I got to hold Auntie Maggie

Hi everyone,

I had a really great Thanksgiving....I hope all of you did too!! I got to see Grandma and Grandpa Hewlitt and all my aunts and uncles...and my new cousin Cicily Bea. I got to hold my Auntie Maggie, but I don't remember holding Uncle Rob...I'll have to go down to Texas and hold him as soon as I'm old enough to go to Texas. Maybe mommy and daddy will drive me there since I don't have a driver's license. How far away is Texas anyway?

So anyway, I spent the night with all my relatives at Grandma and Grandpa Hewlitt's house. They ate turkey and lots of other stuff. I just ate milk because I don't have any teeth to chew....but I'm working on growing some teeth....I'm practicing chewing all the time these days.

I was so excited to see all my aunts and uncles for the first time...except my Auntie Rachel. Auntie Rachel and I go way back to when I was still in the hospital. We have our own preemie language:)

Uncle Reid and Auntie Sue brought Cicily Bea, my cousin, with them. Cousin Cici is bigger than me, but I'm still older than her. She's got more muscles I think though, she can sit in a high chair all by herself....I don't have enough muscles in my body to sit up straight in a high chair, so I didn't get to sit at the table. Cici's so pretty....she has a really awesome smile and she's silly too. She kept looking at me and laughing so I guess she thinks I'm silly too...I hope I get to see her again soon!!!

Auntie Maggie and Uncle Rob brought my dog cousin, Annie, with them. Annie was great!!! She's the first dog that I've ever met and I really liked her because she was so nice to me. I got to feel her fur and she licked me on the face. I think that means she really liked me too....she even came to visit me at my house after thanksgiving. She layed down on my blanket and took a nap with me...I liked sharing with her.

I'm going to put more pictures of my Thankgiving on here so you can see them. I hope you like them!!!

My Crib, my room

I slept in my very own crib in my very own room for two whole days. Then mommy missed me and I got sick so I went back to sleeping in my craddle next to mommy and daddy's bed.

I have to admit I have lots more room in my crib to move around, but it's lonely in my room. Although....I do have a pretty cool paint job in there. And there's this light in the corner that I can talk into and mommy and daddy can hear me in their room. It's like a microphone or something.

I'm finally starting to feel better now....I'm not as stuffy and my cough is better too. Maybe when I'm all better I will sleep more nights in my crib. First I have to work on mommy because she misses me so much. I don't know what I'm going to do with her!!!!!

I am all sicky, YUCK

The last few days i havent been feeling very good at all so my mommy took me to the doctor and it turns out that im sick!!! Let me tell ya i had no idea how YUCKY being sick would be im all stuffed up and its hard to breathe sometimes!!! The good news is my doctor gave mommy some different kind of breathers ( thats what daddy calls my nebulizer treatments, so i play along dont want to spoil his fun!!) to help me while im sick and even some fancy stuff to clear up my nose. even though i got all that good stuff being sick is no fun at all, a little man uses up lots of energy just tryin to breathe when hes sick. I am feeling alot better now that i got the new breathers to help me but from now on if i have a choice i wont be sick again its way way too much work!!! hopefully i can get back to my regular old self..... ZANDER THE GREAT soon

Mommy's little helper

Look at me, I'm helping mommy do the laundry:) I decided that I would help her sort the different colors...but then I realized that I don't know all of my colors yet, and I'm too short to grab the clothes out of the basket. So.....I decided to sit in the basket and throw things out. I think it really helped mommy a lot!!!:)

How funny!

Today I got my revenge on mommy for all the shots I've had to get so far. See, mommy had a doctor's appointment today and first she had blood drawn, then she got a shot! I laughed at her when the lab people were taking her blood, but she thought it was because I was flirting with one of the other lab techs. But then when we were in the exam room, the nurse came in to give mommy a flu shot and I was just sitting quietly next to mommy. It was so funny because mommy was cringing and I thought she was going to cry. I had to laugh at her!!!!! Now she knows how it feels when a little Zander has to get shots...they hurt lots!

Now I just need to figure out how to get revenge on daddy. hahahahahahaha!

Yay for visitors!!!!

I got to see My Sonya today and she brought her mommy with her too! I'm gonna call My Sonya's mommy Grandma Jeri, just so you know....you probably should ask her if it's okay before you call her that. Anyway, Grandma Jeri was going to come visit me a couple months ago but she got some poison itchy thing. She told me that it was from a plant or something...I'm gonna stay away from those poison plants!!

She brought me a big, huge book call Itsy Bitsy Spider....it even comes with a little spider, just the rght size for me! I can't wait to read it and guess what???? It comes with a CD so you can play the song with it! Yay for me:)

I got to be held by Grandma Jeri and My Sonya....it was so awesome, I showed them how I can kick and move all over the place....and my smile too....I think mommy snuck a picture of me smiling....I wasn't watching, otherwise I would have stopped smiling, it's a fun game I play with mommy!!!

I got a shot yesterday for RSV...the shot is supposed to stop me from getting this RSV thing. Frosty, my visiting nurse came to my house so I didn't have to go to the doctor. Remember Tai? She's going to give me my shot next month because I have to have these stupid shots every month during the winter...don't doctors understand that baby Zanders don't like shots?! I haven't seen Tai since August I think.

Anyway, Frosty had to give me a shot. I'm going to try very hard not to hold it against her, she's only doing her job....but man oh man....it hurt!!!!:( I cried for a whole 3 minutes...then I was all better. :)

Frosty had to weigh me before the shot so she could figure out how much to give me. She did my height and measured my head too. I weigh 13 lbs and 4 ozs. and I'm 25 inches tall. I'm over two feet tall now...that's awesome! My head keeps growing too...it's 16 and 1/2 inches...If I'm not careful my head may be bigger than my height soon. I need to keep an eye on that.

Other than that, I don't have any new news...I've just been staying inside as much as possible because I don't like being cold. I hang out with mommy and daddy and have visits sometimes so I'm doing great!

Happy Halloween

Hi everyone, I hope you had a great Halloween:) I didn't go out trick or treating because I can't eat the candy. Mommy gave me the choice but I decided that if I didn't get to eat the candy then I wasn't going out in the cold! I did dress up though....can you see what I am? I'm a giraffe!!!!:)

I helped mommy pass out candy to all the kids who knocked on our door. Some of them were really scarey, but I didn't cry...not even once. Grandma and Grandpa Orr even came to spend some time with the little giraffe.

Mommy and I went to the NICU to visit the nurses and take them some candy and cookies. Daddy was sad because he had to work all evening. He really wanted to see our favorite nurses too.

It was a really fun night and I was sooooo good....I kept my giraffe on for a whole 3 hours without complaining about it. I'm so awesome:)

Chilly Willy

I don't know if you are aware of what I'm about to tell you....brace yourselves....It's COLD outside!

The tree in the front of my house lost all of it's leaves in one day. Mommy and I came home from day care one day to find the whole driveway covered in leaves and the whole porch covered too. Mommy decided to get my picture playing in the leaves before it gets too cold. Right after this picture was taken I had a seriously talk with mommy....it's true....I made her sit down and look me in the eyes while I explained to her that it's ALREADY COLD!!!!!!! She promised to keep me warm always from now on:)

Multi-tasking

This is my favorite picture because it shows just how smart I am. Do you see that I CAN hold onto my Giraffe, read a book, and exercise my legs.....all at the same time!!!!!!!!!! Has there ever been another baby who can do so much at one time?

I may not be able to crawl, or walk yet, but I can do three things at once! That's got to count for something:)

Addy and I

Here's a picture of Addy and me at her baby shower. She got lots of fun presents and there was yummy milk for Addy and I. We even wore matching clothes:)

Remember me???

I'm so sorry for not writing to you in such a long time...I've been busy spending quality time with mommy and just keeping busy in general.

On October 10th I had my follow-up appointment with the NICU. I first had my hearing test and passed my right ear really quick. But, my left ear didn't pass. It wasn't actually because I couldn't hear anything, instead it was because I kept grunting and making noises so I only passed 3 out of 5 of the parts. The hearing guy wasn't too concerned about it because he could tell I could hear, since I kept raising my eyebrows when I heard the noises.

After my hearing test I had to meet with Sharon, my developmental specialist. My doctor #1 was supposed to meet with us at the appointment too, but he was taking care of a very sick baby so he got to be absent. Sharon had a friend with her at my appointment, she works with developmental stuff too. They were really nice to me, and thought that my outfit was just perfect. In case you can't read my shirt it says, "cute, cute, cute...Nobody ever says anythingabout my brains". Sharon said that this outfit was perfect because her main focus is my brains which includes my movements and different skills. Sharon told mommy and daddy that according to my due date I was 2.5 months old, but I was acting like a 3 month old at my appointment. I guess I'll never understand this adjusted thing because I thought I was supposed to be 6 months....in fact Oct. 10 was my 6 month birthday. I hope that mommy and daddy don't make me wait an extra three months every year to get my birthday presents!!!

Then on Oct. 11th, I had my 6 month check-up with my Dr. Clark. Everything was going fine until those mean nurses brought out lots of shots. They poked me 4 times *pouts*. Mommy tried to be nice to me by having Grandma Domo give me some Tylenol before my appointment, but I still cried a whole bunch. I don't think I've ever cried that much in my whole life! Grandma Domo said it sounded like such a pain-filled cry. Mommy spoiled me the rest of the night because my legs hurt. What am I talking about....mommy spoils me becuase I'm me:)

I'm an artist!

