Happy & Healthy New Year to you! 7:22pm

Well, 2012 is coming to an end.

It's been a long year.. with Grace in the hospital 3 different times, to many!

In January, she was hospitalized for two days in Boston

from her g-tube.

In March, into April; she was hospitalized for 18 days.. again due to her

g-tube leakage.  I remember we were changing her clothes at least 3-5 x's a day,

complaining to her doctor about the leakage.. and he was so worried about her being admitted to the hospital with RSV, that he overlooked her other symptoms..

and we almost lost her!  I will never forget how she looked at me..and my mother

instincts took over & we ran her to the ER.  The blessing in disguise was that we

got set up with her Pedi Surgery Team, that has followed the G-tube since..

and it looks great.. & she came home with no more oxygen!! 

 

Then in August she had another short stay.. this time for just a virus..

since then, she has really turned a corner of Good Health!!

 

 

She is such a happy baby! She smiles alot!  She will go to anyone.. who

just needs to hold & love her.  She's gotten soo big.. I was reviewing her pictures from

a year ago..or all the pictures in the last year..and I just can't get over

how much she has grown!

Sometimes, I just have to remind myself that she is mine! (ours!)

 

  these pictures are

from 12/31/11.. Look at that chubby little face!!

 Can you stand the cuteness???

 

 

End of year roundup:

 

Grace is 17 mo actual; 14 mo. 'corrected'.

Grace is still around 18lbs. (we'll know for sure Wed.)

I say she's 30".. but who knows what they'll say.. lol

She's in size 3 diaper.

And wearing 9-12 months clothes.

She just started taking showers, instead of baths in her tub.

She loves music.. listening to it, loves hearing Mommy sing her favorite songs:

"ABC's", "The Frog Song", "Mr. Sun" (our version) & "Thumbkin".

She gets PT 1 x week.

OT 1 x week.

And now goes to a feeding clinic 1x week.

She eats breakfast & dinner at the table; and has tried various foods..

with the latest being thickened "soups".. although the other night she LOVED

Wonton Soup!!

750 ml's of pediasure thru g-tube feeds.

She's a big girl!  And we are very THANKFUL for her!!!

 

 

Wishing all of you.. our loyal friends and family that keep up with Grace's

progress daily.. a very Happy & Healthy New Year!!

 

Our goals for Grace in the coming year, are:

No Hospital stays!

G-tube volume reduced, or taken out completely.

 

 

 

 

 

Love you guys,

pattie & gary, Grace & Maxwell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



First Snowfall. 8:06pm

We got snow! Only about 4-6".. it started out as rain, and then turned to

snow.. we lost power somewhere in the middle of the night..

and the only bad thing was that it was cold & more freezing happened.

But it was Grace's first time in the snow..

here's some candid shots..

  READY!!  Outside!

 

 

 

Back in the house... nice & cozy!

 

 

 

 

A snow day is always fun!   Hope you had some snow.. but not enough to drive you crazy!  I hope this is it for Winter.. :)

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Grace & Max



1st Shower... 6:31pm

We don't have a bathtub in our small house.. it's small from the outside, but

it is a 3 bedroom..it was a cottage once upon a time, walking distance to the

beach.. but no bathtub!!  In 2007, we had a house fire, where we

got a new kitchen & new bathroom; at that time, the contractor asked if we

wanted to put in a bathtub & we didn't.. :(  we should've!

Our next house will have one, maybe two!

 

 

So, we've been talking about showering Grace..

and today we did it!  She took her first shower with her Daddy & did

GREAT!!!

 

  And of course, book before bed!

 

 

 

Good night, Sweet Pea!!

Great job in the shower tonight!!

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Grace & max



Back on Schedule. 8:26pm

As much as we prepare for the Christmas holiday, it sure

does sweep in & out, doesn't it??

I opened all of Grace's new toys today, and sat her in her chair, and

helped her play with new things.. taking pictures of course!!

