Still growing at 4 months!

Mommy Loves Me


Hi!


Cutie....


Just chillin...


Daddy's Girl


My first tent experience

Summer is Almost over

Life is good...Taylor is doing amazing and weighing in at almost nine pounds on her 3 month birthday. She is 3 and a half months now, and getting bigger everyday! I am back to work and struggling leaving her everyday. We have moved to Lexington to accommodate childcare, and hoping that our house will sell soon since we are ready to build a new home. Lots of changes have taken place in the past few months, but we are so blessed!! Enjoy the photos...
Dana, David, and Taylor



Night-time beach family photo



Loving life in her swing


The first time Taylor saw Grandmommy


Baba and Momoo with their newest granddaughters


Taylor and her NICU friend Reagan


Beach Time


Taking it easy in the "beach bed"


Beautiful at the Beach



Lexi, Taylor, and Addison in their matching hats


Snoozing with Daddy


Dedication Sunday


Happy 4th of July Sunday


Sisters/Cousins

Catching up on Life!

Hello to all!! I am way overdue on posting an update on Taylor's life. We are all doing great, and I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July holiday. Taylor is now 2 months and 1 week old ... time is flying so quickly. Her weight last week was 6 lbs. and 13 oz. She will hit the 7 lb. mark in no time, and this past week she outgrew some of her preemie clothes and is now in her "newborn" wardrobe.

This Sunday was Taylor and her cousin Addison's baby dedication. We took them to have 4th of July and christening gown photos. As you can see below, Taylor cried through a lot of her photo shoot, but she still was able to pose for a few of the pictures.

I never cease to be amazed at how blessed we are at Taylor's continued growth and improvement since only a little over a month ago she was in the hospital not doing well. Taylor's dedication today reminded me again of how good our heavenly Father has been to us, and now what an unbelievable responsibility it is to have a child. We are truly blessed!!

I hope you all enjoy Taylor's 2 month photos including those with her cousins, Lexi and Addison.

Love to all,
Dana, David, and Taylor


The only photo of this pose that came close to turning out.



Taylor was not happy about this situation and Lexi and Addison were not in the mood to smile.


Taylor had been crying so much that the only way we could get a few close up pictures was for me to hold her.


Taylor in her christening gown.

Taylor Update - welcome home Reagan!!

The first thing we have to celebrate is that our friend, Reagan Winslow (her friend in the NICU), was able to come home this past Friday! What a miracle that she is doing so well after such a rocky start in life. Both of the little girls have made it to 6 lbs!! Taylor is 6 lbs. and 3 oz. and Reagan is 6 lbs!! They both are packing on the ounces. It is unbelievable that these girls are only supposed to be about a week old but they are almost 2 and 4 months old.

Taylor had her first professional photos done on Saturday, and she cried through most of it since she had to be unwrapped. We still got a few good shots and I will have them posted soon.

Love,
Dana, David, and Taylor

Gaining Weight...

Taylor had another check up today, and she has gained a little more weight...she is up to 5 lbs. and 12 oz. Her doctor says she is doing great, but we have to keep working to help her catch up where she should be in weight. It is amazing to see how much she is already changing! She wants to stay awake longer and not sleep at night, and she also wants to be held more and more. Of course grandma (aka "mamoo") does not mind at all.

We are so grateful for her continued progress!! It is hard to believe that she was not suppose to be born until next week. Below are a few more of Taylor's one month old pictures that her Daddy took.

Love, Dana, David, and Taylor

PLEASE stop taking my picture!!


Lovin' summer time



My onesie says "I'm new here." Thanks cousin Diana!


Sleeping in my swing...

Taylor Update

I have to give David credit for Taylor's great 1 month old photos!! Taylor and her dad did a great job in the photo shoot even though a one month old does not always cooperate.

Taylor went back to see her doctor yesterday and she has gained 2 more oz. The Dr. was hoping for a little more weight gain (1/2 oz. per day) and she did not meet that, but they are still pleased with her progress. She weighs a total for 5 lbs. and 8 oz. We are so thankful for her continued progress. It is amazing to think that Taylor's due date is not for another week and a half. We are so blessed that she is doing so well.

I would like to ask all of our friends and family to lift our friend Reagan Winslow up in prayer who is still in the NICU at Forsyth Hospital for her to get to come home soon. She has almost caught Taylor in weight, but she has to make it at least 7 days with no drop in her heart rate and oxygen. Come Home Soon!!

Love to you all,
Dana, David, and Taylor

Picture time! - 1 month old.

What's Up.....


Mommy...where's my shirt??


I love Mommy's touch....


Another pose for Daddy...


Hi! I'm just chillin...


I got Daddy's finger now!


Na Na na Boo boo....

ZZZZzzzzzz....

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.........

Aren't my feet cute??

God is great...isn't He??

Happy 1 month old Birthday!!

