Home sweet home!

Life is good! We've had Lily home for a little under two weeks, and she is doing marvelously! She is eating well, sleeping well, and is starting to smile - we're working on catching it on camera. Addie loves being a big sister, and adores Lily. Life, at last, has returned to normal. I took a couple of weeks' vacation from work to hang out with Sara, Addie and Lily - it is hard to come up with words to describe how fantastic it's been. The world has again shifted, only now, back onto its axis.

For the most part, bringing Lily home has been like bringing a 'normal' newborn home. She eats, she sleeps - you know, normal baby stuff. There are a few differences, though, in bringing a preemie home - some subtle, some not. Lily is the size of a newborn (gaining nicely, now 7lbs 8oz!), but she is three months old.

We've noticed that she seems to have more head, neck, and motor control than a 'regular' newborn. When we put her down on her tummy, she can lift her head up and look around - most newborns wouldn't start doing that until 4-6 weeks. She sleeps very soundly, and doesn't cry much unless she is hungry or wants to be held. Also, she is easily satisfied - she doesn't fuss much.  It took her about 1 week to figure out that if she cries, we will pick her up - she loves being held. And we love holding her :)

Lily takes prilosec for acid reflux, which gave us a little scare when she first came home. At one point, she reflux'ed and started choking  (stopped breathing)... we sat her upright and slapped her back until she coughed and cried. Quite a scare - it happened later that day too, the second time (fortunately) at the pediatricians office. Her doctor told us to do just that - sit her up, slap her back, and she will instinctually either cough or puke to clear the reflux from her throat.

 That brings me to another difference about bringing a preemie home - we don't leave her alone in a room for more than 30 seconds, awake or asleep. The risk of reflux/choking is too great - it will take 3 or so months until she stops refluxing, docs said. We have a video & motion monitor called AngelCare that detects Lily's breaths and alarms if after 20 seconds of stillness. It provides a huge amount of peace of mind - and allows us to sleep (if only for 3 hour shifts!)

Thank you again all for the support throughout the summer - this story had a happy ending, and everyone's prayers and well wishes helped that happen!

Thank you Aunt Julie for the sign, it is still hanging!

Life is good!

Love my girls :)