that I received my first international phone call on Sunday!

I want to send a special burp, gurgle, gurgle to all my peeps from Sierra Leone. Mommie didn't get to the phone in time but as soon as she figures out the time difference, she's going to call you back. She's been telling me lots of stories of my friends overseas.

that my mohawk is better than yours!

Mom gave me a mohawk today. She said that I am going to have afro puffs soon, she just has to find mini-puff ponytails at the beauty supply store.

that I did well at my first doctors appointment

I had my first pediatric appointment on Wednesday, May 26th. This isn't too bad. The doc checked all my little creases and folds and rolled me around on this white paper. She said I could come back in a week for the other stuff. Check out this short video of me at my appointment.

Weight: 5 pounds 1 ounce
Height: 19 inches*

*I grew one whole inch in two days, wow!

that dresses become me!

Grandma E bought this special dress for my big day home. Here I am sitting in my new bassinett. I didn't even spit up or poop on the dress.

P.S. Grandma E and I share the same initials, "ER."

that my cowmooflage car seat is nice

Here I am, all packed up and ready to go for my first ride in Mommie's Jeep.

that I am going to miss my first baby room

Goodbye NICU.

that I am going to relax, relate and release

I have finally accepted that the docs have moved my cheese outside of the NICU. Mommie and Uncle William came to pick me up on Monday, May 24th.

A lot has passed since Saturday, March 27th . . . the bleeding in my brain has subsided, my liver is finally working right, I don't need any more red blood cells, I don't have bacteria in my eyes, my PIC lines are gone, the fluid in my lungs is gone, I have good sodium levels, and I am finally gaining a little weight. Thanks to all those wonderful people at Children's Hospital.

ugh, burp, gurgle, gurgle . . . I got kicked out of the NICU!

Dearest NICU Nurses,

What did I do? Why? I promise not to spit up in your face anymore. I swear, I won't poop outside of my diaper anymore. But what about my pod-mates, can they come too? You can't throw me out without my posse.

Ok, Ok, let me regroup and assess this situation. Just because I can breath, suck, swallow, keep myself warm and keep my heartbeat going, you are going to expel me.

I knew you were tricking me when you put me in that car seat for a test run.

Weight: 5 pounds 2 ounces
Length: 18 inches

that I should give a shoutout to preemies all over the world!

Hey,

You like my treasure troll mini-quilt? Mommies friend Julie sent it to me, she has a preemie too.

that I am bad! In a good . . . no, great way!

My, preemie bad, my preemie good

My preemie do stuff that yo' preemie wish she could
My, my preemie bad, my preemie good
My preemie do stuff that yo' preemie wish she could
My, my preemie bad: better, better than yours
My, my preemie bad, better, better than yours
My, my, my preemie bad, better, better than yours
My, my preemie bad, better, better than yours

And when we Kangaroo, I might just kiss her

And when we Kangaroo, I might just kiss her

I just LEAPED over a major milestone in preemie life--the docs removed my oxygen tubes the other day. As soon as I get my bottle feeding gig on point, I am kissing the NICU goodbye.

Weight: 4 pounds 7 ounces

*Adapted from "My Chick Bad" by Ludacris

that my E-birth announcement is rather sassy!

Sweet Smells Abound--Ella Wangari is Here!

Have you heard? Our local bakery has announced the newest edition to its cupcake lineup. A little caramel sensation filled with gooey goodness. This sinful temptation arrived out of the oven a little early on March 27th at 8:25 pm. Containing 3 pounds and 2 ounces of sweet tooth madness, this wonderfully luscious treat comes wrapped in 16 inches of pure bliss. Due to popular demand, this limited edition cupcake is sure to leave the NICU bakery in late spring.

that I can sign this song . . .

Haaaappy Birthday to you! Haaaappy Birthday to you! Burp!

Your Daughter,
Wangari

P.S. That was my very first burp for my Mommy.

that floods aren't cool

Hey, not the weather. I am talking about clothes. Suddenly, magically, out of nowhere . . . one of my favorite outfits is a little on the short side. It must be that hot water that Mommy is washing all my clothes in--is it shrinking everything. Or, am I growing?

The docs did notice a litte fluid on my lungs, so they had to give me a preemie-sized dose of a diuretic. They said it was a short-term thing though. I gotta get my breathing, heart beating, pooping, and eating game together. I need to be able to do at least three of them at all times--breath, thump, poop, breath, thump, pee, breath, thump, digest.

I think I have mastered keeping warm though. The docs also decreased my Vapotherm amount today. Yea!

that swaddling is really cramping my style

I guess this is my little punishment for pulling out my Vapotherm prongs--swaddling. At least they gave me my binkie.

that I just got busted!

Ok, Ok, I admit it. I can't stand these things in my nose. First, the docs inserted the feeding tube my nose and then the Vapotherm prongs. Do the docs actually think I want all this in my little preemie nasal passages? Like they say, "where there is a will, there is a way" and I did something about. Too bad Mommy busted me with her camera.

Here are my new little cell mates, Hopsy and Ruff Ruff. They make doing the time a little easier. I am gonna have to talk with Hopsy though, that binkie is all mine.

Weight: 4 pounds 2 ounces

Length: 17.3 inches

Nourishment: 11.5 cc per hour

that videos are great!

Check out this video of me waking up.

that my new bed is a little on the minimalist side.

Hey, it works for now though.