Big Weekend

The Helmkamp's had a big weekend!

Starting with Abigail

On Friday the doctors decided to was time for Abigail to try breathing with out an ET tube (endotracheal tube). So at about 12:30 in the afternoon they took out her tube and put in nasal cannula using CPAP to force air into her lungs.

Last picture with ET tube! (prayerfully)

First picture with nasal cannula

One of the doctors wanted to take out her tube on Thursday because she was ready but another doctor told him to wait because they told me it would be on Friday. Joshua and I spent the morning on Thursday at the Zoo.

Someone loves the train.

Saturday was exciting because Joshua and I drove to Peoria to watch Aunt Kimberly (Travis' sister) officially become a doctor! Daddy stayed home to spend some quality time with Abigail. He held her for the first time on Saturday. (The nurse informed me that he looked terrified) I am so glad he finally had the confidence to hold his little girl. She enjoyed it quite a bit because they were able to come down on her oxygen at that time. No picture though because he doesn't care about documenting quite like I do.

Joshua and Dr. Kimberly Helmkamp

When I went in on Sunday afternoon I asked when she could start to wear clothes and the nurse asked what we had. We are very thankful to another Zion PDO family for sharing their preemie clothes with us.

3 lbs 3 oz

So far Abigail is doing well without her tube. She doesn't seem to be struggling like the last time they tried. They will check an x-ray on Wednesday to see what her lungs look like to make sure that they aren't collapsing. 

Now she gets to spend part of her day uncovered to start to introduce her to more "day" light.

She is up to 9mL an hour on her feedings through her feeding tube which is 7.3 oz a day.

She enjoys being swaddled and is really starting to like her pacifier.

I really enjoy my time getting to hold her every day.