Third day at home

Today has been much easier for us now that we getting into the swing of things again. It makes such a difference to sleep 5 straight hours instead of 2 or 2 1/2 broken hours. I am so glad that we are sleeping in shifts (kind of). Alyssa is still watching over baby sis-sis just like a great big sister! Our dog Gingie is even fond of Calleigh. She has been sniffing everything that she has touched and today licked the back of her hand. Calleigh is picking her head up a lot and last night looked like she was trying to crawl up Daddy when he was burping her. She is defintely true to another nickname that a NICU nurse gave her, wiggleworm. Changing her diaper is a sight to see and sometimes takes both of us to get it done! Calleigh is a very active girl even though small in size.

First doctor's visit

Calleigh had her first doctor's visit today with Dr. Katz. The nurses thought she was so cute in her little floral sleeper (thanks Sandy and Joe). They also thought Alyssa was adorable, which she was until her appointment next week- that will be a different story! The nurse let Alyssa help weigh Calleigh by lining the scale with a disposable pad. Calleigh now weighs 4 pounds and 8 ounces and started eating 50mm of milk per feeding this morning.

Our first whole day & night as a family

Today was the first whole day/night together as a family. Brian and I spent the whole day in a sleep deprived stupor. We forgot how hard that is since Alyssa has been sleeping through the night for a couple years! Tonight we will be sleeping in shifts to make it easier.

Alyssa was so attentive to Calleigh today. Every time Calleigh cried or woke up she let us know by yelling out "Mommy or Daddy! Baby sis-sis is crying (or woke up)!!" She kept checking in on Calleigh by peeking into her bassinet.

Calleigh comes home!

This evening we got to leave the NICU with Calleigh around 8 pm to take her home with us! Tomorrow would have marked 3 weeks in the NICU, but she was sprang out early. We all said goodbye to the NICU nurses and doctor who took such great care of Calleigh- they are truly amazing people. She weighed 4 pounds and 5.2 ounces and was drinking 45 mm of milk per feeding on her last day in the hospital.

We arrived at Grandma Morris' house shortly after leaving the hospital to pick up our older daughter. Grandma was so suprised to see Calleigh, because we didn't tell her we were bringing her home today. Aunt Kim, uncle Greg, and Alyssa got to see her for the first time (in person) too. Alyssa was SO excited to meet her baby sister, Calleigh.

Car seat challenge

Today Calleigh will be doing the "car seat challenge" for 2 hours. If she passes she will be coming home with us in a few days! She weighs 4 pounds and 5.2 ounces.

Monday's visit

I finally posted some new pictures on some of the older posts today of Calleigh and one of Alyssa. We visited Calleigh this afternoon and I got to feed and change her. I just want to grab her up and take her home with me she is so tiny and cute! She looks so much like Alyssa did when she was first born. Her weight this evening was 4 pounds and 4.2 ounces and she is now eating 45 ccs at every feeding. Brian was told by a nurse that the doctor will be sending Calleigh home in a few days if she passes the car seat challenge. She will need to sit in her car seat for 2 hours and maintain a normal blood pressure and breathe normally. We are so excited!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Brian and I visited Calleigh this evening while Grandma Morris and Aunt Kim watched Alyssa. Calleigh was fast asleep when we got there and only woke for a few minutes when Brian unwrapped her to (try) to swaddle her more tightly. Her doctor put her on extra vitmains because she is low on iron and calcium. He said this is normal for preemies so she will receive the supplement in her milk until her levels return to a normal. Calleigh weighs 4 pounds and 4 ounces.

Diaper change

Brian and I visited Calleigh around 6 pm today and got to feed her and change her diaper. Normally neither of us would rejoice to change a diaper, but this was the first diaper that we changed of Calleigh's. Brian did most of the work ;) He joked that it was like changing a Rubik's cube because of the heart monitor wires in the way. I don't know how the nurses change a preemie's diaper so expertly, we were fumbling around like we had never changed a diaper before. It was so great to be able to hold Calleigh as long as we want to. When she was in the incubator we were only allowed to hold her twice per day for about 30 minutes.

