Hattie’s Blog

Wonderfully Made 3/7/13

March 07, 2013Melissa

It's really incredible how God pieced Hattie's body together so perfectly. We are in awe every day of her spunky personality and tenacity. It's amazing to us that even though she was born so early she's not sick and (from what we can tell right now) all of her internal organs are perfectly developed. Hattie is our tiny miracle baby, and we could not be more grateful.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalm 139:13-14

Hattie slept through the night and didn't wake up to eat. She ate her full bottle at 7:30 a.m. and then slept through her 10:30 a.m. feed. I nursed her at 1:30 p.m. and she took 16 cc. While she was receiving the remaining of her feed she pulled out her feeding tube. Thank goodness we caught it quickly and milk didn't go down the wrong pipe (this is very dangerous at her age) or make a big mess in her bed. Stubborn girl! I think she's telling us she's ready to be tubeless and go home! We kangarooed all afternoon and, of course, it was wonderful.

Hattie lost 20 grams tonight. She weighs 2,182 grams or 4 pounds, 12.97 ounces. Her feeds have increased to 42 cc.

She did not cue for her 7:30 p.m. feed even after her hands-on time. After they kangarooed, Chris fed her a bottle at 10:30 p.m. and she ate 19 cc.

Hattie is constipated again. Poor baby girl. We are praying for Hattie to poop soon so she isn't so uncomfortable.

categories Hattie Updates

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

22 Calories 3/5/13

March 05, 2013Melissa

Nurse April noticed Hattie was getting a little puffy around her eyes this morning. Dr. Alexander said Hattie has nutritional edema, meaning she is receiving too many calories too quickly and gaining the wrong kind of weight. I like to say she was getting too fat too fast! To fix this they are no longer adding human milk fortifier to my milk to boost it to 26 calories. Instead, they're using a small amount (2 tablespoons to every 90 cc of breast milk) of powdered formula called Neosure 22 to make my milk 22 calories. Hattie is also no longer receiving her liquid protein and daily dose of caffeine. Hattie weighs 2,183 grams, or 4 pounds, 13 ounces. Her feeds have increased to 40 cc.

Hattie ate her full bottle at 4:30 and 7:30 this morning. She wasn't cueing for her 10:30 a.m. feed so I pumped and got ready to kangaroo. While I was pumping she started cueing so I fed her a bottle and she ate all but 12 cc. She completely wore herself out so she was a perfect little joey. While we were kangarooing I found myself studying the intricacies of Hattie's ear. When she was first born her ears were fused to her head and now they've pulled off like a normal ear. It's really incredible how we've gotten to watch her tiny body develop. After our kangaroo time Hattie ate her whole bottle at 1:30 p.m.

I went to a breastfeeding class today. The lactation consultant was very helpful and she provided some good tips for positioning. I learned some new tricks to try out that should make things easier for us. I rushed back to Hattie's room to put my training to work, only to find her peacefully sleeping through her 4:30 p.m. feed.

I tried nursing Hattie tonight for her 7:30 p.m. feed. I did the football hold that I learned in the class this afternoon and it was very comfortable for both of us. She latched on well and it really seemed like she ate a lot, but when we weighed her she had only eaten 2 cc. The ups and downs of feeding continue!

Chris has been insanely busy at work and he had a lot to catch up on so we forced ourselves to leave the hospital "early" at around 10 p.m.

We are exhausted, but we know this is only temporary. We trust we will soon be home together as a family with the NICU a distant memory. But, it doesn't make it any easier to leave each night without our baby girl.

I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. – John 14:27 (NLT)

categories Hattie Updates

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!