January:
Emily was born three months early, weighing
one pound, eight ounces. She met Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma Jensen for the very
first time.
Two
days after birth, she was able to experience her very first kangaroo care time
with Mommy. She also experienced her
first of many Bililight treatments.
Emily
received her very first blanket, featuring a galloping horse, from Daddy. The blanket was very appropriate,
particularly given that her heart rate sounded like a horse racing through the forest
on all of Mommy's non-stress tests.
Emily
received her first tiny amount of breast milk through a GI tube and experienced
caffeine for the first time. She also
received her first massage via a toothbrush.
Emily transitioned from SiPAP to high flow nasal cannula oxygen. Due to breathing difficulty, she was put back on the SiPAP.
Emily
received her first dose of Epogen to help her to maintain her red blood cells.
Emily
lost her belly button scab. She started
to wave her hand in the isolette, as if she were saying hi to Mommy and Daddy.
Emily
sucked on her purple NICU pacifier for the fist time.
Emily
received her first PICC line --which ultimately eroded in her teeny tiny veins
-- and got a replacement.
Emily
had her first echocardiogram.
February:
Grandma Jensen
held Emily for the very first time before returning home to California.
Emily's
PICC line was removed for the last time.
Emily
was put in isolation for the first time as a baby in another NICU room had been
diagnosed with MRSA.
Emily
met Grandma and Grandpa Stevens for the very first time.
Emily
wore micro-preemie clothes for the very first time. She weighed two pounds, one ounce.
Emily
was put in isolation again. This time
for MRSA colonization. She was moved for
the first time to a new NICU room.
Emily
had her very first sip of milk from a bottle (3 ccs total).
March:
Emily doubled her birth weight and was moved
into an open crib for the first time.
She gradually transitioned from gavage feedings to bottle feedings.
Emily
was moved to another NICU room.
Emily tried to escape from her isolette.
Emily
received her first bath in the NICU from Mommy and Daddy (with nurse supervision).
After
67 days, Emily was discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU),
weighing three pounds, ten ounces. Emily
experienced her first car ride in her very own car seat (which was stuffed with
hospital towels for proper snugness).
She saw her house for the first time and spent her first night in her
own home with Mommy and Daddy. She also
met her brother, Bentley, for the first time.
Her nursery furniture (crib, dresser, nightstand, and recliner) were
delivered.
Emily
went to the pediatrician's office for the first time.
Emily's real due date came; Emily was 12 weeks actual age.
Emily experienced her first Easter and saw a bunny in the backyard.
April:
Emily went to Frying Pan Farm
Park for the first time. The Park features horses, cows, sheep, pigs,
goats, and other farm animals.
May:
Emily received multiple vaccines
(Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Polio, Haemophilus
influenza B, and the Rotavirus live monovalent).
June:
Emily honored Craig for Father's Day. We took Craig to the Model T Car Show at Sully
Plantation. Emily saw hundreds of antique cars. The oldest one she saw was made in 1909 -- and
was somewhat like a carriage.
July:
Emily took her first dip in a small inflatable pool that we put in the backyard.
August:
Emily's weight hit the double digits and she attempted tripod sitting for the first time. She also had her first bit of baby food -- bananas!
September:
Emily went on her first vacation to the Outer Banks. Her luggage, including Pack 'N Play and stroller, took up the entire trunk and then some, leaving Mommy, Daddy, and Bentley with little room.
Emily
wore a bikini for the first time and experienced her first dip in the ocean, as
well as the big-girl pool.
She
also got her first teeth simultaneously -- the two teeth in the bottom center
of her mouth.
October:
Emily was baptized in a private service at home. Both sets of Grandparents came to visit.
November:
Emily started her Synagis shots in preparation for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) season.
She
also started to sit without assistance and learned how to clap using both
hands.
December:
Emily experienced a lot of firsts in December. At the beginning of the month, she started to say, "Momma." Now, when she is upset, she bursts out "Momma" in a repetitive fashion while crying. It's simply adorable.
She
also had her first hearing test out of the NICU. Luckily, her hearing test went well and no
deficiencies were detected.
Emily also started to crawl, inch worm style.
Emily also started to crawl, inch worm style.
In
addition, Emily experienced her first Christmas, first visit with Santa Claus,
and first presents. She also developed a
love for boxes, tissue paper, and gift wrap.
I'm
looking forward to many more firsts in 2014!
Preemie
Blessings wishes you a very Happy New Year filled with love, laughter, and
milestones met!
Wow! What a lot of growth and progress in one year! Emily, and her parents are blessed!
ReplyDeleteFound your blog looking for preemie blogs. I'm a former preemie myself (now 27, woot time flies!). I love your blog and am so proud of Emily for her progress. I hope she continues to improve and becomes a very happy toddler.
ReplyDeleteI discovered your blog searching for preemie blogs. I'm a former preemie myself (now 27, so time definitely flies! ;) ). I love your blog and am so proud of Emily for all the progress she's made. I hope she continues to improve and becomes a very happy toddler next year.
ReplyDeleteHi, bloggingastrid.com! Thank you so much for your kind note. It's so nice to hear from a former preemie and a new blog follower! We greatly appreciate your encouragement and support when it comes to progress and milestones. Thanks again for your outreach. We hope that you continue to follow the blog -- and we wish you a very happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog on Pintrest. My husband and I are in your shoes. We are facing the possibility of delivering our baby with IUGR at 28 weeks. Thank you for everything you have written to help women like me.
ReplyDelete