5/11/2011 154 Days Old

On the 154th day in the life of the most beautiful girl in the history of the world the morning began peacefully. Maya only woke up once last night. She was up at 1:00. We were able to suction her nose and she went back to sleep after a bit. When I woke to get read for work Maya was still asleep. When I left for work she was also still asleep. She did wake up Erin with her alarm at 7:30, but some quick suctioning and she was ok again.

Erin had the whole day alone with Maya today. She did not have to work today, and she got some quality time with her baby girl. At 11:00 Maya got a visit from her nurse and her Dr. Maya seems to be doing a little better. It is hard to tell whether she is recovering a little bit from her congestion or the suctioning is just helping her, but her oxygen level has been pretty good today.

When I got home from work Maya and Erin were relaxing on the couch. Shortly after Maya woke up she got wide eyed and happy. We haven’t seen her this active in a few days. I think that means she is doing a little better. We sat on the couch, listened to some music, and did some tummy time. It was a great moment for us. Everything slowed down and we just got to enjoy our beautiful girl. She was breathing easy. We listened to some Mumford and Sons. She always loves Mumford.

This evening Krissie and Travis came over and made us dinner. They got some good Maya time, and Krissie helped with Maya’s bath. We left the TV off tonight. We have just listened to music. It’s been a while since I posted Maya’s playlist. Rest assured her musical education continues. Here is her playlist from the last few days.

Ray LaMontagne, “Trouble”

Ben Harper, “Live From Mars”

Bruce Springstein, “Greetings From Asbury Park”

Ray Charles, “The Definitive Colection”

Mumford and Sons, “Sigh No More”

Dave Mathews, “Some Devil Bonus Disk”

5/12/2011 155 Days Old

On the 155th day in the life of the most beautiful girl in the history of the world the morning began peacefully. Maya slept better last night. She was up at 3:30, but then stayed asleep until 6:00. I was able to get ready for work and try and comfort her back to sleep at the same time. I was having little success calming her down. Eventually I had to go to work. I woke Erin up and passed Maya off to her. Seconds had not passed since I placed Maya in Erin’s arms and she drifted to sleep. She just needed her Mamma.

Grandma Kathy took care of Maya today while Erin worked from home. Maya had a good day. She is needing less suctioning every day. I hope that means she is getting better. She is not out of the woods yet though.

Tonight Grandma Patti came by to see Maya. Erin has spent the night in the kitchen.Maya has been on the couch. Maya and Grandma got to take a little nap together, while I played guitar. It has been a relaxed night.Maya is a little cranky now, but nothing that we can’t handle. We are hoping that tonight might be the first night in a while with out a rude awakening. We could use the rest.

5/13/2011 156 Days Old

On the 156th day in the life of the most beautiful girl in the history of the world the morning began peacefully. Maya was able to sleep through the night. She woke up before I left. I suctioned her nose and she fell back to sleep. When I left she was in bed with Erin.  Maya had a good day today. She needed to be suctioned a few times, but not very often. She slept for most of the day.

Tonight The three of us had the night to ourselves. Erin made us a very good dinner, and we got to relax and watch a movie. Late tonight Grandpa Greg and Grandma Patti stopped by for a little bit. Maya slept the whole time.

Today will be a short blog. Tune in tomorrow for a special saturday blog.

5/14/2011 157 Days Old

The special post today is a look back and comparison.  It’s amazing to see how much she has changed.

Two Weeks Old

Twenty-Two Weeks Old

5/15/2011 158 Days Old

On the 158th day in the life of the most beautiful girl in the history of the world the morning began peacefully. Maya only woke up once at 1:00. We were all three able to get some much needed sleep last night. The suctioning seems to be helping Maya out quite a bit. She had plenty of awake time today. She even got a bath. She still starts to squirm and grouse as soon as she hits the water, but we noticed that she calms down as soon as Erin starts washing her hair. I guess it soothes her to have her head massaged.

It was a boring day at our house. We had no visitors until 7:00 or so this evening When Grandpa Bob and Grandma Chris came by with Jadin. Maya was her usual cute self. She was peaceful most of the day. She still keeps us on our toes with her grabby little hands. She has started to use her right hand more. We have known that she is a lefty for some time now. When we lay her down in her boppy we try to lay her left side down. Or as I like to call it grabby side down. It minimizes the rush of panic to grab her cannula from her hand and place it back in her nose. Today she just decided that she would grab it with her right hand.

That was pretty much all that went on today. It was a nice day.

