Happy Birthdays All Around

Happy Birthday to my Aunt Kara, Aunt Kristin, and Cousin Connor - they all had birthdays in September!!

Mom started the E.A.S.Y. plan (from the Baby Whisperer) with me today. It's a way to structure (not schedule) my day so I can start to figure out what's going on and have a bit of predictability in my life. E = eat A = activity S = sleep Y = you time (meaning time for Mom and Dad) It's only been one day but I actually took 3 naps IN MY CRIB and Mom and Dad are going to put me in there for the whole night tonight. I wasn't sleeping all that well in my pack-n-play in their room, so it was time for a change.

I am eating well though...you see that outfit in today's picture - it's actually a little too short for me! Mom was right...I am growing like a weed. I guess that's about all...I hope everybody had a great weekend.

Love,
Saela

It's Okay Daddy...

I know you would have liked to see the Spartans kick some Badger tail - but can you really stay mad for long when you have someone as cute as me to look at? Mommy and I think not!

Better luck to the Spartans next week!

Jilly & Saela

Jilly finally decided to get in on the action. She's not quite ready to belly up to Saela - but we are making progress.

Steve and I celebrated our third anniversary on Monday and enjoyed our wedding cake again and as always it was delicious. (I have a cake "top" with our cake flavor and decoration made every year by the patisserie chef that made our cake in 2004.) We did "go out" for dinner to celebrate the previous Saturday which was also very nice.

Saela is continuing to do well at home. To me she feels as if she is growing like a weed. Too soon she'll be holding her head up, then walking, running etc. I keep saying to her - "you'll never be as small as you are right at this moment." Then I try to memorize every little thing about her because she changes everyday.

We've really just been hangin' out the last few days - taking walks, getting baths, learning to sleep IN the pack-n-play etc. We are currently waiting to hear news about our friends Jonna and Kevin as Jonna has gone past her due date and was scheduled for an induction today. For those that don't know - I lived with four other ladies in college in a house on 1318 State Street. In 2005 three boys were born into the 1318 family and Jonna's little girl will make three girls for 2007! (Jet, Max, Jaxson, Shaylin, Saela, and ???...and we must not forget Samantha who was the first one of them all just a few years before.)

Well that's all folks...have a great day - it's almost FRIDAY!

Big Day Today

First real bath in a tub!

One month old today!

Wow - I am a month old and I had my first real bath! That was an interesting experience. I would give Mom and Dad points for a job well done - but they maybe lacked a bit of style in the execution of the whole event. The water was a tad chilly - I think my mom was making sure it wasn't too hot for me. They had my tub in their bigger tub and it was a little awkward to get me washed up - they ended up just rinsing me under the faucet. I actually enjoyed the rinse cycle much to their surprise. The whole event tired me out for my one-month photo. Mom and Dad are hoping that because I was awake longer during the day today that maybe I will sleep a little more soundly tonight. They are going out for dinner for their third anniversary. One of nurses that I got really close to in the RNICU is coming to watch me. I'm excited to hang out with her. Have a great night everyone! Love, Saela

The Human Head Weighs Eight Pounds...

...and so does Saela Green. Saela had her weight check yesterday and had gained 11 ounces from the previous week. Our pediatrician was happy with that and stated that Saela is playing a little bit of "catch up" but that eventually she will go back down to gaining about an ounce a day.

This picture was taken just before we went on a walk today. She seems to enjoy being outside for her stroller rides. We try to get out and get some fresh air as much as we can.

Saela is all ready for the MSU vs ND game tomorrow. Stay tuned for her thoughts on the game. Have a great weekend everybody!

Go State!

Jax & Saela

Jax felt it was time that he got a little face time with Saela. She doesn't seem to bother him very much - he will sniff her on occasion - but curiously does not lick her like he does the rest of us. He did come upstairs today to see what the ruckus was all about (she was hungry and crying) and then stayed upstairs with us instead of going back downstairs to see if he could con someone into "playing ball."

