Kangarooing is for Daddy, Too!

My friend Jena gave Amelia her first NICU outfit. She can wear it once she gets to 1500 grams in weight. I have put it in front of the baby doll so you can see how little it is. Amelia currently weighs 1120 grams.

In about an hour Todd is going to get to hold Amelia for the first time! I will post pictures and reactions at that time. I am so excited for him. I have held her three times now and know there is no better feeling in the world. She just melts into your chest, settles in and sleeps peacefully.

They adjusted her ventilator slightly down again. The more they turn it down, the more she is doing on her own and the stronger she is getting. She is on Day 5 of her antibiotics. It is looking more and more like Tuesday will be the day of her PDA surgery. We have not been told this officially, but that is the rumor right now.

Todd's parents will have been married 45 years come this Monday! We are going out tonight with his parents and sister and her family at one of their (and my) favorite places. Usually we come to the hospital around 4:00-5:00 pm, but we got here early today so we could still have time to visit Amelia and celebrate with his folks.

I want to take the time out to thank everyone who has been so generous of their time and talents to help us out! We have had friends make us dinner, visit with us, give us beautiful baby clothes, blankets, and books. Also all the communications and well wishes through emails, telephone calls, cards and handmade notes. And not forgetting the countless prayers, masses and rosaries offered up in the name of our sweet baby girl. I also want to give a shout out to my neighbor who has checked in on our dogs and mowed our lawn. How did we get so lucky to have so many wonderful people in our lives? You mean so much to us and are so glad to know we have so many who love and care for us. We appreciate you all!

ADDENDUM : From Todd : Well, Amelia hasn't had a great day. She's been fussy and her gases haven't been good. So they went back up on the ventillator settings and will see how she does. Her first gas after that was better, so we think she'll settle back in and be fine. Apparently, she heard her mother say that I was going to hold her today, and she ran scared. So we are going to belay the daddy kangarooing for today and see how she's feeling tomorrow. Xina is reading to her The Golden Book of Dogs. We like it because it has both a wire-haired fox terrier and a "mongrel" in it... we're hoping Amelia will be prepped for coming home to her new guardians.