Happy Halloween....

'Mom get this silly hat off me'!
Much better, pretty girl!

Happy Halloween birthday, Great Aunt Ellie!!!

Snuggle time w/ daddy!

Daddy's little girl!

Checking out his little sister..

Big yawns...

She loves her fingers!!

Now some people have asked us if the kids look alike, here is a good comparison. Here is a pic of Dylan in the bath just a few weeks after he came home and here is a picture of Danielle in the bath tub for the first time at home last weekend. We think they look pretty much identical!

Danielle......

& Dylan....

Danielle is celebrating a bunch of things today, her first week home, her first Halloween and turning 4 months old this week! Danielle's first week home has been so much fun and so relaxing for her. She is such a different baby then when she was in the hospital. She is happier, she is having much more awake time and she is eating a lot better too. We would say she is thriving at home that is for sure, we remember the same thing with Dylan also. She is sleeping wonderfully at night, allowing us anywhere from 5-7 hours of sleep which is very nice for everyone! She is eating great and being a very good girl. She takes a few naps thru the day and otherwise just loves to lay in her boppy, her swing and her bouncy seat and watch her mobile or mommy sing to her while I am getting my work done.

I have noticed though that I think she may have a bit of reflux. I had a few nurses suggest this to us starting back when Danielle was at St. Lukes. She does not cry in between feedings but while she is eating when her bottle is about 1/2 gone. The other day she spit up with every feeding. Yesterday she didn't spit up at all but she was having some 'wet burps' then swallowing them and I could tell at times she was uncomfortable even though she was not fussy. So I talked to Dr. Collins and on Monday I am taking her in for an Upper GI, this will test to see if she does have reflux. I hate to put her through another test, but this will tell a lot and then if necessary she can be put on a small dose of medication and be more comfortable. I also think this is why she was not eating for every nurse while in the hospital. I feed her smaller amounts more frequently during the day and .....wa la....she is eating even more then her daily minimum. Funny how that works. I think because the nurses didn't spend the time with her like we are able to. We have taken out the NG tube last Sunday and have not had to use it.....thank goodness! She is eating great.

Our in home nurse came 2 times this week and we took her to be checked out by her Pediatrician also. Great Report from everyone all the way around! The in home nurse yesterday weighed Danielle and she weighs 9 pounds 8 ounces....big girl! Next Thursday we take Danielle back to Iowa City for an eye exam and a NICU High Risk Followup.

Danielle and Dylan are getting more and more acquainted every day. Dylan isn't too interested in her. If anything he will come over and squeeze her feet. I tried to get him to hold her the other night for a picture and he pushed her right off of his lap, I am thinking this is a good thing. Once in awhile he will give her a push in the swing, we say 'nice push' and he does it very soft. We don't feel like he feels left out at all, we think he is adjusting very well. The baby is the first thing he asks for every morning and every night when I pick him up from daycare. This use to be puppy and now it is Danielle, it is pretty cute. He is still looking at her really funny though when she cries....I have to get a picture of his face because it is hilarious. Brad and I just crack up every time he makes this certain face!

Here are a few pictures of Danielle's first week home. We are LOVING every minute of her here and it is so great to have our family united at home. Everything is WAY less stressful and everyone can relax in the evenings and enjoy each other without running out of the house right away to get up to the hospital. And a good nights rest is doing us all good.~