Phoebe's Progress 12-1-10

OK, first: snow? Really? I so do not have time for this. :-)

Anyway, Little Miss Phoebe is doing really well. She is now up to 5 lbs 2 oz and eating 40 ml per feeding (about 1 1/3 oz). She's been eating just about every feeding by bottle so her nurse pulled her NG tube tonight. I walked in to the NICU and surprise! I could see her upper lip!


She has Angels' Kisses just like Joshua and David, but I'm sure they'll fade. It doesn't matter...she's beautiful and perfect!

Phoebe has had a really good week so far. I am thrilled to report that we are beginning to talk about when she might come home! In order to come home, she has to (1) maintain her own body temp, (2) eat all her feedings by bottle, (3) continue gaining weight, and (4) not have any bradycardic episodes for at least 7 days. She also needs to get her anemia under control, or at least improving. She's doing really well with 1,2 and 3. We just need to get her to stop having occasional bradys and for her red blood cell count to come up. We're getting close! We can't wait for her to come home, but of course, we don't want her to until her little body is ready so we are trusting the Drs and nurses decisions. We'll be ready for her to join us whenever she is.

Of course, by "ready" I mean, "happy and excited." We still don't have anywhere for her to sleep and the girl clothes we've received as gifts are still being stored in a corner of our office/play room and in her NICU drawer. My bed rest table and baskets are still by my side of the bed, which is where Phoebe will sleep in her bassinet as soon as I get that all put away and we find, clean and set up the bassinet.  I still haven't sorted out where her clothes will be stored. She'll be sleeping in our room, but should I keep her clothes in David's room/her future room? Or should I make some sort of temporary drawers for her in our room?  And I should probably, you know, dust and vacuum. :-) Ehhh, we'll figure all that out.  I'm not worried, we'll get everything ready in due time. I just want to get her home and get about the business of building our family's new normal.

Not the last embarrassing picture she'll have to deal with!

Thank you so much for your prayers for our little preemie. Look at how she's gained from them! I just cannot say thank you enough for your prayers and encouragement. It's really humbling, you know? I have been changed by this experience in so many ways and I thank God for His faithfulness, comfort and guidance, and for your friendship, prayers and support.

We are a blessed family.