Katy's Home part II

On Sunday katy was weighed and was 4lb for the first time in her life. This meant that she could be discharged, it also meant that we were going to "Room in" with Katy on Monday instead of Tuesday.

We did not spend much time in hospital on Sunday because we had to go out and get lots of things done. We managed to get everything sorted and turned up at the hospital on Monday afternoon.

Within an hour, we had taken Katy out of the neonatal unit and into our private room. It did have an en-suite, but daddy had to sleep on a fold out bed. It was amazing to just lie on the bed with Katy and watch trashey TV. It was a fantastic day and then the time came for mummy and daddy to go to sleep.

We decided to feed Katy at 2am and 6am. There were two main issues that stopped us getting to sleep. When Katy was sleeping silently, we were scared she was not breathing and when Katy was not sleeping silently, she made a wide variety of strange noises. One of the nurses had came in to see us and did say that "she is a loud sleeper". She was spot on.

As dawn broke, we both thought "where did that come from?" and got ready to give Katy her morning feed. The reat of the day was simply a matter of waiting for a doctor to check Katy over and discharge her. This happened at about 2pm and then, after some "graduation" photos and tears from Leanne's lovely mummy friends, we finally got to take our baby home.

Part III coming later, I need to sort Katy out!

Katy's home.

Katy came home on Tuesday 24th July!

She had been in hospital for 12 weeks and 1 day. That last day was spent with us in Transitional care. It was a amzing to be fully responsible for our daughter for the first time.

Katy

Monitor Monitoring

Katy has been taken off her oxygen and pulse monitor.

We will have to watch her carefully from now on!

How low can you go?

Katy is enjoying her new spot in low dependancy.

She has been feeding very well and we had fun giving her a bath yesterday. We are nervously waiting for weigh-day on Thursday so we can see how close she is to coming home.

Only 180g to go!

P.S. Here's some snaps so you can see her as we do!

Changing Rooms-No Handy Andy

Katy has been moved into LOW DEPENDANCY.

We are off to see her new room. I'll take some photos too!

Super sunday

Katy now weighs 3lb 10oz!

Sha has had a good weight gain, and been taking her feeds from the bottle so well that her feeding tube has been taken away. She still does not need any oxygen and has been able to keep her oxygen levels up on her own.

This all brings her a lot closer to coming home, but also more frustrating that we have to leave her in hospital. We could just unplug one lead and whisk her away!

Baby steps

Katy did about 20 hours without any extra oxygen yesterday.

She has also put on 70g taking her over the 1.5 kilo mark she is 3lb7oz in old money. She had a great day off extra oxygen but the nurse on the night shift put her back on. Katy does dip and set off the alarms, but she bounces straight back every time. We were a little frustrated to say the least!

I had my lats ever teaching day in the Priory on wednesday. I was a bit overwhelmed by the respose of the students. Lots of cards, gifts and a few tears. We went for a fantastic meal with some of the staff on Wed night. I will really miss everyone at the Priory.

It is time for the next exciting part of the Mark and Leanne adventures (and Katy too!). We have achieved so much in the last 2 years, we have overcome massive hurdles, but we have stil had an amazing time and become better people.

The next step is exciting too. Moving to a new life on the beach, near to our wonderful families and getting to have Katy home with us. We dont know when we can take this step, but neither of us can wait and neither can Katy!!

Thanks to everyone at the Priory, it has been wonderful.

Rosy Cheeks

Katy had a blood transfusion last night.

Leanne and I had thought she was pale since the weekend and she got a blood test on tuesday morning that showed her red blood cells were low. She then had some extra blood and she perked right up!

It is my last day in school today and I can't wait to be with my lovely, beautiful, girls.

On yer bike

I am on my way back from the start of the "Tour de France", or as Leanne calls it "just a load of men on bikes".

My friend an I had a fun afternoon of sun, crowds, harrods sandwiches and now sunburn. I got to play with my wonderful daughter before I left. However, while I was away, mummy and auntie Sarah got to give Katy her first bath. Photos to follow.

Katy has been doing most of her feeds from a bottle and spent two hours today with no extra oxygen.

Nearly a big girl...

That's more like it!

Katy is fantastic

She has been moved out of the incubator and into a cot. She now weighs 3lb 3oz too! All these things bring her closer to coming home!! A registrar did mention the first week of august as a possible home time. Although I thing there is a chance she may be out sooner. I hope so because I finish school on well wednesday.

However, there is still and infection risk, which is why I can't see her right now. I have a sore throat and its not worth the risk. She was immunised yesterday so there are a few infections that she won't be getting. She tolerated it very well. Katy still needs a small amount of extra oxygen.

Leanne is doing well, especially as we are putting together a list of bits that we need to go out and buy!

Weighty Katy 4.0

What a great weekend!!!

Katy is now over 3lb. Weighing in at 1.38Kg. She has been put on nasal oxygen (see 4th pic) and has been taking a complete feed from a bottle (see 2nd pic). We have been visited by two aunties; Catherine and Lois and we were cooked a delicious meal by James and Sarah.

Katy is on 0.02litres of oxygen per minute which is only a tiny puff and 0.01 is the lowest she can go so she is nearly off extra oxygen. She is taking a lot of feeds from the bottle and a little from Leanne. Feeding and breathing without support are two massive steps towards coming home, so well done Katy.

Sorry that my blog updates have reduced in frequency, but I promise that you will be the first to know any important news.