Good news abounds

Kayley is doing great. For her one month birthday she got a great report from the opthamologist that examined her and she made it into a big girl bed. That is, she graduated from the covered isolette in NICU to her very own uncovered bed. She can keep her body temperature stable without help. As for her eye exam, the little girl amazed nurses and the examiner. From Andy and Megan's blog:

"The last update of the day is a biggie. The Arizona Pediatric Eye Specialists came in today to give Kayley an eye exam. They check for something called Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). It's when blood vessels in the immature part of the retina develop abnormally causing some complications in the eyes. This could be anything from nearsightedness to a wandering eye to blindness. Since a full term baby's eyes are just done developing when they are born, premature babies' eyes are not mature and are at a high risk for ROP. Well, we received great news. Kayley's eyes are already mature! The actual sheet that we received states, "Your infant's eyes have mature blood vessels and are at a low risk for developing ROP." Then it says, "She should have another eye exam by an opthamologist in six months." However, the "six months" is crossed out and written in is "24 months"! What great news. They do not seem worried at all about her eyes at this point. When Megan was there, the nurse told her how great this was and how she really couldn't believe the results because Kayley's eyes are not supposed to be mature at her age. Kayley just doesn't stop amazing us. What a great 1 month birthday..."

Yup, she had some quality time in that womb before she decided to see the real world a few months early! She also weighs 4 pounds 1 ounce. At this rate grandma will be lucky to be able to lift her when she gets home!

Drew and I are having a great time every day. He is so good about entertaining himself and is still a very happy little boy. He still takes long morning and afternoon naps so I am sure that helps with his sunny disposition. We have tried going outside but it is really hot right now. His cheeks get beet red after a few minutes so we pretty much stay indoors during the day where the air conditioner keeps churning out the cool air. His daddy takes him swimming a lot after he gets home from work so he does get his outside time each day.

A few pics of Kayley in her new big girl bed and some snaps of Drew. Have a great week-end.

Holding Kayley

I had the great privilege of holding my sweet granddaughter tonight for the very first time since her June 9th birth. She is fed every 3 hours and they want her held during the feeding. I took the 6 pm spot and was in heaven doing so. I was a little nervous at first but warmed up right away. Holding Kayley was like holding Drew the very first time except she was lighter in my arms. She stretched, hiccuped, slept and opened her eyes during this time. She is changing daily before our eyes. A beautiful little girl. I am definitely going back for that 6 pm time slot. Megan goes earlier and Andy later so I can slip in during this time and no one will be the wiser. :-)

Back in the heat

When I landed yesterday afternoon the flight attendant said "Welcome to Phoenix. Local time is 3:25 pm and the temperature is 550 degrees." :-) She was actually off by 440 degrees but I suppose she thought it felt like 550. But, I just looked at Iowa's temps for today and it said it felt like 98 with very high humidity. That is worse than Phoenix, believe me! I am afraid Mark is in for some mean thunderstorms with temps and humidity that high. :-(

Megan picked me up at the airport and took me to see Kayley at the hospital. I could see a big change in her. It is very nice to see her without all the tubes and wires. She is doing very well! I get the privilege of holding her during her 6pm feeding tonight, my first time to hold my new granddaughter. Be on the lookout for a picture of that event! I am pretty excited.

My last few days at the farm were peaceful. Matt came home of the 4th and we just spent it at the farm and Mark grilled T-bones for dinner. Of course, they were excellent! Saturday the three of us went fishing with Kevin and Lee to Brushy Creek State Park. We had never been there before so Kevin and Lee gave us a pretty good tour along with some fishing. I was the only one that caught a fish. It wasn't a "keeper" but at least I caught one! I think maybe Matt did catch one, also, but he was farther down the bank and I am not positive about that. Brushy Creek is really nice and I cannot believe we have lived so close to it and had never even been there. Shame on us.

I am back watching Drew today and he is as fun as ever. Smiling most of the time. He's a happy go lucky little guy. Well, that about sums up the last few days. Pics from the farm, Brushy Creek and pictures of Drew from today.

Stolen photos

I "lifted" these photos of our granddaughter off her daddy's website. Kayley is doing fantastic right now and is getting cuter every day! As much as I hate to leave Mark and the farm tomorrow, I must admit I am anxious to hold Kayley for the very first time and to give Drew a big hug. One can get a bit attached to a grandchild and I am all of that. :-)

Scenes from our Iowa farm

Land of 10,000 lakes

No, not Minnesota. Iowa could now hold that nickname. I have been back at the farm since June 28th and cannot believe how many ponds there are in the fields. Mark is trying to replant them right now. Such a growing season we are having!

