One month old!!

Aryana is one month old today. My, she has really changed. Her face and body are filling out. Some of her preemie clothes are beginning to be a little tight on her. I will have to soon go through her 0-3 clothes and find clothes that might fit her.

Since being home, Aryana has developed some talents over the past couple of weeks. She is learning to hold her head up on her own for a short time, and she is learning how to smile. She doesn't smile too often, so catching her smiling for a picture is really difficult. Hopefully, Lee and I will catch that moment on camera very soon. Every so often she will laugh too. It kinda sounds like "Heh, heh, heh."

Aryana 1 month old and looking so serious

3 seconds later, looking not so serious

Lee and I took her to her first pediatrician's appointment a couple of days after being released from the NICU, and she weighed 4 lbs 7 oz. Dr. Ringley had fun playing with her as well as examining her stomach for any problems, but she decided for us to come back in 5 days so Aryana can be examined by Dr. Parrott. On her second visit to the pediatrician, the nurse took her weight. She checked it 3 times . . . Aryana weighed 5 lbs! She gained half a pound in 5 days. Aryana was well behaved for her doctor and didn't cry at all. He was amazed too. Unfortunately, the next time Aryana goes to the doctor, she will not enjoy it because she will get her two month shots.

Lee and I are still adjusting to the late night changings and feedings. Lee can easily take naps while she is sleeping during the day, but I have to learn. (I am a terrible sleeper.) For some strange reason, anytime Lee takes care of her during the night she goes back to sleep. When I take care of her, she will be awake for the next hour.

Barrage of Baby Pictures Vol. 2

The first 2 weeks of Aryana being home has led to a slew of baby pictures. Enjoy!

3 weeks-old


"What should I drool on next?"


"Excellent..." -Aryana doing impression of Mr. Burns from the Simpsons


Pensive in Purple


Test-driving the swing


Mellow in Yellow

Aryana meets the Bearcat family

Since Aryana came early, the baby shower at Bryan Station Middle had to be postponed at school. Fortunately, I was able to bring Aryana in to meet all the teachers that I work with. Due to Aryana wanting to be changed and fed before we left, we ended up getting to school when school was released. I ran into some of my students, who were excited to see Aryana. We were able to reach the library where Monica and Kathryn were finishing setting up for the shower. I was really happy and excited to see everyone again and just hang out with some friends. I have been really blessed to work with such a great staff, and I will really miss them when I leave Bryan Station.

Aryana's Homecoming

On May 15th, Lee and I were given the clear to take Aryana home. The doctors were hesitant because her belly was still big for a preemie, but they believe that she will grow out of it. Lee and I decided we were going to monitor her stomach everyday to make sure that it didn't get uncomfortably full. So once Lee got off work, we put Aryana in her car seat, packed up her stuff, and headed for home.


Ready to see the world

Lee and I were really excited to finally bring our daughter home, but Aryana didn't seemed too enthused because she slept the whole way home.

First Car Trip

Once Lee and I got home, we took Aryana into her room and laid her down into her crib for the first time. Unfortunately, Aryana looked really small compared to her bed, but she'll grow into it.


"Honey, are you sure we didn't order the extra-large crib by mistake?"

Breaking in the glider chair for those long nights ahead


Daddy's (very) little girl

Thanks to the NICU nurses, Lee and I felt pretty confident in taking care of her because they taught us how to do everything. We decided to keep her on her feeding and changing schedule as she had at the NICU. The one thing Lee and I was not accustomed too was taking care of her at night. Lee and I did really well waking up at 12, 3, and 6 in the morning for the first two nights, but after that we were getting really tired. So, Lee and I decided to take shifts to help each other health and sanity.

The Nursery

For many of those who aren't able to visit, here are some pictures of the nursery.

The beginning

At last week's ob/gyn visit, my doctor noticed that I was showing signs of preeclampsia. Lee and I decided to monitor my blood pressure every night to make sure that the preeclampsia wouldn't set in because the condition can be harmful to the baby and me. During after-school tutoring on Thursday, I developed a slight headache, and I went home shortly after and laid down hoping the headache would go away. When Lee came home, I told him that I had a headache. He immediately grabbed the blood pressure cuff, and my blood pressure was 140/88, which is normally 110/70. Lee and I decided to go over to the UK Ob triage at the hospital to get checked out. When I got there, my blood pressure rose to 173/110, and after all of the labs came back, I developed a severe case of preeclampsia, which only 2-3% of women get (lucky me). The only cure is to induce me into labor.

My induction began at 1 am the morning of Friday, April 27th. I had to take magnesium sulfate for 48 hours to prevent me from having seizures, which also means that I was bed ridden. The medication also was counteracting the medication for my induction, so my labor process was extremely long. At 10:20 in the evening, my doctor checked to see if I was dilated to 10 cm. She told me that if I wasn't, then I would have to have a C-section. Luckily, I was. After 21 and a half hours of being in labor, she asked, "could you push?" I said, "I am going to try." Finally after 25 minutes of pushing, Aryana arrived.

Unfortuately when she arrived, she wasn't crying and laid limp in the doctor's arms. My thought was, "do something." The pediatrician resident took her in the back room, and after the longest 2 minutes of our lives, Lee and I heard a cry. Lee went in to see her while I finished the delivery.

Aryana's First Picture

The nurse brought her out to show me. Aryana looked at me, and then five seconds later, she was wisked away to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).


Aryana Sees Mom For The First Time

Cute Sign Made By the NICU Nurses (1655 grams = 3 lbs 9 oz!)

