Merry Christmas

Well, I made it to Christmas. Just 4 days before, I turned 3 months. So far, my sisters are having fun playing dress up with me and they spoil me rotten. I am doing feeding therapy, because i don't eat yet, (not that I cant, I just wont) Which makes mom very frustrated.
I can be very stubborn....Hmmm....wonder where I got that from..... MOM OR DAD????
Anyway, I am growing..starting to smile and really getting active. I got lots of toys & cloths for Christmas...Dad said "NO MORE CLOTHES". But Santa must not have got the message.
I have an appointment with my cardiologist in January, and that is when he will decide when my surgery will be. I go to physical therapy once a month and I am progressing very well. My physical therapist says I should be expected to keep up with any other kid my age...so we plan on it.... I don't get lack of therapy though....Dad makes me exercise every time he holds me, and Dannika makes sure she gets some of my exercises in too...I have great help at Home. I think they have decided to Keep me!!!!
So that is it for now... I will keep you updated periodicaly!!!!

Hi Everyone,

Look at me growing. I am now 6 weeds old and growing like a little week....OOPS! i get confused sometimes. I am still working on feeding...not doing too bad, and I am off oxygen (MOST OF THE TIME) I am getting spoiled rotten... you shoud stop by some time and help with the spoiling. I am getting big and strong enough now that if you are healthy, I can have company.

See ya soon,

Tenna :)

I am Growing!!!!

I have a nurse come check on me each week. as of yesterday, I have gained 1 pound 3 ounces.

I have had some days when i get by without extra oxygen. Still need some help now and then.

My sisters have me spoiled already...if i am not being held.....i'm not happy.......what a wonderful life. :)

My Baby Shower

I had my first big outting today. Kristi Burke threw me and mom a baby shower. We had so many family and friends there. Got lots of pictures with me and my family, and my aunts & grandma and Great Grandma.

HOMECOMMING!!!!!!!

Didn't think this day would ever get here. On Dannika's 21st birthday, Tenna got to come home from the hospital. She is on Oxygen, a feeding tube and an oxygen sensor. But she is home. We had a scary first night. the oxygen sensor had a malfunction, so it went off a few times with false alarms during the night. Scared mom and dad, but I was OK.

My sisters got to hold me for the first time today. We recorded it with pictures and put a sticker on the calendar.

I stopped by the NICU to say goodbye to all the wonderful nurses that took care of me while I was in the hospital. Too many to list by name. Mom counted over 16 that took care of me. They are very special people.
So I am at home now, and trying to make progress.

Rooming In

Exciting News! Kim got to room in with Tenna last night, and will again tonight. This is in preparation to go home. If all goes as expected, Tenna will be going home tomorrow. Tenna moved to the pediatric wing yesterday and is in her own room.

Kim and Tenna are having a sleep-over in Tenna's room.The "rooming in" is for Kim to practice taking care of Tenna and all of her needs where she still has back-up in case she has questions.

Tenna will be going home on oxygen, a heart monitor and an NG tube. The oxygen will likely continue until after her heart surgery, and the NG tube is a feeding tube, Tenna still prefers this way of eating.

After Tenna goes home, she will still be very high-risk. She cannot afford to get sick. Please be very cautious and considerate of this. Your love and concern is appreciated.

Making Progress

Tenna is making progress.
This morning, she is taking 40cc's at each feeding. If she continues this good, they will up it again.
She is still on 1/16th of a liter of oxygen.... which they say isn't much, but sometimes she forgets to breath deep, and her oxygen saturation goes down a bit....
Scary to think of taking her home, but we all want her home soon. Dannika, Ataya and Kinley are wanting her home yesterday if not sooner.
We thank you all for your prayers and concern.
We look forward to homecoming Day!!!!

Introducing Your Little Sister!

The big news for the day is that Dannika, Salise, Ataya and Kinlee met their little sister! through the window. Because of the risk of spreading germs, Tenna is not allowed any visitors other than her parents.

Kim shared the exciting news that Tenna is still improving. She is now taking 20 cc's of milk at a feeding. The ultimate goal is 60 cc's (2 ozs.). If she continues to handle this much well, they will increase the amount.


Her oxygen is turned down now to a 16th of a liter, sometimes it needs to be turned up during a feeding. Babies with Downs Syndrome often have trouble coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing, Tenna is working hard to learn to eat.

She was also taken off her T-COM. This is a machine that monitors her CO2 output.

Recently when Kim went in to feed her, Tenna stayed awake for 1 1/2 hours! what a special time to spend together. Kim was so excited to see her alert for so long.

We are continuing to pray for little Tenna's progress and love to hear of her success.

posted by Steffany

Graduation

This is just a little late...but we are thrilled to announce that Tenna graduated from the Critical Care NICU to the Transitional NICU. She is officially a "feeder-grower". This means that she is mostly in the NICU to learn to eat and to grow. This is quite an accomplishment.

She is eating approximately 5 cc's of milk at a feeding. She is also no longer using the C-PAP for oxygen. Tenna is receiving oxygen in intermitent puffs. We are so happy for her, she is doing great!

(posted for Kim, by Steffany)

Fresh from Heaven

Tenna Kristine joined our family on Monday, September 21st, 2009 at 4:12 pm. She weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. and is 20 1/2 inches long. She was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome and also has heart and lung problems. She has two holes in her heart and will need to have open-heart surgery to repair them. The surgery will likely be when she is 3-6 months old.

Tenna is using a C-PAP machine to help her breathe; she was taken off the machine for a short time but is back on it now.

Kim was able to hold Tenna on Wednesday and she fell instantly in love with her little angel.

Because of the danger of spreading germs, Kim and Kyle are the only visitors that Tenna is allowed to have. Dannika says that she always thought that she was a patient person, but waiting to meet her sister is changing that. Once Tenna is able to be off the C-PAP she will be able to meet her four big sisters through the window.