Daily Dose: Thursday, July 1

Hope is prepared and ready to go for surgery tomorrow. She is tentatively on the schedule for 2pm but if emergencies (other surgeries) come up she may get bumped later in the day or even to Friday morning. Hope spend all day getting ready for her surgery. She took a long soak in the tub. Hope won't be able to take a bath for 10 days (ewwwww) or so after the surgery, but once she is all healed up and her incision looks good she'll be back to splashing around just like the does now.

As of last night Hope was up to 10 pounds 13 ounces!!!! She is getting closer and closer to 11 pounds!

As you can see, Hope is still maintaining her fashion sense. She is modeling a new ensemble from the Hope Collection. *Note the matching socks.

Hope has had lots of visitors in the last week and wants to thank everyone that has come to visit her: Nancy Vardon, Judy Convertini, Caitlin Zinnecker, Joyce Carlson and Pastor Ruth. She loves seeing all of these people who care so much about her!!

Daily Dose, Saturday June 6

Today was a very big day for Hope. She got to take her first tub bath! She wasn't sure what to think about sitting in a tub of warm soapy water at first but she quickly decided that the spa treatment was working for her. She got very relaxed and after drying off and getting dressed (fashionably matching her unstuffed teddy bear), she promptly drifted off to sleep for an afternoon nap.

After waking up from her nap Hope met lots of new people. She got to meet Dick and Marty Osborn, Pastor Ruth McCarty and Phil and Mary Ernvall. She was very happy to meet all these people.

Daily Dose: Saturday, February 28

Hope: day 83

Hope has had a rough day today.  The doctors were still concerned because Hope still wasn't feeling well this afternoon.  They ran some tests and found out she has gram negative rods (an infection they think is in her intestines).  They are giving her antibiotics and have stopped her feedings until she is back and perking up.  If she does not have more positive changes, there is a high likelihood that over the next few days more definitive testing will be done to determine if there is a pocket of infection that hasn't been taken care of already, which could potentially mean the possibility of surgery.

We are praying that Hope will "rebound" quickly from this little bump in the road.  Aunt Em spent some time with Hope today and Hope was relatively quiet.  Aunt Em got to hear Hope cry today, a little tiny short cry, and while it is great to hear her, it is also so hard to watch her and think that she is in pain.  Her little tiny face shouldn't have to grimace or tighten up.  We just hope that the doctors get it under control soon so that Hope can get back on her routine of growing bigger and stronger.

Hope also had some more visitors today.  Hope's Mommy's Aunt Terri and Cousin Kelly came from Ohio to spend some time with Hope and her Mommy & Daddy.

Daily Hope: New Year

Hope: Day 25; looking so sweet and innocent

Hope rang in the New Year with style, as expected. She had another good day today. She has remained off the Dopamine, has been on room-air on the ventilator, and has continued to do well with her feedings. A chest x-ray today revealed that her right lung has re-expanded and is doing great!

Today Hope had an "interesting" moment. Grandpa would probably refer to the moment as "unlady like" at best, but Aunt Em refers to it as "blossoming personality". So this is how it went... at the end of the day, Grandpa was getting ready to go for dinner so he told Hope something to the effect of "Hi Hope, it's Grandpa, I'm leaving now, but I'll be back tomorrow. I love you." To which Hope responded with some interesting body language. First, she raised her little fist up to her cheek, then she raised her middle finger, ONLY her middle finger. To which it is most likely that Grandpa gasped or something, and then she put the same hand over her ear, covering her ear, not wanting to listen. Aunt Em thinks this is a great sign, not only is Hope overly active, but she also is blossoming with an incredible personality!! Oh, and she OBVIOUSLY knows what is going on and was a little bit mad that Grandpa was leaving and expressed her sentiments. Either way, it was definitely one of those precious, priceless moments, a moment worthy of a Discover commerical:

• 3.5 weeks of Mom on bedrest in hospital: $thousands of dollars
• Emergency c-section for preemie Hope: $tens of thousands of dollars
• Being flipped off by your 26 day old 1.5 pound granddaughter: priceless

Today, the first day of 2009, brought Hope a new look for her fashion show. Today, Hope is sporting a wonderful pink fluffy hat, designed and handcrafted by Peggy, Hope's favorite respiratory therapist (sorry for those other RT's out there but maybe if you bring the hats Hope's opinions could change).

Hope's family had some more visitors today. John & Pat Durham stopped in Indianapolis today for the SECOND time to see the family... AND they brought some incredibly adorable little clothes!!! In case you didn't hear before, John & Pat happened to be able to stop at the hospital on the day that Hope was transferred and had surgery, their presence was so helpful and appreciated at that extremely intense and emotional time.

Dad gave today, the first day of 2009, a rating of 7. Hope maintained and continued with her tiny progression forward. Also, we haven't been keeping score lately, but today would appear to be 1 point for Daddy seeing as Hope's hat is still on.