Friday 31st July 2009

Look at me playing on my beanbag. That's because I'm growing big and strong, so I'm allowed out of my moses basket once in a while. I was so excited about being on my beanbag after my 7am feed that I stayed awake for a whole 2 1/2 hours - mummy was not impressed, because it meant I fell asleep just before the next feed time. Mummy and daddy are determined to get me into a good routine, but I'll make them work for it! I had 2 visitors today - mummy's friend Jayne and her son Bobby, and Lisa and her daughter Nia. I had lovely cuddles with Lisa, she thinks I look just like my daddy. I've also had lovely cuddles with my daddy this evening - he came home from work and cuddled me for a whole hour, just like he used to when I was in Special Care. I'm excited tonight, because I'm seeing granny Judy tomorrow, for the first time in 3 weeks, and I'll get to have cuddles with her for the first time- I can't wait.

Thursday 30th July 2009

Not much to report today. Mummy and I had a quiet time together. We had a visit from mummy's friend Clare who is pregnant with a little friend (or maybe a boyfriend) for me. I also saw the health visitor this afternoon, who came at 2pm and totally disrupted mummy and my routine - my feed was 45 minutes late, which I wasn't impressed about at all, however I am getting much better at feeding with mummy which is good news. I was much more awake and alert today, and was making sure mummy paid me lots of attention. I just have to look at her or daddy with my big eyes, and they're putty in my hands - tee hee!

Wednesday 29th July 2009

A monumentous day today - I had a bath! That's right, my first bath since I was born - you can imagine how bad I was smelling, can't you! I was very good, and didn't cry at all, I just tried to drink the bubbly water, which mummy wasn't very impressed with! Here's pictures of me before, during and after! The bit I didn't like was coming out and being dried - I got all cold, so mummy dressed me quickly and cuddled me in a big wooly blanket to make sure I was okay. I can't wait until I'm big enough to have a bath with my sister Harriet, we'll have great fun splashing about in the water together. I had more visitors today. My neighbours Pam and Keith, and mummy's friend Diana and her daughter Imogen. Kay the Health Visitor is coming to see me tomorrow, so I need to be on my best behaviour.

Tuesday 28th July 2009

I know you're all really intrigued to know what happened when Michelle, the Special Care Community Nurse visited me today. Mummy was hoping that I had put on 100g in weight since I came home, but I beat her estimate. I have put on a whole 130g or 4oz since I was weighed on Friday evening - which means I am now a whopping 2kg or 4lb 6oz. Mummy was so pleased that she gave Michelle a big hug, and told me how clever I am. I feel very pleased with myself and will continue to work hard at my feeding and sleeping to make sure I continue to grow big and strong. Mummy says I have to get bigger, so that if I catch swine flu I'll be able to resist it better. The Special Care Community Nurse will come next Tuesday and weigh me again, so I need to keep piling on the ounces for then. I shall aim for 7oz this time I think, as a whole week will have gone by. To be 5lb I need to put on another 10oz. I think that's maybe a bit of a tall order for this week, but you never know. I hear my sister once put on a whole lb in one week, so I'll take a leaf out of her book I think!

Monday 27th July 2009

Well, I didn't keep my promise of being better behaved in the night, and I was up for 2 whole hours this time! I was very hungry you see! Anyway - I'll try harder tonight....Today I saw two of my grandparents, and they got to give me a cuddle for the first time, which was very nice. I also met my sister's friend Gene, when he popped in with his mummy on the way back from Milletts Farm. All in all a very tiring day, so I've slept a lot as usual, and drunk a lot of milk. Michelle the Special Care Community Nurse is comming to see me tomorrow, so I need to eat loads and sleep loads to make sure I've put on lots of nice weight to keep her happy! My sister was back at nursery today and daddy was back at work, so mummy and I missed them a lot, but I got to see them tonight, which was lovely, and I got to meet Mel, Harriet's nursery nurse, who is helping mummy and daddy by bringing Harriet home from nursery in the evening. Mel bought me a very pretty dress - thank you Mel!

