3 lbs

She did it!  Veronica is 3 lbs today and doing well!!  By this time next month she should be 4 lbs and close to coming home.  Here is a recent picture of our "big" girl.

Got Milk?

I started pumping the day Veronica was born and have continued to do so 8-10 times a day since.  Right now she is fed less than an ounce of milk every three hours but I am pumping much more than that.  Here is the result: 

Liquid Gold!!

54 Days

Veronica has been in the NICU for 54 days but it feels more like 154.  I'm hoping we are past the half way mark but its impossible to know at this point when she will be discharged.  And even after 53 days, she is still the smallest baby in the NICU.  But she continues to do well and is getting closer to the big "3".  At her last weigh in she was 1280 grams which is the equivalent of 2 lbs, 13 oz.  So it should only be a few more days and we'll be able to celebrate another milestone. 

There haven't been any major changes to her care and we don't anticipate there being any in the near future.  Sometimes it feels like the progress is slow but then we look back on her first day of life and we remember how far she has come.

7 Weeks

Veronica is 7 weeks old today and has already doubled her birth weight. She is currently 2 lbs, 9 oz .....3 lbs here we come!  Go, Veronica, go!!

Veronica is still doing well.  The doctors said that the fact she is doing so well  means she is less likely to have significant neurological problems down the road.  She will have an MRI when she is near term to give us a better idea.  And once she is discharged she will have follow appointments at the developmental clinic at Children's National Medical Center in DC to track her progress.  We try not to worry about potential long term issues at this point.  We're still taking it day to day, enjoying her growth.  Here are some photos from today - she is wearing a hat made by her Aunt Kate.  Thanks Kate!

  

 

Gratitude

Andrew and I are extremely grateful for all of the support we have received over the past 7 weeks.  Without a doubt it has made this very difficult journey more bearable.  The cards, emails, quarters (for parking), gas cards, gift cards, Edible Arrangements, meals, babysitting, prayers, etc....we are so thankful and feel incredibly blessed to know such wonderful and generous people. 

I just can't say it enough...thank you, thank you, thank you!! 

Other Preemies

It's clear that there has never been a better time to be born prematurely.  But prematurity has always been part of the human experience.  The following notable people were born well before term:

Isaac Newton
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Voltair
Johann Wolfgan von Goethe
John Keats
Mark Twain
Winston Churchill
Albert Einstein
Willie Shoemaker
Stevie Wonder (his prematurity accounts for his blindness)
Napolean Bonaparte
Charles Darwin
Renoir
Richard Simmons
Sidney Poitier
Michael J. Fox
Veronica Ament

Eye Exam

Veronica had her first eye exam yesterday which we were somewhat anxious about.  The majority of micro preemies have some form of ROP (retinopathy of prematurity), with the most severe cases resulting in permanent eye damage or possibly blindness. Veronica’s results were positive and there was no evidence of ROP.  While ROP could still develop in the future, it should be able to resolve itself at that point without complications.  This was great news to hear and one less thing to worry about.

Meanwhile, Veronica continues to grow.  She currently weights 1080 grams (2 lbs, 6 oz).  The goal is for her to gain on average 15-30 grams (.5 – 1 oz) per day.  They have added more calories to the fortifier that is already mixed in with the breastmilk.  This should help her gain weight a little faster without having to add more volume to a tiny little belly. 

In another week or two, they will probably start transitioning Veronica from the bubble CPAP to room air.  This will obviously be a huge step but there is no rush as the bubble CPAP is actually good for her in that it allows for the growth of lung tissue.  Apparently the longer babies stay on bubble CPAP, the better they do once they come off.  Another significant change will be feedings by mouth, which should start in about three weeks.  And at some point, when Veronica is able to regulate her body temperature (which is more related to weight as opposed to gestational age), she will move from the isolette to an open crib.  So lots of challenges but so much to look forward to over the next few months!!