Elizabeth had another hearing test today and she passed! We are very thankful for that. She's had three hearing tests in her six months of life and passed every one. We're going to keep the results from each one so that when she tries to say "I didn't hear you." We can say, "Oh yes you did!"

Stacy's cousin passed away last night. She's been battling a chronic lung condition for some time now. Please pray for the family. Connie was a Christian and there's comfort in knowing she's with her Savior, but it still hurts to lose someone you love. We will be going to Ada sometime this week.

The girls are still in Missouri! We want them to come home... NOW! They are having a great time though. They're getting to go to VBS this week and "the snacks are delicious and the science professor is hilarious." (Sarah talks like my cousin AJ) Katelyn said it was really fun, but she had to go. She would see me August the 2nd she said.

Update by Stacy J not Kelly A

I saw today that it had been a while since Kelly had posted an update on her blog so I took it upon myself to give an update for her. You know you have a close relationship with your wife when you can guess the password to her blog on the first try. :)

This week has been very busy. Kelly is teaching summer school from 07:30-5:30. Then we have VBS from 5:30-8:30. So that means Kelly is at the school or the church from 07:30am-8:30pm. Needless to say she is very tired.

Lizbeth has been a trooper through all of this. We intended on taking her to VBS and letting her stay as long as she was doing fine. We really thought that she would end up having to leave before VBS was over. However that has not been the case. She hears all those kids running around and she just scrambles to see what in the world she is missing. I've been staying at home with Lizbeth all this week and she has to sleep all day to gather her strength for VBS.

Lizbeth continues to make improvements in her strength. Her neck and trunk are a lot stronger than they have been, but are not quite up to where they need to be. Please continue to pray about that. We are still scheduled to go OKC in August to have the trac taken out. We are pretty excited about that. Please pray that her upper airway will be strong enough to stay open so she can breath without any problems.

Our big girls are still with the in-laws. At this point I'm not sure if we are ever going to get them back or not. If we do, there is a pretty good chance they will never get to go and stay with anyone again...ever.

That's about all I can think of. I am going to try and post some pics of Lizbeth holding her head up so ya'll can see how good she is doing.



Daddy, you are sooooo good looking.


Whoo hooo, look at me!!


Never fear, superbaby is here.


Okay, I've done my tricks, can you please feed me?

No more apnea monitor! We were able to return the apnea monitors today. LizBeth's pulmonologist read the most recent information that was downloaded from her monitor and gave the order to discontinue it. We had one for her to wear and a back-up... now that's two down, about six more to go! Liz is still having tummy time every day and doing great.

Most of my family is in Branson this weekend to celebrate my Grandma's (Mom's mom) 80th birthday. The girls were so excited to go. Katelyn did mention last night that if she had a cell phone she could call me any time she wanted in Branson. She knew how to use one. You just push in the number and hit talk. Wow! We have a long battle in front of us. So far Sarah hasn't mentioned the need for a cell phone...

We went to the doctor this afternoon for a check up. Everything is great. We have heard some stories on Katelyn and Sarah, but can't share them with you. This is a G-rated blog. :-) Evidently Sarah has been acting like her daddy and talking trash with my brother. She's also been throwing silverware. Katelyn is there to be the mole. She reports to Nana every night about what went on during the day. They still seem to be having fun, but are beginning to miss us... finally. Here are some recent pics of the Princess:

"Hi"

Tummy Time!

Would somebody get me outta here?

Like my cheeks?

Today's PT went really well. The PT said she thought Liz was improving. She helped Liz get into a supported standing position, and the little Princess refused to sit down! It was so cute... and encouraging. After having a whole week with LizBeth, Stacy and I are convinced she likes to be the center of attention. Stacy pointed out that she has never been alone. The NICU is a very busy place and our house is usually a very busy place. Since Liz is over her aversion to strangers, she likes church and company.

The girls are still having fun. They went to the Omaha Zoo this weekend and had a blast! Evidently Sarah has a way with baby monkeys. They were all watching the monkeys with their babies, when one ran up to the opposite side of the glass from Sarah. He raised his arms in the air and just looked at her. Of course, she loved it. Katelyn told my mom that she was going to have to eat some healthy snacks. She liked junk, but could she please have some apples and broccoli? Way to go, Kate!

Do you hear that? Silence. It's too quiet!!! The big girls are gone; Stacy's at the church; Liz can't make any noise; and our cats aren't even purring. I'm not used to this. It is, however, a beautiful day over here. It feels a bit like autumn. Liz and I went outside this morning. She seems to like it. We have started tummy time everyday now. She tolerates it very well. Occasionally, she will left her head, but most of the time, she just laughs and squirms.

My girls are turning into water rats. They've been swimming everday except yesterday. My mom and dad are trying to spoil them: popsicles and ice cream bars before bed, going to the movies on a week night, a zoo trip planned on Saturday. They may never want to come home to good ole boring us! However, last night Sarah asked me how many more days until I came to pick them up; four or five? When I told her it was more like 20, she sighed and then added how much she missed me. Katelyn was too busy with Kayla to chat more than a few seconds. But hey - I will take what I can get it at this point! :)

Liz went to church again tonight. We stayed in for almost the entire service! She is feeling much better today. She's not so sleepy or fussy. Stacy and I are renting movies tomorrow night. We are living dangerously, oh and we're gonna eat in the living room too. (Don't tell the girls.)

There's nothing new to report, so I thought I would add some pictures.

This would be my sister teaching LizBeth bad tricks.

This is what happens when there's only one fudge bar left.

LizBeth likes her Nana!

We are so missing these two little munchkins!!!

It's very quiet around our house. Mom, Dad, Kayla and Jacob came down for the Fourth. They left yesterday taking Katelyn and Sarah with them. We had a great time and the girls were so excited to go Nana and Poppy's!

Liz is pooped out today! We wore her out this weekend. She practically slept through PT today. And her teeth are making her fussy. It's pitiful when she cries b/c no sound comes out. Despite that, she has no trouble communicating how she feels!

We went to some friends' house after church last night for some Smores. (I like Smores!) Liz was the Bell of the Ball. She thoroughly enjoyed all the attention. But then it was time to eat. She doesn't take eating time lightly. After we got home, we hooked her up to her tube for the night and the fight was on! She refused to go to sleep without the bottle. She's pretty strong for a hypotonic baby! Anyway, we turned off the feeding pump and gave her the bottle. She was asleep in like two minutes after she drained it.

It rained last night. And it wasn't a sissy rain either. A good old-fashioned storm blew up and it rained hard. (Thankfully, it was after I, I mean we, had eaten our Smores.) We have been praying for rain out here. God answered last night.

LizBeth has two teeth! Her bottom two teeth have broken through the gum. We are so excited, so by default, Liz is too! Every time we pull her lip down to see, she laughs and kicks her feet. It's so much fun! I'm thinking she'll be eating a cheeseburger soon.

She did great at PT yesterday. She performed all her tricks for about 45 minutes, then went to sleep. Right now she's watching a movie with her big sisters in our bed. She thinks they are great. I do too!

Well, as of Sunday, Katelyn and Sarah are not getting married or having children. They are always going to live in our house. I think I will remind them of this conversation when they are teenagers. However, they are friends with a nine year old boy who is going to put his folks in the nursing home here in Guymon and go visit them every Tuesday and Thursday night. He did not specify at what age this will occur. (I may have to limit their time together. :)