Sophia Updates: December 18 - December 25, 2008

I'm sure by now you've realized that I haven't written any updates in 2 weeks. I know, I suck. Life has been so busy - going to the hospita to visit Sophia, Christmas, Sue's birthday, etc. Sure you're thinking: "How can she be that busy? She's on maternity leave and Sophia isn't even home yet." I assure you that I haven't had time to barely even cook dinner, much less go to the grocery store to get food to cook. I haven't seen one Grey's Anatomy episode or The Hills episode since Sophia was born - and I think I've maybe turned the TV on a few times since then. Most nights I get maybe 5-6 hours of sleep by the time I have to get up, pump, get the bottles ready to freeze, and then wash the pump parts. I never feel very rested because I sleep in 2 hour increments. I know you're thinking "Get used to it. That's how it will be when Sophia's home." Yes, I know. I'm just saying, it's not like I get to sleep through the night and sleep in til noon. I get up in the morning usually to make Sam's lunch and then start getting ready to go to the hospital to visit Sophia. The last few days I've been spending between 8 and 12 hours in the NICU. I was able to start breastfeeding the day after Christmas, so I've been trying to be there as many feedings as I can. I'll do a quick run-down of how Sophia has been doing day by day.

December 18, 2008: Sophia was 2580 today. That's 5lbs 11oz! She is on 8cc of breast milk every 3 hours.

December 19, 2008: She's up to 2600 grams (5lbs 12 oz) and 12 cc of milk.

December 20, 2008: Sophia is 4 weeks old today! She is taking 16cc of milk and weighs 2680 grams (5lbs 14 1/2 oz). The doctors have started her on an antibiotic called arithromycin. It usually gives babies the runs - so they use it for motility - so Sophia won't get stopped up.

December 21, 2008: The doctors have increased her feeds again. Sophia is up to 20 cc and weighs almost 6lbs 1 oz (2740 grams).

December 22, 2008: Sophia is one month old. Geez Louise. She weighs exactly 6lbs 1 oz now and is on 24cc of milk.

December 23, 2008: Sophia weighs 6lbs 2oz and is on 28cc.

December 24, 2008: Grandma Barrett bought a Care Bears mobile for Sophia's crib so that she's going something else to keep her preoccupied. Tonight a nurse came around with a bunch of little knit Christmas caps...and Sophia is so big for the NICU that hers barely fit on her head. Lol. She continues to gain weight and comes in right at 6lbs 4oz. Her feeds were increased by another 4cc today.

December 25, 2008: Sophia's first Christmas! Sam and I went up to see Sophia early in the morning before heading over to Sam's parents' house for a late lunch and to open presents. We went back up to the hospital later that night - expecting to be able to take a picture with our normal clothes on, but our primary nurse wasn't there...so we didn't ask to do it. After we fed Sophia, the nurse told us that I could start trying to breastfeed! How exciting :) The lactation consultant doesn't work again though until the 27th, so I'm not sure if I'll try to breastfeed before then.