Well, too much time has passed since I last wrote, but I did update face book during my absent time.
Layla is finally home with us permanently. She was released on Oct. 26 and we returned to the hospital on Nov 9Th. we only stayed for a week, but it seamed like a much longer time period. So much has happened for her. where to start.
Layla had some issues with her intestines while in hospital. we found out that her Biliroubin count was abnormally high. With caused a back up in her liver and pancreas. This could have caused some of the symptoms, but we are still not sure. Her liver seems to be correcting itself. She still had some irregular bowel problems.Nothing severe enough to cause us worry.
her eyes seem to be getting a bit better. She still goes to a specialist for an eye exam. So painful for her but very necessary. She will be tracked for at least 18 more months.
She is 5 months old now weighing in at 8lbs 6oz. and 21 inches long. She has doubled her length and quadrupled her weight. She sleeps through the night and stays awake most of the day. She is smiling and cooing. She seems to be catching up to her 5 mo old full term counterparts. She can lift her head pretty well and roll over at times. 5-7 mos is when we would expect her to sit up, but I think she has a way to go. She is testing out her hand eye coordination. She reaches out and grabs hold, but at the same time she has an infant clench and feel secure swaddled up.
She is still on several medications and along with those come side effects. Irritability, diarrhea, and drooling. Not fun all the time but manageable. She is the joy of my life and consumes all of my time when she is awake. The children have taken to helping hold her because Layla does not want to be left out. Miguel walks around with her. Gabriel feed her burps her,and keeps her at bay while I make dinner sometimes. The girls sign to her and distract her while I get dressed. Daddy still doesn't feel to comfortable staying with her just yet. It is a lot off work and she is used to a certain routine of things.
We all seem to have adjusted to having a high maintenance baby around, and it seems like it was meant to be this way. She is a happy baby, beautiful, smiley baby.
We still have our concerns for her cognitive development, motor skills, and health. We pray everyday for her to be able to over come her health issues. Our children are our life and right now some of our everyday routine have been put on hold to care for Layla. Though the kids don't mind, we as parents would like to get to a place where we can resume normalcy.What ever that may be.
We have appreciated all the prayers sent from a far. with out faith we would have been destroyed. This by far has been the most difficult experience to date to go through. Me and Hailey spent hours on end at the Hospital bringing milk and pumping. I spent hours on end just wanted to hold her. Towards the final weeks I spent 10 hours or more just to feed her.I knew I needed to be there but not with out feeling like I had neglected my other children. My older ones always told me, go to the hospital mommy. we know you want to see Layla. It was true, all I wanted to do was be with Layla. I couldn't focus on anything else. I though she would never come home. people at the hospital thought I worked there. I was there everyday by 8am, I ate there, I slept in my car during shift change, and I learned as much as I could about all that was going on with her. There were times when I cryed while holding her, because I did really think she knew me. There were times when I didn't want to leave because i thought I would miss something. I received calls in the middle of the night, that were not so good. I waited on calls all hours of the day, now that I think of it. My husband and I were totally on polar opposites. He allowed me to go thought his a suffered alone as to not worry. Thank God for family and friend who called me daily to see that i was still showering and brushing my teeth. I was losing alot of weight and sabotaging my milk supply in the process. It was just not a fun time for me these last few months.
I'm here to say that I survived! It's not about but I feel like I won a Small battle. She is home she is thriving and she is all mine. All the time I spent over in the NICU was well spent. She knows me very well come to find out. She remembers my touch, my voice,my smell, and my heart beat. She is very calm when I'm near her. we have an understanding. I will not leave her, unless she is asleep, or in good hands. So far Ive not left her too many times I feel more at ease taking her every where I go. I felt so incomplete without her, there is no use trying to be apart anymore than we have to. She sleep a foot away from me, I wake up with her, I administer all medications, I keep up with all the Dr. appointments, and I make sure she is as happy and as comfortable as can be. Daddy helps by taking kids to school at 6:30 am and fetching them at 2:30pm. This way I can stay home and keep Layla on her own schedule. Hopefully soon we will be able to venture out with her. We will give her as much time as she needs to adjust to being home. She is a fine travel companion once she is asleep, but if she is hungry watch out....definitely a ROLDAN in there.
until next time everyone, Have a Happy Year!
Loving my sweet Layla, at home....