Feeling better. 10:30pm

Hi, everyone!! Been a couple of days..but Grace is doing better!!

As of Tuesday, she currently weighs 11 lbs. 7.5oz :)

Getting chubby.. have to make sure we clean her rolls.. it's nice to say that.. especially thinking about what weight she started out at!!

Even having this viral cough, she is such a good spirited baby..

here's a few pictures from the week..

This is from today!!

Uncle Chuck & Aunt Lorraine visited this past weekend..

Aww.. Chuck you did good.

And here's Daddy with his favorite

little girl..  Gracie is sitting up on the couch now..

Tomorrow is OT day.. We'll have to show off when she's on her mat &

swinging at her toys..

Thanks for keeping up with us!

A BIG SHOUT OUT to The Hooley's..who are back from Aussie tonight!!

Gracie & mom can't wait to see you guys!!  Gary too!!

We missed you Abby.. :)

Hope our Madrinha Dalila is feeling better!!

Love you guys,

pattie & gary, Gracie & Max



Just a viral. 9:37pm

Thanks everyone for the thoughts & extra prayers today..

Gracie has a viral infection.. just need to continue the albeuterol

breathing treatments.  So we are going to have a low-key week.

And I'm going to continue to pray that she sounds/gets better in the next

few days.. It's a terrible feeling to hear her cough like she does & there's not much we can do to help her.  But I am thankful it's not pneumonia or RSV.

I'll post pictures in the next couple of days..

Love you guys,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

First sickness... :( 7:36pm

Gracie's not feeling well.  She's having a really tough time breathing, and very congested.. we are taking her into the pedi tomorrow.

We've given her albuterol treatments.. sat her in the bathroom with the

shower on very hot (for a steam).. and we are helping her get that junk she seems to

be coughing up!!

Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers overnight..

as we take her to get checked out.. don't want it to turn into a 'check in'

But she is a GREAT baby.. still sleeping all night & smiling!! :)

Gary & I went out last night for a friends' suprise 40th birthday event..

and it was fun.. chatting with people & seeing our friend!!  Auntie Paula

babysat.. she does soo well.. Love you Auntie Paula..

My Favorite Picture from February!!

Besides the pictures of her with cousin Ben!! :)

Thanks guys!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Happy Friday!!! 2:25pm

What a wonderful Friday!!  You couldn't tell by the weather, chilly & slushy!

Today was the day, that Grace & I met Nichole & her twins..

I cried when they came in the door!! As you have read previously, I started emailing Nichole, because she was put on bedrest early with her twins & we started emailing back in July 2011.  She has truly been a GODSENT for me.. on bedrest, then when I had the babies, and then even after!!  Thank you, Nichole!!

Gracie surely has new preemie friends.. :)  I see zoo's & parks in our future.

Journey & Harrison will be a year in March & it's Gracie's first baby birthday party!!

I think I'm going to like meeting new babies & their mommy's!!

Nichole gave us a gift for Gracie..

 Don't you just love her headband!!??  I love them!!

And she is here sleeping again .. on Madrinha Dalila.. LOVE THE HEADBAND!!

It's been a good Friday so far!!  I had a nice chat visit with Auntie Dalila too.. there sure is a reason that she is Grace's godmother!!  And spiritually, we have always had a connection..

Thanks for keeping up to date!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell

Sludge day.. 9:00pm

A sludge'y' day.. Gracie slept alot today.. those shots yesterday & near choking experience tired her out!! She was up quite a bit last night, so I should've taken a nap..but I didn't!  I am going to bed very soon, though!  I'll have to catch up on

Grey's tomorrow sometime!

This is how she looked for most of the day.. sleepyhead! This is her Rock N Play.

Great for reflux babies..keeps their head tilted up!

Everyone will be happy to know that Daddy called the doctor's office regarding yesterday's incident & spoke to the office manager.  He advised them that we did not want a 'medical assistant' giving Gracie shots in the future, but a RN!

The office manager was going to educate the medical assistant to what a g-tube is as well. They called again today to see how she was feeling.

After a couple of albeuterol treatements, she's sounds better.

And I don't want to jinx her, but the gtube leakage is still there, but not as bad as it was.  And with corisone cream she is not as itchy & the redness around it is going away!!  As someone said to me today, 'i'll be glad when she's all done with this stuff'.

