Wednesday, February 2, 2011

January 31, 2010 My First Bottle!


Today I experienced perfection!  I got my first bottle!  The nurse did not think I was going to be able to do much and told my mom that I would probably just play with the nipple for a while. But once I got a taste I just had to have more.  I ate 19 out of 23 ml!!!  The nurse was amazed that I did so well.  mommy and daddy were very proud.  We are going to start slowly because preemies have to learn how to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing in order.  I sucked a lot and then got out of breath and had to catch my breath a lot.  The nurse said that that is something that I will learn over time.  Everyone needs to remember that i am still supposed to be in my mommies belly and this would have been the week that I was learning to do that in there.  Everything I do outside of her belly is much harder... but I am sure that I will get the hang of it in no time!

January 29,2011 Mommies baby shower!





Mommy had a great shower today, we got lots of great stuff that we will for sure be using. They had really yummy food and played a couple fun games!  Plus there were some awesome decorations! Thanks to everyone that helped plan and throw it!  Here are some pictures of the fun!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

January 27, 2010 First Tub Bath




Today Miss Martha showed my mom and dad how to give me a tub bath and it was great!  Everyone thought that I was going to scream but i loved it and did not cry even once.  Mommy and daddy like it because it is so much easier and faster.  Then after all my parts are clean they wrapped me up in warm blankets and that was wonderful too!  Boy oh boy I cannot wait until my next one!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

January 26, 2011- 1 Month!!!!

Momma is taking over this post....

  My life was forever changed on December 26th.  Was I ready...NO!  But now I can not imagine my life any differently.  I am so in love with you Ellouise and I would never change it or take it back.  You are so special and I am so excited to watch you grow and become the Godly woman I know you will be.  Here is something that I found that has made mommy feel so much better.  I hope you know God loves you and you were made the way you are for a reason.  Keep fighting my perfect angel I know you can do it!

How Preemie Moms Are Chosen
--by Erma Bombeck
Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen?  Somehow, I visualize God hovering Earth, selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.  "Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity." 
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a preemie."  The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."  "Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel."  "But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.  "I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair.  Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.  I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother.  You see, the child I am going to give her has a world of it's own. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."  God smiles. "This one is perfect. She has just the right amount of selfishness.  "The angel gasps,  "Selfishness! Is that a virtue?" God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied.  She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says "momma" for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it.  I will permit her to see clearly the things that I see - ignorance, cruelty, prejudice - and allow her to rise above them.  She will never be alone.  I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."  "But what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air. God smiles."A mirror will suffice."

January 24, 2010 Day 29

Well it is offical I have BPD.  It is a lung condition that lots of preemies get.  It is scary for mommy and daddy but for me no big deal.  I am determined to home with out this oxygen and be breathing on my own.  I just need a little extra help right now is all.  So for now I get a little bit of back time until I get too tired and then they flip me over on my belly and I am fine right away!
Every day mommy comes in the first thing she does is put her hand over me and pray (after she does her three minute scrub of course).  She tires to be as specific in her prayers as she can be but sometimes there is so much to pray for she dosen't know where to start.  Mommy is so thankful to God that I have made it this far and so am I!  I could have never done it without his help! 

 Also everyday we have singing time.  I am now in the habit of waking up when it is time to eat and so at my 3:30 feeding we sing songs like, "You are my Sunshine" , This little light of mine", "Jesus loves the little children" " I am a Promise" and "Jesus loves me"  That one is my favorite, I always move and dance when mommy sings that one to me.  I love singing time even the nurses have commented on how much I focus and pay attention during that time.  Mommy says it is because she sang to me all the time when I was in her belly!

Finally tonight Nurse Jessica decided that since I have so much hair and am so pretty that I needed a hair bow.  I feel so pretty with my purple bow!  Thank you Nurse Jessica!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

January 23, 2011 Day Twenty Eight




Today was a busy day Nana and papa came to see me again and helped with my bath.  Then daddy and I got some alone Kangaroo time.  I loved it and he did too.  We both snored for about an hour and a half and got very rested.  Then Grandpa and Grandma Ryan came and visited.  Boy oh boy I am sure popular.  Mommy tells me that there are even more people at home that want to see me.  I cannot wait to meet everyone!