Exciting News!

It was a really, really, really Big day for Marlo yesterday.

Jake and I sat on pins and needles as the RT and nurse REMOVED Marlo's ventilator tube and changed it to be through her nose instead of down her throat!!!  I did not expect this to happen so soon, and was scared to death as they took it out and messed with the new one to get it set right in her tiny little nose.

She had been fighting the tube for awhile.  Trying to pull it out, holding her breath to fight it, jerking her head around and all sorts of other things.  She was upset as they did all this, but seemed to be much more calm as the evening wore on.  This is a huge step for her, and it is nerve wracking for us.  It means she HAS to do the breathing on her own.  She can't get lazy and ride the ventilator anymore.  This forces air in, but it doesn't do the same type of support as the tube.  If she holds her breath, this is forcing enough air in that she will have to push it out on her own.

The best part of this major change yesterday brought tears to both our eyes, as we heard our daughters cries for the first time.  The sweet sound of her tiny cry has us both pretty choked up.  This is a very big deal to us.  When Johnny was admitted to the NICU last year, we never heard him cry again.  It was heart breaking for us.

This feisty little one was all arms and legs swinging and tiny little cries after the tube was out.  It was a beautiful sight and sound.  So far she is doing well.

In other exciting news....Miss Marlo has finally broke the 2lb mark!  She is starting to be more consistent in her weight gain.  The doctors are pleased with her progress, and we are happy to hear them say this.

There is always a chance that Marlo will have to go back to the ventilation that they just removed, so we need to be praying she does well and gets stronger so she can breath in a way that will strengthen her muscles to allow her to continue with the nasal form of breathing.  She is tough, but she is still little and learning all these things much earlier than she would have had too, had she still been inside of me. 

It's been a big, huge week for my little pumpkin!  Today is another big day for her....

3 Weeks Old!