Friday, September 29, 2006
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Look--I'm wearing clothes!
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
Big Girl!
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Sleepy Head
Monday, September 18, 2006
Baby in a Basket
Saturday, September 16, 2006
First Day Trip
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Adored One
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Doctor's Visit
Kyla and Denise got a quick check up today. Kyla hasn't quite reached her birth weight, but is now 5 lbs, 11 oz. She's eating like a pig, and making Mom feel like a cow (albeit, a successful dairy cow!).
Picture Note: After whining that we had no pictures of Kyla and Mom, I downloaded one off Grandma Kruger's camera from the shower.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
A Few Firsts
[Denise again] Last night, Kyla lost her umbibical cord. This morning she had her first projectile spit up. This afternoon she had her first bath. Coincidence? You decide.
(Technically, Kyla had her first bath about 4 hours after she was born, as part of her premie observation. However, this is the first time I bathed her, and if lack of crying can be used to judge the experience, she loved it!)
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Family
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Baby Shower
[from Denise] Kyla is wearing a special dress over her usual swaddling (a gift from Aunt Julie and Uncle Keith) to celebrate her own baby shower. Notice the resemblance to the cast of VeggieTales. She is under the protective watch of Teddy Bear, of whom we have high hopes that she will dwarf someday. In the meantime, it will be fun to watch her begin to fit some of her adorable clothes.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Birthday
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
All better
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Jaundice
The doctors have been monitoring Kyla's bilirubin levels. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that occurs from the breakdown of old red blood cells. Jaundice is a common condition in newborn infants caused by the build-up of bilirubin in the blood. Normally the bilirubin is processed in the liver and then deposited in the intestine so it can come out in the stool. Kyla's liver is immature, and it is not keeping up with the bilirubin levels in her system.
This bilirubin monitoring is a major source of the bloodwork that Kyla has had to endure. Today the pediatrician decided that Kyla need treatment to bring her bilirubin levels down. He prescribed home photo therapy, in which Kyla must lay on a bed bathed in blue light for 18 hours a day. The blue light helps to break down the bilirubin under her skin surface, and makes it easier for her liver to break it down further. This is not UV light, so she won't be getting diaper tan lines.
As part of the treatment, a nurse comes to the house every day to check up on her. In addition to checking on the photo therapy, the nurse takes a blood sample, weighs her, and checks her temperature. Once again, the level of medical care we are receiving is amazing.
Daddy duty
Finally home
Gaining weight
Kyla was born weighing 5 lbs, 13 oz. As with most babies, she lost weight during the first few days. Unlike most babies, she doesn't have a lot of fat reserves on her. So it is very important the she establish a good feeding routine quickly. Fortunately for us, she has. Her low point was at -8%, but she is now gaining from there. We still aren't back to birth weight, but we will be soon.
Testing
It is pretty standard for new born babies receive lots of tests in their first hours. Even more so for premies. Kyla has been hooked up to monitors, pricked, poked, prodded, and pinched. She's had her heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen levels, and body temperature measured frequently. Nurses come in at all hours of the night to take her vitals. She's had blood work done - multiple heel pricks, and even blood drawn from her vein (which took three attempts). She's been screened for multiple conditions, and even had her hearing checked. Sometimes it feels like such a hassle, but I am really just so amazed at the care provided to us.
And at the end, we get a certificate!
Footprints
Friday, September 01, 2006
Introducing Kyla Paige Need
Catching us by complete surprise, Denise gave birth to our daughter today. An entire month early! I was at work and missed the whole thing (a neighbor drove her to the hospital). I got a voice mail telling me to get to the hospital quickly, and when I called my wife on the way, she held the phone up to our new baby and I got to hear her crying. Amazing.
I am pleased to introduce Kyla Paige Need.
All the stats:
Birth: 4:20pm, September 1, 2006
Weight: 5lb 13oz
Length: 19”
Kyla and Denise and doing great!
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