Saturday, April 24, 2010

A Little Shot of Espresso!

Our trip yesterday was long overdue and was also way too short. I am thankful, just the same, for our visit and that everything is still going well for our Baby Bella. We found our little bundle of joy doing about the same and were able to enjoy her kangaroo therapy with Lori. The nurses (or sometimes Lori) will first change her diaper, check that her vital signs are okay, and if so, then hand her off to Lori. One of the main things they must check each time is Bella’s body temperature. Before Bella leaves her heated crib, it is important to make sure her body temperature is stable so she can maintain it on her own for the session. During this therapy, her temperature is always monitored and if it starts dropping she must be placed back into her warm crib.

Bella still seems to really enjoy the kangaroo sessions. She becomes wide awake and bright-eyed and is very alert while Lori holds her. It is usually her feeding time, as well. This makes for a good photo op!



I do believe that this is everyone's favorite time with Bella! Her eyes are open more and she will look up at Lori and follow noises with her eyes. Sometimes, she even seems to “smack” her lips like she’s tasting the milk that is going into her tummy through the feeding tube.



I do have to say that our little Bella wakes up in a much better mood than her Nana. Everyone in my family knows that if I don’t have my coffee first thing in the morning... and I do mean the VERY first thing, then I am not a happy camper. Let’s just say that the phrase “when momma ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy” applies here! Trust me, my family WANTS me to have my caffeine every morning! With all the bad stuff you hear about caffeine we never think about the positive side of our extra shots of espresso, do we? But a little caffeine in the morning is definitely a good thing for me and undoubtedly the doctors believe it is a good thing for preemies, too. On the chart behind Bella’s crib is a listing of some of her stats and information, including a listing of her medicines. The only thing listed for Bella under medicines is “caffeine”!!!! Apparently, it is used as a stimulate to aid in her breathing!!! WOW, I always knew it was a good thing but now I’m wondering... do they mix it with her milk???


Bella seems to really love it when Lori gently strokes her precious little face!

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

We Learned It All From The Kangaroo

My work week is finally done, and it is time to go see Bella! I am usually able to make it down on Wednesday or Thursday but was not able to this week. Poor Grandmomma ended up having to stay all week! Our last report was that Bella had gained another ounce, which brings her total to 2 pounds and 8 ounces!!!! WOW, I really didn't believe it, but I guess she is just ready for some kangaroo time with Nana!

The practice of kangaroo care actually originated in South America, according to Jennifer Lacey of Babyzone.com and due to it's success, has quickly spread. Modeled after the way a kangaroo mother carries her offspring, this direct skin-to-skin contact is usually best accomplished when a mom or dad is sitting in a rocking chair. Once the preemie is deemed stable enough by the medical staff in the NICU, the diapered baby is placed either on the father's bare chest or between a mother's breasts with a blanket draped over the infant's back. Research gathered by such leading organizations as the March of Dimes has confirmed that kangaroo care may assist in maintaining an infant's body warmth, regulating the baby's heart and breathing rates, and establishing necessitated weight gain.
Yep, I think it's working!!!!


My visit with Bella will only be a day trip this time but her "Granny Visits" will continue into the weekend. Granny Angela (John's Mother) is flying in from Atlanta. It has been 2 weeks since she's been able to visit, so I KNOW she's anxious to see precious Bella, just like I am.