Jilly isn't quite ready to share the limelight with little Saela. She (Jilly) has done well - but her nose is still a little bit out of joint. She is, however, enjoying the extra treats that have come along with our new arrival.

Saela is four weeks old today and doing well. We hope all of you are doing well too!

Love,
the Greens

Notre Dame

Some thoughts I had on the game last week by Saela Green.

Before: hmmm...maybe ND will perform better this week?!?

During: what are they thinking right now?

After: this is how Charlie must have felt at the end of the game!

Dad has informed me that we will be rooting for MSU this weekend - I guess he's getting my priorities straight early in life!

Holy Nails Batman

Hello all - Saela here...

Well, it's been quite a week. Mom doesn't seem to know where the time goes when all I do is eat, sleep, and poop. Today is actually my due date and I am already 3 weeks and 2 days old! In those three weeks, I've already had my nails clipped three times! Mom cannot believe how fast they grow and is thankful for the sleepers that have little covers for my fingers as I've managed to scratch my face a number of times.

I had a check-up at the doctor yesterday. I weigh 7 lbs. and 5 oz. now. I gained 3 ounces over the last week. The doctor would like to have seen me gain a couple of more ounces than that - so I will go back again next week for another weight check. Mom and I have been working on the breastfeeding thing since Sunday. Sometimes I'm just too hungry and prefer the bottle. I think this may frustrate mom a little bit but she's doing her best to be patient with me. We had a better day today than yesterday. Baby steps - after all, I am a baby you know.

Big sports day for our household tomorrow: MSU (Dad's school) plays Pittsburgh, ND (Dad's grad school) plays Michigan, and the Detroit Tigers play the Minnesota Twins in MLB. (This is significant since my Grandpa is here and he's a Twins fan.) On Sunday the Detroit Lions play the Minnesota Vikings - so that is another game we can all watch together and enjoy. It will be a tough game for mom because she has become a Lions fan but will probably always be a Vikings fan at heart.

I guess that's about all for right now. Have a great weekend! Go State, Go Irish, Go Tigers (and Twins), Go Lions (and Vikings)!

Love,

Saela

Big "Smiles"

I know - probably gas - but a big smile to me none-the-less. We are starting to get the hang of things after almost one week at home. Baths every other day, eating every 2-4 hours, diaper changes seemingly every hour, tummy time (not yet a favorite of Saela's) etc. etc. Daddy actually gave her her bath this evening while I went to the grocery store. He did a fine job and now we actually have food in the house as well.

We are working on breastfeeding and I think we are moving in the right direction. She is still primarily receiving breast milk by bottle - but we will get there. Even after a week, I can tell she is getting stronger by how well she is eating. "They" really do change fast! I look forward to her first "real" smile. It's hard to believe that just a few weeks ago she was still inside of me and now I cannot imagine life without her. To think - she wasn't even due until this Friday!

We wish everyone a great week!

9.8.7

Today is a big day for our friends Rory and Rachel - it is their wedding day. Saela and I helped Steve pick out his suit, shirt, and tie. He looked mighty handsome all dressed up and as a bonus he has a fresh haircut. If you knew us in the beginning - you know that the first thing I ever noticed about Steve the day I met him was his super short clean haircut.

Due to Saela's stay in the RNICU, it has been recommended that we avoid crowded places for six months - hence we are having some Mommy/Daughter time this evening in lieu of joining Steve at the wedding. We are sorry that we cannot see Rory and Rachel - but sure are looking forward to hearing all about their day and seeing all of their pictures.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

After the Bath

Saela after her 1st bath at home.

Two Weeks Old Already

Hello Everyone,

It's Saela again...I'm two weeks old today. I finally came home yesterday and it is so nice to be out of the hospital. So far, I think I've been pretty good - not too fussy for mom and dad. I eat every 2-4 hours and have had an appropriate number of wet and messy diapers. Jax seems to like to be outside and Jilly sniffs me a lot - but when I'm sleeping I do not even notice them barking. (Mom and Dad are thankful for that.)

That's really all there is to report for my first day at home. I'm going to take a little nap before I need to eat again!

