Yeah, that headline sounded much better in my head, but that’s all I got. Well it’s not all I’ve got. I have an update for those following the trek of my daughter as she fights it out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Anne Marie has been relying mostly on machines to sustain her. She had a tube hooked to a corresponding machine that catered to just about every need. She had a tube for breathing, feeding, medicine, exhausting gas from her belly, and even one pumping liquified fat directly into her veins. She lived in an incubator for warmth and protection from germs, a humidifier to help her breathing and keep her skin pliable, and even a blue light to burn off the jaundice. Such is the life of a 1 pound baby.
This is what she looked like at maximum machin-ism.
From my deep sea diving collection – the latest in incubator wear.
Like I said, the life of a 1 pound baby. Yeah it was hard to see her this way sometimes. There was a lot of coping mechanisms. My go to coping move is humor. Of course most of the stuff I say or write is only funny to me. In your mind you have to tell yourself, this is all for a purpose, all these tubes and machines are there for a reason. She wouldn’t be alive without them. And at some point, someday in the future she’ll be free of all this stuff and breathe and eat and grow on her own.
Well the future is now my friends. We walked into to her room this afternoon to find her in a very fancy baby swing, with no feeding tube, and more importantly, no breathing tube. She had shed most of the other stuff I mentioned a while ago. But this is the NICU, you can never let your guard down. You aren’t out of the woods until you’re actually out of the woods. The light at the end of the tunnel might actually be a train. To that end it is more than likely during bottle feeding she’ll have to have some breathing assistance, until she gets the hang of it. In between feedings and while she’s sleeping she breathes fine on her own. One small step for man, one giant leap for Anne Marie kind.
So the life of a 1 pound baby can look grim at times, but the life of a 5 pound 8 ounce baby looks better and better every day. As a matter of fact it looks something like this.
1st face shot of an Anne Marie in captivity.
This is truly the first time we have ever seen her face without some tube or machine blocking it in some fashion. Turns out she takes after Tracy, thank God. Here is a good shot of her futuristic baby swing. It looks a little like the half-egg Mork from Ork rode to earth. Google it. And yeah Tracy will be buying the swing as soon she finds it on Amazon or Babies R Us.
Just swinging the day away. Working the binker (pacifier).
Her official stats are as follows: 5lbs 8oz. 17 3/4 inches long. Taking a 2oz bottle every 3 hours. It’s still early to be talking about her coming home but the docs think July 4th weekend is a reasonable goal at the moment.
Stay tuned.
Frank's Place 
That may be one of the most beautiful baby photos I’ve ever seen…love it.
Thanks man.
So precious! She looks like Tracy!
Yeah she does. Looks a little like Frank, but mostly has Tracy’s features.
Anne Marie is so beautiful. We will keep praying for you guys!
Thanks Zona.
I have tears running down my face. I am so happy for you!!! I know that every day is a struggle and every day is a blessing…. All of you are never far from my thoughts and always in my prayers!!!!!
Happy tears are good. Thanks a lot Shirley.
She’s very cute Fran. I’ve been reading and praying for her and you guys. God bless.
Thanks Kim. Cuteness comes from Tracy.
And what a beautiful little face it is! She looks gorgeous.
Thank you. We had become so used to the breathing tube under her nose it too a bit to get adjusted to seeing her free and clear.
Our precious little angel! How beautiful she is. Looks like my Goddess status is in extreme danger! 🙂 Lots of love to you guys.
Thanks Carol. Not sure how many goddess’ start off with giving the nurse the middle finger after a vaccination, but hey she is my kid too.
Well, like I always say, you have to speak your mind! It’s not good to hold it in.
Yeah, I don’t think holding it in will be a problem for her. Watching her interact with Frank ought to be interesting.
Anne Marie is beautiful! Continually, praying for her & the family-
lt debord
Thank you. We’ll gladly take all the prayers we can get.
I get a tear in my eye everytime I read your updates. She is an amazing little girl and more beautiful all the time. I have a special angel watching over her. Sometime I will write you about him.God Bless!
Thanks Dorothy. That’s a story I would love to read.
. She looks beautiful!!!!. You are all in my prayers
Thanks Aunt Liz. We’ll take em.
Oh Fran and Tracy, she’s gorgeous! (Of course, she was already). What a sweet little face! That “baby’s first portrait” picture is making my throat well up. Where’s all that dust coming from?
I’m so happy that you have some more good news. I hope the 7/4 homecoming goes off as planned.
Ha Ha. No worries Katherine, I’ve been having problems with the dust since March. I’m still not sold on which shot I like better, the one with no equipment on her face or the one where she is flipping off the nurse who is taking her picture.
Such wonderful news! Anne Marie is precious. I know it is heaven to see her little face. You and your family remain in our thoughts and prayers.
Thank you. Seeing her face for the first time has taken a little getting used to. She looks so different without all the tubes and hoses around her nose and mouth.