So, we have the results from the pH Probe and OPMS.. Autumn is indeed refluxing/ aspirating with feeds. They thickened her feeds with 3/4tsp of thick it for every ounce of formula, and also started her on Reglan and Prevacid... it's helped a bit, but not enough to stop her from having bradychardic events. She's up to 7lbs 15oz! Geez, the baby that seemed to weigh nothing in my hands at birth, is now making my arms sore! I'm so glad though. Maybe it'll help me re-tone my arms, haha.
Speaking of re-tone and workouts, I'm part of an AWESOME group, called "I Run For Remembrance". It's a place for athletes of all sorts to run/workout/compete in memory of children/infants/adults who gained their angel wings and went home. I got matched with my awesome angel buddy today! She is so adorable, I can't get over it. I can't wait to started working out for her! I'm so making a shirt to wear to the gym, for her!
Also, here's another amazing organization for any preemie parents to check out. It's called "The Tiny Footprints Project". Go ahead, Google it. You'll be glad you did. They're an organization of photographers who do photoshoots for NICU families. Here's how it goes:
1. Request a session (their site tells you how)
2. They contact you and tell you that they'll match you with a photgrapher in your area (soon after, they send you the photographer's info and say they'll be in touch)
3. Photographer contacts you, sets up a time and date for your photo session... FREE OF COST.
Yep, you read that right. You get a pro photoshoot free of charge. How awesome is that? Pretty awesome, if you ask me.
Autumn had a photoshoot with Julie Effron Photo & Video about 2 weeks ago, and the photos turned out AMAZING! It's so nice to find things like The Tiny Footprints Project... if not for them, we wouldn't have been able to afford to professionally document this journey our family went through. Our photographer captured memories and emotions that we will never forget! The photos were done beautifully, and the session was set up so quick! I'm honestly so thankful for all of the generous and kind-hearted people that have helped us out along this rollercoaster ride. Below are some of the pictures done by Julie!
The Giraffe in the last picture is a gift from Autumn's main primary nurse. She's been caring for Autumn since she was about 2 weeks old... She has been not only a phenomenal nurse, but also a phenomenal friend. She honestly cares about Autumn so much, and is so sweet and protective of her. But there's a bit more behind the story of the Autumn's NICU journey and Giraffes. We aren't sure how it happened, but I don't believe in coincidence. Our primary nurse (we'll call her "J") has called Autumn her "Giraffe baby" for as long as I can remember. The first gift ever given to Autumn was the giraffe pictured above. The other night, I was looking through Autumn's toys that we had bought her, figuring out what needed to be cleaned and what didn't... when I had an epiphany. Let's take a moment to look back to Father's Day, 2013.
I had just found out I was pregnant, and it was the night of Father's Day. I was out looking for a card for my husband, and happened to "wander" into the baby section...and I saw something I absolutely had to buy for the itty bitty baby who didn't even have a name yet. It was the very first thing I ever bought Autumn. Can you guess what it was?
That's right. It was a giraffe. I had never been a huge fan of Giraffes, but for some reason this little stuffed, wind up musical creature called out to me. I carried it around the store, holding it close, winding it up over and over and listening to it play soothing lullabies as it moved its head. It wound up coming home with me. Every night, I would lay in bed, place the Giraffe on my belly, and play the music for my little girl. It was her first toy, and I believe there is such significance in the decision to buy it. Some may call it a coincidence, but I call it a sneak peek. It was already written into our fate how Autumn's life would begin. We would be tossed into a terrifying, intimidating world. But we wouldn't travel this path alone. We were meant to meet J, and befriend her. She was meant to be part of Autumn's life. And I'm so glad she is. She's become family, and can never repay her for what she has done for us. She protected and cared for the most precious person in my life, she guided me and my husband in learning how to cope with and survive in the tumultuous world called NICU. Most of all, though, she helped make out daughter into the beautiful, strong individual she is today. She believed in Autumn, listened to her muted cries, when they otherwise may have gotten lost in translation. She saved our baby on multiple occasions, and I am forever endebted to this wonderful woman. She will forever be in my prayers.
Autumn has also reached some milestones! She now can hold her head up all by herself, and can hold her bottle on her own! She's beginning to smile socially, she can recognize voices and faces, and LOVES to look at herself in her little mirror! (If I was that cute, I would too!) Not a whole lot else to report... say a prayer that we get Autumn's reflux under control, though, so she can come home soon!