Wow, what a month it has been ... Happy one month old birthday Taylor!! I had no idea what I was in for one month ago today. I have to first of all give thanks to my heavenly Father for giving Taylor strength to make it through her 3 and a half week stay in the NICU, healing her infection and bowel problem, learning to eat and gain weight again, and making it through her first week at home with no problems!! She gave me a little scare Sunday night when she became really congested, did not want to eat, and cried all night (which was not like her). We went to the Dr. on Monday and they checked her out and said as long as she was able to get down 1 oz. every 3 hrs. and was pooping and peeing she was OK. She had also lost 1 oz. on Monday at her 2nd Dr. visit. After Monday, Taylor perked back up and became her usual self and has done very well the rest of the week. We went for her 3rd Dr. visit today since being home, and she is up to 5 lbs. and 6 oz!! I am so grateful she is doing so well, and we thank you all for your prayers and support.

Thanks to all my friends at work for the beautiful shower for Taylor yesterday!! It was so nice to see you all, and Taylor thanks you all for the fabulous gifts. With all the clothes she got, she will be one stylish girl!!

Love,
Dana, David, and Taylor

June 5th picture update

Taylor going home!


Home at last!


At church with Aunt Diane, Uncle Jeff, and cousins Hunter and Lexi


Uncle Tim came down from Michigan to see me.


Daddy and me snoozing....


My first stroller ride!

Home at Last!

I apologize for no update yesterday, but since we were able to take Taylor home from the hospital it turned out to be an incredibly busy day (and no time for blogging). I spent late morning and afternoon at the hospital speaking with the physicians, practitioners, and nurses and getting all of the needed instructions to take Taylor home. Taylor passed her car seat test with no problems. She was not very happy to be out of her warm bed and in a car seat for 90 minutes, but soon she settled down and fell asleep with no drop in her oxygen level or heart rate. She said goodbye to all her friends in the NICU and had a photo shoot with her friend Reagan before leaving. (pictures will be posted soon) Reagan, we know you will be the next one coming home, so keep gaining weight!! ;-)

It was quite an experience to finally get to bring Taylor home after 3 weeks and 2 days of her being in the hospital. We made it through our first night of not a lot of sleep. Since the Dr. is still concerned about her weight, she has to eat at least every 3 hours, her milk gets supplemented with extra calories, she is taking a liquid vitamin with iron, and she is still on Prevacid for reflux. We took her to her first Dr. appointment this morning and they are pleased with her progress and stability. She weighed 5 lbs. when she left the hospital and she weighed 5 lbs. and 2 oz. per the Dr.'s scales this morning. The hard part is that we have strict instructions from the Dr. that we are not to let others besides family touch and hold her due to her high risk for infection. Please keep Taylor in your prayers that she does not get any infections now that she is home and the she continues to do well.

To all our friends and family, thanks for your continued support and prayers during this time!! We will keep you updated on her progress.
Love,
Dana, David, and Taylor

Last night in the NICU

"Mommy and Baba love me."


"Snug as a bug in a rug."


"Mamoo knows just how to burp me".


"My Aunt Mula and Uncle Bumpy posing with me."


"Uncle Tom and Aunt Danelle came to see me."


"My Grandpa and Grandma Lilly."


"Aunt Carolyn holds me for the first time."


Sleeping Beauty

We are so blessed that Taylor has had so much improvement over the last few days!! She is still on track to go home tomorrow, and we could not be more excited. God has been so good to us during this time and we are truely grateful. Tomorrow will mark 4 weeks since I was admitted to the hospital and Taylor will be 3 weeks and 2 days old when she gets to come home. It seems almost odd to not spend every day at the hospital in some way since it has become such a part of our lives. This experience has given me a totally new perspective on those that have disabilities, are bed bound, and/or have babies or loved ones in the hospital. It has also taught me an invaluable lesson to lift others up in prayer along with the medical professionals caring for them.

Taylor continues to tolerate her feedings much better, and she was 5 lbs. today!! I would like to thank all the nurses and others who have cared for Taylor over the past 3 weeks. You all have been incredible, and it made it easier to leave her every night knowing the excellent care she was receiving. I know I cannot remember all of your names, but thanks so much for your care to Taylor, answering all our questions, teaching us how to feed and bathe a preemie, and giving me updates on Taylor even in the middle of the night when I was most likely not making sense!! ;)

We also have to give props to the best NICU neighbor that anyone could have in Miss Reagan Winslow. She came into the world at only 24 weeks old, so she will always have 9 weeks seniority over Taylor even though she was only supposed to be 5 days older. She let Taylor borrow preemie clothes (when she did not have any), came for visits, and her parents provided a lot of support when it was needed most. We will miss seeing you every day, and we will be praying that Reagan will continue to develop and grow in order to go home as soon as possible!!

Much Love,

Dana, David and Taylor