Glo-Worm Begone

The Glo-worm days are said and done, and the pesky bili-blanket is gone. I am hoping to receive the award for having it the longest; the lady at the medical equipment place couldn't believe we still had it. I think we used it for a total of 6 weeks. And at $2100 a month, we can thank insurance for that one.

As for Miss Ava, she has chubbed out to 9 lbs 1 oz as of 7.5 weeks... "technically" that puts her at almost one month of age. The only thing she seems to be behind as far as age is the weight, which at this rate, she'll catch up fast. Today, she is officially 9 weeks old.

She is started to show her silly side... she'll look at me from the corner of her eyes and then smile REALLY big- I keep trying to catch it with the camera, but it's usually happening during feeding time. She is started to babble back once in a while and loves to interrupt me when I am reading her a story. Her stories are much more entertaining.

A routine as emerged in the past week or so- staying awake from 10am until noon, then sleeping until 3ish. Then she is up again until 6ish. She is going longer stretches at night too, thank goodness.

Ava is in the middle of a cold (as is mom) thanks to Daddy!!! Mom's is all sinus, Ava is congested and it is making eating really complicated without the Tylenol Cold. Thank God for aspirators- I never thought I could suck out a booger with that thing without hurling, but apparently, I have it in me. It's like a game- I can't stand it when they don't come out!

I only have 5 more weeks to stay home with her and it's all going by so fast. I can't stand it. I wish it would go slower. I am looking forward to seeing my students and teaching, but I really wish it could just be Ava and mom all the time.

Oink Oink!

Ava had a doctor appointment today and she weighed in at 8 pounds 4 ounces!! She is such the little piglet, and she is growing so fast. She was looking a bit yellow though and the doctor has decided that I should stop breastfeeding for a few days and we'll check her blood level on Thursday. This way we are sure that her prolonged jaundice is caused by the breastmilk and we don't have to endure anymore tests and we can officially stop worrying about her. Which I am all okay with, except now I feel useless. I'll get over it, it's only for a few days. This picture was taken of her today, she sure is filling out, isn't she?!?

We are a FAMILY!

First Family Photo

Ava Catherine Smith was born November 28, 2006 (exactly one month early) at 11:38 AM. She weighed in at 5lbs 10oz and was 19.5 inches long. Her head was so distorted (think Marge Simpson) that when it rounded out 3 days later she was only 17 inches long! She was so teeny tiny and her lowest weight was 5lbs 3oz. Hardly any of her clothes fit her!

Yesterday, Ava turned 5 weeks old- she is looking less like a preemie and more pudgy. It's awesome to get to know and understand her personality... she is stubborn and grunts a lot. She LOVES her daddy and makes her mom feel like a cow. She is starting to recognize our voices and looks around a lot. She has had prolonged preemie jaundice, and has had a bili-blanket for a month, but we just got word from the doctor today that it is okay to take her off of it for a few days to see how she does. Her bilirubin levels aren't dangerously high, but they aren't where they should be by this age.

If anyone cares... the cats are taking this whole baby thing in stride. Jake is fine with it, Friday does not understand why he can't sleep in the bedroom and has decided to chew on anything that is Ava's. It's frustrating, but we are just doing a better job of putting stuff away.