Hattie’s Blog

Couldn't Wait to See Her! 1/31/13

January 31, 2013Melissa

My heart was longing to see Hattie when I woke up this morning. It put me in a hurry and I rushed my sister out of the house so we could get to the hospital to see my sweet girl! I was so happy to kangaroo with Hattie for several hours today. I don't think holding her will ever get old! While I was kangarooing, Dr. Alexander arrived to do Hattie's examination. I took her out of my shirt and placed her on my lap and Dr. A did the exam right in my lap! He said Hattie is doing well and her rash from her diaper is looking much better.

Our dear friends from Boston, Ali and Scott, came to meet Hattie today! Baby Aldrich is due in April—Hattie will either have a best girl friend or a perfect suitor for marriage! During shift change, lots of friends from my Traditions team at Disney visited and brought us dinner. We continue to feel humbled by the support from our family, friends, coworkers and strangers. Thank you for sustaining us with your love.

Hattie weighs 1,203 grams or 2 pounds, 10.4 ounces. Her next milestone is 1,500 grams; we're told once she hits 1,500 grams she will move out of her incubator into a small plastic crib.

Chris and Hattie kangarooed tonight and there was a lot of commotion in the room next door. Hattie's roommate has not been feeling well this week and kept crying. As soon as the baby stopped crying, Hattie's feeding machine or her bed would beep, causing the baby to start crying again, then Hattie would squeal or get restless and we'd start the whole thing over. Hattie handled it well and snuggled up to her daddy.

categories Hattie Updates, Photos

Hattie the Television Star 1/30/13

January 30, 2013Melissa

Dr. Alexander examined Hattie this morning. Over the last few days we noticed her respirations were slow, then very fast, then normal, then fast again, etc. Dr. A said this is expected for a preemie and Hattie will outgrow it. It's called periodic breathing and is caused from immaturity of the breathing center in the brain. Hattie's feeds have increased to 23 cc of milk plus the fortifiers and liquid protein. Dr. A also ordered Lotrimin for an irritation on Hattie's belly from her diaper. Hattie must be one of Dr. Alexander's favorite patients because someone from the hospital came to us yesterday and informed us they would be filming a national commercial for MasterCard and the Arnold Palmer Foundation and Dr. A chose Hattie to be in it! They told us the film crew would arrive at 10 a.m., so Kristi and I got to the hospital bright and early to make sure we were there for Hattie's television debut! It wasn't until around 12:45 p.m. that they finally arrived for the shoot.

The film crew turned on every light in Hattie's room and set up their cameras and other equipment. They filmed Hattie in her bed; she acted like a star and put on a show for them by opening her eyes and moving her little arms. They also filmed the nurse and me changing Hattie's diaper. Then Dr. A did a staged exam on Hattie and interacted with me and the nurse for b-roll. The whole thing lasted about 20 minutes. The 30-second commercial will air on NBC once per day during the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament March 23-24, 2013. We hope Hattie makes the cut!

I held Hattie like a baby for the first time today! Since Hattie was wide awake when it was time to hold her the nurse suggested I cradle her rather than kangaroo. She said they always prefer kangarooing but cradling is better for interaction. I couldn't take my eyes off of her! I studied every part of her sweet face. I stared into her eyes as she looked back at me and I talked to her for almost an hour. I told her how brave she is and how proud we are of her, and how she's doing so good growing big and strong. I told her that we can't wait for her to come live at our house with us and how God is in control and is holding her in His hands.

Promise me you'll always remember: you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
—Christopher Robin

Tonight, Chris got to pick Hattie up out of her bed and place her on the scale to be weighed. Hattie weighs 1,192 grams or 2 pounds, 10 ounces. Chris picked Hattie up off the scale and placed her in his shirt to start kangaroo care. Right before he sat down in the chair, Hattie lifted her head and looked up at Chris like she was saying, "hi Daddy!" Be still my heart! We love that we're getting to be more hands on with our baby girl and do some of the work the nurses usually do.

categories Hattie Updates, Photos

Rub A Dub Dub! 1/29/13

January 29, 2013Melissa

Hattie had a good day! Dr. Brown saw her this morning and discontinued the ointments on her nose and arm. They ordered blood work to check Hattie's bilirubin level; it was 5.2. I kangarooed with Hattie and we both had a nice nap. My sister flew in from Arizona this afternoon to meet her sweet niece! I was late picking her up from the airport... I'm usually never late for things but now that I have a baby I feel like I'm always running late!

Hattie weighs 1,174 grams or more than 2 pounds, 9 ounces. After being weighed, Hattie showed off for her Aunt Kristi and had her first tub bath! The nurse removed all of Hattie's leads and plopped her into a small plastic tub on top of the scale. She used wash cloths to soap Hattie up, rinsed her and wrapped her in a blanket to dry. All of Hattie's leads and her heart-shaped temperature probe sticker were replaced. Hattie did not like it when the nurse took off her leads or when she washed her face but she seemed to enjoy sitting in the water.

Chris and the very clean smelling Hattie kangarooed after Hattie's bath. We are enjoying having my sister's company. We had great conversation and a lot of laughs tonight!

categories Hattie Updates, Photos

Love 1/28/13

January 28, 2013Melissa

I never imagined I had this much love to give until I had a baby. Hattie has taught me a multitude of things in her 22 days, but mostly I have learned that my heart and my capacity to love is not fixed, it grows and grows and grows. Hattie and I spent a long time kangarooing today. We read a few books and comments from her blog and my Facebook news feed and other people's blogs... It is good for her to hear my voice so I read her whatever I can!

At our baby shower our friend Ashley gave Hattie a teeny tiny pink bow (it measures one inch). How cute is Hattie's bow?

Hattie is on "phase two" orders now. She only has to have her blood pressure taken once per day rather than every six hours, no more weighing her diapers and the nurses don't have to write down her vitals every two hours but just monitor them at her feeding times. This is excellent news because it means Hattie is very stable!

Hattie is a great eater; she clearly takes after her parents! She is now eating 22 cc of milk through her feeding tube every three hours and is tolerating the increase well. She weighs 1,160 grams or 2 pounds, 8 ounces. Our little piggy is only 2 grams shy from 2 pounds, 9 ounces!

Thank you for following Hattie's progress, your prayers for our little family and continuing to cover us with love!

categories Hattie Updates, Photos

Super Hattie! 1/27/13

January 27, 2013Melissa

We don't have much to update today, but we have lots of cute Hattie pictures to share!

Hattie got an adorable hand painted sign from Ellie yesterday at her baby shower. What do you think of our little discerner of excellence's new incubator decor?

Chris and Hattie kangarooed all afternoon! Hattie got to see her great grandmother today and Moin was absolutely tickled to see Hattie outside of her incubator and see her smile, get the hiccups, squeak and cry!

Hattie gained another ounce! She now weighs 1,114 grams, or 2 pounds, 7 ounces. She also grew 1/4 inch longer and measures 14 1/4 inches from head to toe.

Today is Hattie's three-week birthday. We sang and danced for her at 12:44 p.m. and found ourselves thinking that someday she will be so embarrassed by her silly parents!

We continue to be in awe of our tiny baby. Thank you again for your continued prayers for our little fighter! We are rejoicing that Hattie is doing so well!