Little Miss Grabby

Lets just say Natalie's motor skills are improving daily. She has managed to pull her feeding tube out twice. I had to learn to insert the feeding tube before I left the hospital, but I honestly was hoping to never have to do it again. Now I have done it twice and am hoping to not have to do it again. I think I taped it down pretty good this time, so we will see what happens.

Natalie is taking her bottle a little bit better, so that is good news. We still have a ways to go, but better is good. She is not really gaining weight, but not losing it either. She has not thrown up her feeding since Monday night, so I am hoping we are on good path now. We have a check up next Friday with Dr. Zeller's.

Carter had a small fight with the playground on Thursday and the playground won, so he now has a busted chin. The Fire Department came to Carter's school on Thursday and he had a blast.

He has been a great Big Brother, very concerned about his Baby Natalie. He lets us know when she cries that we need to put her pacificer back in.

Weekend Update

Natalie has been a little cranky these past few days. I am not sure if it the fact we are on our final doses of methadone, which we have been trying to wean her off for a few weeks now or what. She sleeps a lot and when she is not asleep she likes to be held...spoiled.

Carter is back with us from his week with Gran and Papa. He looked at Natalie for a bit and then has just ignored since. He did try to get in my lap a minute ago with the boppy and lay like a baby. We asked if he was a baby and he cried like one for a minute and then laughed...what are we in for.

Overall things are okay. Please pray for Natalie to start taking her bottle better so we can get the feeding tube out sooner.

9lbs 10oz

Natalie had a check up today for post surgery. She is now 9lbs 10oz! She is just getting bigger everyday. She is doing great for the most part. We are still working on taking the bottle versus the feeding tube. She now takes at least 20cc each time and some feedings she will do more, but normally she hits a wall after 20 cc and won't take anymore.

43 Days Later

43 Days Later, but we are finally out of the hospital! We got the okay at 9am, however did not actually leave until 4pm. We had to wait on Home Healthcare and Pharmacy before we could leave.

Natalie is doing great so far. Believe it or not, but she actually took her entire bottle by mouth tonight...she has not done this in over 3 weeks. I am hoping she continues on this good path, but who knows.

Thank you all for your constant prayers and support. We are so blessed!

Natalie at 11 Weeks and Fall Fun for Carter

Natalie's tummy trouble is much better today. She has been a sleepy girl and slept a lot. Here are a few pictures of her at 11 weeks old...time flies.

Larry's parents were in town this past weekend and took Carter to a fall Farmer's Market. I have put a few photos they took of him there and at the park.

Tummy Trouble

Natalie is having a bit of tummy trouble the last few days. The doctors upped her calorie intake, which in return has caused her to get a bit constipated. We plan on fixing that problem this weekend with some medicine.

I also put her NG tube in again last night. Yeah, I am done with that! Now, I just hope she does not pull it out while we are home, but I do know how to put it back in if necessary.

Yes, I am saying this but pray I do not jinks myself...We are shooting for leaving the hospital first of next week! I am so excited to get her out of here for a few months at least. Now, we will be back weekly for check-ups and clinic, but hey a few hours once a week is fine.

NG Tube Insertion

To be able to leave the hospital with Natalie, we have to learn her medications and how to feed her via NG (Nasogastric) Tube (feeding tube). She gets tired during her feeds, so we give her what she will take by mouth and put the rest in her NG Tube.

Since she will be leaving the hospital with the NG Tube, I had to learn how to insert it into her nose. I just decided the best way to do it was to dive in and go for it. I practiced a few times on a fake baby and then did it Natalie...successful!

Since I have accomplished that, the doctors are preparing us to leave the hospital first of next week, hopefully. Can you believe after 6 weeks in the hospital we might be leaving?