...your
due date was April 15th , so you were 12 weeks
early.
You
weighed only 1 lb 6 oz
and
were 12 inches long.
You
stayed in the NICU for 78 days, and came home on April 8th
to
very ecstatic parents...
It is important to us to celebrate the earliest days of Gabriel's life, no matter how emotionally difficult it was. This is our way to share with you the very powerful experience of helping Gabe into the world.
We embrace and honor Gabriel's
spirit, which carried him to us and through this ordeal.
We are so thankful for the
outpouring of love and support from our friends and family that got us
through. And we were especially blessed by the incredible hospital
staff that cared for Gabriel with so much tenderness at Flagstaff Medical
Center.
We are indebted to them.
The NICU - neonatal
intensive care unit
A home away from home
for 72 days...
Gabriel at 3 days old.
He is wearing a hat for warmth, and it covers his eyes from the lights. The white tape on his mouth is to hold the ventilator tube in place, so we couldn't see his entire face for 5 weeks. His legs are propped up by the pink bundled blanket, a part of the "nest" he was cradled in. (This nesting is relatively new to NICU's, as a step toward improving their neurological development outcomes.)
He also had a line in his wrist to draw blood from, two IV's, and three wires for monitoring heart rate, breathing, and temperature. And another monitor attached for reading oxygen saturation in his blood.
Grandma DeGroff stayed
with us for a week to help out while Maren was in the hospital,and to visit her tiny grandson as much as possible!It wasn't easy seeing him through all that, and worse trying to get ahold of him! But we did hold him every chance we got.
These were taken the first week of Gabe's life. He just slept and slept! It was very important to us to hold him as much as possible. Kangaroo Care is one of the "developmental care" philosophies that is making a positive difference in preemie outcomes.
Gabe's first poop was in Kangarooing makes happy moms !!! daddy's hand!After 5 weeks, Gabe de-intubated himself! That is, he pulled the tube right out and handed it up for the nurse. He breathed on his own that whole night, and we finally got to see his face, hear his voice, hold and cradle Gabriel.
He's about twice as big here as when he was born. !Gabe especially liked to grab a fist full of daddy's chest hair during "kangaroo care". Daddy hummed "Ooohhhmmm", the sound of wholeness, to help him heal and grow.
Ah! what a moment of contentmentFor someone just over 2 lbs, breastfeeding is a very complicated rhythm of breathing, sucking and swallowing! We were thrilled that Gabe learned to do this so fast! Another step to feeling like a "normal" mom!
Happy 2nd month birthday, Gabriel!Gabriel is a little over 2 months, soon to be out of the isolette and in a "big boy bed", because he is holding his own temperature and eating so well. We will be bringing him home soon...
