June 24, 2011

We have had Eleanor home now for 17 days and we are all so happy!  It was hard in the beginning with her sleeping schedule, eating schedule, etc... and mostly it has been hard dealing with her reflux.

We have seen her pediatric gastroenterologist once and her pediatrician several times.  We are monitoring her diet and her growth.  Eleanor has gotten much happier since her last appt. with the pediatrician (this past wednesday).  We eliminated the rice cereal in the breast milk, doubled her calorie fortifier, and started her on baby Zantac.  This has made a huge difference at home.  She can now sleep comfortably and we are all getting more sleep at night.  Her reflux is showing improvement too!

We are doing all sorts of enjoyable things with Baby Girl now.  She loves her bath time, her tummy time with Charlie, and having her grandparents around her (her grandfather, Fitz, comes on June 30 - he cannot wait to meet his precious Eleanor).  We had our first family stroll.. and we loved it so much that we woke up this morning and did another stroll through the neighborhood with her aunt, Clare, before her flight home to New Orleans this afternoon.

She is now weighing 4 pounds and 10 ounces.  The pediatrician said that growth restricted preemies usually catch up in size to their peers around age 2 or 3.  She has a long slow journey ahead of her, but she is doing great!

Everyday is easier, everyday is happier, and everyday Eleanor becomes more beautiful.

Our first hours at home

I love to be held

Nana Kaki is the first to arrive

My first bath!  I LOVE it!!!

I'm a really good sleeper

Meeting 'Dear' for the first time

Father's Day

I love my gift from Clare and I do Love my Bruppy!

Life is good

MaMare has waited a long time to hold me

sleeping angel

Daddy loves me!

Hello!

Clare is so happy to meet me!  

Our first family stroll

A beautiful evening in Dorado

I love being outside!

I'm so cute when I sleep

Watching the morning news with Nana Kaki.  

My first morning stroll with MaMare, Clare, Mommy, and Charlie

Beautiful morning... I hope we can do this everyday!

There is so much to see

My first time to see the ocean!

headed back home... What a lovely morning.

June 10, 2011

Eleanor is home!

Wednesday, June 8, after 75 days in the nicu, baby girl came home at 4 lbs 3 oz. The doctors agree that at this point she is better off at home and will grow more being happy in a calmer quieter environment.

We are exhausted and at times overwhelmed, but it is so wonderful to have her here where she belongs.

Family begins arriving tomorrow to spend the whole summer with us. We are ready for the help!

We have so much to be thankful for.

So many wonderful people have helped us through this difficult time.

Will add photos when we can.

Love
Emily, Robert, Eleanor, and Charlie bear

June 6, 2011

Still 4 pounds 1 ounce... but Eleanor had a gain of a few grams.  She's doing great!

in Daddy's arms...

Amazing

June 5, 2011

After two days at 4 pounds, Eleanor made it to 4 lbs 1 oz.

She is having more rice cereal in the breast milk and it is filling her tummy up faster... more volume
it took her a few feedings to get used to the heavier milk, but she is doing well now.

Cell Phone shots:

hahahahahahahahahahaaaa!

June 3, 2011

Today Eleanor did it!!  FOUR POUNDS!!!

We are so proud of her!

We completed our infant cpr class this morning.  We are now certified until she is one year old.  After that -there is a different technique so we will go back and complete the toddler class in a year.  We feel confident now.

Eleanor had her hearing exam today and all is well. She passed. Tonight we met with a pediatric gastroenterologist.  We discussed Eleanor's reflux issues and ways we can attempt to control it and make it more comfortable for her. We are going to continue to see the ped. gastr. as Eleanor grows older.  The doctor believes that Eleanor will suffer from reflux for another 6 months to a year.

All for now. off to bed!

June 1, 2011

Eleanor gained grams, but she still needs 14 more grams to be 4 lbs.  She is on her way!

The doctors moved her back into our little room.  When I walked in and asked where she was the doctor said now that she is in the bassinet everyone can hear her loud 'hungry cry.'  She was waking up all the other babies so they moved her back in her room... ha.

Eleanor had her two month vaccinations.  She screamed during each of the three shots, but in between the shots she was perfectly content.  The shots gave her a slight fever and they told me that she would feel pain.  I stayed with her and held her while she got her fever.  She was so precious.  I gave her a bottle but she only took 15 ml before starting to feel bad.  As she started to feel better she got really hungry.  She took the rest of the bottle very well.

The doctors are now mixing rice cereal into the breast milk.  Eleanor loves it!  It is adding calories to her feedings and making the milk heavier - easier for her to keep it down.

One of the nurses told me that she is going to miss Eleanor when she goes home... little hint that maybe it will be soon!

-Emily

Back in my old room... but in my new bed

sleepy

being comforted after my shots.

In my duckies from Mary Rose.  Another perfect fit for my teeny body!

Close up - I love my polka-dot cap from Aunt Lynne.