Here's her new floor mat (above)..she did a pretty good job today trying to hit the hanging toys.. (that's all developmental, you know!) She's certainly did hit & try to reach..



And this is Gracie on Daddy's knees..

"love of my life"..for sure!!

Tomorrow is a visit with Nichole..Journey & Harrison..

very excited to meet my email buddy!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather!!

A "HELLO" to my friends Heather & Ross who's down under!!

"HI" to the kiddies too..we MISS you!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell



Always educating someone. 9:14pm

Hi, everyone! I'm a little aggravated with the pedi's office..

I'll try not to bore you with all the details..but..I don't mind educating anyone who wants to know about Gracie's g-tube feedings, but I would hope that the people who work in the pediatrician's office know a little bit about it.. or maybe if they don't, they would ask questions.  Like I always say, if you don't like your job, get a new one!! :)

Grace & I left the house at 11:00a.m. for a pedi appointment at 11:20, the plan to pick up daddy afterward & then a GI appointment at 1..

(never goes according to plan, does it?)

Grace is 11 lbs. 5oz. today!! 22" long!!

So, she's doing great with this extra feeding.. gaining daily!!

In the pedi's office, and with most doctors.. Grace is a 6 months old actual,

but her adjusted (what she would've been had she been born on ther due date)

is 3 months old.  Just FYI!

Soo... the 'medical assistant' who put us in a room was asking me a lot of 6 mo questions.. "have you tried solids yet?".. uuhh..NO, she's on gtube feeds.

(the 1st time I say it)

Okay..blah blah blah..pedi comes in..and all is well..she's going to get her immunizations today plus a flu shot.

10-15 minutes later..(yup that long), in comes back the medical assistant from earlier..

she seemed to be like in a rush.. (maybe lunch time, it's about 12:20pm)

She throws down the tray with the shots, and before I can say 'boo'..she

is pouring liquid down Gracie's throat.  I'm like, 'what is that?'.. "uhh.. we

don't give her anything by mouth.. uhh.. I don't know what she's going to do with that"

Chickita says, "oh she likes it" (because Grace was bright eyed & licking her lips)

Well..sure she might've liked it on her tongue, but the minute it got to the back of her throat.. she started gagging & choking..turning very bright red colors.

I picked her up & started banging her back.. asked the chickita to get me a bulb syringe, so I can take some out..

"Hmm.. not sure we have a bulb syringe'"

"Well, I need to do something here"

In runs in the other doctor..who is apologizing like crazy.

I said, "I mentioned the gtube to that woman a # of times, I don't think she

knows what it means"..

Doc says, "no i dont think so..sorry.." she checks out Gracie..

and she's fine.. so our regular pedi comes in..and apologizes..says he should've

wrote on the orders that it was gtube feeds..

Then chickita asks if we got the 'sweeties' (sugar water for comfort) last time we got shots..I say, we didnt get them here..the 1st set we were still in the hospital..

and the 4 month, the other pedi didn't give her any of that..

Anyway.. finally at about 1:00 we left.. & 4 shots later, like most babies,

Gracie was very upset.. It made me almost ready to cry myself!!

She had big, wet tears running down her face!! Poor baby!!

We picked up Daddy & made it to GI doctor by 1:30 (just in time)..

he switched out her g-tube to a tighter fit..hoping this one doesn't leak as much!!

Gracie's tired..and so am I.. going to bed soon!!

Thanks for reading! (and with no pictures!)

Gracie got her 1st Birthday Invite today.. Sooo Cool & Cute!!

Love you guys,

pattie & gary, Gracie & Max

Pregnant. 1:59pm

A year ago today, we "officially" found out we were pregnant!! "officially" by bloodwork.  But it was this past weekend that I cheated and used a home pregnancy test & saw the PLUS (+) sign!! Whoo  hoo!!

Wow.. what a year it has been.. it's all downhill from here, I hope!!

 

Grace is 10lbs. 15.5oz!!!

Woohoo!!

We have her regular monthly check up with her pediatrician tomorrow..

then going into see the GI doctor again to change her mic button..hoping that one contains the leakage better!

Here she is.. sitting on the couch!!

Yup, she's sitting unassisted, on the couch!

Some nights she sleeps all the way thru..the last two she was up every 3 hours..

must've been her growth spurt!!

