Update on Doctors Appointments

Last week Ava had 2 appointments...one with the Hematologist and one with the Pulmnologist.  Both went great!!  The hematologist wants to see her at the end of March to check to see if she is a carrier of Sickle Cell, since Will has the trait.  Her platlette count was good at 204K, so he isn't too concerned about that anymore.

The Pulmnologist gave her her 3rd Synagis shot (a vaccine for RSV).  Ava will get these shots every month until April and next year during RSV season (Sept-Apr).  You can learn more about RSV here.  She said we can start to wean Ava off the O2 by turning it off for 10min a day.  When we go back next month they will try her off of it for 45min to an hour.

Ava goes back to the eye doctor on Wed for her 3 week follow up.

She's So Smart! and Big!!

The other day I put her in her play mat with a mirror.  The mirror has a black/white spinning ball on it...I would spin it and then Ava would!  It was so cute.  Before taking the video she spun it about 10 times!!  She's so smart!!  I tried uploading the video but it didn't work.  Anyone know how?

We weighed her tonight after her bath...she's up to 6lbs 10oz!! It's so cute, she has a double chin and rolls on her thighs!  Who would have thought that our little 15oz babygirl would have rolls!

Prayers for Preemies

My sister has created a braclet for Ava and a website with her birth story. 

http://www.wix.com/afourashley/Prayers-for-Preemies

Thank you Ashley!  Love you!

Ava is HOME!!

After a LONG 103 days, miss Ava is home!  She was released on 12/28!  She did have to come home on oxygen and an apnea monitor.  I don't mind the monitor so much as it gives me a chance to sleep and not check on her every 2 seconds.  But the oxygen is a PITA!  Anytime she has a doctors appointment I have to have someone with me.  It's too much to carry by myself (Ava in the carrier, oxygen tank, apnea monitor & diaper bag). 

So far we've been to the pediatrician twice (routine visits) and the eye doctor.  The pediatrician says she looks great for a 23 weeker.  No visible signs of any major problems.  At the last visit she weighed 5lbs 5oz.  The eye doctor wants to see her every 3 weeks, which is normal for a preemie.  So far so good on her eyes, no signs of ROP.  We go the hematologist on the 20th to follow up on tests she had done when she was born.  Since she was so early they just want to follow up.  She goes to the pulmonologist on the 21st, so hopefully they will start weaning her off the oxygen.

She's doing pretty good at home, eating every 3-4 hours.  After her last feeding at night, she usually goes for 5 hours before she wakes up!  Great for Will and I!  Other than that, things are what you expect with a newborn.  Since we have to go by her adjusted age, today she is 8 days old.  But technically today she is 4 months!! 

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY babygirl!!  We love you and are so VERY proud of you!!

Ava is Home!!!

I know it's been a LONG time...I promise when I have more time I will come back and update!!! 

Moved to Transition Pod

November 29
Age: 10w4d
Gestational Age: 34w2d
Weight: 2lbs 13oz

Today they moved Ava to a transitional pod and lowered her oxygen settings to the lowest before either coming off or having to go home on it!!  She's doing great!!  Her new room is more private and has a window!  This is the first that she's seen natural light.  In this pod it seems that they really want you to focus on preparing for her to come home.  It's great but overwhelming at the same time.  Coming from a pod where they train you to take it day to day and even sometimes hour by hour, this is a huge adjustment.  So Will and I are taking some classes in the next few days to help us prepare...Child Seat/CPR (required) and Baby Care.  There are a few more classes that we want to take as well, Development and Infant Massage.  Keep praying that we can bring Babygirl home for Christmas!!!

Started Bottle Feeding & Introduced Breast

November 23
Age: 9w5d
Gestational Age: 33w3d
Weight: 2lbs 10.5 oz
Nurse Kate fed Ava from a bottle today!  Out of 20cc, she took 5! We will slowly feed her more from the bottle since she needs to feed from it at every feeding to be able to go home.

November 24
Age: 9w6d
Gestational Age: 33w4d
Weight: 2lbs 11.5 oz
Today Ava took 15 of 20cc from Nurse Hermine!  She would've taken it all but Hermine didn't want to put the multi-vitamin in the bottle b/c Ava would have been able to taste it.  Some of the nurses also overheard the doctor telling the residents that "this is what a 23-weeker should look like" because she was fiesty and kicking!  They also heard her say Ava "is the best 23-weeker she's had"!!! 

November 25
Age: 10w
Gestational Age: 33w5d
Weight: 2lbs 11oz
We started nuzzling today and when she found the breast she went for it!  Later we actually let her feed from the breast and she did pretty good!  She would go and then stop and then go again!  She did this 3 or 4 times!  Today she "nippled" 4 times which is the max she's allowed right now.