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Monday, April 19, 2010

Never Fear -- Great-Grandmomma is Here

My visit with Bella, Lori and John went by way too fast. Each day we had visitors and before I knew it, it was time to come home. There were many things that I did not get done while I was there, but the weekend was over and it was time to get back to work. My only comfort in going back to work is knowing that by saving my leave time, I will hopefully be able to take more time off when Bella comes home.
As for those "things" that didn't get done on my visit, never fear because Great- Grandmomma has finally gotten to go down for an extended visit -- and she took cake!!!! For those of you who are new to my family, my daddy (aka Great Grand-Daddy) had open heart surgery 2 weeks before Bella was born. So, yes, for him to be doing well enough for mother to leave him and spend several days in Pensacola is a really good thing! Well, it's good for some people........for some reason the number of phone calls and text messages I have been receiving from John and Lori have dwindled down CONSIDERABLY since Grandmomma has been down there! To make matters worse, my usual mid-week trip had to be pushed back. Oh I do miss them terribly, but at the same time, I am so thankful that both my Daddy and Bella are doing well enough for me to feel like it's ok to go to work.
Ok, Nana is done whining now, on to the real reason you read this blog....Bella's Update:
I’ve always said no news is good news and that is basically what is going on with Bella this week. She seems to be in a steady routine now of eating every 3 hours, mixed with lots of sleeping and regular dirty diapers. Lori is doing much better. She and John visit as much as they can. Bella seems to sleep more in the mornings and is more alert in the evenings, so they never miss an evening visitation. That is usually Kangaroo time and when Bella gets bathed and weighed. She gains an average of 10 grams per day but had a larger jump tonight bringing her weight up to 2 pounds 7 ounces. Sounds like she is getting ready for Nana to be able to hold her!

I am blessed beyond measure to work with an agency full of such caring and understanding people. I am truly thankful for my coworkers as well as our many friends and family. We continue to count our blessings where our Bella is concerned. Please continue to remember her in prayer. The road ahead is still a long one, but with God, all things are possible.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 107:1


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Friday, April 16, 2010

A Kiss From Nana

Annabella Nicole Snowden ~ Two Weeks Old

Yes, she has found her fingers!!

This morning when we went for our visit, I had an opportunity to talk with one of Bella's nurses. Bella is still receiving a good report and has now surpassed her birth weight, weighing in at 2lb 5ozs. Now we are now counting down the ounces until she weighs 3 pounds. Bella becomes a very busy little girl when she reaches 3lb., as many important things will start happening. The nurse explained that at 3 pounds, they will start letting Bella wear some of her own clothes. She will also begin the process of seeing if she can regulate her own temperature. This is one of the many hurdles that she will have to conquer before she can go home. She also explained that there is no set age or magic weight that determines when she can go home, but instead there is a process of little steps that Bella will have to prove she can do on her own. Simple things like sucking, breathing and swallowing seem automatic for a full term new born, but the process and coordination of doing all of these is still lacking for preemies.

We enjoyed a nice visit from Lori's Maw Maw, Aunt Cathy & cousin Sherrie today. Maw Maw sure did enjoy her Bella time too. After they left, I was able to go back with Lori and watch her hold little Bella. (aka: Kangaroo therapy) First Bella had the hiccups. Have you ever heard a baby puppy trying to bark? That's what Bella sounds like when she hiccups. Then she would look around with her eyes and she would always end up looking back up at Lori. She loves it when Lori runs her fingers over her cheek. The pictures I post do not do her justice. Bella's little facial expressions and the way her eyes look around are priceless. Before she was placed back in her crib, I was actually able to give her a long overdue birthday kiss on her head!!!!



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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Bella's Reality Show -- Episode 2

Our visit with Baby Bella today was full of surprises, which seems to be "normal" with all things Bella! Ricky and I headed down with Andy and Will. This was Uncle Andy's first trip and our simple family visit soon turned into much more. First of all, Bella had several other visitors today, including GREAT Aunt Jennifer and her family, as well as cousins Jody, Daniel and little Callie, and Lori's friend, Morgan.
On the way to Pensacola, Lori sent a text that said "webcam at 11:30". This made Aunt Jennifer, Katie, Abbie and Audrey very happy. However, when we got to the hospital, I noticed that things were not set up just like they were last Saturday at the web cam viewing. John was leading us all to a different viewing room in a different part of the hospital and where we ended up was in the lobby of a very large conference room. In the lobby, there were WalMart workers, complete with name tags and vests, and they were registering and receiving tickets to win door prizes. Surely John was lost, but not so. The look on Lori's face was priceless as she stuck her head into this large room that seated about 200 people. She wrinkled up her nose in true Lori fashion and said, "I don't like this at all." Still very confused, I finally got to talk to the person in charge and learned that Bella's video feed would be part of a luncheon for WalMart-Sam's Club, The Children's Miracle Network and The Sacred Heart Foundation. Wal-Mart-Sam's club had donated a web cam projection system valued at about $10,000 and our Baby Bella had been chosen to be the baby that would demonstrate the new system!
We were escorted into this room full of people while John and Lori went back upstairs to be with Bella.


