71 Days Old - How's the Baby Doing . . .

Where's Erynn? I'm out getting ready for an important interview. While I'm gone, you can see by my crib and accessories that I am really growing up. I have a white bear mobile and a pink little princess teddy bear and blanket. Just back from a bath, I was stinky. Can you see my very curly hair? Everyone says I have a little bit of red in my hair. Mommy is putting on one of my outfits. At last, I fit into my clothes. You can see my hand at the end of my sleeve now. Oh, my gosh, look at the time, I'm not ready yet. "Hair" "Makeup".

Thank you, Holly. I love the Fauxhawk and head massage. You're good at this.

I'm off to my interview. . .

Interviewer: What have you been doing lately?

Erynn: Mainly, I've been growing. I am now 18 and 1/2 inches long. I know it looks like I am just sleeping, but you would be wrong.

Interviewer: Who does your hair?

Erynn: Well, after all the scanning gel they put on my head, my nurse gave me a fauxhawk. I know I look like a Cupie Doll, but Holly and Tinu say its all the latest rage. And, well, who am I to disagree.

Interviewer: Have you had time to do anything else besides sleeping?

Erynn: Yes, I am studying breastfeeding and bottle feeding. You'd think they were very much the same thing. I'm here to tell, they are not, several subtle differences. While I am studying, I like to build my jaw muscles with my pacifier.

Interviewer: Do you know what time it is ?

Erynn: Yes, it is 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I am most awake between 2:00 and 3:00 pm. During this time, I meet new people, do baby yoga, have my diaper change, get my temperature taken, switch monitor leads, change outfits and get wrapped up like a burrito.

Interviewer: Baby Yoga?

Erynn: Yes, Baby Yoga. I have several movements which I really enjoy. They are called "Stomp my Feet" "Ride my Bike" "Swim like a Frog" and "Climb the Stairs". Very invigorating and exhausting.

Interviewer: Why do you get wrapped up like a burrito?

Erynn: Well, ummmm. I can't really say. Mommy and Daddy prefer that I don't wave my arms while bottle and breast feeding. Oh, gotta go, time for my breastfeeding homework.

Ta.

67 Days Old - Grandpa Time

Do you know my Grandpa? He likes to write birthday cards and rub my toes. He is very handsome and looks good in pictures. He came to visit me and hold me. My nurse thought I might be cold and put this hat on me. Now you can't see my little face. I am sad about this hat. Grandpa says I look cute anyway. Do you know what else Grandpa can do? He can sing. I'll hum a note and then you hum the same note, Grandpa. See if you can hum my note before I hum a new note. Hmmmmm. Oh, you are very good at this game, Grandpa. I like to hum with you and to sleep in your arms. Let's do this again.

66 Days Old - Birthday in Review . . .

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I had my immunizations and I got sick. So, I didn't have time to write. Here is a recap of my two month birthday . . . On the 19th, I celebrated my two month birthday with a Spa Day. Helga (Grandma Gwen) and Sven (Daddy) were my personal attendants.

I started with a head massage and shampoo from Helga. She has very nice fingertips and I love the brushie-brushie.

A little change of position and we moved onto a back massage. A little lower on the left, please. That's Tinu, we always use a "Spotter" during spa time. I get a little too slippery for the attendants.

Yes, heated 100% Egyptian cotton terry towels to dry the tootsies and tootsie owner. Sven is expert at diapering now.

And, finally a little hairstyling by Helga. She loves the curls, so watch out.

Wonderful, wonderful. I can't recommend enough a good spa day with a neck and back massage. It's quite refreshing. I had another spa treatment after I recovered from my shots.

Yes, very relaxing.

60 Days - America's Next Top Model - - -

Just wanted to share some pictures from previous photo shoots with you. This first picture I call Warm Milk Dreams. Here I am in Sleeping Heart Beat.

Here's my "Head Shot"

If you'd like to have me in your next photospread, just have your people call my people.

Gotta go, I am on my way to a Serta commercial.

See you soon. E.

58 Days Old - Tuesdays with Morrie . . .

ain't half as good as Sundays with Grandma Cathy . . . and Mondays with Grandma Gwen. Oh, I am so cuddley and adorable. You just cannot resist me.