Sunday 26th July 2009

Well, it's been my first full day at home today and it's been fun. I woke up for feeding only once in the night, but I was awake for rather a long time, so I'm going to try and make it a bit shorter tonight! I've had more feeding, sleeping and generally chilling out today. I had my first visitors - Auntie Shellie and Uncle Chris, plus cousin Isabelle came down, and brought us lunch. I didn't get any of the homemade lasagne though - I'm still just on the white stuff, but my sister Harriet told me that it was yummy! Also mummy's friend Lisa came to see me. Lisa came out in the middle of the night to look after my sister on the night I was born, so she is very special. She thought I was very lovely, and I even got to have a cuddle with her. I'm looking forward to seeing Granny and Grandpa Meikle tomorrow, and then on Tuesday I've got my first visit from the Special Care Community Nurse - Michelle. I hope that I've put on some weight since I left the hospital, so she'll be pleased with my progress. I'm sure I'll be heavier, as I've been having a lot of milk to fatten me up, and I've been sleeping a lot to conserve my energy. I've also got Granny Judy booked in to see me on Saturday, so it's all go - no doubt I'll have other visitors as the week goes on - how exciting. Daddy is back at work tomorrow. He's taking 2 weeks off in a couple of weeks time, so I'm really looking forward to that. Mummy and I will miss him and big sister Harriet tomorrow. Harriet will be at nursery, so mummy and I will be flying solo. I'd better behave myself!

Saturday 25th July 2009

Well, I've finally made it home after 17 days in the Special Care Baby Unit. I can't complain though, my sister and her friends all spent a lot longer in SCBU, so I'm a mere novice really, but it's great to be home. Mummy, daddy and big sister Harriet arrived at about 10.30am, and we were in and out of the hospital quick smart. Nurse Karen discharged me - the same nurse who was on duty when my sister was discharged! I even wore the same little coat which Harriet wore when she left the hospital -hand me downs again! My going home weight was 1,870g which is about 4lb 2oz, so I've got some serious weight gain to do now I'm home. We got home at about 11.30am, and we've had a really chilled out day since then. I've spent some time with my sister, and had lots of milk, cuddles and sleep. I've been a bit naughty, and I've got out of my 4 hourly hospital feeding routine already - I've fed about 6 or 7 times since I got home! Mummy says she'll allow it for a couple of days, but when she gets me on her own on Monday it'll be boot camp - whatever that means! So I'd better make the most of it tomorrow. I forgot to tell you that I was examined by a medical student yesterday, so that he could learn about how to examine a small baby. It was very interesting, and I'm glad that I could help someone learn to be a doctor. I'm seeing Auntie Shellie and Uncle Chris tomorrow, and meeting my cousin Isabelle for the first time - how exciting. I love being home - maybe being at home will mean mummy and daddy change my clothes more often - I've been wearing the same babygro for 3 days now -and I haven't had a bath yet. I think my first one might be tomorrow though, so I shall soon be smelling sweet in time to receive all my visitors next week.

Friday 24th July 2009

Can you spot the difference between yesterday's and today's photos? Well, not only am I 4g heavier, and a day older, but I am also minus a feeding tube for the first time since I was born (except for the few occasions when I managed to pull it out!). I did all sucking feeds overnight, and so my tube has come out, and Dr McCormick says I can go home tomorrow! I feel extremely excited. I know that mummy and daddy haven't got everything sorted at home yet, but daddy is going to have 2 weeks off work in a couple of weeks time, and that will give us a chance to get my nursery looking tip top. Mummy says I'll be sleeping in her and daddy's room for the forseeable future, so it doesn't matter if we don't sort my room out for a few weeks. Mummy and I had another breastfeeding lesson from the Beastfeeding Coordinator Sue Vickery-Smith today, and I managed quite well, but I'm still better at bottle feeding. Practice makes perfect, however, and mummy and I will have a lot more time to practice once we get home. Anyway, keep everything crossed that I continue to behave myself, and get to come home tomorrow. I can't wait to meet my big sister Harriet - I hope she likes me!

