NICU Day 112 ~ (March 28th)

Today was full of mixed emotions as we took joy in Noelle's growth and the milestones she is reaching daily and then were disappointed to learn the preliminary advisement based on the results of the contrast x-ray.  I have refrained from saying too much before now since much of this was unconfirmed suspisions, but they have wondered for the last several weeks if Noelle may have a condition called Hirschsprung Disease.  We were uncertain if this really was the problem or if her intestines just needed to mature since her issues have been sporadic and she does not have many of the symptoms, but the x-ray today revealed enough concern that the radiologist recommended a biopsy.  This will mean a transfer back to Baptist; and beyond that, we will not know anything until tomorrow.  We are disappointed for certain since we had Noelle's homecoming within our sights, and now we have reached another setback of an undetermined amount of time.  However, as we processed the initial report, God reminded me yet again that this is not about us and also brought to mind the following blessings:

~He has a purpose in which we can rest and trust.
~Baptist is now a "familiar" place, and we now know some members of the NICU staff and also know where to park our car!!  {If you know anything about Baptist, you know it is absolutely massive!!}
~This is the best children's hospital in this area and is the place where every parent wants their child to be if they need a procedure such as this.
~Our neonatologists will still be the same familiar faces we have known for the past 16 weeks.
~Noelle also has some inguinal hernias & an umbilical hernia {both very common with preemies and especially micro preemies} which will require surgery at some point.  If she has to have surgery for Hirschsprung Disease then they can repair these at the same time, and we will not have to return for a separate surgery in a few months.

We will continue to update as we learn more tomorrow.  In the meantime, we are encouraged with our little girl's progress and are thankful that she continues to excel.  If she has surgery, it will set her back in a few things; so we're grateful for every step she can take now, making it much easier for her to return to her "baseline" after she comes through all of the necessary procedures.

~Trial Run in the Crib~

Tonight she graduated to an open crib!!  She has been maintaining her body temperature quite well over the past few days, and so she is on a trial run tonight.  It is common for babies to go back and forth for a few days between their isolette and the crib, but the fact that she is trying it out tonight is another great step and just shows how she is "growing up."  She weighed in at 1,530 grams / 3 lbs. 6 oz. tonight, and she is eating and growing like a weed!!

~This takes up much less space in the room!~

These pictures make her look much bigger than she actually is.  She is still a tiny little thing, but we're so grateful to God for her stellar progress these last several weeks {and no, she is not as long as the snugly, but she does like being wrapped in it!}.  Thank you so much for your continued prayers.  I know we would grow weary without them, and we appreciate your love and support more than we could ever express in words.

~Snuggled in for the Night~