5 am

I know I really need to get some sleep, but I am use to nurses coming in and checking on me every few hours so my sleep schedule is all messed up. Then once I am awake, I can't stop thinking about Addison. So......since I am up I will give you a quick update.

I walked into the NICU this morning, looked at my sweet baby girl and noticed something different.......they took the feeding tube out!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how wonderful this is!!!!! She is eating wonderfully! They are still monitoring all the normal stuff, and she is wrapped in a light blanket for jaundice...my little glow worm....but other than that, they are just making sure she is going to keep up the good work with no help.

We bring her car seat in tomorrow so she can do the test.....after a feeding they put her in and monitor her for at least an hour to make sure the position doesn't cause any problems. With preemies, sometimes it can cause breathing and heart problems but they are tiny and sitting up differently.....every thing gets swished a little. The nurses think there will be no issue with Addison.

Grumpy and Gee came to the 6 feeding last night.....Gee just looked through the window because she as a little cold.....Addison gave her a big smile :) Grumpy came in while Jer was feeding her the bottle....Addison latched on to Grumpy's finger so tight that her knuckles turned white!!!!
Daniel also came to visit and held Miss Addison......she stuck her tongue out at him :)

Addison definitely has stolen every one's heart. When I walk in the NICU the nurses are cuddling with her!!! :) Anytime a new nurse comes in they tell me how sweet and snuggly she is!!!! I seem to agree....not that I am bias :)

4 AM

Well, it is 4 am and I am wide awake! We came home yesterday afternoon, leaving our sweet Addison in the NICU. She is doing wonderfully.....we are so fortunate, but I am having waves of sadness! I miss her so very much! I know she is in wonderful hands.....but it would be better if those hands were mine!!!! When we left the nurses told Jeremy that I was doing too much and to make me sleep....if I was asleep when it was time for a feeding....let me sleep. So he went to the 6 feeding while I snoozed in the recliner....not too happy when I woke up but I was feeling better. We both went back to the hospital for the 9 and 12 feeding.....we are skipping the 3 but of course I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep.

Her progress....
She is eating great!!!! She only lost 5 grams from Thursday to Friday...yea!!! We are hoping this starts the journey up so we can bring her home. When we went in for the 9 feeding, her nurse said she had been awake since about 7:30....not fussing just looking around :) She confirmed that she loves to socialize and doesn't want to miss a thing. When they feed her a bottle, they have to turn away from everything so she will concentrate on eating instead of everyone else!!! The NICU staff loves her and says she already has a very distinct personality! When Jeremy holds her during feedings, she looks at every inch of his face.....just studying! It is so precious!

I will post more pics when we take some.....and I will keep everyone updated on her progress. Thank you so much for the prayers!!!

"being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience" Colossians 1:11

Update

Jeremy is holding Addison right now and I am trying to get some rest.....well that is just not possible....so I thought I would give everyone a quick update.

Today the NICU doctor decided to only and try and bottle or breast feed Addison every other feeding. They want to use the tube a little more because they don't want her to get too tired.

When we went to feed her at 6 she did wonderful!!!! I was able to feed her for about 14 minutes and she took a little less than an ounce out of the bottle! We were so proud of her. Jer is holding her while she gets her 9 feeding and we will both go back for the midnight one. The NICU was getting in another baby, so the healthiest ones were moved to a step down NICU.....Addison was one of them :)

Her are a few pictures we took at the 3 feeding.

Snuggling with Mommy

She was actually awake :)

She loves cuddling with Daddy....he is sooo warm!

Thursday

I just got back to my room from feeding Addison. She is still not eating very well; therefore, they are having to finish each time by feeding her through the tube. We go in every 3 hours....right now we are focusing on bottle feeding her so that she won't use too many calories. The doctor in the NICU told us that she was a little stubborn....hmmmmm wonder why daddy? The nurse also said she liked socializing better than eating. :)



The doctor is having me stay one more day. Unfortunately, it looks like Addison is going to have to stay. They say that one day she will just start eating like a champ.....hopefully that day will come very soon.

The chaplain was in the NICU today checking on all of the mommy's and daddy's. She is going say a prayer of blessing with all three of us tomorrow before we leave.

The thought of leaving my sweet girl brings me tons of sadness. However, there were a couple of very serious situations in the NICU today while we were feeding.....seeing the pain, tears and sorrow made Jeremy and I count all of our blessings. We are so fortunate!!!!! Please pray for the other NICU babies and their families.....there are many people that are hurting.

I will keep everyone updated as often as I can......and I will post the new pics we took today when Jer gets them on the comp.

