WE HAVE HIT THE $2000 MARK!

Gabriella's Donation Video/Story!

I cannot believe it! WE HAVE BROKE THE $2000 MARK!! So excited we are making HUGE strides towards our goal for Gabriella's infusion and ensuring she has a good life! Words cannot explain my gratitude I am just SO overwhelmed with joy and happiness! People who do not know my precious baby girl are donating to her and sharing her story! I COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL!!

Follow up with Gabriella's neurosurgeon

Monday was the follow-up appointment to check her brain again by ultrasound. Gabriella's ventricles are still stable if not a little smaller and still she is showing no signs of pressure on her brain!!! And again we received the news of NO SHUNT NEEDED! The neurosurgeon said he still does not think she will ever need a shunt!! :) We will go back for another follow up in 3 months but until then the neurosurgeon said "I'm diggin' it" lol. I LOVE our neurosurgeon! So life goes on as usual, Gabriella is going back and forth with sleeping at night and then wanting to play at 2am. It's cute sometimes and then sometimes I am super exhausted but either way I prepare to have a few toys ready for her just in case she does wake up wanting to play. She's sleeping much more sound now too now that she is off of the caffeine medication. I sure hated that medicine but it did do wonders for her.

Our Newest Member of Our Family

February 29th we welcomed Miss Gabriella Lena Grace into the world at 9:01am. She was 8lbs 1oz and was 21 inches long! I have not wrote anything in a long time because life since her birth has been ccrraazzy with just getting used to being a mommy. Crazy but a blast all the same :) Today is April 25, 2012 and Gabriella now weighs 12 pounds even and today she is 8 weeks old! WOW has time flown by! Since her birth we have found some incredible news! On the day of her birth an ultrasound was done on her brain to check her ventricles, an MRI was done the following morning. The neurosurgeon came back with the results: NO HYDROCEPHALUS!! Yes her ventricles were still enlarged but with there being no signs of pressure on her brain hydrocephalus would not be his diagnosis and even better news: all of this news meant NO SHUNT!!! THANK GOD!! We did spend 13 days in the NICU as Gabriella started to have some apnea spells and bradycardia events in which her heart rate would drop (only for a few seconds) too low. We were sent home on caffeine (medication to help jump start her central nervous system to stop the apnea) and an apnea monitor. I am happy to report that we are no longer on caffeine and the monitor has been showing no "spells". With the fluid Gabby had in her brain (caused by a bleed in utero) she developed two porencephalic cysts on her left frontal lobe. (13mm and 5mm). The potential complications from these cysts could be right sided weakness (some form of cerebal palsy), but with our early intervention physical therapist and other appointments, so far they see no issues :) We will just have to continue to watch and stay on top of any little thing we may see. This little munchkin is the most amazing addition to my life and I cannot imagine my life without her!

 This was taken the day of our discharge from the NICU ^

8 weeks old!!!