5/16/2011 159 Days Old

On the 159th day in the life of the most beautiful girl in the history of the world the morning began peacefully. Maya stayed asleep as me and Erin got ready for work. Grandma Patti came by today to take care of Maya while we were away. Grandma and Maya got some good cuddle time this morning. When I got home Maya was asleep on Grandma’s shoulder.

Maya had a peaceful day. She slept for the first part of the afternoon. She woke up at about 3:00. We had a couple hours of good awake time. At 4:30 Maya had a visit from her nurse. Maya’s condition is the same. She has a whole lot of gunkus. We got some good tips on how to suction her out better. Maya now knows the sound of the suction machine. She doesn’t grouse too much most of the time, but if we try to suck out some gunkus and we can’t get it out, then she gets really mad. If the suction leaves her breathing easier, then she doesn’t seem to mind too much.

This evening Grandma Kathy came by. We got to cook out on the grill tonight. The weather was perfect. We even got the windows open, and Maya got some fresh air. We attempted to watch the Royals game, but after 7 of the first 8 pitches were balls, we decided are attention was better spent elseware. Erin is trying to get Maya to sleep now. I hope she sleeps well tonight.

5/17/2011 160 Days Old

On the 160th day in the life of the most beautiful girl in the history of the world the morning began peacefully. Erin had to work today, so I was at home with Maya. We moved out to the couch at 7:00. Maya woke up at about 7:30. I sat her up in her bounce bounce while I practiced guitar. I think she likes to hear me play. She doesn’t say much, but I think she likes it.

Around lunch time David came by to hang out. It was a good day. Maya did very well. She is still pretty tired from her congestion, but she needed very little suctioning today. She also did not need any tylenol or morphine today. I hope that means that she is getting over whatever it was.

Tonight Grandpa Bob and Grandma Chris came over for dinner. We had carnita tacos. Maya sat in her bounce bounce on the table, and ate her dinner at the same time. It was a good day today. The weather was perfect. I got plenty of quality time with my baby girl.

Photo caption… Dad dressed her (third outfit of the day) and thought of me (mom) when he selected the last outfit. I thought it was super cute :)

5/18/2011 161 Days Old

On the 161st day in the life of the most beautiful girl in the history of the world the morning began peacefully. Maya and Erin stayed asleep as I got ready for work. Just as I was about to leave for work I bent down to give Maya a kiss as I do every morning. This morning Maya woke up. She started making little noises and squirming. I moved her up into bed with her mamma. Maya was wide awake at this point. Erin was about as far from awake as a person can get. Maya focused her beautiful blue eyes on her sleeping mother, and let out a few coos. She would wave her right hand as she tried to arose Erin from her sleep. It was fun to watch. Maya knew that her mom lay just a few inches from her, and Maya knew that she wanted Erin’s attention. She continued, persistant as she is, for a few minutes, until Erin reached one hand over and patted her on the back. Then Maya was happy.

I could write my normal post about Grandma Patti coming over to take care of Maya, or Maya’s nutritionist, and occupational therapist visit. It would be worth writing since Maya weighed in at 10 pounds 5.5 ounces, but I wont. The important thing about today was that moment just before I left. Seeing Erin love Maya with all her might has been one of the best experiences of my life. Seeing Maya reciprocate that love in little moments like ours this morning… I can’t even describe.

5/19/2011 162 Days Old

On the 162nd day in the life of the most beautiful girl in the history of the world the morning began peacefully. Maya got a little bit cranky before I left for work. I don’t like to see her unhappy, but I did like getting to hold her before I left for work.

Today Grandma Kathy came by to take care of Maya while Erin worked from home. Maya had a visit from Nora while grandma was here. Reports are that Maya had a good day. She has been asleep since I got home. I think she is recovering from whatever it was that got her so congested, but she is still very tired.

Summer vacation is coming up. It begins next Thursday. I am tired from all of the end of the school year work that has to be done, but am looking forward to many more hours with my beautiful girl.

May 20th 2011 163 Days Old

On the 163rd day in the life of the most beautiful girl in the history of the world the morning began peacefully. Maya stayed asleep as I got ready for work. When I left both Maya and Erin were sleeping peacefully.

Grandma Patti came by to take care of Maya today. Maya stayed asleep for most of the day. She had a good day today. She woke up this evening and has been up most of the evening. Sam and Gayle came over and bought us dinner tonight. We got to sit at the table and hold Maya while playing dominos. Gayle is holding Maya now. Maya is still awake. She has had her nights and days mixed up for the last few days. Yesterday she slept all day. Then woke up at 10:00 and was up until 2:00. We are hoping that her being awake this evening will lead to her sleeping tonight.  Cross your fingers…