Here’s the thing about the NICU experience, it was never in the plan. It doesn’t matter if you were 33 weeks and almost to the full term mark or 25 weeks and just shy of the third trimester…not a single NICU parent was prepared for this journey. With all the time we have spent watching this little angel grow bigger an stronger it’s just natural to spend most of that time over thinking the whole pregnancy/post partum situation. So since we’ve been in the “business” of helping Sofia grow, I figured I would use a little business strategy to recap the last 75 days.

•Losses: Missed the 3rd trimester, missed my maternity pictures, missed my baby shower (funny point here; she was born on the RSVP date!). Never made it to the nesting phase, haven’t decorated a nursery and hadn’t even picked out a pediatrician!

•Gains: Didn’t have to deal with the 3rd trimester! (can we say blessing and a curse?!) That’s right, no swollen ankles, no stretch marks, no sleepless nights (unless you count the middle of the night pumping sessions for the last 75 days). Extended newborn phase, we get 15 extra weeks of having a little one at every stage till the 2 year mark. An appreciation for every new stage she reaches and every breath I watch her take.

•Takeaways: I hope I always remember how amazingly lucky we were to be put on hospital bed rest. I hope I’m always amazed and appreciative of every moment I have with this strong little girl. I feel like she makes me a better person, a more glass-half-full-person, a smile for the road we’re on not mourning the path we missed taking person. I hope to pass this on to Sofia as she gets older.

I’d never wish this experience on anyone but I for those that ever find themselves faced with this challenge, just know that your fear will eventually be your strength.

Here’s the thing about the NICU experience, it was never in the plan. It doesn’t matter if you were 33 weeks and almost to the full term mark or 25 weeks and just shy of the third trimester…not a single NICU parent was prepared for this journey. With all the time we have spent watching this little angel grow bigger an stronger it’s just natural to spend most of that time over thinking the whole pregnancy/post partum situation. So since we’ve been in the “business” of helping Sofia grow, I figured I would use a little business strategy to recap the last 75 days.

•Losses: Missed the 3rd trimester, missed my maternity pictures, missed my baby shower (funny point here; she was born on the RSVP date!). Never made it to the nesting phase, haven’t decorated a nursery and hadn’t even picked out a pediatrician!

•Gains: Didn’t have to deal with the 3rd trimester! (can we say blessing and a curse?!) That’s right, no swollen ankles, no stretch marks, no sleepless nights (unless you count the middle of the night pumping sessions for the last 75 days). Extended newborn phase, we get 15 extra weeks of having a little one at every stage till the 2 year mark. An appreciation for every new stage she reaches and every breath I watch her take.

•Takeaways: I hope I always remember how amazingly lucky we were to be put on hospital bed rest. I hope I’m always amazed and appreciative of every moment I have with this strong little girl. I feel like she makes me a better person, a more glass-half-full-person, a smile for the road we’re on not mourning the path we missed taking person. I hope to pass this on to Sofia as she gets older.

I’d never wish this experience on anyone but I for those that ever find themselves faced with this challenge, just know that your fear will eventually be your strength.

Today, Dec 9th, Sofia and I worked on our 2nd attempt at breastfeeding. Both times she latched great but she’s having trouble transferring milk. She’s trying her hardest though. She’s also been doing well with the bottle she took 3 full bottles during 3 of her feeds and then kind of stalled out the rest of the day. I took some pic today of her in some silly poses…so today is Silly Sofia day. I guess she’s showing off for her 10 Weekaversary.

Today, Dec 9th, Sofia and I worked on our 2nd attempt at breastfeeding. Both times she latched great but she’s having trouble transferring milk. She’s trying her hardest though. She’s also been doing well with the bottle she took 3 full bottles during 3 of her feeds and then kind of stalled out the rest of the day. I took some pic today of her in some silly poses…so today is Silly Sofia day. I guess she’s showing off for her 10 Weekaversary.

Today, Dec 9th, Sofia and I worked on our 2nd attempt at breastfeeding. Both times she latched great but she’s having trouble transferring milk. She’s trying her hardest though. She’s also been doing well with the bottle she took 3 full bottles during 3 of her feeds and then kind of stalled out the rest of the day. I took some pic today of her in some silly poses…so today is Silly Sofia day. I guess she’s showing off for her 10 Weekaversary.

So it seems the last few weeks have been the hardest on our little journey. Surprising, considering Sofia has been at her strongest “medically”. She is still doing great from a respiratory stand point, she’s gaining weight consistently and her desats are more predictable and less often. She’s still just working at trying to bottle feed which has been a slow and painstaking process.

We’ve been told this is when NICUitis sets in. Now it’s just a waiting gain and only Sofia can tell us when she is ready to go home. We have a checklist that our primary nurse (the nurse who follows her everytime she’s on duty) wrote for us. Things that need to be accomplished to go home. We already have check marks next to holding her temperature, keep gaining weight and begin nipple feeding. We still need checks for losing the NG tube (feeding tube), control over reflux and passing the car seat test. Just waiting and seeing.

It’s been 67 days that we have had to leave Sofia in someone else’s care. It’s been 83 days of hospital time if you count my time on bed rest. It’s 81 days since we SHOULD have completed our move. Its been 2 first holidays with attached to machines with another one approaching. You never imagine your baby’s first Christmas without a picture with Santa. It’s emotionally exhausting. But it would have been 33 days from now till my original due date. It’s been 67 days extra that I’ve gotten to touch my baby and 67 days where I could see her tiny face and tell her I’d love her. It pails in comparison to a Mom I spoke with who was finally leaving after 105 days. It’s been a “boring” 67 days as far A’s the NICU goes and if that’s as much as Santa can give us this Christmas, that’s not too shabby a gift. But Santa, if you’re listening, we’d really love to make it home for Christmas!

