Settling In

As you can well imagine, we have been busy trying to settle in and get things back to normal, or at least for us, a new normal. As normal as can be with the addition of a small female into a house full of small males, that is!! :)

Rebekah all dressed up for her first pediatrician's appointment.

Friday morning Rebekah had her first visit with our pediatrician. We were excited to show her off! Rebekah weighed in at 6 pounds and 5 ounces, so she has gained a few ounces since her discharge (or there is a slight difference in the scales!). We prefer to think she gained a few ounces. ;)

Rebekah will be referred to a geneticist to follow her DiGeorge syndrome, as well as an endocrinologist to advise us on a list of potential scenarios that might come up due to DiGeorge. Some of what the endocrinologist will be watching includes Rebekah's calcium and potassium levels, her growth, and her thyroid and parathyroid glands. The parathyroid is also involved in the immune system as it produces T-cells which are building blocks of the immune system. There is also a good chance that Rebekah will add several other specialists to her lineup, but we are starting with these. Oh, and she will also receive speech and occupational therapy to continue working on building up her endurance during eating and to get a head start on any potential developmental delays that may come from her hospital stay and surgery and from the DiGeorge syndrome.

My first tub bath!

Rebekah had her first bath in a "real" bath tub! Because of her healing incision, we could not giver her more than a sponge bath in the hospital. But as long as we don't let her soak in water that covers her incision, we are able to bathe her in an infant bath tub. She wasn't very sure of it at first, but she likes having her hair washed.

Rebekah in her swing - she's studying the toys.

We had been warned that Rebekah may have an adjustment to being home after her long hospital stay, and especially that it might be hard for her to sleep at night. In the hospital, there is always some level of light, although it was much dimmer when she moved to the step-down unit. And there is constant activity of monitors beeping, people talking, doors opening and closing and nurses coming to check in. After all of that activity for almost four weeks, we were not sure how she would do at home in a relatively quiet setting. If you don't count the boys, that is! Thankfully, Rebekah has done very well. She sleeps in her own crib in her own room with only a night light on. We do have a monitor in her crib so we can hear her, but she has done just fine. She can even sleep through her brothers' loud and rambunctious playing!!

Zachary loves to help with Rebekah; he even changes diapers (with supervision) and enjoys picking out Rebekah's outfits!!

Justin is very protective of his sister and usually anticipates what will make her more comfortable.

Aaron loves to hold Rebekah and is taking hand washing VERY seriously!

Caleb is the most fun to watch. He wants to touch "Dekah" and is fascinated when he hears her crying. He did a little happy dance when he got home and saw her.

Watching all of my brothers is hard work!

This week will prove to be a busy one as we get back into our regular schedule. Rebekah has her first cardiology visit on Tuesday, and we are hoping that everything looks good. She is doing well with her eating, but we feel that she maybe could do a little better. Her system seems to be slow in emptying and it seems like things get backed up with an eventual spit-up eruption. She also wants to sleep about six hours straight at night (Mommy is not complaining!) but we are having a hard time getting in the extra calories from that missed feeding during the day. Rebekah just gets tired out from eating, and sometimes she tires before she finishes all of what she needs. Please pray specifically that she will build up some endurance and be able to take all of what she needs from a bottle. The next step is a feeding tube, and we don't want to go that route if we don't have to!

More pictures and updates to come later....right now the little girl needs her next bottle! :)

Nancy