Yesterday, mommy & daddy took some pictures with Gracie..

Me & My Mom.. Me & My Dad!!

I'll post tomorrow after her pedi follow up..

Did I say this is the 1st appointment I'm taking Gracie by myself??

We'll do fine!!

Thanks for keeping up!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

Guess who's finally home?? 8:34pm

Happy Sunday!! Today was a very productive day.. laundry, cleaning & organizing

Grace's new bureau with her clothes! Lots of clothes!!

Although, she doesn't wear 'onesies' much, because of her tube, it's just easier to put her in a button down shirt..which she has quite a few of them.

Here's a picture of her bureau..(it was an old buffett table once upon a time)

We love it!  Lots of draw space..and the two cabinets for extra stuff!!

Grace must be going thru a growth spurt..she has spent alot of time sleeping today!!

She is doing really well on her schedule of 90ml's (3oz over an hour), 7x's a day..

Her last feeding for the night is usually between 11-midnight, and then she goes at least 4-4 1/2 hours before she wakes up.. then from that feed, she's up again 3-4 hours later.

So, you want to know who's finally home??

Valentine!!

I gave Valentine, the red beta fish, to Gary last Valentine's day.  We dropped him off to our friends Peter & Paula on July 14, 2011(when we left to go camping).. and we just got him back Friday! Peter & Paula have three boys, and I was going to let them just keep Valentine as their pet..but I guess they didn't mind much if they gave him back..

so he's back home..and in Grace's room.. :)

Here's Gracie yesterday.. in her Mamaroo..we sat her up a little higher so she could watch Sesame street.. she wasn't really into it yesterday! lol

And here she is tonight.. sleeping!! :)

Glad to have Daddy home tomorrow.. my parents will be over for lunch..and then

we'll relax!!  We did go for a little walk today with Grace, and hope to do that tomorrow too...

Please be safe driving, our children are home from school this week!!

Have a good week everyone!!

We are looking forward to seeing Grace's pedi on Wed.. a growth & weight check.

Her GI Spec on Wed as well, finally changing the mic button..hopefully to one that doesn't leak as much..and is a better fit!

And then Friday, we have a 'playdate' with someone who I've been corresponding by email with since I was on bedrest in Maine in July..and have never met.. her & her twins!  I'm very excited.. Nichole has been a tremendous support system for me!!

What are your excited about this week??

If nothing, you are missing out!!

Love you guys,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell

p.s.  Grampie (family friend) & Adam were over for dinner tonight.. Chilli & Corn bread muffins..& upside down pineapple cake.. nice company, nice dinner!! :)

Warning..cute pics enclosed 2:53pm

These pictures are from Valentine's day.. isn't she beautiful!! Sometimes I wonder how could I have such a beautiful little person sleeping (successfully thru the night & during the day in her crib)?  I truly feel blessed!! 

Here's Gracie sitting on the couch on Thursday, as she waited for her cousins to come over!!  They love her soo much!!  Benjamin even got to hold Gracie.. his mom helped! When she was in his arms, he looked at her & smiled and said, "She's good now.  I love her."

An old soul that Benjamin..and Emily.. & we love them too!!

And here's today's picture.. in her swing..

A year ago last night, I attended worship services at our church.. it's not the traditional service, but it was an outlet for me to go to & cry.  I remember just crying thru the whole service, my pastor looking at me questioningly, wondering what happened.  After the service, I literally cried on his shoulder..as I said I would soon find out if I was pregnant..and what if IT didn't work again? What was I going to do? Why?

He prayed over me. He asked God to be with me & give me strength..he

said, "double strength" over the next few days as I was going to soon find out.

I rememeber these feelings as if it was yesterday.

Thank You, Pastor Brian!

 A quick shout to Lisa.. we went to dinner at Olive Garden last night.. and it was nice to be out! And definitely in good company.. We need to do this monthly..Ruby Tuesday, next month!!

And because you all want to know.. Gracie slept thru her 2 o'clock feeding last night.. and first woke up around 4:30..ready for her 5 o'clock feeding..

She's really doing well!!!! :)

Our good friends, Peter & Paula are coming over tonight..

making a new chicken enchilada recipe!

yummy! :)

Have a nice weekend!!

Thank you for reading & keeping up with us!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

Others. 9:19pm

Hi, everyone!! Grace had her GI visit today..and it went well.

