Yay a pooh! (see pic)

Yay! A squirt of pooh on her own. Great job Bella!

She has also been having trouble keeping all of her feedings down as she has had a few launchings of breastmilk. We attribute them to her reflux, not her hydrocephalus, because she is still very alert when she's awake, moves all extremities, can change her head positioning, wow...the list goes on. We are so blessed!

We got some painting started today in the room downstairs where we enclosed the fireplace, so needless to say it stinks, so we are sleeping upstairs the next couple of days. So the goal is to be finished with the downstairs painting & such after this project, then move onto final project-the laundry-room floor. Oh & by the way, if I didn't mention it before, I was able to replace a water pump in the washing machine & it's working just fine again. Sears actually had the part here in Grand Junction parts store! Can u believe it? $130 & a few hours.

When is there time for rest, you might ask? Hmm, let me see...when Bella is 21 & married, and doing just fine. That's when.

Finally Becky on the blogging band wagon

Hello all:
I finally feel like I can contribute to Bella's blog. I know for a lot of people keeping a journal or blogging during their NICU experience was helpful for them. I was always going to try it but nothing would come from my brain to the paper. It was all I could do to get dressed and make it to the hospital some days. I am happy to say, I now feel like slowly telling our story. But where to start......
I think for today, I will just say THANK YOU St. Mary's NICU staff. These wonderful Dr's, NNP's, nurses, OT, Resp therapy, and Unit clerks made our 101 days in the hospital so much better. All the kind words and hugs and encouragement will always be remembered. Bella will be told all about those angels who cared for her and day by day prayed for her and willed her to get better. We made some life long friends in the NICU with women I will always treasure. Our family adopted several "aunties" that are truly a part of our family now, linked by a bond never to be broken. And thank you March Of Dimes for the countless hours, $ and resources that are given to helping preemie babies. If you have and extra dollar or two this is a great cause to donate to. And most important THANK YOU Heavenly Father for allowing this special baby to remain here on the earth with her family. We love and hug and kiss her and we remember daily the miracle she is!!

3/29/2012 update

Bella had follow up with eye doc today who was very pleased with her retinas. So she has one more follow up in a couple weeks & then once a year I believe.
Very busy life this week-whew!

Bella still has been without a real poop in one week again. Uhgg! Continues to have soft belly & passes plenty of gas.

But wow! What a week! We have made it one week at home & the time is super-flying. At this rate Bella will be a teenager soon!

First check up/visit with Pediatrician today

1st check up with Dr Mike today. He says she's doing well. She's up over 6 lbs & looking good, still just worried about the stooling, or lack thereof.

Happy one minute, grunting the next to have a poop. We are happy she is home but mom & dad are exhausted. Wishin we had those expensive babysitters to help all through the night!

Updated pics from 3-25-2012

She's just cruising right along-more awake at night as compared to day time. Still having trouble pooping but our guess is she hasn't quite adjusted fully to the enfamil formula additive that helps to fortify the breastmilk. Bella did do well on the breast today-so still praying she will take to it fully soon.

Just couldn't resist getting a pic with big brother Dallin after he fell asleep tonight.

Who is the cutest strawberry?

Bella Grace!

Good day-3-23-2012

All snuggled in her bassinet tonight.

She has had a pretty good day. Mom ran into a little problem with some if the older breast milk as she was mixing up future feedings-a bad kinda rancid smell noticed. So she called a NICU RN & learned that it could be bad so she had to dump it, darn it!

We are still trying to catch up on the organization of items after the various room changes, but the nursery looks great. Our goal is to get the downstairs fireplace closed up & drywalled over, so that we can call in fit help on texturing so that we can paint the rest of the downstairs. Whew! A lot of work still to be done!

Mommy is trying to catch up on sleep & daddy is losing a lot to help with night-time feeds, but so worth it!
Didn't know if I mentioned yesterdays weight check was up to 5-14 (right after eating) when the home health RN came to visit. Way to go Bella.

On a small side note Dalln has had a weird cough & we are thinking allergies-but who knows? & how can you keep an excited 5 yr old away from his baby sister? It's tough but he has been willing to sanitize his hands every time he gets close. What a good boy- he & daddy got to have a father-son lunch today @ chika-flika.

Bella has done well so far

Finally had a poo-poo tonight after a little stimulation, now hopefully the dam has been broken, opened.

Family isn't quite adjusted to having her home, but we are thankful we have less running to do....until next week when the follow up appointments begin!

Just wanted to give a shout out of thanks to Jimmy & Ayme for helping out today & also thanks so much to Tyson & Joshua @ servicemaster for doing such a great job on the carpets!

Now if we could just get the ducts cleaned & the rest of the drywall up and and and.....

Thanks so much to everyone! Great dinners the last two nights. Much appreciated!

Bella Grace is Home!

Yep-today was the day & Bella was officially discharged from NICU before shift change tonight-around 7pm.

We met the O2 man & received a large tank & a long O2 extension cord, Bella took a decent feeding, & now we are all trying to rest. We got all excited & now we are all out of gas. Time to sleep, well at least for a couple hours.

Thanks to the NICU staff & everyone else's support & love for us! We appreciate you!

Pics are of her going home outfit & asleep in her very own bassinet in mom & daddy's room. Good night sweet princess Bella!

100th day!

Yep Bella completed her 100th day in NICU today! & furthermore plan is to come home tomorrow! Yep tomorrow to the home w/o the bassinet(it's at grandmas) & the crib isn't put together because the nursery isn't done & plus we don't have a crib mattress. Hmm. Ya think we're ready? But whoever is?

Status quo day

Bella keeps a growin.

I think she wanted to help get her own diaper changed today.

Still having a couple to few days in between poopy diapers. She sure pushes out some gas though.

