She's a shopper!

Chloe is doing well at home...she actually made her first trip to Walmart today!

Chloe and Pearl

Pearl would love to lick Chloe in the face, but doesn't get to. She seems to just want to love her. This upclose encounter only happened because I had both of my hands on the camera. I was trying to take a pic of Chloe and with lightening speed Pearl took the opportunity to move in. She didn't lick-just got nose to nose. Last night Chloe was sound asleep in a bouncy chair on the floor and the dogs just ran and played without bothering her.

Chloe and Retta

Retta really doesn't pay much attention to Chloe but quietly gets in your lap even if you are holding Chloe. In this picture, she crawled up next to Adam while he was had Chloe. She didn't seem to mind being a footrest. Retta is a tiny miniature dachshund but compared to Chloe, she is big!

I'm Hungry!

This rare moment shows Chloe anxious for her bottle. She was NOT interested in another photo op!

All is going well at home. They are in a routine that revolves around Chloe's sleep and eat patterns.

Chloe goes HOME!

At the age of five weeks, Chloe is finally home! They had an uneventful trip, but discovered that stopping to feed a baby takes awhile. Mom reported to me that Chloe slept the first half of the trip and was contently awake during the rest of the trip. Retta and Pearl were naturally wild at the sight of Mom and Dad. After settling down, they sniffed at Chloe and were nervous when she cried. They didn’t jump at her or do anything frightening. Pearl did pull the bootie off Chloe’s foot and ran away with it!

Chloe goes to local pediatrician tomorrow and begins life at home. I’ll be visiting in a couple days so I’ll have pictures and an update on home life.

Our family has been blessed with the support and prayers of so many – God bless you!

Holding Hands with GrandDad

Going Home

It has been a wonderful day! Chloe has taken all her bottles, had a bath, been held for hours, took a nap with mom and had physical therapy with Dad.

However, last night wasn't too cool when she decided to stay up until 1:40 AM.

Chloe will be home with Retta and Pearl by tomorrow night!

Chloe Gets Out!

Chloe had made a road trip from the hospital to her grandparent's house by noon today. The quick release was a welcome surprise to Dad and Mom. So far she has enjoyed life without monitors and nurses. She's already fashionable, wearing a pretty dress that her Great Grandmother made for her to wear on this special day. She's had two good feedings and enjoyed a very restful nap since she's been in the real world. Her parents are smiling - real smiles!!

I can't think of a nicer way for Adam to celebrate Father's Day! We are all so excited and grateful that we aren't sure what to do. I'll update later on the plans for the real trip home!

Discharged from ACH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chloe has been discharged - details to come!!

Day 30 at ACH

Today was a quiet day with Chloe eating and resting well. Very little problem with the oxygen level today, so perhaps the medication they started late last night is helping. She really doesn't cry and fuss much - not around me anyway!

Mom and Dad are still taking care of her from 8 AM until 10 PM at the hospital. Dad keeps up with Chloe's stats and has even corrected a nurse for incorrect addition of Chloe's feed! Mom is still supplying all Chloe's milk. They look forward to having her at home and not measuring every drop of milk, weighing every diaper, and following a very strict schedule. Seriously, they are very prepared to care for Chloe on their own and have learned from a very talented group of nurses and therapists.

Since I've received some complaints about problems some readers are having commenting on this page, Chloe now has an email address. Feel free to send comments to her or her parents at chloeannek@gmail.com.

Dad gets a thumbs up!

Today was better for Chloe even though she is still having problems. She had good feeds and is up to 6 lb. 14 oz. They have not started any meds but spent the day watching her. Her oxygen did suddenly drop several times, but the cause isn't obvious. Just as quickly as it drops, she recovers. She is definitely stronger as she moves and lifts her head when on her stomach. She is adorable and hopefully soon she can meet some of you in person!

Chloes loves to kick

Chloe does love to kick. Just ask the poor nurse today who had to draw blood from her heel drop-by-drop while Chloe kicked! She is taking every bottle well and gaining weight so we thought she would go home this week. However, she's developed a problem that may be caused by reflux that lowers her oxygen level. There is no definite description of the problem or solution, but she seems to have milk or mucus where it doesn't need to be. Perhaps this is just another problem that comes from having two openings to one area that is used for swallowing, breathing, and sucking. I have faith that the docs and Chloe will figure it out. Maybe tomorrow I'll have a more medical explanation for you.

