8 mos "Corrected" 2:25pm

Grace is 8 months corrected today.. that means on Tuesday, she'll be 11 months old.. time to get those birthday invites in the mail..

Today, is "Homecoming Day" in our hometown, Fairhaven..

and Fairhaven is celebrating 100 years old! wow!

We took Gracie for a stroll thru the homecoming fair..and it was very nice.  Breezy under the trees, and humid & hot in the sun.  We ran into a number of people

that I went to High School with.. it was nice to run into them, and they were

 all eager to meet Grace.  She was a celebrity!

And every person she met, she looked at & smiled!! She's such a smiley girl!

Tonight, is my 25th high school reunion, although I'm not going..

it definitely always nice to see people you graduated with.

Here's a few pics of Grace today:

Holding her spoon at breakfast.. she had some squash..(i know not breakfast food..it's Gracie food!!)

What a love!! :)

Thinking of Max today too!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & Maxwell



Pictures! 7:47pm

 The picture on the left is from 6/19 pre-helmet.. & the pic on the right is today..
Can you see a little difference with her forehead? Or is it my imagination??

Here's Uncle Ross & Gracie..

see that smile that she's giving Uncle Ross!!

Soo cute!!



And here's mama & Gracie playing "honk! on mama's nose!!"

Grace did great with OT today.. it's Jess/OT's last day with us, as she goes out on maternity leave.  We wish her the best!  And we'll see her in the fall.

She went out with a bang, as Gracie was holding & reaching for her toys & rattles.

She as very impressed with how well she's doing!!

Go Gracie!!

Love her!!

Thanks for reading!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

Reaching........... 9:36pm

Grace had a great day today.  She was on her back on her mat, and I looked down at her and she was reaching for the toy in the middle..this is a

HUGE DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONE

it made me tear up a little!!

Here she is (above) just laying there eyeing the toys.. then on the (right) she reaches up & grabs it.  She's getting big..and doing so well.  We are happy Mama & Dada!!

She's doing great with the helmet too, I'm thinking it's starting to work already..and it'll be only a week on Friday.. but what the helmet will do is move her head & bones

to make her head more round/ammetrical.. I see some changes already in her face.

We do get to take the helmet off 1 hour a day, usually at bath time.

She sleeps all night with it.. such a good baby!!

PT was here today & she really "works" Gracie.. who did very well.

She sat upright with the pt's hand around her waist.. soo good!!

It's really great to see her doing more things, and being healthy!!

We are very grateful!!  Thank you, God!!

Grace is not picking her nose..lol.. just likes being on Daddy's legs!!  This was her hour off!!

And here's the close up from today.. she smiles alot, just never when I have the camera in my hand!!

Thanks for reading!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Our Warrior Princess 9:34pm

Our Warrior Princess slept great last night with her Brave gear!!

(I want to see that movie Brave!!)

Here she is!!  (Still favoring her right side of course, that's okay!)

Today, she wore her helmet for 8 hours..off for 4 (it was suppossed to be 1, but because she's wearing it sleeping..we gave her a little break).. tomorrow, starts her wearing it 23 hours a day, with a 1 hour break (bath time).

We go back on Friday for a follow up.  She's actually doing very well with

it.  It doesn't seem to bother her, only when we take it off & put it back on..

so I know she'll do fine with it for 23 hours straight.  She's such a brave little girl!

We played today..sang songs & teaching Grace sign language with

her speech therapist.  Her friend, Mollie came over & watched her for an hour, while Daddy & I went grocery shopping! (lol.. you know the last time we did that together?)

Our date of the week!!  Thanks, Mollie!

Going to bed early tonight..had some crazy dreams last night..

I think yesterday just being an emotional day, it got the best of my subconcious.

So, this girl is off to sleep..(not after the ending of Bachelorette.. :)

Thanks for keeping up with our family!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell

p.s. HI to my friend KC in Maine!! I miss our chats!!



Our 1st Annual Walk.. 9:01pm

Our 1st Annual walk for March for Babies was today.. it was very nice!!

We walked down the cape cod canal, a great breeze (but it was hot, too)..

lots of our friends were there to support us & walk with us..it was nice to have them all.  Grace did great.. (helmet on the whole time), she slept & when she was awake

she was smiling at everyone.. soo bright-eyed.. very cute!!

We walked in Memory of our little baby, Maxwell...

