Quick Update!

For a quick update...in pictures. Sorry!!

Kaylee's "Going Home" outfit was HUGE, even for a preemie outfit!



Her daddy putting her in her car seat....



Ready to go!



After Kaylee's first bath, at home that is..



And her outfit says... "I'll always be Daddy's little Girl"



Sadly, I most likely won't be able to post much this week either. Here's an outline of the week for you, though!

Today (Monday) Children's in Little Rock for Hearing Screen
Tuesday- Home Health Visit (they come 2x a week)
Wednesday- MY Dr. appointment, they are too excited about seeing Kaylee
Thursday- Another appoinment, thinking in Magnolia, after I cancel the one in LR for overlaps.. but I can't think right now which appoinment in which!
Friday- 2nd visit to her doctor in Texarkana. Last Friday, she was 4 lbs. 12 1/2 ounces!!!

Today is the Day!

One of the many test Kaylee had to pass before coming home was a car seat test. She had to sit in her car seat for the amount of her trip home (which is 3 hours) to determine if she could handle the ride. They were making sure she could support her own head by holding it up instead of going foward, checking her oxygen levels in her blood, and seeing that her heart rate didn't drop. Kaylee did great. She passed the test with flying colors.

In some of her pictures you can't tell how little she truly is. She weighs 4 lbs. 10 ounces now, but to truly see how little she is, I took a picture of her in her car seat.




Keep us in your prayers as we make our journey home today!!

Kaylee is going home!

Is Jerry Springer the only thing on TV at noon?!?!

I changed my page a little, trying to make it a little more “me”… but I’m not set on it. The header is a little too goofy for me. I was really just trying stuff out, so I found a grass cartoon picture, added a cute llama and wordart, and I’ll be changing it as soon as I can. If you’d like, throw me some ideas and I’ll try to create a custom header for you. I’d really like to practice, but my creativity stops at farm animals.

Kaylee Cakes (hahaaa, that’s what I’ve been calling her, but only when she’s eating) MAY GET TO COME HOME SOON! Like, before next weekend. Last night she weighed 1945 grams, or 4 pounds 4.6 ounces. She’s 5 grams away from going to an open crib, which could still happen today. Kaylee just took 2 bottles in a role, so depending on how she feels at 2 will determine if begins 3 bottles per shift (which leaves 1 tube feeding).

I’m waiting on Jeremy’s mom to get here, so I’m going to leave you all with some pictures! Hope to see you Sunday at the baby shower!!

Look At This Face

Look at this face. Would you take beauty advice from her? One my very best friends, Tara , has FINALLY started blogging and is writing some GREAT reviews on beauty products.

I have been having MAJOR problems with “flaky” skin on my face, I know it sounds gross… sorry for that. Anyways, my face is so dry, and anytime I look at moisturizers they are all for oily skin! What?! Sadly, I guess Tara was having the same problem (her’s from a tanning bed, though) and she found the miracle product! I am going to buy some ASAP!! I have tried everything… several moisturizers and washes, proactive.. you name it. I hope this works as well for me as it is her.

What will be her next big topic?? Mascara! My next favorite thing to eye liner. I’m so pumped I’ll be checking blogger ever 5 minutes until it’s posted!

So, Go follow!! If it’s not beauty products you’re in to, I’m sure she’ll still post some about her life, and trust me… it’ll be worth your time.

A Mineral Makeup review sure would be nice.… hint hint!

Click Here to Visit Tara

Is it Friday yet?

We’re getting closer to going home. We have been getting closer to coming home, all along, each day at a time.. but it’s really starting to feel REAL now.

Kaylee is taking every other feeding by bottle. 2 out of 4 bottles per shift is great progress in my book! She’ll be able to go home once she’s on every feeding by bottle for 48 hours straight with no problems. (I think)

Kaylee is 4 lbs. 3.6 ounces now. She can go home at 4 lbs. 8 ounces.

Kaylee will go into an “open crib” and out of the isolette when she reaches 1950 grams. She weighed 1921 grams last night.

Once Kaylee goes into the open crib, she will have a car seat test to make sure she can hold up to riding in it. The test last for the time that the trip home will take; so Kaylee’s test will be 3 hours.

Kaylee’s baby shower, though she won’t be there, is April 19th.

Kaylee’s head scan (and hopefully this is her last head scan) is scheduled for April 20th.

I’m taking CPR April 21st.

Kaylee will be one month old April 22nd.

Can we make it home on her “one month” birthday?

Part 2 of Wednesday soon!

Easter pictures are better late than never... right?







By the way... we're in the next (and last!) Step-Down! Woo hooo! She's in a room that's pretty much like a normal hospital room, with it's own bathroom and a bed (for me of course). If I get a chance i'll post some pictures of her new room. It was so great getting to stay with her last night. I have to get started on my grad work now, but hopefully i'll have a few more chances to blog this week opposed to the last couple. Before I go, remember that "Wednesday" that I couldn't talk about? It's been a while.. but surely you remember! Part 2 of "Wednesday" is happening Tuesday, so expect "maybe" a few hints soon!

