2nd Cord Blood Transfusion!

Our 2nd cord blood transfusion is complete!  Emily was calm as can be during the whole thing (except for the IV part of course).  It only took one try to get the IV started this time, instead of the four tries last time. (I think I'm still traumatized from that experience.) The transfusion itself only lasted about 15 minutes, but we were in the Day Hospital for 7 hours for wait time and to get IV fluids for a couple hours after the procedure.  We had an awesome musical therapist who came in to sing and play his guitar to create a soothing environment for Emily.  He played a beautiful song during the transfusion - I don't know what it's called but the words were "Beautiful Girl."  It was perfect for our girl.  :)

D. Kurtzburg said we have enough stem cells left for one more transfusion and a little more left over.  We can decide either to use it all for the 3rd transfusion or to save it for any treatment they might find in the future that doesn't exist yet.  We are leaning towards saving it, at Dr. Kurtzburg's recommendation, but will decide for sure when we do the next transfusion since the amount of cells they infuse depends on her body weight.

Our 3rd and final transfusion is scheduled for July 21st, when Emily will be 17 weeks old.

Appointments

Emily had a neurosurgery check-up on May 13th and everything looks good with her shunt! She has a rapid MRI scheduled in 4 weeks to see how her brain is responding to the fluid being drained out.  On May 14th, she had an audiology appointment since she failed the newborn screening in her left ear twice while in the hospital.  She passed both ears this time!! We were so happy to get that news.  After audiology, we saw neonatology and physical therapy and they are very happy with her progress.  They want her to gain at least 20 grams per day and she has been gaining 43 grams per day.  She certainly showed them she doesn't need help eating!  Our last appointment for the day was a hip ultrasound.  The doctors don't think she has an issue but it is just a precaution since she was in the breech position for so long.  We are still waiting for the results for that.  Right now, we are focusing on strengthening her muscles, especially her neck muscles because she will obviously need more time and work to learn to hold her head up and then move on to other motor skills.  We are so proud of her already. 

6 weeks!

Happy 6 weeks Emily Quinn!!

"I'm 6 weeks already?!"

Birthday kisses from Daddy

We celebrated by reading "10 Little Rubber Ducks"

Our first trip to the ER....

So Miss Emily had a fever and had been spitting up more than usual with some fussiness, and since she has the shunt we decided to take her into the ER just in case she had a shunt infection or malfunction.  Well after 8 hours waiting, a head ultrasound and a shunt series, we found out her shunt was just fine! Her ventricles were also a little smaller than her first head ultrasound, too!  The doctors just think she had a virus that needed to run its course.

Emily's First Bath!

 Emily really enjoyed her first bath! She was calm the entire time, even when Daddy held her under the faucet to rinse her off.