Still feeding.. 8:34pm

It's been a few days..

Grace is 15 months today "corrected age"

We went to a new dietician on Monday..at the Spaulding Clinic, where

we go for feeding clinic (keeping it all in one place)..

I learned alot more.

Small goals.. 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.

2 tablespoons - 1 oz.

Our goal for the next few months and more is to try

and get 2 ouces of food in her by mouth, that way we can reduce her gtube

feed by 2 ounces.  That's how we start!

 

 

Grace is trying new foods still.. savory is her favorite.

And we're only giving her table food, instead of jar baby food.

My new concoction this week is edamame, hummus with a touch of beef broth..

a good texture, it's creamy & she had a little today..

(not a tablespoon..but we'll try some more tomorrow)

 

 

On Monday, she weighed in at 18 lbs. 12.5oz with dietician & 29" long.

We go on Friday for her monthly snyagis shot, plus a weigh in.

And then a week from tomorrow is her "actual" 18 month check up.

Grace is still getting 750 ml's via g-tube!

 

Hummus & Pretzels..

And then reading her favorite book...

"Moo, Baa, La La La"

 

 

 

A HUGE Congratulations to our preemie friend, Addison..

who also has had a g-tube since she was born.. Addison

will be turning 2 on 2/14 & today they were able to take her tube out!!!

I am soooo happy for her & her mommy, Melissa.

Six months ago, Melissa says she did not think this day would come, as

Addison 'hated' food.. but now she eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner

via her mouth.  She's taking in enough for calories..but some days

are better than others!!  We look forward to having this huge milestone with Grace

in the upcoming year!!!

 

 

 

 

Grace is doing great with her braces.. we're working up to an hour a day..

she doesn't mind them on, and I think her legs are getting stronger!

She's soo sweet..and a very social, happy baby!!

God bless her!!

 

 

 

Thanks for keeping up!!

love,

pattie & gary, Grace & max



trying something new today..

HUMMUS!

Garlic flavored..

 

 

 

It's a winner.. Grace licking her fingers.. sucks it off the pretzel, then

drops the pretzel to the floor..

wow.. she looks like a BIG girl..

remember this 'robe' from last year??

This is the nightgown that Gary wore when he was a baby, that

his mom made..

 

 



WOW.. that's all I can say!! WOW!!

Grace is doing great with her braces & sneakers.. she wore them 1/2 hour this

am and then about an hour tonight.. and she took a couple of steps with them

on..  She is such an amazing little girl!!!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading!

Love you guys,

Love you Grace!!! xo

 

love,

pattie & gary, Grace & maxwell :)

Fancy Braces. 8:24pm

Grace got her new pink foot braces today!

Here's a picture.. or two :)

She will wear these when she's standing..to help strengthen her

legs and feet to stand on them in assisted standing, or when she's in the saucer.

She did really well when Gordon put them on her..

and then wore them for another 45 min..

tomorrow we'll try them for the same amount of time..

 

 

We bought her a pair of sneakers tonight.. that way

she can get used to having them on with a supported sneaker.

 

There a soft brace, vs. a hard plastic.

 

 Me & My mommy..

 

 

 

 And then sitting up in her high chair, playing..

she's so beautiful!!

(I know I'm bias, she is mine! :)

 

 

Tonight was our date night of the month.. we had a nice

dinner at Pasta House..and then a visit to Walmart for diapers.. :)

Had our great babysitters, Monique & Madeline..

they love playing with Grace & she loves them!

We are grateful to have such good babysitters..Monique & Amie..

(Madeline is Monique's daughter)

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow is feeding clinic..

I gotta figure out what I'm bringing..and I'm going to

bed at 9pm!! I'm tired.

 

 

Let's keep in prayer those people who don't have a warm bed

or blanket to sleep tonight.. It's so cold out there.. I "hate" this weather!!

But I am grateful we have heat! There are so many who don't! :(

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

 

ME & My Mommy! 8:18pm

First, GO PATS!!