Thursday 23rd July

I haven't seen daddy today. He couldn't come and visit after work, as he has to pick my sister up from nursery on a Thursday. Never mind, I'll see him tomorrow, and I may see him at home on Saturday. That's right, Dr McCormick the Consultant said that if I carry on doing my sucking feeds, and if I put on weight, then I can maybe, possibly go home on Saturday! Hurray. I actually lost 2g last night, but that is because they had to weigh me on different scales, as the ones I had been weighed on before are broken. If I don't put on weight that means I might still need some tube feeds, which means I can't come home, but I've done all sucking feeds over the last 24 hours, so fingers crossed I can keep going. My apnoea mat was removed this morning as well, as I haven't had any dodgey 'non breathing' episodes, so everything is moving in the right direction. I didn't do so well on the breastfeeding today, but mummy and I will try again tomorrow, and I'm sure we'll crack it eventually. Maybe when my gastro nasal tube is removed I'll be able to breathe a bit more easily when I'm feeding. Hopefully that will be removed tomorrow morning in time for my 11am feed with mummy.

Wednesday 22nd July 2009

I am exactly 2 weeks old today, and I celebrated by reaching the 4lb mark! That's right, I've put on 40g in the last 2 days, which means I'm now 1,852g or 4lb 1oz and a bit! Now that I'm so big, I've decided that I can work a bit harder on this sucking business and so I did some really great sucking practice with mummy. So much so that I only had a 20ml top up in my tube after my 11am feed. But after another half an hour I felt hungry again so I had a good old scream, and nurse Caroline had to give me another 20ml from a bottle. Aren't I naughty? I had my hearing checked today, and both my ears received a clean bill of health. I have to go back and get them checked again when I'm 8 months old, because I've had jaundice, but that's just routine apparently. Look at me with the fancy earmuffs on, which they use to test babies' ears. I get to keep my earmuffs, they've been put in my memory box along with other little things which I've accumulated during my stay in hospital. Mummy thinks I look like an alien with them on! Daddy has been to see me tonight again for evening cuddles and milk. It's very chilled out in the evenings, and I enjoy our time together. By the way, my umbilical cord has finally fallen off, so I now have a proper belly button!

Tuesday 21st July 2009

In, out, in out. Look at me doing my exercises and stretching those long pins of mine. Mummy says I'll need a bigger babygro soon, as my legs are so long they are reaching the end of my 5lb clothes. Even through I only weigh 1,812g which is just a smidgen off 4lb. I think that means I'm long and thin, unlike my sister who had very short legs apparently - that's because she arrived so early. My nappy is actually looking like it nearly fits me now - it's a Pampers micro nappy - and I get through about 6 of them every day. They are for little babies like me between 2 and 5lb, so hopefully I'll graduate into a bigger size soon enough. I saw the Consultant Dr McCormick today. He was very pleased with my progress, and told mummy that I shouldn't have to stay here in special Care for much longer. I've just got to keep going with my sucking. I tried sucking with mummy again this morning and did a bit better than yesterday, and I'll try another bottle with daddy this evening. I managed a whole bottle with daddy yesterday, so I'm determined to do it again tonight. I'm alternating tube and sucking feeds at the moment, so I need to progress onto doing all sucking as soon as I manage to have enough energy! Mummy read me a Winnie the Pooh story this morning, which was lovely. It was great fun hearing about Christopher Robin and all his pals. I'm looking forward to the next installment tomorrow. I think I am being weighed tonight, so we'll see how much weight I've put on. Hopefully I'll hit that magic 4lb, how exciting.

Monday 20th July 2009

Back to the week day routine today, but it was a bit of a manic Monday to be honest. Mummy was in to see me at 9am, and we had lovely cuddles together until the doctor arrived to do the ward round and wanted to give me the once over. She seemd to think that I was absoutely perfect - which I could have told her myself, to be honest, without her prodding and poking me! She did think I looked a little on the orange side, so I may be in for another stint under the sun lamp - I'll have bloods taken tomorrow, so they'll be able to check my bilirubin levels then. Mummy had a good chat with Rosie Craig the Special Care Community Nurse this morning about swine flu, as she is worried about bringing me home with swine flu everywhere, as I would be very vulnerable being so little. Apparently I would be able to have Tamiflu, but I wouldn't be able to have the immunisation until I'm a bit older, but Rosie reassured mummy that she should just take the same precautions as she would to guard against general infections, so lots of hand washing and anti bacterial handrub for us. We then had an appointment with Sue Vickery-Smith the breast feeding adviser for the Special Care Unit. She helped mummy and I practise feeding, so hopefully we'll start to get the hang of it soon. I'm doing well with bottle feeding, so I just need to improve on the breastfeeding. I find it more difficult, but we will keep persevering, as mummy says she doesn't want to have to be fiddling around with sterilisers and milk pumps all the time (whatever that means!). I had lots of energy today and gave mummy a hard time when she changed my nappy, and put me in a natty pink babygro. Another hand me down from my sister I'm afraid. Will I ever get any new clothes I ask myself?

