Night 2 at Home

Well night two at home did not go as well as night one did with Miss Emma.  She had a fussy day yesterday and Jason and I knew we would be in for a fussy night with her.  It seemed as if she was having a bit of an issue with gas.  It would have been the perfect day for Peppy to be around her since he thinks her fart faces are so funny.  We tried to comfort her and finally at 1 am Emma finally calmed down and fell asleep.  Not 15 minutes later the power went out and was out for a few hours.  Nothing like trying to take care of a baby with a flashlight.  Since she had spent most of the day before fussing she slept from 1 am to 6:30 am woke up for a bottle and then slept until 8:30 am.

After getting up we all got ready for Emma's first doctors appointment.  We started getting ready at 8:30 am and just made it out the door at 10:30 am.  Adding a baby to the mix of getting ready slows us down a bit, it makes us wonder what it will be like getting ready when we throw Cloey into the mix.  We LOVED the pediatrician that a friend of ours recommended.  Dr. Bob was very personable and great with Emma.  He was very pleased with Emma, but does want her to work on eating more.  She has her good days and bad days with eating and the last day wasn't a good day.  This is the same problem we had with her before leaving the NICU on Sunday.  He wants her to eat between 60-90 mls every 3 hours.  Emma would rather have between 30-40 mls every 2 or 3 hours.  So we will be working away with her on feedings again.  She has to go back next Tuesday for a weight check with Dr. Bob.  She didn't lose any weight since being discharged, but she hasn't gained any weight either.  She got her first shot and Mommy did well and didn't even cry.  After the appointment we headed to Target to get a new style of bottle to see if it will help with her eating and gas problems.  Dr. Bob suggested the Playtex Drop-Ins and the Dr. Brown's bottles.  We bought one of each and have had some success with the Playtex bottle so far today.  

I know I said I would try and get pictures up, but I am beat after last night and sadly Jason and I haven't napped when she has napped the last two days.  With all that in mind Daddy and I are two tired parents.  Thinking tonight will be an early bed time for all three of us.  I promise to put pictures up tomorrow.  I know everyone is itching for some new pictures and video clips.  Big Sister Cloey comes on Thursday to finally get to meet her Little Sister.  I can not wait to see the interaction and joy on Cloey's face once she finally gets to meet Emma.  I have a feeling it will be a pretty emotional evening.

Emma's Time

Sorry no pictures today. We have quickly learned that we are on Emma's time and do things as she allows us to right now. She was a bit fussy today and we spent time trying to console her. Daddy was finally able to get her to fall asleep and she has stayed asleep finally. I will try and get pictures posted tomorrow after her doctors appointment at noon. Sleep tight and God Bless all of you. Mommy is off to bed before our baby girl is up for a feeding.

Emma's 1st Night Home

Emma had a wonderful first night home. We are wondering if the car ride wore her out because she slept most of the day and night yesterday. When we got home Nana and Paw Paw brought us some KFC for lunch and we hung out. After lunch Daddy and I decided we should take advantage of Emma sleeping and get some sleep ourselves. We all ended up getting in a nice 3 hour nap. After getting up and hanging out for awhile Daddy and I decided that we needed to eat dinner. Since we don't have any food in the house and I neither one of us wanted to leave Emma to go and get groceries we ordered Papa John's for dinner. A top priority will be getting to the store at some point to get groceries - only problem is that it is so hard to leave her and we are keeping her away from crowds right now so she can't go to the store with us. After dinner Daddy and I caught up on some DVR while Emma enjoyed her swing. The swing is something we have learned that she loves. We then headed to bed around midnight after giving her a bottle. Emma then slept for 5 hours, woke up and ate, and then slept for another 4 hour stretch. She allowed Daddy and I to get some nice sleep since that has been hard to do for over a month while she was in the NICU. This morning Daddy is busy working on getting caught up on homework since the semester is coming to an end and he is a bit behind from being at the hospital so much. Mommy has been taking care of some stuff around the house. Here shortly I need to head to CVS and pick up Emma's multivitamins with Iron since she is a breast milk baby. Then otherwise we are just hanging out and enjoying our time at home. Tomorrow Emma has her first appointment with her pediatrician and she is getting shots. Her follow up appointment with Dr. Kane her surgeon in Friday May 21st and her Neonatal follow up appointment is scheduled for Monday November 1st.
I am hoping to get pictures put up at some point today, but am not making any promises. We live on Emma's terms here and we will have to see if she gives me a stretch to get the pictures loaded on the computer and then on to the blog.
God Bless and keep up the prayers for Emma!

