My Daddy is home!!!!!!!!

Hi everybody!!! Guess what exciting news I have???

My Daddy Came HOME!!!!!!!!! That's right, he decided he missed me so much that he made the decision to come home to Iowa and get a job here. He graduated from the Commercial Diving Academy and is an official Commercial Diver! He's got a whole bunch of little plastic cards to prove he is awesome. I don't know what he'll use those cards for, but they look pretty neat.

Daddy is going to work for a company called Lambourne. It's a small shop but they work all over the place. Daddy says they even work in the Gulf, so he may get to follow his dreams even if he's stuck in Iowa. He told me he wanted to be stuck in Iowa with mommy and me because he missed us so much....we missed him too!

I can't really stay and write long....I'm spending the weekend with Grandma Domo and Grandpa Bob so mommy and daddy can have some time together. I hope they are having a good time and doing what mommy and daddy's do...I sure do miss them, but I wanted to give them some privacy....then when I come back on Monday we can all spend time together! Yay!!!!!!! Have a great weekend:)

Yo Vivian! I did it!

Well, I did it! I finished the March of Dimes walk and boy was I exhausted! We had to be at the starting place by 7:30 a.m.! We made it by 7:15 and immediately saw Grandma Domo and Auntie Sonya waiting for us. There were lots of other babies there walking too but I bet they didn't prepare for the walk like I did! We started out down a really big hill with tons of other people. Some of them had brought their dogs along for the walk. One was so big, I could have ridden him like a horse! Auntie Sonya said it was a Great Dane. We walked by a stream for awhile and crossed several bridges before going around a big lake to reach downtown. We took a break at a coffee shop because Auntie Sonya wanted to make a potty break (she doesn't wear diapers like I do) and it was time for me to have some moo juice. It wasn't much longer before we began to walk uphill and it took forever to reach the top!

It took us all morning to walk the 8.5 miles! Mommy and Auntie Sonya were really glad to be done. Their legs and feet hurt from walking so far. Did you know that my Grandma Domo is a walking champ? Wow, she's fast! She walked with me several times!

When we were done and back at the park, we were treated to some surprises! There were lots of balloons, music and food! We had pizza, mexican and ice cream! The double chocolate flavor was my favorite. :) There was a booth where Mommy tried to get my fingerprints registered, but it didn't work -- I was too wiggly! The cop guy said that she might have to wait until I was three years old. Sheesh! What's he thinking?? That's a long time from now! Oh well, I can have a chat with him at next year's walk. As an official friend of the police (I even have a badge!), I can do that.

I'm thinking though that I need to let Mommy and Auntie Sonya borrow my walker so they can do more training before next year's walk and then their feet and legs won't hurt so much!

Flex those muscles!

Sorry I haven't been writing much lately. Mom and I have been busy training for the March of Dimes walk that is being held next Sunday! I've been doing laps around the house in my walker and Mom says I'm really good now at moving across carpet! Auntie Sonya says it's a good thing because we need endurance to finish an 8.5 mile walk. Is that really far? Anyhow, I've invited everyone I've ever known to come join us! It's Sunday, April 29, 7:30 a.m. at Noelridge Park (Corner of 42nd Street NE and Council Street NE) in Cedar Rapids. It'll be fun!

Lots of other stuff have been going on too, but I didn't have time to write about it. My daddy came back from school in March for something called Spring Break. We played lots and had a good time! I was sad when he had to go back to school but I know I'll see him again soon.

Did you know I had a birthday? I'm officially one year old now if you go by when I was actually born, but developmentally I won't be one year old until July. At first I wasn't sure if I liked having two birthdays but now I'm thinking that it means I'll get presents two times a year!

Well, I'd write more but I gotta do more laps if I want to be in shape for Sunday!

A new photo page!

I know I haven't posted in awhile but things have been pretty busy lately. I will post some updates soon but wanted to go ahead and tell you to check out my new photo page! Auntie Sonya said she sometimes just wants to see my adorable face and remember how tiny I was, so she made a new blog just for my pictures! There are a lot of pictures there!!

Auntie Sonya must think I'm a pretty comical guy because she laughed lots when she last visited, especially when I showed her how talented I was at blowing raspberries! Doesn't she know it's manly to spit??

Bring on the sunshine!

