Avery needs prayers

As stated in the title, Avery needs prayers. Not only is she just maintaining her weight, but she is only taking in about half the milk she should be for her age and weight. She is still very sleepy and jaundiced and not producing poops like she should. Friday I took her to see Dr. Deutsch (Shelby's GI) and he had some concerns about her. Now, it could still be that Avery's system just needs to kick into gear, but he wants to investigate some things in the meantime. He did some blood and urine tests and Monday evening she will have an ultrasound on her brain. He wants to make sure that she didn't suffer any neurological damage during her birth. It was a bit traumatic on her. She came out really fast resulting in quite a bit of bruising and a fractured right clavicle. We are a bit shell shocked with all this coming at us, especially considering we have gone through so much with Shelby. Despite all these issues, Avery is perfect. Her little face is so precious.

Thanks to all those who are supporting Avery and me so much in keeping her a breastfed baby. While she is not nursing at the breast, I am still pumping away and providing my milk for her. This is very important to Scott & me. Please enjoy the pictures and send up many prayers for her.

Avery: Week 2

Avery update

Thanks to everyone for being so patient on Avery updates. We are having some sleep deprivation around here (wonder why?!?!). Avery weighed in at 7 lb. 4 oz. on Monday! Yea! All that hard work this weekend by her, Mommy & Daddy to get feeds in paid off as she put on 6 oz. Now we are struggling to maintain that weight. She is still a very sleepy baby and is having a tough time getting her latch right for breastfeeding. I am still pumping, but now we are finger feeding her as to not confuse her more with the bottle nipple. She is off the bili lights and as of Monday her bili was in the 13 range. Slowly, but surely, she is making progress. Please continue to hold her in your prayers. I'll try to post more pictures in the next few days.

We have our hands full

Sorry to not give more updates, but, as you see by the title of this post, we have our hands full. Avery's bili came down, but now is back up. Its been as high as 17.8 this week and as of today is at 16.2. She's been back on the bili lights here at home and having daily heel pricks to check her bili level. She also has been losing weight despite what I think has been pretty good nursing. As of today I am back to pumping and feeding her my expressed milk so we can measure what exactly is going in her. She's down about 3/4 of a lb. from her birth weight. She's as cute as ever though and loves to snuggle. I just wish we could get her on the right track. Please keep her in your prayers. Her next weight check is Monday. I pray that it moves in the right direction.

We're home!

We're home! Avery's bili fell low enough for us to bust out of RMH. Click on my Mom's blog link for more details. Tomorrow we see her pediatrician and are hoping that her bili continues to fall. Enjoy the pictures!

Avery: Birth Day

Avery: Tuesday

Avery: Welcome home Wednesday

Avery: Thursday & the "bili blanket"

Avery: Back in RMH for phototherapy

She's here!!!

I have to do this update quick. In a minute you'll see why. Miss Avery Elizabeth Martin arrived at 4:50 p.m. Monday April 9th. She weighed in @ 7 lbs. 10 oz. and was 19 3/4 in. long. Right in-between her sister's sizes. Riley was 7.11 and Shelby was 7.9. Anyway, Avery is beautiful. Labor and delivery were quick (just over 3 hours from the time the midwife broke my water she arrived). She did break her collarbone during delivery, but that will heal fine. She is jaundiced, though. So much that we were doing phototherapy here at home, but now her bili is up to 21.5. Good thing is that her direct bili is only .6. Now (literally) we are headed to the hospital for her to be admitted for phototherapy. This road seems all too familiar right now and a bit scary, but we are trying to remind ourselves that Shelby's disease is very rare and that Avery's jaundice is probably very "normal." The pediatrician is worried about her being dehydrated as she is too sleepy to eat much. That's all for now. I'll keep you updated as I can. Please check out my Mom's blog (see link on right side of page) for updates and Avery pictures.

Nothing new here

I would just like to ask for prayers for Annika, Moreena, Joerg, and Frankie. When you read her Mom's past few posts, you'll understand why.

I'm still pregnant. Benadryl has become a bit of a life-saver for me. I can sleep somewhat better when I take some. Otherwise I'm just gigantic with baby parts poking out of me everywhere. Monday I'm to have an ultrasound (again) to see how big Avery is (again). I hope to not make it to my appointment Monday. I'd much rather be sitting in a hospital bed with this little (or not so little) beauty in my arms.

Happy Easter everyone!

I didn't have enough brain power...

to remember everything about Shelby's tests! My Mom reminded me that I didn't tell you the results of her DEXA scan and other x-rays to check on her osteoporosis. Duh! Well, the DEXA scan did show that she has a bit of osteoporosis still so she'll continue on the Fosamax at least until the fall when she sees Dr. Langman again. Also, the x-ray of her spine showed something called spondylolisthesis. From what I understand, its no big deal, but she does need to be seen by the orthopedic doctor in Chicago in April to follow up on it.

As for me, I had my 36-week check-up this morning. I am dilated to 3 cm!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited?!?!? I want to have this baby this week. I measured at...ready for this...44 weeks!!!! Today I saw one of the doctors that I haven't met before. He asked how big my other 2 were and Scott said 7 1/2 lbs. at 37 weeks. Then the doctor said "Well, this baby is already bigger than that!" YIKES!!!

Watch for updates....