one month old today.

and it's been quite the month. i think i need a nap.

one month stats.

Darla Jane had a "routine" check up at the pediatrician. She was looking really good.
But she is our little one for sure.

Height 19 in. - 4 %tile
Weight 7lb 3 oz - 5 %tile
Head Circumference 13.5in - 1 %tile

They checked her oxygen saturation there too and 88%. The Dr had warned the nurses not to be surprised but that Darla Jane will probably be blueish and had really low sats. They were all surprised to see how good she looked.

pictures from her first few days at home.

we came home to signs, balloons and streamers from auntie and the kids. getting cozy at home.

and a couch that is just right.

darla jane also had visits from 2 of her great grandmas.

all home together...

yes, i know. we've been home 4 days. and i haven't posted. i'm busy. :-) coming home with our little miss has been a lot more work that I thought it would be.
i will try to keep up with the posting the best I can, i know little miss darla jane has quite the fan club.

Around 4:oo Monday afternoon we were finally on our way home. Mom, Dad and baby. I was nervous about just putting her in the car and driving home. Nathan said "Hurry, lets go. Before they tell us we have to leave her here. I sat in the back seat of the car so that I could keep an eye on her. We got home and all of her supplies were delivered, including a nurse who helped us set up Darla Jane's food pump. It kept beeping and the nurse told us it was probably just the formula making it stop. Well after 4 hours of it beeping and having to reset it we called the home health company and they said they would have a new pump delivered...before midnight. So just before midnight a new pump came and we haven't had a problem since then.

She has slept well every night since we have been home, usually getting around 8 hours. That doesn't mean that I get 8 straight hours...with changing her milk in her feeding pump, medicines and "expressing" myself I'm up a bit. But last night I worked the system and was only up twice for about a half hour each, from 11 to 7ish.
Her days are usually a little more cranky but I will take a cranky day over a cranky night any time. So most of the time during the day she is wanting to be held, and varies on how she wants to be held...and who she wants to hold her. And if it's not right, she will let you know. It is because of this, and the time it takes to manage everything that I am so thankful for all the help we have. With family in town and meals being brought in. Nathan and I would definitly not be able to do this on our own.
Thank you.

But she is doing great...getting stronger each day.

going home!

today IS THE DAY! we are taking our little girl home to be with her family. we are excited, with a little underlying hint of nervousness but mostly excited. We are just waiting a bit at the hospital. We need to make it to the house about the time the home health nurse does with the equipment so we have to plan our departure to correspond with that. Darla Jane just can't be off her continuous feeds for too long.
She is being sent home with an NJ feeding tube and will need to be on continuous feeds. So the home health nurse will bring a pump for that. We will also have a pulse-ox meter and oxygen, just in case. . .
She is also being sent with some daily medications...but not many.
Lasix to help her kidney function.
Aspirin to keep the blood from clotting around the sano shunt.
Zantac to control the acid in her stomach.
and Tylenol and Lortab for pain, as needed.

We will follow up with our pediatrition this week and the cardiolosist in about a week and a half. Which is also when they will redo her swallow study. We will see then how well she is doing to determine when the following appointment will be.

happy easter.

from our littlest Easter bunny.Although she is surrounded by the commercial aspects of Easter we can never forget the true reason for this day. The sacrifice that was made by Jesus, so that we can return to live with him again. To return to our families again. To repent and always allow ourselves to be worthy of such a great blessing. He bore our pain and affliction. He knows who we are and what we are going through. He blesses us when we turn to him in faith. Through trials and hard times he can comfort us because he knows what we are going through. He has pulled us through this first step in the process of improving Darla Jane's heart. And I know He will always be with us through this journey and any journey that life will take us.

Happy Easter to you from our family. May you take time today to thank our Savior for the sacrifices he made and the example he is to us, and our Heavenly Father for allowing this all to happen. I know the Gospel is true and I am eternally grateful for the blessings it continues to bring to our family.

still ok.

Here's is little miss going for a ride on the elevator down to get her chest xray. She had to stay awake so she didn't miss a thing. Darla Jane's been in that room for a while... Doesn't she look so teeny tiny on that big table.

The xray appeared to be normal. The fluid in her lungs has gone down. So they have reduced her diuretics. They also bumped her feeds up to 17ccs and hour, which was her goal. 1/3 of that is formula. But she did gain almost an oz. since yesterday.

She is still on track for getting to go home on Monday! Please, keep the prayers coming...