Still lots to do with the house-never ending & now our washing machine broke down tonight-just doesn't spin anymore. Anyone know the quick fix-besides buying a new one?

Ultrasound results

Doc says no real change in the size of that right ventricle & did not want to pursue any extra shunt surgery at this time so Yay! We'll find out tomorrow when next head US will be. This gives us mixed emotions cause we know it's a blessing that she may not need another shunt, but on the other hand will the increased pressure cause any further brain tissue damage? Neurosurgeon says it would take several weeks & they see no indication of that on the ultrasounds at this time so awesome. Go Bella!

She's up to 5 lbs 11 ozs as of last night, but also going a few days between poops (which is normal). But we also just started adding the enfamil formula to the breast milk(to give her the calories she needs) & removed the milk fortifier as the milk fortifier that they use in the NICU is way expensive to get after leaving the hospital. So not only is little miss Bella is very gassy, but she has very stinky gas too! Whew-wee!

We did change her into a different outfit today & do she is now deemed the cutest ladybug of all time now.

Head Ultrasound Tomorrow.

Happy St Patricks day!

Follow up head ultrasound tomorrow, them the neurosurgeon will make a decision on whether she will need another shunt.

Everyone please keep praying & keep fingers, toes, eyes crossed for good luck.

Thank you so much for your faith & assistance. And keep praying for the Docs & NNPs & Nurses to be inspired which treatment will be best for her.

Still got lots to do on the house!

Bella 3-16-12

Asleep on Daddy's chest after eating today. Sweet sweet girl.

Bella update

Blood pressures have been slightly high, but attributed to her lung issues with being on Ventilator for so long.

We spoke with the neurosurgeon about the possibility of another temporary subgaleal shunt. The next ultrasound will give us further information so that the docs can collaborate on a definitive decision. We sure pray fervently that she will learn to reroute & reabsorb that extra CSF.

The pressures of trying to get the house ready effect everything else we do. We are pretty close, just work & running back & forth between home & hospital does take lots of time.

Thank you for the prayers & assistance.
In the pictures below she had just eaten so we had the rag ready to catch any urped up food.

Hmmm

Bella's head ultrasound normal sized ventricle on the left, but the right is slightly larger. So...we wait for another US scheduled this Sunday. Possible long-term shunt (VP shunt) next week. This is dependent upon collaboration between the neurosurgeon & the neonatologists. She's looking so good with movement of trunk & limbs. She has facial expressions. She's feeding/nippling well-still working on the stamina portion on the breast feeding though, we're told it takes time. More patience, more faith.

The great news is that her eyes are a little better so no eye exam for 2 weeks. And they are such beautiful blue eyes.

It is really hard to see the other babies who have been in the NICU for awhile-but not as long as us- going home. When's our turn you might ask? Well with the impending surgery, we may be delayed.

Busy day tomorrow, better turn it. Good night Bella. Good night everyone.

Keep my eye on you again!

Bella had a follow up head ultrasound today. We are just waiting for results. Prob won't get info until tomorrow. Continue prayers that her head will heal!

Update: 3-12-2012

Bella passed her hearing test today! Woo hoo!

Give me some more food! My cheeks aren't chubby enough...

3-10-2012

Some new pics & oh yeah- a new order to now breast/nipple feed as tolerated so common Bella! Build up the stamina!
And one more thing- don't forget to spring ahead tonight! Daylight savings!

Just in case you needed proof

Here's the picture on the scale tonight!
Yep: 5 lbs 2.9 ozs! And of course a few more from the days activities in the NICU.

Also wanted to put a plug in for Eben Newton with Newton & Sons Drywall for the most excellent & quickest work on the tape, mud, & texturing! Now we will be ready to prime tomorrow & paint Saturday.

Bella 3-9-2012

Bella continuing to grow.

As an update on the house we got started on the priming of the walls tonight, will hopefully get all painted tomorrow, at least that's the goal.

Once again: thank you everyone of you for your thoughts and prayers. They are a real blessing in our lives!

Bella baby

Yesterday's eye exam ok, but eye doc still watching a couple areas closely. So Bella will get an eye exam in another week. Otherwise our Bella bird is progressing well. Feeding amounts have increased due to her weight gain. She always seems to have a little reflux when they do that & until she gets used to it. The NNP last night reminded us not to expect to be able to bring her home before her original due date of April 1st.
The house continues to plug along- the tape/mud/texture team started yesterday & maybe completed today. They sure have done an awesome job! Thank you Eben & Joel!
So we have two days before the painting crew wants to get in here to help us paint.
I have included some updated pics from yesterday:

Yee haw! Another milestone!

Bella reached 5 pounds in weight tonight! YES, YES!

Bella update

Continuing to grow-close to 5 lbs but just shy.
Eating like a queen, out little Bella bird isn't considered little anymore in the NICU. Thank u everyone for your prayers & support.
I don't know & can't say for sure, but I think that the NICU staff is getting sick of us but love Bella so much they wouldn't mind keeping her up there awhile longer.... :~)

3-3-2012 update

A lot of the house project has been completed & I wanted to thank everyone who pitched in & those yet to work with us in the future on getting it ready for Bella.
She had a great Saturday & is up to three nipple feedings a day which gets her a step closer to coming home. We are very happy about her progress & know that Heaven Father answers prayers.
Bella got to try a special swing out on Saturday. It's very cozy & gentle. She has enjoyed it, but it belongs to the NICU.

3-2-2012

Bella took a whole feeding from the bottle today! A whole 42cc-appropriate to her weight gain. We are thinking at the rate she is going, she will reach the 5 pound milestone soon-possibly in the next week.
She is so cute- she's not just a little tweetie anymore, but she has proved that she's a loud tooter-following in her daddy's big footsteps.