Settling into Home

~Sweet, Sleeping Baby~

My heart is full this week as we have enjoyed so many sweet moments with Noelle being home.  It is an entirely different experience now that she is off her oxygen, and we have adjusted quickly to the freedom of navigating around our home without being attached to machines and monitors.  We have also had our moments of concern and adaptation as we begin to encounter issues with her that are often normal for term babies but must be monitored more closely with her due to her still small size {i.e. spitting up}.  God continues to teach us that He is in control, and we must "be anxious for nothing" and always trust Him with our precious daughter's life.  Noelle seems to be recovering well from the surgery; and thankfully, her Hirschsprungs biopsy came back negative!!!  We are so grateful to God for this outcome and truly appreciate all those who have been praying concerning this issue. 

~Eating with Grandma Wagner~

~Studying faces intently~

Grandpa and Grandma Wagner visited for a few hours on their way through town, and they soaked up some snuggle time with Noelle while we enjoyed the sweet fellowship with them. 

~Sound Asleep with Grandpa Wagner~

Monday was our busy day this week as Noelle was evaluated in our home by Child Developmental Services, and we were very encouraged at her progress.  She is testing right at her adjusted age {2 months} and even ahead in several areas.  She is behind in communication, but we have already seen changes in that over the past two days, and they expect that to improve the longer she is home and interacting with us.  The tests did not compensate for her prematurity or length of time in the NICU, so we were very pleased to see her doing so well.  After that, we bundled up and were off to the pediatrician for a post-discharge follow-up and a weight check which turned out to be a great post-surgery number at 4 lbs. 3 oz.!!  The doctor was very pleased with how she seems to be recovering, and we will continue to follow-up with our pediatrician as well as the surgeon over the next few weeks.  Thankfully, we have been able to settle into home since Monday with no further appointments scheduled until later next week.  This is the first time for us to have this many days in a row at home with no appointments, and we have been enjoying the time to settle into a new routine and allow Noelle to truly feel at home in her own surroundings.  Each day reveals new progress with her as she realizes that she is receiving positive touch and patterns develop in her schedule. 

~Bundled up and ready to go~

~Yes, I'm in here somewhere!~

Our favorite thing with her began just a few days ago as she began to purposefully smile once in a while.  It is so sweet to see her little eyes crinkle with joy as she responds to our voices and antics.  She has become very watchful and intently looks into our eyes often when we are holding her or talking to her, and I am seeing just a glimpse into what lies ahead as our little daughter begins to watch every step we choose, word we speak, and action we take.  What an incredible responsibility God has given us in raising this little one for Him, and we are thankful that His grace will continue to sustain us as He molds each one of us through this process.

~Playing with Daddy~

~Studying Daddy~

~Smiling at Daddy~

~Midnight Snuggles with Mommy~

Now that we are settling into a new routine, I cannot begin to explain what it means to have her home.  I think some of my most favorite moments come in the middle of the night as I feed her and snuggle her.  While it was always comforting to call up to the NICU throughout the night, it is entirely different to simply look for myself and see how she is doing and then to pick her up and hold her close.  These were experiences I did not have for the first four months, and I'm thankful to take full advantage of them now!!

~Content, Tiny Girl~

Overall, she is a very content and happy baby and typically cries only when something is bothering her.  We are very blessed to have such a tough little fighter on our hands, and we look forward to seeing her grow and watching her personality continue to come through in the years to come.  Thank you so much for your many prayers, and we look forward to sharing how God continues to grow our sweet bundle of joy!!