Thank you!! 1:04pm

Thank you prayer warriors!! Grace did great today with her CT scan!

We got in at 10, and were home by 11:30..

she did NOT have to be sedated!!

I sang to her.. "Gilligan's Island" theme (daddy loves that song)

& "Brady Bunch" theme.. (lol)

& Rudolph (we used to always sing that in the NICU)

& she fell asleep in my arms, prior to the scan..

so they didn't have to give her an IV or any type of sedation..

she slept thru the whole 5-8 minutes of the CT scan.. :)

YEA!! 

Anything is possible with prayer!

We see the doctor next Wed., for follow-up..and then we can begin the molding helmet therapy!! We need to get that on before she gets her big growth spurt!!

She wore her lucky green, new dress that we got in the mail from Noni & Grandpa!!

Cute Pic!!! Her new ducky pj's from last night.. Noni loves buying Gracie outfits!!

Thanks all!! Love you guys!

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



For my Prayer Warriors! 4:57pm

I'm posting early.  We are in need of our prayer warriors to do what they do best:  Pray.

Gracie goes in for a Cat Scan of her head tomorrow.. this is to make sure that

her sutures (bones in her head) have not closed yet.. no one thinks they have,

we are just making sure of the 'thinks'.. her appointment is at 10a.m.

Of course, it's at Hasbro.. soo we are feeling good about it!

She will be under sedation for it, so she doesn't move around

 (you know our wiggly worm).

So if you have a spare moment at 10, a happy thought, a quick prayer..

we appreciate it all!!

A good, long weekend was had by us!

She's growing by the minute.

It's getting hot!!  We are experiencing July weather at the end of May.

So keeping Grace inside, and we put the AC in her room last night..

on low & then off just enough to cool off her room.

I took some pictures today of her feet & mine.. lol..

she's soo cute!! Lots of smiles.. we played on her mat this morning, her on her belly.. and then this afternoon read some books.

No teeth yet.  This was her dress, she wore this weekend.

 Tummy time with Mama! (her incentive is the binky!!)

I think she needs a pedicure! Cute feet!

 And her little, cute hands.  She has very long fingers!!

We love all her parts! :)

Thanks for keeping us in prayers!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Our 4th Anniversary! 4:34pm

Traditionally, 4th anniversary gift is Flowers. 

Modern gift is appliances..(glad I don't need any! lol).

Yes, Gary & I have been married, for a wonderful 4 years!

The last year, has certainly been the hardest.. it has been filled with sadness & worry.

But we got thru it, and if we can get thru the past year, then we can get thru anything!

We argue, and sometimes disagree or 'agree to disagree', but the truth remains

that when faced with despair & sadness..we hold on tight to each other!!

Thank you, Gary! For being a great dad to Grace, and a great husband to me!!

It's blurry because I took a picture of us from the wall.  But here is our wedding picture!!

And as promised, this is our  12 lb. 2 oz...

Gracie !!!

When she left the hospital on 4/18..she was 10lbs.  Last week, at her doctor's appointment, she was 11lbs. 11oz.  She is now 12lb. 2oz!!

She is growing & doing well.  With nutrition yesterday, we've upped her ml's daily to 800 ml's, which is 26oz. in a 24 hour period.

We are also trying a bottle, and anything she takes over 15ml's will be counted toward her daily intake.  She's getting 125 calories for her weight..so we can 'fatten' her up just a little more.  She is doing great in the gain weight department, but she is just a little under for her adjusted age (which will be 7 months.. already!) at the end of May.

Did I say that..end of May?? Wow.. time certainly is flying!!

After much input from friends alike, Gary & I have decided to go to a local restaurant on the water, "Waterfront Grill".. for our anniversary!

Thanks to Auntie Paula for babysiting!!

Love you, Gary & Gracie!!

Thanks for reading! And for praying!!

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Thankful Thursday! 1:42pm

Thankful for those who read my blog, and come back day after day!!

Sorry, I haven't posted in awhile.. Grace & I are enjoying each other and this weather!

