Back at home!

We made it through the hospital stay even though Laola took 12 hours to shake off the last of the anesthesia and morphine - drugs are rough when you are only 5 lbs! Happy to be home and have grandma visiting :).

Sister power

Meant to share this a while back - it's from June 2nd - the day we got to bring Laola home and Ana Bella's first chance to hold her :)!

In recovery

Back to Oahu

Back on Oahu ... Laola is Going in for an unexpected surgery to repair a hernia at 6am tomorrow. Good news is that the surgery is very common (15%of preemies get it - and she was especially susceptible). Should be headed back home in a few days!

Laola is sucking up all of our time at home (and lots of milk too)

I've been given a hard time for not updating facebook or this Laola blog in a while... it's been crazy since we brought Laola home from the NICU! 

After an emergency trip to the ER here on Kauai along with intestinal xrays and a few scary doctor visits, we are slowly putting it all together. Laola has qualified for physical therapy intervention, and we are working with her every day to help her get her motor skills back from the trauma she endured. 

Things are going well - we are super grateful for all of the professionals and our friends for helping us out and sending love! 

 I'll update the blog soon :). In the meantime, Laola is 5lbs 8 ounces and climbing!

 

Yesterday we strollered her for the first time and also put her in an infant rocker (then planted the toy in her hand for a photo opp).

Cruising in the NICU

Sleepy kind

Car seat trial tests for sitting ability 

Sweet Pea

She's a cutie!

And a good sleeper :)

Feeders and Growers and MRIs

Laola has graduated to an open bassinet and is working on maintaining her temperature. She's doing really well, and we're so proud of how hard she is fighting and how far she has come! Food is moving through her, and she is gaining weight. She is also getting to breastfeed 2x a day now :) - still supplemental intravenous food, but it's getting less and less as her bottle feeds increase in volume.

Tonight she gets an MRI on her brain to check for trauma caused by the infection/lack of O2 from birth and her cord wrap. The doctors are optomistic because her behaviors have normalized (and did so pretty quick), but the MRI will help us help her if she needs extra attention in any area. ... Bummer for Laola is that she can't eat all day....They've turned up her IV foods, and I'm just hanging out with her to help keep her happy until the MRI. Good thing she is a happy personality baby!

That's about it. She's doing well, and we are watching other potential issues (heart and platletes). Her breathing is going very well and jaundice does not seem an issue any more.

So grateful for all the wonderful staff at Kapiolani NICU and also folks at Ronald McDonald house where we are staying! Laola is a beautiful baby- so blessed! My mom is supporting me so much too - which is enabling Thor to go home to kauai and take care of Anabella, our house and his work. Just got to spend the long weekend with him here. Wonderful husband and dad to two amazing girls.

:)k

Good eater!

Laola had a good night of feeding and ate well for me this morning! Great news as it holds off the feeding tube and gives us a better chance for breast feeding. Here she is post food kanak attack!

Hearts and Arrows

Laola got to wear pajamas today! She is transitioning out of her isolation unit and in a editing period to be sure she can maintain her own body temperature; cute heart pajamas!

Laola's food also increased at midday from 4 to 8 ccs. She took the first increase well but tried to sleep through the next two, so it's likely they will put a feeding tube in her nose to supplement the bottle as her feeds increase. But this also means the flow rate of sugar/fat/protein in her central line is going down.... And I might get to breast feed her tomorrow - or try at least, for one feeding!

In other good news, Laola had a suppository that helped her have a bowl movement - first since Sunday! Now her increases food should help out the process (same with the jaundice, which is still on watch).... Don't worry, no pics of the diaper!

Also on the watchful front, Laola had an ultrasound of her heart today to look for signs of a heart murmur. She has a leaky aorta (PDA) that might be due to being premie and clear up with time or may require help down the line. She also still has the echo PSD connecting her heart and lung, which should go away shortly before or after birth, but is lagging. We'll meet with the cardiologist to monitor.

P.S. this big girl is up to 4lbs 10ounces - guess we'll take the feeding tube if we have to as long as she keeps growing! Good job honey, we all love you, and we are so thankful to Kapiilani NICU and the Ronald McDonald house for keeping us going!

Ana Bella reads Laola a bedtime story

Laola's sister, Ana Bella, is not allowed inside the NICU, but she has been busy at home on Kauai with Thor setting up the nursery in our bedroom. And, last night we got to FaceTime while Laola did her nipple feeding. Ana Bella talked to her sister and even got to read her a bedtime story - Mr. Brown Can Moo (a book we just received from auntie Theresa)! Lotsa love all around!

Laola is happy to announce the stomach feeding tube is also out now. And the amount of IV food needed is decreasing. She ate lunch by a bottle nipple. Big sister, AnaBella, is busy helping Daddy set up the nursery at home.

Tuesday, May 21

Good day today! Laola got to take her off her breathing mask (cpap).  Breathing is hard work now so hoping she can hang tough. 

We can see her lovely face and she got a hat to replace head gear! ... She may need some help with jaundice (from eating so little), but it was a good day!  

--Kanesa 

5 Days Old

Laola opened her eyes Tuesday and seems much more comfortable in her new bed.  Her platelets were a bit low, so she received a blood transfusion.  Her apnea has gone down and she even was able to use a pacifier, which has helped her sleep and get the rest she needs.

First time holding Laola using the kangaroo care method.

Thor and Kanesa are staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Manoa.  Kanesa says the beds are so comfortable and she got a really good night of sleep on Monday night.  She said the food is great and they are able to eat breakfast and dinner there. 

Kanesa went to the ER on Tuesday because her c-section incision was a bit red and puffy.  Fortunately this infection was caught right away and Kanesa is taking antibiotics for that.  She is resting when she can, making use of the spare rooms in the NICU.

Thor and Kanesa began using kangaroo care method.  The skin-to-skin contact helps Laola feel safe with her parents' heartbeat, warmth and voices.  It keeps her calm, which helps stabilize heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.

Monday, May 20

Laola used her binkie while resting w Dad!

Yesterday was a bit harder - Laola's platletes were low so she got a transfusion. Then my incision needed a quick checkup in the ER... But it ended well (and late) in a kangaroo session

--Kanesa

Sunday, May 19

Kapiolani NICU love - on my way over to join them hopefully tomorrow- KD

First Photo of Mom & Laola

Friday night kauai - mom first gets to touch baby Laola! And Saturday afternoon dad with Laola in the Kapiolani Nicu Oahu.

Mom heading over to join them as soon as can!
Cord wrap and infection prompted emergency c section @ 34.5 weeks. 

Thankful for all the wonderful people helping us along!

Mahalo for all the love 😊!
--Kanesa