Hello World!

Here she is, fresh out!  Welcome Miss Anne Marie Viertlbeck! 
And she was as pink as pink could be...No baby blues here! She was breathing well and no NICU (yet!)
I had about 5 minutes with her before some complications began to set in with me, but she was well loved all night by her Daddy and Grandma and Papa V...

By the next morning, Annie was taken to the NICU because she was having difficulty eating (not uncommon in baby's with both DS and ASVD defects)  Some take a little longer to get the sucking action down, and because of her weaker heart, everything takes a lot more effort, making her tire very easily.  She was taking bottles well, but got tired very quickly so they had to put in a feeding tube to supplement her.  Because I was still recovering from surgery the night before, I was unable to see her until the next night!  That was so hard!!

A feeding tube wasn't going to keep this girl from smiling!  ;)


If ever I wished for a super power, it was for the ability to bi-locate the week Annie was in the NICU.  When I was there with her, I felt I needed to be home with the other kids, and while at home, we just didn't feel complete!  It was so hard leaving the hospital without her, and so tiring running back and forth.  Matt and I spent the bulk of the day with Annie, and usually went home for the evening around supper time.  We sure appreciated all of the visitors to help pass the time, and the friends and family helping with the kids (and meals) back home.  I can't imagine how these parents of preemies, who are sometimes there for months, do it!   

She had two echochardiograms while in the NICU, and everything looked good for the time being.  No signs of distress or heart failure, praise God!  Her cardiologist predicts surgery will be sometime around February or March.  This NICU stay will probably seem like a walk in the park compared to that.  I don't even want to think about it right now.....right now, we're just enjoying lovin' on her!

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She had lots of visitors, including big brother Max!

Big Brother, Jack



Big Brother, Charlie



Big Sister, Emma





Our Pastor and friend, Father Keith Stripe.  Father was SO wonderful to our family, especially to Dad, as my Mom was dying.  He took a special liking to Annie too, and visited her twice while she was in the NICU.  He is a gift to our parish and to our family...such a good man! 

I mentioned earlier that some family and friends prayed several Novenas for Annie...  I also wore a St Gerard (Patron Saint of Mothers) and St. Anne medal every day from the time we learned of her heart troubles. 
Here she is wearing the saints who prayed for this angel!  ;)

 

 

Gradually Annie built up her endurance while eating and needed the tube less and less.  After a week she was tube free and released.  YAY!  She was coming home!!! 

Brace yourself, baby girl..... 

 



After spending one week in the NICU, Annie was HOME!  The Dirty 1/2 Dozen was together at last!
 

And here's Mason!  Littlest big brother wasn't allowed to visit the NICU (only siblings 3 and older), so he had a great surprise when we showed up with "Baby Annie!"  He loves loves loves her...for about a minute.  Then he has had enough and moves on to something much more exciting.  ;)

 

So bright eyed and happy to be home!!   

Now, over three weeks later, Annie has developed a hearty appetite just like her Mama and Dad! She eats like a true Suter/Viertlbeck, but, unlike that combo, she's having some trouble gaining weight (also not uncommon as her heart works overtime, burning calories at a faster rate than "typical" babies). She is on a high calorie formula to help....a baby milkshake if you will. Can you imagine? Being forced to eat higher calorie foods?  OMG!