Happy Five Week birthday, my little princess ...

five weeks, that just seems crazy! There is a great rumor going around though ... that Zoey may be able to come home tomorrow or monday! She doing good - in fact, I don't think they've had to use her G-tube yet ... go figure! She'll have some labs done and needs a "blessing" from the cardiologist to go home ... so, I should find out tomorrow morning! She will, of course, continue to need prayer for stability and growth and - ultimately - her heart surgery! blessings to all

One Month Old ...

my word, where has that month gone? Have I mentioned before that I'm feeling a little bit cheated ... here I've got my sweet little baby, the fourth baby I always dreamed of ... another little girl - and she has to be in the hospital! Sad. I'm trying to make the best of it, of course, but I do feel like it's so unfair. Beyond those feelings, though, is a huge gratefulness that I have a child who is relatively healthy and here on this earth with me, even if not yet at home ... and I know that day will come, when we can all be together as a family! I also know it's for Zoey's best and for her health that she remains in the NICU - but you know how it is (especially if you're a mama, you'll understand)! She seemed to be waiting for me when I got to the hospital today, quickly waking when I arrived and began talking to her ... doesn't she look cute in her green stripes???

she must have known it was her one month birthday, as she was sweet as ever while I got her all decked out and snapped away, her "official" one month photos (I'll be very glad when I can do some photos NOT in the hospital)!




and when I had finished up, she drifted off to sleep - what a perfect baby she is!

Some days it seems like she just got here and I think, oh my - how did she get this old? Other days, it seems like an eternity that I've spent driving to see her, staying in hotels, being away from home and my precious Annicka, Jericho, and Liam (I miss you all and can't wait to be home - and boys, I haven't forgotten that your both overdue for your "official" birthday photos!). I'm praying things will go great on thursday and that Zoey will come within the next week, how wonderful that will be! Yesterday the nurse said that they were actually backing off of the captapril (blood pressure medication) and felt that she may not need it?! I forgot to ask the final word on the upper g.i. study - I'll try to remember tomorrow though! That's about it for miss Zoey. Keep up the prayers. God bless all ...

Happy Four Week birthday, my little princess ...

so, there's been no major changes with Zoey ... however, she has (once again) slipped into trouble with eating (which I already mentioned)! I guess that when they up her blood pressure medication, she does good for a day or two ... but then starts tuckering out and going "backwards" again and not nipple-ing her entire feeds! Now that the tube is back in, she's been gaining again and today was 8lbs. 13oz - however, they look more at the week to week, not the day to day for weight. So, now the plan is that she'll get a G-tube put in, thursday! It is a surgical procedure and something we had hoped to avoid, but I guess it's better overall than the ng-tube and she'll be able to come home with it! So, now they're saying she could be coming home next weekend! In the meantime, I have to check out here on thursday so please be praying that a room will open up so I don't have to find a new hotel! blessings to all!

Happy Three Week birthday, my little princess ...

can you believe Zoey is already three weeks old??? me either!!! when I was packing to head down here, I thought to grab a little outfit I had bought her ... since I didn't have a time line I thought 'what if she outgrows it by the time she comes home'? So, today, in honor of her three week birthday - I got her all dressed up and did some more "good" pics (as in, with the good camera) ... of course, I managed to bring my good camera here without it's sd card - ARGH - I couldn't believe it! thankfully miss Tina had her camera with her and it takes the same card, so I was able to use hers ... phew! so, here are the pics from this morning ~

Happy Two Week Birthday, my little princess ...

You know the photographer in me has been aching to get some "good" pics of Zoey - and by good I mean not just pics of the day to day, but something a little more special! I wanted to dress her up, I wanted something to put up on my wall! So, as her two week birthday approached - I decided that would be the perfect day to do it (and the doc said I could, so that worked out too). I made this bow months ago, it was one of the first bows I made after I found out I was having a girl! So, I picked a simple little shirt and took her bow and the blanket Nana made and did a little photo shoot during our visit today!

Update on Zoey: last night the nurse told me the lasix didn't work quite as well as they wanted, today the doctor said it did get the fast breathing down a little and the liver is up a little again (yesterday it was lower than it should be) and she has been peeing, but I think overall they didn't get the response they had hoped for. She also lost weight for (at least) the third day in a row. Now they're giving her NeoSure, so basically she's having formula - but it's mixed into the breastmilk for added calories. Granddaddy finally is healthy enough that he got to go today and see and hold Zoey - he said he had a little talk with her and told her to start gaining weight so she can come home, he said she perked up! She is just such a sweetie-poo! I can't wait till I can have her at home, but I want it to be when she's ready ... there's still some things to figure out with pediatrician care, etc. All things must be lifted to God and He will provide all we need and show us how to care for Zoey and how to recognize the subtle changes, that's a big prayer for when she does come home - we have to be able to recognize things and know when a call to the doctor is in order, etc.! Keep up those prayers all! God bless

Happy Birthday, my little princess ...

so, it's actually December 18, 2010 - but I just came up with the fabulous idea to start (another) blog ... all for my little princess, Zoey's, birthdays! Since she was two weeks old, I have been sure to take a picture of little Zoey every saturday, her weekly birthday, and I have blogged it on my family blog! Also, her monthly birthdays have been recorded! I thought it would be pretty neat to keep a blog just of her "birthdays" to watch her grow AND to have a really cool blog book for her some day! If only I had thought of this with the first three, better late than never though! So, here you go Zoey ... your birthday blog!