My NICU Diary - Week 8

Car seat test: check!

Weight gain: check!

Infection gone: check!

After 58 days in the NICU and just one week away from her due date Liv finally figured out how to eat enough calories to grow! Checking out at 6 pounds 12.5 ounces the Doctors were pleased and Liv was finally able to come home. May 1, 2015 was the happiest day of my life.

See Liv's coming home post here!

My NICU Diary - Week 7

Notice anything different? Around 7 weeks old we experimented taking the feeding tube out since Liv's infection kept coming back despite two rounds of treatment. With no feeding tube her weight gain slowed down, but she was finally starting to get better. We spent more nights together in the hospital practicing feedings and our new goal was to pass her minimums. Slowly but surely...

My NICU Diary - Week 6

By the time Liv turned 6 weeks old we were ready to have her home. We never thought that Liv would be in the NICU this long, but the infection really put her behind on her feedings. Learning how to eat was her biggest hurdle and we really felt like we hit a wall. 

After so long in the NICU this became our new normal. I would visit Liv in the mornings or afternoon and Drew would visit her at night. We rarely saw each other between work and our hospital schedule, but it worked for us. Whether I was at home with Van or in the NICU with Liv I was missing one of my babies. I felt stressed, overwhelmed, tired, and lonely at times. It is not an easy task having your heart in two places.

Liv took her sweet time preparing to come home, but she was worth the wait.

My NICU Diary - Week 5

They say two steps forward one step back for a reason. Liv was doing so well, but then she got a bacterial infection called thrush that took time to go away. Although it wasn't life threatening, it felt like a major step back. Breastfeeding was difficult. Feedings were painful for her. My milk supply was depleting. Things were feeling hard again.

On the bright side, she continued to grow and continues getting cuter every day!

My NICU Diary - Week 4

Liv at 1 month old wearing her preemie size jammies and growing like a champ! She weighed 5 pounds 4 ounces and we got to spend our first night together at the hospital when she was 4 weeks old. 

These pictures are from when I helped give Liv a bath for the first time. The Nurses took such good care of her and I learned so much from them. So thankful Liv was in good hands.

My NICU Diary - Week 3

After 21 days in the NICU, Liv broke 4 pounds and was finally learning how to nurse. We practiced what they call "recreational nursing" for weeks before she was able to build the strength to even stay awake during a feeding. Meanwhile I was pumping like a crazy lady and doing everything from herbal supplements to essential oils to help boost my milk supply. At three weeks old she was about the size I was when I was born [at 32 weeks gestation]. 

It was so hard leaving my baby girl every day, but I knew Liv was where she needed to be. We ended up putting pictures of us in her crib so she could feel more at home until we could truly be together as a family.

My NICU Diary - Week 2

After 1 week in the NICU Liv was off her IV and breathing room air. That was huge progress! She upgraded to an incubator and was able to be swaddled. By the time Liv was 2 weeks old she was wearing her first onesie. The Nurse picked out the ruffliest outfit she could find and although that wouldn't be my first pick I didn't care, she looked perfect.

The Doctors were surprised at how fast Liv improved, but we knew it was because our prayers were answered. I have no doubt there were guardian angels watching over my Livvy during her time in the NICU. 

We used this hospital bracelet my sister made to track Liv's growth. The beads are meant to give strength, courage, comfort, love and healing. It used to fit around her ankle and be huge on her wrist. Now it is a cherished keepsake to remind us of how far Liv has come, and we couldn't be more proud.

My NICU Diary - Week 1

While Liv was in the NICU there were so many ups and downs. The easiest way I found to keep a journal during that time was on Instagram. You can see my posts here.  

Now that we all know how this story ends it doesn't feel as relevant, but I did take weekly photos of my Livvy to track her growth and progress. It is amazing looking back at where she started to where she is today. 

Liv had a rough start at life. It broke my heart watching her tiny lungs work so hard to breath. Time in the NICU passed by so slowly yet things changed so quickly. One week she was fighting for her life, the next she was breathing on her own and sleeping peacefully in my arms for the first time without a mask.

Trials like this are life's funny way of reminding us what really matters, and Liv is a constant reminder to make every moment count.

Liv Comes Home

Our sweet baby Liv was born two months premature and is our precious miracle. We traveled back and forth to the NICU while she fought for her life and grew stronger every day. Finally, after 58 long days Liv came home and Van got to meet his little sister for the first time. We are so happy to have Liv home!!! Life couldn't be better. 

Thank you to our dear friend, Darlene Dame, for making this video. I really wanted to have something to remember our days in the NICU and I will treasure these moments forever.