Hi everyone, I'm getting so excited for it to be summer time!

On Saturday, 03-10-2007, I took my first walk in many many months. Okay, I didn't really walk...I rode!!! It's so great being little, you could get lay back in a stroller and just enjoy the day. However, as much as I was enjoying the walk, I was not enjoying the sun shining right in my eyes. Mommy apologized for not bringing my sunglasses, and she tried to make it better by standing between me and the sun.....mommy makes a big shadow!!!

And how did little ole me talk mommy into taking me for a walk? I didn't have to sweet talk her or anything! My Sonya came to visit and mommy thought it would be a lot of fun to go for a quick walk. Besides, it was really warm out on Saturday. Okay, not Arizona warm or Florida warm, but it was a HEAT WAVE for Iowa!!!!

Everything is melting here so there were lots of puddles in my stroller's path. Mommy and My Sonya kept joking that I was riding in an amphibious vehicle. First I was riding along on land, then I was almost floating through the puddles. I never even got wet!:) Poor My Sonya, her shoes were soaked:(

We made it all the way around my neighborhood in one piece. All that walking made me really tired though, I almost fell asleep in my stroller.....so they took me inside and let me nap a little while.

I had a great time visiting with My Sonya. Did you know I haven't seen her since December? I didn't recognize her....although I don't recognize many people if I don't see them regularily. Mommy says I'm going through a stranger danger phase....but My Sonya is not a stranger. I told mommy we need to visit My Sonya more often so I can remember her for always. Maybe next time I can go to My Sonya's house because she has puppies....maybe I like puppies.

For my next trick.......

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen....For my next trick I will attempt to swallow my foot whole! It's possible....I know I can do it. I just gotta get these toe things out of the way!!! Okay okay, I'm just being silly. I can't really get my whole foot in my mouth...at least not this time.

But I have to tell you, right after I take a bath, I taste really good:) Maybe the next time you take a bath, you should taste your toes too.....they are oh-so-yummy!

Mmmm...Mmmmm...My Milk

I'm getting big enough and strong enough to hold my own milk now....that means I don't have to share with anyone. Just Kiddin, so far no one else wants to drink my milk. I don't understand why not, I always offer mommy a drink, but she never takes one. Oh well.

This is me hanging out at home today. For those of you who live in the cold cold state of Iowa, you know why I'm hanging out at home today (Saturday). It's really cold and icey outside. Mommy says we're stuck in the house all weekend, which is fine with me. I didn't really have any plan to go anywhere.

It's been sleeting since yesterday afternoon, and when mommy drove by the grocery stores (on her way home from work), they were packed with people. I watched the news with mommy last night and I guess it's supposed to be all ice/rain today and then tomorrow we're supposed to get more white stuff. I'm not so sure I like this WINTER thing.....mommy says I take after daddy in that respect...daddy HATES the cold! It's a good thing he's not here right now, or he'd be frozen!

Daddy has been calling us lots because he misses us and worries about us. He even sent me a card just because. He talks to me sometimes when he calls home, but I just listen and breath heavy....I don't say anything. Mommy laughs at me because I'll talk a whole bunch while she's on the phone, but when she hands it to me I just breath heavy....to be honest with you, I'd rather just stick the phone in my mouth...that's where everything belongs these days!!!:)

The news said we might lose power, but we shouldn't worry. I think that's why so many people were at the stores yesterday. I made sure mommy stocked all my food and necessities, so I'm ready for anything! Now we just have to wait for all this yucky weather to go away.....I heard that GroundHog guy said Spring was on it's way.....I'm not sure I can be patient for too much longer Mr. GroundHog.....lets get movin'!

Cookie Monster

I LOVE COOKIES.....................I AM the Cookie Monster!!!!!

Did I mention that I love cookies? :) Mommy sometimes lets me have one of these baby cookie things....they are so yummie....and SOOOOOOOOOOOO Messy!! Mommy makes me get naked before she gives me a cookie to play with. And when I'm done sucking and licking it she finds cookie all over my body!