I've also gotten my a little part time job, so I've been busy Mon & Tuesday night with minute recording of two different meetings, and then typing them up & sending them on their way.  Just finished the 2nd one this morning.

Today, is our nutrition appointment with Grace..can't wait to get her weight (of course every scale is different..but we definitely think she is gaining.. she looks & feels heavier).  I was going to wait to update later (i will anyway)..but here are some good shots from today & the last few days!

Monday, we had Abby over for the day.. a fun day..her & I, and of course her "baby" Gracie:

Wednesday, we went to the Plymouth Mall with Auntie Heather & the kids (Abby, twins: Olivia & Jackson)..and my first time being able to push Gracie in her stroller in a mall setting & Abby pushed the stroller alot! lol

She's lucky she's cute, too!!

With Auntie Heather.. at the jumpy gym!!

Lots of tummy time this week has paid off.. Gracie did GREAT with OT today..she is nearly looking all the way to the left with her head.  Her OT was very happy with her progress.

 And these pictures are from today.. LOVE her little beautiful dress.. and below.. this is what we are blessed & thankful to see ALOT more of daily.. She SMILES alot!!

(do you realize how many weird sounds, tickles, and pictures I had to take to get this picture, finally??? I know she thinks her mommy is weird!!  But, Gracie..thanks for lettting Mommy take you're beautiful smiling face!!

Thanks for reading!  Love you guys!!

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Beautiful day. 8:23pm

What a beautiful Sunday..and weekend! 

 The weather was just perfect for walking & enjoying family time!!

Honestly, Gary & I were a family, and now we have Grace..and the three of us are

a family..and we enjoy each other's company!!

This morning I was taking tons of pictures in a row so I could show you how much she smiles now, but of course with a shutter delay, this was the best I could do. 

This is her sitting after breakfast of a tablespoon of oatmeal & some pureed squash!

We had a nice walk at Ft. Phoenix beach today & Gary got some yard work done.

Gracie & I went to church this morning & she was wide awake..

sat on "Grampie H.'s lap" (Grampie is our friends dad.. we all call him Grampie)

She was all smiles for him! 

In her pretty, new dress:

 

Mom & Grace!!

Thanks God.. for such a wonderful weekend with MY family!

Love you G & G & m!! :)

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Whoo!! Hoo!! 7:39pm

Grace had a follow up appointment with her doctor at Hasbro.. the last time she saw him was two weeks ago & she weighed, 11 lbs. 3oz.

& TODAY.... (drumroll, please!!)

11 lbs. 11 oz!!

YEA!! She is definitely gaining, which he was very happy about.

She is taking 735ml's via g-tube, which is 24 1/2 oz.  a day..which

sustains her for good growth & nutrition.

Her g-tube area looks great.  He was impressed with all the new fresh, new growth

skin that has taken place around the gtube area.

We don't see him for another month!

And we will start to see a nutritionist to manage her calories.

Still teething! :)

 

In her very cute new pajamas that have fairy princesses on them..

With everything that happened in the last month, it did put Grace

behind a little bit, but then I see her smiling face..and when I sing

to her, or she sees someone she recognizes.. she just is smiling so much more!

I just feel so greatful that she is finally healing with her g-tube area & really

taking the volume that she is.  She is still eating twice a day with purees & tries a bottle.  We will continue to try with her.  She is spending more time on her

tummy as well.. and that's going to just strenghten her core muscles.

Thanks for all your prayers!

We are blessed!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



We have a car.... 1:58pm

... at home, that is! Gracie & I finally have the use of the newer car for the day.. we went to pick up the Vue today, it didn't go as smoothly as expected (of course!).  Apparentely, the battery light came on, upon starting (they replaced the battery).. and after an hour or so, they tell us they need to replace the alternator.  Geesh! We're already paying a little over $2,000 to get it repaired, add an additional $1300, that will get the throttle fixed within the next 60 days.  So, they agree to do the labor for free & we find the alternator at a lower price somewhere else.  Once that's done, Gary will be driving the vue, and Grace & I will have the mazda!

