The tin man has left the building

Sorry we've kind of left you hanging for a day. Her fever broke Tuesday night and she had a restful night sleep. Her heart rate and breathing slowed down immensely. Myla went home on Wednesday afternoon, tin man in tow. Not a huge deal, we've been there before, but its a whole new ball game when little one is mobile. She wasted no time in pulling out all her toys when she got here and even took time to mess with the animals. The oxygen only impeded her movements once - when she wanted to get to the front door to look out. Even then, she just pulled it right off her face. John said it was pretty amazing, she didn't seem to disturb the grips, but there was the oxygen tubing on one end of the room, and there was Myla on the other.

Since we've been home, Myla has been actually taking naps and her appetite is almost back to normal. She's been sleeping well and even though we still have to clear her nose sometimes, she sounds much better. We had a check in with the doctor today where they did a room air challenge. She was at 96% when we checked in with the oxygen still on and was 94% when they checked her 30 minutes later with no oxygen. And so we are once again tubing free! Wahoo! The doctor thought she sounded good and was well on her way. So bring on back the 70 degree days - we are ready for the playground!

The latest

Myla had a good a night as can be expected in a hospital. She got a good round of suctioning around midnight and slept for a good four or five hours. Her breathing rate has gone down - she's around 40 breaths per minute instead of the 70 she was when they checked her in. Her heart rate is down - its holding in the 150s when she's awake, and they like it around 120-130 so we're getting there. Her oxygen is down - 1/4 of a liter instead of the 3/4 they had her on when we got here. So things are looking up, but we'll be here for at least another night. And she's had some moments of Myla-esque time where she's played with us and eaten some good snacks. Her fluids are still going down good so that's another plus. They would rather err on the side of caution than send us home and she need to come back in the middle of the night. Thank you doctors!

We are also holding up okay. They do not make place for big people to sleep comfortably in a little person's hospital. Still, we made due and probably slept a little better here than we would have at home worrying about her. And its all highway so we can make a trip pretty quick. Not our ideal way to spend these 70 degree days, but we'll have plenty more of those. We'll keep you posted!

March came in...

Like a lion for us and our trooper Myla. I sit here in the family lounge at the new Children's Hospital. Seems our bug caught a bug that really put her down. Okay, some kids have it much worse because they didn't get RSV shots or flu shots. But still. Myla is here, in a hospital, once again. I'll give you the quick run down. She has "broncholitis" which for an adult would be a really bad cold that you couldn't shake for a couple of weeks but for Myla, with her history, has caused a visit from our old friend the tin man. We are currently in a wait and see kind of mode because there isn't much you can you can do but keep giving her fluids and a little oxygen boost. She is doing pretty good at the fluid part all on her own - yeah! We aren't sure how long we are going to be here but hope that we can activate that prayer circle once again to send her lots of love and good vibes. We'll update you as soon as we can.

Loves to you

Our little Myla - scratch that. Our BIG Myla is doing so many new things! For starters, teeth numbers 5 and 6 finally popped through, one on top and one on bottom. Have to keep things even, you know. She's discovered that she can point with those fingers and that when the hands come together, they can clap. She also blows kisses, but she has to be in the mood to do that. She's just changed so much lately - in her appearance and her skills. She really is so big!

You should see the stuff she does at her babysitter/nanny's house! She made a bean bag into a slide, she puts the shapes in her shape-sorter and she nicely puts her cup back on the ledge instead of throwing it on the floor. The other day, I got her to stand on her own two feet for a good amount of time. She wasn't so happy about it, kind of whimpered like she was scared. But she's never liked wobbling. Really, I can't tell you everything she does now because this post would be so long!

Synagis shot #4 is on Wednesday so we will do another official weigh in. They're really good at getting both legs at once so it doesn't hurt twice, but she still doesn't like it. Neither does John. But she still hasn't really gotten sick (knock on wood) and we would like to keep it that way. But before that, I get Monday off to play with her and I can't wait. Zoo? Aquarium? Children's Museum? The possibilities are endless!

Baby joy.

