We are TRYING to find a routine

This will be a short post since I'm so tired I can't see straight, but here are the highlights: We made it home around 9:00 Monday night. Ashton did great traveling in her car seat and we didn't have any oxygen equipment issues. Ashton had a hard time eating Monday night mostly because she was exhausted from the traveling. She stayed alert and awake more than ever before and wore herself out. Tuesday was spent unpacking, dealing with the home health nightmare, and trying to get Ashton to wake up and eat. Overall she did much better, but she was only awake every other feed. Today we had our first pediatrician about with Dr. Motheral in Lubbock. She was amazing and obviously had spent time looking at Ashton's history and records. Brady is back home with us and doing okay overall. He is very clingy and "worried baby sister is going to get sick.". I'm trying to spend as much time with him as possible which means I'm with a kiddo pretty much 24 hours a day since I'm sleeping in Ashton's room. That's the highlights. Lots more to add and talk about, but imm too tired and Ashton eats again in 2.5 hours! Brandi

Ashton has been discharged!!!

We are leaving Houston and headed home. I'll update facebook along they way and post a detailed update here when the dust settles. Prayers for safe travel are much appreciated. Cody, Brandi, Brady, & Ashton

We Have A Date!

We got A TON of news today. First, we got the results of Ashton's MRI results today and they were not medically perfect. There is nothing to be done about it right now and just something we will watch and evaluate closely as she grows. No matter what she faces in the future, she has a daddy, mommy, and big brother who think she is perfect! Next, they slightly altered her heart medication dosage to adjust for her weight gain. Finally, they gave us a discharged date!!!! As long as nothing changes, we should be checking out of the NICU Monday, May 14th! The logistics of taking a preemie who needs oxygen home nine hours away isn't an easy task, but it is one we are definitely willing to under take. Thank you so much for your love, prayers, and support and please keep them coming! Brandi

Happy Birthday Big Brother!

Today is big brother's 5th Birthday! We are so sad we aren't there to celebrate with him, but hope to be home really soon. Ashton had her hearing screen today. Unfortuately she didn't pass in either ear. They will retest her before we go and most likely refer us to an ENT/audiology doctor. The transport team of nurses just took her to get her MRI to make sure she doesn't have any other issues that we aren't yet aware of. All preemies here get an MRI before discharge or at 38 weeks. Please pray we get normal MRI results and that Ashton passes her next hearing screen. Even though we have been through so much, I feel like these last couple of days have really tested me. Please pray for peace and comfort for our family as we prepare to come home--hopefully very soon. Love, Brandi

36 Weeks, 1 Day a/k/a 51 Days

So here in the NICU they talk about Ashton's age in weeks gestation.  So even though she is 51 days old, they call her "36 and 1" meaning I should be 36 weeks, 1 day pregnant.  People ask me how old she is and I have to pause because in my sleep deprived state I can't remember which one I'm suppose to tell them!

Ashton has had a bit of an issue the past few days with getting cold.  Our pod has been very cold and since she is still really little with very little body fat it is hard for her to maintain her temperature.  When she is cold she uses too much energy staying warm and loses weight. They have warmed up the pod and kept her really swaddled which has helped her regain the weight she lost.  Ashton is still on the nasal cannula at a REALLY low percentage of oxygen.  We tried removing it and Ashton didn't tolerate it well.  We will try to turn it off again in a few days and see how she does.

Ashton finished three of her four feedings from her bottle today--the fourth they finished feeding through her tube.  She is working really hard at getting to a point where she is finishing all eight of her bottles, but sometimes she is just too sleepy.  After all, her "birth"day wasn't suppose to be here for four more weeks!  The picture below is her "milk coma" face which she makes after finishing her bottle!