I hope all are doing well.
Love,
Saela

Home at Last!!

Saela has come home at last!! It has been a long two weeks - but definitely worth the wait. Saela definitely has us wrapped around her little finger and she's only been home for three hours. The dogs behaved just as I expected. Jax sniffed, wanted to lick her and then said, "okay let's go out and play ball." Jilly has had much more interest in Saela. She's sniffed and sniffed and sniffed and hardly left her side. She is currently laying at the other end of the couch just watching this new little being that has come home with us. Each time Saela makes a sound a new round of sniffing ensues. Jilly really has been gentle though - so I'd say that the first meeting has been successful.

We have already had round one of poop up her back and thus Saela is on her second outfit and the first load of laundry (of many I'm sure) is in the wash. Steve successfully made the hand-off prior to finding the dirty diaper (although, I think he knew it was there.)

Wish us luck on our first night at home. Words cannot explain how nice it is to not be back up at the hospital right now. I cannot say enough about the RNICU staff and the amount of support they provided during this difficult time. As much as I wish it had never happened - on the days that are most stressful - I hope that I can look back and remember where we came from and that this too shall pass. My heart goes out to all of the families that have infants in NICUs - not all families are as lucky as we have been with Saela. Some families are there for weeks and months - not just 14 days. Some families never get to go home with their babies - and that is heart wrenching to witness.

Thank you all for your support and continued prayers. You have no idea how much your thoughts and prayers have helped us and Saela. I will continue to update this blog - it just may not be daily now as I'm sure our days will be quite busy for awhile.

Love,

Steve, Brenna, Saela, Jax & Jilly

Soon...

Saela has successfully transitioned to a crib and has had her feeding tube removed!! It is so nice to see her face without anything covering it up! Pictures will be forthcoming after the IV that is in her scalp is removed. (IVs do not last very long in neonates - thus the scalp IV was placed after one in each arm went bad.) Tomorrow she has one more dose of antibiotics and her hearing screen. We are hopeful that she will be coming home with us by Wednesday at the latest. We are very very excited to bring her home. We hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend!

Relaxing Day

Saela has taken all of her feedings orally today. She is slowly getting the hang of breastfeeding - but is at least taking the remainder by bottle. If she continues to feed well, we will be able to have her feeding tube removed! She should be out of her isolette by the end of the day today or early tomorrow. We're hopeful that by Tuesday/Wednesday of this week that we will be homeward bound.

Saela has had some new visitors over the weekend from Minnesota (Aunt Kara and Uncle Ben) and South Dakota (Grandpa Bill). They drove all night Friday just to come see her. Jax and Jilly have wondered what was up with all of the extra faces - I suppose they will be even more surprised when we bring home a permanent new face. My mom left today - it was sad to see her go - but she will be back as often as she is able to make the trip. All of our family and friends have been so helpful - we are truly blessed. We know that all of the prayers have helped to speed Saela's recovery.

Well - that's about all - I figure the less there is to report the better! Pretty soon we'll just have regular baby updates - won't that be nice!!

Have a Great Labor Day -
Love,
the Greens

Eat Eat Eat

Saela had another good day today. She finished two of her antibiotics and her third will finish on Tuesday morning. Through a combination of breast, bottle, and tubefeeding she tolerated enough calories to be able to discontinue nutrition through her IV. She still has a heplock for her last antibiotic - but otherwise has no other IV fluids. If she is eating well, we may be able to bring her home on Tuesday. She needs to be taking most of her meal by either the breast or the bottle and not be needing to be tube fed anymore before she can go home. This may be a hold up for her as she still gets pretty tuckered out after a long day. She should transition from her isolette to a crib tomorrow. It sure is nice to not have any equipment standing at the end of her bed. She had a bath tonight - this picture was taken just shortly after that - seeing her eyes open is so wonderful.

Saela is happy that MSU won their first football game of the season. Steve tells me that Saela is also excited about Appalachian States win over Michigan...the world has a new Spartan fan!

Go Green Go White - Have a Great Weekend!