I lick it some, then suck my thumb (my thumb is my best buddy...it goes everywhere with me now!) and then I lick some more. When I've sucked on the cookie for a little while, I decide I need a break so I play with my feet....it's kinda cool feeling the cookie mush between my toes:)

Mommy laughs at me when she's cleaning me up. She watches me while I play with the cookie, but she is still suprised at all the different places she finds cookie on me....what can I say, I like to share the mush:)

I have to be careful though, because sometimes I accidentily gum a piece of the cookie off and it gets stuck in my mouth. Mommy says I have to take a break from the cookies since I can't swallow the big pieces. Yesterday a piece got stuck in my throat because it was too big to swallow. Mommy tried to get it out, but she couldn't reach it....so I coughed it up along with some milk from earlier. Mommy was worried about me, but I felt okay and didn't see any problem.

After that happened, she told me I couldn't have another cookie until I show her some teeth....I'm workin on it already....it's not my fault my teeth are slow! But it's okay because I get to eat lots of yummy things these days. Today Mommy gave me some bananas and mixed berries...it was purple and it makes a good mess too!!! Wow, was that stuff yummy:) Mommy even stole a bite from me...she thought I wasn't looking. And have I told you how much I love Sweet Potatoes? Oh my gosh.....I think I have a favorite food!!!! Well, a favorite food other than my milk, no matter what good foods mommy feeds me, I always like to wash it down with some good ole milk!

It's Magic!

Two hands......
One hand........
LOOK MA, NO HANDS!!!!!:)

Okay, so I'm cheating just a little bit. In order to let go of my chair completely, I had to lean on it with my chest. You all thought I was really awesome didn't you? :) I can't stand up by myself...YET, but I sure do like standing up next to my chair....it makes me feel like a big boy when I can stand on my own two feet. Maybe for my next trick I'll lift up one foot, then the other......and then mommy will catch me as I fall to the ground!!!

Tai came to visit me on Wednesday. She said that I am still 26.5 inches tall, but I now weigh 15lbs and 5ozs. Mommy is so happy to know that I'm still gaining weight. She was getting a little worried because I hadn't made it to 15lbs yet. Don't ask me why she was worried, she knows I like to eat like a pig!

Every time Tai comes to visit me I always end up crying. That's saying something, since I rarely cry any other time. It's funny because when Tai comes to visit I always feel pain in at least one of my legs....this time I felt pain in both legs! But I was looking at Grandma DoMo when the pain started so I blamed Grandma DoMo instead of Tai. I'm not really sure what happens, but I do know that whenever Tai does come to my house, mommy says things like, "I'm going to hide, I don't want him to look at me". And then the pain comes and I cry my huge crocidile tears...I bet if I cried a whole bunch I could flood my house!

I think I hurt Grandma DoMo's feelings when the pain came. My legs hurt, both this time and I thought Grandma DoMo did it, so I could only be consoled by mommy. Mommy tells me I'm a good boy and that I did really good. You know.....*thinks*....come to think of it, mommy did mention something about shots.....but Grandma wouldn't do that to me...she's my buddy, she's supposed to give me whatever I want, EXCEPT PAIN. I think I know what happened....I think Tai gives me the shots, but since I don't see her stick me, I blame whomever I'm looking at. I'm going to have to pay more attention next time Tai visits.....I'm going to investigate this pain stuff and see where it comes from. Until then, I better say I'm sorry to Grandma DoMo...I don't want her to cry huge crocidile tears:)

I'm Sorry Grandma DoMo, you can console me next time and I won't blame you!!!!!:)

It's so hard being me!

After a hard day at day care I like to come home and relax in my Waba recliner. Mommy and daddy bought this awesome Zander sized chair for me when I was still in the hospital. It matches their recliners perfectly. How did they know I would need a comfortable chair to relax in after all the hard work I do???? I guess mommies and daddies are more smart than I give them credit for.

Sorry about sticking my tongue out, it's just something I do these days. Daddy tought me how to stick my tongue out and how to "pfrtpbt" by putting my lips together and spitting. So now that daddy is far far away in school I sometimes feel the urge to remember him by doing what I do best:) I don't do it too often though....because it makes me drool!!!

The ground is white!

On the only warm day in a really long time, mommy took me outside and introduced me to the white stuff on the ground. Daddy had let me feel the white stuff once before he left, and all I remember is that it was really cold. Well I still feel that way, but luckily, I was bundled up in my warm snowsuit. Mommy tried to sit me up in the snow, but I was being lazy so I decided to lay down. Mommy started laughing at me because right after she took my picture I decided to make a snow Zander. She said that it's really called a SnowAngel....but what does she know. I'm the one who made the snow Zander so that's what I'm going to call it! I sent these pictures to daddy over the computer so he could see the white stuff too....I guess there isn't any white stuff on the ground in Florida. Does anyone know when the white stuff will be gone? I really want to see green grass again!!!!