As it goes, it seems we can never get ahead.. but we have to be greatful at the same time that we can have two cars!

You've probably missed pictures of Gracie.. here she is in her new 2-piece pajamas we got for her over the weekend!! We love 2-piece pajamas..because she's soo long, she's in a 6 month!!

And today, her little onesie outfit..remember the days when we couldn't dress her in a onesie??  We just came back from a visit to vevo & vovo's house.. soo she's ready to fall asleep.

Just a quick update on stuff:  Grace had PT come to the house yesterday for an evaluation & it went well.  We need to do lots more tummy time with her, to help strengthen those neck & head muscles.  PT will start working with her weekly beginning in 3 weeks.  I have to take a step back sometimes and realize she really is only 6 months adjusted & has had alot happen to her.  She will get there, but just might be longer than others.  Believe me, I'm not comparing her to anyone.. she handles very well on her tummy now, just need to get more time on it in.

OT came today..and again she did great.

Tomorrow is an appt at Hasbro with her pedi surgery doctor to check on the g-tube, which looks great..and is handling more volume, so that we don't have to do continous feeds.

It's suppossed to be nice this weekend.. soo we are planning for a walk down in Newport on Saturday; and lunch with my parents on Sunday. (saturday too!)

Gracie & I have been going for walks in the stroller & I've been doing bowling & tennis on the Wii!!  I joined WW a few weeks ago, and down 6lbs.  Starting to feel better!

Thanks for keeping up with us..

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Back to Reality.. 8:45pm

Back to reality.. Monday!! It's always hard to get back to a routine after a nice weekend away, but thankfully, Grace is such a good baby.. she's back to her bottle/feeding & g-tube feeds too.  And, she sleeps really well tooo! I know we are very lucky.. she goes down at 7pm til about 5:30, and if we're lucky, stays sleeping til about 8 in bed with us. (co-sharing!)

Today our new food try was peaches.  They seemed a little watery, so I gave her thickened oatmeal with it.  She had three teaspoons of fruit this morning, with a tablespoon of oatmeal.  Then at dinner time, she had 3 teaspoons of peas & some applesauce.  (the applesauce is new too).

We had speech therapy in this morning.. we are going to work on feeds, as well as getting some tricks to help with speech.

Here are a few more pictures from the weekend..(from my phone):

 Chillin on the couch at the condo..

And of course wearing my sombrero'.. LOL..

Grace spent some time on her belly today, she's doing much better just resting there...

and lifting her head.

Gotta have that binky!!

It's blurry because she was moving to get her head up!!

No teeth yet, but the lower one looks pretty close to be popping up!

A quick visit this morning from Vevo & Vevo'.. and I did lots of laundry

and cleaning up the house.  Tomorrow hope to go for a walk.. we have no appointments coming in.  But busier from Wed thru Friday!

Thanks for the wonderful 1st Mother's day card from the Welty's! It was a very nice surprise in the mail!!

I haven't talked to my buddy, HH today.. Where are you??

Love you guys,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

Mother's Day Weekend. 7:58pm

Happy Mother's Day to all my readers & followers!!

I had a beautiful, wonderful Mother's Day with Gary & Gracie!!

We went to North Conway, NH.. to a friend's condo..right across the campground where everything started last July!  It was bittersweet to be back with Gracie.  I found myself thinking of that day back on July 21st, and of Maxwell.. but Grace was

sooo  GREAT on her first road trip.. it made it all worth while.

Thanks for thinking of ME today.. here are some pictures from our weekend!!

Enjoy!!

This is where we stayed! #9!

This is the 'infamous' blueberry muffin.. the reason why my blog is baby blueberries..

you'll remember that my water broke an hour after eating here last July.

Tried to do a walk on a trail to Diana's Baths with Grace in the stroller.. but she wasn't having it.  Maybe too bumpy??

3 mosquitoe bites for me.. and we had had enough anyway.

