Happy 2 Week old Birthday!!

I have finally succumbed to my friends and family asking for a blog with updates and pictures of the newest addition to our family, Miss Taylor Jordan Lilly. Hopefully this will also help in getting updates to not only my out of town family and friends, but also those that we live close to but have not been able to be in as much contact with as of late. I must begin by thanking so many of you for your thoughts, prayers, cards, emails, and gifts since I have been in the hospital and also since Taylor was born. We have been inundated with support from so many family and friends. It is in times like this that we have realized how blessed we are!! I have been contacted by several people that I do not even know, but heard about baby Taylor through a friend and wanted to let us know they were praying for her. We thank you all for this support.

I will begin by providing a little background on what has gone on in the last few weeks. I went into the hospital on May 1st with what turned out to be pre-eclampsia and pre-term labor. After several days of trying to slow the labor process down, I was transferred to Forsyth Hospital on May 4th and Taylor was born on May 6th at 10:25pm. She was 4 lbs and 5 oz. and 18.5 inches long. Taylor was admitted to the NICU and did very well for the first few days. However, on Saturday May 10th, she had an abnormal abdominal x-ray and she was thought to have necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a problem with her bowels that occurs in premature infants that can be fatal at times. The next day, Sunday May 11th, she was also diagnosed with a blood infection. It was obvious that Taylor was very sick since her demeanor had changed and she was not as active. Her lowest weight she got down to was 3 lbs and 14 oz. She began 10 days of complete bowel rest, meaning she could not eat at all except to receive nutrition intravenously. She also started a 14 day course of antibiotics. Over the last 11 days, she has had ups and downs in her progress, but overall she has done so well.

We have excellent news today - on her 2 week birthday she was able to start eating again. She started by drinking 6 cc's at 3pm today and this feeding schedule will continue every 3 hours as she tolerates it. Her abdominal x-ray was improved today, and her blood cultures are free of infection at this time. Please continue to pray that she tolerates her feedings and that she is able to come home soon.

Enjoy the pictures!!

Much love,
David, Dana, and Taylor