81 Days

Today Gabby is 81 days old..which means we have spent 81 days in the NICU!! We are pretty much feeling like this is our home now. Leaning on the medical staff is a daily occurance for us. This week started out not the best for Miss Peanut. After her weekly eye exam on wednesday the doctor decieded it was time to do laser eye surgery on both of her eyes. Gabby has ROP,
Retinopathy of prematurity, an eye disease that affects preemies. We are told it is to be caused by disorganized growth of retinal blood vessels which can lead to blindness.
Gabby does not handle the eye exam very well and did not enjoy the surgery! During her surgery, while eating lunch a code blue went off for the procedure room in which she was at. Immidiately mine and Tims heart sank to our feet. Next to running in the room myself I went to her room when her nurse came in and said she was fine just went apenic (stopped breathing) and was fine now. Leading up to the surgery Gabby had been doing little episodes of this. The surgery was just too much for her. As when she returned her body temp dropped and preceeded on going apenic several several more times and throughout the night. I can now say that I know what my daughter looks like blue.
 Next to being reintubated the doctors gave one last shot at putting her on a lower level of repiratory her reg. cpap. I must say I had no faith at the time this was going to work! But it turns out when you go to medical school chances are you know what you are doing..! It worked! She began to come around and her oxygen requirement went down.
 Now infection has been ruled out and she has been placed on a continued dose of hydrocortisone and Gabby is back to herself!!! The ups and downs are begining to weigh on Tim and I and for that we ask prayer. Sometimes it is such a helpless feeling you dont know where to begin.  The good days lately have outweighed the bad and she is growing and her strength is unbelieveable! This is all thanks to God's healing hand through your amazing prayers. please please keep them coming.
Today Gabby had 2 very large milestones.. Aunt Sarah held her for the first time, and she offically weighs 4 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of Love,

Tiffany, Tim & Gabby

Pray

Please keep Gabby in your prayers, she unexpectedley had to have Laser Eye surgery. When setting up she decided to stop breathing and go apneic. She is out of surgery and did NOT have to be put on the vent (thank GOD). The eye surgery went well.

Due to the sudden change in Gabby's disposition  and brachycardia's (dropping heart rate) blood work is being drawn up. It will be a waiting game for the next several days to eliminate the possibility of infection.

Please keep her in your prayers.

Tiffany, Timothy&Gabby

Holding on ..

Proverbs 3:5–6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart 

 And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, 

And He will make your paths straight

*Holding on to this today. *

Today hasn't been the best and hasn't been the worse by all means. This whole experience begins to play with your emotions, the "NICU Roller Coaster" continues..

Please keep lifting Gabby up through prayer, God has worked/working one amazing miracle on our little girl!

Thank you.

Tiff, Tim & Gabby

Reflux

Reflux is the new term we are hearing in the NICU these days. Her full feeds of formula started at the end of  last week and within less than 24 hrs she began dropping her heart rate. The thought is that it is reflux and a "typical" preemie reponse. Just horrible to watch her bring it back up and then drop her heart rate needing stimulation to get to come around. Please keep her in your prayers. They are going to try to thicken the formula ather next feed. Trying not to blame myself for not having breast milk has been hard the last few days.  All around she needs everyones prayers and positive thoughts to continue as she adjust to some big changes.

BYE BYE INCUBATOR!!

Thursday Gabby said Good Bye to her incubator and hello open CRIB!!!!

Please keep her in your prayers as she continues to adjust to the weens on her cpap.

Thank you for all your support and love.

Tiffany, Tim, and Gabby

3 pounds 7oz

Gabby June 20th 2012    3 pounds 7oz  71days old, 34 weeks gestation

Gabby sleeping in daddy's arms June 17th 2012

Gabby

Gabby and Mommy June 18th 2012

Gabby continues to simply amaze us with her strength. She is now slowly coming off donor breast milk ( I know sounds gross-but trust me it is safe and pasteurized) and switching to formula. After my infection and the stress of possibly losing her my milk supply dried up.

She remains in a air controlled incubator. This is due to preemies not being able to control their body temp. I am told that she is getting close to switching to an open crib!! She has to maintain her own body heat , which doesnt sound hard but when you are 3 pounds that's the last thing you want to do!