Bella's very own Doctor spoke at the luncheon. Here he is explaining how important the donations made by WalMart-Sam's Club are to the Children's Miracle Network and how important that money is to the NICU at Sacred Heart. He thanked them for donating life saving equipment that helped to keep babies alive. He also said that unlike Walmart, medical equipment companies didn't roll back prices.


Some of the money donated by WalMart-Sam's Club had been specifically designated for the purpose of the webcam equipment. The director of the Women and Children's Hospital explained that while babies were in the NICU they could only be visited by their parents plus four other designated visitors, and how sibling were not allowed in the NICU at all. This is why the webcam equipment is so important to families who have babies with extended stays. So to demonstrate the equipment to the whole gang...



Her sign is a little cut off in this picture but it said "Thank you Walmart & Sam's".


After Bella's brief spot on the program, the family was able to go to the normal viewing room and watch her for about 20 minutes while Nana finally got to go back and see her. With each visit, Bella seems to be more alert. When I spoke to her today, she started moving around, as if she was excited to hear my voice!! Could this really be? John did say that Bella was missing me! She also seems to be filling out somewhat too. She is still soooo tiny though and at times you can really see her little bones. Tonight I got to watch Lori give her a bath. Bella really seemed to like it and became much more alert during it!

Here are some pictures from today's visit:





Lori was holding Bella up so that the nurse could change out her bedding. Bella acted like she knew exactly who had her, staring at her mother's eyes.


Will and I are here through Saturday. I'm trying to take advantage of Spring Break and get in a little quality time with Will mixed into our visit with Bella, Lori and John.

As the cards and responses from our loved ones continue to pour in, we are reminded every day of just how blessed we are, not only that Bella is doing so well, but for all of the love and support you have shown us. Please keep us in your prayers as well as the other families here at the Ronald McDonald House.

Special thanks to all of you who ordered t-shirts. Lori and John turned in an order for over $700.00. 100% of that gets to stay at the RMH - Pensacola. The executive director said that she had been here 9 years and had never seen one family turn in that much money. Their story will be featured in the RMH newsletter and will touch many hearts.

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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Spring Break Blessings

I am happy to report that things have been rolling along very smoothly for Bella this week. I have learned that she does have a heart murmur, a common problem with preemies. At this point it’s too soon to know if it will become a "concern" or not.

Her milk intake per feeding and weight continues to increase. Our biggest concern at this point is the fact that Bella is "taking in" more than her Mom is “putting out". Lori & John are working diligently with a lactation specialist and doing everything they can to help the problem. Currently, the nurses are mixing half milk and half formula. Bella is doing okay with this so far, but she has had problems tolerating straight formula before. And even if she gets to a point where her tummy can handle formula, it is not as good for her and she still needs all of the advantages she can get.

Tomorrow (Thursday) we are headed that way! Uncle Andy is planning to go with us (Me, Ricky & Will) for his first trip down. Will and I plan to stay a couple of days and take advantage of Spring Break!!! John says Bella is ready to see me!!! :0 And I have learned that when she reaches 3 pounds, I might get to actually hold her!!!!!
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Sunday, April 11, 2010

Sunday's Blessings

The late night report...

