We are home...picture post

I will update about our journey home soon.  Long story short, Lucy didn't want to eat by the normal protocol of the NICU every 3 hours.  Once she was allowed to do it her way, she did well, and now we are HOME!  :)
Thank you for your prayers...God is good!!  We ask for continued prayers that she would eat and gain weight and for good reports at all of our follow-up appointments over the next several months!  :)

This post is just a picture overload post.  So, if you don't want to see a ton of pictures i would advise leaving now!  HA.

Just found out we are going home the next day.  One happy momma!

 Some of our favorite nurses in the following pics.  Wish we would have seen more of them for pictures before we left.  So bittersweet.  We were there so long with Mason and Lucy they become like family.  will not miss NICU life, but will miss the sweet nurses!!

 Lucy's doctor (Mason's too).  

 Nurse Nancy, the reason we are home!  She advocated for us and got us out the door.  She was one of our favorite nurses with Mason too.  All I can say is a HUGE thank you to her.  We owe her.

 About to head out the door.  Lucy was tired and yawning!  

 In her carseat ready to go home.

 She looked out the window the entire trip home.  Taking in the big world!

 Home.  Her eyes were HUGE looking around at everything.

 With the painting big brother did for her.

 First time seeing his sister up close.

 First family of four photo

 One happy big brother

 Lil' Sis all ready to go to the doctor

 Not really wanting to be in her carseat...she got over it quickly.

 Waiting on Dr Day

 In their Big Bro, Little Sis shirts

 Some pictures in NICU from several days ago

Trying to be Patient

It has been quite a while since I have updated the blog.  Mostly because there is nothing new going on.  We have just been in this holding pattern waiting on Lucy to eat.  If it weren't for that we would have been home 2 weeks ago.

She is doing great, gaining weight and being a good girl...other than not taking her bottles.  She now weighs 6 pounds.  The exact same weight that her brother was at this age (10 weeks old).  Of course she has gained more quickly since she was smaller than him at birth.  Her little chin and thighs are getting chubby unlike him.

She was starting to do really well with her bottles over the weekend. So much so, that I was convinced we'd be home by now.  On Monday, she decided that bottles weren't her thing and she'd rather sleep and be tube fed.  It was very discouraging.  She did horrible on Monday and Tuesday with her feeds, not completing any of them.  One of the nurses suggested she may not like frozen breast milk (super discouraging considering I have 200+ bottles of it in the freezer) and to try fresh.  Since then she has woken up and at least tried every bottle, completing most and almost completing the rest.  I am REALLY hoping that she just had that light-bulb moment and realized she likes to eat and it has nothing to do with frozen vs. fresh milk.

Anyway, that is where we stand now.  she was moved to a private room today because the NICU is full and they needed the big open space for new babies coming in.  I think she prefers the quiet though!  :)

Prayer requests:
-Eat, Eat, Eat!!!  That she will complete all of her bottles for 48 hours...that is our ticket home!
- All of her follow-up appointments to be okay---eyes, dermatologist for her hemangioma on finger, pediatrician, etc.
- Last brain scan to be clear
- Safe trip home when that happens...fingers crossed it is soon
- My sanity.  I knew this was the part where we needed patience...mine is wearing very thin.  I can only be away from my baby like this for so long and I have reached that point where feel like I just CAN'T do it much longer.

Pictures...I have taken TONS since my last update, so it was hard to narrow down.  Sorry so many  :)

 My sweet girl!

Grandma's first time to hold

 Granny's first time to hold.  

 Look at those cheeks.

 All stretched out.  Her first newborn outfit...she outgrew her preemie clothes!

 The new NICU board.  Lucy's flower is the light pink one on the bottom.

Looking around in her new room.

 Getting sleepy

 Smiling at Daddy

 Loving bath time.

How big brother has been spending his summer so far!

Getting Closer...

Lucy is doing great!  As I said before, waiting on her to take the bottles is the hardest time.  It just takes a long time for preemies to learn to eat and when they do, they get tired easily and can not finish or take every bottle.  Currently she is taking 3 or so bottles a day in full and then 2-3 around half-3/4...then is tube fed about 2 times a day in full.  So, she is getting there!!

We asked about a time frame to come home yesterday.  They estimate maybe 3 more weeks...could be sooner if she does well on her bottles.  We will see!

Today she had her 2 month vaccines.  :(  The nurses said not to be surprised if she had to go back on her nasal cannula for a day or two after the shots.  Hoping she doesn't have to, but it would not be a step back, just some extra support while her body deals with the shots.

As of last night she weighed 5lb5oz.  She is growing out of her preemie clothes and we are about to have to switch to newborn size!  Amazing!

Lucy is super sweet and is starting to be a lot more alert when we come to see her.  She opens her eyes wide and looks around and listens to us talk to her.  It's getting harder and harder to leave her at the hospital because of this!

Mason has been busy lately too with the last day of school, first Ranger's game, and play time with cousins!

Prayer Requests:

- Eating...hoping she gets better and better so we can come home!

- That she will tolerate her vaccines okay and not get a fever or have to be on the nasal cannula at all or for very long.

- We will have follow-ups on brain scan and eye development coming up...hoping all is good.

-Patience and rest for us.  

Picture overload time!

Sleeping after a bottle

 When I burp Lucy, she always turns her head to look at me...so sweet!

 My happy girl!

 Sleepy!

 She loves bath time and snuggling in her towel

 Some awake pictures...

 Letting Mason see Lucy before he goes to Grandma and Grandpa's house

 Mason finished school and had a program last weekend. Last photo in his classroom.

 Mason with Mrs. Amy.  He just loved having her as a teacher.  FBC Early Learning Center is such a wonderful place and I am so glad Mason gets to go to school there.  He has learned so much!

 Mason's first Rangers game