Ollie's birthday!

Ollies first birthday. We decided to turn it into a happy occasion and celebrate the short time we were blessed with him instead of moping around. After taking his presents up to him in hte morning we went to the beach for a family day out. We all had a lovely time and Amelia was facsinated by all the lights and noises. Definately going to be a fan of the penny machines when shes a bit older.

Emergency swing shopping

At about 7oclock we decided to make an emergency trip to toys'r'us to find something other than her car seat that Amelia would actually sit in. She's been home a week and she doesn't like anything else and it's the only place she'll sleep. Me being the paranoid mummy I am along with a few alarms from her apnoea monitor will not leave her without her monitor so me and Adam are doing shifts at the moment and trying tocatch some sleep here and there. We came back with this swing which she seems to like

First night home :)

Some pics of Amelias first day home. The first is her looking confused on her playmat and the second is her cushion chair that her daddy made her, bless! Looking back now I cant believe they let us take a baby that small home. She looks so fragile, she wasnt shes been looking around and holding her head up since she was around 5 weeks. The first day I went to see her she lifted her whole body up in a sort of press up motion. I actually screamed, I thought she was going to snap. I think its because they put her on her belly alot to help with her reflux so shes had looooads of tummy time.

The first day went well after thecuffuffle of actually getting out of the hospital. I went home and had a nap while daddy looked after Amelia as I didnt get a wink the night before. Then we went visiting, came home and shut the door. We informed everyone that that night was just going to be us. After a very traumatic year I needed some family time with my husband and baby.

Update on Amelia

Amelia Jayne came home on the 22nd of June exactly 2 months after being born weighing a massive (to us) 4lb 7oz. She spent a total of 9 weeks in NICU and SCBU. She came home at 36 weeks gestation. ALthough she learnt to bottle feed and was off all monitors 2 weeks before her scbu wouldn't release her untill she was 2kg. She has no problems that we know of yet but as most of our journey has been we just need to wait and see.

We 'roomed in' th night before she came home. A horrendous experience as it was also 11 months to the day since our son was stillborn in the same hospital, same ward. We made it through although there was a hiccup the next morning when the nurses had got their wires crossed and though she was being discharged the next day. I had a hissy fit at this. They thought we were staying in another night with her. I was a bit offended as if me and Adam were older parents there would have been no question of us stayin in again. There was no way I could stay in again I was traumatised from the night before. As far as I was concerend we had proved we could look after her. And do a better job than they were. The head nurse said she would see what was happening at which point I broke down and told them I was taking her. I could not leave that hospital again thinking I was coming home with my baby and not doing so.

Thankfully they sorted it for her to be released because the mind set I was in, she was coming home wether they liked it or not. I honestly woul have walked out of there with her and probably got myself in loads of trouble in the process.

Amelia was released on her auntie Jazmyns birthday, so at the grand old age of minus 4 weeks she attended her first birthday party. Unfortunately she couldnt have any cake.

Back home :)

We went to the hospital this evening to find Amelia doing her superbaby pose. She travelled well but has been put back on CPAP for the journey and untill the nurses get to know her a bit better. We're just happy to have her closer. Travelling the 60+ miles a day was begining to take it's toll. One plus point of her being on CPAP though, is she gets her own room. It's lovely to be able to sit with her on our own withour nurses all around and other parents and babies. PCH is alot calmer and quieter than Newport. All the nurses are coming to say hi because they all know Amelia because of her unusual birth and the fact she was so small. Because they dont take babies under 29 weeks most babies and mothes are transferred before they are born. So it was unuasual for them to look after such a tiny baby. Adams being teased alot because he was rather druk when Amelia was born, but hey it was our wedding night.

Great news!

We went to the hospital today and had lots of fab news! Amelias IVH's are resolving by themselves which was the best possible outcoume for her! Shes also ready to come back to PCH!!!!!! No more travelling to Newport everyday!!! Shes first on the transfer list for tomorrowso she'll be back around lunch time.
It's a thursady though which means Adams in work and we wont be able to go up and see her untill 7ish but yay, shes coming back home to merthyr Im so excited!

I'm also a bit sad to be leaving Newport though. As much as I hate the travelling the nurses are all lovely and we've got into a routine of coming down here. Also PCH has some very bad memories for us as Ollie was stillborn there. I never wanted to go back there after that so I'm not sure how I'm going to cope. Hopefully her being closer will make up for it.

Amelia is 3 weeks and 5 days old and 31+1 weeks gestation. Shes still weighing in at 2lb 14oz

Back on low flow

Amelia seems to have perked up no end since her blood transfusion yesterday! Shes back on the low flow today and also wearing her very first outfit. I ordered it from a special premmie website and it fully opens out. Makes changing her so much easier!