Keeping up with the Kardashians.. 8:40pm

It's all coming back to me.. actually it never left!

A year ago tonight, I called Gary to let him know that Grace made her 8/8..

the first time she scored the entire 8 points at her ultrasound, since we've been here on bed rest!!  We thought that meant they'd be in at least another 4 weeks.

Not the case.. our baby girl was eager to see us, apparentely.

Gary was in Fairhaven, I was at MMC.  I stayed up late watching

Keeping up with the Kardashians..

and starting to feel pain around 1:00 a.m., but didn't call the

nurse in til 3:00 a.m.

The day they were born was Tomorrow, Wednesday...

Friday we celebrate Gracie & Maxwell..

Here's our Miracle..

Grace Lucia!

And now..

Love!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & Maxwell



9 Mos. "Corrected" 9:32pm

Grace is 9 months 'corrected' today, with her 1 year birthday looming ahead of us!!

I'll save all her new doings for Friday's post!

But we can give her a dolly now, and she'll try to hold the hand (to put in her mouth, of course) and she'll look at the dolly's face, very intently!!

Here she is with her first Dolly from Cousins Ben & Emily:

Dolly in one hand.  Links making a bracelet & binky in her mouth = 1 happy baby!!

Today, she had her Speech therapist over & Physical Therapy..

and she did great with both.  She is still giving 'high 5's', and speech therapist finally

got one today!  I'll have to get a pic of her giving it, it's soo cute because her

hands are soo tiny!

With speech, we're going to start working on drinking from a cup..

so we started today with some purees (squash) in a medicine cup and

she did great.  She puts her lips right around the cup & takes it like a 'sip'..

we tried again tonight with applesauce, and she did well too.

She's not taking that much ..maybe 1/2 teaspoon to a tablespoon..but the fact

that she's taking it..is HUGE !! 

As far as her volume via g-tube, she is at 110ml's in 30 minutes, every 4 hours.

The goal with that is to get her off nightime feedings all together!  That means she needs to take 130ml's, 5 times a day.. and we can stop nightime feeds,

which hopefully means she'll be up in am Hungry! Hungry to take a bottle,

a cup, some food!!  That's our two goals!!

This was this morning.  I put her on the couch..and she picked up her head & sat there straight!! She's looking at me like ,

'Yea, hey, i'm just relaxing Mom!!'

For breakfast, I put her chair on the floor with her tray table on,

first time for this.. put some toys on it & she picked them up and was looking

at them!! She did great!

And a precious one of me & my babe on my shoulder!!

The countdown is on.. the cake has been ordered!

The plan is coming together.

I put together a wish list for Grace at Amazon.com, it's under my maiden

name... Patricia Medeiros.  But my friends & family, who are looking for something to get Grace .. it may give you some ideas!! 

Thanks for reading!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Rainstorm. 9:09pm

Another rainstorm in New England.  It's been pouring out, lightning & thunder too!

Grace didn't have much of a nap this afternoon, so she was in bed by 6:45..

still there.  She's doing so well.

Her dad & I were talking about Maxwell tonight..

we certainly have to look at our loss with some strength, that at least we had

him for 4 days.  We've all heard stories of women who have carried 9 months, and lost their babies (I know someone personally!), and that's soo sad to me.  I'm sorry if anyone reading this has ever gone thru that!

We are so proud of how far Grace has come, I guess we just wish Max was

right beside her.. and wondered what his strengths would be.

Love you Maxwell Hathaway!!!

I have GOT to go order Grace's cake tomorrow!! :)

This is my friend, Lisa and her two children who visited with us yesterday! Belle, her little one..closes her eyes during picture time.. very cute :)

Grace's holding alot more stuff in her hands these days!

 And this was her 1st stuffed animal from Uncle John.. if you give her a doll, or put a stuffed animal in front of her.. she is really starting to look at it, grasping it..

really looking at her dollies faces.

Grace now lays on a blanket on the floor for floor play and tummy time..surrounded by her toys, and here she is looking in her mirror..

she's looking at the 'cute' baby!! (but of course!!)

Look at those very long feet!!!

Welcome home Auntie D & Unlce J..hope you had a nice cruise!