54 days old - Can't Go Home Before I Learn . . .

how to feed. Apparently they won't let me go home with a tube in my nose. Fashion-wise a very good choice. I need to learn how to bottle feed and breastfeed eight times a day without forgetting to breathe or skipping a heart beat. This may sound easy for you, but don't forget that I have to fit in a suck and a swallow in between very fast breaths. People who sing in choir can appreciate the speed in which this must happen. The time between my breaths is not a full rest, just a little pause for emphasis. And, I have to fit a suck, swallow and breathe in that time space.

Now, don't forget, I am also trying to grow lung tissue this week. It is a very exhausting task. I need to sleep all day long and let the tube do the feeding for me. You would be very lucky to wake me up and keep me awake for a bottle or breastfeeding. This is a lot of work for a little person. Anyhow, here's the plan.

80% of one full bottle feed moves me up to 2 bottle feeds (in a 24 hour period); then 80% of two full bottle feeds moves me up to 3 bottle feeds (in a 24 hour period) etc. until I have 8 bottle feeds in a 24 hour period.

Then, I also have to learn a good breastfeeding technique and then teach it to Mommy. Then, we can see if we don't need the bottles.

Well, I am off to teach Daddy and Mommy how to bottle feed me. Salute and So long for now.

P.S. Here I am bottle feeding from the Rookie. This is the first time Daddy has ever in his whole lifetime bottle fed a baby. (I refuse to accept the nickname of Guinea Pig.) I took almost half of this bottle.

P.P.S. I can't even talk about the burping thing.

51 Days Old - Look At Me Now

On June 28th, I received my award for 4 pounds. I wanted to show you my award, but Mommy and Daddy forgot to take a picture. Here is my award . . . I wanted to show you my 4 pound award so that you could see how nice my 5 pound award is . . . I also wanted to let you know that I have now passed my eye exams and am longer in danger of having detatched retinas. My eyes are mature now. I still can't see very well and don't recognize specific people, but I do like looking at faces if they don't stare back at me. (That's too scary.) This is my hospital gown. I am almost too big for it but that's ok because now I don't have very many wires to worry about. Can you see my name stitched into the gown in yellow? Thank you KT. Daddy and I can now play games during kangaroo. Can you see that I found Thumbkin first? Do you see how huge Daddy's Thumbkin is compared to mine? That's my Big Daddy. We played Hide and Go Seek. Unfortunately, I could not resist pulling Daddy's chest hair and he found me. Can you find me? Daddy told me all about Winne-the-Pooh and Eeyore and Tigger and their little friend. Do you know his name? Yes, it is Piglet. (No 1. requested picture "The Baby and Darryl's Hand") Mommy and I have been practicing Mommy and Baby skills during premie preschool. Here I am learning "Gentle". I need to be gentle when I touch my Mommy. Mommy is learning the "Ear-Shoulder-Hip" alignment to keep my airways open. Oh, I am so clever. Here I am practicing reverence. I am so wiggley, I am going to have to practice reverence a long, long time.

Mommy learned how to swaddle me. I wonder if I like it. What do you think about it?

Well, I don't like having to keep my head up and I would like to look more to the right.

But, all in all, it is very snuggley and I feel very safe and warm. Yes, I do like it.

Write you soon. Good night.

47 Days Old - Ask Dr. Erynn

Good morning, this is Dr. Erynn speaking, everyone seems very interested in knowing when I am coming home to stay with Daddy and Mommy. My first answer is I don't know. My original estimated birthdate was Aug 13th, so I guess you can use that date as a guide for now. My esteemed colleagues say it is still too early to say and that I have more things to learn. Apparently, (little yawn) I have some milestones to acheive and then I have to pass off all the items on my going home checklist. Let's talk about the milestones first. First, I have to have good steady weight gain, about 10-20 grams per day with an upward trend. I'm doing fine there. I am current 4 lb 9 ozs. and climbing. Next week, I will probably earn my 5 pound award. A whole new wardrobe awaits me as I venture into the Newborn size. Second, I must be able to breastfeed or take the bottle well or both. Well, I am just learning how to do these two things. I currently am gavage fed (nose tube) 42 ml every three hours over a 45 minute span. (This just in, I had my first bottle and drank 19 ml before I tuckered out. I was eager to eat more but I forgot to breathe too many times and was put in time out.) Third, I must be able to regulate my own body temperature. I don't know what regulate and body temperature are. However, since I am in an open crib, I have passed this requirement.

