September 11, 2010 – Riley NICU Reunion

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Riley Hospital held it’s NICU reunion on September 11, 2010.  There with Zach were……….Dad Corey, Mom Danielle, Grandma Sue, Grandpa Mark, Grandma Teri, Great Grandma Loretta, Great Grandma Nancy, Great Grandpa Albert, Great Grandma Carol, Uncle Keith and Uncle Justin (whew……….that’s a mouthful).

Here is Zach with his bravery medal the gymnastics kids gave him……..

and a back view of the onesie he wore (made by Danielle) to thank the staff of Riley……..

Go to this link for more pictures of the day……..

http://picasaweb.google.com/118315239048459707476/RileyNICUReunion20100911#

Zach’s story

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Zach was born on April 21, 2010, six weeks premature.  He was born in Michigan City, Indiana, then taken by ambulance to South Bend, Indiana.  From there, he was airlifted to Riley Hospital for Children, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He is a success story and for that we are grateful.

In appreciation for the wonderful care given to Zach, we decided to make handcrafted items to hopefully brighten the days for the other precious babies and their families.  Riley, we love you and will never forget how well Zach was cared for.  Our first donation will be given to Riley at Zach’s NICU reunion on September 11, 2010.

Here is Zach’s story………………….

I’m here world!! Here’s how I started my journey. I scared everybody by deciding I wanted out early. Here are the doctors trying to save me at Saint Anthony Memorial Hospital in Michigan City.

Here’s a picture of Mommy and Daddy after I was born. Look how happy they are to have me.

From there, I was taken by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in South Bend because they have a really nice NICU. Mommy and Daddy missed me so they got to talk to me on Skype.

Memorial Hospital decided I needed a really good cardiologist, so they sent me on my first helicopter ride. I wasn’t even one day old and I got to ride in a helicopter. The helicopter took me to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Look at all this crap they have me hooked up to. I’m still cute as a button though.

Daddy was so sad. He was worried about me and was missing Mommy because she was still in Michigan
City. He wanted to be in both places at once.

They let Mommy out of the Michigan City Hospital so she could come see me and Daddy. Isn’t she a pretty Mommy? See that blanket I’m laying on – the blue one? Mommy made that for me – it’s the first blanket she ever crocheted.

This is my little hand saying HELLO WORLD!

This is a picture of us as a family – this is Daddy, Mommy and ME!!!

Hey – guess what? I didn’t open my eyes for a few days but look…………I am opening them for Mommy and Daddy now.

Here I am when I got the tube out of my nose – how cute am I???????

Finally, I got to go home – this is our family at home.

Cute as a button

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Cute as a button – understatement.  This kid is perfect – and yes, I know every grandparent says that about their new grandbaby.  Here are two pictures of him in an outfit made by his mommy, Danielle, and myself.  We got an iron-on that said “cute as a button”.  Somehow, even with following directions, it melted to the iron so Danielle traced what did appear on the onesie with a sharpie and sewed the buttons on, with Great Grandma Carol teaching her how to sew on the buttons.

The hoodie and the hat were knit by me.  All yarn was I Love This Yarn worsted.  The hat pattern is basically the Rainbow Marley pattern in Itty-Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson, with a few changes.

Corey is a sweetheart

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Here is a rose Corey picked for me from their back yard.  He wrapped it in wet paper towel and foil and gave it to me to take home – this was on Danielle’s first day back to work and I watched Zach while she was at work……….very special when my son gives me flowers.

That was nine days ago – it’s still beautiful today – I just took this pic…………..

A beautiful morning walk

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It’s hotter than heck and I like to take a walk 5-6 days per week.  Keith suggested the obvious when I was complaining about how hot it was when I take my walks………….walk earlier in the morning.  I used to do that but now I enjoy laying in bed longer.  Today may have reverted me back to my old ways.  I LOVED my early morning walk.  The weather was still hot and humid but much cooler than walking at 9 a.m. or noon or whenever the mood would strike me.  I had shade from the big arborvitaes on one side of my track (our walking track is .19 miles per lap).  The big payoff was the beautiful dew hanging off the fence wires, arborvitaes, grass, spider webs – just a beautiful morning.

Here’s our a pic of our house and shed from the back of the track………

…………here’s the beauty looking back toward the woods………….

…………and a gorgeous spiderweb (why do spiders freak me out but the webs are gorgeous???)………..

Plums anyone??????

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Look at these gorgeous plums……..they are from my plum tree.  Last year I got maybe six plums.  This year I got many more and there are still more ripening on the tree.  I am excited for the larger crop in years to come.