Getting Into Our Routine

Sarah continues to eat well and we are getting into a pretty good routine now. Sarah eats fairly regularly (at least every three hours), but every once in a while she suprises mom by wanting to feed again right after being laid down. This kind of routine can definitely wear you down, so mom is trying to sneak in naps when she can.

We did want to especially thank everyone who has helped us over the past several months, whether it was helping us clean, cooking, shopping for groceries, or helping us paint. Also, all of the shower presents and flowers were wonderful, but more than anything, we have appreciated the love, support, and good wishes from our family and friends.

Here are a few more pictures...

Suprise...Look Who's Home!

Our beautiful little Sarah arrived home just before 7 pm tonight. Today Sarah is two months old and she was discharged weighing 5 lbs and 14 ounces and 18 1/4" long. Sarah did not do the best feeding over the past two days, but she did do well enough that the doctor decided to let her come home this afternoon. We will take Sarah to her pediatrician for the first time tomorrow and on Friday the hospital will have a home health professional visit our house. Here are some highlights of the past 8 hours...


Sarah in the special going home outfit that mommy picked out (note the security anklet that she was about to get taken off).



Sarah going for her first wagon ride.

A close up picture of our strapped in cutie (the nurses all loved Sarah's stylish car seat.



The first of many future rides in the minivan (I don't think that Sarah minds having to face backwards and missing the DVD player).




Mommy bringing Sarah into the house for the first time.




Sarah enjoying her new pack 'n play.

Mollie sniffing and inspecting our new addition to the household.

Sarah Is Getting Closer To Home...

In a week or so, there is a good chance that Joella will be at the hospital for a couple days feeding Miss Sarah and testing to see if our sweetheart is ready to come home. Sarah is maintaining her temperature well in the crib and she rarely has any heart or breathing alarms so we are quickly moving towards a final nursing test. Joella has successfully replaced two tube feedings with nursings and Sarah has still gained weight so this weekend we will see how three or four feedings go. Joella jokes that Sarah is quite the grazer because she likes to take her time nursing. We have already met with the discharge nurse and discussed what we need to accomplish over the next couple of weeks and we will have training early next week on what kind of monitors we will have to take home with Sarah.

Sarah is up to 5 pounds and 10 ounces so some of her preemie clothes and hats have actually become too small! Well, here is what you really want, more pictures of the cutie...

Plenty Of Firsts This Week

It has been a busy week with plenty of first time events:

Sarah has been able to stay out of the incubator for the first time (and I don't think that she is ever going back),
Sarah has passed 5 pounds and keeps putting on weight,
Joella has quit work at Honeywell (although she has to officially go back for an hour or so during early August when her vacation is up),
Sarah has successfully nursed for more than 10 minutes,
Sarah took her first tub bath,
and I turned 34 years old.

Here are some pictures for you all to see this great progress:

For everyone's information, Sarah is doing great, but the nurses caution us to be patient because nursing full time is a big hurdle for preemies and it can take over a month for them to reach the point when they can go home. Sarah has been growing so fast that she actually needed a second blood transfusion this past Monday morning, but within hours she was energetic again and quickly put on more weight (she is now 5 pounds and 3 ounces). Currently, two nursing feedings 3 hours apart wear Sarah out so she still relies on the feeding tube for the majority of her diet. The ultimate test before release from the hospital occurs when Joella stays at the hospital for 48 straight hours and feeds Sarah successfully without needing the feeding tube.

Still Getting Bigger...

Sarah continues to put on weight and she is now up to 4 pounds and 12 ounces. She did have problems maintaining her temperature in her crib again, so Sarah will remain in the incubator for a few more days before the nurses try the crib for the third time. Sarah is slowly practicing nursing, but it definitely tires her out so we know that it will be a long process throughout the next month. This past week Sarah did get to try out the new hat that mommy made her. She looks very cute in her colorful new hat!

Since Sarah is still sleeping in her incubator, Joella can take time every few days and give Sarah a massage. Sarah really likes it and she gets very sleepy when Joella rubs hers cheeks. A few days ago Sarah did get a little fiesty during the massage, but we think that it was just because she was getting hungry and wanted to practice nursing some more with mom.

4 1/2 Pounds and Growing

Sarah continues to do well and she is growing bigger every day. Sarah is still slowly practicing feedings with mommy and she is doing great without the nasal oxygen tube. The nurses are putting Sarah back into a crib and they will see if she maintains her temperature better this time. Feel free to check out the link below and look at the picture book that Joella and I created.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/project/2BaOGrFq3Yu8g/landing