Battle of the Bilirubin - Day 2

Another relaxing day on Morning Sun Street...We kept the bilirubin "blanket" (blanket is in quotes because it's hardly a blanket) on Gianna throughout the night and day in preparations for our Pediatrician visit. She was a little glow worm all through the night. The Pediatrician said that her bilirubin levels did drop, but he wanted them to drop a little further. So we continue to help her little body break down those extra red blood cells with the photo therapy light bilirubin blanket. Thankfully she continues to be very tolerant of it. Here's a cute picture showing all her hair from the back.





Here's a cute picture of Gianna in her "go to" position from her last few months in the womb. Notice how her little legs/feet fit together. Michelle can attest that she also liked to stretch her legs out (into her bladder, rib cage, spinal nerves, etc.). Thanks to Michelle's hard work, pain, and persistence - and Gianna being a good eater - Gianna has already returned to her birth weight (in less than a week!:). Grandma Greco made a delicious zucchini casserole to celebrate!



Love the Brunners Three

Bilirubin Baby

Today was another rainy day to start. Gianna slept for two 4 hour stretches last night and continued to feed, sleep, void & stool well. We are probably jinxing ourselves, but we are obviously delighted.





We had lunch delivered from one of our favorite restaurants - Armadillo Grill - by John's co-workers Ellen and Brandon - that was delicious and so generous & thoughtful of them. Our friend Elizabeth and her daughter Caroline also brought us some delicious homemade cobbler! We had a Pediatrician appointment this afternoon. Gianna gained 2 ounces since yesterday! She's back up to 6lbs, 5 oz and is nearly back to her birth weight after less than 5 days!

Unfortunately, Gianna's bilirubin levels have continued to increase slightly, so we had to bring home a bilirubin blanket to help her decrease her levels. It's really an interesting process - the fluorescent light frequency creates a chemical reaction in the bilirubin and helps transform bilirubin into a form the body can more quickly eliminate via urine.

She looks like a little firefly! ;)

Gianna's demeanor continues to be delightful and it's hard to imagine our lives without her in it!

Love the Brunners Three

Gianna's First Sunday

Sunday was a nice relaxing day. Gianna slept well again and continued her good eating throughout the night. Grandma helped out again in the late evening which allowed Michelle and I to get at least a little peaceful rest.


Gianna made her first Pediatrician's visit today - primarily to check her bilirubin levels/jaundice and to make sure she's been gaining weight (she lost 6 ounces from birth to when we were released from the hospital on Friday). Our Pediatric office is very nice. We have an office near-bye and they have weekend hours. The Doc was very pleased with Gianna's progress - she's gained 3 oz since we left the hospital and her bilirubin levels have increased a bit, but they are supposed to peak around the 4th or 5th day...so the Doc wanted us to check in again tomorrow.


It rained much of the day today, which we desperately need. Gianna briefly met our neighbors and their little guy Adem, who is 7 months old & outweighs Gianna by about 15 lbs. We've got to enjoy her petiteness while we can!







Here's Michelle and Gianna catching some z's.








We spent a bunch of time trying to upload some videos (that could potentially derail Gianna's Miss America Career), but the upload never completed. Maybe our friends at Hermannation could offer us a tutorial? ;)

Smiles,

The Brunners Three

Gianna's 1st Independence Day

Gianna keeps getting more and more beautiful and her contented disposition continues to bring us joy. She is SO sweet! She did a great job feeding today (many thanks to Michelle's dilligence) and is trying to "make weight" in advance of her first Pediatric visit tomorrow.



Grandma Greco arrived last night about 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. Grandma and Gianna enjoyed each other's company late into the night and Gianna had a great first night home waking up every two hours to feed and going right back to sleep. Michelle got to catch up on her sleep and so did John thanks to Grandma.

We took Gianna on her first outside expedition - first a quick inspection of some of our flowers (This Gazania is almost as pretty as Gianna). We had a wonderful cookout of burgers, sausage, grilled squash, corn on the cob and watermelon. The temperatures dropped into the 70's this fine Independence Day so we were able to take Gianna on her first neighborhood walk which she really seemed to enjoy as well.




Afterwards we gave another "wash cloth bath" to Gianna. She really seems to enjoy the baths and maybe even being pampered...






...as she likes having her hair brushed and wearing new outfits. Aunt Laura seems to approve of her taste so far! ;)









Love the Brunners Three

Gianna Comes home...for the first time

Gianna just turned 2 days old. Given her development (eating, pooping, peeing, and she passed her hearing exam on her second try!) and Michelle feeling well, we were released from the hospital this afternoon.

It was a big day. Michelle wanted John to go home and get some good sleep and Michelle wanted to take advantage of the NurseryNurses (Infant Club Med) and tried to get some good sleep too. The Nursery Nurses took Gianna around 1:30 a.m. and planned to bring Gianna back around 4:30 a.m. for a feeding, but she was returned all revved up at 3:15 a.m. and she was HUNGRY!





John got back to the hospital around 7:30 a.m. and caught up on his cudling time with Gianna.








We had several more Dr. examinations, received our "lessons" from the nurse and took care of some administrative details, and then we came home.









Gianna slept all the way home in her brand new car seat...







...and seemed pretty pleased with her new surroundings.





Gianna had her first "wash cloth bath" (a solid team effort by Mommy and Daddy) and seemed to enjoy it! We are excited for Grandma Greco to arrive tonight!


Gianna has been very alert (she does actually open her eyes! ;), but we've been capturing the pictures we've posted with a cellphone - and we haven't had a chance to upload the pictures from our "real" camera.





Thanks for all your kind words and prayers...

Love the Brunners Three...

Day 1 for Gianna Marie

Gianna and Mama are both doing well - resting very comfortably right now. Gianna did a great job eating and filling her diaper for the first 12 hours, but now just wants to sleep (which is understandable!:)

It's amazing how much information is thrown at us, since we've been relocated to the post partum wing, it seems that we've been inundated with a constant stream of visitors - not friends or family - but nurses, OBs, Pediatrician, Phlebotomist, Meal Delivery ("Nutrition"), Durham City Outreach, Birth Certificate Administrator, Lactation Consultant, etc. Gianna's arrival is a complex process and we are appreciative of everyone who has had a hand in helping her enter this world.

Take a look at the below pictures - It looks like Gianna has gotten features from both her Daddy's (nose?) and Mama's side (hopefully everything else! ;). I think the black and white picture definitely favors Mama. The Doctors and Nurses keep commenting on the length of Gianna's eyelashes - the second picture is a good look at them (especially if you click on the image and see the full version).

Baby Brunner has arrived

We are pleased to announce the arrival of our daughter.

Gianna Marie Brunner was born Wednesday, July 1st, at 7:38 p.m.

She weighed in at a healthy 6 pounds, 6 ounces and is 19 1/2 inches long.

Mom and Baby are doing well.