Today's visit contained some great news and some disappointing news.
Good news -
The results of Ella's head ultrasound and eye exam came back fine. There is immaturity in her eyes, which the doctor expected, and she'll have a follow up exam in 2 weeks. We're hoping Ella will look better in 2nd grade without 2-inch thick glasses like Mom had. She is also scheduled for another round of blood tests tomorrow to make a final decision on whether another blood transfusion is needed.
Ella had a fun photo shoot with the night nurses. They put a cute bow in her hair and placed her in her big Christmas stocking. The pictures are adorable! Unfortunately I only have hard copies of the photos so difficult to share with you at this time. I'll scan them and send electronically, or hang them in her room so you can see them the next time you visit.
Ella also took to the nipple today. It was quite an amazing and emotional event. It's incredible how instinctive that is for a 2 lb., 14 oz. baby. This is the first step into her feeding process. She won't actually get to take any milk for a couple of weeks still, as she can't breathe, suck and swallow at the same time.
Disappointing news -
We learned that Ella won't be coming home until February (original due date) or late January at the earliest. We're not sure how New Years was the original estimate, or if we created that date in our minds. Either way, this is the time needed for Ella to continue learning the essentials of breathing and eating. Looks like the NICU will be our home away from home for a bit longer.
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