It's been a beautiful and blessed Lord's Day for our family! To top it off, tonight we received more positive news from the Sacred Heart NICU. Baby Bella is now free of all IV's. Her PICC line has been taken out!!! Bella's milk intake increased to 16 ml today. She has even grown 1/4 of an inch in length!!! Our precious little girl did have a rough Sunday morning though, when she was given formula instead of breast milk. The nurses have mixed it before but until today had not given her 100% formula. Her little tummy didn't tolerate it very well and she cried and spit it back up. Hopefully, this will not happen again. Praise God, John & Lori just got word from the NICU that Bella's head scan, that we have been so anxious about, was NORMAL!!!!!

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

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Saturday, April 10, 2010

She's a Star

Baby Bella debuts in her own 'Reality TV'

We were able to get in a quick Saturday visit with Bella and family this weekend. Uncle Will, Mawmaw Betty and Clayton were all able to visit for the first time. Bella had sooo many loving visitors, all anxious to see her, that the nurses set up a special video feed so everyone could watch her "Live from the NICU".



Although it took a long time to set up and most of it was uneventful, everyone enjoyed watching her sleep! During one moment though, she did open her eyes and even picked up her head and turned it over!!! I hope this isn't any indication that she is going to be like her Momma and just didn't want to have her picture taken!


A Special Visitor


Brayden & Bella, together for the first time

Little Brayden is Baby Bella's very special friend! He couldn't wait for her to come home, so he made his first trip to see her Saturday and was able to watch her on the video monitor. Their Nana's (and Mommy's, too) can't wait until we can pile them up at home and take many more pictures of them together, so that we can embarrass them when they are teenagers!!! LOL

The Medical Update

Bella continues to do amazingly well! The NICU staff is still slowly increasing her milk intake and she is now up to 13 ml per feeding. She is feeding so well they have taken her off of her I.V.'s. She is looking a little "yellow" again, so another jaundice test will probably be done today along with the "Head Scan" (we were originally told would be last Friday).

What a difference a week makes!


Bella's "One Week Old" portrait, Friday~April 9th


Lori, John and Baby Bella on her One Week Birthday

Our family remains touched by the overwhelming love and support that has been and continues to be shown to us by our many friends. We do realize how truly blessed we are to have all of you in our lives and we are looking forward to the day Baby Bella can meet all of you.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17

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Friday, April 9, 2010

A Quick Update and The Birthday Story

Whew! All of this is finally taking a toll on Nana, but I'd better get use to these whirlwind trips!! Our visit with Lori and John was a bittersweet one. Lori has always been a Daddy's girl, and I heard her laugh more Thursday than I have in a while. The day and the laughter just didn't last long enough.

Bella Updates
Little Bella continues to improve. They have taken her off of the antibiotics that she has been on since birth. Her milk intake has increased from 5ml at my last post to 8 ml and is now up to 11 ml per feeding. As her milk is increased, her IV fluids are decreased. At one week old, she has just weighed in at a whopping 2 pounds 2 oz! Just a few grams shy of her original birth weight! It's hard to believe how our world has changed in such a short amount of time. I do have to say that today was much less eventful than last Friday.....

Bella's Birthday
MAN WHAT A DAY!!!! Have you ever had one of those days that started so badly that you just wanted to go back to bed and ask for a do over? Well, that's how my day began on Friday, April 2, 2010. April 2 is Ricky's birthday. We had notified WAAO, our local radio station, to send him well wishes but other than that, it was business as usual at the Gibson house. We were planning to celebrate later that night, but little did we know that Miss Bella had other plans.

It was just one of those mornings for me where everything seemed to go wrong and everything that was going wrong was out of my control. (Yes, that would continue throughout the day.) By 7:30 am, I was in tears and praying for God to please show me what I needed to get from all of this so that my day would get better. (At this point, Lori was fine). By 8:15, I was finally at the office and starting to feel some better. I had the main computer up and was about to dive into my work when I received a text from Lori that read "Is it ok, if I'm cramping?" To which I promptly replied, "NO!!!"