Have I mentioned before how much we LOVE her GI doctor, he's been out of the country for two weeks.. soo he was happy to see his 'favorite family' :)

Soo.. happy he's on Gracie's "team"..

He was impressed with how she's developing.. said she looks different already, and was bright eyed & bushy tailed as well as sitting on my lap..

He weighed her & she was 10lbs. 6.6oz.. soo I think I have to tell our nurse to put the scale on the floor, rather than the carpet..I do think the carpet might be

adding those 2 oz.  So, we agreed to increase her volume of formula

up to 90 ml's = which equals 3 ounces! Yea!

And we're dropping her 2 am feed.. so she'll get the same volume a day, 7x's!!

She's been sleeping soo well.. thru the night, so we'll see how it goes today with missing that 2 am feed.  Her night feeds will be 11pm & then 5am!

Big step for our big girl!!

Grace's Noni & Grandpa in NY got some Valentine pictures..and they

are so excited to be hopefully visiting in April.. we are trying to tie

in her baptism at the same time!!

I have a preemie board .. group of women that are so supportive on facebook.. and I'm grateful for them.. alot of them have twins..

they are really ALL great.. but makes me wonder.WHY US??

Why did we have to lose one??

Great support system thru them.. especially when different 'preemie' issues come up..

most of their babies are older than Grace.. soo nice to hear & see

how far their babies have come.. Gracie will be there, I just no it!!

Thanks for reading!

Gracie loves her bathtime..apparentely it TIRES her out!! :) lol

Love you guys,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

Happy Valentine's Day!! 1:42pm

Wow.. this date has so many different meanings for me..

 first & foremost I am in a good relationship & have a wonderful baby girl (who I can dress up in valentine wear, and she doesn't really mind..yet!! need to take advantage of this precious time...)

She looks long, doesn't she?? The tights were literally on for only 5 minutes..

Here she is again with her Valentine dress on..

She's still 10lbs 8.5oz.. I think maybe we need to give her more formula..

and absolutely fix her g-tube from all the leakage!!

Tomorrow is her GI appointment..so we are looking forward to going there..

Unfort, our baby girl had to have her Synergis shot..and she's usually pretty good with shots, but the more weight she gains, the bigger the dose & today she really felt it & was screaming.. :( I felt so bad for her!!  But she's sleeping now...

in her crib!!!! for naptime.. started yesterday..

there she is..naptime yesterday!!

I've never been a fan of valentine's day.. my friends will tell ya.. that people should celebrate their love with each other everyday..not just one one day..

but I did make my husband a 'cool' breakfast this morning..

I'm so creative, ah?? lol

This day also marks the anniversary of our house fire in 2007.. yup, it was our

1st Valentine's Day..  can't believe how time has flown.

We got a new kitchen out of it.. and grew closer as we lived together at my parents for eight months!!

A shout out to our friends Ross & Heather & the kids..as they are leaving

for Australia today!! Bye guys!! We'll miss you.. Have a great 2 weeks!!

And a big Thanks to Judy..who works with Gary..she made this sweater for Gracie..

It's beautiful!!! Lilac.. pretty color, soft material!!

So.. all is going well in our little world.. thanks for checking in.

One more picture.. LOVE this outfit!!

Love you guys,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell

Great Saturday! 12:52pm

My very creative friend, Auntie Heather made these 'flower' pots for my baby shower back in December.  The flowers in the pots were pictures of Gracie from birth to then surronded by a scrapbook paper cut out like a flower.  They are beautiful!!  So I've wanted to hang them from twine in Gracie's room with a clothespin.  I finally got it done today & LOVE it.

 So this is what it looks like.. I know you can't really see it..

here's the close up!!!

So, of course, I had to move her crib underneath this..

Use your imagination here.. but I LOVE it!!

I AM soo lucky (Gracie is too) to have a CREATIVE friend!!

Thanks, Auntie Heather!!

Then tomorrow, we are getting an older bureau from Auntie for Gracie's room..

It's painted white right now, and it's an old/good wooden buffet table.. makes a great bureau.. and it's high.. soo we won't be breaking our backs to change her diaper

 (like we are now with diaper changes on the couch).  I'll take a picture of it tomorrow.