Sunday 19th July 2009

I've tried more sucking through the night, and today with mummy and daddy. I seem to be getting a bit better, but I can't help dozing off when I've just got going! Mummy felt I had a bit more of a proper suck with her today, but I've still got to try harder. I'm officially 38 weeks gestation today, so just 2 weeks off my due date of 2nd August, so the nurses are all saying that I should be sucking by now, but it's just being so little, I find it a struggle. Oh well, I shall practise more with the nurses tonight, and then again with mummy and daddy tomorrow. Nurse Caroline said that I could move to 4 hourly feeds tomorrow, so that should help me start feeling even more hungry, which should help my sucking. I've been behaving on my apnoea mat by the way, so hopefully I won't have to be on it very long.

Saturday 18th July 2009

I am a whole 10 days old today, and I celebrated this by having my sats monitor removed and being transfered onto an apnoea mat. This is excellent progress, and it takes me a step closer to going home. Basically, the nurses said I had been so good with my sats (my oxygen saturation and my breathing), that they didn't have to monitor me so closely any more, so I ll be on an apnoea mat for the next few days, and if I behave myself and breathe like I'm supposed to, then that will go too - hurrah. So that means I'm nearly tube and wire free! I've just got my feeding tube in my nose now, as my cannula was also removed this afternoon now that I've finished my course of antibiotics. I'm pleased to say they've done the trick, and my armpit is looking good as new with no redness in sight. Mummy and daddy arrived to see me at just before my 3 hourly feed was due at 11am. They changed my nappy, and my clothes, and I gave daddy some extra work to do by weeing all over my sheet - oops! Mummy and I had another feeding practice -before I had my feed through my tube - I'm trying hard, but I haven't quite got the hang of this breastfeeding lark yet, so we'll just have to keep trying. We tried again this afternoon and then I took a whole 15ml of milk from a bottle, so I am really persevering with my sucking, as I know that's how I'm going to get home. I am currently having 37ml of milk every 3 hours, and mummy has been told to stop bringing milk in for me for the moment, as the freezer is overflowing - I'd better keep growing quickly, so that I can start drinking some more! I'm pleased to say that my sister's eye infection has also got a lot better, so that is good news, and you can see a picture of here here with one of the teddies which I've been sent. I hope she gives it back to me when I come home! By the way, it was my cousin Daniel's 4th birthday yesterday, and I forgot to wish him many happy returns, so Happy birthday Daniel - hope you had a great party today!

Friday 17th July 2009

Well, as you can see I am sleeping soundly- that's because I'm tired out with all the sucking I've been doing today. I only saw mummy and daddy briefly tonight, not during the day like normal, so whilst they were away, I practised sucking a lot. I nearly did 2 whole feeds from a bottle, so mummy and daddy were really pleased with me. I then tried breastfeeding with mummy this evening, and sucked quite well before I had my tube feed, so I feel like I've made some really good progress today. Apparently my sister was right here in the family room in the special care unit, but mummy and daddy have decided I won't get to meet her until I come home. They don't want to risk her bringing any germs in to the unit, and they don't think she'll understand what's going on there. I wonder if she remembers her time here. She spent about 6 weeks here on A-Side, so I'm sure she does. I put on a whole 24g in weight yesterday as well, so I now weigh 1,762g (3lb 14oz), and my skin is looking a much more healthy pink colour. I'm raring to go - so I'll try a lot more sucking tomorrow, after a more restful night of tube feeds to help me conserve energy. Mummy and daddy will come to see me together tomorrow, which is exciting as I normally see them separately. And I should have my cannula out tomorrow, as I have my last dose of antibiotics tonight - hooray.

