Update on Macy

Macy is now over three weeks old and continues to do well. She now weighs 4 pounds 6 ounces, and has transferred out of the NICU and into a level two nursery where she is in a bassinet, is wearing clothes, and is nursing. She just needs to nurse more consistently and she'll be able to go home. Yea!

Keep Macy and her family in your prayers for a while longer.

Brayden bakes cookies!

We're back in Florida and into the Christmas mode. Brayden welcomed us back and Grampa helped him bake cookies. What fun!




Frosting those cookies was a lot of fun too!

Rest in Peace, Mom. I'll love you forever!

We were called back to the St. Louis area with the news of Mom's possible death. She passed away on the evening of December 16 and we had her funeral on Friday.


Although the circumstances were sad, we know Mom is in a better place with our Savior in heaven.










It was an opportunity to have some Niemann family time, however. Here is Judy, my younger sister with me, my younger brother, Larry Vern, and Dad.











Here are the nephews with Dad. Rob, Judy's son, and Nick and Tyler, Larry Vern's boys.



Dad is physically doing well, but his Alzheimers has destroyed his memory. He had a very difficult time understanding Mom's death, and we have, at the advise of his social workers, simply gone back to telling him Mom is in the nursing home, which he understands.

Orlando

We are in Orlando enjoying the warm weather and Disney. We are playing pickleball with Pat and John and Faye and Ken and the rest of the pack rats! Fun!






Snow, the way we like it--on the top of Everest in Disney--a way cool roller coaster ride!










This gigantic Christmas tree reminds me to wish you all a safe and blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with God's blessings.

Update on Macy

Macy is doing well, thanks be to God! This little gal has defied some odds and is now off the ventilator and is being weaned off her medications. Plans are in the works to transfer her from NICU to a less intensive care area. She is now being fed breastmilk. Sarah and Shayne have both had the opportunity to hold her, and Sarah has even changed her diapers and washed her hair.
Shayne says she is an awesome little girl.

Thanks for all the prayers--they worked! Keep praying, she still has a few weeks of growing to do before she goes home.

On the road--through Texas

We stopped to visit Connie and Joe and had a great time--visiting, eating, doing some running around, and playing Phase 10 with homemade chocolate chip cookies and homemade hot chocolate! Yum and Fun!!

On the road again--across Texas

We stopped in Kerrville to visit friends Marilyn and Jerry. We had a day filled with fun things to see and do in Texas Hill Country.

Off to Harper and we see this 1904 hand hewn limestone house. Through the gate, past the goats and llama, we come to Jacques private museum of old car related antiques. Quite interesting.













But Karen shows up and takes us to her little spice shop which features Madagascar peppercorns and a lot of other really fun food stuff!

Then we're off to Fredricksburg to sight see the German town with a lot of cute little shops and ended up in Ingram to visit a local silversmith who makes $29,000 belt buckles and the 85ish year old leather crafter who is world famous for his hand made saddles and cowboy boots. Fascinating and a great way to spend an afternoon.


I talked to Sarah around noon and she was feeling better than she had yesterday. She also said Macy was showing some improvement.

Update on Macy

Macy is doing better again today. The numbers that are supposed to be going down are going down and the numbers that are supposed to be going up are going up. The doctors did put her under the lights for jaundice, but that is pretty normal for premmies.

Sarah is home from the hospital for the first time since early October. Hooray!

Thank God for little blessings and keep on praying!

Update on Macy

Today the news was good. Macy is responding to the medications that she has been given and her oxygen level was better. The Lord is indeed holding her in His hands.

Sarah is hoping to finish her antibiotic regime tonight and be discharged from the hospital tomorrow. Sarah's mom is there to help out and give Sarah a chance to recuperate.

Thank you for your prayers, they make a difference.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM

The long deserted drive to Carsbad was punctuated by the Guadalupe Mountains which boast Guadalupe Peak, the hightest point in Texas.








Most of the trip was punctuated with prickly pear cactus.










After a climb up into the mountains we arrived at Carlsbad Caverns and had to walk down, down, down to the Natural Entrance.










The interior was huge and we walked about two hours through rooms and walkways each showing magnificent stalactites and stalagmites forming draperies, columns, and drinking straws.


















Most of the formations are inactive, meaning they are not growing any more. This formation, though, is still active, shown by the shiny wetness of the mineral water slowly flowing down it sides.











The trip was one we had on our wish list and we weren't disappointed!