Breanna Raelyn
Born on June 14, 2003
at 8:22 a.m.
weighing in at 2 pounds 12 ounces
and was 16 inches long
My Day by Day Progress:
June 16, 2003
Hurray!! I have not used my ventilator for nearly 24 hours now!!
June 17, 2003
I am now in my own incubator!! I get 2cc of milk every 3 hours.
June 18, 2003
Although still in an incubator, I have one umbilical cord catheter removed, one to go until mommy and daddy can hold me.
I get 4cc of milk every 3 hours and I even had a brain scan today.
June 19, 2003
I'm still in my incubator, it helps keep me warm. The second umbilical cord catheter was removed this afternoon and this
evening mommy got to hold me for a little while!! I get 5cc of milk every 3 hours.
June 20 - 22, 2003
I still keep warm in my incubator and I now get 14cc of milk every 3 hours!! As I get more yummy milk, the doctors give
me less of the yucky IV fluids and stuff. I had another echo and it showed that my heart is just fine and the medications
they gave me worked!! I sleep lots, but I like to wiggle and stretch and the most fun is to give the nurses a run for their
money. Last night I wiggled so much that I nearly pulled out my ankle IV, so the nurses had to quickly fix me up and
re-insert it into my wrist. I love snuggling with mommy and daddy, which I do every evening when they visit.
June 24 & 25, 2003
I was moved to a new room, which the NICU nurses call "pods." I started in pod "c" but have moved up to pod "b" (that means
I'm doing better!!) I drink 20cc of milk every 3 hours now and am nearly off of all my IV fluids. In a couple of days the
IV will be gone!! (that makes my mommy very, very happy) The PT sees me 3-5 days a week to work with me, which tires me out.
I'm not as fussy as my room mates and just kinda go with the flow of things.
June 26 - 28, 2003
I've lost a little weight and now weigh 2 pounds 11 1/2 ounces, but the doctor's say I'm doing really well. I no longer have
my IV and am on only 1L of oxygen. I get 24cc of milk every 3 hours and they started fortified it with extra calories to
help me gain weight. I also get vitamins and iron which will keep me healty! Mommy comes and sees me twice a day, usually
with Grandma Foster in the mornings and daddy in the evenings. Once or twice a week the rest of the relatives come to look
at me too! Everyone keeps saying that they want to nibble on my toes. I have developed a startle reflex and also
have about two awake times each day. I mostly sleep, which gives me time to grow and gain my strength. Mommy even got to
change my diaper (with supervision of a nurse) the other day.
June 29 - 30, 2003
I lost a little more weight and now weigh 2 pounds 11 1/4 ounces. The doctor's tell mommy that I should be gaining weight
soon because of all the extra calories they add to my milk. I'm awake a little more each day and I certainly love to
wiggle!
July 1, 2003
I finally gained weight!! I now weigh 2 pounds 14 1/2 ounces. The doctor is very pleased with my weight gain!! I still love
to snuggle with mommy.
July 2 - 3, 2003
Not many changes, although I'm still cute as a button. I weigh 2 pounds 15 1/2 ounces, so I'm on my way!!
Happy Fourth of July!!
It's my first holiday and everyone is all excited because the nurses at the NICU told mommy today I joined the
THREE Pound Club!! I weigh 3 pounds and 1/2 ounce.
July 5 - 10, 2003
I keep growing and after gaining and losing a few ounces I now weigh 3 pounds 7 1/2 ounces and have graduated to
wearing onsies! I get 29 cc of milk every 3 hours. The nurses say the first 1/2 pound or so is the hardest to gain and
keep on, but after that it should be all uphill!! I wiggle my way around the incubator. Yep, I'm still in the incubator,
but not for long.
July 10 - 14, 2003
I'm still in my incubator and wearing cute clothes. I now weigh 3 pounds 11 3/4 ounces and get 35cc of milk every 3 hours.
July 15 - 16, 2003
I'm growing like a weed now! I weighed in at 3 pounds 14 1/2 ounces and the finally took me off of the oxygen. I still have
a feeding tube, but the occupational therapist and the physical therapist keep working with me so I will soon learn to drink
from a bottle. I love my soother and they have given me one that helps me learn to suck properly (another need for getting
rid of the feeding tube). Mommy promises to get updated pictures developed very soon!!
July 17 - July 29, 2003
I have grown so much these past weeks! I weighed toppled over 4 pounds not long ago and now weigh 4 pounds 15 ounces! I am out of the
incubator and the only tubes I have left is a feeding tube and my monitor wires. I get to drink most of my meals out of a
bottle, although when I get tired they finish feeding me through the tube. If I have a good week I may get to come home
without any monitors! That day is marked for August 4th!! Mommy still has not send grandma new pictures, but they will
be coming.
July 31 - August 5, 2003
I am doing just fine. The doctor's say I may be ready to come home soon, with or without the monitor's. It all depends on
whether or not I have any apnea spells. Mommy and Daddy are so excited!!
August 6 - 8, 2003
I get to come home today!! I weigh 5 pounds 12 ounces, 18 1/4 inches and I do not have to be on any monitors. I am on special formula
that is made especially for preemies and it has extra calories and iron. I drink one to one and a half ounces every two hours.
I am also on a special dose of Reglan because I have some reflux. My great grandmother, nana, came over to see a surprise ...
ME!!! She was so excited that she cried. Hopefully mom will send grandma Foster updated pictures so everyone can see how
big I am!! I have my first doctor's appointment with Dr. Linda Cardone, Kenmore Pediatrics on Monday, August 11, 2003.
Check back later for more pictures and updates on my progress. My grandma Foster loves showing me off.
Watch me grow!!
My First Birthday!!!