Eliza Grace came to us a little earlier then expected. She was due to arrive in the beginning of March but due to the placenta separating from the uterine wall, the Doctors decided that she should be delivered via C-section at 6:00pm 1/8/09. Renee is recovering quickly and much better then expected from the c-section ( ironically, we were expecting a c-section because the doctors had planned on removing her right ovary due to an 8cm mass that, against the odds, disappeared on it's own and was only a normal ovary at the time of the surgery.) Eliza was 2lbs 13.5oz and 15 inches long. Though she was 9 weeks early, Eliza is very strong and "mature" for her gestational age. Akol and Renee don't want to make projections as to when she'll be out of the NICU and home. She will come home when she is ready and eating on her own and weighing over 4lbs. They removed the ventilator by 2:30 Friday afternoon and she is breathing well on her own.
Please don't be alarmed by the tubes and wires. She is hooked up to monitors to record her vital signs. There is an oxygen tube in her nose that is blowing "room air" just to stimulate her breathing functions but she is breathing on her own. She is being fed through a tube that goes into her mouth and to her belly. She is eating breast milk. Enjoy the photos and we will update every chance we can.