HOME!!

Okay - I know that we have been keeping people waiting - I'm sorry. HOME - what a wonderful word and an even better place to be. It is great to be here! It is great to have all 4 of us here!

Caybree was discharged from the hospital on Saturday, June 14th. What a great day! (Yes, we were able to be home with Mark for Father's Day. He says that it will always be the best Father's Day gift ever!)

Caybree is still being topped up after most feedings with a feeding tube. Since her feedings were the only thing that was keeping her in the hospital, they trained Mark and I on how to change the tubes and feed her this way. Had anyone told me before that I would be putting a tube down my child's nose and throat to feed her, I would have told them they were crazy. Yet, when they told me on Monday, June 9th that they were going to teach us, I don't think I could have been more excited!!

There was some regression when we first came home. Caybree was quite sleepy and wasn't nursing as much. But we are able to see her become stronger each day and see the amazing progress that she is making. We continue to feed her every three hours to make sure that she is meeting requirements, but she still isn't gaining a great amount of weight. The dietitian has just increased the volume and we may also have to add more formula to the EBM that we tube feed her. (Expressed Breast Milk - and the formula for more calories.)

Again, we are so happy to be home as a family. We would like to thank everyone for their continued love, support, prayers and meals. We are continually blown away by the support shown to us by friends, family and community! We will be forever grateful!

Till next time! (I'll try to update more regularly!)

"The Swing"

The nurses brought a swing into the pod for our nosey little daughter. Brookelyn was in visiting this day and Caybree was sure not to take her eyes off of her! (And Brookelyn was sure to entertain!)

"TOYS!"

When Caybree is awake she is quite alert and loves to look at things. The nurses are all really great at putting different toys in her crib for her to look at. She loves listening to music and watching the fish. She will turn her head to the sound when it is turned on.

May 31st, 2008 "Bath Day!"

Caybree's second bath. Her first one was when she was a day old. Check out how great her scar looks! Healing beautifully!!

Current Events

Well, another week and a bit has past and I haven't updated the blog. (Terribly sorry - I don't know where the day goes. Well, I guess I actually do! Commuting between the hospital and Chris and Paula's to try and spend time with both girls!)

As the days have blurred together, I can't exactly remember when Caybree got up to full feeds and when the central line came out. But, none the less, she is up to full feeds and the central line is out!! Full feeds are 60 ml (2 oz.) - however, she is not taking full feeds from me or the bottle. She will usually nurse 20 - 25 ml at each feeding and sometimes into the 30s and then is tube fed the rest. They are currently trying her on a different bottle - one that is more like the breast - and she seems to be doing better with it, but is still hovering around the 30s at each feed. She just seems to get really tired after eating the ounce. Hopefully she will soon decide to wake up and take full feeds by herself! Once she does take the full feeds herself at every feed, then we get to go home! So, it is all up to Caybree now.

I promise to try to keep the blog more current in the coming week!