30 ml

Yesterday I stood aside as the occupational therapist offered Gabriella a bottle (a syringe with a nipple on it) and watched her eat for the first time in her life by mouth. Words cant not even come close to how amazing this was to see. She ate 5 ml.
Today again I stood aside, and the nurse offered a sleeping Gabriella a bottle. With sleepy eyes I stood and held my breath as she ate 30ml!! Absolutely amazing. I thank God for this amazing opportunity to watch her grow. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. She still has a ways to go-but what a nice step in the right direction! I needed this!

Due Date!

Another big milestone for our family..today is my due date!

Gabby is 3 months old, weighs 6 pounds 5 oz and is 19.5 in. At birth Gabby weighed 1pound 8oz and 11in. She has come such a long way in 3 months. We still have a ways to go, but with staying faithful and continuing to love her we are sure she will come home one day. (Even though at times I feel tempted to bring my king size bed in her room!)
 Today was a good day for Gabby. The good days are the days we hold on to and write things down. Today she ate 5ml from a nipple syringe!! This is HUGE as she will have to get her respiratory under control, and eat from a bottle at the next phase in her life.
I couldnt help but look back through pictures and think about that day in April when she was born. I was so scared. Tim stood by my side the entire time. Held my hand through so many things. Gabby really truly has the best dad in the entire world. 
I can still hear the doctor say "ok..Im definitely feeling some appendages, either a foot or a hand" and then everything from that moment on went at warp speed.
Over the past three months God has taught me to lean on him. Something Im still learning. Some of my prayers have turned into begging and bargaining at several points over the past 3 months. Praising God for EVERYTHING that she does is an everyday occurrence. She is the most amazing little human I have EVER met in my life. In the end God picked Tim and I to be her parents, she just decided to meet us 3 months early!!

Gabriella Faith Neal                         July 28th 2012                       In her fancy tutu from Aunt Sarah!

Thank you God for breathing air into her lungs, giving her the strength to push through. Thank you for our miracle, my little Gabriella. Please continue to heal her. Thank you for blessing us with her.
Amen

Gabbys 100th day!

Hard to believe but today marks 100 days in the NICU! Sometimes you dont feel it and then there are the days were you are counting the seconds.

Today was a second counting day. In normal NICU fashion the day was full of absolute downs followed by even lower downs, and then ups! Concentrating on the ups is easier said then done some days. Today Gabby was placed back on CPAP. This is definitely several steps in the backward direction. After several blood tests the day was ended with a positive blood gas.  In the NICU world this is a VERY GOOD thing! Tomorrow will begin with more tests and going on from there. I have absolutely no idea what I would do without being able to lean on God and my wonderful husband.

Luckily this set back did not interfere with mine and Gabriella's daily snuggling. This is something we do alllll day (hours on end)! She loves it and I must say I do too!!!

Gabriella's 100 days

* Born at 24 weeks

* Fought a life-threatening infection at 2 weeks old

*PDA surgery

*Laser eye surgery

*Extabated from vent

*Flew off Biphasic CPAP

*Graduated to Reg CPAP

*Lasted 2 weeks on Nasal Cannula

*Gained 4 pounds

*Tolerated all her feeds

*Graduated from donor breast milk to fortified formula

*Began reg preemie formula

*Went from incubator to open crib

*Loves reg tub baths

*Oral formula stim with binky

*Binky

*Sits up in Bouncer

*LOVES music

*lays on back

*Held by mommy & daddy at 4 weeks old

*Held by Aunt Sarah, Aunt Mindy, Aunt Mandy, and Pappi at 3 months old

With all that said in perspective today wasnt so bad she has come such a long way. Tim and I are the PROUDEST PARENTS you have ever seen!!!

We are ready to take her home and do nothing but love on her.

Please keep her in your prayers as tomorrow is going to be full of tests and Drs coming in and out.

Lots of love

Tiffany, Timothy & Gabby

Diet!

Gabby is growing like a weed at 5 pounds 5 oz!! She is now on a calorie restriction, aka "a diet"!! who would of ever thought that my 1 pound 8 oz baby girl would ever hear the words calorie restriction!! But she wears it proudly! And we wouldn't want it any other way.
Thursday I went home for the first time in over 3 months for 24 hrs. It was hard being away from her, but sure did miss my doggies!!!  I just keep telling myself one day,one day all 3 of us will be together in our own house! Until then Tim and I find a way to make it work. It is all the amazing prayers!!
Gabby has also completed her first series of shots.
Last week she was introduced to oral formula stimulation, and loved it!! Hoping to progress as quickly as Gabby will allow. After all this is her world and Tim and I are along for the ride! LOL
 Keep her in your prayers as she works on weening and adjusting her oxygen.
Thanks again for all your positive thoughts and prayers. Please please keep them coming!!
lots of love,
Tiffany

Gabriella 7/13/2012     3months old        5 pounds 5 oz



5 POUNDS 2 OZ!!!

Gabby is now 5 pounds 2 oz!!!!!!

She is on full nasal cannula at 1.5 liters and around 30% O2.  The words "step down unit" have been tossed around during rounds. I must say this is soo nerve wrecking and exciting. Today we took a tour of the step down unit. I'm pretty sure they had us do it to soften the blow of leaving the NICU soon.  Do we want to be here? NO but we have gotten very familiar with everything including everyone. At times the staff here seem more like family than anything. Big picture it will be one step closer to bring our little girl home! 

After a bath, not very thrilled about the flash!!

Yes that is a double chin!!!  :)

Holding her binky!!

She loves to feel her hair!

Sleeping on mommy (this is what we do ALL day!) PURE LOVE

Thank you, Thank you for all your prayers..please keep them coming!



Nasal Cannula

Gabby is now in a nasal cannula!!! It is amazing to see her pretty little face and fluffy hair!! She definitely prefers this to the cpap. (who could blame her) 

Lately our days are holding her and starring at her all day! She is the most amazing person we have ever met and our love for her knows no bounds.

Please continue to pray for her as she adjusts to the nasal cannula and begins the slow weens.

Lots of love,

Tiffany, Tim & Gabby



4 pounds 4 oz!

 Gabby is now 4 pounds 4 oz! Hard to believe that she is almost 3x the weight when she was born! She has had a good week thus far full of new adventures. She is now doing nasal cannula windows for 2 hours (she loves it!), sat in the swing (didn't like it so much..), sat in the bouncer (didn't mind it), papi held her, and . I love being able to hold her whenever we want to. Not being able to hold her until she was 4 weeks old has given us a pass to hold her whenever we want !! :) Nothing but lovin time is what we all need!  This week Gabby said goodbye to one of her primary nurses, Jade. We are so blessed to have her as Gabby's primary nurse through everything and wish nothing but the best for her!

Tomorrow is her first eye exam post op from eye surgery, big prayers for her (mommy & daddy too!!). Thank you for all your support, prayers, and love!

lots of love,

Tiff, Tim & Gabby