We're Back! 8:26pm

A nice time was had by all!!

Yesterday, we did some shopping for Grace..

9 long sleeve onesies & a pair of shoes for Daddy!

What did Mommy get?? hmmm... I don't think anything.. :(

(I will have to remedy that!)

 

This is Grace with "the moose" in NH back in

May 2012.

And here she is this weekend.. I think she's as tall as the moose..

 

Sitting up on the couch.. and wearing pants (size 0-3 mos still.. small waste & bum..not a bad thing you know! :)  And shirt is a 9 mos.  She's really starting to

sit up on her own!! Keep practicing!

 

 

We drove up to Portland today to have lunch with Will, Kelley & Josh..

one of my favorite restaurants, Wild Buffalo Wings..(i forgot..something like that)

Here's Will putting his hand out to hold Grace's..

it was darling!! :) 

We had a very nice visit with the Hooper's.. Thanks :)

 

 

 

And we're home & gave Grace a bath..

soo cute!!

 

 

Back to reality this week.. :)

 

 

 

Thanks for reading!

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell

 



Back in NH. 9:18pm

There is nothing better than having a place you can take off for, for a

few days with the people you love!!

 

These are my 2 favorite people, the ones I love!

As you can see, Grace is getting bigger everyday & sitting up on her own (with

just a little help from Daddy's elbow..) can't wait til she can sit up all the way on her own.  She amazes me daily!!! She's getting soo strong!!

 

We're back in North Conway, NH for the weekend..

it's raining & a bit chilly!!

Both, Gary & I wore shorts & tshirt up for the ride up (it's a 3.5 hour drive)

and when we got to the local grocery store here, people were giving us the

weird look eye.. as they were wearing long sleeves, long pants & a rain coat!! lol

 

It is a bit chilly.. low 50's!! Fall is in the air!!

 

 

We met up for breakfast in Norwood with my cousin, Ayse..

Ayse is a dedicated blog follower since the beginning..

and she was very happy to finally meet Grace in person!!

She was all smiles with Ayse (of course til I took the picture, as usual)

Thanks for meeting up with us today, Ayse.

And thanks for following us.. :)

Grace by herself on the couch!!  She is

a really good traveler.. & already in bed.. :)

 

 

Guess who took this picture??

My head is slightly cut off!  He promises he'll take a better one tomorrow!!

 

 

 

 

 

On the agenda tomorrow:

Blueberry Muffin :) :) for breakfast..

and then some long sleeve onesies for Grace, a pare of shoes for Daddy

& new sandals for Mommy!

 

 

Sunday:  We're meeting up with Will, Kelley & Josh

in Portland, ME for lunch..

 

A nice weekend to be had for sure..

rain or shine!!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading!

 

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



God's blessings & Butterflies. 4:22pm

Today has been a day of rememberance.

As a family, we went to a butterfly release in memory of our Maxwell.

It was so bittersweet.. nice to be there with Grace

& introducing her to alot of Moms (who too have lost a baby)..

there were many people there.. maybe 60?

What a 'club' .. one you don't really want to belong too.

 

 

This was the butterfly we released at the park with everyone else.

 And then we went to Maxwell's gravesite & released this beautiful orange butterfly..

Sending out love on his wings.. our messages were flown to heaven!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then as if it wasn't an emotional day already, I went to a grocery store.. looking around a bit (I was by myself..lol) and I've been looking for 'touch & feel' books for Grace..

she's getting into those sort of books..

came across a touch & feel book, bought it & brought it home..

sat on the couch & started to read it.. the first line reads,

"Max thought that his box was trash, but to Grace the box was a palace."

 

 

Thanks for lettting us know Max that you received our messages today!!

Love you, our precious sweet little boy!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Grace & Maxwell



Neck Control! 7:43pm

Check out this great picture of Grace, holding her head up high..away from

my shoulder.. Awesome!! We are soo proud of her..

she really is building up those neck muscles

 

Don't mind my crazy face!

 too bad she was looking away from the camera :(

 

 

This was from this am..just hanging out with Mom on the couch!

Her "baby legs" actually fit on her leg.. they are like 'leg warmers'

for babies!!

 

 

 

Busy weekend..we are heading to a butterfly release tomorrow for our

heavenly angel, Maxwell.. and then maybe a little shopping!

 

Sunday, dinner at Vevo's..

 

 

Grace is doing great!!

 

 

thanks for reading,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell



Just an update! 1:24pm

Gosh, I didn't realize I hadn't posted since Saturday..

well, all is well!!

Grace had an 'extra' day of PT today.. another child cancelled, so L came today..

and Grace did sooo well!! She's on her belly, learning how to sit up

and smiling thru it all.. (most of the time!!)