Here she is sleeping on the bed in early am! She slept great the whole weekend.  Down at 7pm, 1-2 diaper changes in the middle of the night, then back to sleep til 8-8:30a.m. the next morning!  I was tossed to the couch twice, because Gracie slept with her daddy from 5:30-8:30 both mornings.. that's okay! (full size bed!)

Sitting in her 'high chair' wondering where am I?

In her first shorts, t-shirt set!!  Beautiful weather up there!

 Taking a bath in a big girl tub.. we do not have a tub at our house :( .. but she does have a spa tub.. need to break that out soon!

A girl needs accessories:

 Love my new sun hat above?? And below, my 1st pair of sunglasses!!

Daddy's new harness for walking with Grace.

The moose is loose in North Conway..Gracie is almost as tall as him!

Anyway, we had a really nice time.  Went out for breakfast both days, and an early dinner/late lunch both days.  Enjoyed wine & snacks after Gracie's bedtime.

She slept in her RNP (rock n play) & did great in it.

It was warm, mid 70's.. so she enjoyed wearing her new short sleeve clothes.

We went shopping as well.. Grace got alot of summer clothes. Daddy got 2 pairs of shorts. And Mommy got two shirts.

On the way home, stopped in to see Gracie's cousins.. who were very excited to see us.. that was just the topper of the weekend.

Then when we got home, Daddy presented me with my really nice 1st Mother's day gift:

 

 

 

Sterling Silver necklace..

Thanks Daddy & Grace & Maxwell.

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell



Rain. Rain. 9:36am

About a month ago, while Grace was at Hasbro we were having weather up in the 70's.. now that we are home & can enjoy a nice morning/afternoon walk, it's raining all day!

It sure is depressing!! :(

Our first weekend away with the baby, will take place this weekend as we are heading to North Conway, NH for Mother's Day weekend!  I'm a Mommy, wow!!

Yesterday, Grace had her appointment with plastic surgery in RI ..for a consult for

"helmet" therapy for her head.  This is a helmet that is placed on her head to help sculpture her head to a more roundness, then flat (as it is now).. it's flat, mainly because of all the time she spent in the NICU on one side.. and even now, she really favors her right side.  So the helmet will help her head to get rounder as she grows.

Before, we can actually get the helmet, she is going for a CT scan to make sure her bones in her head haven't closed.  That'll be scheduled for the next two weeks.

It's a very low chance that the bones have closed, but the doctor just wants to not miss that..because the helmet won't help if that's the case, and surgery would have to peformed.  I'm just staying positive.. I'm sure it'll all be okay!! :)

I know you all love pictures..soo here goes:

This was from Saturday, we went to our friends' son's 1st communion & this was her party dress.  (It was actually bought as her Easter dress, but she was in the hospital for Easter!)

Our pastor would enjoy this picture.. this is Grace in church on Sunday on Daddy's lap! Just hanging out!

Prunes is her new favorite fruit!! She had two teaspoons this morning with a teaspoon of oatmeal!!

And when was the last time you saw this sign on a magazine shelf at the doctor's office??  I love it, I took 2 :)

Today, is a low key day for us..probably good because of the rain!

Doing laundry, and making phone calls for some up coming appointments.

Playing with Grace on the floor is up for today, as well.

Tomorrow is OT in the morning..we need to get ready for her!

Auntie Tess & the cousins visited yesterday.. it's always such a joy to see them interact with Gracie, who was wide awake!!

All is well here.. Grace was 11 lbs. 5.5 oz on Monday..soo she's gaining & growing!

Thanks for thinking of our family!

Blessings to you all!

love,

pattie & gary, Grace & max



Quick update. 11:05pm

Just a quick update.  Nice weekend with Gracie.. we took some cute pictures, but I haven't uploaded them as of yet.  Will do that tomorrow!

Today, we saw her new pediatrician..we like him, he was very thorough..

We have another appointment tomorrow at Hasbro

(it's a busy week).

She is doing well.  Need to get on a 3 day/meal routine, I think that'll be harder to do since she sleeps usually all afternoon..but we'll do our best.  I got some more jarred baby foods.. squash, applesauce, plums & prunes.