 

 Some blocks from Abby & Auntie Heather & Uncle Ross & the twins.. and bucket of toys from Auntie Lisa

 This is the ride-on puppy that Santa brought for Grace..

before long, she will be riding it herself!

 Christmas morning.. unwrapping another!

 Stacking cups from another Auntie!

 A HAT! from Noni & Grandpa.. I don't know how long she'll wear it..she doesn't like hats anymore! ;(

  "HI" Mama!

Sitting with Dady on the couch!

 

 

 

Grace is back on schedule with a long afternoon nap.. and eating

dinner with us at the table, although she didn't want much tonight.

A new day tomorrow!

 

 

 

Thanks for keeping up!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Christmas Pictures. 9:14pm

Just some Christmas Pictures from Grace's big day..

 

 Opening her first Christmas present in our bed!! It was from her babysitter, Monique & family.. a book & puzzle..

  With Cousin Emily!!

  With Ben & Emily.. Christmas Day festivities..

I'll post a few more pictures tomorrow.. I have pictures of all the presents

under our tree, and her present from Santa..

 

We had a really nice Christmas with family & friends..

blessings to all!

 

 

 

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & Maxwell



Merry Christmas Eve!! 8:58pm

HO! HO! HO!!!

Merry Christmas Eve everyone..

 

 

I was looking at pictures last night from a year ago.. WOW, is all I can

say.. I wanted to share with you then & now..

 

She's come along way, baby!!!

 

 

 

More pictures from today..

 A nap today on the floor, put her a little behind on nap time.. she finally then fell asleep at 4 & had to be up for 5 o'clock church service.. then we went to our dear friends' Heather & Ross's house for

appetizers.. which was very good!!  Grace just went down to bed now at 9 pm :)

 

Abigail holding Grace.. she loves her so much!!

It's really a blessing to have Abigail, Jackson & Olivia so close to Grace..

she will grow up with them.. and be close with them..

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing all of you a peaceful Merry Christmas!

I hope the spirit of Christmas fills you up!!

 

 

Tomorrow is Christmas with my family at my sister's..

 

 

 

Love you!

pattie & gary, Gracie & max





Getting ready for Santa! 5:34pm

Sorry, I haven't updated in awhile, as many of you are doing..

we are getting ready for Santa!

My presents are wrapped under the tree with care..

the cookies are ALL done.  Enough for our friends, neighbors & a few others.

Lemon Cookies, butter balls, peanut butter & twisters..

we have a great assortment for Santa to choose from!

 

  In a few days, we'll post a picture of all our gifts under the tree & these will be unwrapped.

 

We are teaching Grace how to hold a crayon..

and use it!  Here is her first crayon holding..

 

 

And she tried pureed onion soup tonight for dinner & did great.. she had

at least 8-10 spoonfuls.  Homemade onion soup, in the crockpot, I might add!

 

 

  Here she is today.. holding her newest toy, "Sophie".. Grace also has her two front teeth!! That makes 4..

 

And here's our special babysitters.. Monique & Madeline..

Grace loves them! Wishing them & other babysitters, Mollie & Amie a

Merry Christmas & Happy, Healthy New Year!!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for our followers & readers..keeping up on Grace's progress..

she's getting big.. babbling & making alot of sounds..

we are happy to be sharing this year and her progress with all of you!

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & Maxwell

 



Eating. 9:16pm

Look at Grace.. she's been drinking out of the bottle at Breakfast..

with her feeds down to 700 ml's in a 24 hour period..she eats

6-7 x's a day.  9 a.m.,(with 'breakfast purees), 12:30pm (with nap)

& 5pm (with dinner purees).. and then 3-4 times , with the

last g-tube feed anywhere from 2:00-5:00 a.m.

(depends who hears the alarm, and then gets up..)

The idea is to have her last feed by 2 or 3 a.m., because by 8:30 a.m., she

will be hungry & take more by mouth.