L is great with her & really challenges her..

it leads to a great afternoon nap!

 

This picture was a year ago.. Grace was only 3lbs!!! Remember reading back then,

and how happy we were that she was 3 lbs? Wow.. how far she has come in a year...

 

My soon to be very tall girl :)

 

And we put her in these zebra PJ's last night..

 

Our church lady friend, Jeannie..made this cloth bib for Grace..

please say an extra prayer for Jean.. she's going thru some

health stuff.. & Thanks for the bib.. soo pretty!!

 

A conversation with the plastic surgeon yesterday, eased our minds about the helmet.

She confirmed what we were thinking, that Grace has been thru soo much,

that maybe she's just going to have to wear it a little longer..and we're not "spinning our wheels".. she'll get there!  This stemmed from a conversation from the 'helmet guy' on Friday, who was concerned that Grace had a "unique head shape to her", and wasn't sure what everyone's "expectations were".. again, people need to just keep their

opinions to themselves.. and until a doctor tells us otherwise.. she's doing fine with it!

 

 

 

 

A few nights of non sleep due to teething!

And Mommy's got a huge tooth infection, that I'm on antibiotics for, every 6 hours.

OMG.. the pain is incredible!!

 

Trying to organize my life... I read a friend's blog & she posts what she's doing that day to help organize her life..

Well, today it's clean up some of our home office.. (most is paperwork that needs

to be filed & G's papers that need to be thrown out).. That's what I'm doing today..

to help organize my life :)

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for keeping up with us!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Grace & Maxwell

 



Happy NICU Nurses Day!! 8:42pm

Happy NICU Nurses Day..to all our very hard working

NICU nurses in Maine.. :)

 

another disadvantage of giving birth in another state, than the one you

live in.. you very rarely go back to say "hi", drop off cupcakes, or say thank you..

 

here are some pictures of some of our NICU nurses..

as we say THANK YOU!!

 

Sue & Margo.. acting silly.. I definitely needed some silly time!

 

 

this is Kristina .. :)

One of Grace's primary nurses, Sue..

 

 

We had alot of great nurses.. John too!! :)

 

Thanks.. It takes a very special person to be a NICU nurse..

thanks for the job you do!!

 

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Stranger Danger!! 10:14pm

There's this story .. this young boy (probably in high school)

is walking down the street.. and a crazy lady (me) says..

"I know this sounds crazy, but I own this house..I have a baby, I need

to get in my house..I locked the door & I need you to crawl in the window

& unlock the door from the inside, please"

"No, I can't," he replies.

'Ok'..hmm...

 

Well, his parents taught him right.. I am a stranger..

 

 

So that was my afternoon.. I did get a neighbor to do it (I don't know her either..

but she's seen me around).. Gary gets home & tells me you had the right key..

I don't know.. Mommy brain, I guess!! And Grace was screaming/crying

for the last 15 minutes.. the objective is..sometimes it's just better staying home!!

 

 

 

Ben & Emily were down today with Auntie Tess..

we went apple picking & out to lunch..

a very good day!!

Gracie loves seeing Ben & Emily..and they HER!!

And of course I love seeing them too!!

 

 

 

 

 

"Cousins!"

 

 

 

 

Thanks for a great day, guys!! Love You!!

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell



Great Sunday. 8:36pm

First, happy birthday to our friend Will in Maine.. he turned ONE today!!

Hi to his parents, Kelley & Josh..whom we miss so much!!

We'll see you at the end of September.. :)

 

 

Grace had a great eating day today!!  This am she had a little bit of

whole grain oatmeal & some prunes puree :)

then she drank about 10ml via bottle.. just sucking on that nipple :)

Tonight she sucked on a cookie, ate an apple thru a mesh netting thing,

and had a few sips of pears puree from a cup!!

 

Eating/Biting the apple..

 Eating/Sucking on a cookie..

 

 

And then just looking at Mommy, because she has the camera in her hand!! I swear she is smiling when I get the camera ready!!  I think she knows that I'm about to take her picture!!

 

 

A walk around the neighborhood, a drive to drop off the car at the

mehanics again..(this time front brakes).. a visit to Vevo & Vevoo for

grandparents day, and a extra nap in church..

oh, and of course a bath..

and this is what she looked like at the end of the day..

TIRED!!

 

 

 

Busy working my part-time job this week.. got a meeting

Monday & Tuesday night..

 

 

Have a good week!

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell



Saturday. 1:46pm

Okay, so I figured out the weigh thing.. in early August

when we had Grace's neurology appointment, he weighed her a little different..

he weighed himself first, then held her & that's where he got 15lbs.

