What Won't a Grampa Do For His Granddaughter?

Well I found out today he will dig in the recycling dumpster for the newspaper from her birthday. We have always saved the paper from birth days - Chris, Andy, and Riley - we have them all. Then today we are riding home after doing some errands and stopping by Tammy's and the newspaper from Kaleigh's b-day comes up in conversation and we realize that an hour ago we dumped a months worth of newspapers in the recycling. So we swing by the dumpster and twenty minutes later we have the paper from Kaleigh's big day and the the day after so we will always know what went on in the world on that very important day.

Today was the big photo session, I got some really good shot (if I do say so myself) but I had some really good subjects. More pictures will be coming tomorrow. Here's a few just to keep you interested.




I think they have the same cheeks. Again Riley doesn't think that Kaleigh needs her socks and he has gotten one off so far.

Dan had a job this morning so I spent that time getting more pictures edited and up loaded to scrapbookpictures.com. Trying to get everything done because tomorrow is the end of their sale on 4 X 6's.

Friday Without Riley

It is pretty strange going shopping and to Weight Watchers without Riley. No one to talk to, no one trying to get everything I put in the shopping cart and no one getting all the attention at WW. But I did survive and got everything done. Had a good week, down 1.8 lbs so almost back to where I was.

After that I went to the apartment to take Nikki to do some errands, she can't drive yet, so I was official chauffeur this morning.

Riley was very interested in the baby carseat and actually got in it at one point and pulled the canopy over to cover himself. He was all scrunched up and was very funny to look at.

Got Kaleigh all buckled up in it and we were on our way. Publix, WalMart, and Walgreens. Didn't hear a peep out of Kaleigh the whole time, she was such a good girl. She can come shopping any time. She had the cutest little outfit on, it was a onesies with a little skirt and of course a hat to match. The newborn size is fitting her really well right now.


Got back and it was time for Kaleigh to eat and Riley wanted to help so much. Convinced him that a pat on her head and a kiss was good enough. Although he did make sure that her socks came off and so did her hat. He figures he doesn't wear that stuff in the house why should she. After her bottle she went in her bouncy car, that she enjoys. I know it doesn't look that way but I think this is her showing how she feels about the flash on the camera. I told her she would have to get use to it.

Spent the rest of the day at home. We got our tax rebate so the first thing I did was order my new computer, it should be here at the end of the month, I can't wait. Got everything I wanted plus some stuff I didn't need but came with the computer. Now I just have to get everything I want to transfer to the new computer onto the external hard drive and I will be set.

The Pirate Girl Has Come Home

Andy and Nikki went to the hospital for Kaleigh's noontime feeding and were lucky enough to come home with her. He call just as they were leaving the hospital and while we were talking Dan called to say he was on his way home. So we all just went to the apartment to see Kaleigh. She was such a good girl, hardly a peep out of her and we passed her around quite a bit.

The pirate girl is keeping her eye on Grampa. She certainly looks very tiny in his arms.

Sitting with mommy for a little bit before having something to eat.

Three-quarters of the family, can't wait to get one with Riley. He was still at daycare. We will remedy that this weekend and have a complete family shot.


Kaleigh coming home was of course the highlight of my day but I did get lots of stuff accomplished at home. I'm all caught up with pictures and blog back-ups and uploads through April. Now just have to get to work on May, but at least we are only half way through the month. The house is pretty clean too, vacuumed, did laundry, washed the kitchen floor and miscellanous pick up around the hours. So I consider this an all around good day.

Don't Pay Any Attention to the Dirty Face

Riley and I started our day with a walk that took us to Walgreens. We needed to get a couple of pictures for Grampa so he can show off his grandbabies to the customers. The snack for the walk over was YoGos and for some reason Riley ended up with them all over his face.

Got the pictures all ordered and it was only going to take about 25 minutes so we just went out and walked around the Walgreens, Village Inn, and the strip mall area twice and our time was up. We had really nice weather for the walk, still cool and a nice breeze blowing. Got the pictures and headed back to the apartment.

On the way Riley decided he would take his hat off and put it back on. Kind of missed getting it on his head right but we had a rip roaring game of where is Riley while I was snapping pictures.

Of course I had to get one of he adorable face too. (Again pay no attention to the dirty face.)

We had only been home for a few minutes when Jeannie arrived and it was my turn to go to the hospital to visit with Kaleigh. Her feeding have been moved to every four hours. Her IV was taken out at the 2100 feeding last night and things are looking really good. Should be coming home tomorrow. Nikki came home today and has been back to the hospital for one feeding so far. Here's hoping that Kaleigh will get release early tomorrow and they can start settling into a routine.

This is Andy feeding Kaleigh this afternoon. Still can't get a good indication of her eye color.


