April 18 and 19, 2011

April 18:
After the blood transfusion, Eleanor looks so good.  Her coloring is now back to a healthy pink. Her hemoglobin count is up to 12, but the doctor said it will go down and hopefully settle at 10.  The doctors want her to increase her own blood supply.  More transfusions mean that her body will become dependent on added blood and learn that it does not have to make its own.  They have to find a balance and hope that she can keep increasing her blood count.  She is off of the oxygen and breathing on her own.  She is still on 57 ml of milk with four added calories over six hours.  She gained 20 grams which is almost an ounce.  The doctors had to hold her feedings before the transfusion.  She still managed to gain without two of her feedings!  

We have both been holding her during visits.  It is so nice to hold her!  

April 19:
Today, Eleanor only gained two grams (1128g, still 2 lbs 11 oz).  The doctors said that they are going to increase the breast milk tonight and then tomorrow add more calorie fortifier.  They cannot add the calories at the same time they increase the milk because it may be too much for her little tummy to handle.  She has to continue to gain ounces steadily.  


We started the process for Eleanor's "Step One" screenings. By law, all newborns must be tested for four major disorders.  The Step One screenings test for a total of fifty disorders.  Her blood sample will be sent to a special lab tomorrow morning.  Our NICU doctors are conferring with a hematologist to decide when we can test Eleanor for my blood disorder, Factor V Leiden.  She may have to be a little bit older for that test to show a positive or negative.  Let's hope she is negative, but if she did inherit Factor V Leiden, it is important that we know early so she can be treated well.  Step One screenings do not test for it because it is so rare.


Tonight, she looked so good.  She was peaceful in her house.  She was wearing a warm hat and socks.  Robert and I read books to her in English and in Spanish.  Thank you to the Stella family for the sweet children's' books en Espanol!  Eleanor loves them!

Emily