she is awake that is. She just stares at him and listens intently to his voice. Just the way Amelia did. Looks like we have two Daddy's girls.

Her NICU doctor talked to Amelia's pediatric dermatologist, Dr. Smith, at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital today. He didn't have much insight other than concurring that Evie's progress and membrane sounds a lot like Amelia's. He assured Dr. Gewolb that her course of treatment is exactly what he would recommend and told him to rely on the parents for information and insight regarding her care. It's unanimous, according to all of Evie's doctors nurses, even the geneticist, we know more than they do. I have a hard time deciding if that fact is comforting or distressing. The truth is only God has the answers, and Evie. Onward.

Keep praying.

Day 9

Day 9 in the NICU. It seems Evie's bath yesterday really helped speed some things along. She is really shedding today and I am anxious to see tomorrow's progress. We were able to hold her tonight and I fed her, she drank 22 mL from me! Her minimum is now up to 50 mL per feeding so she drank half from me and half from a bottle. She has been very calm and content in her jungle-like isolette. They have turned her humidity down slowly over the past few days and she seems to be tolerating it well. Today it is set at 70 % humidity. Before her evening feeding she was wide awake, making faces and staring at me. I talked to her through the glass of her isolette and she smiled big cheeky smiles up at me. I could see her dimple. :)

Tomorrow she gets her bilirubin checked again. I am prayerful that her numbers are okay, I'd like to avoid the bilirubin lights if we could. Those lights and her skin might be tricky. Please pray for good numbers. She will also get another bath tomorrow.

Ford is still on break from MSU as well as teaching. Thank goodness. It has been so nice having him free during this whole ordeal. He gets up every morning and heads right to the hospital with milk for Evie. I join him later after spending the morning with Amelia and we come home around dinner/bed time to be with Amelia. As soon as she's asleep, he heads back up the hospital to be with Evie. He has been amazing through all of this and has had nothing on his mind but caring for his girls, all three of us. We are so blessed. I am so grateful.

Please continue to pray for Evie's complete healing. I know I ask this every time I post, but prayers are what we need above all else. Thank you and love to you all.

Day 8 - Happy New Year

Today Evie is 8 days old. Day 8 in the NICU. Her blood work came back with good results. Hematocrit and hemoglobin levels went up and her electrolytes were fine. Her bilirubin is a little high, but nothing to be alarmed about. She is eating like a champ and maintains her weight around 6 lbs and 14 oz. I've been able to try to nurse her twice, the first time successfully and the second she was just too sleepy. She continues to get breast milk as I pump every 3 hours! Brings me back 3 1/2 years...I pump, Ford makes the milk run. :)

The membrane around her eyes, mouth and ears has begun to crack and peel. She had her first "bath" today, which consisted of being wiped down with some purified water. Some of it she enjoyed and some she didn't.

Overall she is doing well and is following suit with her sister's progress. The waiting is hard. The hardest. Please continue to pray for her membrane to shed and reveal beautiful healthy skin underneath.

Amelia is handling it all so well. She has spent lots and lots of time with my parents, my sister and her cousins this past week. I've been so proud of how mature she's been, she just seems to be just taking it all in stride. She's had four "sleepovers" at Grandma and Grandpa Loto's house and handled the separation beautifully. Knowing she is happy has made this whole NICU ordeal so much easier. She is sooo excited to have a baby sister. I can't wait for the two of them to finally meet.

Thank you for your prayers.