Who's a big boy??? ME!

And you all thought I didn't write my own stuff. Now I have proof:) Here's me in front of the computer. I'm learning how to type really fast and I barely spell any words wrong...anymore. Mommy proofreads all my stuff for me:) Of Course I still need to sit on mommy's lap in order to reach the keyboard. I keep asking for a booster seat or my very own Zander computer, but mommy just won't listen to me!!!!!

Batter Up!

Hey hey, check me out....I'm the newest junior member of the Arizona DiamondBacks! Okay, so I'm not really a member. Mommy just let me wear the outfit so we could pretend it was warm outside. Do you know that it can be really cold outside? Mommy hardly lets me go anywhere when it's so cold. I can't wait for it to be summer time....then I might get to see the sunshine.

And who knows, maybe mommy and daddy will take me to Arizona so I can see the DiamondBacks play sometime. If they do that then I can see my cousins, Miranda and Tyler too!!!!! Mommy says they are great fun to play with....she should know, she says she visited them a whole bunch when she lived in Arizona. Mommy told me that if we can visit Arizona then I can have Miranda teach me how to swim. Mommy says Miranda is an awesome swimmer!!! Yay for Miranda:) And Tyler likes to make big splashes when he jumps in the swimming pool. Maybe I can make a big splash too!!!

Did you know that this cool outfit came all the way from Arizona? Miranda and Tyler's mommy and daddy sent it to me a really long time ago....well, a long time ago in Zander time. I finally fit into it:) I can't wait to meet Miranda and Tyler......and all my other relatives too! Mommy says there's a lot all over....in Arizona and in lots of places in Canada. I think I'm going to learn how to drive so I can visit everyone!:)

NICU Follow-up

On Feb. 6, 2007 I had my second NICU Follow-up appointment. I saw Sharon, the developmental specialist, my #1 doctor and two new people. I can't remember their names but I'm sure I'll meet them again.

First I got my hearing checked and this time I passed both ears with flying colors!!! I was worried because last time I didn't pass my left ear....but they weren't too worried.

After I was all done hearing things I got to play with the hospital's toys. They were watching me closely to see if I could transfer toys from one hand to my other hand without using my mouth. Of course I can transfer things from hand to hand.....but it's much more fun to stick it in my mouth first. Don't you know that EVERYTHING goes in my mouth first? :) Well I did what they wanted to, but not before I studied that toy from top to bottom. Then this lady was holding this weird object in front of me...I didn't know what she was doing, but I did watch her. When she handed me the object I moved it from hand to hand and tasted it, but she wasn't happy with what I was doing. My #1 doctor made a joke that maybe she needed to give me directions. So she took the object away from me and held it in front of me again. All the sudden she started shaking the object and it started ringing.....mommy called it a bell. So she rang the bell for a few seconds and then handed it back to me. I finally figured out what she wanted me to do....so I shook that bell thing like mad and it rang and rang and rang! Apparently I did a good job:)

Then I got to lay on the floor. Now everyone that knows me, knows that I love being on my tummy. Most of the time, if you lay me down on my back....I will roll over. And this time was no different. Sure I played with my feet for a while and sucked my thumb, but then I rolled over really fast. Everybody thought that was great!!!

Mommy told them that I don't crawl yet....I can move my body in circles and inche towards things on my tummy, but I don't understand why I need to crawl. I mean really....when I want something I just tell mommy and she either hands it to me, or takes me to it...it's a sweet life:) No one seemed to concerned that I'm not crawling yet. I can sit up with minimal assistance and sometimes all by myself, but not for very long.

