Coming up for air

I'm very sorry to share that Annie's Aunt Sherry (Steve's sister) passed away very suddenly last week. This is naturally very hard on Steve's family but I am so glad that we were all able to go as a family to attend the funeral. Annie was cleared to fly and, along with Luke, added (I hope) a little bit of warmth to a very difficult time for Steve's side of the family. Luke was the designated 'hugger' -a role he took quite seriously and accidentally knocked down Grandma. Annie was designated cute baby. They both did their jobs quite well.

On a happier note, Annie has gained almost a pound since she came home! She is now 6lbs, 4oz and eating like a crazy lady. It is such a joy to have her home, loved by all of us (especially Luke!) and growing big and strong. Yeah, Annie!!

See you at 2, baby!

Annie went to see the eye doctor today for her final screening for ROP (retinography of prematurity (I think)). She passed and is now free of these horrifying eye exams! She doesn't need to come back until she is 2! This is wonderful news and one more thing to check off the list as Annie exits the world of high maintenance preemie and enters the world of high maintenance newborn. We see the pediatrician on Fri -more then!

Haven't screwed up yet!

Annie met her pediatrician, Dr Cosme (who rocks!!), today! It appears as though we have not screwed up. Her weight is steady and she is offically considered a newborn (well, a very old newborn).

Today, Elly did 2 trips to the dr since Luke is still not better. Now his eye is all swollen and red and he is still running a pretty impressive fever (what next?!??!). So we got some antibotics and hope the little guy feels better soon. Annie, thankfully, is not showing signs. I have to say it is a real fear for us since in the past her cue that she has been ill has been an apnea episode. Fears aside, she is just thriving and we will keep washing hands and gently trying to keep them apart (which is tough bc Luke adores her!).

Aunt Kit came yesterday and took these photos. Above is our beautiful Annie and, well, our sick Luke.

Parenting two..

So Luke is now sick with some nasty virus. Taking care of Luke and keeping Annie healthy when you have a 1000 square feet is a whole new type of challenge faced by us New Yorkers. We've essentially designated a parent per kid so as not to cross-contaminate. Steve and I were both up most of the night.
Annie has virtually all of her appointments set for follow-up -definitely wanted to set those up before the sleep deprivation kicked in! She is getting her eyes examined and will receive early intervention in case of any developmental delays. Tomorrow the visiting nurse is coming. I think we scared her off today when we mentioned how sick Luke was. On Thursday, Annie meets her pediatrician (who we adore). We were hoping to see her doc sooner but so far we haven't screwed up!

Luke and Annie

We wanted to share this moment of Luke and Annie together. Luke just adores her! Right now, however, he is running a fever of 105 so everyone please send Luke your well wishes and pray that those bugs stay away from Annie. Enjoy the video!

August 1: Annie has left the building!!!!

There just aren't words to describe the joy we felt when Ellen (red head with Elly) called to let us know that Annie can come home..now, right now. Then, as the cherry on top, Dr. Navez had read her test and signed off on her being discharged. Dr. Navez was on when was admitted and gently introduced us to the NICU when we felt so lost and afraid. It was only fitting that she would discharge us. I secretly think that Annie was holding off until she came back from vacation.

After hearing the news, I/Elly honestly spent most of the day crying. Those tears said so much to me. Mostly I cried out of gratitude. We are so grateful for these angels who entered our life and saved our little girl. I remember being in the hospital and asking the preinatologist what her chances of survival were. Now she is sleeping in her bouncy seat while the cat pokes at her. I cried because I don't think I realized how much I had been holding my breath for the last 9+ weeks. Now I can breathe.

Dr. Wenger is our rock. She held me together on so many occasions that I can't begin to describe the strength she gave us. I remember when she entered the room after Annie decided it was time to come. I was so scared and just wanted to burst out in tears out of relief that she was there to take care of me (I'm not so good with letting people take care of me..). Then Annie came..not an hour after I realized these contractions were real. I was thrilled to hear her cry but frightened at how small she was.

Then I handed her over -this tiny precious thing- to perfect strangers. Strangers who knew what they were doing but seemed to talk in some strange foreign language. It was as if I took this helpless little one and dropped her off in a foreign country where I didn't even speak the language. So, they taught me. I read, I listened, I learned medical latin and they taught me that Annie was a special little girl who was going to make it and that I was not helpless (please note that Annie just did her 'power to the preemies' fist in the air thing from her bouncy seat that my NICU buddies are so familiar with).

Steve and I will never be able to convey how special this NICU family has become to us. The nurses and doctors who were so patient with us and held us together through so many scary times. We cannot forget all the other parents who we befriended along the way. It was thrilling to us that Kingston left the same day but we are sad to leave so many of our friends behind. We need to give a very special hug to Carmen, Jaeden and Artie who posted a prayer for Annie and her friends on their blog the day before Annie was released. You can't tell me that didn't work!

Finally, YOU. I have no idea how many people read this blog but I know the Annie, Steve, Luke and I were powered through every moment by the prayers and support that our friends, families, colleagues and even strangers offered every day.

Annie's story/blog will continue. Feisty Little Annie and her friends grows every day. It is our hope that through Annie's ongoing story we can share that prematurity happens; tiny babies are born well before their time but they MAKE it --with flying colors! Please don't feel alone and scared -we are here and happy to talk!

HALLELUJAH!!!

Gran is thrilled to be able to tell you that Elly and Steve just got the call that Annie can come home right now! She really aced the breathing test (only one of her many accomplishments, I'm sure). In fact, she did so well that she won't even need a monitor. Dr. Navez, her very first doctor in the NICCU, signed the ok, so Annie has truly come full circle.

I have it on good authority, however, that this will not be the end of the blog. Elly and Steve (and probably even Gran) will continue to keep you updated on Annie and friends. And we sure better here from Jaeden and Kingston so we can keep planning that birthday party at Gran's farm.

Our hearts so full of joy and thanksgiving and gratitude to all the loving hands who held and cared for Annie over these weeks and months. God bless and keep all of you.