We had a similar conversation earlier in the week when she starting spotting but my concerns were mounting. I proceeded to make my usual round of phone calls. First, the doctor's office. No, they were closed for Good Friday. Then to Aunt Karen, who is a nurse for a different ob doctor in town. We couldn't reach her either. Finally, to Labor & Delivery who, without hesitation, said "Bring her in." When I called Lori back to tell her what they said, she tells me that it's not that bad. Well, I explained to her that we didn't want it to get bad, so she needed to go on. Another round of phone calls now to John, who was thankfully off work and nearby, to get my office covered, and then to Ricky.

By the time I made it from Evergreen to Andalusia Regional Hospital, Lori and John were already in the observation room. She was hooked up to a monitor and the IV was being started. A nurse was asking lots of questions and soon stated, "Yes, you are definitely having contractions!" WHAT? Before my frazzled brain had time to make sense of it, we were asked to step outside. Lori's doctor came by and didn't seem very optimistic, but he had not examined her yet, so I still had hope. At this point, I made a few more calls and waited impatiently for the Doctor to come back out. When he did, the news was not what we had hoped it would be. He said that Lori was in labor, already at 5cm and this was too far along to transfer her to another hospital. He explained that the dangers of her water breaking and having the baby during transit were far greater than delivering the baby in Andalusia. She was admitted and quickly put on medication to try and stop the contractions but at 5cm, he didn't expect that to work. Our hope and prayer at this point became to prolong the delivery as long as possible, in order to get as much medicine into Lori for the good of the baby. One hour, one day, three days ...any time we could buy would help, but the longer the better. At this point, we prayed and prayed some more. Our wonderful hosts of family and friends began to flood the waiting room, and they were praying too. Lori had wonderful nurses that afternoon, taking such good care of her and explaining things every step of the way. John and I pretty much stayed with her the whole afternoon. The object of the game was to keep her in a quiet, dark, calm atmosphere. They were able to prolong Bella's delivery long enough to get one dose of steroids and two doses of antibiotics into Lori.

Annabella Nicole Snoweden made her grand entrance into the world at 6:40 pm. Words cannot begin to express how thankful we are to the medical team at ARH who worked on Bella. Dr. Eldridge was there waiting for her when she was born and never left her side. Our friend and cousin Tamara, the respiratory therapist, worked to get Bella stable and then became the family photographer. All of our crew in the waiting room was able to see pics before they could see the baby, thanks to Tamara and digital photography. The doctors in Pensacola even commented on the wonderful care that Bella received in Andalusia.

After Bella was born and the team got her stabilized, they let up the blinds in the nursery and we were able to see her through the window. All 2lb and 2oz of her! She spent about 3 hours in Andalusia before the flight team from Sacred Heart arrived.



It took a while to be transferred from the hospital equipment to the flight equipment. This included Bella's first wardrobe change. She got a fashion upgrade as she went from plastic wrap


to this fancy Ziploc Bag. We call this our "staying fresh" picture


She also got this fancy new ride


She was doing so well, that she got to stop by and visit Mommy and Daddy before she went on her big trip to Pensacola.


Mommy's first touch


Daddy's hand


The flight team was awesome and they rolled Bella into the room and explained everything that was about to take place. They also presented her with her first set of wings. Of course, it was hard to watch her leave but we knew she was in good hands and most importantly that God was in control.

John went on to Sacred Heart that night to be with Bella and Lori and I joined him on Saturday evening.
This is the first time Lori got to hold Bella on Sunday. It's called the kangaroo. Notice Bella's tiny hand wrapped around her Mommy's finger.


This was also taken on Sunday. You can really see how tiny she is.


This is Bella sporting her first bracelet....actually it's not hers. It is Daddy's wedding band on her tiny little wrist.



Our cup is still overflowing from the outpouring of love and support that we have received from all of our family and friends. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Please continue to pray for Bella and her family as we continue to put our trust in our Father.
"But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those that trust in His unfailing love."
Psalm 33:18

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Thursday, April 8, 2010

Just a Spoonful.....

