Danee Update For Day Four

Before Danee was born, the head nurse in the NICU warned us that there is often a "honeymoon period" with preemies, where they exceed all your expectations, and then take a few steps back before catching up to where they were, and moving on.

I wouldn't necessarily say that Danee's taken any steps back, but today wasn't as euphoric as yesterday was.

Oh, there were good points! She is doing well enough that she moved out of her private suite, and into the general NICU baby population. She's into her second day of breathing "room air" and still having her blood oxygen level between 90% and 100%!

I mentioned in yesterday's update that she was developing a touch of jaundice. Today that touch became a little more, so they stuck her under the special blue light (or blue light special?) to help break down the bilirubin toxins so they can pass out and leave her alone. It also makes for some kinda freaky pictures...



But my favorite aspect of visiting her tonight was that I got to change my first DaneeDiaper!



It was a very strange sensation. This little girl is about as close to weightless as I could ever imagine. Lifting up her lower half to slip a diaper under her was just crazy!



Right before we'd gotten there, she choked on a spit bubble and was having a slightly hard time breathing. The nurses were really great, and gently suctioned her out while Cindy and I stood back and watched, somewhat in shock. By the time we left, Danee was rolled over, laying on her tummy, still occasionally looking like she was having a hard time breathing, but mostly looking peaceful.

It's not possible to overstate how much we love this little girl already, and we pray over her every night for quick growing and healing. She's still making great progress, and is going to get her first few droplets of formula tomorrow!