Yellow Dog Eats 3/2/13

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.

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.

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Girls Night 3/1/13

I called Nurse Maria like a crazy mommy at 5 a.m. to check up on my baby girl. Maria said Hattie was rooting around for her 1:30 a.m. feed and she took 25 cc from a bottle! This good news made my middle of the night pump so worth it! Hattie's nippling orders have been changed to "nipple per cues" which means if she's showing signs she is ready to eat, she will get to eat by mouth. We technically already started this since Hattie took three bottles yesterday but now we have official doctor's orders.

As my mom, Kristi and I headed to the hospital this morning all we could talk about was Hattie: how cute she is, her sweet personality and disposition, how big she's getting, and how we can't wait to get her home. Hattie wasn't ready to eat at 10:30 a.m. so we kangarooed instead. She woke herself up for her 1:30 p.m. feed but she wasn't cueing so the nurse gavage fed her. We went to grab a quick lunch and were back in time for Hattie's 4:30 p.m. feed. But, again, Hattie was sleeping peacefully and not cueing.  It's ironic her nippling orders were changed today, I was there for three feedings and she wasn't cueing for any of them!

Chris stayed solo at the hospital with Hattie while my mom, Kristi and I had a girls night. I introduced them to Twistee Treat, we grabbed a pizza and went home to change into our pajamas, bake cookies and do more prepping for the baby shower. It was so fun hanging out with my mom and sister; I only wish my sweet girl Hattie could've been at our girls night with us!

Chris got Hattie all to himself for her hands-on time. Hattie had a big, stinky present for him before she was weighed. Hattie weighs 2,063 grams, or 4 pounds, 8.77 ounces. Hattie was cueing for her 7:30 p.m. feed so Chris gave her a bottle, but she only ate 6 cc. It turns out she had to poop again. Enter stinky diaper number two for daddy! Chris was rewarded with kangaroo time with Hattie and by the time her 10:30 p.m. feed rolled around Hattie was completely out of it and wasn't cueing at all. Maybe she dreaming about all of the people who are going to celebrate her tomorrow!

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Bottle Feeding 2/28/13

Hattie had a busy day! Her Honey and Pop Paw (Chris' parents) came to visit us and got to see Hattie awake and active during her hands on time. Chris' mom talked to Hattie and Hattie just stared lovingly at her as she held Honey's hand. It was precious!

She was not cueing for any of her feeds this morning but at the 1:30 p.m. feed something very exciting happened. Since Hattie was alert and awake from her hands on time she was cueing and ready to eat. I fed Hattie from a bottle for the first time and she did great! Nurse April first put 5 cc of breast milk in the bottle and Hattie gobbled it up. April taught me how to properly hold the bottle in a horizontal position and pace the feeding to allow Hattie to eat at a comfortable rate and not spit up or gasp for air. I took over and fed Hattie 10 more cc and then we refilled the bottle with 10 more cc. She ate 25 cc total and probably would've eaten more if she could have kept her eyes open. I am a proud mama. Hopefully Hattie's success with the bottle will help her to breastfeed better as well.

Hattie had her picture taken with Dr. Alexander today. Another neonatoligst, Dr. McMahan, doubles as a photographer and took the photo. Hattie was a perfect supermodel! She got to be a wireless baby for a little while as Dr. A walked around in the pod with her. Dr. A said he isn't sure where the portrait will go after it is painted. He said it could be in his office, at his house, in the NICU, or in the lobby of the hospital. Our vote is for in the lobby!

Hattie got to see lots of family today. My mom and sister flew in tonight to visit and prepare for the baby shower they're hosting for us on Saturday! We can't wait.

When we arrived at the hospital we were in for a treat. Chris and Nurse Maria had just finished Hattie's hands on time and Chris was getting ready to feed Hattie a bottle! It was so cute to see her sitting on his knee and eating away. Hattie really showed off for her Grandma and Auntie and took 25 cc from her bottle tonight. She received the remainder of her feed through her feeding tube while she kangrooed with her daddy.