Finally, I must have a regular breathing rate. Well, I am waiting for new little lung buds to grow so that I can pass this requirement. I tend to desaturate and need oxygen support. I can come home with a oxygen tank and monitor. But, I have the other requirements to work on too. As for the checklists, I have passed three blood tests. I need to take preventive medication for RSV and Hepatisis B. I need a hearing test and another eye exam. I need to be able to sleep in a flat crib without rolls and maintain good breathing. My car seat has to pass an inspection. Mommy and Daddy need to watch the RSV and CPR. Mommy and Daddy need to attend the car seat and the baby class. Mommy and Daddy have to find a pediatrician for me. Mommy and Daddy have to pass the bath giving test. Mommy and Daddy need to understand my feeding plan. Well, I am not going to get all of that done today. Time to kangaroo. I'll write again soon.

45 Days Old - Splish Splash, My Second Bath

Oh sweet mystery of life at last I have found you. ( i dream in song lyrics) I wonder if Daddy knows that I want to take another bath. I'm not stinky or dirty, I just want to do it again. Do you think Nurse Kathi will want to have bath time today? Everybody cross your fingers, please.

Yippee. I am going to take a bath today with Daddy. Warm soft towels to line the tub, mmm yummy. Daddy holds me nicely even when I am very slipperly. Daddy protects me against the scary water faucet.

Just remember Daddy, not in the baby's eyes or mouth. I'll hold my breath while you rinse. Go!

I can highly recommend heated towels after a bath. They are very snuggley and you feel very comfortable. I am so refreshed from that bath, I think I will look at things for a while. Are you my Mommy? Don't forget to dry behind my ears, please. What do you think I should wear today?

Nice selection. I love the pink stripe footed sleeper. Soft and warm and roomy. Oh, I am so relaxed. Perhaps I shall stop looking around and take a little nap.

P.S. No tickling the baby's foot. Nibbling the toes, maybe.

43 Days Old - A Conversation With Mommy

Mommy: Erynn, its been 3 days since we last talked, what's new? What have you been doing? You are such a big girl in your new crib. You have so many blankets and warm clothes on that you look like you are 7 lbs. instead your actual 4 lbs. Erynn: Well, Mommy, let's see . . . Daddy gave me a bath. It was very warm and nice eventhough the scary water faucet was right there. I didn't get scared when it turned on because I felt so nice and Daddy was holding me and Tall Mary was right there to save me if needed. Daddy washed my hair with soap and I didn't get any in my little eyes. Then Tall Mary rubbed me dry and then you put me in warm PJ's and I loved it. I was wide awake afterwards and I looked all around me. Guess who I saw. Erynn: Yes, I saw you Mommy taking pictures of me in my bed. I am so glad that you learned how to turn off the flash on the camera. I don't mind getting my picture taken that much any more. But, let me continue . . . Daddy has changed my diapers three times now. I make really messy diapers for Daddy. He still loves me, even when I am stinky. Maybe Daddy will give me another bath. I like baths.

Mommy: I am sorry we didn't get any picture of your bath. We left the camera batteries in the car. And we left that car at home. Now we have extra batteries in your cupboard and we won't miss your next bath. Why do you have two pacifiers now?

Erynn: My green pacifier is for premie babies. I like to suck on it when you dip it in milk and when I am feeding to help me digest the food. But, my orange pacifier is bigger. In the morning, when you are still at home, I need something to calm my waking nerves. I like to have my whole mouth filled with the pacifier. So, now I have two pacifiers. I am very special and lucky.

Erynn: Mommy, will you sing my special song to me? I want to hear my lullaby so that I can sleep tonight.

Mommy:

Baby mine don't you cry.

Baby mine, dry your eyes.

Rest your head

close to my heart,

never to part,

baby of mine.

Little one, when you play,

pay no heed what they say.

Let your eyes sparkle and shine,

never a tear, baby of mine.

If they knew all about you,

they'd end up loving you, too.

All those same people who scold you,

what they'd give just for the right to hold you.

From your hair down to your toes,

you're not much, goodness knows.

But, you're so

precious to me,

sweet as can be,

baby of mine.