19 days and counting

It’s been 2 weeks, 5 days (I think, today is Friday right?) since little Kaylee entered our lives and I cannot imagine it any other way. I honestly cannot tell you what I would do doing at this very moment, if I were back in Magnolia and almost 35 weeks pregnant. I can’t imagine my life without Kaylee. She’s everything to me. Today, i’m going to give updates on Kaylee, my newest pictures of her, and I’m going to hope you all enjoy my little miracle.

Updates

-Moved to Step Down from NICU. She has been in Step Down since Wednesday.
- Started on a bottle, once per shift. Kaylee took 13 mL (or cc) her first try, and 15 mL the next day. Her 2:00 feeding this afternoon, she took her entire feeding in a bottle, which is 31 mL.
- Kaylee is already a candidate for the NEXT step down! She is off her antibiotic, and off her oxygen. Her nurse today (whom I adore) said she is a “grower” baby, all that is left is for her to grow!
- Her latest weight, which was last night, was 3 lbs. 14 ounces.
** Once moved to the next step down (2K is what it is called, I think) there could be days I can “room in” with her, depending on how many babies are going home. Towards the end of her stay I should be able to stay with her at least for the last of it, but we’re hoping for more than just that. I really want to stay with her, now!! I already have my bags ready!

Yay! I got an AWARD!!

Yay! I got an award!! I have to thank my new friend, Ace, for giving it and I absolutely LOVE reading her blog. She had a preemie daughter also, who was born right at the same time and weight as Kaylee, just eleven years ago. Ace’s daughter is absolutely stunning today and gives me soo much hope for sweet Kaylee. So for the rules..

1. Link back to Ace. You have to check her out!
2. List seven things I love, which shouldn’t be too hard to do (hopefully)
3. Link seven blogs, and of course let them know!

7 Things I love

1) My Family! This is an “of course” right? Jeremy is absolutely perfect for me, I can’t imagine my life without him. Tyler and Aidan bring so much to my life, good times and bad. I love them as if they were my own. Sweet Kaylee… oh I could go on and on even though she’s only 2 weeks old! Kaylee makes my life complete, washes all my worries away with a simple smile, and really shows me my life is everything I have ever wanted, and more.

2) Monday Taco Salads at Baptist. Woot Woot! Once your mouth comes back up from dropping in shock that I am lovin’ some cafeteria food, it would (your mouth) gain like 20% salvia if you could see how magnificent these works of art are. Maybe next week I will take a picture, that is, if any is left by the time I make it back to the 2nd floor (those elevators take a reallllly long time.. hehe)

3) The Tyra Banks Show. Love, Love, Love IT! I’m newly addicted, so when Kaylee is sleeping I venture off to the waiting room to watch Tyra. Coming in at second is the Steve Wilkos show.

4) The nursing staff at Baptist (I promise I’ll get to some non-hospital related loves next). They have been absolute WONDERFUL, and I couldn’t ask for better care for my daughter!

5) Blogging. Blogging really helps me rant, rave, or just get things off my mind! It also gives for a break from graduate work, in which I haven’t even started this week.

6) Llamas. I think llamas are wonderful, if I could keep one in the house (which I’m sure Jeremy wouldn’t mind) I absolutely would, and I’d probably make all the dogs stay outside just for the llama’s utmost comfort.

7) My FRIENDS. With everything I’m going through, I’m really finding out who my true friends are and I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for me! Whether a phone call or a picture comment on facebook, you all mean the world to me!

Now for my 7 I’m linking (if I can figure out how to link!)

1. Ashley. She wants more followers, and I can about promise you reading her blog is good for your health. You may even be the high bidder on “Husband for Sale”, any offers accepted!

2. Kasey. Between losing weight and being a Twilight Addict, Kasey is definitely someone to read! Be sure and check out the pictures of her awesome grandma too!

3. Nikki. Reading about her two adorable children makes my day worthwhile (seriously!) and I always look forward to a new post!

4. Tara. Come on Tara, one blog is NOT enough!!

5. Catherine. New mother, current step-mother and has all my respect! How she does it is beyond me, but a challenge I will face soon enough!

6. MckMama. If you aren’t following, you really should. Little Stellan needs all the prayers he can get!

7.Ace. Not sure if this is really allowed (linking the same person who linked you), but I just have to! Ace is truly an inspiration to me, and I’m so glad she has found me!


Oh yea, an update on Kaylee! She's now 3 lbs. 9 1/2 ounces and doing GREAT!

32 weeks, 2 days pregnant

6 days on the ventilator

2 days of talk about going back on the ventilator

1 day after the tubes were removed from her belly button

...

I finally got to hold our little girl