Aunt Dizzy and Uncle Brent Come To Town...

It was wonderful having the "kids" come to Noblesville today. It was the first time that they could meet Alexis. I'm so sorry that Tom is still home with a cold and now is getting his 3 classes' finals ready. They arrived in town early to pick up stuff for Brent's running of the Mini Marathon here in Indy. They then headed for the hospital to hold Lexi.

At 6:30 they got to Paula's along with Jason, Kendra, and Rob and Stacy Lastinger. Ron got home at 7:15. Paula and I had a "carb-loaded" dinner ready for everyone since both Brent and Ron are running. The little girls were still in Elkhart with Aunt Steph and Uncle Mike. After a great dinner and lots of laughter, I came "home" with Kendra and family for some sleep. I told Brent and Elizabeth that when Ron drove by this morning at 5:15......to drive by quietly!!! So at 6:00 a.m., Elizabeth sent me a text: "Good morning sunshine! We love you!" OK....at least it wasn't 5:15! I really was awake but still........(it really made me laugh).

I will be taking the boys to the hospital today, maybe for the last time if this swine flu scare continues to "shut down" hospitals and only allows essential people to visit. The hospitals associated with the IU Health Care system have shut their Indianapolis hospitals. I wouldn't be surprised if the rest don't follow suit.

Brent and Ron are running right now. They will then go back to Paula's, clean up and return to the hospital. It probably will happen in the early afternoon. Kendra and Jason are sleeping in (good!!!) so we'll go up after we eat. Then I will be able to bring the boys back home for naps. We'll call the hospital first to be sure that they still allow visitors.

18 days and growing...

That Lexi girl is a beauty. She has had so many nurses ask to be her "principle" nurse, it's unbelievable! It couldn't be because they enjoy Kendra and Jason! It has to be because Lexi is so easy to take care of and has such a beautiful personality. I heard her mad (it's on film!) for the first time yesterday. She really let us know that she was not happy...she burped...and that took care of the situation. It was that nurses first time hearing her mad also. She CAN cry!!!

Last Thursday, the Rowlens and Nancy Weaver came to visit me here at Kendra's. We talked and ate. They didn't go up to the hospital which is just fine. It's easy to forget that it is a NICU. Then on Friday, Connie and Jim took the boys to Kokomo for the weekend so I helped Paula in her yard. Gorgeous day!

Saturday, Kendra got to sleep in (after getting home from the hospital at midnight) but got up around 11:00. We went to eat, shopped a little, went to the "1/2 price book store" which is near the hospital (3 new books!!!) and went to see Lexi. I stayed all afternoon since Jason was with the boys and Jim at a car voom-voom in Kokomo or Anderson or somewhere. I read a lot while Kendra played with her adorable daughter. We had dinner together and then I came back home.

Paula called me and with flashlights in hand, we went walking through the neighborhood. Just a beautiful night!

Kathy Thies is coming to visit this morning. She was in town for the weekend so will stop by at 10:00. We'll eat and go visit my little girl. Oh.......we'd better wait until Kendra gets up and up to the hospital before we go. Hope Kathleen has no agenda today!

Wild Weather!!!!!!!!

I'm sitting at Paula's ready to do Bible Study but got distracted. It's hailing outside...no....it stopped....it's raining.......no......blowing rain...........here comes the sun.....raining.........You get the idea. Hopfully this is the last day of this kind of weather for a while. Tomorrow, everything is suppose to be on the way to the high 70's by Saturday!!! About time. It has rained since Sunday!

Paula, Nicky and I picked Blake up after preschool, went to lunch and came back to Paula's for naptime.

Kendra just called from the hospital. She was eating lunch. Jason got up to the NICU by noon when his folks were to be there and Connie's 2 sisters were also to arrive. There are not to be more than 2 adults back in the NICU at a time.

Lexi had her food increased again!!! Go girl. Her white blood cell count is still high so she will have another blood test tonight to decide whether or not she should get an antibiotic. She seems so comfortable and calm and "looks so good", the doctors don't think that she has an infection. We'll see what the blood test shows.

After dinner, I will go with the family to the preschool Open House. It will be fun to see inside the school.