Sharon and my #1 doctor explained to mommy that my adjusted age is really only 6.5 months. Adjusted means that when I should have been born, which would have been July 21, 2006. Since I was born early, my doctors always look at my adjusted age for developmental stuff. After I was all done showing off, they told mommy that I'm functioning at about a 7.5 month old's level. I guess that's okay....but I'm going to work really hard so that in four months I'm closer to my actual birthdate. Sharon also explained to mommy that the only reason I'm having difficulty sitting up on my own is because my torso is so long. I didn't know what a torso was so mommy told me my tummy area is really long. She said that most babies don't have as long of a tummy area as I do and their arms reach the floor when they sit so they can hold themselves up. Since I'm so long, I have a harder time because I have to bend over farther to reach the ground. Sharon told mommy some different things that might help me so we're going to try those.

After everyone downstairs was done watching me perform, mommy took me upstairs to see my lovely ladies. I got to see a few of my lovely ladies, but they lavished me with attention so I was satisfied:) Do you know that I missed seeing my Fox'y' ladies by mere minutes??? I don't know if you remember...my Fox'y' ladies are three baby girls who were in the NICU part of the time I was there. I hear they are doing wonderful and wow are they cute:) Maybe someday I will get to see them in person, rather than just in a picture.

My Hero!

Look at my daddy everyone....he's my hero!:)

These are pictures my daddy sent me from his school. He's been working really hard to learn how to be a commercial diver. He calls me every day to talk to me and he told me that he is spending a lot of time studying. He got 100% on a test...mommy says that's the best you can do on a test. I'm still not really sure what a test is, but if mommy says 100% is really good then I believe her. Daddy told me that he has a wet suit jacket that he is supposed to wear when he dives, but he didn't wear it in these pictures so I could see my footprints on his arm and know that it was him. He misses me a whole bunch and is afraid I will forget him...doesn't he know that I could never forget my daddy???? :)

Under The Sea

Hi everyone, I know it's been awhile (again) since I've written on here, but lots of things have been happening. I was planning on putting more pictures of my Christmas(s) on here, but my daddy took the laptop with him to Florida. Now why is daddy in Florida???? I can't wait to tell you, but first.....all my Christmas pictures are on the laptop so until daddy comes home, Christmas will have to wait.

Okay okay okay.....My daddy is in Florida. He left for Florida on January 27th and drove all the way there. I don't know how far away Florida is, but it must be pretty far because I don't get to see daddy on the weekends anymore. I talk to him every night though, sometimes two or three times. Daddy is kind of a wimp like that, he misses me and mommy a lot...but it's okay becuase we miss him just as much, maybe even a little bit more! So he went to Florida to go to school, but it's not like regular school. It's a school where you learn to be a DIVER...mommy says a DIVER swims through the water like Superman flies through the air. Doesn't she know that daddy and I like Batman better? So daddy will be in Florida at school for 4 months, and then he graduates. I know I know, it sounds silly that someone who lives in Iowa would want to be a DIVER, but if you know my daddy, you know he's more than just a little silly:) That's why mommy and I love him sooooooo much!!!

Daddy didn't like working at the Window Factory and he wanted to find a way to have a fun job but still make lots of money so he can buy me everything that I think I want. I am still not sure what I want, but by the time daddy starts making lots of money, I'm sure I'll be able to think of something:)

He started looking at being a DIVER over a year ago and decided that he might like to try it. Did you know that a good DIVER can make lots of money. I guess first, you need to know what kind of DIVER. Daddy won't be diving just for fun.....he'll be working on things called Oil Rigs....they're things out on the Ocean where oil is drilled. Well, sometimes those things break down, or they need more pipes under water. Daddy's job would be to weld on those pipes and to fix things....and he will do all of this many feet under water.

Just thinking about it makes me want to sing, "Under The Sea". Mommy said she would make her phone ring like that song every time daddy calls. Then I can sing along!!:)

So daddy started looking at schools and found a whole bunch, but they are all in Florida or Louisanna. Well, because he's a big boy, he decided he was going to go to one of those schools and learn how to be a DIVER....he's only been there a week so far, but he's doing really good. He is passing his tests with grades above 90% and has to swim in the mornings. He told me that today when he swam in the water it was really cold outside....he said it was 36 degrees in Florida this morning. In order to make him feel bad for me I told him just how cold it was here. He felt very sad for me and told mommy to make sure I stayed really warm!!! Do you know what Physics is? I don't, but apparently that's something you have to know in order to be a DIVER.

The other interesting thing daddy told me is that he really likes Os now. Remember when I had my Os? Well now, when Daddy goes down in the Dive Tank, he has lots of Os too....and daddy says that having lots of Os makes his knees and back not hurt anymore. I told him that all he had to do was ask and I would have gladly given him my Os back when I had them....I didn't want them!

