We just wanted to send a quick update while we had a few minutes. Addi is still doing wonderful. The doctors have increased her food amount that she has been getting. She continues to drink the whole bottle every time and seems to be getting quite custom to a routine. She starts getting quite fussy if she thinks it is time to eat and no one is jumping to her needs. :) The doctors are trying to get her to eat 30cc at every feeding. They have her eating every three hours. Addi started out at 6cc and was moved to 15 cc yesterday and up to 20cc today and then tonight and tomorrow she will be moved to 26cc then 30cc if she continues to do well. Earlier she did very well with the 20cc, so we are confident that tonight she will do fine with 26cc.
As soon as Addi can control/maintain her temperature on her own, (hopefully tomorrow) they will move her to a crib and out of the warming bed.
Her head measurements continue to drop, a sign that the shunt is working and performing nicely.
She loves looking at her daddy and holding his finger. As soon as Matt starts talking to her she will open her eyes and start looking for him and she seems to clam down. Matt is getting quite used to taking her temp. and changing her diapers already and I am enjoying the time feeding her.
Well, that is about it for now. We are headed back to the hospital for feeding time. We will keep everyone updated on her progress. Sorry if I haven't been answering emails very quickly.
Thank you again for everyone's prayers. I can't but think how blessed we are every time I look at her precious face.

Lots of love,
Matt, Valerie & Addi

I don't know if I ever posted, but Addi weighed 5lbs 4oz and was 16 3/4 inches long.

(Top & Bottom) Right after Addi is born

(Below) After Addi's shunt was placed.

At eight o'clock this evening their will be many people joining together spiritually to lift Addi up in prayer. Please join us.

This weekend was a very busy in Hutchinson. We had lots of friends pitching in to help Matt finish wheat harvest. It was quite the site from what I am told. Up to eight combines at one time, grain carts and lots semi's at every field. Wheat harvest for 2008 is officially over thanks to all of our friends and neighbors lending their time, equipment, helping Matt stay organized and even to those who helped make food to feed everyone. WHAT A BLESSING!!!! Now, Matt will be able to see the birth of his first child. THANK YOU to everyone who helped!

Sorry for the late delay on the update but today has been a busy day!! In a whirlwind of a sonogram we found out today that Addi will be born on Wednesday June 25th at 11:00a.m. She will have surgery sometime on Thursday. A little bit sooner that we had originally planned and right in the middle of our wheat harvest. :) Boy, does God have a way of making you have faith!!!!!! A huge thank you and hug to all of the farmers who have offered their help and equipment, helping Matt get our wheat crop out of the field so Matt can be with Addi and I. We certainly have been blessed!
She is still moving all of her limbs and taking her 'practice breaths' and the water on the brain has increased slightly again. Since Addi will be born premature, I was given part of a two series shot of betamethasone, I will receive another shot tomorrow late morning (24 hours apart). It is a steroid that will help insure that Addi's lungs are mature and ready to go. At this point in time, we are not for sure how long Addi will have to stay in the hospital or when we will get to come home. We are praying that everything will go well.
So, today mom and I were busy trying to make sure that we had everything ready to go and were trying to get all the details possible for what is going to happen/should happen. Doctors sometime seem to assume you been through all of this before. I think they are ready to get rid of me and all of my questions. :) Not that we don't have a few days, but it gave us something to do and we like to be organized.
A big thank you to everyone for all of their continued support and prayers!!! Please continue to pray for us. I would also like to thank First Church of the Nazarene in Manhattan, KS for their generous donations in starting a fund for Addi's needs. Thank you to everyone that has contributed to this fund! It is very much appreciated.
We have been embraced by family, friends, and the Christian community with thoughtful gifts, words of encouragement, and kind gestures. You have definatly helped us get through each day.

Just wanted to give everyone an update. We had an exciting sonogram today. Some of the water on Addi's left ventricle went down!!!! TRULY A BLESSING!!! Praise God and a big thank you for everyone's prayers!! Again today, Addi scored an 8 out of 8 on the physical exam. Bending both of her knees to 90 degrees, flexing ankles, toes, and hips. Today they could see that she has about an inch of hair! How funny! It was pretty cute to see!!! Addi's little lips were puckered up and she was sticking her fingers in mouth and playing with her lips. The sonographer and nurse decided that she has 'Angelina Jolie' lips. :) After a while, she started playing with her legs. Not quite sure what the fascination was, but something was intriguing her. With Cat being here she has gotten to share in all of the sonograms, she has decided that Addi has Matt's full cheeks.
According to the doctors, if she doesn't come before, they plan on delivering Addi around the first/second week of July. Hard to believe that it is only a few more weeks away.

Catherine is headed back to Hutchinson on Saturday to go to work at ADM and mom is heading back down to TN. Thank you again to everyone for all of your prayers and support!!!!

The house remodeling project is coming along. We have had some pretty great friends pitching in and helping out A LOT!!! The tile has been put down in the kitchen and utility room. Looks awesome from the pictures that I received. The upstairs walls have been painted and the girls are working on getting the trim painted. Hopefully carpet can be put down here in a couple of weeks. I can't wait to see all of the progress!! Poor Matt has his hands full with everything going on. :) Hopefully he can hold onto his sanity for a few more weeks.
Love to all!! I will keep you updated on any more progress.

Hi everyone!! We had our weekly sonogram today. Addi is still scoring and 8 out of 8 physical wise. The water on the brain is also continuing to hold stable. PRAISE GOD!! Thank you everyone for your continued prayers and support.
Otherwise, not much else going on here. Very humid and hot here in TN, but it sounds like Kansas has had its fair share of hot weather!
Matt has been busy with the house and farming. He is headed out to OK at the end of the week to do some custom cutting. Wheat harvest is Matt's favorite part of farming!!!