Addison Cooper Bell

Addison Cooper Bell

January 5, 2009

6 lbs 8 oz

18 inches

In the OR, the first time I saw my little girl

6 pounds 8.2 ounces

She was not happy when the NICU team was checking her out:)

After recovery, they wheeled me to the NICU so I could hold her for the first time!!!

Once she is out of the NICU we will be about to take more pictures of her....without all the redness and yuck all over her :)

They are talking about letting her into the normal nursery if she keeps sucking. She has been able to control her temperature and her breathing......thank you God!!!! Last night when they weighed her, she had only lost 3 ounces!

Jer or my mom wheels me to the NICU every three hours so I can feed her....they have certain "touch times" so everyone loves going in during that time.

Right now Jer and Gee are at home putting together her crib and a few little things that just came in.......we have been waiting forever for her crib...good timing!!!

Our Sweet Little Girl

I am hoping this blog is halfway coherent.....I am exhausted!

After coming to the hospital yesterday morning, we had Miss Addison at 9:15 last night!!!! She was 6 pounds 8.2 ounces and 18 inches long!!

After the c-section, they said that she was the healthiest baby born all day....thank you prayers!!!

Unfortunately, she is still in the NICU because she was breathing a little fast. Right now they are feeding her through a feeding tube because they don't want her to have a bottle with the breathing issues. They said it would be like eating a hamburger while running a marathon!

I was able to hold her for a few minutes last night! (the nurse wheeled my bed into the NICU after recovery) I was so thankful for her last night.

At four this morning, Jeremy was able to change her diaper, take her temp, and feed her (still with the tube). He was beaming!!!! While he was with her, I was making my first attempt at standing. In fact, I walked around the room and brushed my teeth! I want to hold Addison soooo badly....the faster I get up the sooner I can go to the NICU.

Mom and Dad didn't sleep one wink last night! We are definitely struggling this morning! I have pictures and a lot more to share but my brain is not working this morning. (I am glad that Jer brought his laptop....it takes my mind off the pain and my little one that I want in my arms)

As I looked around the NICU last night, I realized how blessed we are! The tiny little babies that will have to be away from their parents for months!!!! We are truly grateful!!!

We aren't sure how long Addison will have to stay in the NICU.....we are just taking it hour by hour right now......but she is doing wonderful!!!

Hospital Stay

The doctor let me go home!!!!!

Yesterday my mother-in-law had to take me to the hospital because I was having too many contractions. Healthy Connections, my home health care facility, tried to slow the contractions down by giving me more medicine, but my heart rate got to the point where I couldn't receive any more.

When I got all hooked up at the hospital, the contractions started to intensify and become very rhythmic. I was actually worried....I was in a lot of pain and nothing seemed to help. They gave me a shot in my hip.....still hurts......but it did calm down the uterine irritability. Unfortunately, the contractions didn't go away.

The doctor had me stay in the hospital with an iv (the nurse used the small needle and my mil talked me through it....didn't even cry.....terrified of needles)....fluids and pain meds. At 4 this morning my contractions slowed to 5 an hour; therefore, I was able to get off all the monitors, put a cushion on my bed, wrap up in a warm blanket and get a few hours of sleep.

By this morning I was still only effaced 50% and my contractions were still down. I assured the nurse and doctor that I would feel much better at home :) During my visit with the doctor, he said that it has been a really tough ride and the next time I come to the hospital he will not stop the labor. I am still in a lot of pain but I am huge so I think that has a lot to do with it :) I have medication to take at home that will hopefully help with the pain, contractions and sleep. We will be keeping the pump in until I deliver.

I am so lucky to have my family! My mother-in-law has bent over backwards for me....(she even dressed me in the hospital).....she doesn't leave my side until she knows Jer is coming and that I will not be alone....her conversation and company has been essential to my sanity :) My mom has gone above all expectations by giving all of her free time to helping me.....cooking, cleaning, driving hundreds of miles to help me with the girls!!!!....not to mention the phone calls that have done wonders in lifting my spirits. My aunt has filled in many mommy gaps that I haven't been able to fill.....taking the girls to special events and the numerous sleepovers. My MeeMaw and MeMe have helped so much with Faith and Grace....most importantly have kept up all the "just checking on you and Addison" phone calls....it's amazing how great an "I love you" from a grandma feels.

Most importantly my husband!!! I grew up watching my mom and dad love each other, protect each other and support each other. I am so grateful that I feel the same love with my husband. Last night we sat in silence at the hospital both reading our books....it was amazing how comforting it was just having him there. He held my hand when he knew I was getting scared....I watched him pace the floors because he was so concerned about his girls. He brought me food and my favorite drinks.....just so I could have a little comfort at the hospital! I love him so very much!!!!

Prayer Request

There was a lady in the hospital last night that went into labor....she was only 26 weeks. I could feel her pain and fear. I pray that all is well with her and her little one.