It was my Grandma Domo's birthday on Oct. 5th. My mommy told me so, but when I asked my Grandma Domo....she told me she doesn't have birthdays anymore. Mommy told me later that sometimes Grandmas and Grandpas pretend that they don't have birthdays because they don't want to grow old. Well, I told Grandma Domo HAPPY BIRTHDAY when I saw her on the 4th, but I didn't get her anything because I wanted to make some special for her.

So today mommy helped me paint my Grandma Domo a picture. I did all the work, but mommy supervised and then gave me a bath after I was done. Did you know that paint makes you dirty??? I didn't know that, but mommy said so. I even put some HAPPY BIRTHDAY stickers on my picture for Grandma Domo.

I'm going to visit her at her house tomorrow, so I'm going to give her my special picture. My mommy said that my picture is even more special because it's my very first picture ever!!! That's right, I'm just now breaking into the Art World. But watch out, I plan on being a BIG NAME someday:)

Don't tell my Grandma Domo that I made this picture for her, she doesn't know yet!! I can't wait for tomorrow when I give it to her:)

Other than that, I'm doing pretty good. I had to go back on the Os on Monday, but I think I told you that. Anyway, I'm still on them....my Doctor Clark wanted to give me a break and let me breath easy for a little while. I have to go see her next week again, so she'll probably tell mommy and daddy to try me off the Os again. I can not wait until I don't need those yucky Os ever again!!!!! They mess up my smiles:(

Oh yeah, tomorrow is Addy's shower....it's going to be at my Grandma Domo's house and I got Addy an awesome present!!!:) Mommy let me pick it out all by myself. I hope Addy likes blue and green becuase I couldn't find what I wanted in Pink or Yellow. She should like it a whole bunch though because if I were her I'd love it. It's awesome!!!!!!!

So I'm going to see Grandma Domo tomorrow and then go to Addy's shower, and then I got invited to a NICU family reunion. Because I'm going to be in Cedar Falls tomorrow, I don't think I'll make it back before the reunion starts, but if mommy and me hurry, we can pick up daddy and maybe make an hour of the reunion. I'd really like to go, but I'm so popular that I get invited to lots of things...my appointment book fills up fast so it's first come first serve with me:)

Some good, some not so good

Today was a weird day! Actually, mommy says I was weird all weekend. I wouldn't sleep during the day at all. She and daddy both noticed that I would fall asleep for 10 to 20 minutes and then wake up. Well both Saturday and Sunday night I was very grouchy because I was so over tired....but I slept really good both nights. Mommy thought maybe I was just getting on a different schedule, but then today I wasn't hungry like I usually am and just felt like sleeping most of the day.

My day care provider called mommy and told her that she was concerned because I couldn't stay awake to eat and my O2 stats were lower than usual....well it's a good thing mommy and daddy plan accordingly...mommy told my day care provider to put my nose hose back in and mommy would call my Dr. Clark. The day care provider let mommy know that as soon as my nose hose was back in, I was waking up and breathing better too...and starving too!

But mommy called my Dr. Clark anyway and we met daddy at Dr. Clark's office because he was concerned about lil' old me too! My Dr. Clark checked me all over and listened to me for a long time and she said I sounded really good....just a little snotty and stuffy...but I didn't have a cold. Mommy and daddy explained that when I spit up, sometimes my formula comes out my nose. Mommy does her best to clean out my nose with salene solution and that nose sucker thing, but it just doesn't work that well. Mommy says she can't get it far enough into my nose to get the formula out all the time....She said she wishes she had the suction hose from the NICU, that works awesome!!!!

My Dr. Clark told mommy a secret about shooting the salene far up into my nose with a syringe.....no, there's no needle on the syringe sillies! My Dr. Clark said that I would sneeze and get all the gunky formula out on my own if mommy shot the salene way up in my tiny nose. My Dr. Clark also said that because my nose was stuffy and not running, I was having to work really hard to get air into me, which then made me really tired and start to get lazy. So mommy and daddy are to watch me closely because no one really thinks I need the nose hose anymore, as long as I'm not stuffy.

Mommy shot my nose with salene tonight and oh my gosh....I sneezed a big old sneeze and then the salene came out my mouth with some yucky formula...since I'm a boy and boys like gross stuff, I thought it was pretty cool...I didn't even cry!!!! I'm breathing much better now, but My Dr. Clark thinks maybe I should have the nose hose for at least a couple days to give me a rest...Otherwise I'm a really healthy boy.

Oh yeah, the good news is that my Dr. Clark thought I looked so big that she wanted me to be weighed, even though it wasn't a regular appointment. I weigh 12 lbs and 6 ozs. Want to hear the cool part? I've gained 30 ozs. in 19 days!!!!! Oh Yeah!!! Mommy immediately asked if mommy and daddy were overfeeding me, but my Dr. Clark said no, no, no.....if I'm hungry I can eat what I want. But she did lower the calorie count of my formula since I'm doing so awesome! Pretty soon I'll be just like other babies and not have a special diet....when I get to that point, I'm going to steal some of daddy's chocolate!!!!!! Woo hoo!

I have to go back next week for my 6 month check up and I think I heard mommy whisper something about 6 month shots...I think I'm going to hide from mommy and daddy on that day! But then again, I can't hide because I also get to go to the NICU for a follow-up appointment....I can't wait to visit all my lovely lady Nurses again!:) And don't forget my really smart doctors.....I hope they're all there so I can show them how strong I am!!!! I'll definately let you know how my appointments go....but for now....I think I'll take a nap:)

I've got a surprise for you!!

Okay, so today was my very first day at my new babysitter's house. That's right, mommy went back to work today. And do you know what???? I handled the whole situation better than mommy did. I got to eat, sleep, and watch the cool kids play...what more could a little Zander hope for? Mommy told me that it wasn't that easy for her, she was very sad to have to be gone from me all day. Just to make her feel better I gave her my biggest, brightest smile when we got home. She told me that my smile made her feel happy...I'll have to remember that in the future:)

Anyway, here's a picture of me this evening. Yep, I'm really tuckered out because I didn't sleep very much at day care. I was so excited to see my new friends that I watched them play almost all day. I even played along with them, only they can run standing up....I have to run laying down. But I can get my feet moving just as fast as those big kids!!!

But.......that's not my surprise. Look very closely at this picture of me. Do you notice anything???? Hmmm...maybe that I don't have a nose hose in my nose??? Oh yeah!!!! Mommy got a call from my doctor today and my Dr. Clark said that I didn't have to wear my oxygen for a whole week. Do you know what I think? I think she's testing me to see how well I do without my nose hose. My mommy told me I was right so I've decided that I'm going to work extra hard all week so that when they come to download the information from my monitors again, my Dr. Clark will see that I do just great without that stinky nose hose!!!! Isn't that exciting???? There might not be anymore pictures of my handsome face covered by a hose...from now on, you get what you see! I don't know about you, but I'm overjoyed to not have something sticking in my nose all the time.

Well, it's about time that I put mommy to sleep. I think I might have to lay down next to her since I'm a little sleepy myself. Besides, I need all the rest I can get....I don't want to miss a thing at the babysitter's house!

Relaxing and Loving It!

Since coming home from the hospital, mommy has been really easy on me. She lets me eat when I want and watch TV and pretty much do what I want to. She always let me do whatever I wanted to before I had surgery, but it's different now. I guess since I have my first surgery under my belt, I feel much older. Anyway, I got this cool Boppy thing at the baby shower last weekend and it's come in handy. Did you know that I can see the TV really good from this position??? That's right, I'm watching Cartoons. Mommy's friend Julie asked her what my favorite cartoon was and mommy told her I like all the cartoons that are brightly colored and fast moving....:) my mommy knows me so well!:)

Alright, I'm going to go for now....I think I can talk mommy into giving me another bottle before I go to sleep...it's so nice having her wrapped around my finger!!

Surgery is not fun!!!!

Here's me after my surgery on September 19th. And before you ask, NO IT WAS NOT FUN! Daddy kept telling me we were going to Disney World, but come on...I don't know any rides that hurt a baby at Disney World...and I haven't even been there before!

Actually I'm told surgery went very well, I was in the Operating Room for a whole 25 minutes and there were no complications. I did have to spend 24 hours in the hospital, but it was kind of fun because all my girlfrien/Nurses from the NICU snuck in to see me. However, I didn't get to eat for 6 whole hours before surgery and then the Nurses wouldn't let me eat afterwards either. All I was allowed to have was this pedialite stuff...it was okay, but not great tasting like my milk! I guess I survived though:)

Party!!!

Hey Everyone, I got to go to a baby shower on September 17th....and guess what??? I was the guest of honor!!!:) Oh yeah, there was lots of good food and new people to hold me. I definately made the rounds with all the lovely ladies that were there. I did my best to charm them with my good looks!! And who would of thought, I got lots of neat presents too....I got clothes abd books and bed stuffs and stuffs to suck on and play with....I have to tell you, these lovely ladies sure know how to shop for little ol' me!! I had an awesome time:)

Mommy lost the bet! I won:)

I had a pre-operation appointment on Wednesday of this week because I'm having surgery on the 19th. Anyway, my appointment was also a weight check and mommy was sure I was at least 11 lbs. She thinks I'm heavy.....and both my grandmas keep telling me that too. So anyway, mommy bet me that I was somewhere between 11 and 12 lbs.

