A Sleeping Beauty

Ali is back into an isolette, and she has clothes back on.

Little Ali was a hard sleeper yesterday. She kept lifting her eyebrows, and it looked like she was going to open her eyes, but then would relax them again and keep sleeping.

One time she started squirming everywhere and arching her back, but never opened her eyes.

Ali is 16 1/2 inches long! The nurse had not weighed her yet so we do not have an updated weight, we will find out today. (Adam went today and find out she was 3 lbs 11.3 oz.)

Ali's First Christmas Ornament

Friday we bought Ali's first Christmas ornament.

Yesterday we decorated our home for Christmas, and our good neighbor and friend came to help us. It looks great. (Thanks Rebeca!)

After decorating last night we went to go see Ali.

She continues to improve and grow.

She is 3 lbs. 9 oz. We asked the nurse how long she was, but they have not measured her length recently and said she would do it last night. We will find out later today.

As of last night, she still has not had any bradys since 9:15 am on Friday.

Family Fun

Yesterday morning we met my Dad and my step-mom (Peggy) at the NICU for their first visit.

When we arrived we found out that they shortened the visiting hours for grandparents because they had received 4 additional patients overnight and they were short staffed due to the holidays.

So sad to say that their visiting time was cut short from what they had originally planned.

Mimi also came back to see Ali yesterday morning as well.

While visiting we found out the Ali has not had any bradys since 9:15 am Friday.
She is now 3 lbs. 6.8 oz. She is now getting 19 mL every 3 hours.

She is looking better and better everyday.

After our morning visit we had lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings with my brothers who were in town.
We then went to the Galleria for some arcade time.
Question: Is there anything more priceless than playing Dance Dance Revolution with your brothers?

Yes...playing Dance Dance Revolution with your dad.





He did pretty good for doing it for the first time.
We then went back to the hospital for the last visiting hours for Grandparents that night for them to see Ali again and for Grandpa and Grandma Glenn to see her.

After they left mommy and daddy stayed for some one on one time with Ali, and yes...

...we got to hold her again.

Holding Time

Yesterday was a great visit. We got to hold Ali longer than we have ever held her before.

We actually could feel her weight in our arms this time. She is precious.

Yesterday my mom took out pictures of when I was born and she looks alot like me.

She is is 3 lbs 5.6 oz. She is now eating 16 mL every 3 hours. She is averaging about 1 brady every 24 hours which is really good.

Today she gets to see Grandpa Westenhofer and Grandma Peggy for the first time!

We will post pictures of yesterdays and todays visits soon.

Go Ali ... & Go Tigers!

Thankful for a Healthy Baby

Little Ali is now 3 lbs. 5.6 oz.

She actually gained some weight while she had the infection. She is doing much better now.

She is also having less bradys.

Dr. Bruce saw us today and said that the results from the spinal tap showed no signs of infection.

She was very happy to get her nasal CPAP off as well.

Today on our Thanksgiving visit we gave her a Christmas friend.

She is starting to get some rolls too.

And of course, she is still ready for the big game.



Ali's cute little bottom.



Last night's beautiful autumn sky.
I have to give credit to Jodi for pointing it out to take the picture.



A Few Steps Forward

Ali appeared to be much better yesterday.

Dr. Bruce did a spinal tap on Ali yesterday in the afternoon. This is a routine procedure they do to make sure that no infection has moved into the spinal fluid, which could cause further problems. They will monitor the sample the next few days, but Ali is moving much more and appears to be getting better.

She has been taken off the ventilator, and is on the nasal CPAP, which she does not like.

Ali kept trying to pull it off and succeeded in doing so a few times.

Even better news... I'm feeling better and I get to go see Ali today! It has been a long 4 days. I hope she is awake to see me.

Best of all, Ali made us a Thanksgiving card!

Even though it looks big, remember my thumb is as big as her hand.

They also gave us this.

On another note, I got to go with some of my family to the McWane Science Center yesterday.

I wasn't able to go because I had to work.

Here are some pictures of their adventures.

Quickly getting ready to play in some water.

And here are the many faces of our niece who sat and watched the show.