Hey everyone,

First things first.  Rita, Lauren and I would like to congratulate Rita’s cousin Leah Sleegers and her husband Drew as well as their daughter Jenna, on the latest addition to their family.  Megan Alice was born earlier in the week to the happy family, and we wish you all the best.

As an update on Lauren, Rita and I had a few meetings over the past couple of days, and there has been more active talk of getting Rita and I ready to take Lauren home.  We still have to go through some training for the trach care and g-tube care so we’re still looking at a bare minimum of two weeks (to my understanding), but things are going in the right direction.

Lauren has been moved to a private room, because a couple of nights ago, she colonized a bacteria within her called Serratia. My medical understanding has grown, as I learned that “colonized” means that she herself is not showing any symptoms and it is not affecting her, but she could either pass it off to other babies or it could become something that does affect her.  I’m not going to sugar coat it, it could lead to pneumonia, but the medical staff are treating it and so far, she’s still doing very well and the talks of sending her home are still occurring. 

It’s actually rather nice having a private room, because I don’t feel like I’m under the microscope myself when I want to read or sing to Lauren, and we can have some nice quiet time if we so desired it.  We also have a nice window view now, and have actual SUNLIGHT coming into the room!  This on its own is exciting for me as I know how important it is for the human body to be exposed to sunlight. 

Grandma Judy brought down several books and tapes, one of which is Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.  I’ve never read this book, but I did see the animated movie some years ago.  I’ve started to read Charlotte’s Web to Lauren, and I think we’re both in for a treat.  Rita told me last night, that Lauren also seems to like Shel Silverstein.  Lauren stayed awake for the whole story (I don’t remember which one it is as I wasn’t there). 

Speaking of staying awake, Lauren is having more awake periods, and was awake for two hours straight with Rita.  She gets to looking around, and just the other night, Rita marveled at how Lauren kept her focus on me for some time!  I’m told she’s going to be “Daddy’s Little Girl”.  But you know what?  She already is, and always will be.

On that sentimental note, again, congratulations to Leah, Drew and Jenna; welcome Megan, and as always, thank you for your thoughts, love, support and prayers.