Paige's First Day Out

This past Sunday was Paige's first day out. She attended church services at Riverside Road Church of Christ and then went to her cousin Josh's wedding. Paige got to meet her new friends at church including Nora, who was born just three days before she was. (She was a very good baby -- She slept through both church and the wedding!)

Daddy buckling Paige in. She is wearing at beautiful white dress that Grandma Morris smocked just for her!


Mark, Karen & Nora with Ben, Emily & Paige

Most of the kids at Riverside Road - Christian, Lexi, Sydney, Anna, Paige, Lakyn, Carley, Logan & Nora

Great-Grandma Wilma Rose holding Paige at Josh & Tyla's wedding (Notice the wardrobe change? Paige is now wearing a dress that Great-Grandma Rose bought her for Christmas.)

Paige's cousins Abby & Dawson

This is a picture from last week when Paige was in the NICU. Mommy really likes it!

Appointment with Surgeon

Today Paige saw Dr. Ford, the pediatric surgeon. He believes that she does not have an antral web as was first suspected. The x-rays after the barium study didn't look like webs normally look. He thinks she has or had some tissue pushing on her stomach (about which he was not very concerned). He did not want to scope her because of the risks associated with the procedure. Instead of a scope, we are going to wait about three months and then take Paige in for another barium study.

We are very excited and thankful that Paige did not have to have any procedures, and we thank everyone for prayers on Paige's behalf. Most of all we thank the Lord for blessing us with such a wonderful and beautiful daughter!

Home Sweet Home

Today Paige finally got to go home! She will still need to see the surgeon next week, but it was determined that since she had been eating so well that she could go home. We are so thankful for everyone's prayers.

My first car ride - I slept through most of it but I knew I was safe because my daddy used the blinker!

I'm Going Home

Like my hat? Kiley made it!

Today we got word from Dr. Ford, the surgeon, that we can go home on Tuesday. Yeah! Paige did so well in the NICU that she was moved out this afternoon around 3:45. We are now in a hotel-style room across the hallway from the unit. Paige gets to stay in our room all of the time except for once a day when she goes to the unit to have her vitals taken.

Before we leave tomorrow, we are supposed to schedule an outpatient appointment for a scope of Paige's stomach. It will most likely take place next week.


We feel very, very blessed to get to leave the NICU so soon. We know many of you have been praying for us, and we know that God has blessed us because of all of the petitions on Paige's behalf.

Visitors

Paige has had a number of visitors (mostly before she was admitted to the NICU). Here are some of Paige's friends.

Grandma and Grandpa Cozort. Paige missed Herb's birthday by one day. Next year Dad, Grandma Linda, Great-Grandpa Herb and Paige will all cebrate birthdays in the same week!

Jana Thomas came by to see Paige on Thursday, as did Gail Martin. Both Jana and Gail work with Emily.

Amanda Wilson (Eric's girlfriend) came by on Thursday to see Paige.

On Friday, Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Michelle brought Paige's cousins, Sarah, Ashton, and Natalie by to see her. By this time Paige was in the NICU but the nurses allowed us to open the doors and to take her to see them. Later, Uncle Joel and Aubrey St. John came.

NBICU Feeding with Daddy

First Video

I'm rotten

This morning Paige decided she no longer wanted the NG tube. After her 7:00 am feeding, she grabbed onto the tube and yanked it out. She tried to do it yesterday as well but was stopped before it came all the way out. Since the NG tube was out already, the neonatologist decided to let it stay out for now and see how she does without it.

It's a little dark but here is a picture of Paige pouting. She is probably thinking, "I hate this tube in my nose, maybe they will take it out if I look sad."

This is a picture of a picture taken by one of the night shift nurses. We now know what was going on when the picture was taken. Paige is thinking about the best way to get rid of the NG tube.

No NG tube - I'm happy now!!!!

More Pictures

Grandpa Mike

Grandma & Grandpa Morris

Uncle Tad

Uncle Eric

Grandma Linda

Paige's Condition

We were blessed with a beautiful girl on Febuary 14 at 8:01 am. Paige weighed in at 9 lbs. 12 oz and was 21 inches long. After we were wheeled to our room, we were visited by Mom & Dad, Eric, Amanda Wilson (Eric's girlfriend), Tad, Mark & Cindy, Grandma and Grandpa Cozort, Amy VanGorden, Gail Martin, and Jana Thomas.

When all of our visitors left for the evening, we continued to try to breastfeed Paige, but she began to spit up. The nursing staff became suspicious when she spit up bile, and she underwent a barium study around 4 am. After seeing the x-rays, it has been determined that Pagie has an antral web located in the pylorus (the connection between the stomach and small intestine). Since very early Friday morning, Pagie has been in the NICU here at St. John's. We (and grandmas & grandpas) are allowed to see her 24/7 unless there is a nursing shift change or doctors are rounding.

We've been able to feed her for most of her daytime feedings every three hours. She seems very content and free of pain, but she needs to be monitored to ensure proper nutriton. Right now she has an IV, NG tube and is eating formula. Before each feeding the nurses suction the residual from from her NG tube and measure it. Today all of her residuals have been within the normal amount. Right now we're praying that she doesn't need surgery and that the webbing will break down; however, we have to wait until the surgeon can do a scope on Monday or Tuesday to determine what course of action will be taken. From what we know now, the most common treatment if food is not readily absorbed is for an incision to be made and for the doctors to surgically remove the webbing.

Saturday, February 16

Paige is still in the NICU today, and we anticipate that she'll be there until the neonatal surgeon, Dr. Ford, performs a scope on her either Tuesday or Wednesday.

She's doing a good job of eating, even though it took her a couple of days to catch on to the idea of sucking. She's on a lactose-free formula for now, but it looks like the doctors are going to switch her back to a regular formula with breast milk mixed in soon.