Up For The Challenge

Hi everyone! 

Dalley here. 

I would like to start today by reciting a haiku that I wrote. 

Monitors beeping

In the NICU I remain.

Release is coming.

-Dalley Raye Garfield

Thank you..... ! Thank you.....! Thank you......!

No applause please!!!!

Well folks.... mom is officially MAD! She found some baby pictures of my Dad and she is NOT HAPPY!!!!!

Turns out.... the nurses are right. I look just like my Dad.

Here is the evidence....

Me:

Dad:

I don't know how to bring comfort to this poor lady. I tried to remind her that we have a lot in common too! For example....

Mom likes Diet Coke...... I like Diet coke!

Mom takes naps..... I take naps!

Mom gets mad when she gets hungry..... I also get mad when I get hungry!

(You should have seen the MELTDOWN Mom had the other day in the NICU when her sandwich got locked in the parent room.) OOOOOH BOY!!!! IT WAS A DOOZIE!

Despite my efforts.... she's still kinda sad. What a cry baby.....

 I did it. I hit 4 months old. I am officially the old lady in the NICU. 

With my 4 month birthday came  A LOT of changes in my world. The medical staff is really pushing me physically. But..... I am up for the challenge. 

I've recruited Beatrice to help me with my training. 

The workouts are grueling. Beatrice is always saying to me.. "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!"

I gotta tell ya..... I have no idea what she means. I don't know how to tell her that the phrase is never going to take off. 

Either way... the training progresses.

As you can see... all of my hard work is paying off.

The expectations have been set.  There are several rooms in the NICU. Room 1 is attached to the operating room by a window. When babies are born... they are passed through the window into room 1. From here... the awesome doctors and nurses start working their magic. Room 1 is the most critical care. I was in room 1 for about 1 month. 

After room 1.... comes...... room 2. (Shocker)

Room 2 is called the "Very Low Birthweight Room". Some babies skip room 2 (if their birthweights aren't VERY LOW). I clearly did not skip room 2. 

As I was only 1 lb 2 oz when I was born....... in case you forgot.

After room 2 comes rooms 3 - 8. And then..... the ISLAND!!! 

The Island is where babies go RIGHT before they are ready to get home.

AND THAT'S WHERE I AM!!!!!!

Just kidding.......

*wink *wink

But I did finally move out of room 2! I have moved to room 3. I'll probably stay here until I go to the Island. 

I dream about that day. 

But I digress..... As I mentioned before..... there are several things that have to take place before I can go home and the hospital staff is setting the expectation and pushing me. 

My oxygen requirements have weaned down enough that they told me I now have to start learning to eat by mouth. .......

UMMMMMM....

.... ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?!?!? 

And serious they were. The task seems daunting to say the least....

But there's no turning back now. I've gotta get outa here! I've got dreams! I've got goals! I've got places to go! People to meet! Hit songs to write!

Because I don't know what you've been told......

But this gal right here is gonna rule the world...

I don't want to just sit still and look pretty!

So these are my goals..... I need to be able to breathe better on my own.... and I need to be able to do all of the eating by myself.

Once I tackle those things.... 

I'll finally be able to come home and hang out with Mom and Dad ALL DAY! 

My sneaky nurse Lisa has started putting diapers on my when I'm in the bath so I don't poop in my water.

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE baths!?

...and how much I love daddy?

Oh... I almost forgot! Here's my pictures with my elephant to include my 4 month birthday. 

5 days

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months and 7 lbs!

"The Adams Family.... duh duh duh duh... *snap *snap..."

Before I forget.... My Great (double meaning there) Aunts are throwing me a baby shower in Inkom, ID. on Saturday May 13. (Why they call them showers... I'll never know. Baths are much more fun than showers). It's at 11:00 AM at my family ranch in Inkom... open house style. They wanted me to invite anyone that's bored and in the area to come if they want. Granted.... I will not be there... so attend at your own risk. (Message my Mom or my Aunts or my Great Aunts for the address.) 

-May 13

11:00 AM

Gilbert Ranch

Good night beautiful world. Someday I will view you from more than just my window in my cell.