Wide awake today!

Still here.....

Yep...we are still here in the NICU...waiting for our baby girl to come home. It's hard to put a timeframe on her homecoming but we think that she is making great progress and will be home soon. Sorry :)....that's all we got! We know everyone is wondering!

So currently Skylar is battling a little cold...but she continues to amaze us with her strength and will. She is starting to bottle feed and continues to progress on the nasal cannula. Her oxygen flow fluctuates between 50-65% at 2L per min. She's still got some work to do but so far, so good. We hear that we will probably be taking her home on some form of oxygen and/or breathing treatments. That's just fine for us! We just want her home! NICU life is by no means an easy walk. Day after day we drive to the hospital...drive home...drive to...drive home...talk to the doctors...stamp the little parking pass...get in the overcrowded elevator to the 8th floor. Uggghhhhhh! Normal? What is normal? 2009 and beginning of 2010 has been the best time of our lives...but seriously, let's not do that again please.

On another note...Sky is still dealing with hydrocephalus. The doctors are watching it closely as it still continues to remain small. Jourdan and I just hope and pray that it somehow resolves. If you are wondering what this condition is...it's basically fluid build up within the ventricles of the brain. There is a wide span of severity and outcome for this but from what we know, Skylar's is mild, and probably developed from just being born premature.

Good news is that her ROP is stable...her lungs are improving, she's learning quickly with bottle feeding ,and is 6 1/2 pounds! We have also caught a few smiles now and then too!

Jourdan and I... and Skylar too want to thank everyone for your prayers and thoughts. We seriously couldn't get through this without you! You keep us going knowing that we have so many people that care.

We also want to extend a special thank you to Skylar's NICU nurses. We think the world of you! Skylar is where she is today because of the love you share with her! How lucky is she to have you there. The relief we feel when we hear your voice on the other line, or see you at her cribside as we walk through the door is huge! Thank you so much.

...more updates to come as we progress through the nasal cannula and feeding stage these next few weeks.

Our little Skylar Jean!

Skylar is getting big!

Skylar has had a lot going on this week and the past weekend. She had to have a few spinal taps to drain fluid that was blocked in her head. We don't know what has worked yet, all we know is that her ventricles seem to be staying stable for now. They have not increased dramatically in size, this week. The talk for surgery and putting a shunt in her head has been put on hold, so that is good news! Her eyes have a stage 2 ROP caused from all the pressure and ventilation she has been on since she was born. If it does not get worse her eyes will be fine, if it goes to stage 4 she will have laser eye surgery. Next week Skylar will have another head ultrasound and an eye exam to check everything again. It will probably be a weekly thing so they can monitor these things carefully. She remains a strong little girl with a lot of spunk and feisty attitude. Skylar is very loved by many at the NICU and continually complimented on her cuteness and princess attitude!She is 5 pounds 8 1/2 ounces and growing. The most amazing thing I have been able to experience with her is breastfeeding. I started here and there to get her used to it and she is doing very well. It is a little bit of a struggle being that she has her CPAP on and a feeding tube down her throat, but she is trying. It is truly a bonding moment for me and I am so thankful I stayed with it for the past few months. I truly feel more bonded to her everyday. She is so precious to Ryan and I and we couldn't have asked for a anything more. Our little baby girl is perfect!

Skylar sitting in her bouncy chair for the first time!

Skylar has made it to 5 pounds!

Skylar keeps growing and getting cutier and cutier! I can't believe it, 5 Pounds! It's crazy to think that only 2 months ago she was 1 pound 6 ounces. She is a remarkable little girl. Her lungs are improving a little every week, but it will take some time before she is off the CPAP and onto the nasal canula. She is definietly trying; she works hard to breathe, eat and do all the little things we take for granted. The doctors say it is like running a marathon all the time for her. What a tuff baby! Skylar has proven to be such a strong little person! Her little personality is amazing and so fun. The staff in the NICU always tell us what a fiesty little girl we have and how she will keep us very busy when she's home. I'm so glad, I love her attitude it is what has kept her going! Skylar hasn't had too many changes the last couple of weeks; it is just a growing thing for her now. The more she grows the stronger she will get and the better she will breathe. The doctors are still monitoring her head weekly to watch the ventricle and make sure it doesn't get too big, too fast. Her original due date is on the 17th of this month, but she will most likely be there longer. We pray that she will stay strong and keep on fighting so she can breathe on her own soon. The next few days she is getting her 2 month shots, ugh, she will not be happy about getting poked 4 times:( And Ryan and I are not looking forward to seeing them do it. We hope she does ok, poor thing.