Haha mommy, I win:) I weigh 10 lbs and 8 ozs. That's right, I'm 10.5 lbs which means I win the bet! Mommy couldn't believe it and thought that maybe she would get in trouble for not feeding me enough. But you know what? My doctor loves me!!! She said I look wonderful and that I am gaining approximately 1 oz. per day. She wouldn't stop gushing about how well I'm doing and how great I look. You know, I already know that I am awesome, but I like to hear people tell me so I let her keep talking.

And....you know what else???? I've been smiling a lot lately, it's kind of an addictive thing...I have noticed that when I smile at someone, they get a silly grin on their face and ask me to smile lots more times. I don't always grant their wish, because if I smiled all the time it wouldn't be as special as my random "Zander Smile". This weekend I'm going to show lots of lovely ladies my best smile and watch to see their response:) My Grandma Domo says that I get more cute every day...I think she's telling the truth, but I won't let it go to my head....yeah right:) Oh that's right....speaking of going to my head...apparently most of my weigh gain has been in my head. I'm 22 inches long now, which is only slightly longer that my last appointment. You know, I'm in the 50 percentile for height and weight, but guess what....my head is 41 cm in diameter...my head is the only part of my body in the 75 percentile, so I'm not kidding when I say I let things go to my head! Mommy says my head is big because I have lots of brains which make me smart. I think she's telling the truth too:)

Okay, I promise I will write again real soon. This weekend I get to meet lots of people so I'll have lots to talk about after Sunday afternoon...until then, HUGS!

It's my other grandparents!

Here's a picture of me with my Grandma and Grandpa Orr. I am so lucky to have lots of grandparents! Did you know that I also have lots of great aunts and great uncles too? I haven't gotten to meet them, but they send me letters and mommy talks to some of them on the phone. I've decided that they are just as special as my grandparents are....so from now on, they're all my grandmas and grandpas...YAY!!!

It's my grandparents!!!

Hi everyone, Sunday was Grandparent's Day. I got to see both sets of my grandparents on Sunday. Did you???? This is me with my Grandma Domo and Grandpa Bob. I get to see them at least once a week, sometimes more!!! I'm going to see their house for the very first time this coming Sunday, and I get to meet all their friends and neighbors:)

Uh oh, daddy wrecked MY "cool car"

Life has been pretty busy and exciting the past few weeks.

First off, mommy and I got a call late at night from daddy saying that he was in a car accident. (this was way back on August 26th) Mommy and I threw ourselves in the car and went to make sure daddy was okay. He was mostly okay....his ribs and shoulder and leg hurt, but he didn't know why. Mommy says it was because the airbags deployed...I'm not really sure what that means. Anyways, daddy wrecked the "cool car" that I was going to inherit. Okay, it's not "cool" like some cars, but it was an old couger and it was an awesome red...oh well! But I tell you what, that weekend was the most exciting for me...

I got to first go to the crash site and talk to the sheriffs and then mommy and I took daddy to the hospital just to have him checked out. Daddy got lots of x-rays and guess what....the x-ray technicians were the same ones who did all of my x-rays when I was in the hospital. We reminisced about old times:)

Daddy didn't do much that whole weekend because he was sore. I tried to get him to play with me, but he always cringed when I kicked him in the ribs....I mean really, if you don't want it kicked, don't put them where I can reach!!! Mommy said she felt like she had two babies to take care of. But we made it through the weekend all in one piece. Mommy got lots of phone calls over the weekend. She tried to explain this whole insurance thing to me, but I just don't get it. But what I did get is when mommy told daddy that because his car had low mileage, we got extra money from the insurance company....so on that Monday I got to go to the insurance company, and then visit my "cool car" at the Salvage yard, and then I even got to look at different cars for daddy to drive. Daddy said he wanted another old "cool car" even though they're not really family cars. Daddy said mommy could drive the family car...I think I should drive the family car, but they didn't like that idea.

Mommy made me laugh because when we were looking at cars, daddy found an explorer that he really liked (because it was green). He told me that it had low mileage and was not a gas guzzler because it was only a V6. Who knows what he was talking about. All I know is that mommy told daddy that he just bought himself a family car. I gotta tell you though, it's not much of a family car because I haven't gotten to ride in it yet!!!!!

And then on Sunday I had my amazing play date with Emma and her brothers, James and Kyle. You'll have to read what I had to say about that! I had so much fun and we got our picture taken together.....yeah, I really am a ladies man!!!

Okay, so that was my exciting weekend...do you know that I did more in that one weekend than most babies do in their entire babytime???? That's right, I'm awesome!

Lets see, the next week mommy and I went shopping for babysitters for me. We found one that takes good care of babies and she doesn't live very far away. We visited her home to meet the other kids and to make sure it was a safe home. I was satisfied that I could have a good time there. Mommy isn't going back to work quite yet, but it's getting close. She's not to excited about that so Grandma Domo and Grandpa Bob say that they are going to have to "ween" mommy off of Zander time. I guess they think she spends too much time with me. I guess I have to agree with them, because I've heard mommy say that she doesn't think she can last a full 8 hours without me. Doesn't she know that I'm still going to be hers all the other times?????

I had another doctor's appointment this week. I think I told you that I have to have surgery on a hernia on the 19th of September. They were going to circumcize me at the same time so I had to go see a Urologist....I'm not really sure what circumcize or Urologist means, but I don't like the sound of it! Anyway, I went to see him and he was checking out my man parts and I didn't know why. Mommy says that I did have a huge smile on my face when the doctor said he would not do the circumcision on the 19th because he doesn't want me to be under anestesia for too long....I think that means he's not going to cut my man parts! Mommy was kind of upset and I couldn't figure out why...I was happy about it. She tried to explain to me that now I would have to have another surgery when I was 1 years old.....and she said I wouldn't like it. Well, I'm not sure what surgery is, but I figure I have 7 more months to divise a plan for postponing it again!!!!!:)

So yeah, on the 19th of this month I get to see my favorite nurses again. Mommy and daddy say that I have to spend the night in the hospital...I think it's some kind of sleepover for the cool kids! Mommy tried explaining to me that I wouldn't be staying in the NICU for the night, rather I'd be on the peds unit. I figure they're next door to eachother, I'll just sneak on over to see my NICU Ladies!!!! The only thing that I'm not happy about so far is that I don't get to eat....um, hello....I like my food, hands off!!!! Mommy told me not to worry about it.

Mommy and I have been working hard to clean up the basement. Apparently mommy and daddy stopped after they unpacked the upstairs and left everything downstairs in disaray. Well, we have successfully finished the unpacking and have a neat little family room where I can play and eat and sleep and do whatever I want to. Grandma Orr is going to bring over my walker and we're going to put that and my swing downstairs so I can get my move on!

I've been turning my head from side to side lots lately....and when I say lots, I really mean lots! Mommy laughs at me because when she puts me down for my naps, I don't know which way is more comfortable. She says that before I actually fall asleep I turn my head over about 6-7 times and then I'm out like a light bulb. Whatever mommy, don't make fun of me! I can do what I want to:)

Grandpa Bob came to visit me on Tuesday and he ripped up the carpet in our bathroom. We're still not sure why there was carpet in the bathroom, but it needed to come up because when mommy and daddy shower, the carpet gets wet and I guess that's not good. Grandpa Bob was having so much fun...he first ripped up the carpet and then he ripped up some flooring that was green with pink speckles...I told Grandpa Bob that we could not have pink in my house....Except when my girlfriends come to visit, because they look good in pink. So after Grandpa Bob ripped everything up, he found a spot on the wood that needed to be replaced due to water damage, so he's coming today (and bringing Grandma Domo) to replace that wood and then put tile down so our bathroom is all nice again!!! I don't know about you, but I think Grandpa Bob is a Guru with the home improvement....he's awesome!!!!

Grandma Domo was going to help mommy clean the basement, but since I already helped her....I think I will require Grandma Domo to hold me and love me and feed me all afternoon. She does a great job of that so I have to take advantage of her when she comes to visit!!!! Grandma Domo told mommy that she had to be gone from me for 4 whole hours.....*grins* yeah right, as if mommy could really do that!!! I think I will kick mommy out for a little while so I can have Grandma Domo all to myself! Daddy has to go to work so he's going to miss all the fun.:(

Oh my gosh, I forgot to tell you....I got an announcement from my cousin Cicily....she's like a model or something because she sent me this really cool head shot and then you turn it over and there's more pictures of her. And.....get this....she must be pretty special (I already thought she was anyway) because the US Post Office made Cicily her very own stamp....can you imagine that? My cousin's face is on a stamp!!! WoW,I am in awe:)

I am such a ladies man!

On Sunday I had another play date, but this time I got to see Emma and her two older brothers James and Kyle! They came to my house with their mommy and daddy to visit me. Emma is bigger than me...but that doesn't mean she's stronger! She cried because she got the hiccups and apparently she doesn't like them. I tried to tell her that I get the hiccups all the time and they eventually go away. Emma is pretty cute and we looked good together, so I'm thinking I'll have to date both Emma and Adalie:) Mommy and Tammy (that's Emma's mommy) laughed because if we had Adalie here too, there would be a big baby, a medium baby, and a small baby....wouldn't that be a cool piture!!:) Emma's older brothers, James and Kyle approved of my book collection and they really liked my room. They played for a long time in there. Jason (that's Emma's daddy) hung out with my daddy and talked about computers and the internet...daddy refers to Jason as his own personal IT Guy....I don't really know what that means but I guess it's a good thing.

Emma's older brother James was starting Kindergarten the next day. That's right, he's a big boy and he's so lucky he gets to go to school! James was telling me and mommy all about the things he will get to do in Kindergarten and I can't wait until I get to go. Mommy says it will be a long while before I get to go....not fair!