It is POURING out.. I love a nice sounding rainstorm.. this one is great!!

Love to all,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

p.s. Our preemie mom pals date got cancelled for tomorrow.. feel better Erin & Will..

I'll be working on stuff for Grace's party!



Pictures! 1:47pm

Here's some pictures I uploaded from my cell phone..

cute ones, I couldn't pass up posting!!

How adorable!! In her robe.. she looks like she's ready for a spa day!

And this one is from Today.. Thanks to Auntie Heather & Abigail.. she is

wearing an outfit that 5 year old Abby wore.. it's very lovely!!  She looks so cute!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Thanks for letting me vent! 8:26pm

For those who read yesterday's blog, Thanks for letting me vent!!

Thanks to A & A who sent me messages!! I appreciated reading them this morning.

It is hard work to be a stay at home mom for sure, and doubly hard when you're working with just one vechile!  The parts, however, have been ordered & we should have the 2nd car back within a month

(I say within a month because I'm being optimistic!)

It's definitely these small things that you don't realize how beneficial it is to have

that 2nd car.  I was able to keep the car today, and it made me feel like a different woman!!  We dropped Daddy off at work, I went for bloodwork (the only real reason I kept the car), and then went down to "The Centre".. I belong to a methodist church, and we are moving from our church building to about 4 blocks down in a rented space.

It's got ac.. it's a canvas & we are putting what/how we want to run it & create a space for people to just come & share God's love! I'm going to start writing a blog about it, maybe start a youth group in the fall.  I've been thinking about it and want to do more to share the love & kindness of my church to others. God has been great!!

 Here's my peanut today.. "hi mom!" she is doing so well with her head control, and she's been rolling from back to belly!! We sing 'thumbkin' every morning, and I'm always singing to her & getting in her face..she watches my mouth & tries to make sounds.. she'll be talking soon.. :)

Drinking from a shot glass.. (well, not really) trying to get her to close her mouth around a small cup.. she did okay, this was the first time we tried it.  This 'eating' thing is something I work with her daily on.. and it's the most frustrating/hard part.. everything she is really doing well with.  I just stay optimistic about it..  she really enjoyed her peas & a little butternut squash today.

She's holding the cup in her hands.. I usually give her something to hold when I'm changing her diaper, to distract her..she holds onto everything!!

And then of course.. "Mom, I'm lounging, can you please stop taking my picture!!"

Love her!!

Hope you are all well!! Thanks for reading & keeping up with us!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

& let the countdown begin..

9 days til Gracie's FIRST birthday



Happy Birthday Ma!!

Grace & I had my mother over for her birthday lunch today!! She was served

Salmon on the grill with couscous! Very good.. I had a small bite..but then had a salad!

My sister & niece, Emily & nephew, Ben came over too..

they hadn't seen Grace in over 6 weeks (it's summer!!)..

so it was there first time seeing her with her helmet.. Emily (2) wanted to know

if Grace was going to be a baseball player, because she was wearing a helmet.  And Benjamin wanted to take it off, because he wanted to see her head!! :)

They are soo great with Gracie!!

My mom with the help of Ben & Em blowing out her candles.  She's 72!

Definitely seeing my niece & nephew were highlights of my day... I love them so!!

I also wish my sister and I could've talked more.. it's tough to do when you're involved with the children.  We'll need to plan a dinner out!

My second highlight was receiving my "Elfster" package from my preemie pen pal group friend, Krista & her twins.. Grace got 2 new toys..and I got a great lighthouse book & a pad for 'grocery list'.. Thanks Krista, Coltonpants & Keltie!!

(don't mind the picture, not sure why it won't straighten out for me!! :(

One good thing is us preemie moms have a 'club'.. we wouldn't want you to be in it, but we are glad we have each other for sure!!  Every few months or so, we have an Elfster Preemie Pal gift exchange.. it's the best! And we look forward to receiving mail!!

Early this am, we had thunderstorms..then again this afternoon.. a view from our porch.. the rain was coming down in sheets!! It was serene! 

 I LOVE rainstorms, thunder & lightning storms too!!

And then of course.. my big, little girl.. who always puts a smile on my face:

Love you Gracie!!