Meanwhile the sick babies continue to come to the NICU and well babies continue to go home. ACH offers much hope for each of them. We find ourselves blessed with very caring nurses every day and night.

Best hat in the NICU

Dad succeeded in getting Chloe to take a full bottle today! He's a pro now, so the nurses and the doctor are talking about her trip home. They will not have to room in for an additional two days since they have already spent so much time feeding and caring for her. She's had a little problem with reflux and her breathing which makes Mom and Dad nervous, but she is consistently gaining weight.

Chloe is 4 weeks old

Still in the hospital at four weeks old, she is progressing. She's passed many tests since she arrived and is very close to being strong enough to go home.

Mom and Dad are tired but stay at her side. They don't complain, but they must be weary of the hospital lifestyle. Everyday they follow the same routine dedicated to Chloe. Dad has grown a beard and Mom hasn't even driven a car since Chloe was born. They never know what day it is and eat hospital food without noticing it has no taste. I'm grateful for the calls and visits from friends that link them to the outside world.

Weighing In

Chloe obviously doesn't mind weighing in and was proud to have gained since yesterday! Dad fed her several times today with no problems and she took her goal at every feeding. It has been a great day - the promise of going home soon actually seems realistic. This plump little angel is the answer to so many prayers!! Thank you.

No More Feeding Tube!

To Mom and Dad's surprise and delight, the doc ordered the removal of the feeding tube today! We hope this means after several days of consistent bottle feeding, the doc will say she is ready to go home. At that point, Mom and Dad will then spend two days "rooming in" with Chloe before she is discharged. (They will be taking total care of her.)

Saturday is Bath Day

In the NIC Unit, babies get baths on Tuesday and Saturday and today Mom and Dad bathed her.

Bottle feeds were exceptional good today. The Doc increased the range and Chloe finished off over 60 ml on two feeds. However, during the night nurses are still using the feed tube to complete the feedings.

After a feed

This is what Chloe looks like right after a feed.  It is such hard work that she snuggles up to Mom to snooze.  The doc is pleased with her progress and will remove the feed tube early next week if all her bottles fall with a specific range of ml.  So far, so good!  The speech therapist will begin teaching Adam to feed Chloe on Monday.

Time to Eat!

Chloe is catching on to the bottle feeding!  In this picture she was in position and ready for Mom to place the bottle in her mouth.  She still tires quickly and wants to snooze at only ten minutes into the feeding.  Today at one of her feedings,  two of us worked to keep her awake while Mom finished feeding her.   Even though she didn't do as well as she did yesterday, she is taking eight bottles a day and making progress.

Thumbs Up!

Chloe gives a thumbs up to life without a feeding tube. Unfortunately this was only a photo-op while they changed the tube this morning.  

Chloe has really progressed with the bottle feeds.  She is taking the entire amount in an average of 12-15 minutes!!  Check out those cheeks - she's filling out!  Some of the preemie sized wardrobe is now too small.

Mom and Dad are now at the hospital with Chloe from 8 AM until 10 PM.  

Three Weeks Old!

I wanted to report Chloe's weight at the three week mark, but I'm not exactly sure what it is!  We keep up with how many grams she gains each day, but I get lost in the conversion.  Adam says she is about 6 lb 4 oz.  Whoo what a big girl!!  She is working hard on this bottle-feeding but took a break to sleep through the 3 PM feeding and was upset from a shot at the next feeding.  

Her chromosome test was normal (YEA!), so now we are just waiting on some specific genetic tests. 

Mom and Dad continue to man the posts at the hospital.  At times, they are telling the nurses what Chloe needs, and have taken over many of the daily  duties.  The hospital is fantastic and we are very indebted to the doctors, nurses, and therapists for the care they continue to give to Chloe. 

Content Chloe

Sleeping through physical therapy

She normally cries during physical therapy, but not this morning!

Too tired to eat!