Emma's other brother Kyle and I have lots in common. The most important thing we have in common is we both love elephants. Kyle refers to elephants as Enyas....I think he's on to something...Enya is a lot easier to say that elephant! Did you know that Kyle and James got to ride on an elephant???? They really did...I saw the picture! Mommy says when I grow up a little bit more we can go to all the fun places that James and Kyle go to....the circus, the zoo....the possibilities are endless!!!!

Size Matters!

In case it's hard to determine exactly how much I've grown since April 10, 2006...I am putting the first picture of me with my army beanie baby, and a picture of me with my army beanie baby today. I think it's clear to see that the tables have turned and I now have the upper hand:) He is the size of a fly compared to the awesome size of me...Super Zander...AKA Chunky Monkey:)!!!!

Chunky Monkey

Hello everyone!:)

Today I went to my doctor's appointment and guess what??? I weigh 9 lbs 4 ozs today!!! My doctor was so excited that I gained 1 lb 1 oz since my last doctors appointment two weeks ago. Mommy has started affectionately calling me a Chunky Monkey because I really like eating!!! I'm also 21 and 1/4 inches tall. According to my doctor, I grew 1 inch. It's funny, I don't remember growing any time in the last two weeks....I just remember eating, sleeping, and cuddling:)

I don't have to go back and see that doctor for 3 whole weeks!!!! I do have to go see a Urologist...I don't know what kind of doctor that is, but I don't think it's good. I heard my doctor telling mommy about my privates and then I stopped listening...whatever she started to say, I don't think I wanted to hear it!!!!!

And what's this surgery stuff? Mommy told Grandma Orr that I have to have surgery on Sept. 19....it's too bad I can't read yet, or I would thoroughly research all these words that the doctors say to mommy and daddy. I am beginning to think there is a conspiracy going on and no one is letting me in on it....naughty mommy and daddy!!

Hanging out at home

Here's mommy and me hanging out at home. We do that a lot lately because it is hard sometimes to take my oxygen and monitors with us every where!!! Plus, I really like hanging out with mommy:) Daddy says mommy spoils me by holding me too much....I personally believe that I spoil mommy too much by showering her with my attention. Come on, I'm just trying to butter her up so I get my way always in the future...I think I have her wrapped around my tiny fingers already!!!1

It's all mine!

Sometimes My mommy doesn't feed me quite like I want her to. It's those times when I decide to take the bottle into my own hands. Here am I taking charge of the situation and feeding myself!!! I only show this awesome strength once in a while...usually I let mommy and daddy, or whomever else is feeding me do most of the work:)

Playdates are fun, fun, fun

I had my very first play date last Thursday. My little friend, baby Adalie came to visit me at my house. We played for a little while...okay, we really just layed next to each other...then she cried so we decided to eat something. It was very fun!!!! Notice how big I am compared to her? She's little, only 5lbs 9ozs in this picture...I am a giant!:)

The Long Awaited Graduation Photo

Here's my newborn picture from the hospital. Do you know that they didn't even take my "newborn" picture until the day I was discharged???? I was over three months old by that time!!! I don't get these picture people....taking a picture of a 3 month old and calling it a "newborn photo"....Crazy!

Anyway, Mommy found the perfect outfit for my graduation from the NICU....a graduation cap and gown, complete with a little diploma. The nurses loved it and so did mommy!! I personally thought that picture time was a great time to take a cat nap before I was discharged, that's why my eyes were closed. Mommy told me that I had to have a graudation outfit because I fought long and hard to make it this far and I needed to remember for always how strong I am. She says I'm a fighter....not like beating people up, but really just a strong and tough little man who fought his way through some very tough moments in life...Mommy says I am definately one of a kind!

Mommy was sitting next to me today and was looking at some of my old pictures. She says that looking at me today, you'd never know how much I had to fight to stay alive and be here today. She told me that I don't look anything like that tiny little man in the early days, because now I'm getting big and strong. I told mommy that I couldn't have been so strong and tough without all the prayers that everyone said for me. You are all AWESOME!!!:)

I Own Daddy

Hey everyone:) Daddy says that he owns me now because he got my tiny foot prints tattooed on his arm. He's been talking about it for a really really long time....basically since he saw my tiny foot prints when I was born. So he finally did it....Daddy now has my foot prints on his arm, along with my name and birthdate, and even my birth weight!!! He's such a silly daddy....to think that he owns me, doesn't he know that I own him forever and ever???? That's right, my tiny feet have branded him for life and he's all mine!:)

Grandma DoMo Is Naughty

Okay, my Grandma DoMo is not really naughty, but she has been trying to talk mommy into taking a picture of me without my nasal canula covering up my face for a lot of weeks now. So today, Grandma DoMo and mommy gave me a bath, and since mommy had to change my face stickers and nasal canula, she allowed me to keep my oxygen off for about 10 minutes. I'm supposed to wear my nasal canula all the time, but mommy has to admit that I don't really do that. It's not her fault, it's really mine...because I pull and push at my nasal canula so much that it rarely stays in my nose anyway.

Grandma DoMo wanted a picture of me so now she has one. I did really good without my nasal canula on my face for the whole ten minutes....maybe my doctor will ween me off of the oxygen so that I can be done with my nasal canula once and for all!!!

I can't give you an update on my height and weight today because I haven't seen my doctor since last Wednesday. I weighed 8lbs. 3ozs. last Wednesday and I know I weigh more today, but I don't know how much I've gained. I won't find out until next week when I go back to see my doctor.

I got fed today by both Grandma DoMo and Grandpa Bob. Mommy didn't hold me for a whole five hours! It was hard for her not to hold me, but she knows she has to share me with others. Besides, now that daddy works evenings, mommy usually gets me all to herself until after daddy comes home from work. We snuggle and talk to each other, and then mommy gives me tummy time.

I'm working really hard to roll over these days. I can do it, but not every time that I try. I think I might be able to fly before I can roll over every time I try. Mommy loves to watch me try because I stretch out my legs and lift up my whole lower body in the air and then rock from side to side. It almost looks like I'm trying to fly, rather than roll over. Maybe I'll have mommy take a picture of me pretending to fly and show every one on here. But for now, I need a nap:)

My Grandpa Bob

Today Grandpa Bob and Grandma DoMo came to visit me. Grandpa Bob wanted to see me sit in my vibrating chair, but mommy told him that I use the chair so much that the batteries were dead. Grandpa Bob loves me so much that he went out and bought me new batteries. Don't get me wrong...mommy and daddy love me too, but we don't leave the house too often because where ever I go, so goes two monitors and an oxygen tank. It's easier to just wait until we need a whole bunch of stuff and then I go with both mommy and daddy. It's fun to go on outings with mommy and daddy:)

Anyway, Grandpa Bob bought me some batteries and then my vibrating chair once again worked wonderfully! Grandpa Bob listened to the music that the chair plays and watched as my little body vibrated. He was so impressed:)

Up, Up, and Away

Here's me sitting in my very own swing. My grandma and grandpa Orr bought me the swing and I just had to try it out. I'm still too little to sit in it without having blankets wrapped around me....because I can't keep my head up straight all the time. Sometimes I like to lean my head to the side and my body just keeps following my head, because of that, mommy places a blanket around me to keep me in one place.

It was weird swinging inside my house. I got to see everything from a different perspective. Usually I'm sitting on mommy or daddy, or I'm laying on the floor looking up. In my swing, I see things right in front of me....but, everything seems to move closer to me and then pulls back. Mommy tried to explain that it was really me that was moving because I was in the swing and the swing moves back and forth....but, I don't think mommy knows what she is talking about, I know what I see....I see things near and then far. At times it makes me tired and a little bit dizzy....maybe it will just take some getting used to.

Me and My Daddy

Here's a picture of me and my daddy hanging out at home. We like to sit in the recliner together and watch some television. My daddy takes good care of me, and I love hanging out with him.

Roly Poly

I'm getting so big these days. Today my visiting Nurse Tai came to see me. I am sad because she doesn't get to come and see me anymore because I'm doing so good. I weighed 8 lbs and 3ozs today. It doesn't seem like I gained very much weight from her last visit, but last week I was only 19.5 inches tall....this week I am 21.25 inches tall. So instead of all the food going to my tummy, it went to my legs to make them longer.

I don't sleep as much as most babies do, but that's because I am a social butterfly. Everyone tells mommy and daddy that I am really only 2.5 weeks old.....but you know what? I do more than a 2.5 week old does. I can almost roll myself over completely....which I believe I have done once, but mommy says she helped a tiny bit.

And I have it on good authority....Grandma Domo said so....I am such a good little boy. That's right. I do not complain very much at all. I think it's because I have my mommy wrapped around my finger so I don't have to throw a huge fit because if I make the slightest noise she's right there. Sometimes she can be annoying, so I always look forward to visitors so that I don't always have to hold mommy. I even save my best smiles for my visitors:) I don't have to give them to mommy and daddy because I know that they have to love me no matter what!!!

I promise I'm working on getting more pictures on here.....the computer is not wanting to work with me very well.....but I will soon conquer the computer!!!

Laying Around

Here I am playing on the floor in the living room. Since I am connected to a heart monitor, a pulse oximeter, and a huge tank of oxygen, mommy and I usually hang out in the living room where there is a lot of space for me to move around. I like this toy because it makes a "crinkly" noise if you squeeze the octopus's arms. I may be little, but I sure am smart:)

Hello from my home

Hi everyone,

As you've probably heard, I was actually discharged on 07-22-2006. It's been pretty hectic at home lately as I've been trying to get used to the new place. There's different rooms here. I've been going to the doctor and having visitors, and mommy and daddy have to do everything for me on their own...That's right....There's no more NICU nurses to help out!

