Viva Las Vegas

Ricky and I were never good at following orders, so we decided to go ahead and take Noni out on the town a few months ahead of time. We took her to see her first movie at the Eureka Outdoor Cinema - Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas (she didn't really get to see it because she was tucked in a pouch, but maybe the songs will be fixed in her subconscious). Some people may claim that this is the corniest movie ever made, and I wouldn't argue. However, we had a blast. When Elvis started singing - the women in the audience started dancing like crazy. They were pulling out moves that had been securely locked in the closet for decades. I was astonished that I still remembered the words to all of the songs. After all, it has been almost 20 years since my mother forced me to spend quality time with her watching Elvis movies.
Long live the King (and the outdoor cinema).



Sairah dressed as a Who for "Horton hears a Who", another great cinema night. She won first place and a $50 savings bond.

Home Sweet Home

We Are Home!!!!!!!!!


On July 5th, Noni passed all of the tests and was released to go home from the hospital. She is not yet 5 lbs, about 4 lbs 12 oz. Reality hit hard on the first night...I hadn't realized how many times a day the nurses had been changing my little bumpkin's diapers. All in all though, we are adapting to life without monitors quite well.

It is wonderful to be back in the woods again. Jumping in our icy creek was one of the highlights of my first day home. The woods contain so many daring adventures for a little girl growing up.



Winona with her sister Sairah

Breaking out of the Box

Today Winona said good-bye to living inside the box and a big hello to the outside world. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that she was ready to get out of the incubator. Her last act as its occupant was to unleash her intestines, both large and small, to such a degree that it was rendered unsuitable for further habitation. Winona is now in an open crib so I get to hold her as often and for as long as I want. These are glorious days. Another benefit of the crib is that she now gets to be dressed in all of the cute clothes that folks have been giving her. I never thought I would be one to get excited about playing dress-up, but I was wrong.

Our little girl is up to 4 lbs 8 oz and gaining fast. We have finally gotten the first word about going home - possibly next Monday. Thanks to my mom and Deborah Trimble, our house is clean and waiting for the new baby!

Noni's first outfit

The business of gaining weight

This week the doctor gave us the wonderful news that he was going to put me to work breastfeeding Winona. What huge news!!!! The last big hurdle to her coming home is that she needs to be taking all her feedings by mouth while still gaining weight. She did so great with one breastfeeding a day that the doctor moved her to two feedings starting today. As I suspected, her weight gain has not slowed down one bit. Today she weighed 4 lbs 1 oz.
Still no word on when she gets to come home. I am really hoping that it will be within the next 2 or 3 weeks. Fayetteville is great but I am missing valley life.


First family photo

Is that a bit of red in her hair? I think so!

What do you mean she looks like Ricky?

I have completed this photo collage to dispute my family's claim that Winona looks more like Ricky. I believe these photos offer definitive proof that this child does indeed carry at least one or two of my genes.

Day 12 for Baby Winona

This has been a huge week for baby Winona. The doctors have removed her nasal cannula so she is breathing on her own. They have also removed all the IV lines attached through her umbilical cord and through her arm. She has transitioned off of the IV fluid completely and onto breastmilk - 33 cc today (over an ounce). She is up to 3 lbs 9 oz, almost chubby for a preemie. We are still feeding her through a feeding tube because babies cannot coordinate the suck/swallow reflex until around 33 weeks. We are hoping to start breastfeeding her within the next few weeks.

Winona was also moved into an isolette this week, tradionally known as an incubator. I had a bit of a hard time with the move because it is harder to cuddle her now. However, it is a better environment for her to do her important work of sleeping and growing.

Daddy finds new motivation

There is nothing like the unexpected early arrival of a baby to boost activity around the homestead. Ricky has been working like a madman to make our house suitable for the new arrival. This week's project is a gorgeous hickory wood floor to cover up the nasty green painted plywood in the main room of the house. We plan on having many sock sliding parties with the kids. Thanks to help from David Roll, the floor is complete and our house is starting to actually look classy.