Our little princess is home

Little miss G is home...well she has been home for a week now.  It has been a nice and easy adjustment so far.  She is a very easy baby right now...she sleeps a lot!  The NICU put her on a great schedule she eats every three hours during the day and four hours at night.  She pretty much sticks to that, only waking up to eat.  It makes it easy for mom.  She doesn't cry much yet either only when she is getting her diaper or outfit changed. She doesn't like to be cold.  She loves being held and definitely sleeps better being held.  After missing out on that for the first month of her life we are trying to hold her as much as we can.  It really has been a very peaceful week.  Just adjusting to our new life as a family of four, getting to know our daughter and trying to give equal time to both of our amazing kids.  T loves his new sister. He is very excited about her, maybe a little too much at times.   He wakes up wondering where "baby" is.  He runs to her if she starts to cry or makes any sort of noise.  We are trying to teach him how to handle her but he doesn't quite understand how little she is. He is trying to learn to be patient while she is eating, but it is hard to ask a 18 month old to wait 20min. 

So tiny in the car seat.  It has taken some time to get use to handling some one so tiny.

T likes to point out her "eyes" "nose" "mouth".

I can't really tell who she looks like between D and I. I see a lot of T in her. We are so happy to have her home and finally get settled in our new life with her.  The month at the hospital was long and challenging and probably the hardest thing I have ever gone through.  It will always be a big part of her and our life.  She is a precious little gift and we are happy to have her a part of our family.

Still waiting to bring her home...

It has been almost a month since this whole adventure began.  It is hard to believe she is almost a month old.   G is doing very well.  She is at 5lbs 4oz today!  She is a calm and content baby and so adorable.  We are still waiting here in the NICU wondering everyday when we get to take her home.  The last hump is getting her feedings down.  She is feeding almost completely by bottle now.  Though each bottle is a total work out for her.  When she gains enough energy to finish every 48ml (which is about an ounce and half) bottle for about 48 hours in a row we get to take her home.  The nurses keep telling us it could be any day. The frustrating part is it is completely up to G. We are praying  for her strength to increase everyday.  Each day makes a difference she gains a little more each day and is getting more developed each day.  We are so ready for her to come home.  We have gotten to know this hospital too well and driving back and forth everyday is hard.  We will keep posting updates as things change...hopefully things will change soon! This past weekend G had another photo shoot from a great photographer that was so kind to do them for our family.  The pictures turned out great.  You can check them out on her blog...

Http://www.jessicafeely.com/blog 

Update

My cousin was able to come visit baby G with her husband. He brought all his camera gear and was so kind to take these wonderful pictures of our sweet little girl.  Thanks Kevin they turned out great!  What a precious little girl she is. We are so amazed at her strength.  She is doing wonderfully.  She is growing a little more everyday.  She got back up to her birth weight today, which is 3lbs 9oz.  Now it is just kind of a waiting game as she continues to grow and develop.  She is still eating out of a feeding tube, that is the little orange tube you see in her nose in the pictures.  We started physical therapy for her feeding yesterday.  Which helps her learn how to suck, swallow and breathe in a natural rhythm. Which will get her off the feeding tube and eating like a normal baby.  She is still in an incubator to help keep her warm.  But each day they are turning down the temp and just bundling her up more.  She makes little steps each day.  She is a perfect baby girl that just came a too early.  We are happy she is here though.  We are just trying to balance between spending time with her at the hospital and taking care of T at home.  Luckily we have lots of help from Grandmas!  T has no idea what is going on.  He is still lifting up my shirt everyday and giving baby (my tummy) kisses.  So he will be for a shock when she comes home one day.  We praying for that day to come soon.  Everyday is one day closer.  For now we are happy she is healthy and strong and has good people taking care of her.