Happy Birthday Lucy!!

Tonight at 6:56PM Miss Lucy turned one week old!!  Happy Birthday sweetheart!  :)

Well, the last two days have been kind of tough, not going to lie.  I wrote in my last blog that in NICU life you take 2 steps back for every step forward and receiving bad news is not uncommon.  Well, I have felt like we have had our share of discouraging news the past two days, but I also know that it could be so much worse and try to remember that!  And, it's not all bad for sure.  Our little girl is super strong and definitely lets the nurses and doctors know that she is the BOSS, not them!  :)

Lucy was having several "episodes", as the call them, where her heart rate drops for a short period of time...very common, but SO hard to watch as a parent!  From what I have been told this is usually accompanied by a drop in oxygen saturation and/or respiratory rate.  But to be different, Lucy does not drop those most of the time, which is good, but also no explanation.  Because of this, they decided to put her on a nasula ventilator which was a little more help breathing.  It forced breaths in to her rather than her breathing on her own 100%.  Let's just say little miss HATED it.  She started having even more "episodes" and just looked uncomfortable in general.  I think she wanted them to know that she did NOT need help with those breaths...she's got this!!  So they switched her back to the bubble c-pap and she's been doing a lot better since.  The nurse practitioner can't really explain it, other than what Lucy wants, Lucy gets!  HA.

Bilirubin levels have been fine, which can change, but for now she does not have to sun tan in her sunglasses all day every day.  Which means we get to see her pretty face and eyes.  Loving that!

Echo came back on her heart and they found that she still has a tiny hole...it is mostly closed up now.  They think it should go ahead and close on its own, but will watch it to see.  It doesn't seem to be causing any problems, but will watch closely to make sure.

They did an EKG and we should get results tomorrow.  This is due to the unexplained bradycardia "episodes" only involving her heart rate.  The literally last a couple of seconds before she pulls herself out of it. Hoping for good results on that!

They did a brain scan today, which is done on every preemie at 1 week of age.  It came back showing a small brain bleed on the left side.  Not what I wanted to hear!  The doctor seemed encouraged because it was so small and only on one side.  She said generally once it stops bleeding it just absorbs back into the tissue and has no future affect.  Another thing that will just be watched.  I have a hard time with this one, but I also know it is super common for babies this small.  Just hoping it does what it is supposed to do and we will be fine!

She got a PIC line in today for her nutrition.  She's been getting it through her belly button, but that line will only last 7 days...then the risk of infection goes way up.  It's in her right foot...poor little punkin.  They said she did awesome though.

Other than that (which is a lot) she is doing great.  She's gaining her weight back and almost back up to birth weight.  She't tolerating all of her feeds now.  She opens her eyes every time we go in to changer her diaper and loves it when Mommy holds her.  :)

Prayer Requests:
-Brain bleed---that it stops and corrects itself soon.
-EKG results to be good
-That she would have less "episodes"
-She'll keep tolerating food and gaining weight.
-That the hole in the heart would be gone on the next scan.

Thanks again to everyone for the sweet words of encouragement, prayers, emails, texts, etc.  I am sorry that I do not get back to each of you every time.

Lucy holding Daddy's hand.