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!!!!