Morgan Kate

107 days.

We were in the NICU for 107 days. And friends, we have now been at home for the same amount of time. That's right. We have now been at our house for 107 days. And let me tell you, it feels so good.

I do not miss the roller coaster of emotions we experienced in the NICU. I do not miss the anxiety and nervousness I felt each and every single day while we were in the NICU. I do not miss being afraid. I do not miss the long hours and long days. I do not miss the poking and prodding that Morgan Kate had to endure. I do not miss wondering when I would be able to hold her or feed her next. There are many, many things I don't miss. Not one single bit. 

But then, there are things I do miss. Well, I guess it's not things, it's more like people. I miss a whole bunch of people. Some really, really good people. People that not only took excellent care of Morgan Kate, but people that took excellent care of me. People that checked on me daily, people that took the absolute best care of my baby girl, people that asked how I was doing, people that would come and sit and talk with me, people who were honest, people who reassured me, people who just smiled at me each day. I miss those people a lot. Thank goodness for visits back to the NICU, the telephone and the internet. 

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Our 107th day at home has been very interesting.

Our morning began with a robbery. Yep, that's right. Travis' truck was broken into and his GPS, as well as his IPOD were stolen. I happen to think we live in a great neighborhood, but I guess bad things can even happen here. It's just extremely frustrating and disappointing and a little scary. 

Our afternoon included an unexpected trip to our pediatrician. For the first time in many, many days Morgan Kate actually took a nap. A two hour nap. She napped in her swing, but it was still a nap. Anyway, when she woke up from her nap she was breathing a little faster and sounded a little wheezing. I heard it first and then had Travis listen. Sometimes my mind does tend to play tricks on me. This time it wasn't. Travis heard the wheezing as well. 

With Morgan Kate's past respiratory issues I immediately called the doctor. She was great and told us to go ahead and bring her in. As we were leaving, the wheezing subsided and we have not heard it again. Dr. G listened to her and checked her sats. She said that she sounded great and her sats were between 97-98. Whewh! Dr. G did notice that Morgan Kate was drooling...A LOT. I mean it's crazy. She said that it's possible Morgan Kate had a little reflux and it sounded like wheezing or that all that drool could have been lodged in the back of her throat also making a wheezing sound. Either way we have not heard the sound again and her breathing seems fine. 

While we were there Dr. G weighed MK and she weighed in at eleven pounds and ten ounces. Wow! Dr. G also said that with all the drooling and the fact that MK can't keep her hands out of her mouth - she could possibly be getting ready to cut a tooth. Dr. G doesn't expect this to happen next week or anything, but she definitely thinks MK is getting ready. Oh my goodness! 

And finally, Dr. G said we could start with some rice cereal. What?! Rice cereal? My little baby girl? Dr. G said that we won't be using it in place of a bottle or anything like that. Right now we will be using it to "teach" her about the spoon and cereal and all that. Just introducing it to her. So, of course we went ahead and tried it tonight. It is so funny. MK isn't quite sure what to do with it, but I know it will come. We plan to take this very, very slow. We will only do what she is ready for. Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure... 

So our 107th day at home may have started a bit rocky, but it ended on such a good note!