Saturday, December 6, 2008

Milk anyone??

So....yeah. I got a call tonight from the hospital during Adam's christmas party. Of course, we had missed the call and there was a voicemail. Both Adam and I panicked and I ran to go listen to it while Adam stayed in to be sure our ticket numbers weren't called if we were both gone. (It was during the raffle)

Luckily, nothing was wrong and it was just the night nurse calling to let me know that they were running low on milk. They didn't even have enough to get through the night!!!!! So, they are mixing about a 1/4 of formula with 3/4 breastmilk every bottle so that she is not getting 2 breastmilk and one formula. Darn it!!! I didn't want her to ever have any formula at this age....so, Adam is making an early run to the hospital to drop off some more. Grandma is going to go with Adam so she will get some snuggle time in with Bree.

Rrrrr!!

Friday, December 5, 2008

December 5, 2008

Good evening...

As of lately, I have been struggling to find something to blog about on a daily basis. There is always the basic update on Bree, but I feel like all I do is repeat myself. As I have said before...no news is good news! So, in light of that good news, I am going to be going to writing blogs at least once a week...or more if there is a special event in the family!!

I thank you all for the support, prayers and dedication in reading our blog and I hope that you coninue to do so!

Bree's update for today isn't much...she is still eating exclusively out of the bottle...no feeding tube usage as of lately. Woo hoo!! Other than that, she is staying the same with her oxygen and everything else. Her A's and B's have been getting better slowly as she is getting stronger and stronger from her surgery. Monday is her eye exam from her surgery so let's all hope and pray that it shows improvement and that she won't need another surgery!

Hope this finds everyone happy, healthy, and in love with life!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

December 4, 2008

Well, this is officially the one hundredth post that I have done! Whew, it is hard to believe that I have posted that much! Lots of information in all of those posts too...and there is more to come in this one.

I went and saw Bree today. She got her first bath since her surgery and she did pretty well. It did tire her out, but I was able to feed her a bottle afterwards. The last 6 cc's were a bit tough to get in there, but after Courtnee tortured her (ha ha...not really!) she sucked it down. All Courtnee had to do was to unwrap her and take her hat off. If she's not super comfy and warm, it tends to wake her up. I'll stash that in my little bag of tricks for when she comes home.

MILESTONE ALERT! Bree has, for over the past twenty four hours, drank everything out of a bottle! Her feeding tube has not been used since she came out of the anesthesia from her surgery. I am so proud of her!!!

Riley's lip is a little better today. It is a darker shade of red, but that means that it is healing. On a good note, she grabbed Nana's cigarettes today and said "Yuck!!" Let's hope that she continues that behavior and frame of mind!

Hope this finds everyone happy, healthy and in love with life!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

December 3, 2008

What a champ! Our little Bree is doing so so good today. Her eyes are really puffy from the surgery, which is to be expected. However, she is doing great on her oxygen! She is still at .1 liters and 35% oxygen on average. Her only 'issue' she is having right now is that she is having periods of "A's and B's" (apnea and bradycardia). This is where she forgets to breathe, and then her heartrate drops because of it. She is a little more tired because of her surgery so she gets worn out easier. Once she gets worn out, she relaxes her whole body and that is when she forgets to breathe. Her heartrate follows for a few seconds and then she picks herself right back up...

She is weighing in at 4 lbs and 9 ounces today! It is so crazy to think that we are rounding near the five pound mark....it seems just like yesterday that she was hitting the two pound mark and we were celebrating. She looks and feels just like a normal, just slightly smaller, sized baby. She even fits pretty nicely into some preemie clothes. From friends and family we have recieved many clothes for her and it is such a blessing! It is amazing how God fulfills your needs, even without you asking sometimes. Thank you to everyone who has helped us out, and a thank you to those who will in the future!

Hope this finds everyone happy, healthy and in love with life!

A lesson a little earlier than expected...