& to honor our beautiful Grace:

Without them both,

we wouldn't be who we are!  Thank you for being in our lives!!

 Here's Daddy pushing Gracie at the beginning of the race.

 Here's our team (except for the cute girl in white right in front..lol) at the finish line!

And our Team Photo again..

Thanks to those who walked:  Joe & Dalila, Heather & Ross & the kids, Grampie & Adam, Paula, Lisa, Scotia, Shawn & Sharon, Stasia, Natalie & baby & husband,

Linda & Jared

Thanks for supporting our team!  Hope to see you all next year!!

Thanks again to our sponsors, we raised just over $1,000.00.. :)

YEA!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

Going well... 9:30pm

Grace is doing well with her helmet.. so I might've told you all wrong..

today she wore the helmet, 2 hours on/1 hour off.. thru out the day, she

didn't have to wear it for naps, but if she fell asleep with it on, we didn't take it off.

And she did great with it.  Tonight, as she sleeps she's not wearing it.

Tomorrow she'll wear it 4 hours on/1 hour off.

She's a real trooper, for sure!!

Playing "hi-ten" with Daddy..

Look at Mommy!!

Always looking up at Daddy..

Ok, now I'm looking at Mommy..

Our March for Babies walk is tomorrow..it's bittersweet! We are walking certainly in memory of Maxwell; but also for our blessing of little Grace... she's come so far.

Thank you for all of you, who has helped up surpassed our goal of $1,000.  It's not official yet, but I think we'll just be right over our goal.  Impressive for our first year.

We couldn't do it without you!!  Thanks!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell

p.s. Thanks Mr. & Mrs. Foley..for always reading about Gracie..

and thinking & praying for us.  One of these days, we'll catch you home..for sure!!



Pretty in Pink! 7:41pm

Drum Roll, please!!!

Gracie's new accessorie:

This is when we put the helmet on at the office!!  I think she liked it!

 Grace in her chair at home in her room (until about 4pm, it was the only room in the house with the ac in it!!)  She looks soo cute with her helmet!!

How it works is, today was 1 hour on, 1 hour off.. doesn't need to wear it for nap or sleeping at night.  Tomorrow, is 2 hours on/2 hours off, no wearing for sleeping.

Sunday, will be 4 hours on/4 hours off.. & if she puts up with it for sleeping, she'll wear it.  So, it's gradual so she can get used to it & of course we can get used to

putting it on/off.    She only wore it for a few hours today, because she had a pretty good long afternoon nap & she did fantastic.

Around 3:30ish, we played in her room on her mat, she had it on & was rolling all over the mat with it.. trying to grab at her binky..so I think she is doing okay with it!!

Let's give her a week though!

When she gets up to it, she'll be wearing it 23 hours a day!

For probably, 3-4 months.. unless she has a good growth spurt & it resolves the head shape before that. 

 This is a picture from this week, on her belly.. she is doing so good on her belly now.  But even in this picture, you can see how flat her head is in the back.  Not anymore!! We had PT on Wednesday & she did

great tolerating being on her belly, sitting up (assisted).. she's getting chubbier & loves to hear me sing :) :) & music.. starting to really pay attention.  She's getting big!!

Her birthday invites came in the mail today..they're beautiful!!

Can't wait for her birthday party!!

And on Sunday, is our 1st annual, March For Babies walk a thon.

We have many friends & family walking with us, as well as donations coming in.

We have raised $810. toward our $1,000 goal!  Just want to THANK everyone who've made a donation for team: Maxlove!

We wish we were pushing a twin stroller, but we are pushing Grace at almost

14 lbs. & she was born at 1 lb. 13oz... for that we are grateful!!

There's still time to donate.. there is no little amount.. please donate to help support all premature babies & parent support!

www.marchforbabies.com/maxlove

Thank you!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Cutie! 9:02pm

Here's my cute baby.. she's getting big, look what she can do.

 She can hold her favorite toy in her hand.. she loves her monkey..

she brings the toy to her mouth too.. sometimes she holds the monkeys hands with both her hands.  To a preemie mom & dad, we really make a big deal of the small

things she does.  It means she's getting stronger & making progress!!

She's doing great!!

Do you like my rainbow pajamas??