To Emma

Dear Emma,
Today we finally were able to bring you home. What a day of such joy that has been for us. We have showed you all around the house and loved on you without any machines, tubes, or probes hooked to your body for the first time. In the 32 days we spent in the NICU you taught us so much and you didn't even know. You were able to remind Daddy and I of the faith and relationship that we need to have with the Lord. With that in mind Daddy and I will raise you in a home that shows you the importance of this relationship. You brought Daddy and I together in a way that we never thought our relationship could be brought together. You forced us to lean on each other and let it all out through the good times and bad. You have gained quite a following with the help of technology through your blog. Through this blog and your healing process you have showed others the importance of a relationship with the Lord. You were able to get people who never pray to pray.
So peanut, we know you will do big things one day. Daddy and I can't wait to watch you grow and develop into an amazing person. You and your sister are the most important people in our lives and we will do anything for you. This being a quality that we gained from your grandparents who stepped up to the plate in HUGE ways for us during this time. Thank you for all you taught us and all of your followers. It is hard to believe that such a tiny person can change the world in so many big ways. Keep fighting away and being the little superstar that you are and always will be.
WE LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK - FOREVER AND EVER,
LOVE,
DADDY AND MOMMY

32 Days Ago

32 Days ago we became NICU parents much to our surprise. As Emma made her way to UVA in the Newborn Emergency Transport, my Mom and Dad drove Jason and I to UVA. As I sat in the backseat of the car my mind wander wondering just what the outcome would be for my precious baby. It was at that moment that I prayed and told God that when my baby got through all this I would find a way to pay it forward. It was at this moment that Jason and I realized our faith and relationship with the Lord was going to be strengthened in a way we could never imagine. Little did we know that our little girl would strengthen so many other people and their relationship with the Lord.
April 1st Emma was officially admitted into the NICU at the University of Virginia Medical Center. Emotions filled us as the stability of our little girl was going to be a roller coaster ride. After waiting in the waiting room for what seemed like an eternity, we were finally able to go back and see Emma. Tears come to my eyes right now as I type this and think about all the machines, tubes, and IVs that were keeping our baby stable. We wanted to pick her up and hold her reassuring her it would all be okay, but that wasn't a choice for us. It would be 16 days before we would be able to hold our baby and then it would be with tubes and probes all over her body. We held her hand and gave her kisses letting her know that it would be okay and that we loved her. The next day was the big "ECMO Scare" - just when things were looking wonderful we thought she was going to be put on the heart and lung bypass machine. Thankfully that experience was just a scare and that procedure didn't take place.
Our next mountain to climb was waiting the week for surgery. That had to be the longest time of my life. It was important that Emma stayed stable for that week. We prayed all day long that she would continue to stay stable. Prayers worked and she went to surgery and came out a star. Next it was time to climb yet again another mountain and recover from surgery. Emma continued to be a star - a nickname and honor that she earned in the NICU. Our last mountain was a rough one for the 3 of us. Emma needed to eat and gain weight. The only problem was she spent the first couple weeks of her life with tubes crammed down her throat and the pain meds were causing her to not want to eat.
Well this weekend Emma climbed the mountain and stood at the top in all her glory. She picked up on eating and gained weight like she was suppose to do. She doesn't like for anyone but Mommy or Daddy to feed her right now, but that is okay with us.
So 32 days ago our baby entered the NICU, but today we left the NICU with a healthy baby who is eating. Emma still has a long way to go and it scares us to think that she only has one full lung. While we are worried that she will have breathing issues down the road, Daddy has plans for her to be a track start even if she only has one full lung. Today when we left it was both a sad and happy day. The relationships that you create in the NICU are amazing. The doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, and the rest of the NICU staff become your own cheering squad.
Coming home today I thought about that first night in the car on the way to UVA and how I would pay it forward. It has come to me in the last few days. Jason and I will find ways to help the Ronald McDonald House that was our home away from home for over a month, we will become advocates for CDH and get the message out there, and we will try and help the NICU by donating clothes, books, and supplies that families without might not have while spending their time there. It may not be a lot, but it is our own little way to pay it forward and be thankful for the Lord getting Emma through this tough time and home where she belongs.

God is Great!!!!

Not gonna post a lot right now, but Emma is HOME!!!!!

Will post more later.

Another Change

As of this morning it has been decided that there is a 99.9% chance that we will be discharged tomorrow.  That means that Emma will be staying at our house tomorrow night.  The thought of this reminds me that God is Good!  We are rooming in with her again to night in the NICU so I can nurse her throughout the night.  As long as she has gained weight tonight, nurses well overnight, and takes some breast milk from the bottle.  Words can not express what Jason and I are feeling as we get ready to leave the NICU.  Keep up those prayers!  God bless all of you and we will forever be grateful for everyone and their thoughts and prayers.  Our little girl is a fighter, survivor, and blessing.