102 Days Old - Final Exams

Erynn: Good morning, Mommy. What are we going to do today? I think we should sleep in a little bit. My crib is especially snuggly and baby needs her beauty sleep. Mommy: Erynn, you need to take your car seat test today. It's very important. It's the last item on your list for coming home. Can you wake up for your test ? Erynn: But Mommy, I still have my feeding tube. How can I come home? Mommy: Daddy and I learned how to use the feeding tube and equipment. You can come home now and learn how to feed at home. We can have special helpers come to our house and help us if we need them. Erynn: Ok, then. I am ready for the test. Let's do it.

Erynn: Ok. Piece of cake. Now what do I have to do?

Mommy: Erynn needs to sit in the car seat for an hour without ringing any heart or lung alarms. You've got 45 more minutes to go.

Erynn: Am I done with the test yet? I am getting tired. Can I take a little nap?

Mommy: You have 30 minutes to go, baby. Yes, you can take a nap.

Mommy: Erynn, wake up. You did it. You passed the car seat test.

Erynn: Oh, it was easy. No problemo. What's next?

Note to Readers:

Erynn has passed all her qualifications for coming home. She will be discharged on Friday.

Although she is ready to come home, Erynn has not yet acheived her feeding goals. She will be using a combination of breastfeeding, bottle feeding and nose gavage to maintain her good nutrition while improving her breast and bottle feeding abilities.

96 Days Old - Jiggy Piggies

Mommy: Good Morning, Miss Erynn. Time to wake up from your nap. You have a visitor. Erynn: A visitor? Do I look okay? Are my cheeks rosy? Is my hair messy? Are my snaps done in the right order? Who is my visitor? Erynn: Oh, it's Grandpa. You look very nice and spiffy, Grandpa. I really like your black and white tie. It has very interesting contrasting colors. I like the jewelry, too. I look very good in gold, Grandpa. Erynn: Oh, oh, oh, Grandpa. I almost forgot to tell you. I learned how to do the jiggy dance. You put your arms out like this and then move them in a circle. I like to dance. Do you like to dance ?

Grandpa: Yes, I do like to dance. Did you know that Grandma and I met dancing. We used to waltz and fox trot and cha-cha.

Erynn: Did you do the jiggy dance?

Grandpa: No. Do you know the story about the little piggies that went to market?

Erynn: You are silly, Grandpa. Say Bye-Bye to all the people looking at us. See you all real soon.

E

89 Days Old - Erynn Says . . .

Grandma, let's play games today. Let's play Erynn Says ! Do you know how to play this game?

Erynn says, Open your mouth big.

Very good, Grandma. Erynn says, Make your mouth little.

Very good, Grandma. Make your mouth really big.

Wowwie, Grandma. You are very good at this game. I didn't say Erynn says.

Grandma, let's play Wiggle Worm for Mommy. You wiggle just one little part of yourself while Mommy is taking our pictures. Watch my little hand. I am perfectly still and then bam, a little wave of the hand.

Perfectly still, then bam, pull on my gown. Very nice. Oh, no, Mommy caught me before I could wiggle again.

Time for my next nap, Grandma. Sweet Dreams.

Kisses.

86 Days Old -- Sleepy Head

Mommy: Erynn, it's time to wake up. Open your eyes, sleepy head. Can you see your new mobile? Erynn: I'm still asleep. Can you see that my eyes are closed? If I hold them closed tightly, will you believe that I am still asleep.

Mommy: Are you playin' posum? Erynn: (Cough, Cough) I think I'm sick. I can't work today. I better stay in bed and get better.

Mommy: You are not Ferris Bueller. Time to wake up. Erynn: No, no, you go ahead and use the bathroom first. I'll just hit the snooze button and get up in a few minutes. Erynn: Come closer. I really think I am sick. Can you see any spots under my tongue? We had better take my temperature. Mommy: Erynn, you have to wake up, it's time for baby yoga and a diaper change. Erynn: Oh . . . . . . okay. Erynn: Whew. I am bushed after all of that. Time for a nap. E.

80 Days Old - I Don't Want to, Daddy

Daddy, I don't know what we are supposed to be doing here. Are we going to take a bath? Let's do baby yoga. How about we read a book? Want me to pull your chest hairs? No. I don't want to feed from my bottle. You can't put that bottle in my mouth. I won't do it. I won't. I won't.

It's bedtime Daddy. We don't need to bottle feed. Here, tickle my foot. Let's watch M*A*S*H* together. Teach me how to add numbers together. Tell me all about integers.

Noooooooo. I don't want to bottle feed. Hii-yaa!!!!! Drop the bottle, Mister.

Mommy, you came and rescued me from Daddy. I've got to tell you how Daddy tried to torture me.