 

 

 This was taken without her knowing that I was taking the picture..she's holding the bottle with two hands.. as she drinks her ounce yesterday morning..because the bottom picture

is what she does when the camera's out..

 

She does not want me to show off her skills of holding the bottle.. lol

 

 

Before church today.. she's looking like a big girl, and we went to a new

church..she was very chatty cathy in it..lol..

 

 

 

 And back in the saucer!

 

 

 

A week before Christmas... I hope you have your shopping done!

We are pretty set here.. going to spend Christmas Day with my family at my sister's

house..should be fun with my niece & nephew, who hasn't seen Grace in awhile.

And of course excited to see everyone!

 

 

 

 

Have a blessed week!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

 

 



Prayers for the Children & their Families 7:08pm

First, like many parents.. I've held Grace extra tight today.

My prayers go out to the 20 children who became angels today..

and lots of love, and prayers go out to the children's parents, guardians,

grandparents, siblings.. friends, relatives.

It's never a 'good time of year' to lose a child..

I've watched the news today, and sadly I cry..and think of my own

child losses!  I remember Maxwell, and I ask him to welcome

these children into God's kingdom!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 My little friend, enjoying

the saucer.. trying to get her into it for a little while each day.. help

stretch out those hips & legs.. She's doing better keeping her head up..like

in that above picture!!

 

 

 And then went to our 1st actual feeding clinic visit yesterday..

Grace was wide awake.. and did great..

she loves to drink her pear & apple smoothies out of a little

blue cup..

 and tonight even had a little

chowder!! 

 

 

 

We love her!

Hold on to your children tightly!

Love them well!!

 

 

 

 

Sorry I haven't written all week but Grace is doing wonderful!

She's getting big, and even though developing at her own pace..

it's one day at a time around here.. as it should be!

 

Love you Grace & Maxwell!!

xoxoxoxox

 

 

 

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & Max



Grace meets Santa for the 1st time. 7:32pm

Grace met Santa for the 1st time today..

she did Great!!

 

I agree, Santa should've smiled more!!

She sat on his lap & was looking at him like "who are you"..then I got

her attention & she looked right at the camera..

She also pulled his beard, and then he was playing with her cheek & she

was very smiley!! While we were in line, she accidentally pulled the hair of

the lady in front of us.. lol.. she's a big girl!

Santa called her a "HE".. when he asked me how old "HE" was..

I said, "She's a she..and you Santa, smell like beef & cheese."  Then I pulled off his beard & yelled, "he's a fake, he's a fake."  (name the movie?)

 

 

Here's a couple more that I took today

She looks soo cute & big..

 

Here's our Christmas tree.. finally

with all the lights & the ornaments on it.. I like just a little ornaments..not completely filled.  Grace woke up from her nap & didn't even look at it! lol..

However, as she rolled on the floor, she did pull off two low hanging ornaments..

 

 

We got feeding clinic this week on Thursday... I'm excited.

We've been trying to do at least 2 meals a day..

 

 

 

 

Hope you all had a nice weekend & getting somewhat into the Christmas spirit!

 

 

 

Have a good week!

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

 



Peek-a-Boo! 7:13pm

Peek-A-Boo!! Peek-A-Boo!!

 

Towel playing before Bath....

 

And into the big bath.. Grace is getting too big for her little whale tub, and since she's not sitting on her own yet (soon though!) she's too small for this tub..

but we don't have a bathtub (note to self..Another house MUST have a bathtub)

 

 

 

 

Thoughts & Best wishes to C&N, on their announcement of twins..

We are thrilled for them.. they've been waiting a long time.. & as someone

who struggled with having a baby, I know how it feels! 

 

 

Prayers needed for my niece who's in the hospital with RSV.. :(

I pray she gets better & out soon!!

 

 

 

 

Have a nice weekend all..

maybe a trip to see Santa is in the works..

 

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max