Proud Momma

Her RT and nurses came up with this for her yesterday! How precious is that BIG bow and hat! I love it

Emma sitting up during her breathing treatment

Getting to hold Emma Claire for the first time while her nurse and RT were getting her new bed ready

Emma continues to do well on the vapotherm. Her blood gases are so much better on the vapotherm than they were on the ventilator and she is breathing so much better. They have stopped the CPT treatment which was a little vibrator and broke up the mucous secretions since her lungs are now clear and it is no longer needed. Emma is still getting breathing treatments every 12 hours which she likes.

Emma still gets 16 cc every 3 hours. They continue to fortify my breast milk to 29 calories and that is definitely helping with the weight gain. They have not increased her feedings because they do no want to overload her with fluid right now. They have changed her Lasix to every other day instead of every day and she continues to get sodium and potassium every day as well as her vitamins. Her hematocrit levels (red blood cells) have been great, so she has not needed a transfusion since 2/14/10 which is AWESOME!

On her vapotherrm they lowered the number of liter flow she gets per minute. When she was first extubated, she was receiving 8 liters of flow and now she is down to 6 liters. Once she is down to at least 4 liters of flow and not having spells we will be able to do kangaroo care which allows skin to skin contact. Emma Claire is only having about one spell in a 24 hour period which she does not typically drop her heartrate, but she does drop her O2 saturation and they have to give her more O2 to bring it up, but other than that, she stays around 26 to 28 percent O2 which again is so good. We could not be any happier with her continued progress which are HUGE answered prayers!

Yesterday Emma was up to 2 lbs 3 ounces. She had been up to 2 lbs 4 ounces, but lost a few grams. You can definitely tell she is filling out and getting bigger. She loves her belly and it really helps her to breath easier. She is only on her back during assessments and her breathing treatments. We are so blessed by all the staff taking care of her. They have been AWESOME and we can leave the hospital each day knowing she is in the best care.

Please continue to pray for weight gain and growth. Also please continue to lift up prayers that she can stay on the vapotherm and they will be able to continue to lower the liter flow little by little. Her PDA is causing her no issues. Sometimes they hear the murmur and sometimes they do not, so we believe God is closing it and she will not need to have it ligated.

Matt and I are doing well and again our routine is working out really well for us. I continue to be able to get things done around the house and get plenty of rest. I continue to feel God's peace and comfort around us all of the time and I know he is in total control of everything. We are so truly blessed and we serve such an AWESOME GOD!!

Isaiah 40:31 ~ But those whose hope is in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.