Gaining Weight

Just a quick note Harley now weighs 10 lbs. Here are some pics from the last week.

9 LBS OF GIRL

We had our first doctor's App with DR. Stuckelburg in Syracuse. Harley now weighs 9lbs and is taking 4 oz of milk almost every feeding. She has been a very good little girl. She has gotten to meet most of her neighbors and even Little neighbor girl Megan. More later...

HOME SWEET HOME!!!!

What a crazy 48hrs. Where do I start. We learned that Harley would not have to come home on oxygen or a monitor Wednesday but still had one more test to do. Well that test was a car seat test, in which they place the infant in their car seat and monitor there oxygen saturation levels. Miss Harley's levels fell below the allowable level. Probably because of a couple of different reasons 1 She still has a little Pulmonary VSD (hole between ventricles in heart) and 2 She is not strong enough yet to expand her chest when in a compact position(car seat).

So we had to run up yesterday with no warning to take a class on how to care for someone with oxygen and monitors. We then had to stay the night last night in her room so that we could get used to the equipment with someone around. Happy to say that she did not alarm at all through the entire night.(alarm means low heart rate or high heart rate or low respiratory rate)

Harley got released from the hospital a little before noon. Emily and I kind of had to laugh it felt kind of like we were steeling her from her adopted family. (NICU DOCTORS AND NURSES) After reading some of the success story's that have come out of the NICU over the years it makes you realize how lucky we are to have this wonderful hospital in our back yard just in case.

Although Harley was not premature and no where near the health problems that most
babies have when they come through their doors. Harley's 19 Day visit was enough to consider all the Nurses and Doctors our extended FAMILY!!! We are forever in you debt. THE LUBBENS EMILY, DAVE, and HARLEY :-)

I CAN HEAR YOU

Today we passed our hearing exam. Tomorrow we are scheduled for another echo exam to see if the heart is progressing. After that I can't tell you when we will get to come home but I think it is getting close. Thanks to cousin ANGIE for the nice headband.

NO OXYGEN

Today we showed up at the NICU and were amazed to see that the night nurse had removed her oxygen tube, and her line going into her umbilical cord. We gave her a bath today. She is now able to drink 59cc at a time. We are now just waiting to see if she can maintain her oxygen levels through the next couple of days. Here are some pics of her bath today.

BIG GIRLS BED

Today Harley moved into a crib. She is now getting 45 cc of milk every 3 hours. She seems to spit up more in the morning feedings more. They lowered her vapor therm to 1 ml which is basically no pressure at all and continues to be on room air of 21%. All the doctors are really impressed with the progress she has made the last few days. We hoped to have her home by mothers day, but does not look like that will happen. The doctors seem very confident that she will be home by Emily's birthday (May 20th).

GOOD DAY

Good afternoon from the NICU. Today is a good day, it may have rained last night keeping us out of the field but it also kept me here most of the day. Harley had another ecogram done today. The medicine that she has been receiving the last 72 hours has helped her heart in its ability to strengthen. Her feedings have been increased to 26cc every 3 hours and this morning she took 30cc. Her IV got taken out of her head this morning also. Things are looking up but trying to stay grounded. Here are some pics of grandma Sherman holding Harley and Mom feeding. Later The Lubbens.