 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Introducing: |
|
Elena Jeanne Byrne |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elena was born at 34 weeks when her mother Amber had a cesarean due to preterm labor and breech baby. She had trouble breathing at first, so the doctors took her to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She was fitted with a CPAP to keep her breathing steady and prevent her from contracting her chest. Since then her breathing has stabilized, she's off the CPAP, and doing very well. We recently began feeding her breast milk, which she seems to really enjoy. Her jaundice levels have gone up from some bruising she had at birth. But little Elena is under bilireuben lights and recovering nicely. She has a tube running down her nose to her stomach that the nurses use to feed her if she won't finish her meal. She doesn't mind it much and she's a very active and happy little baby. We visit her three or four times a day; reading Dr. Seuss books, changing diapers, and now attempting breastfeeding. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mother: |
|
Amber Jean Clark Marshall |
|
|
|
Father: |
|
Stephen Joshua Byrne |
|
|
|
Born on: |
|
January 6th, 2003 at 9:10 pm |
|
|
|
Born at: |
|
West Covina, California |
|
|
|
Weight: |
|
5 pounds 10 ounces |
|
|
|
Height: |
|
18" |
|
|
|
Eye color: |
|
Temporary Blue |
|
|
|
Hair color: |
|
Dark Brown |
|
|
|
[email protected] |
|
|
Email us! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Photos of Elena!!!! |
|
|
|
Elena's Crying Audio!!!! |
|
|
|
Photos of Elena 2!!! |
|
|
|
Photos of Elena 3 |
|
|
|
Photos of Elena 4 |
|
|
|
Photos of Elena 5 |
|
|
|
Update 1/13/03 - Elena's bilireuben (jaundice) has gone down to 9.9 from 13.7. This means she will be probably be off the bilireuben lights (which help her produce vitamin k to stop the jaundice) today or tomorrow. She fed at the breast for a whole twenty-five minutes last night. They still bottle feed or gavage (the tube going down her nose to her stomach) 35ml of pumped breastmilk every three hours. Once she reaches 50ml they will take her off the IV. A therapist is coming in today to see how well she nurses. Things are looking good. She's getting a bath today and Grandma (who was previously sick and couldn't visit) is going to see her. I'll upload more pictures sometime this afternoon. |
|
|
|
Update 1/14/03 - We had a trip to the emergency room for Amber because her incision was bulging suspiciously. Turned out she probably has an irritated internal stitch, which isn't too worrisome. The baby's jaundice is down to 9.2 (below ten the doctors consider okay). She's still having some trouble with her meals, but steadily improves. |
|
|
|
Update 1/15/03 - The doctors decided Elena didn't need to be under the bili lights now that her jaundice is down. She's very active and awake without them, plus we get to hold her more. They also decided to leave out her IV. She's eating 45ml of breastmilk each feeding from the bottle. We're very excited because she'll be home soon if she keeps this up. |
|
|
|
Update 1/17/03 - Josh had a wisdom tooth removed yesterday, so updates have slowed down. But lil Elena is doing great: her jaudice has completely subsided, and she's receiving 50ml by bottle at every feeding. If all continues well, she'll be home in a few days. Amber and I are very excited. |
|
|
|
Update 1/21/03 - She's Home! She was discharged from the NICU last night and is doing well. There won't be more photo updates for a while because my computer is giving me trouble. |
|