Breaking out of the Box

Today Winona said good-bye to living inside the box and a big hello to the outside world. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that she was ready to get out of the incubator. Her last act as its occupant was to unleash her intestines, both large and small, to such a degree that it was rendered unsuitable for further habitation. Winona is now in an open crib so I get to hold her as often and for as long as I want. These are glorious days. Another benefit of the crib is that she now gets to be dressed in all of the cute clothes that folks have been giving her. I never thought I would be one to get excited about playing dress-up, but I was wrong.

Our little girl is up to 4 lbs 8 oz and gaining fast. We have finally gotten the first word about going home - possibly next Monday. Thanks to my mom and Deborah Trimble, our house is clean and waiting for the new baby!

Noni's first outfit

The business of gaining weight

This week the doctor gave us the wonderful news that he was going to put me to work breastfeeding Winona. What huge news!!!! The last big hurdle to her coming home is that she needs to be taking all her feedings by mouth while still gaining weight. She did so great with one breastfeeding a day that the doctor moved her to two feedings starting today. As I suspected, her weight gain has not slowed down one bit. Today she weighed 4 lbs 1 oz.
Still no word on when she gets to come home. I am really hoping that it will be within the next 2 or 3 weeks. Fayetteville is great but I am missing valley life.


First family photo

Is that a bit of red in her hair? I think so!

What do you mean she looks like Ricky?

I have completed this photo collage to dispute my family's claim that Winona looks more like Ricky. I believe these photos offer definitive proof that this child does indeed carry at least one or two of my genes.

Day 12 for Baby Winona

This has been a huge week for baby Winona. The doctors have removed her nasal cannula so she is breathing on her own. They have also removed all the IV lines attached through her umbilical cord and through her arm. She has transitioned off of the IV fluid completely and onto breastmilk - 33 cc today (over an ounce). She is up to 3 lbs 9 oz, almost chubby for a preemie. We are still feeding her through a feeding tube because babies cannot coordinate the suck/swallow reflex until around 33 weeks. We are hoping to start breastfeeding her within the next few weeks.

Winona was also moved into an isolette this week, tradionally known as an incubator. I had a bit of a hard time with the move because it is harder to cuddle her now. However, it is a better environment for her to do her important work of sleeping and growing.

Daddy finds new motivation

There is nothing like the unexpected early arrival of a baby to boost activity around the homestead. Ricky has been working like a madman to make our house suitable for the new arrival. This week's project is a gorgeous hickory wood floor to cover up the nasty green painted plywood in the main room of the house. We plan on having many sock sliding parties with the kids. Thanks to help from David Roll, the floor is complete and our house is starting to actually look classy.

One week down - ? to go

Winona is blowing away the doctor's expectations for a 31 week old baby. Her mamma's breastmilk must be very fatty - she is already almost back up to her birthweight. The nurses are now giving her 12 cc of breastmilk, and it will probably go up again tomorrow. Her jaundice cleared up so she doesn't get to wear those cool sunglasses under the UV lamp anymore. Her head ultrasound showed no bleeding around her brain - and as a matter of fact - it showed that she could be a genius.

Here's Noni sporting a hat lovingly made by her mother.

Day 3 - Settling in at the Hospital

Winona has dropped to 3 lbs, but I expect her to start growing because the doctor started her on breastmilk today. She started with a very small amount - only 4 cc delivered through a feeding tube. She digested it just fine and so will be given a larger amount tomorrow. She has a bit of jaundice and will be tanning herself under a UV light to reduce the bilirubin build-up. Today Ricky and I were able to hold her for the first time! I am pretty sure that she likes us.

The best medicine for a little baby is mama's milk, so I am very happy to report that I have started full time milk production. I got more with every pumping last night.

Technology takes the place of placenta

The placenta is a glorious, amazing organ that must be replaced with about 50 cords, pumps, monitors, lamps, etc. if a baby is separated from it too early. It was a bit intimidating at first to see Noni with so many attachments, but I am absolutely grateful that modern technology has kept her alive and well. Amazingly, Winona's lungs were developed enough that she did not have to be hooked to a respirator. She does have a nose cannula that delivers pressurized oxygen just to give her a little boost. She is getting all of her nutrients from an IV hooked into her umbilical cord.

This baby is coming today?

The arrival of the Noni Bird (Winona's real name) was very, very unexpected - even up until 20 minutes before the birth. Silly Shawna ... I thought I was simply constipated and that my bowels were highly advanced because they were contracting on a schedule. Because Winona was only 30 weeks old, the doctors at Washington Regional did everything in their power to stop or slow down the contractions. Alas, the little girl's will was stronger than the magnesium sulfate. I would like to believe that she was doing her mama a favor by saving me from a very hot summer in an un-airconditioned house.

Birth of a Milwagon

Great things come in small packages!

Winona Wren Milwagon

born May 31, 2008 at 3:25 pm

3 pounds 6 ounces, 16 inches long