So it seems the last few weeks have been the hardest on our little journey. Surprising, considering Sofia has been at her strongest “medically”. She is still doing great from a respiratory stand point, she’s gaining weight consistently and her desats are more predictable and less often. She’s still just working at trying to bottle feed which has been a slow and painstaking process.

We’ve been told this is when NICUitis sets in. Now it’s just a waiting gain and only Sofia can tell us when she is ready to go home. We have a checklist that our primary nurse (the nurse who follows her everytime she’s on duty) wrote for us. Things that need to be accomplished to go home. We already have check marks next to holding her temperature, keep gaining weight and begin nipple feeding. We still need checks for losing the NG tube (feeding tube), control over reflux and passing the car seat test. Just waiting and seeing.

It’s been 67 days that we have had to leave Sofia in someone else’s care. It’s been 83 days of hospital time if you count my time on bed rest. It’s 81 days since we SHOULD have completed our move. Its been 2 first holidays with attached to machines with another one approaching. You never imagine your baby’s first Christmas without a picture with Santa. It’s emotionally exhausting. But it would have been 33 days from now till my original due date. It’s been 67 days extra that I’ve gotten to touch my baby and 67 days where I could see her tiny face and tell her I’d love her. It pails in comparison to a Mom I spoke with who was finally leaving after 105 days. It’s been a “boring” 67 days as far A’s the NICU goes and if that’s as much as Santa can give us this Christmas, that’s not too shabby a gift. But Santa, if you’re listening, we’d really love to make it home for Christmas!

So it seems the last few weeks have been the hardest on our little journey. Surprising, considering Sofia has been at her strongest “medically”. She is still doing great from a respiratory stand point, she’s gaining weight consistently and her desats are more predictable and less often. She’s still just working at trying to bottle feed which has been a slow and painstaking process.

We’ve been told this is when NICUitis sets in. Now it’s just a waiting gain and only Sofia can tell us when she is ready to go home. We have a checklist that our primary nurse (the nurse who follows her everytime she’s on duty) wrote for us. Things that need to be accomplished to go home. We already have check marks next to holding her temperature, keep gaining weight and begin nipple feeding. We still need checks for losing the NG tube (feeding tube), control over reflux and passing the car seat test. Just waiting and seeing.

It’s been 67 days that we have had to leave Sofia in someone else’s care. It’s been 83 days of hospital time if you count my time on bed rest. It’s 81 days since we SHOULD have completed our move. Its been 2 first holidays with attached to machines with another one approaching. You never imagine your baby’s first Christmas without a picture with Santa. It’s emotionally exhausting. But it would have been 33 days from now till my original due date. It’s been 67 days extra that I’ve gotten to touch my baby and 67 days where I could see her tiny face and tell her I’d love her. It pails in comparison to a Mom I spoke with who was finally leaving after 105 days. It’s been a “boring” 67 days as far A’s the NICU goes and if that’s as much as Santa can give us this Christmas, that’s not too shabby a gift. But Santa, if you’re listening, we’d really love to make it home for Christmas!

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” Thomas Paine

Today is a very celebratory day for the Farsaci family. Sofia is 2 months old (actual) and 34 weeks and 2 days (adjusted) today. I’ll explain more about the actual and adjusted in a second. It’s amazing to us that she has hit the 2 month mark already and even more amazing, last night she hit 4lbs! This huge marker has moved us to level 2 care, the last level before discharge.

We are hoping and praying that we get this little angel home for Christmas. The last developmental step is eating on her own without Brady’s and desats and Apnea. No more A’s, B’s and D’s…please! Oh yea, and getting the reflux that causes all of the above under control.

Ok back to the actual and adjusted age. In the preemie world they are “aged” with two numbers until their 2nd birthday, their actual age and their adjusted age. Actual age is dated the way you would with a term baby, 2 month since ACTUAL day born, for example. The adjusted age is the baby’s age based on original due date. So right now, if I was still pregnant I would be 34wks and 2 days. This is the calculation used until the 40wk, full term, mark and then it starts counting forward each week or month from my due date. It continues like this until 2 years of age. This is all because of basic development. For example, since she was born almost 4 months early, at Sofia’s 1st birthday she will only be expected to do what an 8 month old can do from a developmental standpoint. All so very complicated, I know.

This has been the Preemie lesson of the day! Brought to you by ::insert baby product here::

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” Thomas Paine

Today is a very celebratory day for the Farsaci family. Sofia is 2 months old (actual) and 34 weeks and 2 days (adjusted) today. I’ll explain more about the actual and adjusted in a second. It’s amazing to us that she has hit the 2 month mark already and even more amazing, last night she hit 4lbs! This huge marker has moved us to level 2 care, the last level before discharge.

We are hoping and praying that we get this little angel home for Christmas. The last developmental step is eating on her own without Brady’s and desats and Apnea. No more A’s, B’s and D’s…please! Oh yea, and getting the reflux that causes all of the above under control.

Ok back to the actual and adjusted age. In the preemie world they are “aged” with two numbers until their 2nd birthday, their actual age and their adjusted age. Actual age is dated the way you would with a term baby, 2 month since ACTUAL day born, for example. The adjusted age is the baby’s age based on original due date. So right now, if I was still pregnant I would be 34wks and 2 days. This is the calculation used until the 40wk, full term, mark and then it starts counting forward each week or month from my due date. It continues like this until 2 years of age. This is all because of basic development. For example, since she was born almost 4 months early, at Sofia’s 1st birthday she will only be expected to do what an 8 month old can do from a developmental standpoint. All so very complicated, I know.

This has been the Preemie lesson of the day! Brought to you by ::insert baby product here::