Came home for the 4th of July and also for nephew John's wedding on the 28th. Jan just left today for Osakis. Her son Stan and wife Heather and son Micah returned on Monday. My niece Britt and hubby Tom came down Friday with their girls and left Sunday afternoon. Hayley, Olivia and Carley have grown so much and are just a beautiful as ever. I hated to see them go. Hopefully they are coming back in October for Katie and Dan's wedding. Another fun time to look forward to with my family!

Granddaughter Kayley is doing great. I cannot wait to see her when I return to Phoenix on July 6th. I may even get to hold her for the very first time. How exciting is that?!?! I have to admit that I really am missing little Drew and his smile, too.

Jan mowed our lawn yesterday while I cleaned up the flower beds and garden. It looks just beautiful right now. We drove around in the golf cart last night and admired our hard work. :-) I had to take ibuprofen this morning due to a bit much digging and hoeing for one day. Not as young as I used to be. :-)

Pictures are from my time here on the farm. The little guy is Micah. He is exactly one month older than Drew. I cannot wait to see them together sometime. Two cutie pies.

Breathing a little easier

We are all doing that now that Kayley has been off the ventilator for two full days and seems to be doing great with that feat! The vent tube was a big irritation to her little throat and a huge hassle for everyone when Andy and Megan hold her so it is a great relief for her to be breathing on her own now. She has to wear a CPAP over her nose to give her a bit of help keeping the passages open but they will wean her off of that in a couple of weeks and she will have nothing left tube-wise except the feeding tube. She is almost up to "full" feed so that is a great milestone, too. I spent an hour with her last night after Andy came home from work. She is so darned cute and I wanted to just scoop her up and hold her and give her a grandma hug.....all in due time. I stole a few pictures off of Andy's blog. The one where she looks like Hannibal Lector is the CPAP doing its work. :-) Still keep Kayley in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks.

More Adventures of Sox and Drew

Swimming....must be summer!

Pics from a great day

All is good tonight in Arizona. Kayley had a good day, Drew had a good day, and the rest of us were likewise. Pictures from today include Drew greeting his new sister AND saying her name. (We practiced on the drive to the hospital and he got it by the second exit!) My grandson is rather smart. :-) When Andy got home he took Drew for a swim in the pool, thus the shots in the swim trunks. We stopped by Megan's office to pick up a few things and Drew helped her find things in the drawer while I took pictures out her office window. The view from there is quite astounding. I recall my office where I worked and I was in the middle of the building and had no windows. :-(
Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did snapping them!

A big day for Drew's mom

Megan was officially released from the hospital on the start of her 21st day in there! It was a bittersweet parting I think. On the one hand, it was so comforting to know that her daughter was only a one floor elevator ride away from her anytime she wanted to go see her. But, it was nice for her and especially Drew to have her dress him for bedtime and kiss him goodnight in their own home.

A huge step was taken when Megan got to hold Kayley for over an hour Tuesday afternoon! Drew and I drove to the hospital to take her home around 3:30 and when I walked in the NICU and saw Mommy snuggling with her daughter for the very first time it was a teary moment. Kayley looked sooo comfy and peaceful on her mommy's tummy and Megan looked to be in heaven! Yup, a moment to remember forever. We left around 5:00 just in time for rush hour on the freeway. I have always tried to avoid that since living out here but since Kayley's arrival I have been in it a time or two. But having Drew in the car qualifies us for the HOV lane and that helps tremendously. I am sure the people I pass cannot see Drew in the car and are wondering about the ditzy snowbird with Iowa plates that is too stupid to know there should be two occupants in the car. :-) That's okay cuz I make it home a lot sooner than they do!! Now I know why Megan started taking the metro bus instead of driving downtown to work each day!

It has finally turned hot here. We knew it would come. 114 yesterday and warm again today then cooling off "a little". I get in their pool for some exercise and cooling off so that helps a lot. It is nice in the evenings and we are usually playing in the yard then.

Photos are nurses getting Kayley ready for the big "first holding" session and Megan and Kayley truly together for the first time.

For Drew's mommy

Megan is still in the hospital (Starting Day 20) so I decided to get some pictures up of her Drew as I know she misses him so much. I take him to see her every afternoon so that helps ease the separation a little. She is fighting an infection and they want to get it under control before releasing her. Good idea!

Kayley is progressing well. Andy's blog journal does a wonderful job of telling her story and her day to day ups or downs. Fortunately the ups have been more pronounced than the downs so far and we pray that trend continues.