Ingrid Lee Discharge Day

Today was monumental! Ingrid Lee was discharged after a 20 day stay in the NICU, and Kristy dressed her is a special sweater, a sweater that Kristy once wore as a baby.

I returned from work to give Ingrid a "top up" before heading out.

We fastened her into her car seat, took a family photo, and drove home sweet home.

Ingrid got to know some of her new friends, who were keeping her crib warm until she arrived. They'll have to reside outside the crib now but will remain close by.

All this by noon and she was pooped, literally, but we'll save that picture for the archives.

West Wing

We're having fun putting different clothes on Ingrid, and we finally got the three of us in a picture together. Also, Ingrid has graduated from an isolete to an open air crib, and we've moved into the West Wing of the NICU, which means Ingrid stays with us in our room instead of in the nursery!  One step closer to home!

P.S.  We can't use our cell phones in the NICU or our room (plus we are super tired!) so sorry if we don't respond right away to your messages.  We will check our messages occasionally and we do have internet.

We've got a 4 pounder now!

Happy Easter from the Roligs

Good timing Ingrid.  Ewe!  Ahhh...the joys of parenthood. :)

One week old!

Today is Ingrid's one week birthday. It was the first time we felt like we really got to "play" with her because her IV was off. Enjoy the pictures!

Trying to pose for an Easter picture, but she didn't quite fit into her Easter basket from Grandpa and Grandma Anderson.

Happy Easter!

Daddy loves his little girl!

Wearing a hat knit by Great Grandma Carlson

Dad and Ingrid

Mom and Ingrid

Posed with her teddy bear from Grandpa and Grandma Rolig

Is that a smile?

Growing!

Ingrid is on her way to becoming a big girl! She has surpassed her birth weight by an ounce. She now weighs a whopping 3lbs and 11oz. She is now off of her supplemental IV because she is taking in her full amount of breast milk by gavage. She is also learning how to breast feed. All the nurses are impressed by how well she is doing with feeding. We are proud of our Ingrid! Oh, but I should add that she was a little naughty before we left today because she pulled her feeding tube out. Her punishment is a sock on her overactive hand.

Here are some pictures of us weighing her today:

Mom is going home today...

Today I am being discharged from the hospital.  We are very thankful to all the wonderful staff that has taken such good care of me the week that I have been here.  I know I will be missing my wonderful nurses as I continue to recover at home.  Good thing I am related to some great nurses, huh?  Plus I have Nurse Brian, who has been so incredible through all of this.

Now we are entering the next phase of having to leave our sweet Ingrid here.   We know she is in good hands, but please keep us in your prayers and thoughts as we know the next few weeks will be challenging.  All of your nice messages have really sustained us.  Thank you for being patient with us if we have been slow to respond.  Also, we know many people are excited to meet Ingrid, so we are taking visitors slowly as we need to make sure our focus is on her.

We still don't know how long Ingrid will be here.  We have been told that they like to keep babies up until they would be full term.  For Ingrid that would be about 4 weeks.  What they really want is to make sure they are able to breath and eat on their own.  Breathing is going well for her, so that is good.  Right now she is still being fed by gavage, so they are putting my milk directly into her tummy.  Typically babies born this early need a lot of extra help learning how to nurse.  We met with a lactation consultant today and had our first "nursing class" together.  Ingrid was a bit sleepy, but showed a little interest, so that was promising.   Also she had some jaundice, but that has improved for now so she is no longer in a "tanning bed".  All the doctors and nurses continue to tell us how pleased they are with how well she is doing.  They also tell us how cute she is all the time.   Of course we already know that she is the cutest baby here.  :)

I think that is all for now.  Check back for more updates later.
Love,
Kristy, Brian and Ingrid