Another Day in the NICU

Didn't get a chance to get on and update the blog before bed last night(Sunday).  Someone(Emma) decided to be wide awake when Daddy and I tried to leave her last night.  We both always feel guilty if she is awake when we leave so we had to cuddle her and love her a bit longer and got in LATE last night.  I finally was able to give Emma her first sponge/tub bath last night.  It appears that she will have the little scab of a stump that she has left for the rest of her life.  No they do promise me it will eventually come off.  She was not fan of the bath at all.  We joked with her that she didn't beat Daddy in the longest time without a bath and must only use baby wipes competition.  Daddy went much longer when he was in Iraq.  Other than the bath last night that was about it for highlights for Sunday.

Today (Monday) Daddy and I were very busy.  Emma is continuing to only take anywhere from 20-40 ml at each feeding.  Sounds good, but she needs to be taking 63 ml at each feeding.  We continue to work with the speech therapist with her feedings.  Her therapist ensures us that we are doing everything right when feeding her, but she just tires easily with them.  She is working on being weaned off of her methadone and we are hoping once she is completely off it feedings will pick up.  With her methadone she is now only taking it once a day and the dose has been cut in half.  If she does well with the half dose tomorrow evening she will not be getting any.  With the feeding issues Jason and I went to visit the Kluege Children's Rehabilitation Center today.  This is the rehabilitation center where Emma could possibly be transfered to because of her feeding issues.  Jason and I liked the center and would be happy with Emma getting help there, but we would like our next transition to be home.  Right now the doctors are happy with keeping Emma where she is because she would be getting the same amount of support at both places because the speech therapist at the center has a heavy caseload at the time.  There was also talks of us possibly taking Emma home with her NG Tube(the feeding tube that is in her nose and goes to her stomach).  Jason and I want this option(along with the doctor) to be a last resort, but we are willing to if it is needed.  

With all of this please keep up your thoughts and prayers for Emma and her feedings.  God Bless All of You and we owe much of our daughters recovery and health to all of you and your prayers.