Progress through Dalley's eyes

Hi. I'm Dalley. Many people wonder how to say my name. Correct pronunciation is like valley, but with a "D". Mom says she came up with my name at a rodeo. It's a roping term... I find this funny because mom doesn't rope. Dad sometimes rope. But not a lot.

Apparently I've had a good week. At least, that's what my mom and dad have said. For some reason mom keeps crying. But it's not a sad cry like it was before. It's a happy cry. Dad has even cried a few times.

Here is how my week has gone.

First of all. I had my 2 month birthday! Woo Hoo! My two month birthday was CRAPPY! They thought I was sick again so I spent my birthday getting stuck with more needles and getting more medicine. Mom said she will make up for it when I have my real 1st birthday. I'm hoping that's when I get my pony..... Mom says not yet, buuuuut I bet Dad will say yes.

Since my 2 month birthday they decided that I wasn't sick. This was cause for celebration! My nurse Jane and I had a dance party. She likes to play the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." I've got some sweet dance moves.

These are my jazz hands.

This is me doing the sprinkler. (Mom was really good at this move when she was a kid.)

Things got pretty crazy at my party! Raise the roof!

This is my best friend Meela. She's in the NICU too. She was invited to my party. She was actually smaller than I was when she was born. Only 15 oz! Sometimes we call each other and coordinate outfits.

This is Meela in her green bandana.

This is me in my pink bandana.

Since my birthday, I've been feeling much better.

Mom got to give me a bath. I DID NOT LIKE IT...... at first. But after a while I decided the warm water was quite relaxing.

It was sooooo relaxing that I decided to poop in my clean bath water. My nurse Lisa had to get a whole new pan of water. It was hilarious!!!

After my bath I got to snuggle with mom. The only way I have snuggled with mom before was laying on her skin. Truth be told.... sometimes I get tooooo hot. This time I got to snuggle in her arms. She kept staring at me while I was trying to sleep. What. A. Weirdo.

On Friday night Dad got to come see me! I love when Dad comes!

This time he even changed my diaper. 

Yesterday was a really big day. And I mean..... A REALLY BIG DAY!

Notice anything different about me?

Anything at all?????

I GOT EXTUBATED!!!!!!

At first I was really mad. I was crying A LOT! But dad held me and talked to me until I calmed down. This is when Dad started to cry. He made mom wipe his eyes. 

So far I've been doing really good not being extubated. I got to snuggle with Mom and Dad yesterday. Best. Day. Ever!

We even took our first family selfie.

That's been my week in a nut shell. Sometimes it's still really hard in here. The hospital won't let me wear any cute clothes. Some rule about making all clothing go through their own washing regime to keep me healthy. Some friends gave me a REALLY CUTE outfit... and I can't even wear it. Mom even offered to sort through all of the clothes... and they wouldn't budge. Most preemie clothes are too big for me anyway and the nurses tell me that by the time I go home, I won't even be wearing preemie clothes.  

A really nice lady also sent me my first international gift! An octopus for preemies.... And I can't even play with it yet! Mom tried and tried to let them allow me to keep it in my bed with me, but they kept saying the words "bacteria" and "infection" and "sterile"....blah blah blah. So I can't wait to play with it when I get home! I think it will be nice because I might miss all of my cords anyway. 

I'm growing and getting stronger and stronger every day. 

Here is a picture of me with my elephant when I'm 5 days old. 

Here is a picture of me with my elephant when I was a month old.

And here is a picture of me with my elephant on my 2 month birthday.

I know I have along way to go. But I'm up for the challenge.