I have a visiting nurse that comes and sees me. The first time, Deb came to see me. She used to work in the NICU as a Nurse too, but now she just does the home health visits. My regular visiting nurse will be Nurse Tai. She works sometimes in the NICU, but I never had a chance to have her as a nurse....so now I get my chance. She comes and weighs me, and listens to my heart and lungs. She told mommy today that I am gaining 1 oz. per day. I think that's a good thing.

I was discharged on the 22nd weighing 7lbs 4 ozs. but today I weigh 7lbs 15 ozs....I am getting huge!:)

Mommy and I went on a couple outings to my pediatrician and my eye doctor. Otherwise we pretty much stay at home because it's so hot outside and when I go anywhere I have to have two monitors and an oxygen tank. It's a good thing I have a stroller to carry all of that, otherwise mommy would need someone with her at all times to carry me and all my stuffs!

Daddy and mommy have a schedule down for my cares. Right now mommy is not working so she watches me during the day and evening. Daddy is working evenings and he watches me at night while mommy sleeps. I wish mommy didn't have to go back to work because it's fun hanging around the house with her. She makes me laugh sometimes.

My grandmas and grandpas come to see me every once in awhile because they love to spend time with me. Grandma and Grandpa Hewlitt just got back from Texas where they saw my cousin Cicily....I saw a picture of her and I was told that she is bigger than me. I'm catching up though:) I might get to meet Cicily sometime in October because she'll be in Kansas City....I'm going to try and talk mommy and daddy into taking me there to meet her.

The days have been kind of sad lately because mommy's friend Emily had a baby girl, my future girlfriend. Her name is Adalie and she is so very cute (mommy said so) but she is in Iowa City because she is having problems breathing. Mommy and I pray for her everyday because she has to have surgery to fix her. I wish I could go see her, but they don't like babies coming into the NICU, they just like it when babies leave because that means they are healthy. Mommy has gone to visit Adalie two times and she comes home and tells me all about Adalie....when she gets out, we're going to wear matching clothes:)

I have another future girlfriend in Grandmound. Her name is Emma and she's pretty cute too. Apparently she's growing really fast and is really healthy. I don't know if I can catch up with her growth wise, because she's growing like a tree!!! Someday when I'm older I'll be bigger than all my girlfriends and my cousin....but for now, I have to settle for being little.


I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to write anything, but it has been really busy around here. I'll try and write more often and post pictures to show everyone how I am doing. But for now, have a great week:)

Watch Out World!!!!!

That's right....Watch Out World, Here I Come:)

I'm getting discharged on 07-22-2006. My doctors all met yesterday with daddy here at the hospital and mommy on the speaker phone. My Doctor #1 said that I could go home this Saturday. He said that his fear of me not wanting to eat orally is no longer a fear. They still want to monitor me to make sure I don't need those yucky medications again, but Doc #1 says that my Pediatrician can monitor that for me. I probably didn't tell you that mommy and daddy went shopping for a Pediatrician awhile back. They bought one for me and she has come to visit me three times in the NICU. *sighs* It must be a woman thing.....the ladies can't get enough of me!

Can you believe it???? I'm finally going home....mommy has been trying not to be excited because she is scared we'd be postponed again, but I've been eating lots and lots just to make sure the doctors and nurses are happy.

Tonight I have to sleep with the monitors from the hospital connected to me, plus my "going-home" monitors. I guess all these wires attached to me brings new meaning to the phrase...."I'm wired." I mean really...I have wires coming from my armpits, my chest, my belly, and both of my feet. Not to mention the Nasal Canula tubing that's always attached to my head....It's a hard days work just trying to be careful not to get tangled!!!

Tonight I weigh 7 lbs. 3 ozs....The nurses say I'm about the size of a newborn....heck, I'm even bigger than some full term newborns. I get my picture taken tomorrow morning before I leave. Yeah, I know mommy and daddy have already taken millions of pictures...but this one is different...it's professional. The nurses keep calling it a "Newborn Picture". That really doesn't make sense to me because I'm over three months old....I think I deserve a little more respect from my ladies....because they're gonna miss me when I'm gone!!!!!:) But of course, I'm going to miss all of them more! It's been a very difficult and long road and all my nurses and doctors have worked their butts off to make going home possible!

Every day of the rest of my life I'm going to say a prayer for all of my nurses and doctors....and for all of you as well. Without your prayers and thoughtful words and gestures I wouldn't be where I am today (really tomorrow). Your prayers have paid off and I intend to make sure you know how just how much mommy, daddy, and I appreciate each and every one of you. Maybe someday soon I'll be able to thank you in person..........with a great big Zander Hug:)

Thank you!:)

I'm a Genius!

I bet nobody knew that I was so smart. Let me tell you why I am such a Genius:)

You know how I've been throwing fits everytime the nurses or mommy tries to give me my medications? Well...Today I had Nurse Tony. Nurse Tony is a big-wig nurse who is in charge of all the other nurses. I'm not really sure why I had her, but I think it's because they ran out of NICU nurses to work with all the other babies. Now that I'm sorta healthy, I get pediatric nurses and sometimes big-wig nurses:)

Okay, so Nurse Tony was trying to give me my medication this morning while Kristi, the Developmental Specialist observed. Nurse Tony and Kristi both watched as I proceeded to throw my fit and fight with them so I didn't have to take my medications. They finally got the last of the medications down me and then Nurse Tony went straight to my Doctor #1 and said, "If you want him to have those meds, you'll have to find someone else to do it....I'm not putting him through that again!" And if that wasn't enough, Kristi told my Doctor #1 that she fully agreed with Nurse Tony and did not recommend giving me anymore of the awful stuff. My Doctor #1 listened intently while Nurse Tony and Kristi told him that my fit was not a fit just because the medication tasted so awful....it was the kind of fit a baby (like me) has when they are being hurt in some way. So my Doctor #1 put on his thinking cap and thought for awhile. Meanwhile Nurse Tony and Kristi wore their thinking caps too and thought right along with my Doctor #1. Finally my Doctor #1 started talking about Ozmosality (remember I don't know how to spell), and suggested that Pharmacy be called and questioned about the Ozmosality of the medications I was taking. He predicted that the Sodium Chloride (the one I hate the most) was probably really high, like in the 1000s. Well, he was only a fifth right.....Sodium Chloride has an ozmosality of 5000+. My Doctor #1's theory is that because of that information, plus my reaction to the medications....and the fact that my fit continues after the medications have already been administered....he deducted that the medications are causing me to have Esophagitis!!!! In Zander english - my medications are burning my esophagus and causing it to be inflamed!!! Bad medications....bad, bad medications!

So guess what???? I don't have to take the medications anymore:) WOO HOO!!!! HOORAY FOR ME:)

But wait, there's more! Because the medications hurt me, and I don't like them....I've been not eating very well in the past few days. Sometimes I don't eat enough and other times I just flat out refuse my bottle. Well, I only refuse when it's someone other than daddy feeding me. Daddy is my hero...because he never made me take the medications!!! I still eat like a little piggy for daddy:)

Okay, so my Doctor #1 told my mommy and me that because of the negative oral experience of the medications, I may not like to eat anymore from the bottle....so I may need to be taught all over again that eating is a POSITIVE thing. He told mommy not to be too upset if I have to have another nose hose put in to help me get all the calories I need.

Mommy told my Doctor #1 that she was okay with having to backtrack a little bit, but she and daddy both refuse to take me home with a tummy tube....apparently, I can't go home with a nose hose...and babies who need help with feedings at home have a tummy tube put in....AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN WHILE MOMMY AND DADDY ARE ALIVE!!!! (way to go mommy and daddy:) Thanks for lookin out for me.)

Then my Doctor #1 gave me the best compliment ever..... He said that for the past 15 years they've treated babies just like me who have reacted to the medications in a similiar way, but it was never caught and no one ever knew the real reason why us babies would just stop taking oral feedings once the medications were givin orally. So now, thanks to SUPER SMART ZANDER, they know that the medications can cause burning and inflamation to the esophagus and they will think twice before administering those particular medications orally. He then said that he feels confident that once I forget about the negative experience of the oral medications, I will more than likely start eating from my bottle more vigorously, with no more problems. He doesn't know how many days it might take me to be back to eating really good, but he knows that I need to be monitored for awhile to ensure that I don't need the medications anymore....see I started taking them because they helped my lungs. Now that I'm older, my Doctor #1 is hoping that my lungs don't need the medication....if my lungs don't need the medication then all we need to worry about is me eating enough to gain weight....

Um...hello Doctor #1....I weigh 6 lbs. 12.8 ozs.....I'm pretty sure I'm eating enough:)

Imagine that....someone so little as me having huge a genius brain:):):):)

Okay, so I had a really bad day because of all of this. I ate almost nothing and slept UNrestfully all day....mommy came to the hospital right after work and held me in her arms for almost 2 hours. While I was in mommy's arms I actually started to sleep soundly, and then about 30 minutes after she put me back to bed I woke up, wide awake and gave mommy and Nurse Darcy all the right signs to say, "Hey, I'm hungry....FEED ME!" Mommy laughed because Nurse Darcy couldn't get the bottle warmed up quick enough to make me happy, but finally I got my bottle and I ate ALL OF IT!!!!! And it was the good stuff:)

Right before I ate, mommy and Nurse Darcy realized that some of my grunts and groans were not from throwing a fit, but rather from trying to have a BM. Nurse Darcy is good at helping me a long a little bit by using the rectal thermometer. Ever since they changed my formula on Thursday, I've been having a difficult time pushing my BMs out because they are not as loose as before. It's hard when there's hard stuff in your bottom that you have to work at pushing out...that sometimes makes my tummy hurt too. I'll have to buy Nurse Darcy a beer someday for helping a little guy out:)

I'm off to take a quick nap before daddy comes to visit after work. I spend my mornings and evenings with mommy and I spend my afternoons and nights with daddy....who could ask for more! Have a great night.

