Sunday, December 7, 2008

Movin' On Up

Whitney has officially moved up to the 4th floor Heart Center! Yeah!!! We were with her when they moved her from the ICU to the heart center yesterday around 3:30 in the afternoon. Whitney is finally looking much better. (She did not look as good on Friday as on Thursday and was still having some trouble with breathing, but this seems to have improved!!!) We were lucky enough to have private rooms in the ICU but it was a very busy place with people all around just outside of the rooms, but now things seem calmer and we have a bigger room in the heart center with a private bathroom complete with shower! Our nurse in the heart center, Erin, was very nice and I think she is going to be Whitney's nurse again today (Sunday). I brought Anne home with me around 5pm and Mike stayed until the shift change to meet the night nurse and say goodnight to Whitney. Jen, our night nurse, said to bring clothes on Sunday because we can now dress Whitney in more than a diaper wrapped with blankets. I am excited to get to the hospital today to see Whitney & to dress her in some clothes!!!
We are very excited about a major event that took place with Whitney yesterday. She was able to take a pacifier on her own and kept it in her mouth all by herself!!! Before when we would try to give her a pacifier she would either gag or she seemed unable to keep it in her mouth without someone holding it for her. It seems like she now has the energy and strength to keep a pacifier in + she is hopefully over her aversion after getting sick from the formula we had been using (all different types, including prescription formula) to fortify the breast milk. We can't wait to meet with the speech therapist (in the hospital, speech therapists work with babies on feeding and swallowing issues) on Monday, hopefully, to try feeding her by mouth. (She is still taking all feedings through the ng tube http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasogastric_intubation )
Here are some pictures from yesterday:
Taking a pacifier all by herself

Whitney's room in the heart center

12 comments:

Ellen said...

Way to go, Whitney. We're so proud of you. Look at you with the paci! We hope this means really good things for you in terms of eating. We think about you every day (and your mom, dad, and of course, BIG SISTER Anne).

Anonymous said...

Baby Whitney, I hope you feel better soon, and you get better, and I heard that you had a pacifier and you sucked on it. I liked my pacifier when I was a baby, and I hope you will soon get to see me again on another day in Georgia. And Anne too in my blue house.

I love you Baby Whitney. Ba-bye.

Jill said...

What a great site to see! Way to go Whitney! Keep getting stronger baby girl.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Whitney!
Wow! wow!
What impressive pictures..your family looks all so happy in the new
room!
yeah! We are so happy for you all.
God bless you.
Love, Aunt Kathy

Laurie said...

Yeah Whitney!! I'm so happy to hear that you're movin on up! Great news about the paci : ) Keep up the excellent work, Little One!

The As said...

Paci's rawk. So glad you're enjoying it, and got to move on up to the heart ward Whitney! We're all thinking of you, and glad to hear you're getting a little better every day!

Laura said...

Hello 'Whitney Beth' I am a friend of your Auntie Jill and I have been following all of your great progress! I am sooooo glad that you are "movin' on up" keep up the good work! Can't wait for you next pictures! Oh yeah and keep the mohawk!!!!!!!! Laura Burger

Unknown said...

A pacifier and clothes - what terrific news! It's great to see Whitney looking, and obviously feeling better.

Anonymous said...

Yeah Whitney- I knew you were a strong girl- it is a relief to see you with eyes open and looking well! Glad to see the whole family looking good. Glad about the pacifier knowing this was a concern!

Love you Whitney!
Jacqui

Anonymous said...

She looks so precious with her pacifier! So glad to hear things are going well.

Michelle Connell

jenphen said...

So glad to hear this! Love the paci!! Whitney is such a trooper and we know she is going to continue to grow stronger each day! Please let us know if we can do anything to help (run errands, entertain Anne, whatever!)

Anonymous said...

Whitney's progress is great news! So happy to hear she's making great strides...I hope she's home with you all soon!