On another great Saturday note, Gracie got her 1st Valentine's day card

This is from her two friends on mama's preemie board of friends..

from: JohnScott & Hilyer!!

Our 1st Valentine's day card.. I love it!!  Thanks!!

It's snowing a little, mixed with rain.. a good day to stay in & do laundry

and clean & organize!! That's what we are doing!

My Gracie girl is on .25% of oxygen & has been successfully since 1:00pm

yesterday...  & her #'s are 90 & above.. close to 100 at all times.

If we can figure out this gtube leakness.. it'll be great.

We see Hammo/GI on Wednesday.. yea!!

Thanks for visiting us!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

p.s. We signed up for a March for Babies walk on June 24th..

We will walk in memory of Maxwell

I hope if you can't join us to walk, you'll consider making a donation..

http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1775711

1 Year Ago Today... 10:59 a.m.

Maybe some of you have figured it out before today..but I felt that I had to write about the most important day of my life.. that happened a YEAR ago today..

Two of these four embryos would implant & become our twins!

Yes, we had IVF! It was a pretty rough road for us.  After trying to conceive on our own for two years, we decided to go to a Reproductive Endocrinologist.

After 4 'fresh' IVF cycles, which we had frozen embryos from each cycle..

and one miscarriage in Dec. 2010.  We decided not to tell our family, and have a frozen embryo transfer (FET) on 2/10/11...

let the emotional rollercoaster begin!!

But a year later, with many ups & downs..we have our healthy baby girl..

boy what a difference a year makes.  I did have a healthy pregnancy, by all accounts..

 I was just meant to have two preemie babies.. one to become an angel in heaven & one on earth.

Many women feel that if they can't get pregnant naturally then God doesn't want them to have children.  I believe, as someone once said to me,

"God is leading you down this path.. the IVF path.. he wouldn't be leading you down this path, if it was your destiny to not have children."

Thanks Tammy for saying that to me!! I remember that often!

God chose me to give birth to the baby boy who would spend his life with him.

He also chose me to have the angel of Grace here on earth with us!!

Wearing her favorite flannel "gown".. Thanks Noni!!

As of this week, Gracie weighs 10lbs. 8.5oz!!

She is doing a great job with her OT tracking her head & eyes side to side

and moving her head left to right. 

She sleeps at least 6-8 hours straight at nighttime..only wakes for a diaper change.

She's smiling more.

She giggles a little..and has a 'fake' cry!!

She is doing better on tummy time!

Thanks to all the nurses, staff & Doc's at Boston IVF..

they made our dream of being parents a reality!!

I'm not embarrassed by having IVF.. I'm proud!

Infertility is a true problem among soo many women and men.

It should be spoken about more often!!

I hope you'll join me on my journey in the next few weeks as I remember what my feelings were a year ago...as I was waiting to see that + sign on a 'pee stick'.

Thanks for reading!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

Feeding Tube Awareness Week 10:15a.m.

For those of you who have Facebook, this is my picture!!  So let me explain it!!

Gracie has a g-tube for feeding!!  When she was in the NICU, she had her share of an OG (oral gastric tube..goes thru her mouth to her belly to feed) & a NG (nasal gastric tube..goes thru her nose to belly to feed).. Remember those pictures??

While getting fed by these tubes, Grace would have severe reflux, and throw up most of the formula going to her belly.  So it was on to a NJ tube (nasal jujunal..which bypasses the belly to the jujunal then empties).

 They thought it was a milk allergy. 

Maybe just a "pukey baby".. but then they found a hiatal hernia in her belly, that reached up thru her ribcage.  So, it was around that time, while speaking to the surgeon that we all decided perhaps a g-tube placed in the belly, and a nissin fundoplication was necessary.  The nissin (a procedure that makes a loop around the lower part of the esophagus/top of the stomach, large enough for food to pass thru but hopefully not reflux back up).. 

With a g-tube, in the hospital & now at home, Gracie can learn how to take a bottle.  Remember, a baby has to LEARN to swallow, suck & breathe at the same time to eat..or take a bottle.  We don't do that automatically.  So, in the hospital she did take a bottle & did very well with it. but then the feeding team there changed the rules a little (we unfort were not physically there when they did..we were home getting ready to bring her home in a couple of days).  There was some concern that she aspirated a little thin liquids into her lungs.  We didn't need any of that issue.

