Rumours abound!

We got a call from the visiting nurses indicating Annie was scheduled to come home tomorrow. However, we haven't been offically been told this by the NICU staff so we will remain cautiously optimistic (we've been here before and the disappointment is just too much!). Annie is just looking terrific so, whether or not it's tomorrow, we know it will be soon. Elly has been organizing and reorganzing Annie's things and cleaning little baby clothes. We have all been enjoying the idea of having her home soon!

Take 2

Sorry for not posting yesterday -Elly passed out. Annie is doing well. We are trying the breathing test (which she failed 2 weeks ago) again starting this afternoon. It's a 24 hour exam, then they have to read it BUT if she passes she gets to go home. Since we refuse to ride the NICU roller coster and get all excited, we won't believe it until we pass the security desk. Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed.

Also, please keep two of Annie's friends who had surgery yesterday in your prayers. We are hoping they get well very soon. Plans for a break have been postponed until all are feeling better. However, following Aunt Kit's suggestion, burp clothes have been starting to mysteriously disapear..

Holding steady

Annie was very lively this morning and eager to have her bottle. Apparently, Elly showed up JUST IN TIME. Annie is not so good with the whole patience thing. She lays/sleep pretty quietly until she realizes it's time to eat and then, well, someone better act fast. She really seems to be coming back from the weekend and we are looking forward to getting back on track with getting her home!

5 lbs, baby!

We did it! We hit the 5lb mark! Annie is eating much better today and is getting back to her old self. Whew. Annie is now focusing her attention on her break from the NICU. We have begun talks with Kingston and our plan is to accumulate burp clothes, tie them together, and go out the window. It is 6 floors up and the nurses are on top of things so this may take a few days. Jaeden is recovering right now so Annie plans to strap him to her back. Should be fine if Kingston spots her on the way down. The twins are on their own.

The Long(er) Goodbye

So, it's offical. Annie is in for another week. She is doing better today but still having some challenges when she is eating. I have figured it out though. Jaeden is the littlest one around but seems to be in charge of who is coming and going. I firmly believe that we are not allowed to leave until Jaeden is ready and, well, he is in charge. Yes, it's true, Annie's freedom is in the hands of an itty bitty baby. Whoever thinks preemies aren't the boss of us full grown people is nuts.

So, now that our good-bye is a little longer, we will resume our thanks to all those wonderful souls who have been taking care of Annie.



"Breathe, Annie. Breathe, Annie". This is what I think of when I think of Theresa (she is on the left). She took care of Annie on one of her sickest days when she was fighting her second round of infection. She was on CPAP and Theresa had to take her off for a second and, quite simply, willed her to be well. I just remember thinking that, on such a scary day for us, I was glad to have Theresa taking care of Annie.

In the middle is Dorie, she is our new buddy who takes care of our wee ones in the step down room. She's very laid back and fun to have around but always on top of things with Annie. We were having a tough time with Annie's feeding today (it's alot of work for Annie) and Dori was gently coaching us along throughout (and making sure we didn't screw up!).

Jenny (on the right) helped me get through giving Annie her first bottle! I was all thumbs and Jenny just chatted away while we got Annie fed. She is such a warm and caring person.. only to find out she is Mom to three young boys. It's just not possible to have someone that sleep deprived be so nice!

Finally, in the middle is our buddy and fellow horse enthusiast Taryn. Taryn is heading off to Cali soon and I know I speak for many of us in saying that we will miss seeing her around the NICU. As for us, Taryn was the nurse who put Annie in my arms for the first time. I was so scared -her head barely fit into the crook of my arm- but Taryn handed her gently into my arms and from that moment on Annie was no longer a tiny, sick baby --she was my little girl.

News Flash

Ladies and gentleman, evidence that the hat is back! Turns out Merta is the 'Flapper Elf' who works nights and puts them together. How cool is that? Anyway, here is a picture of a feasting Annie with her adorable hat. We added the other photo to just show how wonderful the NICU staff is. Annie is not doing as well as usual today. She had two epsiodes where her respiration and heart rate dropped and scared us all for a moment. She's come out of it but she hasn't been eating quite as well as usual either. As a result, we are tabling talks on Annie coming home and not bothering with the breathing test tomorrow. Lori (who I know you know well from our previous posts) was keeping an eye on Annie throughout the day but really sat down with Elly this evening to spend some time with Annie to see what's going on. This photo says so much about the level of care and concern that we experience every day. It means everything to us and meant all the more today when things weren't quite right. Hopefully, this is nothing more than a sign that Annie still isn't ready to come home. Annie could also be getting sick. We'll see. We're worried but ever thankful for all of our wonderful extended family at the NICU.

The hat is back!

Elly came in today and the flapper hat is back! Turns out there is a nurse who makes them for the babies and, much like a "Flapper Elf" if you will, creeps in during the night and puts them on all the cutie girl babies (sorry, guys). Elly met the nurse today and will have to track her down with her camera to get some photographic evidence.

Annie passed her eye exam yesterday (because she was so early we will need to routinely check her eyes) and will be scheduled for take 2 of her pneumogram on Sunday. Her weight gain is slowing down a bit so she is having more calories and fat added to her milk. That being said, she is just shy of 5 lbs! Tune in tomorrow for more photos of the staff!