We are home!

What an intense afternoon! Let us just say that the nurses made dealing with all the equipment and feeding tubes look easy! But, since it took us so long to figure out the tube this afternoon, she ended up soothing her screaming by taking an ounce from a bottle. The next two feedings went much more smoothly. If she didn't have such MAD GAS I think she would be sleeping soundly right now. She must have some Randall in her!

Going HOME!

This morning the doctor was so pleased with her progress (3.52 kg last night and 3.47 this morning) he said that we could go home today. Hooray! She also drank an ounce from a bottle this morning. We are nervous to do the tube feedings on our own, but excited to be going home.

Libby Learns to Eat, day 12

Today the doctor was pleased with how much food she took in and with her weigh, 3.43 kilos. So, he said we may go home on Sunday or Monday ;) Hooray!

Shout out to cousins!

I told Libby that her cousins in Virginia and Everett are reading her blog. She told me (in not so many words) to send a shout out to Paige, Ann, Emma, and Kai in Everett and to Sam and Willam in Virginia!
Love you all!

Libby Loves Football!

Libby has been enjoying college football today with her daddy!

Homeward bound?

Today we had a visit from a home care nurse who taught us how to use the pump we will be taking home with us to help Libby eat. It comes with a nifty backpack, so that Libby can get food through her nose tube since she still shows no interest at taking any in through her mouth. I guess this means that we will be going home sometime soon...I am thinking maybe Monday? Hooray!

Libby Learns to Eat, day 11

Last night Libby gained some weight, and this morning, she had gained even more! She now weighs 3.47 kilograms. She is keeping down all of the calories they want her to eat. She is also happy and sleeping just great! What an adorable girl.

Libby Learns to Eat, day 10

Over the last 24 hours, Libby took in all the calories they wanted her to! Hooray! But, she managed to lose 80 grams. The doctor and I agree, though, that since we changed floors and thus are weighing her on a different scale, we shouldn't worry. So, we will count the day as a victory since she kept in all the calories. She also took a bit of food orally from a syringe that daddy used to drop food in her mouth. Another victory!

Another New Do!

Libby had such a good day that they removed her IV. She got this stylin' bandaid instead. (It came off a few hours later and you can't even tell she had an IV--unless you notice that her hair has some strange stickiness left over from the tape.)

New Room!

Our new locale is 2024 bed 2. We share the room with another infant with eating trouble. Not sure how our sleep will be tonight :)

Libby Learns to Eat, day 9

Libby gained 10 grams! She is back up to 3.42. She did really well holding it down yesterday when they gave her food is smaller, slower doses. She also had a really good time at the "Grandparents Party" last night with Grammy Geneva, Grandpa Brion, and Grandma Debbi (all the way from Utah).

During the party, Mom and Dad went home to clean out the fridge, take out the garbage, etc. We ended up playing a fun game of "find that smell" which Trish won when she found Derek's sourdough starter that we abandoned just as it was ripening.

The doctors hope to have Libby up to at least 3.53 grams again before we go home. So, it will be at least a few more days.

Libby Learns to Eat, day 8

After her weight loss yesterday, her med team decided to adjust her feeds. The adjustment resulted in a couple of missed feedings yesterday, so today she had lost even more weight. But, I think that was to be expected. The important thing is that she spit up only twice in the night and both times it was much more minimal. She seems to be responding better to the all night drip rather than the larger feeds every 3 hours.

She has had some fun alert time. Enjoy the pics ;)

Manic Monday!

Libby had such a fabulous evening last night. She was alert and adorable. She had done pretty well with her feeds all day. But, when evening came, some of the feeding came back up! She ended up with weight loss rather than gain. So the doctors are going to explore new options (a tummy ultrasound) and up her reflux meds. They are also going to adjust the feeding schedule. They are a bit puzzled by her stubbornness :) Imagine that with her parents she is stubborn.

Welcome Sabbath Morning

Libby had a good night last night, and so did mommy and daddy. When they weighed her this morning, she was 8 lbs. Then, as we put her back in bed she threw up about 3 ounces (her only barf of the evening). Still, even after that, she has gained a little over an ounce from the day before. What a blessing. Thank you for your faith and prayers.

Libby's New Do

Maren says the scotch tape is going to be all the rage!

Libby's Transportation

Cute little transport, huh? I took her to the cafeteria to help her work up an appetite.

Libby's New Look

These are the cutest feet to ever wear a heart rate monitor.

Libby learns to eat, day 6

Libby had a better day today. The IV is giving her fluid and helping her digest the other food. Some medicine to stop acid reflux is also helping. The doctor agreed that her body just wasn't ready to take in as many calories as quickly as they had hoped, so they slowed down the feedings. She actually got hungry and took one ounce from a bottle a couple of times. She has kept everything down so far today. I know your faith and prayers are helping her. As I write she is cheering on the Huskies with her eyes closed. Go Dawgs!
We love you all.

Fast for Libby?

We are going to fast for Libby tomorrow, closing the fast around 5:00 pm. We need to fast that her body will start accepting the calories that she needs to gain weight, and that she will get excited about eating again.

Libby learns to eat, day 5

Last night Libby ate an entire bottle with no coaxing, but for the most part she is learning to enjoy a full belly via a feeding tube. We are thankful for all your thoughts, prayers, and phone calls. Right now we are trying to focus on increasing my milk and that means I don't have time to call everyone back right away. I will do my best to start getting back to you all soon. Keep up the prayers! You could also pray for the Children's Hospital family internet access to be repaired so I could add some more pictures.
We love you all!

Libby learns to eat

On Monday Sept. 17th, Derek took Libby in to see our new pediatrician because she had an eye infection and had some diarrhea. The diarrhea had cleared up when we switched to soy formula, and the eyes were looking better, so we almost didn't take her in. When the doctor put her on the scale, the course of our week changed! Libby was still under her birth weight. I rushed home from my ASB retreat, and we checked into Children's hospital in Seattle. It turns out our beloved Libby is a unique child. She is happy and content with almost NO FOOD. She would nurse, but not really eat much. So, we are at Children's for awhile as she learns that having a full tummy is a good thing. Bottle feeding worked for a day, but she has been rejecting the bottle since Tuesday night. So now she is getting most of her food through a feeding tube in her nose that will help her learn that feeling full is a good thing. She still manages to be adorable even in the hospital environment.

Libby learns the joy of exercise

Libby tries out her Nike swoosh jogging apparel along with her converse high tops. They looked sweet, but she wasn't so sure about the whole thing.

Also, Daddy adding another 8 lbs. or so to his pullups. She seemed to enjoy it. We took it as a sign that she will love exercise!

Libby Learns to Live

This is a compilation video of the highlights of her first 6 weeks. She is just ADORABLE.

Libby's Blessing

Libby was given a name and a blessing in the Edmonds Ward, Shoreline WA stake on August 12, 2007. Her father Derek Norton gave the blessing.

Beginning Life with Libby

Elisabeth Mary Norton joined our family on July 24th, 2007. Since all of the Randall side of the familly, and some of the Nortons live across the country, and because we think she is the most beautiful and entertaining creature in the world, we want to start this blog to share her with EVERYONE.

Beginning Life with Libby

Elisabeth Mary Norton joined our family on July 24th, 2007. Since all of the Randall side of the familly, and some of the Nortons live across the country, and because we think she is the most beautiful and entertaining creature in the world, we want to start this blog to share her with EVERYONE.