 

 

I'm always the one taking the pictures..but

here's a cute one of Me & Grace today..

 

There's nothing like looking in the face and eyes of my

little lovebug!! She's soo darn cute!!

 

 

 Grace is doing FANTASTIC

sitting in her bumbo.. she really has it down.. she loves reading her little

squishy book too. 

 

 

Last week, we had visitors on Thursday ..as her cousins were here to see her...

her 5 year old cousin, Ben.. plays soo good with her.  She sat in her bumbo

the whole time, as he put every toy (& that's alot of toys) in front of her..

and helped play with her.  Her other cousin, Em is 3 and she's very independant..

but she was also talking to Grace.. and handing her blocks.

Grace handled everything well..and got to stay up a little past nap time

to play.  She even tried a piece of pizza for lunch with her cousins!

 

 

 

This week.. Grace gets her foot braces.. I'll be sure to post pictures.

They are a soft brace to help her keep her feet straight while she is standing..

up in the saucer.  This will help strengthen all the right body parts to help her walk.

 

We have the usual.. PT & OT appointments too this week as well.

 

 

Have a good week, all!!

 

 

Getting back to me.. and the New Year..

I'm still doing well with WW..

and I've started to re-organize this house.. getting rid of paper..

Between yesterday & today, I did alot of reorganizing in the kitchen..

created a 'pantry' cabinet, and it looks good!

Now to get some pantry items.

 

 

 

Thanks for keeping up with my little Lovebug & us!

 

Love you guys,

pattie & gary, Grace & max

 

 



Curly Top. 9:04pm

I wanted you all to see her hair, after a shower..

Curly Top!!

Gary's grandfather had curly hair..

and my older sister has curly hair, and my twin brother has/had

curly hair when he was a baby..

I think Grace has the same curly hair!!

She looks tired, ah? Don't worry..after shower, and reading a few books

it was bed time!

 

 

We are all doing well here.

Grace had her EI evaluation today & she did so well.

Of course, she still qualifies for early intervention..

but she was able to do alot more today, then a year ago when they first did

the same evaluation.  She actually clapped for them, stood up bearing weight

on her feet, and pretending to walk, and sat in her bumbo for

a good amount of the time.

Even though it sounds like 'little' things to others..

it's big steps for Grace.. she's developing well.

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow is feeding clinic.  We're still trying..

she ate some more soup tonight, picked up a 'puff'

and sucked on a chee-tos!

 

 

 

 

How's your New year's Resolutions??

I'm down 14 lbs. with my weight loss.. clearly

all about choices.. I know sometime soon I'll have to add the

excercise, but for now.. I'm making good choices!!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading!

Love,

pattie & gary, Grace & maxwell

Working & Tasting! 8:30pm

Grace helping Daddy with work..

 

 

 

It's been a busy week.. Grace had a few appointments..

the first was with the plastic surgeon, who referred us to the helmet people..

just to 'officially' discharge her from the helmet.  She was very

happy with Grace's head progress from the helmet, that it clearly helped.

 

 

Here's a picture from today..we got her the tray for the Bumbo..

she is doing soo much better sitting in the bumbo..and

really enjoyed the tray on it today..

Her second appointment this week was with a physiatrist..

"rehabilitation medicine"

he comes down from Tufts to Schwartz Center (where she gets her EI from)..

we've had the appointment for months..

& it went really well!!

He concurred that her right foot & hand is a little weaker than her left..

and we should (as we already do) .. help to use her right hand more or equally

as the left..

He prescribed her to be fitted for braces for her feet, to help her

when standing in her saucer..to help strengthen her legs..

which she now bears weight on when we stand her up.

The challenge is going to be putting her in the saucer a couple hours a day..

she will go in the saucer, but it's not her favorite thing to do.

She gets the braces in two weeks..we will be sure to post pictures!!

Anything to help our little girl.. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then today.. Grace had a great dinner..

soup that Auntie Paula made..and she ate quite a bit..drank it actually

from her little cup.. she really loves drinking from her cup.