Greetings from Pensacola! Ricky and I did make it down here in time for the 8 -10 pm visitation last night. Due to a remodeling project in the NICU, we found Bella had been moved to a different section of the unit. She likes it better though because there are more friends her size in the new section. They are keeping her tiny bed all covered up to try to shield her from the noise and commotion of the construction. Bella was sleeping peacefully when I saw her. The nurses said she was probably worn out because they had just checked all of her vitals and this made her very angry. She does not like to have her temperature taken. Lori actually got to take her temperature and help change her diaper yesterday. I will agree with John and say that Bella does look more restful and her color is much better than it was on Sunday.

Wednesday was pretty uneventful as far as medical updates go. This is a good thing. Bella's milk intake is beginning to increase. She is now up to 5 ml every 3 hours. What a big amount for such a little girl! Five milliliters looks like this:



For a 20 pound baby, it's a dose of Tylenol. For a 2 pound preemie, it's a meal. Five milliliters is equal to 1 teaspoon and I bet you didn't know this -- there are 6 teaspoons in an ounce! So technically speaking, Bella is taking 1/6 of an ounce of milk every 3 hours, but doesn't 5 milliliters sound so much better?

My goal for today is to get some "good food" in Lori. I guess the motherly need to make sure your baby is taken care of never goes away. After we drop by the NICU to leave Bella her breakfast, we are off to Huddle House. Then on to the grocery store because I plan to make a home cooked meal for John and Lori this afternoon. I also think I'll whip up a breakfast casserole for them to cook in the morning. So much to do.....so little time. A Nana's work is never done.

Bella's family continues be amazed yet humbled at the awesome power of our God. That, along with the love and encouragement from our friends, is sustaining us through this journey. Thank you for all of your continuous prayers.

Look at the lilies of the field and see how they grow. And if God cares so wonderfully for wild flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Matthew 6:28-30

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Got Milk? Got Music?

Tuesday, April 6

I am happy to report that Bella had a good night. Her jaundice test showed improvement and by midday, the lights were removed. We rejoice in this because even though jaundice is a routine condition for newborns, everything is more critical when you're a preemie.

Big News.....Bella's tiny tummy is now awake and processing her food!! She has a tiny feeding tube, but the problem has been that her stomach was not processing the food. Well, maybe her little body is waking up or maybe she just got hungry but last night she began to process some of her food and now she is processing ALL of it. This is very important because we need Bella to grow. She is already starting to gain back the weight she lost and is now weighing in at 1.13 pounds.

On a non medical note, Lori is still being allowed to hold little Bella, and John had his first turn today. Lori also got to pick out a bedding set for her crib. They were told that when she is 3 weeks old, she can start wearing her own clothes. I guess somebody needs to go shopping!! John has also downloaded some Mozart and Beethoven to his cell phone for her to listen to. I told him that he needed to let her listen to some good stuff, like SOUTHLAND! Then she can join Uncle Andy's fan club with Ginny and Audrey!

Today was my first day back at work, but if you had looked in my vehicle you would have thought I was heading out today. I am literally ready to leave at a moment's notice. Ricky and I are planning on going back Wednesday night after work. Of course we are all very excited, since this will be the FIRST time Papa Ricky has seen Bella since her helicopter ride. To tell you the truth, Nana is pretty excited too. It looks like Saturday will be a busy day for visitors because Lori and John have requested a visit from little brother (or I should say Uncle) Will!

Friday will be a big day for Bella. Besides turning one week old, she will be getting her first brain scan. We are all very anxious about this and we ask that you continue to lift Bella up in prayer.

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Tuesday, April 6, 2010

A Little More Air and A Little Less Light

Monday, April 5
Because this blog is designed to be an online journal for Bella and her family, I will go back later and post about her birthday and the weekend. Because this blog is also designed to keep our family and friends updated on Bella's current condition, I will let you know what is going on right now.

Today was my first day home without Lori and the day was fairly routine for a Saturday, but wait a minute, this is Monday! I spent my day running errands, taking care of business, and getting frequent text messages and calls from Lori and John as well as other loved ones checking in on them. We are forever thankful for the thoughts, calls and most of all prayers from all of you.

