In the News - Life Support Pouch

http://warehousenews.co.uk/?p=519

This is a new pouch, that they are using over seas, to help hold babies body temperature and allowing docs to see baby through the clear plastic.

In the News - Shy Preemies

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-16-shy-premature-babies_N.htm

Shy because you were a preemie? Kaitrin sure does not fit into this majority!

In the News - About Preemies

http://pediatrics.about.com/od/newbornsandbabies/ig/Premature-Babies/

This is a good link if you have never seen pictures of a preemie. Almost all but the helicopter picture come back to my mind when thinking of our experience.

Jacob and His Bird

If it's Sunday and 10:00, Jacob is feeding the birds at the zoo. Every Sunday we have been going to the zoo to see a different section, except the birds. Each Sunday, as this exhibit opens, we are there paying our dollar for coconut milk. Jacob has done very well holding still as these loud, but beautiful birds slurp down the milk. I have limited him to just two cups per visit...Kaitrin thinks they are too loud and we would be there all day...or at least until I ran out of ones!

Yum Strawberries

Kaitrin and I were trotting around the yard while Jacob was riding his bike. Kaitrin noticed the small berry patch by the deck. She went running over and picked some red strawberries. "Yum Strawberries" She began to cry because I made her go to the hose to wash them off. The tears vanished as she piled all three into her mouth, juice running down her chin, saying YUM. When she finished, she went running back to pick more...

Zoo Trip

For those of you who really know our family, the kids and I go to the zoo on Sunday morning while Mike goes fishing. Well, today at the zoo, we went to the Australian section. Jacob bought a cup of food and went into the bird cage. He was very calm as two birds flew over and landed on his arms. He even held still as the birds sat and ate. We are just going to have to remember the camera next Sunday!

Summer 2007

I took this picture last year when we moved into our new house. Kaitrin's hair was so short and she had such chubby cheeks! She also wasn't walking or talking yet...how things have changed!

In the News - Heparin Overdose

CORPUS CHRISTI, Tex., July 10 -- Twin premature babies, a brother andsister, have died in the wake of a heparin overdose at a Level III neonatalintensive care unit here.

http://www.medpaget oday.com/ PublicHealthPoli cy/PublicHealth/ tb/10081

You Got to Move It Move It

Jacob - in his tye-dyed fourth of July shirt - went to his first movie, Kung Fu Panda. I'm not sure what he liked better...going out to lunch (and picking the restaurant all by himself), going to his first movie, or eating an entire bag of popcorn!

Kaitrin's 2nd Birthday

I wanted to thank everyone that called or emailed me yesterday to check on me. I have been pretty worried about Kaitrin's 2nd birthday...sadness and bad memories. I have been remembering that horrible drug that made every inch of me hot and my eyes cross. I recall the way Dr Morales (the doc of all that is wonderful and in Dayton Ohio if anyone is looking for a fabulous gyn) asked me, "Are you crying because you are in pain or because you are scared?" Which inadvertently sent my brain back to soccer camp where our coach would yell, "Are you a player or a quitter? There's just two, now CHOOSE!" I tried so hard to dig deep and fight off the pain, but in the end, the contractions won...despite every shot in the ass I could take. After she was born I faintly remember the NNP coming to my room in the middle of the night with my nurse. The fear from down deep that told me that they were there with the most horrible of news...only to tell me that Kaitrin had to go back on the vent. I think they had to tell me twice because the first time I only heard a bunch of blah blah blah. The endless times that we attended rounds (with no different news, we would just hound the docs), the weight sheet that we seemed to be glued to, the mass amount of breastmilk stored in the freezer, and that hideous alarm from the monitors.

Now putting all of these memories aside ( because they will never fully disappear) I have a new memory from today. I woke Kaitrin up on her 2nd birthday and dressed her in a pretty pink birthday outfit. I put her long hair into ponytails and packed her into the car. Off to school we go. At the entrance to her classroom, she kissed me goodbye and ran over to her friends to play. Really? How can I be sad? I just saw my little girl run over to play with her friends. Two years ago I would have never guessed it. I would have never been able to see past the isolette, the tubes, the vent, or even the fact that Kaitrins was no bigger than a beanie baby. But today, today is a new day. Today Kaitrin can use sign language, walk on her own, feed herself, splash in the pool...pretty much do whatever she wants to do. And an even better end to her birthday? Kaitrin is moving up to the early preschool room because she has "COMPLETED THE TODDLER PROGRAM". How proud to see that on her daily report! No tears today...just pride in my little pumpkin butt!

Little Miss Water Baby

We haven't had the water issues with Kaitrin that we had with Jacob. Kaitrin must have been a mermaid in a former life. She loves the bath, she loves the hose, and she loves the pool! She could be fully clothed and wants to climb into the pool. She just absolutely loves the water!

Jacob is Getting so Big

I don't know how it happened, but Jacob has finally gotten over his fear of water. He loves his new pool - splashing, sliding in the water, and jumping in. We have even gone as far as showering! Jacob is so very proud to be showering, getting his hair wet, and washing his own face. He also has his big boy bike from Grandma and Grandpa...and his black Razor helmet!

Kaitrin's 2nd Birthday

In her pretty pink birthday outfit, Kaitrin loved her Diego birthday party, her jungle cake, and Max's birthday card.

Kaitrin's Jungle Cake