Happy fourth!

Elise is so cool in her new shades!

Thank you Grandpa Gary and Grandma Gail for my viagra onsie!

Here's Elise in a CUTE green dress from Kristin's friend Mickey. Four generations! Great Grandma Margaret meeting Elise for the first time! Elise has had quite a busy week with Grandma Jane in town. Elise now has all of her 0-3 month clothes that were at home, and we are having such a fun time changing her into all the outfits! My Grandma Margaret, Uncle Bud, and Aunt Jean came up to St. Louis yesterday to meet Elise for the first time. We all had such a great time. Elise really enjoyed being held by her Great Grandmother. Mom and I realized we didn't have a 4th of July outfit, so we emergently ran to the store to find her one, and found matching sunglasses and sandals-too cute! She also received an awesome onsie from her Grandpa Gary and Grandma Gail that the staff here in the NICU just love. Later today we are going to do a beach photo shoot with Elise in all 3 of her swimsuits. One of the nurses brought a beach ball and a large pail for her to sit in. And, mom and I went and found some other key necessities that will complete the scene. Those photos will be posted Sunday. Jason is still in Grand Blanc Michigan and will be there until the 14th, then he'll go to Pennsylvania to take one of his board exams on the 15th. Hope everyone has a great holiday. Talk to you again on Sunday.

Love Kristin

9 weeks old!

Trying to catch a smile. Elise wearing a bib given to her by Great Grandma Mary! Pretty in Purple.

The bibs say it all. Elise with Grandma Jane. Well, the internet is back up and running, so I can do the blog from the room again! Elise is starting to catch on with the bottle. Breaking her own record with 58ml last night! That's almost 2 ounces, which is halfway to our goal. My mom came in yesterday, and we enjoyed walk in Forest Park today, hot, hot, hot. She brought up all of her 0-3 month clothes, so there should be pictures with her in different outfits from now on. And mom is getting a crash course in medicine this week, since she is going to be our primary babysitter once Elise returns home. Elise is also down to 0.4L on nasal cannula today and satting well. And will be weaned down daily if she tolerates it. Her Great Grandma Margaret and Great Uncle Bud, and Great Aunt Jean are going to come meet her tomorrow for the first time. She is still vomiting, and unfortunately losing weight. The doctors are not too concerned at this point but will continue to watch her weight the rest of the week.

Hope all of you are having a great week. Will post again on Friday.

Love, Kristin

Thank goodness for St. Louis Bread Co.

Here she is looking cute again. Hangin' out on Momma's chest. Elise with her Daddy. Isn't she cute when she sleeps?

Again looking cute. She makes it look easy. Kristin's old friend Sara came to visit. This is Elise's new swing that the girls in the NICU found for her. She loves it. Elise in her rattle donkey slippers that her cousin Claire gave her.

Thank goodness St. Louis Bread Co. is right across the street from the hospital. There is still no wireless internet access in the hospital, so I ran across the street here to post. Elise is still doing well. They changed her feedings to every 4 hours to help make her feel more hungry, and it seems to be working. She is consecutively taking more than an ounce of food at each feeding since yesterday. She still has a long way to go, needing to take 4 ounces to get a full meal, but it's a work in progress. Lets hope that she'll continue to take an extra ounce each week, so that in a month she be at full feeds by mouth! They also decreased her to 2 liters of O2 over the weekend, and she seems to be tolerating that well, only dropping her sats when she gets mad. She is also starting to develop quite a personality. She is smiling, cooing, and trying to talk more and more each day. The staff enjoy coming in to see her because they are used to the premies that just lay there. My mom is coming up tomorrow to keep me company throughout the rest of the week. We should have a great time. I will post again on Wed. Love you all!

Kristin