No longer the smallest!

I didn't get an updated weight tonight, but I do know that the peanut princess is no longer the smallest in the NICU! They got a 23 week baby boy tonight (which is NOT a good place to be) so they haven't had the oportunity to weigh little El. The nurse she has tonight is going to weigh her and give her a tubbie.

Talent

My babe' has talent. She rolled over from her tummy to her back today! 2 pounds 12 ounces! Mommy is counting down the days to snuggles!

6/28

Today I met with Ellas soon to be doctor. He seemed nice, and reasonable seemed to know what he was taliking about. My little munchkin is doing fab of course. 2 pounds 11.2 ounces. Mom is getting SO excited to see her, but if I am being completely honest my extreme excitment is also met with some fear. I will go to Florida alone (well with my Mom) and come back with my little girl. They are going to give her to me. This fact is really starting to set in.

Relief!

Ella had her first eye exam today. I have been a little bit nervous about it for some reason. It came back stage 0 retinopathy. Meaning he didn't see any of the type of visual impairment that is typical in preemies. He will be looking at her again in 2 weeks, but it is very unlikely she will develop any problems with this! What a huge relief. She is also gaining weight like crazy. 2 pounds 10.9 ounces. Also when they measured her yesterday she magically grew to 13 and 1/2 inches after previously never budging from 12. I think there has been a slight mistake in previous measures!

Little one

Yep the little girl is less little. 2.9!

Little piggie

Yes I called my little girl a piggie! The kid is gaining an ounce a day! 2.82 today, 2.7 yesterday. She is also due tomorrow for her first eye exam. Glad I am missing that! It doesn't look nice. Unfortunately since the girl was born on a Saturday it will wait until the specialist comes in next week. I know she was also having her thyroid test repeated today. It was done, and although the nurse did see the results in her chart she didn't really know what they meant. She did say that no sirens went off when they were put there, so things are likely fine or the same at least.

My daughter

Today I called the insurance company. They spoke of my "daughter" it was quite cute. She now weighs 2.66 and is behaving as far as I know!

been thinking

You know, I've been thinking. I have been so strong willed in not retrieving current pictures of Ella so it will be a huge surprise when I next lay eyes on that little beauty. Maybe I should make everyone else do the same? I am toying with not posting any pictures after I get to Florida so that everyone can experience the same excitment in waiting to see exactly what she looks like. Mean I know. But fun!

One month old

Ella is now 1 month old! She weighs 2 pounds 5.9 ounces. I also got a fablous letter today. All of her birthparents right have been officially terminated and her adoption is ready to be finalized as soon as we get our post-placement visits done!

Not much

I really don't have much to say. Now that Ella is weighed on a big girl scale her nurses have become quite lazy and haven't been getting her weight in time for my nightly phone call. So she has not gained weight to me unless proved otherwise. Kind of bugs me. They know that is the one thing I want when I call. (besides just how she is doing in general) Otherwise everything is good.

Baby shower!

Had a fun day! Ella had her first shower today. It was a surprise (and yes I am always oblivious) given by a group of friends that are all also single Moms with adopted kids. It is actually a pretty large group believe it or not. They are all wonderful and even more amazing the kids are all wonderful. Such sweet ladies! While I was there I got my nightly update. Ella is fine. She weighs 2 pounds 4 and a half ounces. BUT there us a disclaimer that comes with that nice weight gain. She moved from being weighed on the bed scale to the "big girl" scale. Meaning now they take her out of her bed to weigh. So the scales may be slightly different. Either way I'm happy! They also told me she had her first big move. The way the NICU works is that they usually line the babies up somewhat by order of acuity. She has moved down a few bed slots which for her is moving up in the world. Also she moved closer to the door she just has to keep going! I also asked out of curiosity if she was still the smallest baby they have and the answer is YES she still holds that title! I can't wait to go see my little runt!

We do have a wonderful group photographer, so I will post some real pics once I get them. That is if there isn't too much nudity. Our group gets a little wild!

Am I wrong???

I may be wrong. Ella might be a Gemini. With her birthday on the border I am getting conflicting results. Like I said before, I don't care but I do want to know what to put in her baby book!

My bull

Someone asked me the other day what sign Ella was. Obviously I never thought about it, and could care less. Out of curiosity I looked it up. On the old chart she is the last day of Taurus. On the "new" chart she sits more in the middle. So either way you look at it she is a bull. She still weighs 2 pounds 3 ounces,10 grams heavier than last night. She only has 29 days to pack it on. She needs to gain 29 ounces before she will be 4 pounds. An ounce a day? Unlikely. Although they did increased her feedings to 8.5 ml per hour from 8.

Yo-yo diet

I forgot to update last night, but Ella lost 30 grams putting her back to 2 pounds 2 ounces. Tonight she gained it back. 2 pounds 3 ounces. She is still doing great. They increased the amount of caffine they give her just because she grew out of the old dose. Yes they give my baby caffine. Wierd. It helps with bradycardia (dips in her heart rate) which is normal for preemies. She should grow out of it and be off of the caffine by the time she is released. Nothing else to report! Except she has my favorite nurse tonight and the next three. Yes!

2 pounds 3 ounces

Good night.