Hattie passed the 2 kilo mark and now weighs 2,010 grams, or 4 pounds, 6.9 ounces. Her feeds have increased to 38 cc. A few of the nurses have told me that as Hattie's cheeks fill out she's looking more and more like me. I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not...

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Twenty Kisses 2/27/13

Chris' parents were very busy at our house all day installing curtains, redecorating our master bedroom and hanging artwork in Hattie's room. They do so much for us; we are incredibly thankful for them and appreciate all of their help. Dr. Alexander saw Hattie today. Our big girl weighs 1,967 grams, or 4 pounds, 5.4 ounces. Dr. A reiterated that Hattie's eye exam went well. He said it's not very often they see babies at 33 weeks gestational age who have fully matured retinas and don't require further intervention. He also told me it is not uncommon for babies to have variation in feedings. He said it's all due to Hattie's prematurity and the immaturity of her sucking and swallowing reflexes. Ideally, he would like Hattie to be taking about a quarter of her feeding by mouth each time she nipple feeds. For now we will keep trying twice per day and see how it goes.

Before he left, Dr. A said he had to ask me for a favor. He is having a portrait done and he would like Hattie to be in it with him. Of course I said yes! We're not sure what it's for, but the same lady who painted a portrait of Mrs. Winnie Palmer that is displayed in the lobby of the hospital is painting this one of Dr. A.

Hattie ate 10 cc during her daytime nursing and then we kangarooed. She works herself into the silliest positions inside my shirt while we're kangarooing! I love when she scootches herself so far down that I can easily look down and see her sweet face. I must've kissed her head twenty times today.

I attended a NICU Parent Hour class with Dr. Perez this afternoon. He talked about life in the NICU, what to expect from your doctors and nurses and the different feelings that parents may have. Dr. Perez has unique insight; he's not only been a neonatologist for a long time but he also had a preemie baby in this NICU himself. It was helpful to hear a different doctor's perspective on things.

Moin came to see her little namesake today. She was so excited! Moin always tells Hattie "sweet dreams and happy turnovers." Chris remembers her saying that to him when he was a little boy, which I think is sweet.

We went to small group tonight and enjoyed dinner together. We are excited for the day we can bring Hattie to small group and she can play with the other kids and babies. We cannot imagine walking through all of this without the encouragement, love, support and prayers from this group of amazing people.

We got back to the hospital in time for Hattie's 10:30 p.m. feeding. She was sound asleep and not showing any cues so she took her feed her through her tube. We spent some time chatting with one of Hattie's primary night nurses, Maria. We decided we aren't going to force Hattie to try to nipple feed when she's not cueing because it is too frustrating for everyone and probably a big reason why she hasn't been eating as well at night. Please pray with us that Hattie will get more used to eating by mouth.

I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. – Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)

A "Regular" Baby 2/26/13

Hattie must've heard the threat of the glycerin suppository because our prayers for poop were answered and answered and answered. Without getting into too much detail, we know that Hattie is regular again. Hattie weighs 1,934 grams or 4 pounds, 4 ounces, and her feeds have increased to 37 cc.

Hattie ate 12 cc during her daytime nursing and then we kangarooed for a long time this afternoon. I love kangarooing. I love to feel the warmth of her little body snuggled up on mine. Truly it's like time stops and I get lost talking to and loving on my sweet baby.

Chris' parents got in to town today. They came to see Hattie and all they could say is how perfect she is. We agree! We had a lovely dinner at Houston's together and then Chris and I went back to the hospital so I could try to breastfeed and we could say goodnight to our little girl.

She only ate 4 cc during her nighttime nursing, so the ups and downs with breastfeeding continue. Several of the nurses have been encouraging me and told us that most babies don't breastfeed before 34 weeks gestational age. Hattie is only 33 weeks, so she is ahead of the game. Nevertheless breastfeeding (and pumping eight times a day) is hard work!

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. –Isaiah 41:10

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