Hattie’s Blog

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God's Not Dead 3/8/13

March 08, 2013Melissa

I called Nurse Jen at 5:00 a.m. to check in on Hattie. Mostly I was wondering if she pooped. She hadn't. It is crazy how someone else's pooping schedule is keeping me up at night. Hattie woke up to eat at 1:30 a.m. but only took 9 cc. Nurse Jen could tell Hattie wasn't feeling well and was surprised she didn't take her bottle. I got to the hospital for Hattie's hands-on time at 7:30 a.m. Hattie started off the morning right and pooped! She nursed and ate 20 cc. We kangarooed for several hours and both rested.

Hattie's stooling pattern has been very different since she was switched to the Neosure formula fortifier. Dr. Alexander said it will take her body a few days to get used to the formula so we're trying to be patient. By the afternoon she was extremely uncomfortable again. I spent almost an hour huddled over her bed holding her little legs against the side of her belly in the frog position. She would push against my hands with her feet and I would push back trying to help her work it out. It was terrible.

She took a little over half of three more bottles today but didn't finish any. Hattie really isn't acting like herself. Hattie enjoyed kangarooing with her daddy tonight. We are trying to do everything we can to make our baby feel better.

Hattie weighs 2,198 grams, or 4 pounds, 13.53 ounces.

As I was driving to the hospital this morning I heard a song that has been replaying in my head all day.

My God's not dead / He's surely alive / He's living on the inside / Roaring like a lion (Newsboys)

It is clear that God's presence is shining through Hattie. I love you more and more each day sweet girl.

categories Hattie Updates, Photos

Two Months 3/6/13

March 06, 2013Melissa

Today is Hattie's two month birthday. What a wonderfully crazy two months it's been! As first time parents this journey has been "normal" for us because we have nothing to compare it to. Our time in the NICU has been smoother than most, but it's been our journey, and it's still been terribly hard for us. We are completely blessed and we know we have a prize at the end of all of this. We will get to be home together as a family soon! (Hopefully before Hattie's three month birthday.)

One month ago Hattie still lived in an incubator. Today Hattie lives in her bassinet and gets to wear clothes.

One month ago she was eating 25 cc every three hours. Now she's eating 40 cc every three hours!

One month ago Hattie hit three pounds (1,369 grams). Today she weighs 2,202 grams or 4 pounds, 13.67 ounces. She has gained over 800 grams in the last month and three whole pounds since she was born!

One month ago we just started nuzzling. Now Hattie is taking full feeds from a bottle and doing ok with breast feeding.

What a difference a month makes. God is so, so good!

Hattie took her whole bottle at 7:30 a.m. and was fed through her tube at 10:30 a.m. I nursed her at 1:30 p.m. She ate 10 cc and received the rest through her tube while we were kangarooing. My dear friend Katie came to visit this afternoon. We had so much fun; we talked a lot of girl talk and Hattie was entertaining us with all the silly noises she makes.

Hattie was a little cranky for her two month photo shoot. We thought her grumpiness was because she was so hungry but when it was time to eat she only took half of her bottle. We took a family nap while Chris and Hattie were kangarooing tonight. Nurse Jen told us later that when she came in to check on Hattie all three of us were sleeping with our mouths hanging open. You think we'd be embarrassed but we don't care–we're tired! Chris fed Hattie a bottle at 10:30 p.m. and she ate 33 cc.

I was invited to attend the kick off meeting for the upcoming 15th annual Miracle Miles 5K and 15K event in September. Miracle Miles is the NICU's single largest fundraiser providing financial support for the NICU and the expansion project. The meeting today was full of leaders from the hospital and foundation, community partners and NICU parents. Dr. Alexander leads the charge and gave me a very nice introduction. I'm looking forward to serving on the committee and helping raise money for the NICU that holds such a special place in my heart. Dr. Alexander and this NICU saved Hattie's life and changed mine for the better. I will do everything I can to give back to this place.

categories Hattie Updates, Photos

Sleepy Monday 3/4/13

March 04, 2013Melissa

Hattie had a case of the Mondays and was pretty sleepy all day. We are both recuperating from all of the excitement over the weekend. Her feeds have increased to 39 cc and she weighs 2,152 grams, or 4 pounds, 11.9 ounces. She ate all but 5 cc from a bottle at her 7:30 a.m. feeding. She was rooting around at 10:30 a.m. but only ate 12 cc from a bottle. Hattie did not cue for her 1:30 p.m. feed even after her hands-on time and she slept right through her 4:30 p.m. feed. Don't worry though–even if she isn't cueing or sleeps through her feed she still gets fed through her tube. You know Harpers don't skip meals!