In the hospital

Since I was bed ridden on Saturday, Lee did his role as supporting husband and father and took great care of both of us. He went to the NICU, changed her diaper, and fed her bottle while I was stuck in bed because of the magnesium.

Aryana Holding Lee's Finger


Our NICU Nurse Julia Showing Lee How to Bottle Feed

The nurses did allow me to go up to see her on Saturday evening in a wheel chair with my IV tubes. I cried most of the time. It was very hard seeing her attached to electrodes and IVs. I watched Lee change her diaper like a pro, and I felt helpless sitting there watching.

They asked me if I wanted to feed her. I will admit that I was scared. Since she was having a difficult time sucking her bottle, the nurses taught me a method to help her eat and hold her.

Sara Holding Aryana For The First Time

After she finished her bottle, I was taken back downstairs still feeling sad that I only had gotten to spend only a half an hour with my daughter.

When I finally completed the magnesium Saturday night, Lee took me up to see her many times on Sunday. I still got emotional every time I saw her (stupid pregnancy hormones). I got a chance to change her diaper with Lee being my guide.

Just A Little Drool

Aryana's Progress

Aryana was taken to the NICU because of her preterm size and the side effects of the magnesium I took on Friday. Her digestive system was too immature, and a tube was placed through her nose into her stomach to get rid of any excess air or formula that did not pass through. She was given IV fluids of amino acids, lipids, and sugars to help her get stronger. Unfortunately, she kept taking out her IV, and as a result, one was placed on her head.

IV on Aryana's head (kind of looks like an airplane)

She also is having a difficult time maintaining body heat, so she is always bundled up as well as needing a heat source somewhere nearby.

Everyday Aryana is getting stronger. I can't believe how fast she is recovering. (She definitely didn't get that from my side.) She isn't on IV fluids anymore, but she is still having a tough time maintaining her body temperature. She has to be in two outfits at once as well as wrapped in two blankets.

Making A Silly Face


Look At That Crazy Brown Hair!

Another fun thing that happens to pre-term babies is developing jaundice (yellow skin). It doesn't usually cause much trouble, but most people like to have their babies a healthy hue, and the treatment for jaundice is phototherapy. The treatment is more or less a sun tanning bed for babies. The UV light helps break down the bilirubin in the skin so that it can be disposed of in a baby's poop (yeah!).

Enjoying The Tanning Bed (Look At Those Cool Shades!)

Don't Forget to Tan The Backside

Nona Wolak would be proud Aryana is already working on her tan at 4 days old!

To Family and Friends

We are so grateful to have such supportive family and friends during such a scary yet beautifully exciting time. Receiving phone calls of concern as well as congratulations and truly generous gifts have made this experience with our baby girl even more unforgettable and joyous. We cannot thank you all enough.

The day after Aryana was born, April 28 (Saturday), 2007, Lee's parents had previously planned a Baby Shower for the new addition to the family. Somehow, mom managed not to tell anyone that Aryana was born the day before. Many friends were able to attend and enjoy great food and line dancing to "Hit Me Baby One More Time" (not once, but THREE times?). And then during the full swing of festivities, mom announced to all that the party was not a baby shower, but a Birthday party!

On Sunday, Lee's parents and his sister, Leilanie (who flew all the way from eastern Virginia) drove to Lexington to see us with a car packed completely with ultra-cute baby paraphernalia. Leilanie, with great dismay, had forgotten the memory card for her digital camera, but made excellent use of the 5 pictures she could store on her camera's internal memory. While Lolo Nar and Lola Tita were able to see Aryana in the NICU, hospital policy very unfortunately prevented Auntie Leilanie from entering (Only grandparents and parents are allowed into the NICU).

Aryana meets her Lola Tita

Lolo Nar and Lola Tita couldn't stop talking about how long Aryana's fingers were, so Leilanie asked that we take some hand pictures.

Doing Some Hand Modeling Under The Tanning Bed

Footsie Foto

The Warren family also dropped by to see Sara in the hospital. It means so much to have good friends visit you.

Graham, Kyle, Sydney, Grant Thomas, and Trace Share A Moment with Sara (That Grant Thomas Sure Does Look Mischievous)

Sara was discharged from the hospital on May 1st. When we arrived home our house was full of gifts and flowers.

So Many Gifts! (And There's Even More In The Baby Room)

A Gorgeous Centerpiece For Our Little Living Room

Two days after Sara was discharged (and between frantically getting the house ready and visiting Aryana) we met the Warren family at Yamamoto for a nice firey Hibachi dinner before returning to the NICU. As people say, "you need to take care of yourself if you want to take care of a baby."

We can't wait until our little girl can fit into the pretty dress the Warrens gave her

Rhododendrons

Our house has a rhododendron bush in the front yard by the entrance. The rhododendron just so happens to be the state flower of West Virginia where Lee and his siblings were raised. It is easily recognized by its deep evergreen leaves and its delicate pink blooms with red or yellow flecks.

The day after Aryana was born, the rhododendron flowers bloomed as if they were welcoming her home.

Barrage of Baby Pictures

While some people may only need to see 2 or 3 pictures of somebody's baby to be satisfied, others can't get enough. For those of you who relish visual sensory overload, here you go:


Sara's First Trip To The NICU


First Family Picture

"Hurry up and gain some weight so we can take you home."- Lee

"You look old, man." - The first thing Lee's mom said to Lee when she arrived in Lexington.

Pretty in Pink

Why so grumpy?

"Haven't you done enough to me already?"

Doing some body-builder poses after bathtime

Bootie Shot (Wait, where's the other bootie?)

Mom's Looking Good With A Sparkling Clean Aryana