I had a very busy month. I celebrated my very first 4th of July like a true all American girl. That day I enjoyed my first swim in the pool,and my first fireworks (although I mostly slept through the fireworks). I also went to Massachusetts for the first time to visit all of the people who had been waiting to meet me. I guess my mom wanted to visit too. I did miss my dad a lot though, because he couldn't come with me. Man, I've really been busy traveling this month, and I'm looking forward to spending some time at home now.

August was a much quieter month for me. My mom and dad had a lot of work to do around the house, so I spent a lot of time at home. That was okay with me though, because I just like to play on the floor and sleep in my own bed. I've been doing lots of new things this summer too. I'm awake so much more, so I've been playing a lot. I love to stand up so I can see what's going on. I'm also smiling and laughing all the time...mostly at my parents because they're so weird. I had cereal for the first time, but I don't see the big deal with it. I prefer milk. Overall it's been a great first summer. I'm starting to like the pool more, and I love to go for walks outside. There's so much to see. I'm planning on ending the summer with a bang and going up north for my first time over the Labor Day weekend. My mom and dad think it will be relaxing, but I haven't decided yet if I will let them rest:)

I experienced my first ride on an airplane this month. It was so exciting that it exhausted me, and I slept though the whole thing! I did see the airport though. I'm quite proud of this accomplishment. Once we got to Washington, DC, I had quite a lot of fun. I got to meet my mommy and daddy's friends from college, be held by all kinds of people, go to my first wedding, and see all the sights of DC. I'm not sure I liked DC though, because it was very hot and made me sweat. We just had to walk around all day in the heat looking at these buildings. Oh well. And I did get a little out of sorts from traveling, so now I'm waking up in the middle of the night again. My mommy doesn't seem too pleased about this, and I'm not sure why. I think it's fun. All in all, I had a good time.

It's been a long time since I talked about how I'm doing with my health, so I though I'd give an update. I've been continuing to see an retinal surgeon to monitor me and make sure I don't get any premature problems with my eyes. So far so good, and I have my last visit with him in July. Thank goodness, because I don't really like going there. My regular surgeon seems pretty happy with how I've recovered from my surgery. He seems to think this little bit of reflux is a small price to pay, although I don't much care for it. I've also seen a neurosurgeon now too, because they said the ventricles in my brain were a bit on the large side. He said it looks pretty much fine, but they'll keep an eye on me for a little while. Other than that, I'm doing really well. I'm still small for my age, but I gain weight pretty consistently every week. I smile quite a lot now, and am working on laughing. I haven't quite figured that out yet, although I make it work sometimes.

So I have been keeping my mommy and daddy very busy worrying lately. First, I got them all worked up about a hemangioma (strawberry birthmark) on my neck. They got all worried that it might be attached to my larynx, because that can sometimes happen, and it restricts the breathing. I sometimes breathe funny, so they got all worried. A trip to the ENT eased their minds, since the doctor said all was ok and my strawberry mark is just on the surface of my skin and will go away when I get older.

And as if that wasn't enough, a simple follow-up ultrasound of my head caused some concern about my ventricles. The radiologist recommended an MRI to look into it. Of course my parents spent 2 weeks worrying and praying for everything to be ok. Everything turned out to be fine, but the MRI was quite an ordeal. I didn't like it because they wouldn't let me eat for 5 hours, then they were late, and then they told me I had to stay at the hospital overnight for them to make sure I didn't react negatively to the anasthesia. Thankfully, they let me go home late that afternoon, because I didn't want to spend the night in the hospital. But, it all worked out and God has been taking care of me. And they tell me I'm worth it:)

So, on May 16th I finally got to meet my Grandma and Grandpa Neufeldt, and my Auntie Andrea. They came to visit and stayed for 5 days and it was so much fun. I got to spend lots of time in their arms, and they played with me so much. They watched me be dedicated, went shopping with me, and took my downtown. We even got to see where my daddy works. I was sad when they had to go home, and I can't wait to see them again!

Katie continues to do well and make incredible progress since she's been home. Nathan and Elizabeth (Elizabeth especially) officially get very little sleep these days. However, Katie is learning to eat more in the evenings and night feedings so that she can sleep for longer stretches of time during the night.

Overall it has been a great month...not without its challenges, but it's all worth it in the end. Katie has had a busy month, complete with many firsts, out of town visitors, visits to grandparents' house, etc. She is beginning to smile and coo more, and is awake and alert more often. It's amazing how quickly she is changing!

3/19- Katie was born at 9:55pm
3/20- Katie underwent surgery to repair her TEP at 11am. She was placed on a respirator, nose tube, chest tube, IV, and monitors following this major surgery. Katie was kept fairly sedated for a couple days so she would not pull any tubes as she was healing.
3/21-Elizabeth was discharged from the hospital and we had to leave without our little Katie-Bug.
3/22- Katie is taken off the respirator and nose tube.
3/27- Katie had a "swallow test," an Upper GI, to determine if the surgery was successful. It was! Katie had her first meal of sugar-water.
3/28- Katie's chest tube was removed and Nathan and Elizabeth were able to hold her again for the first time since before her surgery! Katie also began small feedings of breast milk.
4/3- Katie was discharged from the NICU and finally able to come home with her parents.

Katie has adjusted well to life at home. She still has her days and nights mixed up a bit, so mommy doesn't get much sleep. Daddy helps out with night-time feedings in the weekends. We mostly like to spend time bonding and making up for the lost time in the hospital. Bella is also quite interested in the new addition to the family. She becomes quite worried whenever Katie cries or fusses.