We kangarooed this afternoon. I will never tire of holding my sweet baby on my chest and look forward to it every day. Hattie thinks she's a big girl and loves to pick her head up. She puts her little hands under her face and looks like she's posing for a newborn photo. And the whole time she stays fast asleep.

Chris could not wait to get his hands on Hattie tonight. Hattie was awake when he got to the hospital so he picked her up and held her in her swaddle the minute he walked into her room. After her hands-on time Hattie wasn't cueing to eat so Chris kangarooed with her. She ate her whole bottle for him at 10:30 p.m. Chris loves feeding Hattie because he gets to look at her so closely (it is hard for him to see her face while kangarooing). And I absolutely love seeing them together, my family.

categories Hattie Updates, Photos

Bottles and More Bottles 3/3/13

March 03, 2013Chris

When we called the hospital this morning we were happy to learn that Hattie ate another full bottle at 4:30 a.m. As the day progressed, she ate three more full bottles at her 7:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. feedings! That brings her to a grand total of six full bottles for the weekend--pretty good considering she has only been going at it for four days! Hattie weighs 2,109 grams, or 4 pounds, 10.3 ounces. She grew two cm since last Sunday, bringing her to 41.5 cm or 16.34 in.

This afternoon we said farewell to Melissa's mom and sister. We are very grateful for them traveling all this way to host Hattie's baby shower. It was clear that Melissa enjoyed spending girl time with them and it was fun for me to see them having their little conversations and picking up as if they had never spent any time apart. I know one day our Hattie will be grown and she will have a relationship like that with her mommy (and sister ;-)).

What a weekend! I think I need to go to work tomorrow to get some rest!

categories Hattie Updates, Photos

Yellow Dog Eats 3/2/13

March 02, 2013Chris

Today started early for Melissa. Because we knew we would be doing baby shower things for most of the day, Melissa went to the hospital to feed Hattie at 7:30 this morning. On her way, she stopped to pick up donuts for the nurses. Knowing we'd be gone most of the day we wanted to be sure the nurses were happy. They were thankful for the Saturday morning surprise. Hattie ate 10 cc during her breastfeeding and then Melissa was off to get ready for the shower. The baby shower was great! A big thanks to Melissa's mom and sister for hosting such a wonderful celebration. The food was delicious; the shower was casual, low-key and exactly what Melissa wanted. Besides the waiter, I was the only guy in the room. But that didn't stop me from celebrating my little girl! I suppose I should get used to being the only man for a while...I will be outnumbered at home!

The shower was on the second floor of Yellow Dog Eats in Gotha. It's already a place made cool with its eclectic decor, and Grandma and Aunt Kristi made it even cooler with Hattie decorations. Photos of her adorned each table and a clothesline spanned the entire room. On it were several onesies, each one advertising Hattie's cool aunt or rockin' grandma (and even some Arizona Diamondbacks gear)—it was pretty obvious who threw the shower.

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When we were done opening Hattie's gifts, Melissa attempted to make a speech to the group. She couldn't get through it, though I assume her tears showed the sentiment. What she was trying to say was, thank you for your generosity. We don't know how we would've gotten through the past several weeks without the immense love and support from all of you. All of the encouraging text messages, comments on Hattie's blog, voice mails you know won't be returned, visits at the hospital, food and presents sent to our house and prayers from the very beginning have made all the difference. Your kindness, concern and especially prayers for our family have meant so much. Thank you for celebrating Hattie with us.

While we were at the shower Nurse Kristi sent Melissa a text with a picture of an empty bottle. Hattie must have known that everyone was celebrating without her there and she wanted to show off!

After the shower, we spent a little time at home visiting with our families and then we headed off to the hospital with Melissa's mom and sister. We had a Yellow Dog picnic dinner in the hospital cafeteria. In fact, I suspect we will be eating Yellow Dog most of this week as we have a ton of leftovers!

We got to pamper little miss Hattie tonight. Her nurse Maria set up a spa bath for her, complete with bubbles from an oxygen tube in the water. Hattie loved it and then quickly fell asleep with her mommy as they kangarooed. We followed up kangaroo time with me feeding Hattie a bottle and she ate the entire 38 cc!

Hattie gained a whopping three grams (she had a big poop last night, so I suspect last night's weight was artificially high). She now weighs 2,066 grams, or 4 pounds, 8.8 ounces.