Today we permanently closed the door on NICU...

Although the last two weeks for our family was been very rough, exhausting, and difficult to manage our experience with a level two nursery, life flight, and the newborn intensive care unit has been a very positive experience showing John and I just how precious life really is, from the very beginning. There were many times that John and I would talk with other parents who have either been in NICU for months or they have just arrived and don't anticipating taking their babies home until November or December. For John and I, two weeks felt like a lifetime! We are very thankful for all the loving care that baby Lillian and her family have received.

Day fourteen in NICU

Today Lillian is two weeks old! John and I arrived to the hospital at 10:00 am to take our little Lillian home. We were given all kinds of discharge paperwork and had to sign lots of hospital stuff. Once that was all over with many of the staff were coming up to John and I giving us hugs, for them they were all sad to see us leave. Apparently when it was time for Lillian to have a bottle at 8 in the morning lots of nurses and aides were arguing about who got to feed her, the nurse practitionar went into the room and said "i'll settle this, I will feed her." The staff asked us to send updated pictures of her and to bring her up from time to time. The NICU staff has been the best medical personal I have ever come into contact with, they are all so caring and so organized.

The ride home I sat in the back with Lillian and I was nervous the entire ride home! We suprised the kids and grandma and grandpa by just showing up at their house with the baby. Everyone was so excited.

Best nighttime phone call...

The nurse caring for Lillian called me at 10:30 pm to inform me that Lillian has gained 1 ounce. With that information John and I was assured that our baby girl gets to come home tomorrow, the day that she turns two weeks old!!!

Day thirteen in NICU

THIS IS ONLY A TEST... Car seat test!

Today John and was at the hospital by 8:30 am. Today was a big day as we are preparing for possible discharge on Monday. Lillian did her car seat test and passed! John and I was taught all kinds of discharge stuff like how to care for a newborn and what to expect from a premature newborn. Lillian was also put on a multivitamin with iron (looks and tastes really gross!) As long as Lillian does not lose weight tonight when they weigh her then we get to bring her home tomorrow!!!!!!!!

Day twelve in NICU

So... Last night Lillian was waiting for her bottle and freaking out while the nurse was preparing it, she got ahold of her feeding tube and pulled it right out! (She must have been listening to our discussion regarding her feeding tube yesterday!) Lillian did so well through the night with the bottles that the nurse did not put in a new NG tube. Look how precious she looks now with no tubes hanging out. Today the Dr. was very happy with Lillians' progress that she said if things continue to go well we may be able to take her home on Monday.

Day eleven in NICU

Today I was able to breastfeed Lillian 4 times, successfully! Her bilirubin is slightly elevated but not high enough to require lights. Lillian is going to get bottles of breast milk tonight instead of through her NG tube and if she can handle the bottles without getting worn out then the nurse will pull the NG tube out tomorrow.