Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Day 10

Want to hear some great news? Keep reading this post!

1. Annaleigh is doing great! Not only did the doctor say that her infection is all but gone, but also she is now stable enough to have been moved into her own isolette! Remember, the nurses said that they would only move a baby into an isolette if he/she was “stable,” and poor Annaleigh has been anything but stable lately. This is such great, great news!

2. Charlie is eating again! As of this post, he’s eaten four times (noon, three, six, and nine) and he’s digesting it just fine. The first time they fed him, he was having a lot of episodes and they had to stop. But that was when he was eating formula; now, Brooke has been pumping to get them all breast milk, and the doctors are confident that the babies can digest breast milk a lot more easily.

3. Lily has gained weight! She’s the first of the babies to actually regain her birth weight! At birth, she was one pound 8 ounces; this evening, she weighed in at one pound 8.4 ounces! They originally told us to hope for them to regain the birth weight by the time they were about two weeks old, so she’s ahead of schedule. She’s always been the smallest but she’s growing strong! (Annaleigh hadn’t been weighed by the time we left the NICU at 9:30 tonight, so for all we know she’s also caught up to her birth weight. But if she hasn’t, that means Lily is no longer the smallest baby.)

4. For the first time since the womb, all three babies are together! Since entering the NICU, Annaleigh has been in the first bed in the first row; my mother-in-law hates that she’s there, swearing that it’s “too much traffic” for her to be able to relax. Charlie has been in the side row, all the way back, and Lily has been two beds away from him. Now, they moved Annaleigh into her own little house right between her siblings! In Brooke’s belly, she was in the middle the whole time; Charlie was the lowest and Lily was all spread out on the top. They’ve finally gotten back to where they all started.

This was by far the best NICU visit we’ve had. All good news tonight. I can’t say how (or why) it made me so happy to see all the babies lined up next to each other in their little isolettes. I was tearing up when I was standing with them all at once. It was awesome.

We’re certainly not able to relax yet and we are by no means done with drama. We know that we’re only ten days in to a journey that will most likely last three months, and there will most definitely be set backs and hard times. But we’ve both been exhausted like no other time in our lives lately, and we really needed tonight. To have a visit where everyone is doing well, everyone is progressing… it was just perfect. Now, if only we could find a way to fast-forward through the next few months….

22 comments:

Jennifer said...

What wonderful news! You have three strong little fighters!

John said...

Awesome news! I can't wait to visit them all in the DiGiuseppe corner!

Nestie JenMackey said...

I am so glad that you guys were able to have a great night in the NICU with such great news. I have been praying daily for you and your babies since you announced you were pregnant, thanks for keeping the updates coming, it is great to hear that they are doing so well!

Katrina said...

What wonderful news! I really enjoy reading all about your family each day and especially that they are doing well!

Adam said...

A friend of yours had contacted me and told me about your blog and your journey through the NICU.

If there is anything you need while you go through your NICU rollercoaster, please don't hesitate to contact us. We have practically seen it all and we will be sure to pray for you guys.

God Bless,

Adam & Aimee Freeman
www.KayleighAnneFreeman.blogspot.com

Michele from FTHS said...

Another great day for the Little D's!!! I was tearing up as I read this post. Am glad for you, Brooke and Joe, that today was so good. You five are ALL amazing!!!!

E. Merritt said...

Yay, for some good news today. It gave me goosebumps to hear that they are all finally back together (or at least lined up in their isolettes). I can't wait for the day when you see them all in an open crib together (hopefully the hospital you are at will let them co-bed when they are strong enough).

Amanda said...

Yay for a good day! You all deserve many more!

Anonymous said...

YES................
GO BABIES............ YES............
This is absolutely wonderful. Keep it up my little loves. You are getting closer and closer to so much fun that is waiting for you.
Keep growing - keep thriving...

God Bless you and watch over you always. All My Love, Auntie :)
oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Anonymous said...

Finally! What terrific news. Keep going little ones!

Cheryl

Linds said...

Yay for great news and for your strong little fighters! Continuing to send god thoughts and prayers to all of you....

Colleen said...

Yay for gaining weight and neighboring isolettes! Glad to hear today was a good day for all of you :)

Sarah - The Home Cook said...

Fantastic news!! They look great all lined up like that. :) Hugs to you and Brooke and the babies!

Christina H. said...

yay, yay, yay, yay!!!!! I'm so happy for you guys - here's to three months of nights like this!

Staci said...

I am so glad to hear this! Big hugs to all five of you, plus the pets.

Doug H. said...

Fantastic News!!!! I'm man enough to admit that this blog has brought me to tears in the past, but at least this time it is tears of joy.

Anything you guys need we're here for you.

Courtney said...

FANTASTIC news!!!

Amy L. said...

Yay for good news! You all deserve even more great days. Still sending hugs and prayers!

#1SAHM said...

That is fantastic news!!! Yay Annaleigh!!! I got teary eyed reading this, it makes me so happy to see them progressing nicely. : )

Valerie said...

What a great 10 days! I remember the feeling of joy when my two were finally able to be by one another in the NICU.

Keeping your 3 little miracles in my prayers.

~Valerie

Pamela said...

What a wonderful, wonderful post!! Such happy news! Thank you again for sharing!

GLTP Reflections said...

Please know that your entire family is in our prayers constantly. Through the Challenger league you have touched and helped so many families and now it is our turn to help you. If there is anything at all that you need please just let us know. I'll continue to follow your blog and keep praying for the best.

Tammy Ranello (Joe's mom)