Isn't Myla cute with that animal cracker on her head! I love it! She was obviously very tired at that moment. Monday was her check up and she now weighs 16 lbs 8 1/4 oz, is 27 inches tall and is fabulous. ;o) She's hitting all the milestones that she should. Myla is moving on with so many things lately, like going off of formula, which we're excited about too 'cause it's getting expensive, and eating table food. She is playing with her mom's baby rocking chair that she had as a toddler but it's hard keeping Myla seated in it. Her little personality is showing through more everyday like laying her head on her shoulder while in her high chair and imitating the cat's meow. She is so much fun, I'm glad it's Myla and Daddy time all week long!

(Yes that's a diaper box she's playing in) Last night Kara and I separated all Myla's clothes that she's either too big or too little for and we realized just how blessed we've been that so many people have made sure she was clothed. One thing's for sure, she wouldn't have been so well outfitted if it were just up to us. Tomorrow Myla and I may get out and go to the library or something, keep from getting cabin fever and stuff. If we had more snow we could make a snow penguin with the kit we got for Christmas. Maybe next month. Kara is doing crafty things and I might get some xbox in tonight so off I go. Enjoy.

Playing with food

It was another glorious day here in Denver - 67 degrees says the car. And it was MLK day and somehow or another, I got the day off. Beautiful day, day with my girl, free day at the zoo - was my thought. And EVERYONE else's thought in the city limits of Denver too. When we went, there were people parked on sidewalk there were so many people. So, Aunt Aimee, Myla and I went to a local mall and played on the food. Not quite the sunshine and animals, but Myla seemed to enjoy it. After she was done watching all the other kids run around. It took a few minutes, but she did start moving and exploring things. She sat on an egg, sausage, waffles and a cereal bowl. She wouldn't touch the bacon and shredded wheat cereal though. Maybe she doesn't like brown...

We took an unofficial weight today and figure she's somewhere around 17 1/2 or 18 pounds. Nice jump from last month. She has a synagis shot on Wednesday (for RSV) and her 15 month check up on Monday, so we will have the official number later this week. She and John both escaped the pneumonia which is awesome because that would not be good. It wasn't any fun for me either, but the doctor declared my lungs clear as a bell last week. Yeah!

Myla is making all sorts of cute faces and strange sounds lately. She's discovered that she can climb on things like her rocking chair at G&G Witulski's house and the bouncy chair at her babysitters house. She's a master at hiding toys or pieces of her puzzles in places I would never think to look, and she will eat almost anything you put on her plate. Still won't have anything to do with milk from her cup, but maybe when she can make the switch to cow's milk, she won't even flinch. Life is good around this Washburn house, and a whole lotta fun.

Can't fence me in!

Myla sends love and best wishes this new year to all who enjoy her blog, especially her family and framily. She is a climber these days! In your arms, along the furniture and even using the walls to stand up. As you can see by the picture, she loves exploring new things or familiar things in a new way. We have to enlist the help of baby blockades to keep her in one area and not in the dog's water bowl. Myla gets a kick out of splashing in water.... Because she's moving so much she's burning more calories so we are feeding her more diverse foods that she can gnaw on with her 4 little teeth. That's right. She has two teeth on top poking through now, and more hair than dad, sadly that's not saying much.

Myla loves to be around the cat and cat doesn't seem to mind because she can outrun the baby. But that's okay, Myla gets a kick out of her anyway. She's such a happy little girl, we couldn't have imagined her personality being so easy going. To sum up, you could say we love our baby TONS!!

Her parents are okay too. Kara is fighting off the pneumonia in her lung very well with antibiotics. Yeah, go figure. Not even Kara thought she was that sick and it's bacterial so Myla is fine. She probably has a stronger immune system than we do anyway. Nothing has changed too much around here other than trying to multi-task more but that's why we got a Roomba (that and it was a hot deal). Just set it in one room and let it work. It's the one vacuum so far that Myla isn't afraid of. I don't know why but she has a hard time when we run the upright, even in mom's arms. She'll grow out of it I'm sure. Either that or she'll be afraid of maids her whole life.....

Thanks for reading. ;o)