Bella Update!

Hi Everyone,
We know you have been wondering how we are doing and wanted to update you on what's new. First of all, let's thank Florida Hospital for having WiFI for allowing us to keep in touch with you! Right now Im on my MAC typing away in my room!

Anyways, as Anthony said before Bella is dealing with some Preemie issues and has been in observation. Wednesday night she had a dusky episode and stopped breathing. They thought it was b/c she had some left over fluid in her lungs which was typical of a C-Section baby. She was observed in the nursery Wed night through Thursday morning. Our pediatrician ordered blood tests and an x-ray and they all came back normal. She had another dusky episode that night. He had also ordered a consult with a Neonatologist just to give Bella a good look over. Well I kangaroo'd her all morning and breast fed her. At lunch time I got some rest and the Neonatoligst suggested trying her on formula feeds that are thickened with rice cereal. If she did well on that they would thicken my breastmilk with thickit. Well the Neonatologist said she had another episode (number 3) this time and wanted to observe her in the NICU. As you can imagine Anthony and I lost it!!!! Basically she doesn't have her suck, breathe, swallow patterns down pat yet and are very normal for a preemie. ( by the way a dusky episode is when she stops breathing due to mucus/choking)

The NICU doctors/nurses still remember us and Gabriella from 2 years ago and have completely kept our feelings about this situation with Bella in mind! They are wonderful. Yesterday afternoon Kagaroo'd Bella all afternoon in the NICU. I LOVE doing that for her. For those who don't know Kangarooing is, it's when you put the baby skin to skin on your chest. Its really good for them especially preemies, to regulate their temperature, breathing, as well as simtulating my breast milk. I gave her a bottle too and she took an ounce, but spit up about 1/4 of it. Not sure if it was reflux or just baby spit up. Anthony Kangaroo'd her last night and fed her another bottle, which she did very well with. She did have a dusky episode with him last night. At about 5am this morning we called and checked on her and she had an apnea episode in the middle of the night which is new for her. It only lasted a few seconds and the nurse was right there with her, she came out of it fine. We visited very briefly this morning ( no visiting between 10-12 due to dr's rounds) and she had just taken 2 ounces of thickened formula with out a problem.

So now we are waiting on what her doctor says. We need to have whatever this is resolved before we take her home. It's either reflux or Apnea. I am going to ask to see if they think a swallow study is necessary to rule out refulx. Needless to say Im being discharged tomorrow and it's not looking like Bella is coming with us. So where will be??? Ronald McDonald house most likely starting tomorrow.

I am using a hospital pump and pumping away. I am getting good colostrum in and hopefully my milk will come in any day. I am pumping and storing it in the NICU.

We continue to ask for limited visitors and phone calls. We really appreciate it. Overall Bella is healthy but she has to get this breathing/eating stuff down before she can go home. Her heart and lungs are fine. It is much different with Bella than Gabi, as we are able to hold her, bond with , and Kangaroo her as much as we want throughout the day. It is still exhausting and tremedously emotional as somehow we are following the same path with Gabi (i.e. NICU and Ronald McDonald House) But we will get through it with lots of prayers and faith in GOD.

We never thought we could call in love with another baby as much as we have with Bella. She is so beautiful and we truly are in awe that we created this little being. We will continue to keep you updated through twitter and our website. We will take more pictures this afternoon!

Thank goodness for the support of our family. They have been constantly here to support and spend time with Bella. Kristen's aunts came in to town and Kristen's Dad has been here the whole time and my parents have come back and forth. Not to mention the constant phone calls, texts, and any other way people could show us love! Thank you.