Home 7, 8 and 9

Hi All

Zoe Hope has been home 9 weeks today. She is 8 weeks corrected in age and is continuing to blossom. She is smiling and beginning to make little sounds to communicate. She has coped really well off the oxygen now during the daytime. Zoe Hope remains on oxygen at nigh time. She is now just over 3kg. We have her paediatric appointment on Thursday so will confirm her weight then.

Zoe Hope has had a little dry cough and lots of sneezes but continues to keep well and healthy.

She has learnt to exercise her lungs every now and then to let us all know she is here.

We have kept in touch with a few families form the NICU and are pleased to say that most of their babies are now home.

Thank you for your conitnued support and encouragement whilst following Zoe Hope's journey.

Home Weeks 5 & 6

Wow it has been a busy few weeks. Zoe Hope had her paediatrician appointment last week. He was extremely happy with her progress thus far however she needs to gain more weight than she is so he set her a goal of 3.5 kg for her next visit. Today she weighs 2.9kg so she has to put on 600 grams in the next 22 days. Zoe Hope has proven to like challenges so lets see how she goes.

She had her eye check for ROP yesterday and the disease is now resolved so we are very pleased. She also had her appointment with the respiratory doctor who is happy with her progress. He has ceased some of her lung medicine now in the hope that will help her put weight on and also begin to ween her off the oxygen. Today was the first day she had no oxygen for 10 hours. She coped considerably well and was on the monitor so mum could see how she was going. She will be off during the day and back on oxygen at night for the next week until we get another download of her respiration. This is another big step forward for Zoe Hope.

We have seen glimpses of a smile this past few days and hope to see more and more. Her head control is getting better also. She has lost a lot of the stawberry blonde hair and has begun to sprout new hair on the top of her head (she has rubbed off all the hair on the back of her head).

Zoe enjoys watching Henry play up close and cuddles with Tyler, Mum and Papa.

We continue to remember how blessed we are to have her in our lives. Going back to the NICU this week was an opportunity to catch up with the doctors on duty and the nursing staff that had so much to do with Zoe Hope's care. She will not be forgotten.

Thank you again for your continued support, prayers and messages.