Baby Bella was taken off oxygen again Sunday night, but they put her back on this morning when one of her lungs was trying to collapse. Doctors have now decided to keep her on the oxygen for a while as a precaution. They continue to be amazed at how developed her lungs are. Praise God! She is even starting to cry louder.

She is still under the light because of jaundice but one light has been removed from overhead. More tests will be performed tonight to check her jaundice levels. Hopefully they will be back to normal because she has become a little dehydrated. Today, I have had an increasing concern for her eating. Bella's little tummy has not been processing her milk properly, but by tonight she was able to process more. So she will hopefully start gaining weight soon. She has alot of catching up to do. The feeding tube will still have to remain in until she is at her 32 week mark.

All in all, John thinks that Bella looks more rested and peaceful today than she did yesterday. John and Lori are resting a little better now and are trying to get rested up in preparation for the difficult times that may be to come.
Please continue to pray for both of them as well as our little Bella.

Love and Blessings,
Nana

Normal Is Just a Setting on Your Dryer

I can't say that the week of Bella's birth was normal, but then again what is "normal" with this pregnancy or with our family?

Lori's pregnancy has been a series of ongoing issues with one minor thing after another. During the first trimester, Lori suffered from all day sickness instead of your normal "morning sickness". As she began her second trimester, her sickness got better and then worse again. It didn't take us long to realize that this was not so "normal". We ended up in the ER with a stomach virus that left her severely dehydrated. As for her third trimester, well, this pregnancy would not make it that far.

The Week of Bella's Birth
Lori and I were both home on Monday. She did not have class and I was recovering from laparoscopic gall bladder surgery. Normal day. Check. Things began to pick up on Tuesday. As we were starting our "normal" morning routine, Lori realized she was spotting. There was no cause for real alarm, nothing heavy, nothing new, although it had been a while since this had happened. An ultra sound was ordered which revealed that all was.......you got it.....normal. She was told to take it easy and rest, which she did. By Wednesday, she doesn't feel good and by Thursday she has a low grade fever. All of this prompts more concerns and phone calls but nothing was too "out of the norm." On Thursday evening, we are wrapping up another normal week in a normal pregnancy, that is by the way, 26 weeks 4 days.

A Note From Nana

My sister has created this blog so that everyone can keep up with our precious little miracle. I am new to blogging so this will be a work in progress, trial & error attempt to keep all of our many "Prayer Warriors" updated. I would like to thank Shae Page who has gone above and beyond to help us get Bella's Blog up and running so quickly.
I credit our many friends and family members and also the wonderful medical teams who have worked with Bella for the path this journey has taken so far. Without you, our world would not be as bright. Above all, I give thanks and praise to our God who has gotten us this far and will continue to sustain us through this journey.

I will begin with the events leading up to Bella's Birth and continue. This will be Bella's Story.....

Love and Blessings,
Tricia aka Bella's Nana

Monday, April 5, 2010

Introducing...Annabella Nicole Snowden

Meet our precious miracle, Baby Bella. She is so excited to meet you that she ignored her due date and decided to make her debut into the world some 14 weeks too soon. So, our 4th of July baby became a Good Friday Baby when Bella was born at Andalusia Regional Hospital on Friday, April 2, 2010, weighing in at 2 lb. 2oz. and measuring 14.5 inches in length. After all, she didn't want to wait a whole year to celebrate Papa Ricky's birthday and see the Easter bunny. Bella had things to do, like get her first set of wings and ride a helicopter. She also knew that when you make a grand entrance so early, you get greeted not just by the normal family and friends, but by a whole team of wonderful medical people that are waiting just for you. You also get a special medical team from a different hospital to fly in and join the party.
This blog has been created to share the story of our tiny blessing from Heaven. Bella's family continues to solicit your prayers on her behalf, for we know that God is faithful and that He works all things together for good to those that love Him. Please join us on our journey as we watch our Bella grow and become stronger every day.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Psalm 139:14