 

 

Then I was eating an after dinner chocolate..

Ghardelli Chocolate Candy, Sea Salt Caramel..

and she held out her hand to hold it..so I gave her half..

or  a piece of it..

& this is what happened:



Looks like the bird who ate the canary!!

She loves chocolate & caramel..

 

 

 

 

 

She's getting big!! Sooo cute!!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for checking in with us!

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

My New Wheels. 9:32pm

Well, they're really old.. we got this cool pink car

from our friend, Lisa S... and Grace has been too small to use it..

but not yesterday & today..

and it's a great head/sitting support for her..

she sits up in it, awesome!



 

 

 And here's her gift from Vevo & Vevo' ..

a princess chair, with a high back..she sits

in it daily.. she does sometimes, throw her head back in it..

but a few minutes every day & she will be a pro at sitting!!

 

 

 

 

 

A big "Thank you" to Don & Linda..who got Grace

this cool barn for Christmas..they dropped it off this weekend!

I think Gary & I have played with it a little more than Grace..

but she will too.. I sat her in her bumbo today, and she looked at it :)

Thanks again..very generous..

we got some nice toys from good friends..and

we do appreciate all of them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So for some reason blogspot changed the way I have to upload

pictures..but I figured it out..just an extra step..

 

 

Thanks for reading & keeping up with my Sweetheart!!!

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Grace & max

 



NO Pics.. sorry. 10:24pm

For some reason, I can't post pictures tonight..

there must be something wrong with the blogspot site.. :(

 

I had a few good ones too..but I'll post them tomorrow!

 

Grace is getting another tooth on the bottom,

which makes it 4.. it should be popping out by next week..

and then one of her 'eye' teeth on top, which will make 3.

She's been a little cranky lately..perhaps this is why!?

 

 

 

Grace had a great day today.

We've been practicing standing up..

her legs are getting strong, and she stood up right..

with the help of Daddy..

& then in her "new wheels" (I'll post a pic tomorrow)

which is a good sit support for her.. she stood right up..

she's an amazing little girl!!

 

 

 

I saw a neighbor in the grocery store today & she asked how

Grace was.. I said "Great."

She asked how old..and I said, 'Wow, 17 mos already!'

(of course, 15 corrected..she's an elder neighbor, probably wouldn't understand the 'corrected' part).. Anyway, she said, "Ohhh.. already walking and

everything..that's great."

I said, "no..not walking yet."

She looked at me questioningly.. So I had to explain that she is

going to be delayed, she was born 13 weeks early.

"Arggghhhh"....

She'll get there.. I know she will..

and as they say, when she gets to be 3, it won't matter..she'll be

all caught up!!

 

 

 

I love you Grace.  You've been thru alot in your first year of

life..and now you're doing fantastic!!

You're smile makes the world a better place!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

2013. 7:33pm

Grace was up wayy to early to start off the New Year..

6:10 a.m., is when I brought her into our bed..

and she stayed up til nap time at 11:30 (an hour earlier..I'm sure she was tired!!)

 

 

It's a New Year.. a time to keep the past in the past..

and resolve to make a better place in this world, for my family & I.

I joined WW today for the upteenth time..

With my iphone now, I can track on it..

I will begin tracking tomorrow.

 

What are you doing differently this year?

 

 

 

Grace took another shower tonight with Daddy..

this is in her 0-9 month robe..time to put it in the 'doesn't fit box'

 

 

 

 

 

And instead of toasting with the usual alcohol last night, we had

these push up cupcakes.. the one on the left was rum & coke; and the one on

right was (mine) pink champagne..from a local bakery.. they were

different & yummy!

 



 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow is Synargis shot day for Grace.. :(

She cries for just half a second when she gets her synargis..

it's going to be a cold one I heard.. brrrrrr!!

She then has PT..

Thursday morning is back to feeding clinic..

she had ice cream roll tonight.. & liked it!!

Back to two meals a day at the dining room table, starting tomorrow!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy & Healthy New Year to each of you that read about us!

 

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell