Aunt Rachael and Cousin Charlotte

Lovin' Daddy

First Concert

First Weeks

We are definitely settling in to life at home with Zoe. We're learning how to navigate the world with her oxygen tank and trying to get outside a lot. She is growing very well. Her weight today was 8 lbs. 3 oz. She is right on target! We've been busy since we've been home - heading to our family property on Hood Canal for 2 day trips. She takes great naps outside. She's also been to two outdoor concerts at the Zoo. Don't worry everyone. We are also getting a lot of rest at home. Hope you enjoy some of the new pictures.

First Bath At Home

Watch Dog

Lovin' the Moby

First Days at Home

We are having so much fun with Zoe at home. We are focusing on trying to get to know her and spending as much cuddling time as possible with her. We feel like we have a lot of lost time to make up for. She loves being held which is good since we love holding her. Just wanted to put up some pictures of our first days with her. We've been out and about quite a bit.

Surprise!

Home!

We have been purposefully silent this week, anxiously awaiting the homecoming of Zoe. They gave us the decision on Monday to either try to wean her off of oxygen, which would likely mean a few more weeks in the hospital, or take her home on a little bit of oxygen support. We obviously jumped at the chance to take her home. We got discharged last night and loved every moment of our first sleepless night. Zoe is doing very well at home. We went on our first walk around Green Lake with her today with some friends. We loved having her outside in the fresh air.

Gotta run! More later.

100 Days

We can hardly believe that we are here. July 4th, Zoe and Sawyer's original due date, and 100 days into this journey. Yesterday, on day 99, exactly 14 weeks after Zoe was born, and at 6:38pm, the same time she was born, she was transferred out of intensive care and downstairs to the infant special care unit. This is a major step toward homecoming and we are totally shocked that we have made it this far. Zoe has made incredible leaps and bounds this week and is doing very well. She is on minimal oxygen on her nasal canula, getting all of her feeds through breastfeeding or bottle feeding, and is looking downright anxious to get out of the hospital.

It was with very mixed feelings that we left the NICU. We have made some good friends there - the doctors, the nurses, the respiratory therapists, the secretaries, and even some of the janitorial service. We have spent countless hours there, crying, laughing, sitting quietly, grieving, and more. Through it all, our friends upstairs have been with us and we really treasure them for this. It is very hard to thank people who have saved the life of your child. What do you say? Thank you thank you thank you. We will never forget you on the 6th floor!

I know everyone is anxious to know when Zoe will come home - and that includes us! We will keep you all posted. We are hopeful that it will be soon. Now, we just need to get her room done!

Chubby Baby

Hangin' Out

This is one of Zoe's favorite nurses, Nadine. She is an incredible person and takes amazing care of our baby girl.

Sleepy

Thanks for the hat, Abby! And thanks for the cowgirl blanket Lexie!

Amazing

Zoe has really surprised us all in the past few days. Last week, we were really just sort of maintaining and not making a ton of progress and this week, things look really promising. On Friday, the doctor decided to take her off of vapotherm, even though she wasn't doing great. We needed to start getting her to take her feeds orally because some babies can have a really tough time learning if they don't practice before 42 weeks. She went on the nasal canula on Friday and is still on the canual, gradually being weaned down on her oxygen. She is also taking most of her feeds orally, either by breastfeeding or by bottle. She is a champ at eating! It does take a lot of energy out of her, so we need to monitor it so she doesn't do too much.

At this point, she is a feeder-grower. Neil and I never thought we would get here. It has been 97 days and we finally are able to see the end. Because of our experience with the NICU, we are trying to be cautiously optimistic, because she can obviously still have setbacks, but that is difficult, if not impossible. We will keep you all posted as her progress pushes us closer to home.