TiD biTs oN eZRa

So... I don't have any pics today, but I just thought I would add a little update while I pump, because she did so many cute and funny things today. Ellen the Great told me that I had to add in that when they gave her her vitamins today (can't remember what they are called)... which I guess she gave my Mom when she was little... Ezra started sticking her tongue out over and over and pulling all kinds of funny faces. Judging by the smell of them, I don't blame her! The funniest thing happened, though, when I went back to the hospital tonight. They have been giving her suppositories to help move the air out of her tummy. So when we laid a diaper under her to start giving her a bath, it wasn't long before she had pooped. Blink and you missed it. So the nurse put out another one. And another one. And another one. By this point, I was thinking... lady, just leave it before you go through a whole pack. LOL. After about the sixth diaper, she finally laid a cloth one under her... which she pooped on. And then she laid another one under her... which she ever so gracefully peed on in fountain form... and then pooped on. It was all I could do to keep from laughing when the nurse finally got her all cleaned up, and while making the final transition to a clean diaper... she pooped on the blanket under her. I don't know if the nurse found it as entertaining as I did, but she was sweet about it. LOL. As I was trying to get her to sleep before leaving, every time I would talk to her she would try to open her eyes... but she was just too tired. Finally I was telling her goodnight, and she made one last attempt... and finally managed to open her eyes for just a moment. She was so content with herself that she gave me a big triumphant smile... and dozed off to sleep. I just love her to bits!

Baby Ezra Update

Not feeling so good :(

Ezra and Daddy

I know. I know. I said I would update you every week... yeah right! The time is going by so fast... which is great... but I never seem to be able to find enough time to sit down at the computer! I have been using my parents camera and it has been really hard to get a clear picture. These pics were taken last night by my sis-in-law (thanks Amber!)... but unfortunately she was having a very hard time breathing and therefore was not feeling well at all. The last few weeks have been quite a whirlwind, but I will try to update you the best I can. Since my last post, Ezra's little lungs had collapsed down a little and her x-ray showed that they were very hazy. They put her back on the nasal CPAP hoping to keep her from getting pneumonia. When her x-rays did not improve, they put her back on the ventilator and within a couple days told us that she did in fact have Pneumonia afterall. Of course there was a lot of stress and tears through all of this... but a few days later we were told that they did not believe she had Pneumonia, and it had just been an educated guess. They put her back on nasal CPAP at this point, hoping it would help clear up her lungs, which it did... confirming that she did not have Pneumonia. She was on nasal CPAP for several days when they decided to try her on a low flow nasal cannula. This lasted a few days until last night when she just got too tired and was really struggling to breathe. They put her back on a high flow nasal cannula, which seemed to make her more comfortable. However, her follow up x-ray showed that her lungs were hazy again and she was put back on nasal CPAP last night. I know that is a lot of information, and it probably doesn't even make much sense... but that is it in a nutshell! She is up to 2 LBS. almost 13 OZ. and I am getting to hold her twice a day now. Jarom also held her for the first time last weekend, and it was so sweet to see. She still looks forward to story time with her daddy, daily visits from Ellen the Great, and loves getting all dolled up in the Micro-Preemie outfits Grandma Leder has bought her. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. It means the world to us.

Baby Ezra

... this is what she does when the baby next to her starts crying (covering her ear)...

...opening her eyes and taking a peek around...

With what little time I have, I think this is going to be my best option to keep everyone updated on the baby. I am going to try my best to add an upate on a weekly basis. I will also try to add pictures, but the NICU is often dim, and obviously no flash is allowed, so they rarely come out well enough to see. She does so many cute and funny things, so if you want to see them, I guess you will just have to come visit! (Just kidding.)

Last Monday, July 28th 2008, our baby girl decided it was time to come into the world... three months early. Ezra Lucy Brown was born at 6:39PM and weighed a whopping 1 LB. 14 OZ. She came out kicking, and there is no doubt in our minds we will have a hard time keeping up with this little firecracker. She has progressed considerably in the time she has been in the NICU. She started with a breathing tube down her throat, progressed to a nasal mask within a couple days, and is now wearing a nasal cannula, which is one of those air tubes you see old people wear in their noses when they are on oxygen. The next step is a smaller nasal cannula, and then room air. She is off of antibiotics and drinking a substantial amount of milk (along with IV fluids), which increases every day. As with all babies, she lost weight after birth, and is now up to about 2 LBS. 1 OZ. She loves holding her Mommy, and hearing her Daddy read stories. She gets lots of love and visitors, and we are so thankful to all of you for you thoughts and prayers.