I got to hold her today for over 3 hours!! I cant put it in to words what it feels like to get to hold her. We are limited on only holding her once a day, due to the stress of taking her in and out of the incubator.  So when we are able to hold her we cherish every minute. It just stinks when you really have to pee after 3 hours!!

Thank you for your continued prayers. please continue to pray for healing for Gabby. She has a long road ahead of her, but is getting through it!! God bless you all.

Love

Tiffany, Tim, & Gabby

Tub Time

Gabby's first bath in a water tub !! She did awesome and really seemed to like it!!!!!  I love this picture!!!
 (this was the first time we saw her without anything on her face/head!!!)



In fact she loved it so much that this was the aftermath...

As always thank you for your prayers and positive thoughts. Continue to pray for little Gabby as they try to ween her from the cpap and move forward with her care.

lots of love-

Tiff, Tim & Gabby

No Lines!!

Yesterday was a BIG day for Gabriella. Its official she has NO lines running through her body!!!!! She does have the OG tube and will have that for a while I'm told, as preemie babies have a hard time doing more than one thing at a time-eating, sucking, and breathing. This is HUGE for her. The infection possibilities are decreased with having no lines.
 She is now on regular cpap. This is giving continuous air flow through her nose to her lungs. Before she was as on biphasic cpap which was actually giving her pressured breaths and continuous airflow through her nose.
Her blood gas this morning wasnt the greatest it has been. (This is the way her body is pushing off the CO2), but the plan is to hold tight and see what she does today and tomorrow.
We are learning more than we ever wanted about preemies and respiratory! But sitting here day after day it helps knowing what is going on and why it is happening. Google is my best friend!!!
Tim and I cant thank everyone enough for the support and prayers everyone has shown our beloved daughter. I cant put into words how deeply touched we are. Know this the prayers are working, and keep them coming!!! If there was ever a doubt that God hears prayer look at Gabby and you will be instantly reassured he does far more than "just hear" , "he heals"!!
Lots of love
Tiff, Tim & Gabby

Bring on the weens!!

Today was a GREAT day for miss peanut! You know its a good thing when the doctor enters the room smiling!! The staff is very encouraged with her progress ! God's hand blessing her!!
I remember going through IVF and the percentages that are given, then the percentages that were given on possible miscarriage, the percentages on viability of life at 24 weeks, the percentage of making it through a life threatening infection..I guess one percentage they didn't take into count was the power of prayer!! God has big plans for this little girl-and she is getting ready for them!!
 I'm feeling so blessed with having her in my life. She has a long road ahead of her, but looking at how far she has come it does nothing but amaze me! We are witnessing a miracle right before our eyes!!
Keep her in your prayers as they begin the weening process off the Biphasic CPAP.
Thanks for all your love, support, and prayers!
Tiff,Tim&Gabby

Gabby June 11, 2012

Preemie clothes!!

Gabby can wear clothes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Here she is all dressed in her "daddy's girl" preemie onsie daddy got her!! What a big week. Tomorrow she will be 2months old, PDA surgery, wearing an outfit, crossed over to 3 pounds, and off the vent!! God is definitely blessing my family and I.  Thank you for your prayers, keep em coming!

3 pounds 5 oz!!

Gabriella Faith Neal 3pounds 5 oz!!!!!!!!

June 9, 2012 Gabby on biphasic cpap. Doing good. She just seems to get uncomfortable at times. Tim heard her cry for the first time yesterday! It really is beautiful!! I know some of you may think that the crying will get old..but let me tell you - it never will!!! :)
Thank you for all the prayers,love and support. She is a true MIRACLE!! God is GOOD!
We love you all! Keep the prayers coming!!!!
lots of love
-Tiff,Tim & Gabby

Perfect ending to crazy week.

Today I am pleased to report that Gabby's breathing tube is out ! Earlier this afternoon she was extubated and placed on biphasic cpap. Working on getting her comfortable.. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Mustard Seed

Matthew 17:20: "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."
Gabby's middle name is "Faith", which works as a constant reminder to hold on to Faith. When Googling I was reminded of the mustard seed. How true it is! All you need is faith the size of the mustard seed.