Thursday 16th July 2009

Can you spot the difference? That's right I've moved back into a cot from my incubator, and I'm maintaining my temperature well without a hat on, so that's one of my 'going home'criteria boxes ticked already. My infection results have come back and I'm pleased to say that my blood cultures are all negative for infections. However, the swab taken from my armpit does show that I have a 'staff' skin infection, so my antibiotics should treat that nicely. I finish my 5 day course tomorrow, and my skin looks a lot less red and angry already. I'm even allowed to wear a vest and baby gro again. I had a good day weightwise yesterday, probably because I was chilling out in my incubator. When I was weighed last night I'd put on a massive 73g - so I'm now up to 1,737g, which is 3lb 13oz. This means that I'm back up to my birthweight, and I've actually gone past it by a few grams too. I think that's pretty impressive considering I'm only 8 days old. My sticky eye seems to have got better since yesterday, but I've managed to telepathically pass it on to my sister, who has been sent home from nursery with conjunctivitis. Daddy and mummy had to go and pick her up early, and then daddy has now driven back up to the hospital to see me. I may not see mummy tomorrow, as she has to stay at home and look after my sister all day now. I shall miss her a lot if I don't see her, and I' know she'll miss me too.

Wednesday 15th July 2009

Well, I put on another 20g last night, so I am now 1,664g. So I'm getting back to my birthweight slowly but surely. Mummy and daddy have brought in some bottles, so that if I want to suck when mummy isn't there, the nurses can try bottle feeding me. I am now off the jaundice lights as my bilirubin is back down below 200, so let's hope I won't have to go under them again, and that I can go back into a cot soon. Still no news on whether I've got an infection or not, so the doctor has said I ought to just carry on with the antibiotics for 5 days just in case. I fell asleep on mummy again today rather thatn doing sucking practice, but I've moved to 3 hourly feeds now, so I suspect I'll be getting very hungry and that might spur me on to suck more! I met my other auntie today - Auntie Emma. She is mummy's sister. I haven't met my Uncle Philip yet, as he was at home looking after my cousin Daniel today, but I hope to meet him soon. Daddy came to see me tonight and I really kicked off well before my feed was due to let them know I was hungry. I was desperate to suck, so daddy and my nurse tried me on a bottle. I managed to suck a few mls from the bottle before falling asleep, as I'd worn myself out crying for food! Silly me.

Tuesday 14th July 2009

New regime today now that mummy is out of hospital. Daddy dropped mummy off at the hospital at 9am after dropping my sister off at nursery. When mummy changed my nappy I decided to do a projectile poo into the incubator to decorate it a bit! I'd overheard mummy talking about how my sister did this, so I decided to give it a go for myself. I found it very funny, but I don't think mummy or my nurse Lizzie did! I have been tolerating my 2 hourly feeds very well, which is another step towards going home. I moved from hourly feeds yesterday, and I am going to move to 3 hourly feeds tomorrow. Mummy spoke to the doctor about my supposed infection, and apparently my CRP scores are low, which is an indication that I don't actually have an infection, but we've still go to see what the swab shows up to see if there is an infection in my arm pit or not, and in the meantime I've got to keep taking my flucloxacillin twice a day through my drip. Lizzie the nurse also removed my umbilical cord clamp today, so that I can comfortably lie on my tummy. My bilirubin levels are steadily coming down and I look less like a satsuma, and more of a healthy pink colour, I also feel a lot less lethargic, so maybe I can practise sucking with mummy again soon - the last couple of days I've just been falling asleep when she holds me. I really want to get my nasty nasal feeding tube out you see. I actually pulled it out today to see if anyone would notice, but unfortunately they did, and put another one down. I have gainned a bit more weight and am now 1,644g, not back at my birthweight yet, but getting there! I started taking dalavit today which is a multivitamin. I'll take it once a day until I am 1 year old. Daddy came to see me after work this evening and I had lovely cuddles with him for about an hour.

