And in this corner...

weighing in at 4 lbs 1.9 oz, the star of "Via Christi This Week" - Willa Elizabeth Hall!  Shown here cuddling with her Daddy -

I wrote awhile back about us being interviewed and having pictures taken at the hospital.  That article was printed on Monday in the hospital's employee newsletter that is available throughout the Via Christi hospitals.  Willa was the headliner story.  We were sure to grab extra copies so if anyone wants one, be sure to ask and we can get you a copy.  The public relations department contacted me this morning and asked permission to give our contact information to the Wichita Eagle.  Apparently someone there caught wind of our little Willa fighting to come home for Christmas and may do a story on her. 

Willa reached 4 pounds on December 11th.  She was able to be moved to a big girl bed - an open crib! She has been doing very well with tolerating her new environment.  Willa is still back and forth with bottle feeds.  She is able to nipple 2-3 times per day.  Lately she has been taking all of her bottle during the night shift and then not too interested in taking even half of her bottle during the day.  She is working with a speech language pathologist to help her with her sucking technique.  I had no idea a speech language pathologist would be working with babies!  She checked Willa's jaw, tongue, and gag reflexes.  Willa has good technique when it comes to sucking.  She just needs to learn to concentrate on the task at hand and get some more endurance to finish the entire bottle. 

She had a follow up visit from the eye doctor yesterday and he discovered Willa's right eye shows that she has stage 2 level 2 ROP.  This is an eye disease that almost 80% of premature babies get.  Right now Willa will be monitored every 2 weeks to be sure the eye doesn't get worse.  She may need injections or laser eye surgery if the situation does get worse.  Willa has been on and off with her oxygen (nasal cannula).  Right now she is on a very minimal amount.  She usually needs a little oxygen during her feeds as she gets pretty worn out. 

Overall she is doing very well and continues her weight gain of about an ounce per day.

Her sign the nurses made for reaching 4 pounds!

Willa's first bath from Mom

The new crib

I want to thank eveyone for their prayers for Willa's NICU neighbor.  She is doing better than the doctors expected and is actually going to get to go home.  The mom has been there with her baby every day I have been up to see Willa.  I know they will not have an easy time taking care of her once she is home.  I now know the baby's brain is severely under developed.  I am so glad they are able to take her home and enjoy the time they have with her.