Home Sweet Home

We have officially been home for two very busy weeks. We have had a revolving door of visitors and I'm finally able to update and post some pictures.

Alexis came home Thursday, June, 17th to an awesome welcome home party. William, Cole and Anna had been anxiously awaiting her arrival for weeks and never quite understood why they couldn't see her. For more pictures of the kids see Melissa's Blog. They were all just so precious and I must say, Cole is absolutely in love with her! He wants to be right next to her and know where she is at all times.

She has been doing so great since she has been home. She sleeps all day and mostly all night. She isn't very fussy and in my opinion, is genuinely a really good baby. Monday afternoon was the first time she had a melt down, and it wasn't bad at all. She was up for 7 hours straight, but never really threw a fit. She just lets you know she is still here every now and again. I am chalking it up to the fact that she made her first trip to the lake last weekend. The Mannions came down to watch her so we could go to Rachel's Wedding. However, between the Mannions and my family, she was being held CONSTANTLY!! So, she was entitled to a little melt down Monday afternoon when she realized that wasn't going to be her life at all times!

Last Monday she weighed 5 lbs and 4 ozs and was 19 inches long. I just know she is nearing 6 pounds. Originally my goal was to have her in her crib by the time she was six weeks old, but now I'm moving that to 7 lbs. I just can't leave her in there when she is so small, but I know she will be snoozing the night away in there soon enough.

Her soon to be BFF Ryder was born last Friday while we were at the lake. Deanna is one of my best friends. We were originally due two weeks apart, but Alexis had other plans. He is still in the NICU due to fluid in his lungs, but is progressing very well and should be home by the weekend. I can not wait for these two to meet and for Deanna to get her camera on them. More importantly, I can't wait to hold him. He has been here for a whole week and I haven't even seen him in person.

These first two pictures were taken Friday, June 18th, yes the day after she was brought home, by Deanna Addison Photography. Just one of the perks of having a BFF that is a photographer. She does an amazing job and I can't wait for her to capture all of Ryder and Alexis's little moments!!

I promise I will do better at posting now that we are settling in. She still is very small and only fits into her newborn onsies. I'm DYING to put on all of her cute outfits, but they just don't fit yet! I know they will soon enough, so I'm not wishing my time away.

Mommy's Favorite

Daddy's Favorite, of course. He actually found this boa and thought of this pose.

Her first nap in her crib.

Her first bath. She does really well in the bathtub, as long as her warm wet frog towel is on top of her. If you don't have this, it is FABULOUS! It keeps her warm and keeps her from pitching a fit! Or maybe it is just my perfect baby???

Daddy preparing her for her first bath. Look closely, she marked him with pee. This was the second time that day she peed on him, the first time happened at Deanna's during her newborn shoot.

I can't even describe how good it felt to walk into the house with her, knowing that we didn't have to go back to the hospital. It was so nice to put on PJs and just sit on the couch with her at 9 o'clock instead of going back to the hospital.

Cole, Anna and William waiting for Alexis

We are about to break free!!

She's already to escape! We are just waiting for the Doctor's orders.

Her last bottle in the NICU!!!

We had to get in her last incubator shots.

The Balloon Fairy dropped off these balloons on Thursday. She hasn't revealed herself. It took us a full 24 hours to realize that we didn't know who put them up. By the time we had talked to everyone and they said they didn't do it, we had a good laugh. Between Donna, Melissa, Brian and myself, we each though that one of us put them up only to find out it wasn't any of us. My secret suspicion is Mrs. Paula, but she hasn't said so!! Thank you to the Balloon Fairy, who ever you are!!

BIG NEWS

This has been a great week! We have hit one mile stone after another and she has been growing like a weed! She is now up to 4 pounds and 14 ounces and is taking all her bottles with out the nose tube. This afternoon we received the best news; she could be home by Thursday! Today they have been gradually lowering the temperature in her incubator and tomorrow she is moving to an open crib! If she can hold her temperature in the open air for 24 hours, she will be discharged the next day! She will be home in time for Father's Day!

The past two days we have been doing chores around the house in anticipation of her arrival. We truly didn't believe it would happen this soon, so we are now in a mad dash to finish those up by Thursday! Our new house alarm will be installed on Tuesday and Daddy will be installing monitors tomorrow. I still need to buy a few more things before she comes home; I don't even have bottles!!

Here are some pictures from this week...

The other day she pulled out her nose tube. I couldn't resist taking a picture to see her pretty face. The next day we discovered that she has a dimple! I've been praying that she would have her daddy's dimples! I keep tickling her face just so I can see it.

This was earlier this week and you can tell by the first picture how much her face filled out. She is still teeny tiny though.

Week 2 Update

It has been a very busy week and Alexis has had TONS of visitors! This is one lucky, loved little girl! All of her great aunts and uncles and her Paw Paw came to see her on Monday. They were all so excited. Her cousin, Brody, even got to see her. They all wanted to touch, kiss and hold her, but not allowed just yet!!

On Tuesday she got put back on the UV lights for Jaundice, but only had to say on that for one day. Then, on Wednesday, she got her IV removed!! She now is only being monitored and has the feeding tube! This really helps Mommy!! I just couldn't stand to see those IVs on her hands and feet. Thursday night I FINALLY got to put real clothes on her! I was so excited, I even packed her very first suitcase, courtesy of Mimi, full of preemie clothes!! It took three of us to get her in that teeny tiny outfit! Dad was the best! He just jumped right in there and pulled her arms through!

She is moving right along in the NICU and they are even going to try to start bottle feeding her today. I'm so excited to see this. The breast feeding is moving along slowly but surely! I'm hoping once I'm not just pumping and I actually get to feed her that I will produce more. I'm just trying to not stress out.

This weekend is our shower with all of our friends. My girls have quite a bit of surprises up their sleeve. I know that they have all worked so hard and I can't wait to see everyone. Our shower has now turned into a party! Kristi called me the other day and asked what I needed and I said EVERY THING! She said that the registry didn't seem updated! It is updated, we were just hoping she was coming AFTER the shower! I don't even have any bottles and I have a baby! Hopefully that will change tomorrow night!

Her hands are still in her face, but this time she has clothes on. Notice the monogram!! Aunt Deanna did that for us!

Her suitcase is packed with some preemie clothes! I was so excited to finally dress her!

Last night, our nurse stayed and talked with us the whole time and then helped us dress her! We are getting to do more and more things on our own and it is so nice.

Her first outfit!

Alexis holding Daddy's finger

Alexis and Mommy! This is my first decent picture since the swelling started to subside.

I still think she is the cutest in her tanning bed and mask. I just love her so much!