Daddy lives in a big room with lots of other big boys. He only has a small space and he tried to explain what a Barricks is to me, but I just don't get it. I have a big room, he should too. He's been studying a lot too...so when he takes a break he calls me and mommy. It's sad not having him here, but he told me a secret...he said that his plan is to do really good in school and get a job as soon as he graduates. Then he will be making good money and once he saves up some he's going to tell mommy she doesn't have to work anymore. I think my mommy would be really happy to hear that, but daddy told me I had to be patient because it will take a lot of work to get to where he wants to be. He also told me that if he passes school and gets a good job, I won't get to see him every day, but eventually maybe I can move closer to him and go swimming in the Ocean with him all the time.

Then we can sing "Under The Sea" together!!!!!:) My mommy wants me to practice singing so she got me an outfit for summer with a crab on it, and another one with a shark on it. Those are sea creatures that can help me sing....they will be around daddy all the time when he's in the Ocean....maybe we could even have a pet shark someday:)

Okay, I'm going to go for now, but I wanted you to see a picture of part of the school where daddy is. I'll put more pictures as he sends them. He's going to go to the beach next weekend and maybe take a picture of the Ocean for me...I Can't WAIT!!!!!!!

I'm behind!

Mommy and I were doing really well at getting caught up on our blogging but then we had some problems. I got sick with a cruddy cold and then Mommy got sick with it too. Also, we can't access our photos right now (these computer-things sure are complicated) but we'll try to get some new posts up real soon! I promise to have a chat with Mommy about that. :)

WOWZA.....I like presents

On Dec. 23rd, mommy and daddy and me spent a quiet evening at home. I guess tomorrow we're going to Grandma Domo and Grandpa Bob's house, and then on the 25th we're going to Grandma and Grandpa Orr's house. Anyway, I have to tell you about my evening with mommy and daddy.....I had so much fun and made so much noise....I tired my little self out!

Do you remember that big jolly guy with the white hair on his chin? I think his name was Santa Claus. I don't know if you are aware that he brings presents to little Zanders. He really does! These presents come wrapped in crinkly paper. Daddy told me that I have to take the paper off of the present in order to see what it is. I'm pretty strong, but I tell you what....that crinkly paper is really strong too! Daddy had to help me lots, just so I could see what was inside. I got so many presents. A lot of the stuff I got was toys....I LOVE TOYS!!!! And do you know what I love more than toys? I REALLY love toys that make lots of noise:) Pretty much everything I got makes lots of noise...woo hoo.

Daddy got me one toy that doesn't make noise....it's this really big, fluffy teddy bear. I named him Teddy and we played all evening long. I climbed all over him and he tickled my nose with his hairs.

Whoops!!

On Wednesday, Dec. 21st I gave mommy and daddy a huge scare! Mommy and I were sleeping and Daddy was awake when all of the sudden both my heart monitor and my pulse oximeter started alarming. Mommy woke right up and daddy came running into the room. I stayed asleep:) The alarms stopped almost right away so they both calmed down, but then less than an hour later my alarms went off again. And then for the rest of the night they went off almost every 10 minutes. Those stinky alarms kept alarming that my heart rate was too low. Needless to say, mommy and daddy were scared so they called my doctor's office. The doctor on-call asked mommy if the heart monitor was situated correctly on me and mommy said yes. Mommy then explained that both the heart monitor and my pulse oximeter were alarming at the same time. That worried the doctor too, so she told mommy and daddy to take me to the Emergency Room.

Do you know that despite all of my alarms going off, I never woke up once? I didn't hear any of the beeping!!!

