I was talking to my co-worker Dan on the phone this morning about how Lorena is a high maintenance girl already. Jokingly, Dan replied "aren't you (meaning women in general) all?" He's right, most of us are high maintenance at least once in our lives. I think of myself as low maintenance for the most part but mu husband found out this summer that I needed a lot of support and encouragement (basically I was high maintenance emotionally).
It's true, Lorena does have a lot of needs right now. She sleeps pretty well and is eating more each day. She eat about 16 ounces a day now (half preemie formula and half breast milk). On Tuesday at her checkup, Lorena weighed 5 pounds 10.5 ounces...so she had gained about an ounce a day since she left the NICU. Dr. T thought this was excellent weight gain. Her immunities are still premature. Her NICU doctor and Dr. T suggested that everyone get the flu shot and whooping cough (pertussis) shot if they wanted to be around her. Whooping cough is really scary. There have already been 500 cases diagnosed in Kansas already this year. At this time last year there were only 150 cases. There have been outbreaks in Abilene and Marysville so it is already in our backyard. Also, once you get the whooping cough vaccine, it takes several weeks to start working. Whooping cough can sound like a slight cough in an adult but can have deadly consequences to a baby. Therefore, I can't encourage all of you enought to get your vacinations...not just for Lorena, but for all the babies out there. I also have this sign hanging on our door.
Just in November, I have to take her to two checkups with her local doctor, health department to get vaccines, Topeka to see her eye doctor and get her RSV antibody shot, and Kansas City to see her cardiologist (to check her heart murmur). She will get the RSV shot every months for 4 or 5 months. I don't mind all the running around, I just hope there is good weather (and I sound like my Mom and Aunt Becky when I say that, they always worry about the weather).
I have been busy taking pictures of her all day it seems. These are some of my favorites, including the last one...her first smile caught on camera.
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| Wide awake |
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| Looks like a glow worm to me |
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| wearing her hat with a purse on it - from Joyce and Julie |
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| ready to eat |
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| outfit from Sue |
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| Her first smile caught on camera! |
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