My new dessert:  Vanilla non fat yogurt, layered with strawberries & topped with Granola!  Healthy eating!!

Thanks for reading!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell



No Flaming Please! 8:03pm

Definition of "flaming" = pass judgement; assault verbally because you don't agree.

I'm feeling a little emotional today.. Let me start by saying I love staying home with Grace..and I am trying very hard with her to take bottles (when she's awake), getting down on the floor with her and helping her to roll over, take toys, laugh, & talk.  It's a LOT of work! But it doesn't stop there.. (as many of you moms know).. it's laundry,

planning & cooking dinner once G gets home.. and I enjoy doing it. 

But I feel this is all I am.  I've talked about this before.. I really need to find something

for ME!  To do, to be, something.

It's daunting, I think, because Grace & I have literally been without a car since

we've come home in December.  I do, on the occassion go outside for a walk with her..if it's not too hot.  But unless I 'plan' on dropping G off at work to keep the car (which has it's own other things to do to prepare for that).. Grace & I stay home.

Don't 'flame' me.. I am grateful that I can stay at home with Grace 24x7..

but I do need to find time for myself. 

My 'mother's helper' is camping with her family.. I think I'll go to a movie once she is back, by myself.

When I think back to this time last year.. I at least had all my friends via text at all times, a computer.. the bothersome of doctors & nurses who visited daily & daily ultrasounds of the babies.  Even when I was discharged, I had the craziness of the RmcD house people watching.. and kept my sanity by watching Grace grow daily.

My preemie mom friends have all been there..the days leading up to their baby's first birthday's..the actual day they were born & what led them to that day of

their baby being born early.  We all talk about it.  We share that .. it literally sucks!

The feelings are overwhelming.

The days leading up are even sad.  For most, they didn't lose a baby in the process..

but there are some that did.  I don't know what I'm feeling about that.. I do know

that I'm happy with Grace & she amazes me daily... just with her smiles..

Tomorrow is day out for us.. because I have to go for some bloodwork in the a.m.

The plan is to get up early, (so I'm going to bed early.. Grace was up early this morning.. we aren't sure if it's her teeth or what!), plan a diaper bag, drop G off at

work, bloodwork, and then I'm going to go to our new Church location to

sift thru some bills.  Grace has PT at 11:45, so we will be home for that.  I don't want her to miss out on her PT & her PT to miss out on seeing Grace roll to her belly!!

I am blessed to have Grace & Gary in my life.

I am blessed to know Maxwell for 4 days, some don't even get that opportunity!

This is what we planned & talked about for the years prior to our babies..

and my only wish is to have Maxwell waking up at 3, 4, & 5 am too!!

I'll be okay.. just needed to vent!

Thanks for reading!!

Love,

pattie

She Rolled OVER by HERSELF!!!!

I couldn't go to bed without posting this huge developmental milestone for Grace..

she has been rolling from side to side & trying really hard to roll to her tummy..

it's that arm that gets stuck under her, she has a hard time getting it out.

But today, she rolled over completely to her belly by herself!!

I was soo proud of her! I am so proud of her!

She has yet to cease to amaze me! She tries soo hard..

This is the end result..

Love you Gracie girl!!!

mommy & daddy



New Pet. 3:38pm

This picture was taken last night of Grace's new pet (not really..but)

Look I think she's saying.."ooh yummy dinner!!"

 Or maybe here, she's saying..."oh he can go in my aquarium with valentine" (the fish)

Here she is holding her spoon at dinner last night.. having peas!



And today we got the mail & received this gift from Noni & Grandpa.. an aquarium..

It's a nightlight! With clown fish and a turtle.. she seems to be looking at it.

I have a meeting tonight..so I'm posting early.

Tomorrow is Vevo's birthday.. so she's coming over for lunch with Gracie & I.

Thanks for reading!

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

11 days til Gracie's FIRST birthday!! Woo hoo!!



Weight Check & Jello 9:16pm

We saw Grace's pedi surgeon today at Hasbro..and they

did a weight check in.. (drumroll please!)

14 lbs. 7 oz!!!

I wish they had taken a length check too..because she is lonnnggg :).  Her 1st year physical is in two weeks, I can wait til then.  All well with her g-tube, we actually upgraded her g-tube, to a little bigger one.

