Eliza Grace is HOME!!!! She came home on 2/19/09. Our computer is down but when it is up and running again we'll try to update more. For now, here are a few pictures to tide you all over. ENJOY

Akol and I have our CPR training today and we have training tomorrow on how to use an at home monitor ( for bradicardia episodes/ drop in heart rate). She is still having about one a day due to acid reflux. Hopefully if all goes well she should be home by the end of the week!!!!!!!!!!

Macey is starting to feel better. She hates taking her medicine but is enjoying the bribes( lollipops and M&M's or anything else that helps convince her to take her medicine without too much of a fight).

Eliza is getting bigger and stronger every day! She was up to 4lbs 5oz when they weighed her last night. She has been having what they call in the NICU "Bradys" (short for Bradicardia ). Basically her heart rate drops due to acid reflux. Her brady's happen either during or shortly after a feeding. We don't know yet if they will keep her longer due to these episodes. We'll find out soon enough. We just want our little girl home already!! ( But of course we want her to be good and ready!!!!)

Eliza is 4lbs 1.1 oz and if all goes well she'll be home next week. Macey is home sick from school today with a fever. ( I guess it turned out to be a good thing that Eliza didn't come home yet or she might have caught Macey's illness.) Hopefully both of our girls will be healthy and home very soon.

Eliza is still doing great! As of last night she weighed 3lbs 14.8 oz and will hopefully hit the 4lbs mark tonight! She is drinking all of her feedings from bottles and in an open crib. We were just told today that there is one more requirement before she can go home. She needs to be apnea free for 7 days off of caffeine. ( She's been taking caffeine for apnea since 1/11 but hasn't had any apnea episodes since 2/2) Today is her first day off of the caffeine so if all goes well and she has no setbacks or apnea episodes she should come home NEXT TUESDAY!! (We wish it were sooner but at least we have a tangible date to expect her.)

Eliza Grace is doing very well! She is now eatting all of her feeding from a bottle!!! It is no longer a matter of weeks until she'll be home, it's only a matter of days!

Eliza in her open crib.

Eliza is 3lbs 12.7 oz. They have moved her into an open crib. She is able to maintain her own body temperature. She drank her bottle in 6 minutes yesterday. Depending on how she does with her feeding today , they may increase her bottle feeds. At this rate of progression she should be home very soon!!

Eliza is 3lbs 10.5 oz! She's still working on bottle feeding and is being offered one bottle a day for now and receiving her other feedings through a tube. Hopefully she'll catch on soon.

Everyone, Eliza is doing well but without all the research that has been done in the past few years our story may be very different. My friends Jackie and Craig raise money for the march of dimes each year. This year they are dedicating their contributions to Eliza. I wanted to forward this on to you if you would like to donate to the march of dimes. Please do not feel obligated. I contribute every year and in light of our current situation I feel even more passionate about their cause.

Here is a link to their team's website.

http://www.marchforbabies.org/teamnovak

Eliza had another Bath today! Mommy and Daddy love to take this time to photograph me without my tubes or wires.

Macey was so excited to go to the Tallahassee Junior Museum. She loves to play at the playground and see all the animals.

Here are some pictures of Eliza being weighed and measured tonight. She is 3lbs and 7.4 oz. She is just under 16 3/4 inches long.

Here's our little Eliza, sleeping peacefully. Doesn't she look beautiful in Lavender!