No Panic Button

Thursday today. That means yesterday was Wednesday. Funny how the days are now running together. Someone told me today (I think it was today...was it yesterday?) that I've joined the "what day is it" club. But now it's been confirmed. It is Thursday. No need to panic over no posts yet this week. It's just been neglected due to the re-entry into the fall church year.

Ellen is doing very well. I'm trying to remember what all has transpired with her in the last week...I'll do my best to recap. Currently she is taking all of her feedings by bottle (every three hours) and is eating 40ccs at each one. How much is that? According to online conversion calculators that is 1.35 ounces. She weighs 4 pounds 2 ounces and has been in an open air crib since early Monday afternoon. She's been able to maintain her body temperature on her own. I went for the 2 PM feeding on Monday and while giving her the bottle the doctor came in. He told me she was doing well and thought she might be ready to go home by the end of the week. Good thing I was holding her or I would have probably fallen out of the chair. It came as a complete shock as we were prepared for a long term stay. He did say she'd be sent home with an Apnea Monitor and we'd have to have a training for that. We had the training yesterday but still no affirmative word on when she'll be coming home - it sounds like Sunday at the earliest. She's becoming more and more alert when we're there which is pretty cool. And they're allowing us to bring clothes and blankets in for her so we have a few pictures of her wearing some of those things.

That leads me to where I really wanted to go here, and that's to give a great big thank you. I think Jeanine is doing her best to keep on writing personal thank-yous to everyone who has sent gifts of any kind. We've heard from countless people by email, facebook, comments on the blog, cards, phone calls, notes...I don't think I could possibly communicate how grateful we are to all of you. Your outpouring of love and care for us has been tremendous. I'd love to be able to list you all here - the Ludington gang, the Avery St. CRC, the knitting club in Pella are just a few groups of people who deserve our thanks. So if there's a bigger word that communicates more than "thank you" can, I would use it now. We're truly humbled by your care.

I promise to post some more pictures soon, but it's now 1 AM and when I started this post it was several hours ago. Good night!