Four shopping days left 'till Christmas!  I hope you're all ready!

But Santa came to visit Lauren because she wasn't able to go see him in public like most little girls and boys.  Mrs. Claus came along as well, and Lauren passed on her wishlist to Santa.

Coming home from Rita's extended family Christmas is quite the tale.  I came home Sunday night because I had to work early Monday morning, and Grandma Judy was bringing Rita and Lauren back to St. Catharines from Aylmer, and Lauren either decided she wanted some extensive attention, or she was really tired out from the weekend, and, she's alright now, but she was brought to McMaster because her oxygen saturations kept dropping.  A chest x-ray was done, and everything was fine.  A culture was done, and the did find a little something-something in her trach, so she has some MORE medication (on top of the dom peridone, creatine, sodium, rinitadine, iron, vitamin d, and she just finished up nystatin).  But she is growing, and is now up to over 9 lbs!  I think she's actually closing in on 10 lbs, but not too sure. 

Rita and I were decorating the x-mas tree tonight, and while I occupied myself running a power cord for the lights, Rita started to make funny sounds for Lauren.  And Lauren smiled!  So Rita did it again.  Lauren smiled again!  This has really diminished my fear of her not being able to hear (our wall clock fell the other night while Lauren was sleeping in the same room, made a loud CRASH, but she didn't stir).  She is also continuing to become more and more animated and looking around and taking the world in with her beautiful eyes. 

Lauren and I had some great cuddle time today during her 4pm feed.  I had the majority of the afternoon off work, and was able to be around for a while, which was great.  She was off her vent for a while, and she did quite well.  But like all things, it came to an end and Lauren was starting to struggle a little, so we gave her a suction and put her back on for a while before her bath so she could have a little rest.

Anyways, in case we don't get a chance to wish it to you in person, from our family to yours, may you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all the best for the New Year!

Thank you for your conitinuing support, love, thoughts and prayers.