Monday 13th July 2009

Well, they say 13th is unlucky fror some, and I certainly have had a bad day today. Although I've put on 40g of weight and am now up to 1,632g, I've finally reached the threshold where I've become a little bit too orange, and I've got to go under the lights to bring my bilirubin levels down. That's okay, but when mummy and nurse Caroline started to undress me to go under the lights, they noticed that my left armpit was all red and weeping. They got the doctor and she advised that I might have a skin infection. So they've taken a swab, and sent it off to the lab to be tested, and have said that I need a course of IV antibiotics just in case. They also said I should go back into an incubator, as I need to be naked to have the lights on me, so they decided that was the best way to keep me warm whilst I had my treatment. So the doctors took me off to put a new cannula in. Yuck I hate that, it hurts to put in - I don't like it. Mummy was very upset, as my sister had a horrid infection that lasted over a month when she was in Special Care, so it made her worry about me. Mummy also was discharged today and went home, so she was upset about leaving me at the hospital. Luckily before mummy and daddy went home my jaundice levels had started to drop so that is good news. The lights have obviously started to do the trick. Also good news is that my friend Sebastian has also been moved over to A-Side, and his incubator has been put next to mine. Sebastian was born at 33 weeks gestation and was 2lb 12oz, so has lots of growing to do, just like me.

Sunday 12th July 2009

Well, I had a disappointing day in terms of my weight yesterday, and I've lost loads! I think this is because I'm starting to get a bit jaundiced and so my energy levels are very low, and I'm feeling a bit lethargic. I've gone down to 1,592g which is about 3lb 7oz, so I need to chub up a bit if I'm going to go home quickly. I got to meet mummy's good friend Jayne today, who is going to be one of my godmothers, and I also got to meet my other grandparents for the first time - mummy's parents - Granny & Grandpa Meikle. Plus I met another friend of mummy's - Kirsty. Kirsty's little boy Christopher was born at the same gestation as me 2 years ago - but he was a whopping 8lb 10oz - I definitely need to get cracking with this weight lark! Exciting news is that I've been moved from the High Dependency Nursery to the Special Care Nursery - also known as A-Side. This is very exciting because it's a step closer to coming home! I just need to learn to feed properly and start putting on some weight!

Saturday 11th July 2009

I am starting to have some milk from mummy fed to me through my tube, as well as the donated breast milk, and it's helping- I put on 36g yesterday, so I'm now back up to 1,670g. My IV drip has been taken out overnight and I am now on 100% milk feeds through my feeding tube. I met Granny Judy, Auntie Shellie and Uncle Chris today for the first time, and they think I am very cute and lovely. Even though my IV drip was removed I still had my cannula in my hand, but mummy knocked it out by mistake tonight when she was trying to remove my babygro. She didn't know it was there, so she didn't do it on purpose, but I cried a lot, so I made her feel very guilty! I am looking quite orange today, but apparently my bilirubin levels are still below the normal limits, so I won't have to go under the jaundice lamps at the moment.

Friday 10th July 2009

Daddy was at work all day today, so I didn't see him until the evening. He came to see me with mummy and changed my nappy at about 5.30pm. Mummy came in earlier and did my cares, and I tried sucking with her again at lunchtime, which went quite well, even thought I can only suck for a very short time. I get very frustrated, as I'm ready to suck, but just not strong enough, so mummy asked if I could have a dummy, so that I can practise sucking between feeds. I was very noisy all afternoon, trying out my lungs, so by the time mummy and daddy arrived I didn't want to suck, I just wanted to sleep. I lost weight last night another 34g, down to 1,636g, but apparently that's pretty normal for new babies. Hopefully I'll start to put on weight soon. I'm being fed hourly, and I'm having 8ml of milk each time, as well as still having 3ml of dextrose per hour through my drip. I almmost forgot, I met mummy's friend Kathy today. Kathy and mummy shared a ward here at the hospital 2 years ago when my sister was born.

Thursday 9th July 2009

My second day in the world and I'm feeling perky and happy. I was moved to room 4 from room 1 last night. Mummy calls room 4 the long room, as it's long and thin with about 9 babies all in a row. My sister Harriet and her friends Oscar and Gene spent a long time in this room apparently, but I bet I won't have to stay here too long. Mummy was still on the Observation Ward recovering from her operation, but came to see me this morning to say hello. I'd been a very good girl over night, although I did lose some weight, down to 1670g, but to reward me for behaving myself mummy brought me some colostrum. Daddy came to see me at about 2pm once he had moved mummy back up to the main ward on level 5. He and mummy changed my nappy, and I had a nice present for them - some black meconium. just like tar apparently - nice! I had a lovely cuddle with daddy and tried breastfeeding with mummy too. I did try and suck a bit, but it just wears me out at the moment. I need to grow a bit more and start putting on weight before I can really suck properly I think.