Cars and Trucks and Toys....oh my!

My living room floor is covered with toys. There are GeoTrax layed out to form an interesting lay of the land with bridges, "mountains", train crossings and all the little landscape pieces that come with the set help to complete the design. Our set is from a garage set (but is rather nice if I do say so myself) but nothing compared to the set that the boys have at their home. Nicky has every monster truck that we own (nothing compared to his private collection!) lined up in a row ready for something. The blocks are now towers and the other stuff is...well...just is. They have room for all of this stuff at their house. Here, you can barely take a step without falling over if you have rotten balance like me. But do I care? Absolutely not!!! I'm thrilled that they love to play together and that PopPop loves to find nice toys at garage sales.

My car is suppose to get a new compressor today at Lochmandy's. We took it in last night after I fixed dinner for Brent's family and us. Since we have an appointment and they know the problem, it had better be done early or I won't have a way to get my car picked up. Tom teaches today from 2-5:15. Also, I am never sure if they will find another problem that needs fixing since I now have 101,000 miles on my Liberty. With that many miles, I am finding it harder and harder to trust. Makes me feel terrible because I love my car!

Can't believe how well Lexi is doing. She is really "showing us" isn't she?!!! I'm not saying that her little tummy won't decide that it should slow down on the feedings, but so far, so good. Brent and Elizabeth sat here last night and looked at all of the "Lexi pictures" that are on my computer. We all can't get over how she has changed and looks so good after nearly 2 weeks of birth and surgery. What a remarkable little girl! If my car is "road ready" today (hope hope hope) then, I'll see that little girl TOMORROW!

Back Home Again....

Gorgeous, sunny day in Elkhart. (Two canoes just went down the river...what fun!!!) The doors and windows are open. Best of all, Nicholas, Blake, Layla and Marley were able to run, walk, ride, push, skip, hop, etc., up and down our road. I love that we don't have to worry about traffic at our end! Elizabeth is working and Brent ran his 12 miles so Tom and I watched kids. He now hops onto my dad's old bike to keep up with Nicky and Layla on their bikes! How did that happen??? After Brent's return, we had lunch at the Mayberry.

After the boys wake up, we will go to Trinity Methodist Church to watch Layla sing in her program at the 5:30 service. Glad I get to go see her.

Kendra called while she was on her way to the hospital. Lexi will have been on "continuous feeding" for 24 hours and I'm anxious to get a report.

Boys are down for a nap so I'm going to dust! Don't tell me that I don't know how to have fun!!!

Sweet, Suite Alexis

Lexi got moved to her own private room (within the NICU) yesterday. The doctor said that since the duodenum was distended when they did surgery, "complications are expected" when they begin the continuous feedings through a tube. They may have to stop and start the feedings several times before she can tolerate the food. We are not happy to hear that her suite is for "long term care" but that little girl has done so well with other situations, she could prove the doctors wrong.

Since her blood count isn't normal, Lexi will need another CBC today. Two days ago, she had blood drawn and it took 4 nurses, 5 tries before getting enough blood.

The best part of today was holding Lexi. It was my second time but every time is a thrill. She is down to 5 lb 3 oz from 5 lb 12 oz but once food begins, it will turn around. Amazing to hold such a precious little bundle.

Today, I am packing up the boys and taking them to Elkhart to see PopPop, Layla and Marley, Uncle Brent and Aunt Lizzy. The boys are soooo excited. I will get a car part fixed on Monday morning and head back here to Noblesville Monday afternoon.

One Week Old!

Today was the day that Kendra would have been induced had Lexi not been born last Tuesday. Her 1st date was April 21 then moved to April 14. And to think...she already has a week under her belt!

Best of all (besides being off the vent and doing so well), I got to hold my baby for the 1st time today! It just felt so right holding a baby on my lap. It is a priceless experience. Paula kept the boys during naptime while I went up to the hospital.

We are so looking forward to tomorrow...the boys will meet their sister. Tonight, after dinner, they went with Mommy and Daddy to Meijer to buy Lexi a present. They found "Scarlett Bandit"...a purple monster truck! Just what all baby sisters need!!!