Calleigh's nurse today was Leeann and she said that she was making booties for her. Another nurse, Barbara made Calleigh an adorable card for Valentine's Day that she taped to the outside of her crib. We couldn't ask for a nicer or more caring group of nurses, they are truly a blessing!

Brian went to visit Calleigh around 11 pm and her nurse Chanel said that she now weighs 4 pounds and almost 3 ounces.

Calleigh hit a big milestone!

Calleigh now weighs 4 pounds and 2 ounces and is also in an open crib. This is a huge milestone! The next step from this is for her to go home with us. We are all so excited and can't wait until we can bring her home. Alyssa will finally get to meet her baby sister. The two sisters haven't met yet, because of the visitor restrictions at the hospital (no one under 18 years old can visit).

Two weeks in the NICU

During an afternoon visit, Brian called and told me that Calleigh was wearing a purple sleeper and she looked adorable! She has been in only a diaper since her birth except for a long sleeve shirt the day before. Her incubator was set at room temperature to see if she can maintain her body temperature. The nurse said that if she can maintain her body temperature for several hours she will be placed in an open crib in the NICU.

Brian called the NICU this evening and the nurse reported that Calleigh is now 3 pounds 14 ounces.

Getting closer to 4 pounds!

Calleigh now weighs 3 pounds and 13.6 ounces. Brian said that Calleigh was awake during his evening visit. She even blessed him with 2 gassy explosions.

Tuesday's weigh in

Calleigh weighed 3 pounds and 11.7 ounces today. The nurse said that it's normal for a preemie to fluctuate in their weight. Brian visited her twice today, but I couldn't due to the snow and ice outside. :(

Weigh in before another big Winter storm

Calleigh weighed 3 pounds 12.3 ounces today at her weigh in. She is getting bigger everyday!!

No longer snowed in

I wasn't able to visit Calleigh today because of the snowstorm. It is so hard to not be able to see her and have her here with us. Brian visited Calleigh Sunday evening and she now weighs 3 pounds and 10.4 ounces.

Peanut

She is 3 pounds and 9.3 ounces today. Calleigh's feeding has increased from 30 ccs (1 ounce) to 40 ccs. We didn't get to see Calleigh today because of the snow storm. :( Calleigh has earned herself a nickname by the NICU nurses- Peanut.

Happy Birthday Grandma Miller!

Up to some new tricks!

Brian and I visited with Calleigh this afternoon and watched as she learned a new trick! The nurse placed Calleigh on her belly and walked away. She raised her mid section off of the bed by bending her legs and pushing up. Brian told the nurse and she said she hasn't seen Calleigh do this before. She also said that she is the smallest, yet feistiest baby in the NICU. You go baby girl!

Alyssa spent time at Grandma Morris' house and had lots of fun- like she always does.

1 week in the NICU

Today marks Calleigh's 1 week birthday and stay in the NICU. We can't wait to bring her home, but we know that the NICU is the best place for her until she is stronger. She continues her treatment for jaundice.

Chocolate milk

Alyssa saw me pumping milk for baby Calleigh this morning. She decided that my breast milk wasn't just plain old milk- she announced that it was chocolate milk. If only we could all see the world through a child's eyes and innocence! I got to feed Calleigh for the first time today with a bottle! She did a great job drinking down the little bit of milk in the bottle and then letting a small cute burp.

Discharged from the hospital today

I was discharged from the hospital today. This is good news and bad news. Brian and I REALLY miss Alyssa and want to be home with her, but we also want to stay so that we can see Calleigh anytime we want because she is right down the hall. The reunion with Alyssa was wonderful and she was so excited since I haven't seen her for 6 days.

Brian and I held Calleigh for as long as possible and kissed her goodbye. I wiped the tears from my eyes as we exited the NICU.