We got to the Emergency Room about 5am and they hooked me up to their monitors and I hung out with mommy and daddy for about 4 hours. The ER was really busy that morning because there was a really serious car accident. I don't think I'm ever going to drive....it seems like there's accidents happening all the time. I think I'll just fly everywhere...afterall....I am Z-MAN!!! *laughs*

My heart rate didn't drop really low while we were in the Emergency Room, but it did fluctuate quite a bit. That scared the doctor a little bit so he told me and mommy and daddy that he was going to admit me for 24 hour observation. So, by 9:40am I was on the pediatric unit getting admitted. I had a nurse I'd never met before....(I know almost all of the nurses up there) but she was really nice. She even put up with daddy's weird personality!!! I had to laugh because the nurse asked mommy and daddy if there was any mental illness in the family. Mommy told her that daddy was certifiably crazy, but it hasn't been diagnosed yet. My nurse thought that was funny...even daddy laughed:)

Mommy had to run home and get some Zander stuff and her work....she had to do a little work that day since things were already scheduled. When she got back my Dr. Clark was already visiting me in the hospital. My Dr. Clark ordered an EKG...the picture with all the leads on my belly was taken when they did the EKG. My Dr. Clark also said that she called my monitor company and told them she needed a download right away so she could see what happened to me over night. Mommy was scared that my Dr. Clark was going to make me wear my Os again. But my Dr. Clark said that I was doing great with no nose hose....she wanted to see how long I could go without my nose hose...I have news for her....I plan to go forever!:)

Wow, did I have a lot of visits that day. See the picture of the crib they put me in? It was so big and there were so many metal bars, that I seriously thought I was a monkey at the zoo and people were visiting me. Come to think of it, the whole day was kind of funny!! Anyway, me and daddy and mommy hung out at the hospital with all the nurses for most of the day. Around 6pm my Dr. Clark came back and told mommy that everything was fine and I was healthy as a little Zander can be. She then explained to mommy that a couple months back....right after I had my week break from my Os, she had asked the monitor company to change my alarms to a lower heart rate. She said that as I grow old my heart rate will slow down to a normal rate. My Dr. Clark said that the only thing that was going on with me the night before was that I was sleeping very deeply.

Needless to say, mommy and daddy felt silly for being paranoid. But you know what, everyone was really good about being supportive. My Dr. Clark said that mommy and daddy did exactly what they should have. They just followed the advice of the doctors. Mommy asked my Dr. Clark if I could go home right then since I was healthy. After making sure that the monitor company was going to come right out and reset my monitor alarms my Dr. Clark said I could go home. What a weird day!!!!! Do you know anyone who has ever been admitted for 7 hours???

I am proud to say that since my monitors were reset, I haven't had any low heart rate alarms!!! Yay for me!!

Oh yeah, on this day (Dec. 21st) I weighed 14 lbs and 4 ozs. I'm getting heavy! Also, I just wanted to tell you all that one really good thing came out of my short hospital stay. I got to see some of my favorite nurses before Christmas. See, mommy and daddy had already planned on taking me to see the nurses and doctors on Christmas Day, just to visit of course. Well, not every one has to work on Christmas, so I actually got to see a lot of my favorite staff members that wouldn't be working on Christmas. Can you believe that mommy accused me of purposely making my alarms go off, just so I could see everyone? I know she didn't really mean it, but when she said it everyone laughed. And some of the nurses told mommy that if I really did make my alarms beep on purpose, then I was a very smart little boy.....because they didn't want to miss seeing me. I have to tell you, I have the best nurses in the world....and they're all my best friends!!!!!

Oh Baby Zander

Do you notice anything different in this picture? I don't have any Os in my nose!!!!! That's right...on Dec. 13th I got see my Dr. Clark for a 8 month check-up and she told mommy and daddy that it was time to try me off the Os again. Mommy took them off of me that night and I have been off ever since. I gotta tell ya, now that I don't have my nose hose mommy has to clean out my nose lots. And it's so weird breathing the same air as every one else. Did you know that sometimes things really stink??? *grins* Especially my bottom. HAHA

On The Level

Okay, so mommy and daddy have been putting me in this new seat....I think it's great, I am on the same level as mommy and daddy. I can look them right in the eyes now:) I'm not that great at sitting up all by myself, but if you wrap enough blankets around me, I think I do a pretty good job. I think I heard mommy calling this chair a highchair. I'm pretty sure it goes along with the whole "Spoon" and food thing, but so far I just sit in it. Mommy told me she wanted to let me get used to the highchair before she makes me sit up and eat at the same time. I tell you what, every day that I grow up more, I'm expected to learn how to do something new. I miss the old days when I just had to be cute and let everyone take care of me. Geez, I didn't know that I was going to have to learn new things just because I was growing up. By the way, I'm almost a big boy now!!!

Ewy Gooey.....

