Sacrificing Time & Tires

We left at about 4 pm to go and see Ali at the NICU.

"Spooky" - Ali's Halloween gift from the neonatologists.

The nurse said that she spit up this morning from the clear liquids they have been giving her.

She has only done this once since they started to give it to her on Friday. They started giving her 1 mL of probiotics and pedialite every 8 hours on Friday, and she is now getting it every 6 hours.

Ali's freinds

Mommy & Ali

Daddy & Ali

Our daily walk at the hospital.

They had to increase her oxygen some, but she is still doing better than expected.

Now a little info that we learned about her bed and future beds.

She is currently in what they call a Giraffe Bed which maintains temperature and humidity. This is used for the babies in the most critical condition. They can just push a button for the top to come off if they need to get to the baby quickly. (We are glad that our baby was able to have one since they only have a few in the NICU.)

The next level is the Warmer Bed. This maintains temperature but not humidity. It is also open so that the baby is accessible in case something critical happens. Ali will be able to move to one of these beds once her skin no longer needs the humidity, and when another need arises within the unit for the bed she is in now.

The next bed is the Isolete. Which also maintains temperature and is closed off like her Giraffe bed. This provides a quieter environment. Babies can go to this bed because they do not need as much immediate care.

Warmer Bed on the left in the back and the Isolete on the right.

Finally, there is the crib. Which I am sure you are all familiar with.

We enjoyed our visit as usual. We left around 6 pm, and a few exits and a loud noise later ... we had a flat tire.

Most people would probably think we were frustrated after all that we have been through this past week, but we just laughed. (Thanks for all of your prayers)

Adam did an amazing job of changing the tire. :)

We have recently added something above her crib that my brother and sister-in-law gave us the day Ali was born from Hobby Lobby.

Peek-A-BOO! I see you.

Last night Grandma and Grandpa Glenn, got to meet Ali for the first time.

They were so excited to see her, but did not even want to think about touching her for fear of getting her sick.

The nurse told us that Ali's jaundice improves everyday, but they will continue to keep her under the light for several days.

She got excited and started moving while we were there.

It must be because Auburn won... again.

We Love this picture!

Right before we left for the night (10:00 pm) she opened her eyes for a few minutes.

We were pretty excited about that.

Meeting Mimi

Today Ali got to meet Mimi (my mother), and Mimi got to meet Ali.

It was yet again another tender and sweet moment.

She also got to touch her little tiny hands. 

We got to speak again with one of the neonatologists there, and he said that she is doing very well for her gestational age. He said that it is possible that she would go back to the ventilator, but it was surprising how quickly she got off of it. He said that lung maturity is the number in causing fatalities with premature babies.

The second most fatal is digestive infections, which we hope and pray Ali will not acquire, but it is a hurdle she will have to jump.

After watching Ali for awhile (almost two hours), she started to move and wake up.
She stretched...she stretched...she yawned...and she stretched over and over again.

Mimi was very surprised at how small Ali was. She said that the pictures that we have been posting do not show her actual size very well. So here are some pictures to help you get a better idea.

And some more baby feet. Well... a baby's foot.

"Look Mom, No Ventilator!" - Ali

The nurse that was watching Ali yesterday told us that she was doing so well with breathing that she may not have to go back on the ventilator. This always may change, but it is still really good that she is already coming off of it at this stage.

Chart monitoring her hear (ECG), respiration, and her blood pressure.

Here is a picture of her isolette/incubator. Most of the pictures of her have been up close and it is somewhat hard to see her actual size, but this gives you a better idea.

And this picture too.

The fingertip of my index finger to her foot.

Today Ali gets to meet Mimi, Grandma, and Grandpa.

Getting Ready for Game Day!

Ali holding mommy's finger.

Last night was the first time that we all got to hold hands at the same time.
It was hard to leave her. It was a sweet, tendor, and spiritual moment for us.

It was also hard to leave her because she has a very strong grip.

They have put in her long-term IV in her right foot so they will not have to stick her with needles so many times. They also give her small doses of caffine everyday to help keep her heart rate stay up.
They have also started Ali on some clear fluids to prepare her digestive system for food.

She appears to be ahead of schedule.

Ali already has the football spirit too.

She has little Aubie with her to give play by play of what is going on during the games this season.