I know her g-tube will come out someday.. sure, it won't be before her first actual birthday, probably not before her 'corrected' age birthday either..but by then she should be eating more by mouth.  We know she can swallow, it's just a matter of habit & learning.. She'll get there, I know she will.  Sometimes it's even frustrating for me.. I think that maybe I'm not doing enough with her..but I'm working on her development skills too.. it's alot to teach a baby! Just keep those prayers coming still.. she's already come so far & as her parents we are so proud.. she'll get there, I know she will!!

I really get in "her face".. it's the best for her to see my mouth & watch it move.. hear the different sounds that come out of it, and watch the things go in it.  She's so curious.

When we change her diaper, I give her something to hold...she tries to put everything to her mouth (teething still..soo close!).

And then there's the Jell-O.. I made jello last night & we had it for dessert with cool whip.. it's a very healthy dessert! Low carb, and it reminds me of Maine..

while I was on bedrest, "big brother" was watching me..counting my carbs from a remote location (it was pretty funny!).. lots of jello was eatened!!

So Jello it is!

Tomorrow we are looking for a new lighthouse to go look at..

where will our travels take us!

Thanks for reading, praying for us & keeping up with Grace's progress!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



A year ago today... 11:30a.m.

I remember as if it was a year ago.. Gary & I went to "The Blueberry Muffin" for breakfast in N. Conway, NH..we came back to the campsite & I wasn't feeling well..

so I went to lay down & read my book in the tent.  I got up a little while later & went to the bathroom.. thinking I was having a bout of irritable bowels.

Then it happened.. my water broke!

I was 25 weeks! I was scared.  I tried calling Heather (who was with us camping), my sister, and my friend D.  No one answered their phone.  Gary drove like a nut getting to the hospital, and I was really shaken up.

Who would've thought this would be the start of the next FOUR months in another state??  Very surreal!!

In memory of Grace's birth place & her brother Maxwell,

here is Grace today:

She's wearing a "MAINE" one-piece..   LOVE HER!!

To all my Maine friends that read this.. "HI"!! "And thanks for all your support for the four months we were there!!!"

Thanks for keeping up with us!

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell

(15 days til her FIRST birthday!!)



Home Tonight. 7:31pm

We're home, Thank God.. safe & sound! Grace is in bed now.. I just put her in, she was crying..and I went in there & this is what I found (not the way I put her down):

Oh Boy!! Trouble to follow soon, I'm thinking!!

Well, all in all .. Camping was fun! Grace did great.  I was ready to come home after Saturday's post.. but I hung in there.. and last night stayed at the Maple leaf motel where I had a nice shower in a bathtub & a 2 1/2 hour nap.. all I need to feel like Superwoman, again! 

Today, went to breakfast at our "Blueberry Muffin".. it's time to start writing the book.  An adult daughter & her mom asked about Grace.. my new answer is,

"She is 11 mos. going on 9 months. She was born 13 weeks early at 1 lb. 13oz. & she's our little miracle." 

After they lift their jaw off the floor, they don't have much to say other than..'wow'.

Enjoy some pictures from camping 2012!!  Thanks to Peter & Paula & the kids who went with us.. it was fun!! :)

In our tent.. Daddy & Grace

 The Saco River... a view from outside our tent.. riverside!

 Camping with our family 2012

 In our motel room.. Daddy & Grace

Our campsite! The orange cap tent is ours!

In her pack & play.. where she slept!

Grace's 1st time in the pool!! She did GREAT.. as long as she had her binky!! :)

Thanks for the thoughts & best wishes for us.. a little PTSD..but all in all, we shared new memories with Gracie.. she did wonderfully!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell



Camping & Memories.. 6:23pm

I found a 'hotspot' so I can upload & show you some pictures of Grace while we are camping!  There are certainly some good memories happening for us & her while

we are here!  Unfortunately, I'm experiencing some difficulty as well.

I guess I didn't expect to be so sad.. I'm reliving the whole water breaking and

being in Maine.. I didn't know I had such deep down feelings of guilt.

(I know my preemie mom friends will understand!)

