Ka-ching!

Children's Mercy Hospital (Adele's NICU hospital) sends a periodical "wish list" brochure to my office. I guess at one point someone here made a donation or volunteered and we were put on the mailing list. I always look at the brochure because they include stories from kids who were treated there. I don't expect to see anyone I know, but I still like reading the stories. Anyway, their wish list is a list of items, big and small, that are needed throughout the hospital. Some are every day items like toys and journals and backpacks for kids. The items I find most interesting are the high-dollar items, because it really drives home how much intervention is needed for preemies like Adele. Here's a rundown of the costs, according to the wish list, of the items that assisted Adele at some point during her stay.

• Breast pump -- $1,200 (there were three on the NICU floor for 96(?) babies/nursing moms, and now I feel guilty for complaining that there weren't more available)
• Infantometer -- $1498 (a combination scale/height measuring device)
• Infusion pump -- $3,213 (delivers medication, fluids or food over several minutes or hours)
• Cribs -- $3,405 (they didn't seem THAT fancy, but whatever...)
• Transport monitor -- $5,400 (allows nurses to take patients to other areas of the hospital while still monitoring vitals)
• Infant CPAP machine -- $9,500 (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is the step between the ventilator and nasal cannuula)
• Incubator -- $33,655 (!!!)
• Critical care ventilator -- $40,000 (The machine that breathes for babies who can't do it themselves. Adele was on and off the vent for the first 2-3 weeks of her life.)

TOTAL -- $97,871

Of course, we were just "renting" the machines for a period of time, but still. It gives you a better idea of WHY it's so expensive it is to care for these little babies and how easy it is to rack up a million-dollar hospital bill in the blink of an eye. There was plenty of other equipment (not to mention medications, supplies, etc.) used during her three-month stay that I can't even begin to estimate the cost of. I wonder what the final bill was for her stay? Hmmm....maybe I should call to see if I can get an itemized record for her file.

Not sure what the point of this post is (ha ha), only that I thought this information was interesting!

On a completely unrelated note, I have an extra-long weekend starting tomorrow. Adele's daycare is closed Thur and Fri and then I have Monday off for MLK day. Adele and I decided to go visit G-ma and Papa Pontow for a few days. We'll come back Saturday morning and spend the rest of the weekend with Daddy since he also has a long weekend. Yay! Maybe if Gma and Papa are lucky, Adele will show off her new tantrum throwing skills! Ooooo...fun!

To all those who are experiencing this deep-freeze, stay warm! I'm ready for spring. :)

Happy 2009!

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope your holidays were happy. Our Christmas was fantastic and a whirlwind of grandparents and cousins and traveling, but we wouldn't have it any other way. Adele made out like a bandit despite the fact that she didn't really seem to care or understand what all the fuss was about. She's set in the toy and clothes departments for a long time, that's for sure. And, thanks to a couple of Christmas gifts, a new word has been added to her vocabulary: Elmo.

Speaking of vocabulary, it seems to me as though she tripled her word bank overnight. I doubt it's THAT many words, but it's enough now that I can't count them easily or even remember most of them when I do try to count them. Unfortunately, she didn't learn how to say "Gam-ma" (grandma) until after our last grandparent visit. In fact, I think she said it for the first time just as we were leaving Wichita after our lunch with Steve's family. Good timing, kid!

I know I said a while back that I'd quit with the "this time last year" comments, but it really is so odd to think back to this time last year and realize how much Adele has changed. I think last holiday time we were still fighting reflux and begging her to drink just a few more ounces of (ridiculously expensive) formula. I know we were thickening every bottle and had tried baby cereal once or twice, maybe. And I think she was just starting to sit up on her own. Man, looking back at my post from this time last year, I can definitely see how much things have changed, especially in Adele's language skills. It will be fun to see what changes this year brings!

Today I noticed what appears to be a new tooth sprouting on the bottom. If you're keeping track, this will be tooth number seven. Yes, she's almost 20 months old (okay, 17 on the low end) and still only six teeth! Since there is a new one coming up, I hope that means the rest are on their way shortly. Now if only toothbrushing time could be more fun for everyone involved.

Well, Adele is handing me her broom, so I guess that means I've got to wrap it up. I'll leave you with a few pictures and our wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2009!

The day after Christmas playing with her pound-a-peg toy (and wearing her new penguin slippers!) She looks like such a big kid here!

Cars for Christmas

All snuggled into her Sesame Street/Elmo kiddie couch/fold-out bed.