Time is going by so quickly. Isabelle has been home for almost 3 weeks. We have been to the eye doctor and things are looking better. Isabelle is not out of the woods yet, but her eyes are on the right track (doctors words). Today was the last day for our home health nurse. She has been coming two times a week. She would weigh Isabelle and check her temp. Isabelle weighs 8lbs 6ozs. She has been eating a lot and is finally getting use to sleeping in her bassinet. I was getting tired of sleeping on the couch and decided after two and a half weeks we would try the bassinet again. She has done well the last two nights. I guess she is growing up.

Brooke, Nolan and Lily just love their Baby Belle. They have been very good about washing their hands and Brooke is a member of the hand washing police. I put lotion on her ear this morning and when I was done she asked me if I thought I should wash my hands. It is so hard to believe she will be in the second grade.

Monday was the first time that I ventured out with all four kids. I've felt a little tied down with Isabelle's monitor but Monday I didn't have a choice. No one was available to help. Brooke had her dance camp at 9:30 and I couldn't let her down. She has been going around the house practicing Irish step dancing since her recital. Brooke talked us into signing her up for Irish dancing in September. She is so excited.

I asked Nolan to tell me what he did this week other than drive me crazy and he said that I drove him crazy. When I asked him why he said because I won't give him any more chocolate cake or snacks. He has it pretty rough.

We will be getting together tomorrow at my mom's house for my brothers birthday. He turns the big 30 tomorrow. My mom decided to fix him dinner and he requested his favorite. He wants homemade pizza not steak. I was a little disappointed but its not my birthday. I'm looking forward to some family time. I know that Lily will be happy to see her Uncle Jimmy. She calls him on her cell phone all the time.

WELCOME HOME ISABELLE

We were able to bring Isabelle home on Saturday. Dave and I stayed with her on Friday. She did awesome. I felt like a first time mom all over again. You would think it would be a piece of cake. I have a feeling I will be very cautious with Isabelle. She just seems so fragile. She is on a monitor, which is very loud. I have to mix medicine and formula into her milk. The formula gives her more calories. A nurse will be coming to our house for the next three weeks. She came yesterday and Isabelle had gained 3 ozs since Friday night. She now weighs 6lbs 13ozs.

The kids were very excited to see their sister. We are doing lots of hand washing and have to limit our visitors. It is hard to not let people come over to visit but we have to do what is best for Isabelle. The doctor gave us strict orders that we need to avoid large crowds, perfumes, smoke and being around those that have allergies issues (it could be more than allergies). We have to use precaution because her immune system is compromised. We don't want her to go back to the hospital. So please don't take it personal.

We go to the pediatrician on Wednesday and the eye doctor on Thursday.

We want to thank everyone for their support and prayers. Please continue to pray for Isabelle.

Rooming In!!!!!!!

Isabelle had her eye exam today and the doctor said things look better--the power of prayer. This means we will be rooming in with Isabelle tomorrow (Friday) and if things go well we should have her home on Saturday. I'm trying not to get to excited yet. I told Dave I will believe it when we are all in the van and leaving the hospital. It has been a long journey and Isabelle is our little miracle. I look back at the pictures of her and I'm amazed at this strong little girl. God is truly amazing!!!!



This picture is one of our favorite. Dave's ring really shows how small Isabelle was.

Cutting about 12 inches

Brooke decided she wanted to get her hair cut short. Daddy wasn't big on the idea at first. I recently got my hair cut and it wasn't long enough to donate to Locks of Love. Brooke said that she wanted to donate her hair, so I had to change her appointment so it would be after her ballet recital. Brooke loves her hair cut. I think she looks so grown up.

Isabelle is very close to coming home. The eye doctor checked her eyes again and determined that she didn't need to go to UVa right away. He will check her eyes again tomorrow (Thursday). This will determine what the next step is. If her eyes are better or no worse, then we should be able to room in on Friday. This means we will stay at the hospital with Isabelle and be in our own room. They have not decided if we will need to room in for one or two nights. Hopefully this is what we get to do. Worse case we will go to UVa for laser surgery and need to stay for a week or two. After all this time what would another week or two be. It would be great to bring Isabelle home this weekend.

She weighs 6lbs 6oz and has been eating on demand. It is great to see her little face without any tubes.

Another Hurdle

I had intended to write a very encouraging blog today. Isabelle has been doing well. They did a study to see if she was having reflux issues and discovered she did. She began a medicine yesterday. Dave and I gave her a bottle last night and she took all 52mls. She was alert and was lifting her head off of my chest. Isabelle seemed to still be hungry so her nurse gave me another 15 mls. She drank it with no problems. I felt really good about our visit last night.


Today around 11 am Dr. Clawson called to say that we may need to go back to UVa. It seems that Isabelle's left eye is worse and she may need to have laser surgery. Dr. Clawson said that the eye doctor would make a decision and call us. I called my mom and she responded with I will start the prayer chain and then call you back. In the meantime Dr. Clawson called back to say that the eye doctor was going to take another look at noon and consult with Dr. Carter (eye doctor in UVa) then make a decision .


I am very emotional (as usual) and Dave said he would call the doctor. I am to the point where I don't know how much more I can take. I feel we get so close and then Isabelle has another hurdle to overcome.


After the doctor took another look at Isabelle's eyes and consulted with the doctor in UVa they have decided that surgery is not necessary right away. He will take another look on Sunday or Monday morning and see if things have changed. If things are worse we will be going to UVa and may need to stay for two weeks. I hope this is not in God's plan, but if it is we will deal with it.


Please continue to pray for Isabelle.

Sometimes life is so crazy. We have been so busy, with birthdays, t-ball, dance, and visiting Isabelle. The birthdays and t-ball are over and dance is almost finished. Brooke has her recital this weekend but we have practice the rest of the week. I don't know what we will do when we have Isabelle home. I will probably feel like I'm forgetting to go somewhere.

Isabelle has been doing very well. She has been off oxygen since Friday and has been doing great. We are still working on her feedings. Isabelle takes about half from a bottle. The last two nights she has almost finished her bottle. She is getting closer. We gave her a bath last night and she enjoyed it. Her weight is 5lbs 7ozs. Sometimes it is so hard to believe that she was 1lb 12.5 ozs. My due date was on Monday and Dave and I decided to have a little talk with Isabelle. We gave her a date that she has to be home by. I guess we will see if she listens or is like her sisters and brother. We don't have a date set for bring Isabelle home. It depends on her. When she is taking her bottle completely we should be on our way home. We are getting close.