Start of a new week in the NICU

Well here we are. I was thinking over the weekend that it is hard to believe that it had been 3 weeks since we checked in on Saturday night at Mercy. Just 3 weeks ago I was praying that God would keep this little girl inside me as long as possible. Now here we are she is 2 weeks 5 days old (gestational age 26 weeks 2 days). Every day is another blessing from God.

Abigail is now 740g (1 lb 10 oz). She has out grown her snuggly (the special wrap they place her on to help cradle and swaddle her.) She is up to 5mL of breastmilk every 4 hours in her feeding tube which they just changed to a constant drop to help her stomach handle it. Eventually it will move to feedings every 2 hours.

So far the cultures from her staph infection have been clear and she will finish the antibiotic today and another culture will be taken.

She does not tolerate being messed with to well. She typically needs more oxygen support when she gets her temp, diaper change, and other routine procedures.

Sometimes she seems to be high maintenance, she will be fine until the nurse leaves to take care of the next baby, then she will desat (needing more oxygen). When the nurse walks back in she goes back up and is fine. She can't see the nurse because she spends her time being covered up in the dark to help her rest but she has some sort of sense that someone else is getting attention

She is doing much better with Kangarooing (skin to skin holding) since the staph has cleared up. The nurses can usually turn down her oxygen support by at least 8-10 percent 😃. I can't wait until she can be extubated and we can Kangaroo with a little more freedom.

I made her a new hat over the weekend the one she got the first time we Kangarooed was getting to small. I made this one myself with a little more girly detail. (This momma loves purple)

We are so thankful for all the prayers. Please continue to pray for her doctors and nurses and respiratory improvement. Also pray for our family as we settle into our new groove. Joshua is showing off his ability to be a two and a half year old ( in good and bad ways).

He did have a great time this weekend outside and with all his grandparents.

Travis and I even spent some time together this Saturday. We went out to eat at Billy G's in Kirkwood and walked around Laumeier Sculpture park. I wa exhausted Saturday night but it was good to spend time together away from home and the hospital!