I am absolutely tired today.. I worked my part-time job last night & it was a long meeting.. Grace was up  a little with a wheezing cough, so I gave her a couple of albeuterol treatments today, and one tonight before bed..she sounds better already.  We are just thinking it's allergies, because her lungs ae pretty clear.

Auntie Paula & the boys stopped by for a visit today.. didn't stay long, but long enough for Auntie Paula to get to hold Gracie & talk to her..and Grace to

make sounds "talking" back to her.  The boys are 11, 10 & 8 and love Gracie.  The middle son, Jake, comes in & looks at his brothers & says,

"Isn't Gracie cute??"

They love her!!

A new recipe was made for dinner..  I used the Philadelphia Garlic Cream Cheese recipe that comes on it.. pasta with that & spinach, and chicken..it was good! Easy too!

We have a new plan to keep the dishes to a minimum and cleaning the kitchen up after every meal & dinner.. we put a small strainer in the 'dry' part of the sink.. Sometimes it seems that housework gets away from us, and I feel so much more 'balanced' when the house is clean..kitchen especially (since I do alot of cooking!).

So far, so good!!

My mother's helper comes tomorrow for about 3 hours.. think I'll take a nap!

Nah, just kidding (RH!!), I'm going to clean out the bedroom..

and maybe the bathroom too!

I would cut the grass, because it really needs it..but my DH (dear husband)

needs to get 'balanced' too :)!

 These are from today, trying to take a few in a row, to show you her big smiles..

but she doesn't usually smile when I want her to.

Can you see her curls on the right side of her head??

soo cute!!

Gracie & Daddy went for a walk after dinner tonight.. Daddy says she did great,

just looking around & enjoying the ocean breeze!

Tomorrow is PT.. she did well with her last week, I'm expecting the same this week.

She really is starting to like being on the floor, on her belly, on her back..

just playing with her toys.

Thanks for keeping up with us!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

p.s. Happy Birthday to our dear friend & another guardian angel,

Mamie!!!!



Continued Father's Day Pics 7:21pm

Dinner for Daddy was shrimp mozambique, couscous, a half of boneless pork chop & pasta salad.  A nice glass of white merlot.  And dessert in an hour will be

watermelon and coffee..(maybe a little piece of cake).

It was a great meal, for a deserving dad!!

And these are the final pictures of the day..

Nothing is better than my 2 loves!!

Looks like I got a secret, Mama!!

And this is Gracie holding the 'nuk' again.... she does SO well with it. I start by putting it in/around her mouth & then give it to her to hold.. she holds it & instantly puts near to put it herself in her mouth!! Can't wait to show her off to her speech therapist, Ann

tomorrow!!

Hope you dads out there, had a great day!!

Love you guys!!

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



My place.

Ft. Phoenix Beach in Fairhaven..

on the ocean.. soo peaceful, so calm..

Not a worry in sight..  A beautiful walk on the dyke with my husband

& Gracie.. I couldn't ask for anything more peaceful..

I'm thinking of blowing up some of my favorite pictures, framing them &

doing them at a gallery opening in the fall. 

Since the babies, I've really enjoyed taking pictures.. I think it's going to

begin a new hobby of mine!

Enjoy! I know I have!!

I hope you all have a peaceful, calm place to retreat to.

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

Happy Father's Day. 2:29pm

Every year for the last 20, I've been involved with a water stop at The Nemasket Group

in Fairhaven, at the annual Father's Day Road Race.  It's evolved over the years!  My friend, Ross & I have always done it.  Our friend, Dave started helping about 15 years ago.  Maybe 8 years ago, Russ & his two daughters started to come around

to help; and then 6 years ago Gary started to help to.

Now, this is the first year, our daughter was there..

what a nice feeling that was! It's everything we dreamed about..

taking our daughter to her first waterstop for the road race & then

celebrating her Daddy for Father's Day.

here's everyone..ready to hand out water to the runners!!

 "Meeting of the Minds"

Our morning, started with waffles & bacon for Daddy..

and he received this gift from Gracie & Mommy:

 "My Daddy's the best!"

And a book to reflect back on the memories from Maine.. it's a bittersweet day

for Daddy.. Gracie he gets to hold & love; and Maxwell he holds in his heart forever.

He's a wonderful father!

He's loving, and caring!

He changes diapers!  He wakes up in the middle of the night, if need be.

He tries effortlessly to help with feedings & prays that Gracie's g-tube

will be out sooner than later.

