Graduation

Upfront I must apologize for no new pics, but our time has been a bit compromised as of late. We're on it.

On Sat. we walked into Eva's room to find the c-pap oxygen machine hooked up again...but no Eva to be found!(a new premie in her place) She's swimming with the big kids now..As her progress has been so good they moved her into the SUB ward.(no idea what it stands for) An obvious difference being instead of 3-4 babies in 1 room, there are now 17 in a slightly larger room. They range from Eva's size to full term babies born up to the minute. It's been a bit disappointing as it is quite crowded on the weekend, not allowing the physical space for marsupial therapy. Christi swaddled her for a bit today, though it's not quite the same. We should find space during the week, as visiting hours are expanded. Eva is growing..she has gained 50 grams in the past 2 days for a grand total of 1150 grams...

Buon Domenica

100 grams!!

No pics just good news. Eva has gained 100 grams and is now 3 weeks old. I am the lucky one who just came back from a session of Marsupial therapy. I recommend it..
Her new grand total is 1100 grams=2.45 pounds...not bad. Kate where's the commentary been?;)

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Babbo Natale

"Babbo Natale"(Father Christmas) was what one of the nurses exclaimed looking at Eva with her super cute little hat and stockings. Not sure how much of it was that she looked like Babbo Natale, as reminded the nurse of the coming season..?? anyway, enough of that.... She is doing well, as are we at this point. She is even a candidate to be moved to a less volatile ward, as her progress has been superb. She looks quite content if you hadn't noticed. The strange winter lighting effect is a combination of some of the cold neon lights being turned off casting long cool shadows. And of course the icy stocking hat..

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Nappy change

Here's me changing her nappy..Pampers 'micro' edition. We fold these in half at the top to make them seemingly fit.

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My girl..

Bon giorno tutti! This is retroactive to Sunday afternoon...This was my first time really holding her. (We did hold her for 2 seconds the day after she was born, but this was a bit of a formality, and not so therapeutic for her)

Peace was realized. When we are holding her, her breathing and heart rate are nearly perfect and consistent almost the entire time. They dim the lights prompting her to open her eyes and look to and fro. Her mouth and poutty lower lip hang open most of the time, except when making little squeals of contentment. It's as if she is swimming at times as all her limbs seem to kick out in unison.

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Ciao from Nonna A - I'm so thankful to God (and Roger) for letting me come to Florence to see the cutest little girl in the world! Eva Claire is so beautiful and petite and perfect-and as usual pictures don't do her justice! She certainly was born in the right place because everything here is little - little baby, little house, little kitchen, little coffee pot, litte bread... Their one room (well the bathroom makes two) home is so bright and cozy and miraculously finds a place for everything including me. We've had so much fun. My favorite spots (besides the Churches for Mass) are of course the Ospedale where we ride the bus to see Eva every afternoon (parents can only go during visiting hours), the little (of course) grocery store and local laundry mat and Fra Angelico's beautiful frescos in the Monastery cells of San Marcos. We've cried some, laughed alot and eaten huge amounts of pizza, pasta and chocolate. We watched the Sound of Music and (I) can't stop singing Eva Claire to the tune of Edleweis. Thank you for your prayers for my trip! I did get to Rome to see a little (of course) Papa Bene in his window for the Angelus last week. I really wanted to bring everyone's love to Christi and Bill and have tried to be helpful, loving and kind. I'm starting my journey home in a little while and feeling sad but very thankful. God Bless the little Mangan family in Florence! Chiao!

Marsupial therapy Day 2

So here are some sweet pics of Eva and Christi..This may also offer a better idea of how big she really is. At this point she is plus 70 grams over 1000. We had to make an early exit as another baby needed some procedure, thus no therapy for myself.

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Marsupial therapy!!

So, today we began 'Marsupial therapy'(skin on skin...like mother kangaroos and koalas)...This was huge. We came in, and for Christi her first time in three days as she was running a fever, and found her incubator quite barren from many of the instruments used to assist her breathing and feeding. Not only did they stop her c-pap breathing treatment, but also her nutrient tube through her belly button. First thing they asked was who would like to begin Marsupial therapy first...I of course deferred to Christi.

Regrettably between the two cameras we brought, one was missing the memory card, the other ones battery was exhausted. Sorry all. We dimmed the lights, pulled up two reclining chairs, and Eva rested on Christi's chest for over two hours. It was so peaceful and needed. It was hard for us and I would imagine Eva to place her back in her little blanket nest in the incubator. She has made it so far, thank God.

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2 for the road..

Sunday afternoon

Sunday Christi went on bedrest as she has overextended herself being a new mother and all, and needs time to heal properly. This found me alone with Eva, for a joyful and peaceful afternoon at the hospital...I held her and she held me.

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The facts

I'll try and describe Eva's condition as simply and correctly as I perceive it.

She has gained 60 grams as of today, which brings us to a grand total of 1060 grams... It's not a whole lot, but it's the right direction, and proportional to her size and age.

Her heart valve that was open has closed....very good.

She suffers(we suffer more I think) from apnea. Her brain is not yet mature to the point of keeping her perpetually breathing. So she forgets. When she forgets her monitors for her heartrate and breathing drop, and all the alarms go off. Very scary..The nurses usually come over after a few moments and rub her back, feet, limbs rather vigorously...Waking her up in a sense. This is normal, just not comfortable for us or her. She is on caffeine and now another medicine to combat this. Usually around 32 weeks this clears up. She would be 29 weeks today...That's almost 2 weeks old....

She digest milk more effectively.

She is also on a C-PAP breathing treatment. This is simply a mask covering her nose that helps push air in. She's little and needs as much help as she can. This is not intubation. This also helps with the apnea, and as she is doing well with everything she may get off the treatment very shortly. It's too bad as we cannot see her face so well....especially as it is changing so much every day.

We're hoping to begin 'Marsupial therapy' shortly.

She's crying now. Not so much a week ago, or barely audible is more like it. But she opens her mouth, arches her back and lets out a whole lot. It's kind of sad, but really exciting as she excersises her lungs...

Here's her with all her gear on..

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Halloween at the ward..

Texas..

Ciao Texans!

Every medical form Christi has had to fill out asks her place of birth..Houston, Texas...Christi and her family moved to Ann Arbor when she was in 5th grade, so it's a bit odd when she has to keep writing Texas on everything. But everyone(mainly nurses) in the hospital lights up when they see or hear Texas. There is this myth about or maybe a longing for Texas here in the hospital..could it be Italy? Michigan not so much... So we showed the Longhorns sign to a few of them. I will also admit having cheered Texas on against USC a few years back, when Vince Young manhandled everyone....

Here's another pic of Eva..

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We're back!

Most regrettable that delay and all, but everything is fine. We are stretched very thin at the moment, and taking time to go to an internet cafe and play the blogger game is proving difficult. I am well aware there are some serious Eva fans out there spanning the globe, and am thoroughly thrilled to see everyones comments. Chime in please...I know some of you are quite witty, though tight lipped at the moment. Come on...

We are enjoying the benefits of La Nonna Anderberg, who has joined us in Florence for a couple weeks (though not seeing much outside of buses and the hospital) to take care of all the things mothers take care of...everything. We are grateful. Thank you Roger.

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