Penelope
Born at 36 weeks gestation after almost 2 months of pre-term labor, Penelope was born on a late Tuesday night in August. We knew that she would probably have trouble breathing at birth, so NICU staff were present during the delivery. She needed a bit more help than we thought. Thankfully, she weighed 6 lbs 4 oz – a great weight for her age at birth. Our NICU journey started with difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeats, jaundice and general sleepiness. We were lucky enough that I was able to stay with her, in her private room, the entire stay. Family helped make sure the house remained standing and both our cats and other daughter were fed and cared for. In total, Penelope stayed 8 days before being allowed to go home. Once home it was another 2 weeks before she was more like a newborn baby, finally strong enough to stay awake and open her eyes for more than a few minutes. At 3 weeks old, Penelope was fitted for a hip brace to help correct and heal her hip that was dislocated at birth. She wore the brace 24 hours a day, every day, for 6 weeks. Then wore it part time for another 6, before being given the all clear. We had a few small bumps in the road along the way but now we are all past those.
Now we are getting ready for Penelope’s 1st birthday party. My, how time flies! Now Penelope is 22 lbs, crawling all over and keeping us on our toes!
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View information about Blank Children’s Hospital Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)