I spent the afternoon working on pictures, trying to get as many as I can uploaded so I can place an order on Sunday, which is the last day of the 4 X 6 sale.

My Helper

First we'll start with an update. Nikki is doing great, up and about, practically dancing down the halls now when she goes to the NICU. May be coming home tomorrow. Kaleigh just keeps getting better and better. Every time they check her blood sugar it has improved and that means her glucose is decreased in the IV, hoping the IV will be out tonight or first thing tomorrow morning. Every feeding she is eating more and more, a good thing. She might come home tomorrow or Thursday, we of course are hoping for tomorrow.

Here's a picture to show what beautiful fingernails she has. All we can ever see of her is her face and hands so we pay a lot of attention to both of these.

Here is the obligatory picture of "Babies taste like chicken". This is just for Chris.


When I got back to the apartment to switch places with Jeannie so she could go to the hospital my job was to wash all of Kaleigh's new clothes. As you can see I had a great helper, I would put the clothes in the basket and he would throw them out. Finally got him to understand that the clothes were to stay in the basket. Then he came across a pair of socks and he really wanted to wear them, so I put them on his feet. It was so cute (can't believe I didn't get a picture) they only came up to his arches so his toes were covered and his heals hung out. He walked around that way for a while. It was pretty funny because usually the first thing he does is pull his socks off but this was different.


I really enjoyed going through all the little girl clothes they are so cute and tiny, can't wait to see her in them.

Another good day and we are just waiting for the Doctor's decision in the morning to see what tomorrow will bring.

Life's Been Good to Me So Far

Don't know how I got so lucky, I always knew I was a member of a pretty special family. Then Riley came along and I thought how could it get any better than this. Then I met Kaleigh and found out that life just gets better and better and I can't wait for what is around the next corner.

For now let's get back to what went on today. Started as a pretty normal day, headed over to take care of Riley for the morning. It was a little confusing because it was Andy and Jason who were at the apartment with Riley. They left shortly after I arrived for the hospital and Riley and I got on with our day.

Went out for our walk and I forgot to take Riley's snack. After about five minutes he turns and looks at me and it ready for his piece of waffle and I have nothing to give him. I just keep talking trying to keep his mind off of the waffle. It wasn't working so I tried giving him my keys and that worked for a while but he was getting upset again and luckily we were on the backside of his building by this time so we just went back to the apartment and I got the snack. It was right there on the counter just waiting to be eaten. With Riley happy we continued our walk. It was a nice day for a walk, still cool and a nice breeze blowing.


After the walk spent the rest of the morning playing. About a half hour after he went down for his nap Jeannie and Jason got back from the hospital and it was my turn to go visit.

When I got there Andy and Nikki were in the NICU, so I went down there just to let them know I had arrived. Andy came back to the room in a few minutes and I got to go to see Kaleigh. When I arrived she was eating and doing a good job. When she finished up Nikki held her for a while and then I asked the nurse if I could hold her and lucky me I could. So I held her for about 10 - 15 minutes and it was back to Nikki for a bit. When it got to be about 1315 we put her back in her bed and went back to the room so Nikki could have lunch.


So I am pretty prejudiced but I think she is beautiful. So far she has been a very content baby, hope it continues.

Back at the room took it easy. Nikki verified the birth certificate and got the official copy. Another plus for Osceola Regional. Filled out the paperwork in the morning, verified just after lunch and by 1530 had the copy in our hands. SSN also taken care and should be arriving in about 6 weeks.

At about 1445 Andy and I went down to see Kaleigh because it was time to eat and Andy was going to give it a try and I was going to say goodbye for the day. When we got there she was having her diaper changed and was just as alert as could be. Her eyes were wide open but it is so dark in the NICU that I couldn't tell what color they were.

I said goodbye and went back to the room to let Nikki know how alert she was and to walk to the NICU with her and I went back to the room and waited for the birth certificate in case any body needed to sign anything.

I headed home at about 1530. Got my last update from Andy at about 1845. Nikki had feed Kaleigh for this feeding and she ate quite a bit. They were able to lower her glucose dip again because her blood sugar level went up again. All of this was great news.

I will be heading over to visit in the morning and taking care of Riley in the afternoon.

More News is Good News

Tammy and I went to the hospital this afternoon to visit again. Andy and Nikki had just woken up from a nap, which I'm sure they both needed.

Went down to visit Kaleigh again and they were testing her blood sugar when Andy and I were in there and it was good news. The level was right in the middle of where they want to see it right now. She just has to keep it there. I gave her a pep talk and told her to have positive thoughts and the sooner she got this under control the sooner they would stop poking her to take blood.

Spent a little time talking to Nikki and then it was time to head home. I'm ready for a nap myself.