A real baby

No weight gain today, but no loss either! After 3 consecutive one once days I guess she deserves a break. I thought it was cute though one of her nurses today said she was starting to look like a real baby! The excitement of thinking of how cute she'll be by the time I get back just kills me I SO can't wait. It's like a little kid waiting for Christmas. Plus if all goes as planned ONE month from today I leave! 30 days! Not like I'm counting.

...an ounce a day keeps the doctor well of her back

2 pounds 2 ounces! And the nurse said she took some cute pictures of her today with her binkie. Nothing but good to report. I also got to love on a little darling today. My friends the Lees are in UT adopting a baby. So precious. Adoption is a gift for all involved and it makes me happy.  Even though I still have a very hard time when people say that Ella is so lucky. I feel like I'm the lucky one!

It is hereby ordered

The minor child known as Ella Nicole Olson is authorized to be placed in the care of the adoptive parent Laura Nicole Olson. Effective Immediatly and permenently pending the finalization of the adoption.
Done and ordered in Tampa June 7, 2011

This is what I found in my mail today. It means nothing and everything all at once. Seeing it in writing makes my heart smile.
On a seperate note my little runt is fabulous! 2 pounds 1 ounce. What a little rockstar.

Two!!!

I am so excited to announce little Ella hit the 2 pound mark today! She also had another normal brain ultrasound. She did have an endocrinologist consult for abnormal thyroid functions and he said it was due to prematurity of the hypothalamus. This is fine not a biggie and she should grow out of it. They wont be doing anything to treat it, just keep watching. Good day!

daily dose of Ella

Still nothing much to report. Except 1lb 15oz!!! YES. She has nurse Reva tonight and the next three and I know she adores Ella and this gives me so much peace. She is a great advocate for her and plans on talking to the doc tomorrow about turning up her feeds. Ella likes Reva too. She behaves well for her and gains weight for her too! Reva told her she has to get to 2 pounds before her days off! She also reports that when she tucked Ella back in bed tonight she gave her the recorder and she automatically started sucking for the binkie! Great Update.

PS She had a nurse that wasn't my fav. today but I was desperate so I asked her if she would text me a picture. She said no. I cried. I'll ask nicer nurse another day.

Good news! No news!

In the world I live in no news is certainly great news. Ella got up to 1 lb 14 oz. last night. Today she is 860 grams. She is more than half way to the goal of 1500 grams. At 1500 grams she starts wearing clothes and is expected to maintain her own body heat. Nothing else to report. I think depending on who her nurse is tomorrow I might see if I can talk them into sending me a new picture over the phone!

Doing good!

I just spoke with Ellas nurse. She said she is doing great. She now weighs 1 lb 14!!! She skipped 1 lb 13 altogether this time around. That is just how she rolls. She will be 2 pounds before I know it! July 13th is my current thought for returning to FL. My other kids are thankfull I came home. I constantly have little bodies glued to me!

Todays the day

This was my last visit with my little runt. Next time I see her it will look like a giant baby ate her! The next 6 weeks will be nothing short of torture and I hope I blink and they are over!

Hard to see but she has the funniest patches of long hair that stick out.

She is becoming quite the binkie girl.

Much better day.

Today was a much better day! I got my regular smiley little girl back. We have NO clue what her problem was yesterday but she seems completely normal today. She is back to 1lb 13oz. again. I leave tomorrow. I am excited to see my other kids but devastated to leave this one. I want the next 6 weeks to fly by as fast as possible so I can be back to having my baby in my arms!

The REAL 6/4 update

Someone is 2 weeks old!!!
Sorry last night I was too upset over the evening happenings to give a real update. Ella lost 30 grams putting her back to 1 12. Her hair CrAcKs me up! In the begining it covered her head but just stuck down next to the scalp. Now in several places it sticks up. The stick up pieces are about 1/4-1/2 inch long and are completely random. She likes to suck. If she can find a finger or thumb she is thrilled, if not she will just suck on her lips. She has gotton so much more mature since I got here, and bigger too. Even though she really hasn't gotten that much larger she looks bigger to me!

2 steps forward, one step back

Please tell me it's only one step back. Ella is exhibiting signs of sepsis. This has not been verified, but several small clues lead me to this one conclusion. Honestly this kills me.

I brought her pink blanket and headband so we could take pics but she just wasn't having any of it.

1 pound 13 ounces!

My preciousness...

Miss Diva

This is what they call her now. She just might be. I have noticed she is increasingly fiesty when I am there and she now throws little tantrums when I am there and not holding or touching her. This last one was a doosie. She kicked and grabbed her face and was just generally unsettled for about 15 minutes. Then I noticed milk comming out of her nose. Upon further investigation she had pulled out her feeding tube to where it was just sitting in her nose. I have my work cut out for me with this one!

Truckin' along!

Again no real news. Which is GREAT! Baby is doing fabulous. I am fairly certain she recognizes me (or my voice)! She smiles tons when I hold her and talk to her. I am head over heals in love with my little girl! She also just hit 1 lb 12oz!!!! YAY

Sleeping with "Mr. Snoodle"

Sleeping with her very cute toosh up

Awake chatting with mom