Chloe was worn out from a week end of bottle feeds and just never woke up for her 9 AM feed today.  She took about half the bottle and it was over!  She slept straight through until her noon feed where she took a complete bottle.  The doc and speech therapist weren't concerned and both acknowledged that the bottle feeding was strenuous for her.  I asked the doctor how long Chloe would stay here after the feed tube was removed and she said they would want to watch (and weigh) Chloe for four days of total bottle feeding.  Of course the feed tube will not be removed until she has accomplished 8 bottle feeds a day.

Spirited Chloe

Chloe is trying seven bottles today with an increased  amount of 52 ml.  She has taken only one complete bottle today.  Mom says she works very hard during the feeds to breath and suck at the appropriate times.  Mom watches her heart rate and oxygen level during the feed to know when she is stressed.   It isn't a simple process.

It has been a quiet weekend except for Chloe's two "spirited" moments.  This is how one nurse described her temper.  I asked what caused the outbursts and she said one time it was her vitamins and the other time it was the hiccups that made her mad.  

Saturday

Chloe tried to take six bottles today.  The doctor warned that she might not be able to handle it and they may have to go back to five.  It seems that she has to be strong enough to take one in twenty minutes and she's not there yet.  She took three full bottles and two that weren't finished.  I left before the 9 PM feeding so I haven't heard about it.  All in all, she is still stronger and gaining weight every day.  Mom and Dad are staying strong but are getting more and more anxious to take her home.

Chloe loves  those fists near her face and she does look angelic when she is asleep with them on those fat cheeks!  

Thanks for the continuing prayers, messages, visits and other well-wishes.  We feel blessed to have so many praying for our Chloe.

Chloe's Videos

I've added two short unedited video links to this page.  For my Mother and Dad (and anyone else not familiar with You Tube)...On the webpage that opens showing the video, there will be links to other "Chloe" videos.  These are not our Chloe.  The only two I've contributed to You Tube are the direct links on the blog.  Watch one video and then back arrow back to the blog to select the other link.  Enjoy!

Feeding progress - Friday

Chloe has had two good bottles and one feeding that started well, but a case of the hiccups halted it.  They are getting to try five feedings today.  She had a special visit from her Grand Dad today who came to see her and to get a break from Retta and Pearl.  

Retta (2 year old miniature dachshund) and Pearl (1 year old Puggle - Pug/Beagle) are waiting at home for Mom and Dad.  They have not been good dogs.  Adam's dad has graciously been caring for them and has been faced with a few challenges.  In order to give them some freedom from their crates, he closed them in the kitchen.  One of them got on the counter and spilled dog food all over the floor.    They ate all of it and then tried to finish off a bag of dog treats.  He found both dogs stretched out on the floor with swollen bellies.  They've torn up items that they've ignored before,  chewed a baseboard, chewed up carpet, tore up a flower arrangement left on the table, chewed up a baby pacifier, shredded a diaper and that is just what we've heard about!   They certainly will be glad to have their family come home!

Future Gymnast?

This morning I watched Chloe stretch as she woke up.  While she was un-swaddled and free to move, she showed off!  She kicked and stretched her legs with glee.  Dad says she looks like a frog in water! 

Thursday Update

With the supervision of the speech therapist, Mom continues to learn to feed Chloe.  This morning's session was another successful one so now Chloe will try 4 bottle feeds a day.   Mom and Dad's spirits continue to rise with each success.  Dad reports that she is less fussy during physical therapy and she stretches better. 

Progress

Chloe not only took one full bottle today, but took two!  She gets a third bottle tonight.  The doctor and speech therapist celebrated, but no one was happier than her parents!  

I held her during her 6 PM tube feed and she was grumpy.  Before the feed, she'd been moved back to the North unit and had the tape (holding the feed tube in) changed on her upper lip.  This caused the fussing to begin and then putting on the splints sent her straight to tears.   

Chloe is two weeks old!

Chloe was moved back to the main NICU because they closed the her unit for cleaning.  This indicates that the number of sick babies is lower!   

Bottle feeding went well and Chloe reached 40 ml today.  She must have enjoyed it as her nurse said, "she burped like a trucker!"

When she drinks 50 ml at one feeding they will allow three bottle feeds a day.  She has to work up to 8 bottles a day - it is slow-going.

Day 14

Chloe received another good report from her doctor this morning and polished off two bottle feedings of 35 ml each today.