Mommy Goes Home

With mixed emotions Ashley was released today after spending 8 days in the hospital. We will try to get Mommy to rest as much as possible, but know we'll be seeing alot of Emily too. We will back up tonight to celebrate the New Year with Emily. For now, her bear will be watching over her until we visit again.

Thanks to everyone for all of the visits, calls, texts, emails, flowers, gifts, and prayers for Ashley and Emily. We are truly blessed to have such great support. One home and one to go for the Burke Girls!

Pondering

Wonder what she is thinking about?

Busted!!!!!!

This is Grandpa W. He has been known to fall asleep at weddings, graduations, and other events. He has been doing ALOT for us and taking care of Bailey. So....maybe we can cut him a little slack this time. Nah!

Bath for Baby

Emily got a bath tonight. As you can see, she doesn't like the bath....but loves her mommy!

Future Dock Dogs Junior Handler?

Emily got a visit today from our friends Julie and Amy from Gateway Dock Dogs! We are thinking she will be ready to train Bailey on the dock for the 2016 season!

Kangaroo Care with Daddy

Daddy got his first special kangaroo care with Emily today.

You may be wondering what kangaroo care is??

When a baby is born prematurely or with medical problems that require intensive care, bonding between the baby and parents can be interrupted.
To help you bond with your baby, the NICU staff teaches a method of cuddling called Kangaroo Care - a way of holding your baby to provide skin-to-skin contact. Kangaroo Care has been practiced in Europe since the early 1980s and is now being used in the U.S. as well.
With Kangaroo Care, a parent holds the baby in an upright position on his or her chest. The baby is dressed only in a diaper to allow skin-to-skin contact. The parent then wraps his or her shirt around the baby to keep the baby warm.
This simple method of holding allows parents to be in touch with their baby by increasing the parents' comfort level and decreasing their anxiety, which promotes bonding. Many breastfeeding mothers report they produce more milk after practicing Kangaroo Care. Babies who receive this method of cuddling and touching benefit by the increased nurturing.

PS- As you can see, dad needs a haircut bad. Mom must be feeling better today because she said daddy is starting to look like Ace Ventura! Harsh!

Busy Day

Emily got to turn off her light treatment today as her jaundice cleared. She got her home updated with pics of mom, dad, and Bailey (if you look close in the pics you can see them). She also got a new cool blanket from Grandma W and her pink bear from Grandma and Grandpa B has been watching over her.

The only bad news of the day was that Mommy's discharge was delayed. The doctors are trying to stabilize her blood pressure. Maybe tomorrow!!

Somebody Loves Her Mommy

Almost done tanning!!

Emily is scheduled to get her "tanning light" turned off tomorrow. Her jaundice is clearing up and she can have her beauty mask removed. That will mean she can spend more time being held by mommy and daddy.

Emily Says Good Night

Kangaroo Care

This was a really special hour for Ashley and Emily. The nurses say this is some of the best medicine for Emily....TLC.

First Family Photo

Daddy and Emily

Ashley has moved rooms

FYI....She is now in Room 5171. Thanks!

PS- She is doing great ;-)

Mommy and Emily

As you can see, these two are doing great today!! This is Ash's first time with Emily since right after delivery.

Sunday Morning Updates

Mommy is feeling much better this morning. She just ordered breakfast and will get her first meal in 2 days! Her blood work this morning was the best it's been in days. She will get her epidural out around 8. She is very anxious about possibly being able to see Emily.....stay tuned as more updates coming hopefully later today. :-)

Emily is also doing pretty good today. Over night she had her ventilator removed! She got a dose of surfactant yesterday and it's really helped her breathing. She is doing most of the breathing on her own today. She also got moved to an incubator to give her a more cozy home. She is doing REALLY good. We are also expecting some more updates on Emily today......-stay tuned! :-)

An Angel Resting

Catching some rays

Trying out her new tanning mask.

Curly Hair?

She has curly hair!!...for now at least :-) Maybe more wavy than curly??

Update on Emily

Emily is doing great today! She has had many visitors and many "firsts." The following is a list of who she has met so far:

Grandma and Grandpa Burke, Grandma and Grandpa Williamson, Uncle Joe and Aunt Kristin, Uncle Drew, Uncle Jim and Aunt Chris, Alyssa and Caitlyn, Pat and Kelly Govro, Dustin and Stephanie Ward, The Clickas (Pat Clooney and
Nicole Micka), Aunt Shannon, and Dara See.

Emily has been getting a little help breathing, but has been able to do most of it on her own which is amazing for her size. The tubes in her nose help keep her lungs open so she can breathe. She looks a lot more uncomfortable than she really is.

She is proving to be a little as stubborn (takes after her mother :-)) as the nurses work with her. She has already shown a little personality and attitude! Today her eyes have been wide open, she squeezes my finger tight, she got to suck on a binky for the first time, had her first little poop (which looked like a hershey kiss), and even let Dad change her diaper-scary!!

Update on Mommy

First, I want to say that Ashley is the bravest and strongest person I have ever met. I am so proud of the way she has handled all of the adversity thrown her way since we went to the hospital on Tuesday. She has been through a whole lot the past few days and hasn't complained once and has been positive throughout the process. Ashley, I love you and am so proud of you!

Following the surgery, she is doing pretty good. She is very tired and having to work on her breathing a little. The medications that she is on to help with the effects of the preeclampsia have really wiped her out. They are continuing to run tests and trying to make her feel better. They warned us she could get a little worse before she gets better, but she will get better....it just takes time. We will keep everyone updated and please continue to keep her and Emily in your thoughts and prayers.

Welcome Emily Lynn Burke!!!

Little Emily was born 12/26/2008 at 3:52 PM CT. She weighs 2lbs 8oz and is 14.75 inches long. She has a little bit of dark hair under her hat and blonde little eyebrows. Ashley and I are truly thankful to God for our little Angel!