Grandma Domo lets me make a mess. She likes to feed me when she comes to visit. Then when I'm all done making a mess she snuggles with me. I'm still not so sure about this whole "spoon" thing that people keep sticking in my mouth. And the stuff that goes in my mouth when the spoon goes in tastes funny....it's not like my milk at all. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it. Sometimes I push it out of my mouth with my tongue, but most of the time it goes all the way to the back of my mouth and disappears. I do know one thing. After the spoon is all done going in my mouth, my tummy feels full. I like it when my tummy feels full! I guess I'll try to adjust to this new way of filling my tummy....it can't be that bad.

On 11-29-2006 mommy and Grandma Domo took me to see this guy. He must be really important because he had an office right in the middle of the mall. Mommy said his name was Santa Claus. I'm pretty sure I haven't met him before...and it took me a little while to get used to him. But you know what? I think it took him a little while to not be afraid to hold me. He saw my Nose Hose and the wires on my body and looked a little worried at first, but he eventually loosened up. We had a great talk, I told him that I needed him to make sure that all my friends and family had a wonderful Christmas and then he asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I told him that if it was possible, I would really like to not have to wear my Nose Hose anymore. He said that was a pretty steep request, but he would see what he could do.

What's going on?

On 11-28-06 my Dr. Clark told mommy that she could give me some rice cereal. I didn't understand what my Dr. Clark was talking about, but now I do. Mommy stuck this rubber thing in my mouth and it left some wet stuff on my tongue. It doesn't taste too bad, but it feels a lot different than my milk. Mommy only made me take a couple bites and then she mixed the left over in with some more milk. You know, when that stuff comes out of the bottle, it taste really great....but that rubber thing in my mouth just seems like too much work. But I have to admit, it is pretty fun spitting it at mommy:)

Quality Domo Time

Here's Cicily Bea and I spending some quality time with Grandma Domo on Thanksgiving day. Cicily and my Auntie Sue and Uncle Reid had to fly back to Texas on Thanksgiving day so we all celebrated Thanksgiving the evening before. I was very jealous because all the big people were eating all this food stuff that looked really yummy. Don't get me wrong, I love my milk, but that food stuff might taste really good! They wouldn't let me even try a piece of it. Mommy said it was because I didn't have any teeth, I think she just didn't want to share!

Me and My Cousins

Here's a picture of me, Cicily Bea, and Annie at Thanksgiving. Grandma Domo bought me and Cicily Bea matching Christmas outfits and Annie got to pretend she was a reindeer. This is an odd year (every other year the Hewlitts celebrate Christmas together) so I won't get to see Cicily Bea or Annie at Christmas. That's why we are wearing Christmas outfits now. I think it makes perfect sense:)

I yelled at mommy!

Okay, I'm sure you all agree with me that mommy and daddy need to let me be on the computer a lot more often. I mean really...there is no excuse for going over a month without being able to say hi to all my friends. And do you know what else? I just found out that people have been sending me comments on here and I've never known that before!!!!

I am so sorry that I haven't replied to your comments....both mommy and me had no idea there were any comments until My Sonya fixed my page. Please forgive me!!!!!! So I had a very serious talk with my mommy and told her that if she didn't allow me computer time then I was going to stay up all night with daddy so I could use the computer. Okay okay, I didn't really yell at her, I mean after all....she doesn't let me use the computer because we're too busy playing in the evenings. But I promise that I am going to take the next couple of days to catch everyone up to date. Once I've done that, I'm going to make my mommy schedule regular computer time just for me:) After all, in just three more months I will be 1 year old. Can you believe that????????????????????????????????????? I can't.....and I'm constantly reminded by my doctors that I have an adjusted birthdate. The way I see it, I have a real birthday and an adjusted birthday... YIPEE, PRESENTS TWICE:) haha

SO....I'M SO SORRY....I WILL GET TO WORK UPDATING YOU!!!

We've been updated!

You may notice that my blog is a little different, but only a little. Mommy has been having a lot of problems getting my new photos to show up on the blog so Auntie Sonya upgraded us to the new Blogger system, whatever that means. It's supposed to be much faster so hopefully Mommy can get the photos to stay. Auntie Sonya says we have to do something about this because I'm "too darn cute" not to have my photos with Santa on here! Keep your fingers crossed!