So I haven't written in ages! We have been keeping busy with our new lives as full time parents! Morgan has been home for 4 weeks. It seems crazy, but for us the days of the hospital are becoming blurry (as we were told they would).

The first week was quite an adjustment. While we had been getting up regularly during the night to pump, the added human to the equation took some getting used to! At first we kept on the hospital feeding schedule of 12, 3, 6, 9, 12, 3, 6, 9.... This was grueling for Morgan and us! We now have switched to every 3/4 hours during the day and an on demand at night. Really I think it is ALL on demand, but she seems to be adjusting well to this pattern. She eats anywhere from 10-40 minutes when breast feeding. And takes between 2-4 ounces from a bottle.

We had our first Dr. appointment the first week she was home. Everything checked out great and she was up to 7 pounds 6 ounces, we went back a week later for her 2 month check up and she was up to 8 pounds 2 ounces. At that appointment she received her 2 month shots - needless to say she was not a happy camper. We gave her Tylenol for the pain. Her little thighs were so sore and every time we touched her we wanted to cringe. This week we had her Synagis shot to help her fight off any RSV exposure, she will get one more to cover her through this cold and flu season. At the appointment she weighed 9 pounds 7 ounces - she sure is gaining!

We really enjoy having her home, and finally are able to get on the road of raising her and helping her to develop into a little girl. We try and play tummy time once a day. Morgan has a very strong neck and is able to keep her head up for quite some time, as well as turn side to side. Mom has also noticed that she enjoys looking at herself in the mirror. Bath time is fun for mom and dad and Morgan, she loves it and so do we!

Since Morgan is a preemie she has 2 birthdates - her actual one - which puts her at 2 1/2 months of age and her adjusted one, which has her at 3 1/2 weeks. This is done for development purposes. We are told to go off adjusted age for the first 2 years. So having her home we really are working with a Newborn, rather than a 2.5 monther, so it is fun for me to get to lean from the books and all my friends who just had babies since we are all in the same phase. Eventually we hope Mo is able to catch up to actual, but this will be a long road

Things she hates - the thermometer, the bugger bulb, burpy gas.

Things she loves - 2am, snuggling on our chest, eating when hungry.

We have taken her on a few outside activities. Her Granddad Howarth was in town so we took a drive to Arlington and Fort Worth - she enjoyed the towns from the car and was so good. The weather has been incredibly nice in Dallas - the other day it was mid 80's, so we took her for a walk around the neighborhood, she was asleep almost the entire way, but hopefully she will stay to enjoy these walks before the weather gets too hot. It's 70 today so I think we will be heading out for another stroll in just a bit!

Morgan got to meet her great grandmother McClure a few weeks ago and loved it, she was snuggled up in her arms and happy as a lamb.

We have nicknamed her pack and play (where she is currently sleeping in our room), as Red Bull b/c the second you put her in it to go to bed her eyes are wide open and she has no intention of sleeping!

Well I think that is it for now, I will try and not wait so long to update this site and you on our journey.

I am working on a Birth announcement – we took loads of pictures to try and get the “perfect shot”. The hard part is now trying to figure out how many I need to order and compile an address list!

On February 2nd, 2008, 54 days after she first entered this world, Morgan Charlotte was finally able to leave the monitors and doctors and nurses behind and come to her new home!  At first, we were hoping she could come home last Tuesday.  She had been nipple feeding successfully and passed her hearing test and car seat test.  However, she had one minor Brady while sleeping on Monday and had to be monitored for 5 more days.

The night before she came home, mom and dad stayed up at the hospital to get somewhat acclimated to the responsibilities of a newborn at night.  When driving to the hospital that evening, mom commented that it finally felt like a true delivery.  We rounded up pillows and blankets and other supplies to make our stay comfortable.  But knowing that Morgan was already here made it a confusing feeling.

Morgan did her best to keep the 'rents from sleeping throughout the entire night.  When we first went to bed, Morgan decided it would be funny to squirm and squeak, causing dad, who was closest to her bed, to get up and check on her for any little thing.  At 2am, Morgan woke up and became quite restless.  After an hour of squirming and a 3pm feeding, she finally fell asleep and allowed mom and dad to get a little bit of rest. 

The next morning, we met with Morgan’s doctor and went through all her paperwork, which summarized every procedure, medication and diagnosis she received during her stay.  We haven't totaled up her final expense tab yet, but let's just be thankful that mom has good insurance through Microsoft.  Hopefully the cost won't be a hindrance in Microsoft's merger with Yahoo.  All of these details are also sent to her pediatrician, so she has Morgan's full history.  We packed up all of our belongings, including dozens of vials of pumped breast milk, strapped Morgan into the car seat, and bid adieu to the Special Care Nursery.  We locked Morgan's car seat into place and finally left the hospital.  Dad was extremely cautious on the drive home, watching out for idiots and crazy drivers on the mile drive. 

When we arrived at home, dad brought a sleepy Morgan into the master bedroom, still strapped into the car seat.  Dad set the car seat on the floor and Loki came in, curious about the new piece of furniture in her house.  Loki gave Morgan a quick sniff and suddenly, Morgan twitched.  Loki, who has never been the bravest cat in the jungle, went flying out of the room and has been a nervous kitty ever since.

Since we have been home, we have tried to keep Morgan on her 3-hour hospital feeding schedule.  She has done a great job of eating.  Her pacing continues to improve, so that she is not choking on her first sips due to over-eagerness.  Morgan has starting spitting up slightly after feeding.  We have been told this is normal, but as new parents, we are hypochondriacs about everything. 

Morgan slept great the first day, but again decided around 2am to be a queen of the night time world, torturing mom for a few hours.  Once she received her 6am feeding, she went back to sleeping like a bear.  (Not sure why they call it sleeping like a baby, since babies wake up every couple of hours - Stephen Wright).  On day two, Morgan got to meet her Grandfather Howarth, in town from Virginia, on his way to see his other granddaughters in San Antonio.  She was asleep in his arms the whole time and was even too sleepy to wish granddad a happy birthday.  After her 3pm feeding, Morgan finally woke up and we were able to play tummy time for the first time.  Mom and dad are very encouraged by Morgan’s strength.  She lifted her head and moved it from side to side.  This doesn't sound like much, but for a newborn, especially a preemie, it is a key developmental step to help strengthen her core and get rock hard abs.

After the big game, Morgan got her first bath at home.  She actually doesn't mind getting clean for now.  We do our best to make it fun for her, draping her in big fluffy towels and talking in a soothing manner.     

We had our first pediatrician appointment this morning with Dr Diaz.  She said everything was looking good with Morgan.  She is up to 7 pounds, 6 ounces (6 ounces higher than when she left the hospital on Sat) and is 19 3/4 inches long.  Compared to other preemies, she is in the 40% percentile in weight, 25% percentile in head size and 75% percentile in length.  Her amenia is stable, which is a good sign.

We have loads of pictures to share.