I think he was a little off..

 

So, more officially, her weight with pedi surgery yesterday was 14lbs. 14oz.

So that's what we are going with!!  A month ago there she was 14lbs. 7oz..,

a few weeks ago with nutrition she was 14lbs. 7oz.. soo I'm sticking with,

"she's almost 15 lbs!!"

 

 

This is Grace today..she is moving around ALOT in her crib..

and landed on her belly..unfortunately, she can't feed this way, but she

was a little cranky this morning & had a low grade fever

teething perhaps?  So, I want her to sleep.. I'll worry about feeding her

if she turns or when she wakes up!

 

 

We were suppossed to go to Trader Joe's in Foxborough today,

but with Grace under the weather..figured we'd stay home.

There's always something to do here!!

 

It's our friend, Will's birthday tomorrow..he will be ONE..

we're sorry we're not there, but will catch up with him, Kelley & Josh at

end of September/early October.

 

Happy Birthday Will.. Have a fun day!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for keeping up with our story!

 

Love

pattie & gary, Gracie & Max



From the "rag" 8:45pm

From the local "rag" newspaper, the editor took this great picture

of Gracie up close, at the procession on Monday

 

Smiley!!

 

What a great picture.. it was her sleep time, until the band came by!

 

 

All is well, today was a quiet day.. Grace had a good nap

& a visit from Auntie Dalila.

 

Tomorrow is OT in the am, and then the new PT girl at 5:30..

(I hope she's awake for the PT, sometimes she takes a little nap)

 

 

Cousin Ayse is coming at the end of the month..

Ayse has been a blog reader from the beginning.. it'll be nice to see her..

we haven't seen each other since my wedding 4.5 years ago!

 

 

Lots of rain in our part of the state today..

so much that our roof is leaking inside.. NOT looking forward to that bill..

does it ever end??

 

My brother, John is back from Colorado..

we were able to see him on Monday..

 

 

 

Got a upside down pineapple cake cooling off..

yummy!! must eat dessert, then bed!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for keeping up with our little family!!

 

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell

 

 

p.s. Got a really good 'feel good' story for you.. a friend on my preemie mom board's twins were born (i believe around 27,28w)..both boys & they had a pretty rough start.  Both with hydrophelius (sp?), which means water on the brain..

one of the twins, just got his hearing aids in today..

the boys will be a year in september & she posted a video of the boy after

they turned on the hearing aids..it was PRECIOUS!!

God Bless Aiden, Ryan & their mom & dad!!!

Quick appointment update. 7:46pm

It's always hard to start the next day, when you have a few

days off.. even for Gracie & I.

But today, was a busy & long day...

first our appointment to the cape for Gracie's follow-up eye exam..

it went really well.  She is "on" the charts for eye development

& the doctor was very happy to see how well & how far she has come since

May.  As well as her tracking functions are good & no nstagma or

hardly any of her eyes turning in.  We will follow up in six months!

 

 

 

Then it was home for an hour, before we had to head the oppossite

direction to see the 'helmet' people.

He fixed the helmet, so it's not so tight on one side of her head..

30 minutes to get there, and 10 minute appointment.

All went well.

 

 

Thanks for thinking of us!

Tomorrow is just Gracie & Me day.. ahhh.. no appointments..

we'll miss Daddy..he's back to work :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

Labor Day Weekend. 9:17pm

Six years ago, I was secretary of a portuguese club & labor day weekend was

about working the 'feast' (festival) & staying up all night..

we had a really good time back then!

Last year, we were in Maine with Grace..

and this year, we were able to walk the feast with her on Sunday morning..

alot of my old friends from the organization (that I rarely see) were able

to meet Grace & see how cute & big she's gotten.

"A true miracle," they said at her smiling face!

"oh, is this the princess?" others said.

And most said she looks like me, with 2 people saying she looks like Gary.

 

 

 

We had a nice weekend.

 

 Thanks to Linda who gave Grace this beautiful dress for her birthday..

this was the dress she went to see her first OLOA procession in.

She's such a happy baby!! She was full of smiles for everyone who saw her today.

 

 

 

And this is tonight.. ready for bed!! And more teeth maybe, coming in.. she always has her hands in her mouth!

 

 

 

Tomorrow is Dr. W, her opthamalogist appointment.  Keep us in your thoughts & prayers, please!!  Then maybe a quick visit, in the opposite direction unfort, to get

her helmet fixed!

 

September is here..

& as of today, Grace is 13 mos. old actual/10 'corrected'..

boy 13 mos. already!!  Didn't she just turn one??

 

 

 

 

 

have  a good week!!

 

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max