2 Weeks Old & She Opened Her Eyes!!

Age: 2 weeks
Gestational Age: 25w5d
Weight:1lb 3oz

Today Ava is 2 weeks old!  During the morning hands-on with her nurse, she opened her eyes!!  She opened them again when I got there and the nurse was letting me help with the afternoon hands-on.  Yay for the little milestones!

They were able to turn her oxygen back down to 33%.  Surgery for the PDA will either be Friday or Monday...waiting for the surgeon to confirm the date.  She was being a little diva today...didn't want anyone messing with her. Everytime we opened the bed her oxygen would drop.  She was able to recover on her own, but it's still an uneasy feeling. She had to receive blood yesterday and today.  They had to do a lot of tests (labs) yesterday so they were replacing what they took.  Other than that, we're just waiting for the surgery.

PDA Update

Age: 12 days
Gestational Age: 25w3d
Weight: 1lb

Well the PDA did not close. The doctor said they will do surgery at the end of this week or early next. They are waiting to make sure she doesn't have an infection. There is a chance it may close on it's on own, but it's not likely. Other than that, she had a pretty good day.  They did have to turn up her oxygen to 43%, but that could be from the PDA being open.

Will update again when I know more about the surgery.

Ava's Birth Story

Well as most of you know by now, I was diagnosed with severe Preeclampsia which turned into HELLP.  When I went to the hospital they told me I would deliver within a week...well I made it a day and a half.  The doctor and nurse woke me up at 1 AM on Wednesday (9/16) for an emergency c-section.  I was shocked and scared as I knew it was too early to have Ava.  But they insisted that I was in danger if I didn't deliver. So at 2:19 AM Ava Rene' was born (23w5d).  She weighed 445 g and measured only 10.75 in.  She is tiny but she is a fighter!  It's been 10 days and so far she has remained strong! 

Will has been great...he drops off breastmilk every morning on his way to work and then goes back after work to sit and talk to her.  I go to the hospital and sit with her in the morning and leave late afternoon.  We have a routine that seems to be working so far!

I will post updates on her progress. 

As of yesterday...9/26
Weight: 451 g (was up to 470, may have decreased due to stopped feedings)
Length: 11 in
Oxygen Level: 28-30%
PDA: open, ibuprofen administred (Thurs, Fri & Sat) - results Monday
Brain Bleed: was a level 1, but improving
Apena: receiving caffine
Anemia: receiving blood transfusions a few times a week
RDS: surfactant
Infection: culture on 9/22 was negative...another culture on 9/26
Feeding: they stopped the breastmilk while she is getting ibuprofen

She Finally Kicked Me!

So for the last couple of weeks I've thought I've felt little Ava moving but wasn't sure. It just felt like she was taking her little finger and running it across my belly right under my belly button. Well last night after dinner, I had some ice cream and laid on the couch with my hands on my belly. And sure enough I swear I felt her kick!! It was like I could feel her little foot and toes in the palm of my hand!! It only lasted about a minute. Will tried to feel her but he couldn't. Now when people ask if I've felt her I can finally say "yes" without the "at least I think it was her" after it!! I felt her today too...just a little while ago she kicked me again!