Oh yeah, just so you know...I'm wearing a Dale Earnhardt Jr. onesi today....because my Usual Nurse Sandy said he's the best. I'll be sure to post of picture of me with Dale Jr. soon!

Eewww, Gross!

I seriously doubt I will be going home anytime in the near future. The way things are going between my medications and me tells me that I'm probably here for at least another week if not longer. The medication is so yucky that I hold my breath. When I do that I don't breathe and my heart rate drops drastically because I forget to keep it pumping. So that seemed to be the main problem at the beginning of the weekend. But now, I'm doing it during feedings too.....and sometimes I need a little rubbing on my chest to get my heart to pump again. Because of that I'm going to be here for awhile longer.

I'm not very happy at all about being in the hospital for longer. Don't get me wrong....I love my Nurse girls, but these hospital beds are nothing to write home about. Besides, all of my neighbors are very sick and they like to cry a lot, which then keeps me awake.....I'd rather be at home and only have to listen to mommy and daddy snore....at least they don't snore when they're awake. Apparently, most babies cry when they are awake. I tried the whole crying thing, but I'd rather just moan and grunt....moaning and grunting still me enough attention. I could cry if I wanted to, but why change something that works:)

There is some good news, now that I am part of the EXTENDED STAY PROGRAM a specialist is going to look at my hernia tomorrow and maybe fix it while I'm still in the hospital. If I don't get it fixed while I'm here now, I'll have to go to Iowa City in a couple months and be admitted into the hospital there. I'd rather have it done now so I can be done with hospitals for a little while. If the specialist comes tomorrow and says he can fix me then it'll happen quite soon, which I think is a good thing because I know all these doctors and Nurses who would take care of me afterwards....it pays to know people:)

I should get going....I've been really tired all day and not eating very well. Mommy and daddy thought I might be sick, but Doctor #4 thinks that maybe I'm just pooped out because of all the medication problems. My Nurse Sandy (a different Sandy from usual) made mommy taste my medications....mommy agrees with me that they are gross!!! If it were up to mommy and daddy I wouldn't have to take them....but they have no control...I think that's what scares them the most - the fact that I AM THE ONE IN CONTROL!!!:) Get used to it mommy and daddy:)

I forgot something, Ooops!!!!

So it turns out that i am not going home saturday, i know mommy and daddy are real sad but i made a little mistake. You see when your a premature baby theres a lot of stuff to remember like breathing and eating and keeping your little heart going. well guess which one i forgot today? Yep the biggest one of them all i almost let my little heart stop beating, it used to happen alot but these days it's one of those things im supposed to remember all the time!! This morning i was getting my medicine and thinking about how yucky it tastes and sure enough i forgot to keep my heart going at full speed. So im stuck here for a couple more days, sorry every body but im going to come home real soon i promise.

It's Official

Today, during family rounds the clinical team discussed my SuperHuman Powers with mommy and daddy. Daddy was at the hospital with me before the family rounds, but mommy participated over the phone so she could hear what was being planned too. Everyone talked about my milk and medicine, but no one mentioned discharge. When they were finally done talking about the monitor training that mommy and daddy have to do tomorrow....mommy asked the REAL question of the day....WHEN DO I GET TO GO HOME????????????????? My Doctor #3 said possibly as early as this weekend. Mommy can be pushy sometimes....as most everyone in the NICU knows already, so she kept on asking for a more specific time. Finally, my Doctor #3 said I could go home on Saturday. WOO HOO!!!!! I get to see the real world!:)

Then this evening when mommy came to see me after work, my Doctor #3 was still here and she said to mommy, "I can't believe I said he could go home...I don't want him to go home....we'll miss him." Mommy explained that when I go home I will only live 7 minutes away from the hospital and I can come and visit as often as possible.

I'm sitting in my crib thinking...."Well duh! Of course I'm coming back to visit...where else will I get my attention?" I mean really....these girls are my girls!!! Don't get me wrong, my Man Doctors are pretty cool and nice, but the nurses and the nurse practitioners (otherwise known as NICU Jedi) and Doctor #3...well, they make me blush, and smile, and wiggle...What in the world will I do with out them???? I was hoping I could take them all to the Prom with me when I'm in high school, but no...they're just going to forget about me:( To tell you the truth, I'm kinda scared to go home with out my nurses. I trust mommy and daddy because they know what they are doing, but I think they're kind of scared too. So yes, I will come back and visit often. And it will only be as a visitor, not as a patient.....my goal is to stay away from hospital rooms from now on because the neighbors are always loud....you know, with their constant beeping and dinging. *grins innocently* I was never like that. :)

Oh yeah, I now weigh 6 lbs. 11.4 ozs! I certainly won't make it to 7 lbs before I leave but I'm sure going to give it my best shot!:)

I still can't believe that I get to go home. I don't really know where that is, or how we'll get there....but I get to be with mommy and daddy always from now on....Geez, I hope they don't annoy me too much!!!!

Can you hear me now?

My Nurse Sara and the best nursing student in the whole world, Addy are shown here sticking things in my ear. Nurse Sara told me that it was for a hearing test, but I don't think I heard anything. Addy looks like she's about to either cry or burst out laughing....and come to think of it, we all were about ready to! The machine wouldn't work so Nurse Sara tried it over and over and over again....and then the machine kept saying I couldn't hear anything! Well listen here, I know I can hear my Grandma Orr when she talks to me and she talks to me on both sides of my head. And I can hear mommy when she sings to me....I may not want to listen, but I still hear....just kiddin:) Mommy's not that bad of a singer, but it's better if she only sings in the shower! I hear my daddy all the time when he says our favorite secret word....I'm not even going to say it here, but that's only because I have no idea how to spell it. So, me and mommy told Nurse Sara to buy a new machine that knows what it's talkin' about. Nurse Sara said there's a new machine on order....but I'll be gone before it is delivered. *sighs* I think Nurse Sara is just making excuses because she wants me to come back and visit. Doesn't she know that I will visit anyways?????

Hangin out in my car seat

Here's me and my Nurse Sara. She's making sure I fit in my car seat. Nurse Sara made me sit in that seat for 30 whole minutes. I've decided that I'm only letting mommy and daddy take short trips, or else they have to get me a magazine or something to look at. It would have been pretty boring if mommy and Nurse Sara were not there to keep me pre-occupied. I stayed awake for part of the "test" but then I figured it might be more fun if I just fell asleep. Apparently I passed the "test" because mommy didn't run out and buy a different car seat. She told me after the "test" that my car seat fits into a stroller too....I wonder how many smiles I'll have to give mommy to talk her into taking me for a walk someday. *thinks* I should one will do just fine!:)

My bike's parked out front

Mommys and daddys lock your baby girls up....do you wanna ride??? My bike's parked out front because I'm ready to blow this popsicle stand!! I weigh 6 lbs 10.7 ozs. I would have weighed more, but Nurse Darcy assisted me a little bit in dropping a load in my diaper. To tell you the truth, it was mostly all over her and the bed, not my diaper. Poor Nurse Darcy, she's not really my nurse tonight, but she offered to weigh me and help mommy get a bathtub ready for me. HUGE MISTAKE on Nurse Darcy's part.

My real night nurse, Nurse Shellie, ran down to labor and delivery because guess what???? My old Nurse Andrea gave birth to her baby tonight:) I don't know if it's a boy or a girl, but I thought maybe I'd sneak on down there in my doctor's outfit and see if they let me in to see her.

Do you want to hear the best news of all??????????????????????????? I just wanted to make sure you really did! Auntie Sue and Uncle Reid gave birth to Cicily Bea on Monday, July 10th. Actually, the way mommy described "giving birth" I'm pretty sure Auntie Sue did all the work giving birth....Uncle Reid didn't have to push or anything! Mommy talked to the happy family today and they are doing GREAT!!! Cicily Bea already weighs more than me...and she's taller too....but I bet I have more muscles :)

Grandma Domo and Grandpa Bob are very happy too. Now they have a grandbaby Zander and a grandbaby Cicily....what more could they ask for????? They're going to go visit Cicily real soon and I hope they take lots of pictures because Cicily is my very first Cousin. Hmmm....I wonder if she looks like me?

Okay, really quick before I take off to drink some milk....I am going to get out really soon. I have to eat all my food through my mouth for 48 hours before I can go home. So far I've gone 28 hours...WOO HOO only 20 more hours to go. Which is really not true, because the doctors then make me stay over night again to make sure the my "home" monitor works good on me. So for that third night I have to sleep with TWO monitors on me...mine and the hospitals....how do they expect a little guy to relax????????? I hope they understand that only a SUPER ZANDER could live up to their expectations....good thing that's me!

Anyway, have a great rest of the week:):)

What's up doc?

