Top 5 Most Annoying Things This Week

1. At Katie's doctor appointment, the doctor told me I had to continue mostly bottle feeding her until she was 4 MONTHS OLD (we have to fortify her milk with a preemie supplement)!! What? How is she ever going to get good at breastfeeding?!! Oh, and I hate pumping!

2. The severe lack of sleep I have had this week. It's a really good thing that Kate is so cute.

3. The sound of someone mowing their lawn on Sunday!! Really? Could you do that some other day when I am not trying to make up for all the sleep I've lost.

4. The tremendous amount of homework Avery has had to do this week. First of all, she is only in the second grade and second, it takes up a lot more of MY time working with her and checking it every day.

5. The freaking wasp I stepped on on Wednesday. MY TOE ITCHES LIKE CRAZY!

Welcome Home Katie Baby!

I was at the hospital yesterday when the nurse informed me that I would be able to take Katie home today. I was so excited, I came straight home and bleached and washed everything. Thank goodness my mom was here to help. We worked until bedtime last night then worked some more this morning. After we watched the CPR video and Kate passed her carseat test, we were on our way home with our baby girl.

We ooohed and aaahed and gushed over her cuteness. Then Mark and I fell straight to sleep with the baby between us. Once she woke up to eat. Spencer woke up and held her. The girls came home and held her. That's when I started feeling overwhelmed, happy, and scared all at the same time. I can't believe I have 4 kids and I have no idea how to take care of them all. It was hard trying to manage my time spent in the NICU and my time spent with my other children but at least the nurses were there to take care of Kate when I had to leave. I don't have any nurses now though.

So, what do I do? I will tell you what I do. Take it one day at a time and try to enjoy every minute of my children's innocence and youth. It will be over too fast.

Avery is so cute and thoughtful. She made this sign for our front door.

Happy 1 Week Birthday!

I cannot believe Katie was born one week ago. She has made so much progress and is doing so well. I hope it won't be too much longer until she is able to be home with us.

Memories from August 26th

Baby Kate is FIVE days old. We finally decided on a name for her. She no longer needs the lights and I get the opportunity to feed her a bottle. Her IV fluids are being decreased as her feedings are being increased. The NICU doctor informs me that Katie is way ahead of schedule. Fingers crossed she will be home sooner than three weeks.

Memories from August 25th

Baby Katie is taking a bottle! She can suck, swallow and breathe. It is so funny how you take all of these things for granted when your baby is full term. She had to spend the day under the lights because her jaundice levels were increasing.

Memories from August 24th

This was my last day in the hospital. I miss having access to my baby all the time like I did when I was there with her. She had another great day except that she started looking a little yellow with the jaundice. We got to hold her again.

Memories from August 23rd

In case the picture from the 22nd scared you, the amazing progress she made in less than 24 hours should put you at ease. The CPAP was removed and the feeding tube was put into her nose. She no longer needed assistance breathing at all. The warmer was turned off because she was able to hold her body temperature. We were all impressed with her progress. Mark and I were able to hold her for the first time since she was admitted to the NICU.