Gabby, Mommy & Daddy  6/6/12

Gabby has had a great week post op surgery from Monday. The doctors are encouraged that soon we can venture weening her off the vent all together.  Yesterday I got to hold her for the first time since surgery. There is nothing like smelling her sweet baby smell and holding her close!!! Tim and I look forward to the day we can hold her whenever and wherever we want. Until then kangarooing every other day will work. 
Please continue to pray and lift up Gabby. Words cant even describe how beautiful she is!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all your love and support.
lots of love
Tiff, Tim, & Gabby

8 weeks

Today Gabby is 8 weeks old. It is easy for us to get caught up with everything going on with her and get overwhelmed. She has come such a long way, and still has a long road ahead of her.  But what a fighter! ! Even from the very beginning as an embryo she has beaten amazing odds. Please continue to lift her up in prayer as she continues to fight a good fight on her road to recovery. Today is her first day post op from her PDA surgery. She is doing well. Up on her settings on the vent and Oxygen , but all expected and with good reason. 

God gave us this AMAZING gift and we our so proud we get to share her with the world!

Gabriella Faith Neal     6/5/2012  8weeks old

Below is a prayer cloth  Gabby received from the Sugar Valley Church of God, Atlanta GA. Family friends prayed and anointed this beautiful cloth and it now resides at the foot of Gabby's bed.

Below is a prayer shawl received from Andover 1st UMC Shawl Ministry. The colors each represent something; black-self confidence, strength, protection, wisdom, and absorbs negativity (Lord knows we need that!) white- spirit, innocence, protection peace, purity, virtue, gentleness, and perfection. Lastly the 3 sides representing the family unit (father, mother & child).

Thank you for your continued support, positive thoughts, good vibes, and prayers! We all greatly appreciate it. Keep em coming!!!!!!

-lots of Love

Tiff, Tim &Gabby



Thank You

Tim & Gabby and I want to thank everyone for their positive thoughts and prayers today for her big surgery. She is on the right path to recovery. Please continue to pray for her as she heals.

Gabby wanted to send everyone a big THANK YOU!

Keep the prayers coming..

Gabby is out of surgery! She has opened her eyes twice!! The next few days we are told maybe a struggle but with God's grace she will pull through. Keep her in your prayers! God's presence is very known in our "little peanut". We love you all and thank you for the support!

Gabriella  6/4 /2012 (after PDA surgery)

Gabby & Mommy June 3 2012

Praying

*Keep Gabby in your prayers, she is getting ready to go in to surgery. *

 

Daddy & Gabby

"She's already got him where she wants him"

And then there were 3!

Daddy, Mommy & Gabby     June 3 2012

Tomorrow is the BIG day. Gabby will have her PDA ligation. PLEASE keep her in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow. Praying the surgery will go smoothly,a fast recovery,and wisdom for the Dr's. Gabby has been through a lot and has shown us time and time again how strong she is.

We appreciate all support, love and prayers.

Our Peanut

Gaby continues to be a mover and a shaker. The staff often introduce her as "the feisty little peanut". She is very textile, LOVES feeling things with her long fingers. Including the breathing tube!!
Still getting ready for the big surgery. We are attempting to prepare ourselves for a bumpy road, if there really is such a thing in a situation like this.  Just soaking up every little thing about her.  She has taught us more that I ever thought imaginable in less than 2 months.
I recently met two moms that have preemies one born at 24 weeks and the other was born at 23 weeks. It is funny the instant connection you have with people that share a similar path. Both moms said almost at the same time "best advice..just PRAY".  How true that is.
This week just like all the rest have had big ups and big downs. The best moment by far was when I got to give her a bath! She loves her hair being brushed. :)  So naturally I didn't stop..resulting in some nice fluffy hair.

Gabby June 2, 2012      2pounds 15oz

Continue to pray for our little Gabby!

Thanks for all your support, love and prayers.

-Tiff, Tim&Gabby

*My Cousin Heather made this wonderful blog dedicated to lifting Gabby up (Something I cant wait to show her when she is older)*

www.gogabbygo.blogspot.com