Twenty Kisses 2/27/13
Melissa
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)