Daily Hope: Saturday, January 24

Hope fights

"Aunt Em!!! I can't take the paparazzi anymore!!"

Hope: day 48

Hope being held by Mommy with Daddy, Grandpa Robinson, G'ma Robinson & Aunt Em

Hope & her Mommy & Daddy

Hope: our little ladybug

Hope & her Mommy

Hope: day 48

Hope's FACE!!!

Hope & Mommy

Hope: day 48

Hope: the dancing queen

Today was a great day for Hope!! Hope now weighs 2 pounds 6 ounces!! Rather "full" or "healthy", but not "fat" or "plump". She is quite the character. She was fairly active this morning, and part of that was captured on film (see the video above). Hope is currently filming for the release of her upcoming music video. Stay tuned for that in the future....

Hope spent about 3 hours snuggling with her Mommy today. Hope maintained her body temperature and all her breathing was very regular and good. In fact, everything was better when she was snuggling with Mommy as compared to just chillin' in her isolette.

Hope had her tape changed and new tubes and such adjusted. So we had a chance to see her face again!! And put on a new pink fluffy hat (made by Peggy the RT). The pink hat goes very nicely with the new blanket she is sporting. The Hope Collection is really starting to shape up.

Hope got to hear lots of good stories today. Aunt Em told her all about the Inauguration of the 44th President of our lovely country. Aunt Em had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC and view all the festivities surrounding the inauguration. It was a pretty incredible experience. Aunt Em told Hope how everything she saw reminded her of Hope, partially because Hope's name was plastered around the City. Being around such a large group of people who all believe in the same thing and are there for the same reasons, that is pretty amazing. Aunt Em got chills on numerous occasions, just seeing the American flag waving, hearing the President's Inaugural address, seeing the motorcades, and on and on. Hope kind of tuned out when Aunt Em started talking "shop" about politics and platforms and executive orders. But one day I'm sure Hope will understand it better, or at least appreciate it.

We are all so thankful for the good days that Hope has been having and pray that they will continue. Hope is getting so strong and looks so good.

Daily Hope: New Years Eve

Hope: Day 24

Hope has had a good "maintenance day" today. She is maintaining her feedings well, so those have continued. She is still off the Dopamine, and maintained her blood pressure all day on her own, which is great!!! She had another x-ray of her lungs and it showed good news: her right lung has expanded!!

While Hope did not have forward progress today, she also didn't have backward regression, so today was a great day for maintaining. Daddy has rated today a 6 or 7 on the Hope Day Scale.

Hope's Mom & Dad had visitors today, Paul & Kristy Worfel for the morning and lunch then cousins Hester & Kathy in the afternoon. Great to have visitors, but unfortunately Hope hasn't seen any of them, but it is good for her mom & dad, and grandma & grandpa.

As you can see, the fashion show has resumed. Hope is sporting a green and pink hat, courtesy of her fashionista Aunt Em. She looks like she enjoys this hat, it goes well anytime of year, can be worn alone (obviously), or with a pink camisole, or a green tank, the list can go on and on.

While we are passing from 2008 to 2009 I have reflected upon all the good (and bad) things that have happened this year and decided, without a question, that Hope is the best thing to have happened. While personally I'm pretty excited about our President-elect Barack Obama, Hope has won out. If you are out and about celebrating the New Year, please take a moment and make a toast, a simple toast: To Hope.