So the title says it all, what is up Doc? I'm a big fat guy now and still I'm stuck here in the old NICU, not that I mind cause it sure is nice getting all the attention from the nurses but Mommy said that when I can eat all of my feedings on my own without the help from a nurse and the old nose hose I can go home. Well I'm not really sure what or where home is but that's where mommy and daddy go when they leave here (and sometimes they go someplace they call work, that place doesn't sound nearly as nice so I'll try to avoid it for a few years.) and I really really want to be with mommy and daddy all the time. I'm trying real hard to eat all of my milk for the Nurses but its tough when you're small and just have little belly. I know I'm getting fat now cause all the nurses tell me how cute my chubby little legs are etc. Well if I'm such a fat guy why on earth do I need to eat even more? So seriously I'm becoming quite a medical professional now I've been a resident in the NICU for over 3 months. I even have my very own doctor uniform that mommy got for me so take me on your rounds next time and we can discuss all the other tiny little babies and I can finally ask what's up Doc?

Daddy is good at feeding me

My daddy knows what I like and how I like it. He feeds me my milk and he makes sure I drink it all down. He also plays with me when he feeds me, which makes eating fun, fun, fun.

My doctor stopped mommy and daddy in the hallway to tell them that I am gaining weight above the growth curve these days. That's not a bad thing in the doctor's eyes though...they plan to send me home on the same formula mixture they feed me here...it's like a really thick milkshake and I really like it!

I currently weigh 6lbs. 6.3 ozs., but that's as of Saturday night. I haven't been weighed tonight yet. Tonight I get weighed and measured so I'll let you know if I am any taller than I was last week:)

My Wagon Ride

Mommy says that because the computer is so slow, we have to download one picture at a time. So hold onto your hats everyone....you're going to get a lot of pictures tonight!

This is me in the wagon on the 4th of July. Mommy pulled the wagon, Daddy pushed my oxygen tank, and My Sonya took pictures. It was awesome!!! I got to ride in the wagon all around the NICU and see all the nurses. It was my own parade, but I forgot to throw candy....which would have been easy to do because I have tons of candy in my room for the nurses:)

Technical difficulties

Hi everyone, I'm sorry you haven't seen any new pictures of me, but I've been having some technical difficulties lately. My sight does not want to download any of my pictures lately, but rest assured I am working hard to fix the problem.

Onto some awesome news....I'm 6 lbs!!!!! Actually, I was 6 lbs. yesterday, today I am a whopping 6 lbs. 2.6 ozs....that's what happens when you're on a high protein, high lipid diet....you grow:)

In other news, mommy got to meet one set of triplets this evening. Wouldn't you know it, they are all girls!!! Their last name is FOX and whoa....are they FOXY!!!:) Nurse Sandy, who is working with the girls says I can have three girlfriends right now. They are all really tiny still...so I look like a real stud to them at my whopping weight! I don't think Sandy realizes that I already have a lot of girl friends. Our friends Jason and Tammy had a little girl who is doing well and is already home with her mommy, daddy, and two older brothers. She went to a parade yesterday and got to see lots of cool stuff. She's more worldly than I am...and I'm older!!! Now how is that fair???

My Auntie Sue was due yesterday to deliver my little cousin, but she's still hiding inside of Auntie Sue. Doesn't she know that it's pretty awesome outside? Okay, I only know about the outside of mommy - inside of the NICU, but really soon I'll be joining the land of the day walkers!

That's right, I'm going to blow this popsicle stand in about a week to 10 days. The doctors are tired of all the nurses standing around drooling over me, so they're kicking me out! I guess the deal is that I have to eat all my feedings through a bottle and nipple....right now I eat about 75% of them through a bottle, but that last 25% is kicking my bottom! Once I get to 100%, I have to maintain it for 48 hours and then I am out the door....see ya later alligator:) Now don't get too excited, I'll have to take my nasal canula and a couple oxygen tanks home with me, and I will have to wear a monitor around me so I ding-a-ling all night for mommy and daddy when I do get home....they're going to be oh-so-happy with me!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot the best parts. On the 4th of July, since I didn't get to watch any parades or see any bright lights in the sky....daddy called them fireworks I think.....I got to have my own little parade. My Sonya came to visit me yesterday and I held her....My Sonya is good to hold and I enjoyed myself thoroughly, I gave her a smile as a thank you. Then after that I was snuggled up in my 4th of July outfit and placed gingerly into a Radio Flyer Wagon....that's right ladies and gentlemen....Zander had a parade of his own around the NICU. Once I can figure out this mean computer I'll post some more pictures of yours truly. So mommy pulled me in the wagon, daddy pushed my O2 tank behind us and My Sonya took pictures....we had a grand old time touring the different pods....I had to stop every once in awhile to flirt with the nurses....God Forbid they should forget about me when I'm gone:(

I'm going to take a nap now before daddy comes to me from work....he's working evenings again so I can see him more often. I'm going to talk to him about this picture thing.....I'm told that I'm getting too cute for words and every one knows I'm quite the show-off:):):)

Good night and God Bless!!!!!!! Way to go Tammy and Jason....Come on Auntie Sue and Uncle Reid.....and would you pop already Emily:)

I CONQUERED THE BOTTLE!!!!!

Okay, I didn't really conquer it....but I conquered half of it:) The doctors didn't think I would do a good job, and because of their lack of willingness to try, mommy has been a bit stressed out this week. But have no fear, baby Zander is here! I sucked really good through three days worth of feedings, and I tried to be awake for all of them...sometimes I had to snooze a little bit. Anyways, mommy talked to the doctor on the phone today and my Doctor #3 decided that she would allow me to attempt one oral feeding in a day. So one oral feeding every 24 hours, the rest by nose hose.

So today at 3:30pm, because I was wide awake...my Nurse Melissa sat me down and stuck this bottle thing in my mouth. Did you know that if you suck on that nipple thingy stuff comes out????? It's not like my binkie...my binkie doesn't leak, but this nipple thing...whoa....it gave me milk:):):) Needless to say I sucked on that nipple until I fell asleep. It turns out that I only sucked 20 CCs out of my 38 CC meal, but everyone was VERY impressed with me because they thought that I might not be ready.

It just goes to show you that MOMMY KNOWS BEST!!! She actually got the doctors a little upset with her because she wouldn't take "no" for an answer. They said I might not swallow and then I would choke and never want to eat again....um hello! We're talking about me here, since when do I not like food????? Mommy just kept asking and asking. She told them that she understood the risks, but really felt that I was ready to have one try. Mommy and I make a good team when it comes to arguing. She comes up with the argument and voices it to the doctors, and then I do exactly what she tells them I would do....just to prove her right:)

To tell you the truth, I did more awesome than mommy could have imagined. Mommy would have been overjoyed if I was able to swallow 1 CC, but I went above and beyond!!!! Milk tastes so much better when it goes through your mouth....not your nose!


In other news.....
Mommy, daddy, Grandpa Bob, Grandpa Orr, and Gwen, Matthew, and Nicholas all helped cut down the other half of our broken tree today. I hear it was really hard work trying to miss the neighbors' garages and the power lines, but I know that got a good chunk of that tree down! Grandma Domo refused to come today because she was fearful that there would be lots of injuries....she was right.

Daddy burned himself on the chainsaw and then cut himself in the back of his leg...(don't ask me how). Grandpa Bob and mommy were holding a rope attached to a huge branch and they went flying through the air...(I wish I could have seen that) and now Grandpa Bob's shoulder is more messed up and mommy's fingers are all raw and blistered.

After we got most of the tree down mommy and Gwen snuck Matthew and Nicholas into the hospital to see me. Mommy got into trouble (hehe), but Matthew and Nicholas did really good being quiet and not fighting. I was proud of them, so I tried to look as cute as ever for them. Mommy took a picture of them right before they had to leave. Mommy knows she broke the rules, but Matthew and Nicholas have been working hard to break in some of my toys at home, and they helped a lot with the tree today. They also helped a lot when mommy and daddy moved into our house, so we owed them:)

Mommy, daddy, and Gwen all watched me eat my first bottle!!!!!

Grandma Orr came and held me twice today. She couldn't help with the tree so she took babysitting duty....not that we really had to ask...she looks for any excuse to be with me:) Our friend Janelle came to visit me today too. She didn't get to hold me because Grandma Orr was holding me, and then she had to leave so she didn't get a chance....I was sad. I told mommy to ask Janelle to come back sometime soon so she can get her baby fix.

Way to go Grandpa Bob!!!

Oh my gosh, I'm so excited!!!! Grandpa Bob held me for the first time today. No one thought it would ever happen, but I knew he'd eventually come around. My Nurse Sarah told mommy that Grandpa Bob seems timid around me. Mommy talked to Grandpa Bob on the phone today and told him that he should really hold me. I heard Grandpa Bob tell mommy that he shouldn't hold me because I would break....doesn't he know that I'm a tough little guy????

So with mommy, the best nursing student in the whole world Addy, and Grandma Domo cheering him on, Grandpa Bob finally held me. Just to make him feel better I held on really tight to his finger with both my hands so that he wouldn't get scared and run away:) And I tried to hold really still so he wouldn't worry. I did a good job and I loved being held by Grandpa Bob. I even sucked on my binkie a little while later for him:):):)

Bring on the food!

Hi everyone, I know I know, I'm not writing as often. I've been a busy little boy:)

I continue to be on the nasal canula, and I am continuing to be absolutely adorable for my grandma and grandpas. Daddy says I'm boring these days because I just sit around and do my baby thing. What he really means is that since I'm doing so well, he doesn't feel obligated to stand post at my bedside anymore.

