Scarlett at play

Scarlett's awake a lot more these days and so we're constantly having to come up with ways to keep her occupied.

We bought her this flowery play mat because she seemed to be getting bored more often. At first, she didn't really know what to think of it.

But now she really like lying on it and playing with her toys.

Mesmerized by the swimming fishes. Her tropical-vacation-loving Grandma Renee bought her this toy.

Jason bought her this little Atlanta Hawks jersey, which she's been wearing during the NBA playoffs. I have to admit, it's pretty cute.

Watching TV. Is that bad? She loves it!

And here are just a few random shots.

Back in the hospital ... but just for a test!

We had to take Scarlett back to the hospital last week so she could finally have her impedence testing done. This will determine how bad her acid reflux is and tell us whether she will be able to come off the feeding tube. We should have the results back next week. While we were there, she had to wear these blue arm restraints so she wouldn't pull her tubes out.

They made for some funny photos, but she didn't seem to mind them all that much. She did quickly figure out how to wriggle out of them, though. Also, they worked so well at keeping her from pulling at her tubes that we brought them home to use when she's sleeping at night. Let's just hope she gets to take the tube out soon!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!
Well, technically this wasn't taken on Easter, it was coming home from the doctor's office, but I did finally get a smile on camera!

Here's her Easter pose. She couldn't muster up a smile.


Pensive.

Jason took these while I was holding her.


This one cracks me up, because she looks scared silly.

Scarlett can sit up now! For a couple minutes, at least. A few seconds after I took this picture, she slumped over to the side and rolled on her face.

Her first time wearing jeans.

And snoozing on the couch.

Scarlett at home!

I've been really bad about updating the blog since Scarlett's been home! Sorry about that. But we're so happy the baby's back at home. She left the hospital on March 17 (St. Patrick's Day!) after at 57-day stay. Whew. It was a bit of a rough transition as we figured out all of her new equipment (she's still using her feeding tube for the time being, but hopefully not too much longer, and uses oxygen while she's sleeping), fought with the insurance company over paying for her medication, and got used to life with two working parents and a baby at home. But we're starting to get into a good routine, and really enjoying the times when all three of us are at home.

Here's a picture of my mom and I getting ready to take Scarlett home. I wish you could see the wagon loaded down with all our stuff, but it's behind the nurse who took the picture.

And here are some pictures of Scarlett since we've been at home. She seems to have figured out what the camera is, so she'll be all smiley and then stop as soon as I pull out the camera and refuse to smile anymore. Here's the closest I could get to a smiling picture:


I like this one because it makes her look like she has Angelina Jolie-esque lips:


She has taken a liking to eating her hand, especially when she can't find her pacifier.


She's also cross-eyed a lot these days (usually more than this) as she starts to focus in on a lot more stuff around her.

Here's a typical pose: kicking back with her little bear security blanket.

And here she is hiding from the camera. Hopefully she grows out of that soon!

New room, new baby

Great news: we finally got out of the ICU on Sunday, and Scarlett has continued to do great since we moved to our new room. She's just been so content and happy. There are still a few tests we need to do and equipment and medicines we need to wean her from, but hopefully we're on our way toward getting home.

Just look at this grin! We had some new visitors last night and today, Great Aunt Donna and Great Grandma Millie, and Scarlett was very excited.




She just loved Donna! I think it was her high voice.


Here's a picture with Dad from before we left ICU.


Pretty blue eyes.

She's been sitting up some in this chair from the occupational therapists. You can see her little hands going.

And earlier today, she had her first visit from a musical therapist! She was serenaded with lullabies.

Scarlett was quite enthralled, and loved all the attention.

Happier days

I feel like I might have depressed some people with my last blog post, so to make up for it, here are some new happy pictures of Scarlett from today! She's had a great day. They took her off the CPAP at 9:30 a.m., and then off the oxygen at around 1 p.m., and she's done great all day. And she's been such a happy baby today, just smiling away.

Hospital day 30

Well, Scarlett's been in the hospital this time now for a full month, and we'll probably be in here a few more weeks. So I decided I might as well start documenting our stay better.

First, a look at all her various breathing apparatuses.

Here, she's on the regular oxygen cannula. This is the only thing she was on during our first two visits.


Getting ready to put the CPAP back on ... she looks naked to me with none of it on! And also sad. The tube going into her nose is her feeding tube.

Here's the infamous CPAP. Or, as we sometimes call it, her snorkeling gear.

Most of the time, she hates it, but sometimes she likes it! See, she's smiling! (OK, she's actually just dreaming here. She never likes it.)

Now, this week, she's back on the respirator to give her body a rest and hopefully get over her cough. The breathing tube goes down her throat.

She's heavily sedated and that's why having a tube down her throat doesn't seem to bother her too much here.

Here's a look at the entire respirator machine.

One of the nurses brought Scarlett a new mobile, which she seems to like.

Stuffed animal friends. The nurses in the ER gave her the elephant, and the zebra is a Valentine's present from Jason.

Here's Scarlett working with her physical therapist. She seems to enjoy getting stretched out.

More physical therapy. In this picture, you can see the PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) in her leg. It's basically like a long-term, extra-long IV line where they can draw blood and give her medications. She has a separate IV on her arm.

Here's one shot of the PICU room where we've been staying.

Little baby in a big bed.

And here's the hated love seat. It's the only thing you can sleep on, and it doesn't fold out!