Ruby Hope McKee Starling

Our good friend Sean used his  photography skills to help us out with our holiday cards this year.  Here's a picture that I didn't use on our card. I don't want to spoil our cards.

It was fun to walk around Congress and pose for pictures.  Ruby loves being out and about.  She loves to smile at everyone who happens to glance at her.  She pulled out her tube as we were getting out of the car. 

Ruby seems to be going through her first bought of separation anxiety.  I will admit I worried she never would.  I wasn't sure how much the fact that we couldn't even hold her much less touch her for the first few weeks of her life would affect her bonding abilities.  So, while it is kinda frustrating that she wants to be with me all the time.  It's reassuring, too.  Chris and I both have moments when she's crying that we stop and stare at her.  Sometimes I just marvel at how loud her cries are getting.  It's a sure sign that her lungs are getting stronger.  We usually snap out of it and realize that she's crying for a reason, not just to show us how loud she can be.

I called and talked to Ruby's pediatrician to get some guidance on the tube weaning.  We will now pull the tube out on Friday night and leave it out until Saturday night or Sunday morning depending on how much she eats.  We are to go weigh her at his office every Monday at lunch time.  This seems to be the best option.  Renting a scale is expensive, 25 dollars a week.  The nurse and I feel that lunch time would be OK and not expose Ruby to much.  I hate bringing her in just for weight checks, but we'll manage.  Her OT will weigh her on Thursdays when she's here.  We will then compare the Thursday to Monday weights to make sure Ruby isn't loosing to much over the weekends.  It will also better track her weight gain during this time.

I also reserved her second and last H1N1 shot for December 9th.  She'll get it at the same time as her synagis at the pulmanologists office.  I will feel so much more at ease once she has this.  I know it's not a guarantee.  It does mean that I don't have to hound all of her Doctors on a daily basis about their supply.  I might even be able to listen to the NPR stories about H1N1 once she gets it.  For now I turn off the radio when one comes on.  No reason to cause ourselves to worry about something that we can't control.

We are planning on hanging out at home most of the weekend.  Chris is replacing some rotted wood on our workshop. Oh, the joys of home ownership.  We're going to a neighbor's 1st birthday party (as long as everyone is healthy) on Saturday.  Other than that we're just going to enjoy our time together as a family.

We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving.