Rolling

This post is JUST FOR YOU!!

This morning our physical therapist brought us a MAT!!!  You may think, what's the big deal?  Well, part of my "I can't wait until Ella is home so we can..." list includes being able to put her on a blanket on the floor and play.  ...seems like such a simple thing, but of course in NICU the floors are hard and nasty, not a place for baby.

The other day, Ella was laying on my chest while I was sitting in the NICU recliner and I could tell that she was ready to roll from stomach to back, she just couldn't do it because I was sitting upright in the recliner.

Later I put her in her bed for tummy time.  I was a little hesitant to try it in her bed since the side was down, so I had to be very careful if she rolled - that I was there to catch her.  No worries about that after all.  She was so happy and comfortable being on her tummy in her crib (since she's no longer allowed to sleep that way, doctors orders), she laid her head down ready to sleep, rather than push herself up and reach for things.  That was the end of tummy time.

Tonight we used the mat for the first time.  We played and did exercises.  It completely changed the way we are able to interact!  I had so much fun!!! So did Ella!

In the middle of this amazing (first) time I was having with my daughter a woman walked up.  She was with another of the many service areas the hospital offers, she had been gone all summer and wanted to introduce herself.  She was from Chaplin services.  So she started talking, like many of the chaplins and chaplin volunteers I have met during our almost 5 months in NICU.    Did I mention that I put in a request at this hospital for the chaplins/religious volunteers to stop coming by?  While I was friendly with the ones in Asheville, the conversations are very awkward with the ones here... and I won't go in to the poor state of my faith these days... that's another huge post I don't know if I'll ever write!  But putting it out here, I feel like I'll have to write it now or it will be bad karma...

Anywho...

The woman keeps talking to me, asking me the "how I'm handling things" questions while I am completely diverted by Ella on the mat.  When it came time for tummy time, sure enough she rolled over!  Then she did it again!!  At this point I decide I have to try to capture it on video.  So she is there, talking, asking questions.  I am reaching behind me for my iPhone, swiping it on, going to my photo app and selecting video, all while keeping my eye on Ella (not paying attention to this lady).  

I captured this video (only 23 seconds), so cute!  It's so close up because I needed to be close enough to Ella to keep her from rolling off her mat.

Turn up your volume. You can hear the lady, she makes the last comment on the video.  A very bland sounding "that's hilarious", while I am giddy with laughter.

I used to have that bland sound in my voice... I love the giddy sound that Ella brings out!!