Logically, I can say that I know it would've happened anywhere.. but

I feel alot of guilt for being camping & maybe feeling hot & dehydrated last year

and that contributing to my water breaking early.

It's hot this year.. and as much as you drink fluids, it doesn't seem like enough.

I had a good cry this morning with Gary.. he was very supportive.

We've been arguing for what seems like since we got here.. I don't know..

it's probably me.. & the heat..(it's very HOT!)

Okay, so unfort I can't upload pictures :(

Sorry.. I'll get you all on Tuesday! 

But Grace went in the pool today..and she loved it (once she had her binkie!!)

She's sleeping well in her pink & grey pack n play..

And she's taking some bottle..

Gary & I went to Applebees today..

$4.00 margaritas & 1/2 price appetizers..

love camp food..but love $4.00 margaritas!!

Okay.. billing is due tomorrow :(

I'll try to remain calm!!

Thanks for reading!

love,

pattie & gary, Grace & max

Getting Ready. 9:50pm

Everyone that I know that is leaving tomorrow for Camping, is still getting ready tonight!  It's been a loooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggg day!

Here's some of our camping stuff..  still packing a little more..

glad Gary's going to pack the car in the morning. And we are only going for 5 days!

keeping Grace busy, while Mom packs is Daddy showing Grace the "Gilligan's Island" song on his phone.. so intently she watches!!  She really loves music.. she was fussing this morning in the car, (behold she was very constipated poor baby) and I started singing..she just stopped fussying & listened! :)

Mollie was over today & our little friend, Abby.  All four of us girls, hung out.. went to the dollar store together & shopped. Had lunch & a special treat of ice cream in the afternoon, before I dropped them off.    A nice day, but just stressful to pack everything & make sure you have everything for a baby!!

 And here she is...  going back to the scene of the crime.. we are looking

forward to going back to Saco Camping Site!!

I'll try to post pictures this weekend, because YES I'm taking my laptop..remember

this time last year, if I didn't take it..oh my! What would I had done.

Grace LOVES her monkey!

Thanks for reading! Wish us well as we head back to NH..

thinking of Maxwell..

& making new memories with Gracie!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Prayer warriors needed please. 10:04pm

Gary's cousins' daughter, who is 6 years old needs your prayers, happy thoughts.. whatever you believe in please send her way.. she had surgery today at Boston Children's hospital for a tumor found at the base of her skull.. it is malignant.  I'm sad for her. I'm sad for her family & what the next steps are for them.  Ashley, the little girl & her parents need all the prayers & positive vibes they can get.  Thank you.

On a good note.. a GREAT note.. it makes me think about all that we've

been thru in the past year with Miss Grace..and she is doing soo well..

I think her molding helmet is really starting to work.. here are some

pictures from today, when she was on the floor playing with her vision specialist & speech therapist.. she was doing soo well on her belly.

Wow!!!  What a big girl...

And my upside down pictures of her..

She is doing really well.  We are so thankful!

We are getting ready to leave for camping on Thursday..

tomorrow is an easy day for Grace & I, we have no appointments..

PT will be here on Wednesday.. then we are outta here on Thursday!

Thank you God for all you have done for our Grace..

please pardon Ashley as well..keep her safe in your arms!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Sweet Sunday 6:28pm

A warm, sunny Sunday.. and a bag of clothes I went thru for Grace..

and among them this..

How do you all like my new Robe?? Looks like I'm ready for the spa!! Into the tub I went, and my robe will keep me warm after swimming at the pool this week while we are camping!!

 We went lighthousing on Saturday..down to Ned's Point in Mattapoisett (a town over).. it was nice.  Since we were in Maine & saw some beautiful lighthouses, I love to read about them & our next stop will be Falmouth Lighthouse!

And this picture was from the other night as Gracie slept.. she

was holding on to her crib!!

We leave for Camping with our friends Peter & Paula & the boys on Thursday morning.  Camping in NH.. We are starting to pack (any vacation that's the worst part.. setting up & breaking down).. but we are looking forward to just some R&R,

some swimming in the pool, and remembering where it all began, already just a year ago!  Keep us in prayers for a unsuccessful event! :)

Happy Week everyone!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max