I think I almost heard her say War Eagle when we put him in.
And she is in the good care of her neonatologist, Dr. Terry Bierd, who graduated with her degree in Biology from Auburn University.

She continues to do very well. Let's just hope her heart rate does not go up during the football game.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Disclaimer: We are not responsible for any strokes, heart attacks, and/or any other injuries caused to Alabama fans, and we are not liable for any objects that have been thrown at your computer due to this post.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And my mother's favorite part.... little baby feet.

Pacifier Pleasure

When we went to see Ali today, Jodi started to touch her hand with her finger. Ali began to squeeze her finger and pulled it to her mouth. We told the nurse it looked like she is trying to suck her thumb.

The nurse said she may be ready for a pacifier... she was.

She pulled out a small pacifier and placed it in her mouth, and Ali immediately began to suck on it...hard. If you also look, they have taken her off the tube to her mouth from the ventilator, she is now breathing on her own.This may change if her lungs get tired, but they were impressed that she has been able to come off of it already.

(The blue lights that you see help with jaundice)

We also left her with a friend (the pink teddy bear) for company.

Our Miracle Baby

Our little bundle of joy got too excited to see us and decided to try and start coming too early on Sunday afternoon.

I think it is because I have been talking to her alot (in Spanish) so that she can get to know my voice, instead of only Jodi's voice.

We were not sure if she was having cramps or contractions.

We called the doctor... and 64 oz and 2 Tylenols later the doctor told us she better come in since the contractions did not stop. When we arrived, 6:45 pm, they took us back to a room and explained to us that this sometimes happens and to not worry because they have medicine to prevent her from going into labor.

They gave Jodi 3 different types of medicines (shots, pills, & IV of Magnesium), which all seemed to help slow the contractions, but did not stop them completely. They finally gave her one other medicine (which our nurse called the "Big Guns") that was able to stop the contractions.

 

This medicine did work, and the nurse gave Jodi two shots of steroids to help the baby's lungs develop as much as possible while she was still "cooking".

Well, Jodi did not have any contractions until Wednesday morning at 4:00 am.

They determined that she was going into labor,

 and they would not be able to stop the contractions at this point.

So the long morning preparation to receive our baby girl began.

One of our many wonderful nurses, Dani, assisted Jodi through the majority of our time at the hospital.

Finally, the part you all are waiting on, our girl came.

At 8:44 am, Ali Elizabeth took her first glance at the world. I only got to see her eyes for a second before she shut her eyes.

The nurses immediately took Ali to help her start breathing and to check other vital signs due to her being 11 weeks early. They let Jodi get to see her for a very short moment before taking her to the NICU.

Then I followed Ali to the NICU. There they weighed her at 2 lbs and 6 oz.
There I was able to take more pictures.

They said she is doing well and they will continue to monitor her closely the next few days to make sure she continues to develop her still immature organs.

Jodi still has not gotten to see her apart from the short moment after delivery. Hopefully she will be able to go to see her tonight.

We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers offered on Jodi and Ali's behalf.

See Ali now:

http://us-ineveryfootstep.blogspot.com/2014/03/hi-again-from-snowy-new-mexico.html

- Support and donate to the March of Dimes to help others like Ali.

Click on one of the banners on our blog to donate or walk with us.

George "The Pumpkin"

The newest member of our home,

and probably will be the most short-lived member,

George "The Pumpkin"

He came about through a Young Woman's activity.

George just seemed fitting.

I like the name also, it fits his huge smile.

We will see how long he lasts. Hopefully until Halloween.

Hiking - There's NOT an app for that.

So many things seek for our attention, but the quietest of them all

Mother Nature.

We decided to take an adventure

(and an adventure we got)

to Pevine Falls at Oak Mountain State Park.

We drove up to the top of the mountain and began our 0.4 mile hike

to the falls (more like trickling stream).

It was amazing to again be in the midst of the changing fall colors

and sounds of God's work.
And no there is no technology, apparatus, or app for that.

We all became very aware of the physical shape that we were in after the hike
which had some challenging parts to it.
We realized we need to all be more consistent in exercising,
and no there is not an app for that either.

Only one of us did not have to hike.

Then we got to relax and enjoy some very good food.

(Cucumbers with chili powder and lime)

(grilled asparagus)

(grilled chicken with BBQ sauce)