Lots About Louisa

Photo credit: Haley Owens

Miss Louisa Bryn Caroline Youree is a doll baby. I mean that figuratively and literally. She is precious, making my heart burst with joy every time she moans, sighs, and turns her head. When we brought her home, she was nearly a pound heavier than her birth weight (which was 4 pounds 10 ounces), but even then she was the size of Anna's dolls. (In fact, on Christmas morning when Anna opened a pack of doll clothes, she was confused at first because she thought they were clothes for Louisa!)

Everyone wants to know--understandably--if Louisa was premature. Actually, no; the doctors estimate she was full term. She scored a 9/9 on the APGAR and never had oxygen assistance. She never spent time under the lights or in the NICU. Praise God! Healthy, but tiny.

Our little love is eating LIKE A CHAMP. I am happy to report that she has never lost an ounce. At her one-month appointment, she weighed . . . (wait for it) . . . SIX POUNDS AND TWELVE OUNCES. We are thrilled with her progress. She's gone from eating 2-2.5 ounces when we brought her home to eating 3-4 ounces. That's my girl! Little Lou no longer wears preemie clothes; she's rocking those newborns like a star.

Photo credit: Haley Owens

Louisa is also laid back. Don't hate me, but I've scored in the calm baby section. Surely I've just jinxed myself. Nevertheless, so far so good. Louisa is on a good 3-4 hour schedule. Of course she has fussy spells, but she really is easily soothed. LOVE HER. She's so cuddly I could melt.

(And talk about a Christmas gift for Mama: Louisa slept for five hours straight on Christmas Eve.)

Here are a few factoids about the wee one:

• Being swaddled is her favorite past time. She adores it . . . and it keeps her from mauling herself with those fingers. 
• She's not a fan (AT ALL) of changing clothes.
• If Louisa could hate anything more than changing clothes, it's having lotion applied to her body. H-a-t-e-s that.
• But put that cutie in the bath tub, and it is relaxation city. I do believe I've yet to meet a person who enjoys a bath more than Louisa.
• Her eye focus/contact is improving. I may or may not get smiles daily. (Swoon.)
• Louisa has the BEST big sister a girl could hope for. 

Photo credit: Haley Owens

Last, we ask for prayers for our sweet girl too. Louisa was born with a minor medical concern. While that issue is improving, it (along with a few other clues) led our doctor to perform an ultrasound. That procedure discovered an abnormality in Louisa's spinal cord. At this point, we do not know a ton about what that means for her. The small amount of research Bryan could find on the issue provides a range of severities--from no problems to difficulties walking to intestinal struggles to a tethered cord. Louisa has an appointment on December 29 with a neurosurgeon; we hope to have more answers then.

Thank you for all the well wishes, the gifts, the comments on Facebook/Instagram. Louisa has added more joy, hope, and love to our happy little family. Thanks be to God for His great gifts.