13 weeks old (Gestation: 37 weeks 2 days)

Today, October 4th 2013, is Day 91 in the NICU. Wow. When I sit and think about all the numbers, it all starts seeming so strange. Day 91, 13 weeks old, 37 weeks and 2 days gestation, and tomorrow will be Serenity's 3 month birthday! 

It's been a long time, it seems, since I've written an update (I appear to be repeating this phrase often). Overall, the phrase, "No news is good news" still holds true, but everything is not all rainbows and unicorns just yet. Serenity has proven to be one tough little cookie so far, but she still has a ways to go. 

It's still so surreal to me to have a 3 month old child that still weighs under 3 pounds. Thankfully she is VERY close to 3 pounds, but she hasn't broken that number on the scale yet. Her last weigh in was 2 pounds 12.10 ounces. 

It's also strange to me to have a 3 month old who has never had a normal feeding. She has never had a bottle, and has never breastfed for a meal (we HAVE, however, attempted two trial runs on the breastfeeding with some success). All of her feedings have been via a feeding tube. 

As far as breathing goes, this is the longest amount of time she has been off the vent. The ram cannula has been doing a good job for her thus far, but several days have passed since her last dose of steroids and she is beginning to need more oxygen. For now they are keeping her on the ram cannula, but we need her lungs to behave themselves and stay strong. 

And then there is her gut. There is so little and so much to say about her gut--all at the same time. Her gut simply needs to heal so that everything can work properly, and our tiny baby girl can grow. Having to continually stop feedings does not help in getting a person to pack on the pounds. And during the times Serenity is not able to handle the full amount of milk she needs, she is having to be on TPN. This gives her  the nutrition she is missing out on. Her liver has already been enlarged for quite some time from prolonged exposure to TPN (she has been on it for almost the entire duration of her life). The longer she needs to be on TPN, the more damage is done to her liver.

Regardless of everything that is still hanging in the balance, we have been so blessed by this precious little girl, and we have been so blessed by everyone who has been praying for her and encouraging our family and loving on us throughout this entire journey. We ask all of you to continue praying for our sweet baby girl as she struggles to grow and become big and strong.