Missed Info

Here's the answer to a couple of questions:
1. We get to see her as much as we want. Sara has been going to the hospital at least twice a day. Joe goes at least once after work. We usually stay for a couple of hours each visit. When we aren't caring for her (feeding, diapers), we often just place our hands on her so that she knows we are there. We kangaroo hold for 1-1.5 hours at a time. While Joe kangaroos, Sara reads her 500 pg. book on preemies. While Sara kangaroos, Joe reads...(you guessed it) orthopaedics. We still need to organize a schedule for the next few months...I want to spend more time there, but need to be organized, otherwise the bathroom will never get cleaned!

Today I kangarooed alone because Joe is too sick still to visit. I loved sitting in the dark with her, sharing heart beats. It was so quiet and peaceful, and was a wonderful time to pray...I love my little girl.

2. Her nutrition comes in two forms: PICC line (IV) and a feeding tube. Because her GI track is underdeveloped, she can only take a small amount of formula each feeding. The PICC line provides the rest of the nutrients. Once her system can tolerate a full feeding through her tube, we can remove the PICC line. She takes a feeding every three hours. Every 12 hours, they have been able to increase her formula amount by 1 cc.

Time For Sprinting

This afternoon Maria began the process called "sprinting". Since her birth, she's been wearing the CPAP. Now she's switched to the nasal cannula every six hours. Sprinting means that she will switch between these two devices every six hours. Sprinting is the first step toward weening her off the CPAP. If she can breathe well with few alarms on the cannula, then hopefully the CPAP will be a thing of the past...let's pray that she can sprint successfully!

Since she came off the ampicillin, the nurses think that she is developing a bit of thrush. Her diaper rash is not improving, so she may also have a yeast infection. They'll keep a close eye on her in the next couple of days to determine a course of action.

What's a CPAP?

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (Joe thinks that's correct). You may be wondering what the mask is that Maria wears in most of her photos...a CPAP. While she doesn't need it for oxygen, it basically puffs an air bubble into her lungs with each breath to keep the airways open. It's ugly, I know, but the doctor hopes to remove it this weekend. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself and plan on potential deadlines. I'm just trying to keep it one day at a time. Today was another good day.

Mommy had a turn to kangaroo with Maria tonight. The nurse manager told us that once her CPAP is removed, we can kangaroo two times a day...looking forward to it! Each of us changed her diaper today...Joe got the poopy one, but I guess that serves him right for refusing to change diapers prior to his own children!

Today the doctor discontinued her ampicillin (antibiotic). I'm glad that she's off it because I want her immune system to have a chance to strengthen, and I'd like to see the loose stools cease, and in turn the diaper rash. On the other hand, I'm nervous about infections...she's so vulnerable, but in the Lord's hands...

Well, Sara's taking a break from the posts so I figured I'd share some thoughts. This week has been a whirlwind experience. Hearing about Maria for the first time was unexpected. I never dreamed that another adoption opportunity would come along so quickly. I was very nervous at first because of Maria's medical situation. I know just enough to scare myself. After some prayer and seeking a lot of advice the decision was simple and I'm so glad we said yes. Holding Maria that first day was an incredible experience.

So far things are going well. Dr. Balsan is optimistic that Maria will come off the CPAP this weekend. Feedings continue to progress well and he hopes that she will no longer need the PICC line early next week. While I know that everything is tentative I like to know that there is a plan for progress even if the plan experiences some delays. They tell us to expect peaks and valleys, good days and bad days. I try not to look to far beyond tomorrow.

We've been very blessed by the outpouring of support from friends and family. Thanks for your prayers. Please keep them coming.

Questions??

If you have any questions that aren't being addressed here, please ask in the comment section...we don't want to assume that we're remembering to post each and every detail...and we know some of you love details!!

Health Update...Big Milestone!

This morning Maria weighed in 2 lbs 8 oz!! This is the first time she has surpassed her original birth weight! I almost cried when I heard it! The nurses are steadily increasing her formula 1 cc every twelve hours!!

She has been on an antibiotic called Ampocilan since birth - 10 days now. The Ampocilan is causing loose stools, which are in turn causing a little diaper rash. I feel like there's a catch-22 here. We'd like to see the loose stools subside, which means stopping the antibiotic, but as long as the PICC line is in, we need to be cautious about infection... Thank God that her feedings are progressing so nicely! Each increased cc is one step closer to removing the PICC line.

Maria Karol

Big day today! Baby DeWitt is now Maria Karol! Her health is still as good as it can be. She's up to 9 cc's per feeding - big girl! Each additional cc of formula is a big step toward removing her PICC line.

The biggest news today is that we had our first Kangaroo cuddle! Joe was able to lay her on his chest for 1 hour. She tired out quickly during the transfer from incubator to Joe, so she started to hiccup, which is a sign of over-stimulation. Four minutes of cuddling with dad and the hiccups stopped, and she settled in quite nicely!

She alarmed three times today due to bradycardia, which means that her breathing dropped below 80 beats per minute. She doesn't have full control over her respirations due to her immature brain. Of the three alarms, she self-corrected two (again...big girl!) and the other alarm just required some stimulation.
First visitor was Melissa Violante.

A New Baby Girl

Here she is! Baby Girl DeWitt (stay tuned for a name)!
Born on January 20, 2009 at approx 28 weeks. She was 2 lbs 6 oz 14 inches long at birth.
We met her for the first time on January 27th. These photos capture her first time being held and cuddled.
Apparently, she's feisty (good for staying alive as a preemie, could be problematic during teenage years)!
Now, one week later, she is back up to her birth weight, and is tolerating a full 8 cc of formula at her last feeding!!
As soon as I figure out what all the medical jargon means, I'll give a more comprehensive update on her health. I have a small 500 page book on preemies that I have to read (no problem!).
The neonatologist says that he is "slightly more than cautiously optimistic", which the nurses say is about at positive as neonatologists get!
Please continue to pray for her - pray that she continues to tolerate her feedings, so that the doctors can remove her PIC line, which could be a source of infection.
Stay Tuned!!