Daddy held me today for my lunch time feeding. I love it when daddy holds me. I told daddy that grandma Orr held me this morning for breakfast. Mommy told me this early morning that grandma Domo was going to come and hold me around 3pm...but then grandma Domo said that she was going to make grandpa Bob hold me. He hasn't held me yet and mommy told the nurse to talk him into it. The nurse said that grandpa Bob seems "timid" around me. I think he's just scared that I'm too heavy for him to lift:)

So now I'm just waiting until grandma Domo and grandpa Bob come...then I will know which one is going to hold me.

I bet you all want to know how heavy I am.....*drum rolls* I weigh 5 lbs. 5 ozs.!!! Woohoo....I'm a chunky monkey!:)

I think I told you that I graduated to the largest size of pacifier. That size matches the size of nipple that will be on my bottles when I get to eat through my mouth. I've been sucking lots on the pacifier because the doctors want me to show them that I am ready to eat through my mouth. Mommy says I'm ready to try....but the doctors are worried I won't swallow, suck, and breathe at the same time....Mommy keeps telling them I'm much better at the multi-tasking thing than I used to be, but they don't believe her.

If I could talk I would tell my doctors that my mommy is right...I am better at doing more than one thing at once.....give me a chance, come on...please!!!!

Good Vibrations!!!

Now that's what I'm talking about! I've got some good vibrations going on:) It's Sunday evening and I'm sitting here in my little vibrating chair hanging out with mommy and daddy. Soon, my Nurse Julie (I've never had her before) is going to weigh me, and measure all my body parts. I really hope I'm taller than 16 inches this week.

I got a new sign on the outside of my room door. It says,....are you ready for this??? It says, "Today is the day, Zander weighs 5 lbs on 06-25-2006!" I made it, I'm 5 whole pounds:) Not that it really matter in the whole scheme of things, but I made a goal and I stuck with it until I succeeded.

Also, I have other good news today as well. On Saturday I was allowed to stay on the Nasal Canula for 8 hours out of each 12 hour shift. Then this morning, the nurses was discussing what orders they thought my doctor #2 would write, but he surprised them all when he wrote an order stating that I am to remain on Nasal Canula as long as I can. Do you know what that means???????? It means no more yucky CPAP in my nose!!! AND, it also means I'm doing really really good.

Now, I have to warn you...I may need that CPAP thing back because I sometimes poop myself out. So far I'm doing good, but I just wanted to forewarn everyone. I'll find out in the morning when they do all my lab work and take an x-ray. All the nurses are holding their breath to see what my blood gas will be. That's the lab that measures the amount of CO2 in my lungs. If that's high then I may be put back on the CPAP, if it's low....I'm pretty sure my doctor will hug me. :) To tell you the truth, I think this vibrating chair helps me because it's kind of like a CPAP only it doesn't have to go in my nose. It definately keeps my lungs vibrating though:):) At least this thing is comfy.


Stay tuned for my newest statistics!!!

Almost there

Hi everyone, it's been a few days, but I'm still here. My doctors started weening me from the CPAP this week. That may be old news, but the NEW news is that I'm doing really good! On Monday I was allowed to be on the nasal canula for 1 hour each shift, which is a total of 2 hours out of 24 hours. I passed that test with flying colors so on Tuesday I got to be on the nasal canula for 2 hours each 12 hour shift. On Wednesday I was bumped up to TWO 2 hour periods each shift on the nasal canula. The doctors decided to give me a bit of a break on Thursday and did not increase my time on the canula....which made me upset because I like the nasal canula....it's not heavy on my face and it doesn't put pressure on my nose like the yucky CPAP does. So just to show my doctors that I know what I'm doing, I wore my nasal canula for a whole 4 hours last night....without taking it off once.

My bold effort paid off too, because today the doctors decided to have me be off the nasal canula for 6 hours each shift. I'm HALF WAY THERE!!!!!! I don't have to stay on the canula for an entire 6 hours at once, I can take breaks in between, but I figure the better I do at this nasal canula stuff, the quicker I get to be home with mommy and daddy. I sure am looking forward to that!!!

Let's see....Grandma Orr held me yesterday morning while I ate, and then Grandma Domo held me for my noon feeding. Grandma Domo was very brave because she told my Nurse Shannon that she wanted to hold me with the nasal canula on and while I ate. Up until Grandma Domo issued that request I had only been laying in bed on the canula. Well, guess what??? I did awesome and Grandma Domo held me for a really long time!

I got a bath yesterday afternoon, after mommy got home from work. Mommy and daddy's friend Gwen came and held me for a little while before my bath, so she stayed to watch me get washed up nice and shiny. I did really good with the bath, but mommy called me a stinker because when she was drying me off, I passed gas in her face. It's a good thing she loves me lots! Then I took a rest and mommy, daddy, and Gwen went and ate dinner. Mommy came back up to the hospital later and held me for my 9:30pm feeding. She kangaroo'd me while I was wearing the nasal canula and eating!! Again, I did awesome:) When mommy left, my Nurse (Tall) Lisa kept me on the nasal canula for my whole 4 hours. She told mommy this morning that I did wonderful!!!!! Mommy and daddy are anticipating a discharge date sometime at the beginning of August.....I sure hope they are right!

Grandpa Bob is in the process of finishing my closet, and my whole room is now all painted. The floor needs one more coat of Varnish, according to Grandpa Bob, and then mommy has to put the boarder up and I can move in....WOO HOO:):):) I don't have very much furniture to move in because most of it is still at Grandma Domo and Grandpa Bob's house...I'm going to have to talk to them about getting my furniture to Cedar Rapids because I want to start decorating my room as soon as I get to go home.

Will somebody please tell my doctors to let me out soon????? I have places to be and people to see!:)

No more tree house for me

I'm sorry I haven't written in awhile. There's been a whirl wind of activity around me for the past few days.

First, it was daddy's birthday on Friday the 16th and he turned another year older. Mommy brought him a cake to the hospital and then they went and ate pizza with Grandma and Grandpa Orr. After that, daddy's friend Rich came over and they kicked mommy out of the house so they could have "guy time". Mommy came and saw me so every one was happy:)

Saturday, mommy and daddy unpacked some more of the house. Then our friend Gwen came to visit the house. She visited the house quick so then all three of them came to see me because I'm more interesting than a house! Gwen held me for a little while...she's a good Zander-Holder:) When Gwen left daddy held me for some time and then he handed me off to mommy. I was held by three different people over two hours...I loved it! It rained for almost 10 minutes right after Gwen left my room.

Mommy and daddy found out a couple hours later that the 10 minute rain was a very very ugly storm. It knocked down the tree in our backyard. Actually, it only knocked down half of the tree in the backyard. But I'm sad because that was going to be my tree house tree. Daddy said so! Mommy said she would make sure I had a house to play in, even if it wasn't exactly in a tree.

The neighbors said the wind blew so hard, that the tree broke in half. One half is still in the ground, and the other half fell over and landed on the power lines. None of our neighbors for a long way down the street had power, but no one was mad at mommy and daddy. Some of the neighbors even came over to help mommy and daddy pick up some of the smaller branches. Grandpa Orr came over and he and daddy sawed some braches off the big part of the tree. Did you know that the big ole tree was rotten on the inside???? Daddy said it was very yucky!

On Sunday, it was Father's Day, but my daddy and both my grandpas worked all day cutting that tree up. Mommy and Grandma Domo helped. The neighbors had their grandchildren over for the day so they all helped too, and Will came over. Will helped mommy and daddy a lot, and his wife brought daddy some brownies....I hear they were very yummy! (I don't think daddy shared)

I got to see Grandpa Bob and Grandma Domo at the hospital after they were done with the tree. They came to see me really quick because it was late and they were tired......not to mention very sore. Grandma Orr held me on Sunday evening while Mommy, daddy, and Grandpa Orr visited with me.

I got to see Grandma Domo and Grandpa Bob today too. They came back to take the branches to the waste disposal place and to finish painting my room. They came up to see me after they were done with all that! Grandpa Bob is going to come back tomorrow and pick up some more wood, but Grandma Domo has to work....I know I will see her soon though and then she can hold me for a really long time. Mommy took a picture of me and Grandma Domo talking today. I gave Grandma Domo my best smile because she was tickling my chin.....Grandma Domo likes to tickle me:)

Mommy ended up working late tonight so Daddy stayed with me and held me for my supper time. I love it when daddy holds me!!!! Mommy came back to hold me for my after supper meal, and I made a mess all over me and mommy. My NG tube came out of my nose while my feeding was going in. Mommy was kind of scared because I was grunting and gurgling. She said it sounded like I was drowning. My Nurse Karee put a new NG tube in and I had to sit in my crib and eat. But that's okay because mommy will come back in the morning and hold me again.

I'm still only 16 inches tall, but I weigh a whole bunch. I've been eating lots so now I weigh 4 lbs 10 ozs. My goal is to get to 5 lbs by the weekend. The doctors didn't make that goal for me.....they said they are still focusing on my breathing so it doesn't matter how much I weigh....but I think I can get to 5 lbs, so I'm going to try my best to get there!!!!!:)

Oh yeah, I'm doing better at the whole breathing thing. I got to be on the nasal canula yesterday for one hour during the day and one hour during the night. Today I got to be on it for 2 hours during the day. Soon I will be on it for two hours during the night too, but I need a nap first. When I'm on the nasal canula, the nurses take me off the CPAP machine. The nasal canula is much lighter and it's very quiet. I do pretty good when I'm not on the CPAP, but I am not good enough at breathing on my own to be off it completely just yet.

So that's my news.....and if you're thinking about building a fireplace or woodburning stove, I know where you can find some wood:)