Kymani NICU Update 6/20/2017: Photos, Progress, & Daily Activities

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

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Kymani Lyrique Rowell; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

Every day that Kymani has been in the NICU, there have been new changes, mostly good. She is on the right path that will get her home, but she's not quite ready yet. Here's what we learned today.

Kymani; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

When we walked into her room this morning, Kymani was fast asleep, all cozy in a cute onesie with a butterfly on it. The late night nurse put it on her to keep her warm without a blankie because the blanket has been too hot. This is actually a good thing because it means she is regulating her own temperature and doesn't need the heating bed as much.

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Kymani; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

That's actually one of the cool things we learned today. We had discussed that a little bit yesterday. But today, they said she is technically ready for the regular crib because the heat on her bed has been turned way down. But because she is so small, she still needs to be in the isolette just a little bit longer. She has to gain more weight first, which she has been doing. She gained 40 grams overnight, 50 grams the night before, and then 50 the night before that as well. So, she is moving along nicely. She is at 1460 grams and should be at about 1800 before being transferred to the regular (non-heated and open) crib. 1800 grams is almost 4 pounds. At the rate she is going, she should be there before we know it.

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Kymani; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

Nova wasn't ready to be awake this morning, so she stayed in her stroller for a bit when we first came in. She wanted "Baby Ky" as she calls Kymani. So, she did eventually get out to have some fun.

She of course also said the obligatory "baby play, baby play, baby play" a bunch of times. We are still working on getting her to figure out that Kymani can't play yet. We do let her sit in my lap while I hold Kymani so she knows they are both special. We tell Nova she is the big baby and Kymani is the little baby.

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Kymani; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

Another cool milestone Kymani made today involves breastfeeding. Yesterday, we talked about how she has started rooting around, so we tried to let her do it for real today and she actually latched on and took a bit of milk. She then smiled and went to sleep, but that's huge progress for how young and tiny she is.

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Kymani; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

Kymani really wants to come home. She isn't quite ready yet, but she seems very determined to get there. As you can see in some of the pictures, she is sucking on her hand. This is what she was doing when she couldn't root around to feed. The rooting is one of several reasons the nurses allowed her to go ahead and try breastfeeding a little today. Right now, it's mostly practice, but it's that practice that will get her closer to the real thing.

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Kymani; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

Because she is gaining weight steadily, has no air support, has had a very low instance of BRADY events, her jaundice is going away, and she is almost ready to come out of the isolette, the main things that she needs to do before leaving is weigh at least enough to fit in an infant car seat (that's 4 pounds, for those who don't know) and also be breastfeeding without additional tube support. That means she is very close!

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Kymani; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

We don't yet have an actual date because there is no way to predict that. However, she is making huge strides daily. She really wants to be with her family and the feeling is very mutual.

Kymani; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

Kymani; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

Nova Bear has been as patient as we can expect a one-year old to be. Here she is watching Dave and Ava on the tablet with her blanket and bottle. She's only on the floor because she wanted to be. Babies.

Kymani; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

Kymani; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

The other huge news is that we've come with enough to board for at least a week. The hospital has given us 2 free nights, a friend

Kymani; Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

generously gifted enough for  a night and a half, and we also got some gigs that will pay for the rest. That week will hopefully give us enough time to earn more for any additional nights needed. Boarding at the hospital is going to be so much more convenient. This means we really can see Kymani any time, 24 hours. Our boarding room is very close to her NICU room.

We start boarding tomorrow and we are super excited. This will also be helpful when Nova needs a break. We won't have to leave the hospital and come back later. We can just go to our room until she is ready to visit again. Yay!  We held her for a good number of hours today. But no one wants to leave their baby someplace without them. So, the boarding is going to be great. We have missed her so much and cried a lot every time we have to leave. Her medical team is awesome, but she needs her parents, too.

Keep an eye on the blog for more of Kymani's journeys!