I started a p/t job tonight..as a secretary for a local town board meeting.

Tonight was a long 3 hours.  They meet every other week, so it'll be nice to get out for a little & get a little check.

I'll update more tomorrow..someone is crying!! poor baby & her teeth!!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

Tummy time friday 8:01pm

Tonight, Daddy & I had Grace on the floor for tummy time..she is liking it

more & more each day..and staying flat on her belly for quite a few minutes.

We have to keep doing it daily.. tummy time with strengthen her core, that

will help with future crawling & scooching.

Here she is laying flat on her belly...  and a close up ..as long as she

has her binkie!! :)

And then I looked behind Daddy & saw this stain in our carpet!!!!  A gift from Maxwell, we believe!! 

 Thanks for showing us, Max!!

Today's appointment at Hasbro went great.  Auntie Dalila went with us..Thanks, Auntie!!  Gracie's pedi surgeon is very happy how Gracie's gtube is coming..he doesn't want to see her for 2 weeks.  Yea!!  The leakage is little, as it should be.

He was so impressed with her..says she's a new baby!!

Her weight stayed the same, he's not worried about it.. gave us the ok to start a slow process of bolus feeding, instead of continous all day!  So, starting tomorrow we'll do some bolus & continous.  I was concerned that she was constipated because of continous feed, but he said 'nah, not really'.. soo unfort, her constipation just might

be her body!  We are giving her pear juice..just waiting for that big BM!!

Tomorrow is our friend's son, Alex 1st Communion..

which should be a nice time.  Then home to do some cleaning in the home office.

Sunday, will be my try at making gnocchi's!!

All is well at the Pacella house!

Living, Loving my family.. watching Grace grow & eating all her peas tonight & fruit...although not much of the bottle, but she's eating her purees.  We are excited to meet her new pediatrician Monday.

Have a nice weekend!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & MaxLove!! :)



Peas & Pictures. 7:44pm

I'm already in bed.. Mommy says I go to bed early now & I sleep all thru the night :)

Here's some pictures from tonight.. me eating my peas!

 Mommy?!!

If you look closely, you can see that I'm holding the bottle with my hands.. my mommy was very excited with that!

And then she had to get one more picture of me before I go to bed..

me holding my binkie!! Doesn't she know I can hold it??

Sometimes, I just don't want to!!

G'night!

love,

Gracie

& max!



Happy 9 months. 1:45pm

Alot of preemie moms that I know celebrate two birthday's with their baby's..one

is the actual birthday..so today is Grace's "actual" 9 month old birthday!

And the other is when they should've been born, so this past Monday, was her

"corrected age" birthday at 6 months. 

So, here she is.. Happy 9 months, my love!

"Uncle" Dougie is here from Australia..Uncle Doug is Ross brother; this is his first time holding Grace.  He saw her back in Maine in November..so he was happy to see her yesterday & hold her.  Nice pic, "Uncle" Dougie!!

Auntie Heather & the kids visited us yesterday.  And Heather was happy to hold Gracie without tugging or having to carry anything too.  What a blessing!

OT came today!! And Grace did GREAT!! She laid on her belly for quite a number of minutes..just laid there, with her binky (of course)

9 months stats:

weight: (we'll officially get it tomorrow)

height:  25"

drinking:  Similiac Neosure via g-tube 35-40ml's/hour a day

sizes:  3-6 month tops; 6 mo pj's with feet (she's very long/tall) & 3 mo bottoms

eating/trying new foods:  pureed peas as of yesterday (she LOVES them!), apples & pears (fruit pureed), pureed sweet potatoe, and oatmeal (about 2 tsp/day 1-2x's a day)

Grace loves music. Loves to be sung & read too.  Loves the bath. Loves to snuggle.

Loves her binky!

Her legs are always kicking around.  She loves when her cousins come over to play; and her friend, Abby "sudo cousin" holds her!

Thanks for reading!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max