March for Babies

Friday, March 10, 2006

Three Weeks

Azure is three weeks old today and she has had quite a week!  Three major accomplishments in the past few days.
 
#1) Last night she weighed in at a whopping 2 lb. 2.6 oz.! 
 
#2) We have started tube feeding the breast milk.  They actually call this stage "gut priming" but T absolutely hates that term so we are calling it "feeding" instead.  She started out getting .5 cc every twelve hours and we have now increased that to .5 cc every three hours.  This is a long slow process but it has begun so we are that much farther ahead than we were last week.
 
#3) Saving the best for last...I got to hold her last night.  We "snuck in a hold" while they had her out of the isolette to weigh her.  The nurses decided that it was about time.  The contact is good for her (and us) as long as we can keep her temperature up and the nurse held the ventilator tubes for us so that was comfortable for her.  I leaned down to kiss her forehead and almost in response she reached her hand up and touched my face. You could not have scripted it better. T held her hand for a minute and took our picture but we couldn't have her out for too long or her temperature would drop too low.  The nurse said we could try again soon and they will wrap her all up and let me sit and rock her for a while.
 
YAY!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh Blue! That is the best news in the world! I'm amazed at how much Azure is thriving. And you and T are just so strong through all of this. It's certainly inspiring to say the least.

Unknown said...

Oh, I am so happy for you that you were able to hold her. She is growing so wonderfully! What a strong, brave girl she is. But then of course she is, with you and T. as parents.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Blue! I'm so happy for you.

Mama Kelly said...

I am so very happy for you and to hear that Azure is doing well

Anonymous said...

What wonderful news! :-)

Jess said...

*happy hiccups*

Anonymous said...

Hi. I am here via Tertia via Badger. I am also a NICU mom of a 24 weeker. We are home now, but I know how hard and wonderful the NICU can be. Our little family will be thinking of your little family and sending you all love. I hope you get to hold her again very soon. And congrats on the weight gain - very impressive!

Anonymous said...

There are no words to describe how good it is to hold your child. Our son was only a few days old when we got to hold him for the first time (aside from the minute they let me hold him after birth) and I just did not want to ever let go. I hope you get to hold Azure again soon, and that she's healthy enough to stay in your arms until they get tired.