The Fairy and the Mermaid

Cora now weighs 2 lbs. 14 ozs. She looks huge compared to her size when she was born. Because she weighs more than 1200 grams, she is now responsible for generating her own body heat. Before her bed was heated and her temperature was constantly monitored with a probe on her back or belly. Now the heat in her isolette will be dropped until she can maintain her own heat. Her next big step is at 1600 grams. She will get a bassinet or crib if she is doing well with her body heat. She was able to wear one of the special outfits her Grandmaw bought her today. It is a shirt designed specifically for babies in the NICU. She enjoyed the extra warmth and her first outfit ever!

Hazel also wore a new outfit from Grandmaw. She looked adorable with her gown, hat, pacifier (she was given a new purple one today that has become her new best friend), and warm blanket. Pictures were attempted but Hazel would not stop rolling her eyes or pushing the camera away. She does not like to take pictures. Her continuous feedings were stopped today. She now receives 12 ccs of milk/formula every two hours. The nurse then gives her a medicine to help with her acid reflux. In addition, her bed is on a steep incline. The doctors and nurses believe her bradys are from the reflux. Since the changes have been made, she has not had a brady. Over the last few days, she has had many (about one every hour or two or a series of bradys in a row). The milk/formula has brought her weigh up to 2 lbs. 4 ozs. She is digesting all her food at each feeding. The nurses said to watch out, she was get ready to pack on the pounds.

Granny came to visit yesterday. She had not seen the girls in almost three weeks due to a sinus infection. She was able to hold Hazel, then Cora. Both girls behaved, smiled and went to sleep in Granny's arms. Both girls also received a more extensive cranial ultrasound. This ultrasound looks at more areas of the brain. Specifically the doctors were looking for brain damage, disease, cysts, and tumors. The girls do not have any signs of any damage or growths. Cora's Level 3 Brain Hemorrhage has been classified as resolved. The ventricles are normal size, the blood clots were absorbed into the body, and all the extra fluid is gone. The is the best possible news we could have been given. She will not have another cranial ultrasound until she goes home.