Lillianna - 1 Month old in the NICU

Here is a short video of Lilli in her crib before her feeding while in the NICU.

4 Weeks Old!

Lilli has turned 4 weeks old on Tuesday, which makes her 34 weeks gestationally. She is doing really great and has been drinking more from the bottle. She now does about 20 CC through the bottle for each feeding. Her weight as of last night (December 10th) is 4 lbs 15 oz. She seems to have slight swelling again in her hands and her respitory rate is up, so they are keeping an eye on this. She has her 1 month head ultrasound coming up tomorrow.

Lilli Update & Family Christmas Pictures

Lilli Update

Her edema has cleared up after a dose of Lasix. As of December 7th, she is up to 40 CC of breast milk. She is starting to get the hang of drinking from the bottle. Last night and this morning she took about 25 CC via the bottle and the rest through the tube. For the 2pm feeding I gave her, she drank 17 CC via the bottle for me, I was so happy! I think Sean gave her a pep talk over the weekend and that is why she is drinkng more :) Her improved bottle drinkng all began when he fed her over the weekend. She went from about 3-5 CC with the bottle on Thursday and Friday to 10 CC for each feeding Sean did over the weekend. As of last night (December 7th) she weighs 4lbs 10 oz. She is really growing like weed!

Over the weekend we took our Family Christmas pictures while visiting Lilli at the NICU. We found a really cute photo prop to use as the background. I dressed Lilli in the same Christmas dress that we used for Lexi when she was in the NICU.

Christmas Pictures

Lilli is 3 Weeks Old & Moves to an Open Crib!

Today Lilli is three weeks old (33 weeks) and se graduated to an open crib since she can regulate her body temperature on her own now. She also started to drink a little from the bottle and breast. We are so proud of Lilli!

Lexi Visits Lilli

Lexi really enjoys visiting her baby sister. She loves Lilli so much and looks forward to the weekends. At home she likes to pretend to visit Lilli in the hospital from getting the ticket in the parking lot, calling the NICU and telling them that she is here to see Lilli and then talking to her in the isolette.

Lilli Weighs 4 Pounds!

As of November 28th Lilli weighs 4 pounds! She is doing very well and is now considered a "Feeder and Grower". Currently her feedings are 30 CC or 1 oz every three hours. They have now added iron, multi-vitamins and fortifier to each feeding. Breast fed preemies needs additional iron and the fortifier gives them extra calories that they miss from breast milk.

My New Hat

Check out the cute hat that Laura, one of the NICU nurses gave Lilli. It fits her tiny head perfectly and keeps her warm when she comes out of her isolette.
We are now able to hold Lilli at each feeding. Here she is getting ready to have lunch which she is still fed through the tube. Once she reaches 34 weeks, she should start to learn to suck and swallow and will begin trying to drink from a bottle.

Kangaroo Time!

Daddy got the chance to "Kangaroo" with Lilli. This is also known as skin to skin. It is very beneficial for a preemie's growth.

The Four of Us

Lexi "petting" her baby sister as she likes to call it.

Lexi gives the bunny rabbit to Lilli that she picked out for her. When we went shopping she wanted to get her baby sister a present.

Nice and Cozy

Lilli was nice and cozy in her isolette. Now that she is off of the CPAP and the IV, she can relax much better. When she lies on her tummy she likes to rest her hands under her head,

Check out all that hair!

Mommy's 1st Hold

Mommy got to hold Lilli for the first time on 11/17. She was able to come off of the CPAP for almost an hour!

My 1st Outfit!

Lilli is finally able to wear clothes now that she can regulate her body temperature.

First Time Holding Lilli

We had our first opportunity to hold Lilli on November 14th. They were able to disconnect the CPAP for a short time while we held her. She reminded us of Lexi when we stared at her beautiful eyes.

Welcome to the World Lillianna Kaitlin

Lillianna Kaitlin (Lilli) was born Tuesday November 11, 2008. She came to this world at only 30 weeks old just like her big sister Lexi. She is currently in the NICU and doing very well.