 |  Amanda (fashion buffs: her hat is by cousin Suzan; stocking by Auntie G) sandwiched by two boyfriends, Carlos & Luis. |
January 1, 1998 Update: Happy New Life Day!
We are overjoyed to tell you that Amanda was discharged from Mass. General Hospital's NICU (Thank you so much, MGH NICU!) on December 30 (weight at 5 lb. 7 oz. / 2475 grams.) She is not completely out of the woods yet, as she still has an NG (feeding) tube in place to supplement her oral feedings (which both Mom & Dad had to train and demonstrate that they could insert properly -- ugh!) . . . but after two days, she is doing great and gaining weight in her new home environment. Amanda is adjusting very well to her home (despite its lack of the noise of monitors, alarms, and crying babies), but our cat Mandu is pretty jealous that she is no longer the center of our love and attention!
December 25 Update: Merry Christmas! Great News! Amanda has progressed far enough that she will probably be discharged to come home next week in time for the New Year. What a great way for us to start off 1998!
December 19 Update:Yesterday, marked Amanda's 4 month birthday in the NICU and she is now a 5 lb. baby! She has gained this last pound is just two weeks! While she is doing great with her weight gain, she is only making slow progress in her oral feeding task (she now will take a full bottle two times a day), she isn't quite there yet as far as all her feedings, so her homecoming date is still uncertain but getting closer all the time. Dr. Ogino tells us that Amanda needs to learn how to focus a little better on her task (feeding) at hand. Hear that Amanda? You can do it!
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| Amanda (fashion buffs: her hat is by cousin Suzan; stocking by Auntie G) sandwiched by two boyfriends, Carlos & Luis. |
December 15 Update:As today, Amanda marks her 17-week anniversary of life in the NICU, she is now making excellent strides with her weight gain, having gained 220 grams (about 1/2 pound) in the last week alone! But now it is very difficult for us to remain patient, as only one major obstacle remains before she can come home: she must learn to take all her feedings orally, by bottle or breast. This week, she has stayed at the same level, taking 1/4 to 1/2 of her bottle, then refusing the rest. Yet, several of the nurses tell us that when premies "get it", like turning on a light switch, they will say, "Oh, that's what you have been wanting me to do!" So now, it's all up to you, Amanda! -- We know you can do it!"
December 9 Update: Amanda continues to make steady progress in learning to feed, as she is now taking roughly half of her diet via the bottle or by breastfeeding (the rest via the gavage tube to her stomach.) Her arterial line was removed a few days ago and she continues to do just great breathing normally on room air. We have been asked to spend several 8 hour shifts at the hospital to completely take over her care for that time -- in advance preparation for taking her home, so our hopes are building that she may be home for Christmas!
December 3 Update: Amanda Unplugged! We are now thrilled to be able to unplug Amanda on occasion from all the monitors and leads and stroll through the NICU holding her in our arms. She seems to enjoy the new scenery too! Grandma Carol arrived today and got to hold and bottlefeed Amanda, who enjoyed that almost as much as her grandmother did. We learned that Amanda has quite a fine sense of tastebuds, turning away formula made with MCT (Medium Chain Triglyceride) oil, until it got substituted with corn oil -- sounds like our little girl has good sense!
November 30 Update: Amanda is now completely off any oxygen support (one less set of tubes!) and is breathing room air comfortably. Her major task is now learning how to feed properly which means coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing all at once -- the things we take for granted! She has been able to do it to a limited extent up to about 1/3 of her normal feeding. If it means getting rid of another tube, we can be sure that once she sets her mind to doing it, she will!
 Amanda, Mom & Nurse Debbie's knee |
November 27, Thanksgiving Day Update: Amanda was just upgraded to Level II status and has been moved to a much quieter crib space in the very back of the NICU -- "the luxury suite", as the nurses call it. Level II means that she requires minimal nurse monitoring and as her nurse Debbie put it, "she is now a stable, growing premie." What a nice Thanksgiving blessing! |
To read Amanda's update at Month 3 (11/22/97) Click Here
To read Amanda's update at Month 2 (10/20/97) Click Here
To read Amanda's update at Month 1 (9/20/97) Click Here
To read about Noah & Melanie, Click Here: Triplets (8/19/97 & 9/1/97)
To go back to Amanda's Main Page Happy New Life Day! Click Here
You can E-mail us by clicking here: The Shu Family