Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Amazingly Good News!

Mom & I went to see Andrea this afternoon. In the preemie world, it can only be described as a stellar visit. We recently noticed that Andrea seemed to be filling out a bit, with flesh growing over her ribs most obviously, but all of a sudden, she was skeletally thin again. We decided to ask her nurse if she'd grown. As of Sunday evening, she measured 12 inches, an increase of 1.5 inches from her birth size (in only 10 days!). I know it's hard to fathom a baby that's only a foot long, but we are ecstatic that she seems to be consistently gaining ground.

In other good news, the nurses have been able to increase the amount of milk Andrea gets at each feeding. Today she is getting 2 ml every three hours. Beginning tonight, she'll get 2.5 ml. If she is able to tolerate and digest that amount, they will increase her feeding by .5 ml every 12 hours. Most of her nutrition still comes from IV, but hearing that she's getting increased amounts of milk makes me feel so good. Right now, that's all I can do for Andrea, other than pray and have faith that she will come home to join our family.

Andrea was given an additional blood transfusion yesterday. As I mentioned, her blood counts were not bad, but her small size and young gestational age really work against her. Today's nurse said an older or bigger baby with the same counts would have been able to avoid the transfusions. However, we have 6 pints of blood currently being tested, and two more donors going tomorrow. So, even if "our" blood can't be used for Andrea, we are more than replacing what she's using. Thank you again to everyone who literally bled for our baby.

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, or sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. - unknown

2 comments:

  1. It is wonderful to read your daily log on precious Andrea. You certainly have a knack for writing. Reading your blog certainly brings back many memories with Brian.

    As I wrote in my jounal on Brian some 32 years ago. " Hours pass so rapidly, but it is moments like this when life seems to stand so still, and at times so helpless."

    Keep writing it will make Andra understand how much love surronded her during these remarkable few weeks of her birth. And perhaps a best seller one day.

    May God protect you and keep you both strong.

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  2. This is wonderful news! It's awesome that you're able to keep this blog and communicate so well with everyone who loves you guys! Know you are being thought of and prayed for.
    Deb & Scott
    www.connorshouse.org

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