Saturday, December 6, 2008

Progress Photos

Brynn is doing great! She's (slowly) being weaned from the vent. Without getting technical again, she's gone from 40 supported breaths/minute with her own breaths being fully supported to only 30 supported breaths/minute with her own breaths unsupported in less than a week. That's a pretty big leap as far as I'm concerned--and to do it without any steroids is even better.

Not much else is new, except that I think I grow to love her more each day. Sometimes I think I'm going to burst I love her so much. I can't believe how big she's getting! She's already 2 lbs 6 oz--only two ounces away from being double her birth weight. Even though I'm here every day, it seems like I can actually SEE her expanding. I swear she gets fatter by the minute.

Well, it's been a while since I posted photos, so here's a bunch.

This is the first time I've ever seen Brynn suck her thumb. She's always trying, but the tube makes it difficult for her to get her fingers in her mouth:

After putting her hat on, the nurses thought she should be an Anne Geddes model baby. The hat drowns her, but its so cute! One of the nurses' moms makes a lot of these hats and the rest come from cute grandmas in a nursing home who knit them as a service to the NICU:

Here's another cute hat. Kelly (the nurse whose mom makes the hats) brought this one in especially for Brynn. Doesn't she look festive? (You can also see she's trying desperately to get her fingers in her mouth again):
Success! Got a few fingers in!

Oh yes, and since she isn't as critical as she used to be, Brynn graduated to a "big girl" isolette. This one is much smaller and doesn't have as many trinkets attached. I was going to say not as many bells and whistles attached, but alas, she still has enough of those to drive anyone crazy. You can't be in her room 5 minutes without an alarm going off--maybe several times.

Here our feisty little girl is not happy about her bath (a.k.a. 15-second wipe down):
Look at all that hair! My goodness is she getting big . . . Love ya!
Natalie

10 comments:

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Natalie - She's getting so big! And she looks absolutely wonderful. I'm so very, very happy for you!

Ryan, Melissa, and Family said...

She is so precious Natalie! I am so happy to hear that she is doing so well...I love all the pictures:)

Marie said...

The pictures with her sucking her fingers are so cute! And she is getting big! I would love to come see her, but there is always some sickness or such here, so the pictures will have to do. Keep them coming!

Lori said...

Wow! I can't believe how much bigger she is - amazing! Aliya has yet to double her birth weight - Brynn's got her beat. I love, love, love those pics with the little hats. Oh so adorable - she is just so cute.

The Tarin Family said...

Oh she's so cute! I could help but chuckle at the picture with the pink hat... her face is just too cute!
And the last picture you posted, she really looks a lot like Matt there.
Glad to hear she's progressing so well! And you can totally see her growing so much each time you post pictures!

Erica said...

She is so beautiful and I mean it! I'm so happy for you guys and so touched by how sweet she looks. We pray she continues to grow and do well. Love, Erica and Steve Dryden

Melynda said...

Natalie and Matt,
This is Melynda Welch Bruner and I found your blog through facebook. Can I just say that my heart goes out to you both and you have been in my thoughts and prayers the past few months. I have hesitated to write (and actually I have started a post many many times) BUT have hesitated due to not having the words to describe my feelings for what you are going through. My husband and I also had a preemie, at 23 weeks. She returned to her Heavenly Father shortly after she was born and it has been a VERY VERY long road ever since, but we finally were able to get a healthy baby girl here safe. Our oldest daughter and sweet angel is Madelyn and our 2nd daughter and little miracle who is now 7 months old is Brynlee. (BY the way I LOVE your sweet daughters name :) Anyways, after seeing the most recent pictures and hearing such good news, I decided it was time to post. She is absolutely beautiful and tears just run down my face every time I see her. I know how small and fragile these precious babies are and she is such a fighter! PLEASE know how happy I am for you that things are going well (even though hard) and I truly think of your little family daily and pray for little Brynn. What a miracle she is and even though I have never met her, I feel a sweet connection to her as I am reminded of Madelyn. I also have a blog, but it is private, but I would love to invite you. I will get on your facebook page and see if you posted an email address and I will send you an invite. Take care and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Oh and I just LOVE the pictures of her sucking on her thumb and fingers...so precious.
Melynda

Matt and Tommi +4 said...

What wonderful blessings you have this holiday season! I am so happy for you three.
Don't worry, you won't actually burst from love, but sometimes I think that our bodies just aren't equipt at this point to handle such bliss. I can hardle imagine the joy we will experience after the resurection!
Hold tight to these memories you are making. You will need the reminders in about 3 years.
Love you!

Anonymous said...

Wow Natalie what a gorgeous girl! I ran into your mom the other day and she told me about your new baby! Congrats! She does look good! I love how positive you are in your blog!

Diane Terese Christian said...

Hi Natalie and Matt...WOW Brynn has grown! We were blessed to see her a month ago and speaking from a month's lapse in time she looks BIG! Ups and downs are something parents deal with for many years but not usually this soon. You will be expert parents before you know it. Better days are ahead and so many more blessings. Thinking of you three with love..Diane