He misses Maxwell, more than even I can imagine.

He spent alot of time in the NICU, minutes & hours after I gave birth talking

to both Grace & Maxwell.

I'm sorry Maxwell's not here with us.  I'm sad it happened the way it did.

We love you Maxwell..

Thanks for being a GREAT DAD, honey!!

Happy Father's Day!!

Love,

Gracie & Maxwell & Mommy!

p.s. Thanks to all our readers who've wished him a Happy Father's Day today..

it means alot!



48 Days Until .... 4:09pm

48 Days Until Grace's FIRST Birthday..

time has sure flown by!! We are going to celebrate our baby blueberries..

I've already got a theme (above :)  & am excited to get the invites

in the mail & send them out.  I made the invites last night on "Mixbook.com",

I was able to put my own pictures of little Gracie & it came out really cute!!

We'll celebrate on August 4th..and hopefully, we'll get out to release balloons for Maxwell on August 5th. We are blessed with two blueberries.. just which Maxwell

was with us today!

Tomorrow will be a tough day for Gary, I'm sure.

He's so great with Gracie.. I wish Maxwell was still with us as well..

I know that he is watching over us, though!

Grace had a good appointment yesterday, she is over the 13 lb. mark,

we couldn't get an exact weight because she was squirmy wormy on the scale.

Sucking her thumb!!

And we bought her some new bright toys.. this is her bouncy ball..

she wasn't trying to eat it..we're working with her to hold things in her hands more.

We're so proud of her!!

Prayers go out to everyone missing someone tomorrow..especially Dads,

missing their little ones.. and little ones missing their dads!

Happy Father's Day weekend!!

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell





Thankful Thursday. 9:13pm

We are thankful everyday for Grace..

today is no exception! She had her EI evaluation this morning and it went well.

Grace is ranging anywhere from 3 months of doing stuff to 8 months..

so she's a little behind, but the more we work with her & as time goes by, she'll catch up.  Most preemies are delayed in some things & by age 2-3 they catch up.

So, I take these reports with a grain of salt.. Maybe she just didn't want to perform fully.  She smiled alot though :)

When the four people left, she was really tired & slept most of the afternoon.

Then she showed her stuff.. by hitting her monkey on her giraffee chair..

and she now takes her binky in/out of her mouth with her hands.

She's definitely putting her toys in her mouth..no teeth yet!

And here she is sitting on the couch!

There's a new tool we use during feed time, called a "Nuk".. it looks like a toothbrush

with little ridges on the end of it..and we use it so she can learn to have her tongue follow something in her mouth..from left to right & it teaches her oral stimulation.

Here's some pictures with her holding the nuk & almost putting it in her mouth..

she's soo smart!!

 My mom below, holding my nuk in my mouth with me..

and above me holding it..

My "mother's helper", Mollie came over this week.. and I got alot done in the office..cleaning out paperwork for 2 hours straight.. medical bills.. :( ugh!

Need to follow up with some phone calls now.

Living in Mass, but having care in Maine is a nightmare.. they bill it

incorrectly to Mass's standards & then send it to a collection agency.. this is

stress, we don't need!!

Mollie did great with Gracie..she slept for her.. a little fussy,

but she did well.  And Mollie is a teenager, who has followed the blog since we were in Maine..soo she really knows Gracie & now has the chance to be with her for a few hours.  It's nice to have a babysitter who will be with us for a few years!

Thanks, Mollie!!

10 days left til our walk for March for Babies..our team: Maxlove!

Thanks for donating!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



PT starts tomorrow.. 6:54pm

Grace starts PT (physical therapy) tomorrow.. it'll be 1x week.. that'll be

a big help for her larger muscles.  She's doing great with tummy time and strenthening her head & neck muscles. 

Today, she had a new favorite puree & ate 1/2 jar for dinner..

Squash!!

 And here's the proof that she LOVED it!!

We have an appointment on Friday with her pedi surgeon.. re: gtube..

can't wait to get her weighed..I'm sure she's over the 13lb mark. She feels heavier!!

Thanks to those who are sending in payments for our March for Babies

team:  MaxLove, walking in memory of Maxwell

& for the miracle blessing we have in Gracie.. on June 24th.

We appreciate all the sponsorships!

There's still time to make your donation..click below:

www.marchforbabies.org/maxlove

And Thank YOU!

Love you guys,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max