Progress!

A message from Kinley's mom:

Today was yet another great day of improvements!  She's only getting breast milk now, which means she is getting those cute little baby fat rolls!  She is still a teeny tiny baby when I hold her, but compared to what she looked like only a week ago it's like black and white difference... she doesn't look the same at all...  She is free of all her wires, tubes and plugs except for the "button" and her aspirator.  She is able to control her body temp really well on her own and she is having lots of bowel movements!  She was moved out of the incubator today and put in a crib.  I can bring in a mobile and some of her own clothing so that it feels more like home... That's a great feeling!  I've been holding her since yesterday and the feeling of having Kinley in my arms is like nothing I've ever felt before.  I keep staring down at her in amazement that she is mine... how in the world does something so perfect develop in 9 months?  She sleeps like an angel, but I like to think that she sleeps even better when I'm holding her... She makes the funniest faces when she's sleeping, I just giggle. Everyone comments on how quick she is recovering and I tell them that there are a lot of people praying for her.

The doctor that did her surgery, Dr. Kashen, came in today to check on her.  He said she looked great, he was very pleased... he also said that she'll need to stay in Santa Barbara until her next surgery because he wants to be close to monitor her himself.  As hard as it is to know that she won't be able to come home for another 2+months, I totally agree with him.  I want her to be safe, and they take amazing care of her here.  I'll definitely be driving a lot in the upcoming months... I am going to go back to work, maybe after my mom goes home, so I can save my maternity leave for when she can come home.  So I'll be coming down here every weekend and a couple times during the week.  It's hard for me to be a block away from her now... what am I going to do when I'm an hour and a half away?

I hope that this time goes by fast, but I also hope that I am able to take in every moment.  She'll never be this small and innocent again and even though I can't wait for her to be a chunky crawling baby I really love her sweet calm self now.

Days are blurring together and the time flies by...