At the ripe age of 14 months, I had to have the "smoking is bad" talk with Riley. If you look closely at the picture above, you'll see a red mark in the middle of her upper lip. Nana (my grandma) is here visiting and she smokes. Riley was playing outside while Nana was smoking this afternoon. Nana put her cigarette down in the ashtray when it was still lit and came to the door to tell me something real quick. Next thing we know, Riley is at the door trying to put a cigarette in her mouth...backwards! Monkey see, monkey do! She ended up burning the top of her lip with it. I guess that is one way to learn that smoking is bad! I just thought I would be having this talk at 14 years old, instead of 14 months!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Nicole's Prayer for Bree

A friend of mine, who also has a preemie little boy, wrote this prayer for Bree and I wanted to share it with you all!

Dear Lord,
Thank for today and every day that you have given us. Thank you for the beautiful children which you have blessed us with already and those that are still to come. Please look over and protect our little ones and keep them safe in your arms. We ask that you please take extra care with our little Bree in the coming days as she goes through surgery and recovery. Please guide all the doctors and nurses in the best possible way and allow for a successful treatment for Bree's eyes.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!

December 2, 2008

Bree's surgery went well. The doctor said that they got all the portions that they were hoping to. The surgery time was a little bit later than we had expected. We were told 130 and it ended up being 230. Her surgery lasted from 230 to about 430. Adam and I were in the waiting room during that time...me reading a book and Adam watching SpongeBob. (of course!)

When she got out of surgery she was still on a ventilator due to the anesthesia that was used during the surgery. I just called and got an update (7:49 pm), and she is still on the ventilator because she is having a hard time waking up from the anesthesia. We were told that it takes some kids an hour, while others can take 5-6 hours to wake up from it.

Grandma Ogden (Nana) is going to be coming into town tonight so we are going to stop and see her since the airport is right by the hospital. I will update more when I get more info!

Let's all praise God and give thanks for his faithfulness and healing...he is an awesome God!

Hope this finds everyone happy, healthy, and in love with life!

Monday, December 1, 2008

December 1, 2008

Surgery is tomorrow. We were there today when Bree's eyes were checked, and her right eye is worse than her left. However, her left eye is also right on the verge of needing surgery so since they are doing the right eye, they are going to do the left as well. Her surgery will be at 1:30 tomorrow, is what I have been told. It is ordered to start eye drops at 1:30 to dilate her eyes for the surgery. I have not heard how long recovery will be or what it entails, but will ask tomorrow.

Adam and I will get to give her a quick bath before her surgery, which will be the first bath Adam gets to be present for. Hopefully I can get him to give it to her. With how small she is, it still freaks him out a little. She seems so breakable at times if you are not used to handling her.

A big thanks to Cheri and Aleasha for helping us with watching Riley so that Adam and I can both be there for Bree. Cheri watched Riley today, and Aleasha will be watching her tomorrow while Adam and I are there for her surgery and for her recovery. I t means so much to us to have friends that are still here for us even though it has been a long three months.

Please pray for the guidance of the doctors hands, for Bree's strength, and for a quick and successful recovery.

Dear God,

We thank you for today and we look forward to what tomorrow has to bring. Please be with Bree during her surgery tomorrow. Please guide the hands of the doctors and nurses that are caring for her. You are a big and great God, and you have already shown that you are a God of miracles! Just hold your daughter Bree in your arms, and let your healing pour over her tomorrow. Thank you for all that you do!

In Jesus' name we pray...Amen

I hope this finds everyone happy, healthy, and in love with life!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

November 30, 2008

Good afternoon!

Today, we all took a family nap! It was so great! Okay, Riley slept in her crib, but
Adam and I retired to our bed and took a two hour nap this afternoon. Usually we don't take time for naps because there are a million other things to do, but we have been beat lately and needed a break. Sometimes you just have to put aside the cleaning, dishes and laundry to take some time for yourself.

Bree is doing well. I just called and got a quick update on her. She ate a full bottle last feeding and Becky, her nurse for today, is going to try again this next feeding. She has been resting well for the day and behaving herself quite nicely.

On Tuesday the opthamologist will be examining her eyes again in the afternoon. That examination will determine if surgery will be done or not. We are told that it is pretty for sure at this point unless a miracle happens. However, I remain optimistic because our God is a big God and we never know what he has in store!

Hope this finds everyone happy, healthy, and in love with life!