Like any other baby, Gracie eats every 3 hours, bolus feeds..which we just went up on.. she takes 80ml's (30ml = 1oz) over 1 hour, then off 2 hours.

She gets full.  If she's awake during her feeds, we rub her cheek & give her the pacifier, and make the feeling of getting food into her belly a pleasant experience.

We are currently working with a Speech therapist to feed by bottle.

Our GI Specialist is okay with how things are going!

There are other babies out there that have g-tubes.. they need g-tubes. 

There is nothing wrong with our babies. 

We are growing.  We are active.  We are gaining weight!!

We just eat differently.  Don't judge... ask questions!!

Please keep all babies fed by g-tube in your thoughts & prayers..

Addison & Hilyer!!  And I'm sure many more..

For Gracie, the #'s says it all.. born at 1 lb. 12oz on 8/3..

only to gain 3 lbs by Nov.  Gets her g-tube, and she has gained 6 lbs. in 3 months!

We love our tubie!!!

the downfall of a g-tube.. it leaks! And is a little messy..

Life is a balance, isn't??

Thanks for reading about our tubie!!

Please ask questions ... I'd be happy to answer them for you!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

Happy SIX months old!! 6:31pm

Gracie is SIX months old today!!!

Woohoo!!!

I made a cake for her too!!

Mommy & Daddy will enjoy her special white cake with vanilla frosting!!

Wow, six months has gone by fast!! :) It's a good fast.. she's doing great! 

A true miracle!!

 Both of these pictures are outfits from Auntie Heather.. 0-3 months is what she's wearing, but this pink one down below is a little tight putting on.. soo we did wear it a few times this week, but I think that's it!! :)

I love these flannel gowns.. Noni (grandma in NY) made it for her oldest (Daddy)

boy back 40 something years ago.. now Gracie wears them proudly to bed.  It's a little big on her, but it keeps her warm & snaps in the front.  Noni is also going to send us the little dress that Daddy wore for his baptism.. what a tradition.. I can't wait to see it on Gracie.. hoping for an "official" baptism in April/May with close friends & family.

Here we are doing tummy time.. it's going to take practice!



But she'll learn to love being on her belly again!! She always slept on her belly in the NICU.. now she'll have to get used to it.. and of course, it helps build her neck muscles.   She enjoys being held to my shoulder now.. that'll also help!

All is good in our little world.. how could it be not!

We got a gift from a co-worker of Gary's today..a beautiful light purple sweater that she made.. I will be sure to post pictures of it this weekend, on Gracie.  Thanks Judy!!

Thanks EVERYONE for celebrating with us.. these past six months!!

As always couldn't do it without all of you!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

February! 12:59pm

Boy, I'm glad it's February... I don't know.. January seemed like

 a very longggg month!!

This week, we had a visit with Gracie's nurse yesterday & it seemed (I didn't figure it out til after the fact), but she went down on her weight to 10lbs. 5.5oz..

& that's okay.. her pedi is concerned with steady weight gain, but as parents we get obsessed with always gaining weight.. take a breathe, Mommy! She's doing great with her feeds..maybe she just had some fluid loss!! :)

This is a gown that Gary wore when he was a baby..now we're talking late 40's something years ago.. LOL.. Gary's mom gave it to us, and last night was the perfect night to put it on her..it snaps in front & has easter bunnies on the front.. gets me singing, "Peter Cottontail" to Miss Gracie.

Her g-tube has been leaking a little bit much, so it's definitely nice to just wrap her in something warm & cozy; and not have to worry about restrictions.

Grace's hair is really starting to come in on top..

isn't she lovely!! Sooo cute!! Her hair looks really light on top.. a reddish tint to it!

Who's on pinterest??? I am!! It's my outlook to finding things creative & crafty..which I like the ideas, hard for me to follow thru with them, because I'm not that crafty!  With a baby, I'll learn!  I am trying alot of recipes from there though, here is a picture of

"apple bundles"..serve warm with ice cream.. yummy!!

Apples wrapped in crescent rolls!!

And for Superbowl I'm making buffalo chicken bites & maybe some bacon wrapped

stuffed jalepeno poppers.. can't wait!!

Gracie will soon be six months!! (friday, actually)..

Hope to get some pictures done.. and get her feet & hand imprints!!

Thanks for keeping up!

Love you guys...,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max